On our first trip to Asia, my husband and I traveled with friends who had lived in Chiang Mai thirty years ago; Baan Orapin was our second hotel in Chiang Mai. The modest luxury of the old teak house ( now used as a reception and library) was beautifully integrated with the new, northern Thai-style individual suites. Rooms were spacious, decorated with gorgeous textiles, cozy rattan furniture in the living area, and a 4-poster bed with mosquito netting. Bird of paradise, flowering banana trees and fragrant shrubs shaded the immaculate grounds-leading your gaze ever to the a cool (temp of the water), blue pool. We stayed a week, and did not want to leave; some days we read by the pool, in the delicious perfect Thai dry-season air, only leaving the compound for meals-- Baan Orapin served a huge wonderful breakfast.
Staff went out of their way to help us with retrieving a piece of luggage left back in Korea.
And Opus, the owner, arranged day trips, and future travels-- including a spectacular stay up on Chiang Saen Lake at a wonderful property called Viang Yonok.
Initially, Chiang Mai the city seemed ruined, exploded with modernity, and possessing little charm. But the warm feelings we had for our time at Baan Orapin allowed me to see under the surface of Chiang Mai, and their urban misfortunes. Don't know when or if I will go back, but I loved Thai food in Chiang Mai restaurants (recommendations from Baan Orapin--Regine and a crazy lunch place called Huen Phen), and we four adored Baan Orapin.
