U Chiang Mai

U Chiang Mai is a four-star hotel on Ratchadamnoen Road in the Old City, the street that becomes the Sunday Walking Street each week. It occupies the grounds of a former Chiang Mai governor's home, and the restored teakwood residence now houses the lobby, the drawing room and the spa, while newer buildings around a central pool contain the guest rooms.

There are 41 rooms. The Superior Pool Access rooms on the ground floor open directly on to the pool, which is surrounded by greenery and makes a cool retreat in the afternoon. The hotel's best-known feature is its 24-Hour Use of Room policy: you can check out at the same time you checked in, so if you arrive in the evening you are not forced to leave at noon on your last day. For travellers on late flights or night trains this is a real advantage.

The restaurant, Eat, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner in a bistro setting, with northern Thai specialities and international dishes, and there is a rooftop bar called Drink. U Spa, in the old residence, has three treatment rooms and keeps the original Chiang Mai architectural style. Guests also get free bicycles, use of the fitness centre and free wifi.

The location is ideal for exploring on foot. Wat Phra Singh and the Three Kings Monument are within walking distance, and on Sundays the walking street market starts right outside. U Chiang Mai suits couples, solo travellers and small families who want a central, mid-range base with some character.

If you are visiting on a Sunday, expect the street outside to be busy in the evening, which is part of the fun but worth knowing if you are arriving by car. Use the free bicycles for early-morning rides around the moat before the traffic builds.

Ask for a pool-access room if you like to swim, and use the 24-hour room policy to plan a relaxed final day. A treatment at U Spa in the old teak residence is a good way to end a day of walking. Families should check room configurations before booking, and everyone should take advantage of the free bicycles.