Le Merdien Chiang Rai - From Mai to Rai

Hotel Stay Details 
Hotel: Le Méridien Chiang Rai
Dates: February 10-11, 2013 
Rate Paid: 1,600 SPG Points + $30 / night
Regular Rate: $137 / night (incl. taxes) 
Total $ Savings: $107
Point Redemption Value: 6.7 cents/pt 

While we've been having a great time in Chiang Mai,  my mother was also interested in checking out the "White Temple" called Wat Rong Kuhn outside Chiang Rai, another city about 3 hours away by bus.  Heading to another city wasn't really in our scheduled agenda, but my father's brain started clicking away like he was plotting out Tetris moves.

The thing I love about my father is that he's super anal detail oriented, but also kind of crazy spontaneous. So even though he had meticulously booked our Chiang Mai hotels (Le Meridien for Feb 6-10 and Holiday Inn for Feb 10-12) months ago, he was totally willing to break up the itinerary to add in an overnight stay in Chiang Rai so we could all check out Wat Rong Kuhn.

First, he had to make sure he could secure a place to stay (at a reasonable cost).  Knowing that Starwoods had a beautiful Le Meridien resort property (ranked #1 for Chiang Rai hotels on TripAdvisor), he checked online and found out that it was a Category 2 property (4,000 SPG points for a Free Night Award or 1,600+$30 for a Cash & Points redemption).  Both options were available as was a special promotional cash pay rate ($137 vs. $170 normally).  We booked with Cash & Points, getting an implied 6.7 cents/pt redemption.

Second, we had to pick which night / hotel we were going to cancel.  Given it was already Feb 8 when this idea came to my parents, I suggested we cancel the first night at the Holiday Inn.  My rationale was (A) we had already unpacked all our things at our current hotel and (B) it's the Holiday freaking Inn.  My father agreed with my quick assessment and astutely recalled that the Holiday Inn reservation was a "Flexible booking" that could be cancelled anytime with 24 hrs notice while the Le Meridien reservation was already locked in.

Third, now that we were set on hotels, we had to get to Chiang Rai.  The bus seemed like the cheapest best option.  Tickets cost 520 THB (or $17.45 USD) round trip in the VIP class Green Bus which has only 24 seats (think airline business class seats:  reclining seats, tons of leg room, blankets, water and a small snack).

And for the first time, this Lap Child finally got her own seat.  Thanks for splurging ($17.45), Dad!

Important note:  In SE Asia, you have a ticket for a specific bus departure date/time and you have specific seat assignments.  What that means for travelers is that you should really buy your ticket at least a day in advance to get the time & seat you want.

Fourth, now that we had transportation from Mai to Rai, we needed a way to get from the Chiang Rai bus station to Le Meridien, which was a bit outside the city center.  So for the first time in my 15 months of life, I rode in the back of a pickup truck.   I know you redneck Southern babies do this all the time, but it was a new experience for me.

But don't worry, I was in my car seat.

We finally arrived to Le Meridien Chiang Rai around 1:30PM and I was pretty impressed.  Unlike it's sister property in Chiang Mai, the hotel in Chiang Rai was more of a destination resort rather than city center hotel.  Wide expansive layouts, well manicured lawns, peaceful poolside area, serene setting carefully carved into the natural landscape and even a Kids Club where I had a blast.  You get the idea, but if you don't, here are some visual aids.  Not too shabby for $30 out of pocket.