How AMANOR Hotel Chiang Mai Offers a Peaceful Retreat in a Vibrant Urban Setting [Review]

Chiang Mai is a northern Thai city best known for its historic old town, hundreds of ancient Buddhist temples, vibrant night markets, and mountainous surroundings. Few places offer as much as Chiang Mai to see Thailand’s incredible history.

I visited Chiang Mai with my wife and chose the AMANOR Hotel Chiang Mai, a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), for our first night there because of its relatively inexpensive price using Hilton Honors points.

We were impressed by its value for a spacious, well-appointed suite and amenities, including a rooftop pool. Read on for my full review of the hotel.

Booking AMANOR Hotel Chiang Mai

After an incredible Songkran (Thai New Year) celebration in Bangkok, my wife and I traveled to Chiang Mai to experience a different side of the country. Although I have visited Thailand several times, this was my first time visiting the northern part of the country.

I wanted to book something familiar for the first night, so I began the hotel search by looking at several hotels across all 4 major chains.

There were a few properties to pick from. I chose the AMANOR Hotel Chiang Mai because of its location and price.

As with any hotel booking, I compared the cash price to the points redemption price at Hilton.com to see which option was better. A standard room at the AMANOR Hotel could be booked for ฿6,860 (about $205), including taxes and fees.

A standard room at the AMANOR Hotel could be booked for just 20,000 Hilton Honors points.

According to our valuations, Hilton Honors points are worth 0.5 cents per point, making 20,000 points worth $100. Since the cash price was significantly higher, I knew I was getting excellent value from my points.

I booked a Deluxe Room, the cheapest room available, and hoped that my top-tier Hilton Honors Diamond elite status would get me upgraded to a nicer room.

AMANOR Hotel Chiang Mai Location

The AMANOR Hotel is in the trendy Nimman neighborhood, best known for its numerous cafes, boutique shops, and art galleries. This part of the city is popular among many digital nomads, expats, and young locals.

The property is a short drive from many of Chiang Mai’s famous attractions, including several historic temples such as Wat Lok Moli and Wat Suan Dok.

Getting There

The AMANOR Hotel is less than a 15-minute drive from Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX). A taxi fare costs around ฿175 (about $5) for the journey.

You can also reach the property using public transportation. Chiang Mai is filled with songthaews (red pickup trucks with benches in the back) that operate like shared taxis or buses, allowing passengers to hop on and off along designated routes. Many songthaews operate between the airport and Nimman.

Checking In

My wife and I arrived at the AMANOR Hotel shortly before noon, several hours before the hotel’s official check-in time of 3 p.m.

Exiting the Grab taxi, a friendly bellman welcomed us to the hotel and assisted with our bags. I immediately noticed the massive life-sized horse lamp in front of the hotel.

The hotel’s lobby was through the set of doors to the right of the horse lamp statue.

We proceeded directly to the check-in counter, on the left of the small and intimate lobby. We were greeted by a friendly check-in representative who welcomed us to the property. He then requested our passports to look up our reservation.

After confirming our 1-night reservation, the front desk representative thanked me for my Hilton Honors Diamond elite status and told us he’d upgraded us to a Premier Suite. He mentioned that the room was still being cleaned and would be ready in approximately 30 minutes.

He also provided information about the hotel, including the various on-site amenities and the benefits available to me as a Hilton Honors Diamond elite member.

Lastly, he requested a credit card for incidental charges. I handed him my Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card, my go-to card for all Hilton charges.

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

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Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card

Automatic Hilton Diamond status, an annual free night, and a travel and resort credit make this the perfect card for those who stay in Hilton hotels.

Welcome Offer

Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 8/13/2025.

175,000 points

UP's Offer Valuation*:

$875

Annual Fee

$550

APR

20.24% - 29.24% Variable

Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^®Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

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Paying hundreds of dollars for an annual fee on a co-branded hotel card might seem ridiculous, but you should know that the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card is much more than your run-of-the-mill hotel credit card.

The Hilton Aspire card is not only a phenomenal card for Hilton Honors loyalists, but even those who visit Hilton hotels just a few times a year can still get excellent value out of all the benefits that are packed into this card.

