ISTY Design Hotel

Every now and then a four-star earns its place on a shortlist by simply doing the basics very well, ISTY Design Hotel, in Si Phum, is one of those. Si Phum is doing some of the heavy lifting here: it's within an easy walk of the city centre, and that proximity does change the trip. Rooms feel well-appointed; the…

Every now and then a four-star earns its place on a shortlist by simply doing the basics very well, ISTY Design Hotel, in Si Phum, is one of those. Si Phum is doing some of the heavy lifting here: it's within an easy walk of the city centre, and that proximity does change the trip. Rooms feel well-appointed; the touches travellers mention most are reliable wi-fi, on-site parking and an in-house restaurant, and the comfort feedback has been consistently flattering. The vibe lands somewhere between residential and editorial, which is rarer than it sounds. With well over 2,200 reviews on the books and a solid average, the reception from guests does most of the talking here. Reputation has held up across enough stays to mean something. Expect to pay something in the region of €31 a night, a fair-value entry on the board, especially when stacked against nearby alternatives. All told, ISTY Design Hotel reads as one of those Chiang Mai addresses worth lining up against the obvious choices before booking.