My expectations were set in a certain way by this institution being called a 'boutique hotel'. In fact (as I got its manager to admit to me) it’s nothing more than a "guest house", or rather a hostel.
I had paid quite a lot too: as a regular visitor to Chiang Mai, I know USD 220 for three nights, even in high season, should get you a nice room in a well-managed and well-located hotel. The city is full of small ‘boutique hotels’ that are comfortable, classy and well managed. Mona has jumped on the ‘boutique’ bandwagon and fails on all those counts. But even this would be just about acceptable if only it was advertised with more honesty.
As my photos show, the room itself - while large and quite well furnished - was impractical and unclean. The owners clearly paid quite a lot of money recently to refurbish the place. But it’s not guest-friendly: there wasn’t a bedside table or light and any attempts to make the place ‘classy’ are undermined by tacky signs stuck to walls telling you to keep the noise down.
Importantly: there is no restaurant or room service. They provide a breakfastbut other than that literally nothing apart water. I was told I could get food at the nearest 7-Eleven, which was apparently “not far”. However, it turned out to be a 15-minute walk away that required me to take a taxi back.
Mona is being ‘flexible with the truth’ in claiming this is a 3-star hotel. Until this changes, they will continue to have disappointed, angry guests.