So let’s have a look at what makes the card so valuable to travelers.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 14x points per $1 on Hilton purchases
• 7x points per $1 on select travel and at U.S. restaurants
• 3x points per $1 on all other eligible purchases

Cons

• High annual fee of $550

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Card Highlights

• Earn 175,000 Hilton Honors Bonus Points with the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card after you spend $6,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months of Card Membership. Offer ends 8/13/2025.
• Earn 14x Hilton Honors Bonus Points when you make eligible purchases on your card at participating hotels or resorts within the Hilton portfolio
• Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for eligible travel purchases: on flights booked directly with airlines or AmexTravel.com and on car rentals booked directly from select car rental companies
• Earn 7x Hilton Honors Bonus Points on dining at U.S. restaurants, including takeout and delivery
• Earn 3x Hilton Honors Bonus Points for other eligible purchases on your card
• Enjoy up to $400 in Hilton Resort Credits (up to $200 in statement credits semi-annually) on your card each anniversary year when you stay at participating resorts within the Hilton portfolio
• Enjoy complimentary Diamond status
• $550 annual fee

Financial Snapshot

• APR: 20.24% - 29.24% Variable
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

The information regarding the Hilton Honors American Express Aspire Card was independently collected by Upgraded Points and not provided nor reviewed by the issuer.

He then suggested that we leave our bags, which would be sent to the room, and have a welcome drink at the hotel’s primary restaurant, Lumi. Since we didn’t plan to go to the city right away, we accepted the offer.

The hotel’s welcome drink was a pandan leaf and lychee beverage in a lovely copper martini glass. Unfortunately, we weren’t impressed by it..

Bottom Line:

Overall, the check-in process was efficient. The check-in agent was welcoming and did a great job explaining the benefits of my Hilton Honors Diamond elite status. While we appreciated the complimentary welcome drink, I would have welcomed a menu to choose from.

Elite Benefits

I received several benefits as a Hilton Honors Diamond elite member, including:

• Space-available upgrades (subject to availability)
• Complimentary continental breakfast at Lumi (for up to 2 guests)
• Complimentary Wi-Fi
• Complimentary bottled water
• Complimentary late checkout (based on availability)

Lobby

The hotel lobby was relatively small and had a simple layout. A small plant was in the center of the lobby, with some seating options around it. As we entered the lobby, the check-in desk was to the left, with a curved seating area to the right.

There was an additional seating area at the back.

To the left of the back seating area was a small table with various items for sale, including stuffed animals, chocolate, Thai tea and coffee, and various fragrances.

There was a small lounging area outside, which could be accessed through the lobby. However, it was easy to miss, given its location.

Lastly, some guest-floor elevators were to the left of the check-in desk. However, only guests staying on lower floors could access these elevators.

Since we were given a suite on a higher floor, we needed to use the other set of elevators in the next-door building, which were behind the hotel’s restaurant.

Premier Suite

Exiting the sixth-floor elevator, we turned right and walked through a dimly lit hallway to our suite, room 601. The hallways were covered in floor-to-ceiling curtains, which looked out of place.

As I entered the room, I was greeted by a spacious foyer. An upholstered bench was directly in front, and behind it was a massive outdoor soaking tub.

Turning right from the foyer led to the suite’s main living area, which had a massive multipurpose unit in the center. On one side of the unit was a mirror and a vanity.

The unit was large and directly in the center of the room, and it felt a bit intrusive as it blocked a lot of the open space. Due to its size and placement, getting to the bed was a little awkward sometimes.

This space also had a large and comfortable lounging chair, which featured intricate and vibrant patterns.

The room’s minibar was against the wall to the right of the lounging chair. It featured a good selection of beverages, including soda, local and international beers, tonic water, and fruit juices.

Minibar snack options included Nutella bars, coconut-flavored peanuts, and spicy tortilla chips.

To the right of the minibar was a wall-mounted desk, which could be used as a workstation.

Unfortunately, the seat had no backing and proved uncomfortable after just a few minutes of sitting on it. I had to sit on the lounging chair to get any work done.

On the desk surface were complimentary dragonfruit and a bottle of wine. A handwritten letter from the hotel welcomed my wife and me to the property and Chiang Mai.

There was a bright red speaker that featured a built-in alarm clock.

The suite’s extremely comfortable king-size bed was behind the massive multipurpose unit. The bed featured several pillows, including extra-large pillows, the largest I had ever seen in a hotel room. It featured a vibrant red bed runner, which added a touch of color.

A padded foot bench was directly at the foot of the bed.

Both sides of the bed had a large floor lamp and wall-mounted reading lights. A small cubby on each side of the bed featured light controls and AC power outlets. The cubbies were quite deep, making accessing the AC power outlets difficult.

The suite’s television was mounted on the large multipurpose unit directly across from the bed. Unfortunately, the TV was outdated and had poor visual quality.

Lastly, to the left of the bed was the entrance to the outdoor patio and hot tub. Unfortunately, the room did not have much of a view.

Bottom Line:

The suite had a simple layout, yet was incredibly spacious. I loved the furniture choices and the room’s dark and moody vibe. However, I did not like the placement of the multipurpose unit, as it got in the way.

Bathroom

The bathroom was on the other side of the room, near the suite’s entrance. It featured a sliding pocket door for privacy.

On the left side was a large closet with a luggage storage unit.

