Stylish staff add verve to the stylish surroundings.

DusitD2 lobby

DusitD2 bar

DusitD2 Double Deluxe Room

While foreigners looking for Old Thailand revel in traditional accommodation found in superluxury hotels as well as rural villages, the Thais themselves love ultramodern design hotels found these days everywhere from São Paulo to Beijing.  One of the country's best places to engage in a love affair with contemporary style is the oh so trendy DusitD2 Hotel in Chiang Mai, the brilliantly modern member of Dusit Hotels and Resorts.  In a city known for its wats and traditions, D2 offers a stark contrast to the expected, and therein lies its greatest appeal.  DusitD2 has been listed by TripAdvisor as one of the Top 10 Trendiest Hotels in Asia in 2011.

From the very first sight of DusitD2's orange colour scheme, the hotel makes a statement that it is a place for relaxed luxury in a friendly atmosphere that also acknowledges local traditions (in the case of the colour orange, a nod to monks' robes).  The expansive lobby is staffed by young men and women eager to help guests chill out on the sofas while delicious welcome drinks are served.  The lobby leads to the spacious Moxie restaurant decorated with the same touches of orange punctuating the off-white stone surfaces and wood trim, though the restaurant is further embellished with large metal spoons hanging like churchbells in this cathedral of cuisine, where—naturally—traditional Thai food is turned on its head with clever twists to the usual recipes.  The drinks menu is longer than the food menu, so those who enjoy a drink before, during, and/or after dinner will find no shortage of flavours in a glass to complement those on a plate.  Not that they are all exclusively Thai; mojitos, caipirinhas, and the tasty signature drinks are just as popular as Singha beer.  Moxie was chosen by the exclusive Thailand Tatler Magazine as one of the best restaurants in the country.

DusitD2's rooms and suites offer ample space to relax in those moments between exploring Chiang Mai's impressive wats as well as the famous markets, which are just out the door from the hotel, saving on having to tote purchases very far.  Chiang Mai is known as a textile centre, and the texture of various types of cloth add variety to the furnishings.  In fact, handicrafts of all kinds are themselves a major sight for visitors to Chiang Mai; those looking for the most authentic, locally produced items should include a Sunday on their itineraries, the day when the handicrafts market attracts locals and visitors alike.  If you are thinking about buying some silk clothes or reupholstering your furniture, a visit to the Shinawatra Silk showroom will have you beaming with joy at finding top-quality silk products for a fraction of their prices in Australia.

Chiang Mai is a popular weekend destination for Thais and expatriate residents of the country's capital, but the denizens of Bangkok are accompanied by a steady stream of international visitors who head for the DusitD2 knowing they will be kept in award-winning style in a convenient location—ane when they are reading to go home, DusitD2's London cab is available to take them to the airport in the same high style.

DusitD2 Chiang Mai
100 Chang Klan Road
Amphur Muang
Chiang Mai 50100
tel:  66 5325 9999
http://www.dusit.com/dusit-d2/dusitd2-chiang-mai.html