The storage unit had pull-out drawers, one holding the room’s safe and the other holding 2 complimentary pairs of slippers. The safe’s door was hefty and would close very easily, almost crushing my wife’s fingers.

The bathroom vanity was to the right, against the left wall of the suite. The hotel provided standard toiletries, including a shower cap, dental kits, a vanity kit, a sanitary bag, a shaving kit, and a comb.

To the right of the vanity were the toilet and shower rooms, which were divided by a glass wall. The toilet offered a bidet, which is always a nice touch.

The shower was on the right, featuring an overhead rainfall shower head and a handheld shower wand.

A sliding glass door in the bathroom provided access to the private courtyard, which featured an outdoor tub. Switches in the bedroom and bathroom controlled the privacy blinds for the outdoor tub.

Little pebbles surrounded the tub area, giving it a luxurious outdoor feel. Although I did not use the soaking tub, my wife found it incredibly relaxing and said it was among the best soaking tub experiences she’s ever had.

Amenities

The AMANOR Hotel offered several amenities for guests, including a rooftop pool, a fitness center, and an in-room massage service.

Outdoor Pool

The AMANOR Hotel featured a rooftop swimming pool on the eighth floor. The outdoor pool was open daily between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. 

The pool area was cozy and intimate. It was lined with several lounge chairs and had ample space for guests to swim or relax.

Fitness Center

The hotel’s fitness center was on the basement floor, open 24 hours a day. The room was small and featured just a handful of machines.

Cardio options included a single treadmill, an elliptical, and a stationary bike.

There was a bench and free weights as heavy as 20 kilograms (44 pounds). In addition to the free weights, there was a single strength machine with a pulldown bar.

Massage Service

The property offered an in-room massage service with advanced booking.

Wi-Fi

There was complimentary high-speed internet. Even with a VPN, I got download speeds of nearly 300 Mbps and upload speeds of 200 Mbps.

Parking

The hotel had complimentary on-site self and valet parking. The parking garage was on the basement level.

Food and Beverage

The AMANOR Hotel featured 2 on-site food and beverage venues. Here’s a look at what you can expect.

Lumi

Lumi is the property’s main dining venue on the ground floor next to the lobby. It’s open daily between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. and features a diverse menu focusing on Italian and Thai cuisine.

Guests with Hilton Honors Gold or Diamond status and those who book rates with breakfast included can have a complimentary breakfast at Lumi. The Signature Breakfast is otherwise ฿470 ($14).

We arrived at breakfast shortly before 9 a.m. to an empty restaurant.

After being seated by a restaurant staff member, we were handed a menu (samples here and here) and they explained how the breakfast buffet worked. Guests could each select 2 items from the à la carte menu and access the buffet.

After reviewing the various offerings, I selected the eggs Benedict with avocado and salmon and the waffle with mocha drizzle. My wife opted for the egg corner omelet and French toast.

After selecting our items from the à la carte menu, we looked at the buffet. There was a small bakery selection with different breads and croissants.

Next, there was a small salad bar with various toppings and dressings.

Another section had fresh fruit, including pineapple, watermelon, and dragonfruit.

Lastly, a small beverage section included ice water, milk, and fruit juice.

After looking at the limited buffet selection, we sat and waited for our à la carte menu selections. The service was fantastic, and the food was on our table just a few minutes after ordering.

Although the breakfast plates were presented nicely, we did not find the food particularly delicious. The eggs lacked flavor, and the waffles and French toast were slightly burnt.

Bottom Line:

Breakfast at Lumi was quick, and the service was fantastic. Unfortunately, the buffet had a limited selection, and nothing in the entire meal was particularly delicious.

Lumi’s lunch and dinner menu included salads, pastas, pizzas, steaks, and Thai food. There were chef specials, including a risotto, different types of ravioli, and Wagyu short rib pasta.

ARISE

ARISE, the hotel’s rooftop bar, is next to the swimming pool and is open daily from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m. At ARISE, guests can order comfort food and various cocktails.

Service

I found the staff and service at the AMANOR Hotel to be excellent, which is what we expected from a nice hotel in a country that emphasizes hospitality. The staff was incredibly welcoming, constantly smiling, and seemed to enjoy their jobs. 

The hotel staff consistently greeted us by name and bowed to us whenever we interacted. They were quick to fulfill any requests and answer any questions.

At check-in, I mentioned that this was our first trip to Chiang Mai and that we were on an extended honeymoon in Thailand. The staff went out of their way to provide complimentary fruits and a bottle of wine in our room and left a handwritten anniversary card, a thoughtful gesture.

Final Thoughts

The AMANOR Hotel Chiang Mai is a fantastic SLH property in the heart of Chiang Mai’s Nimman neighborhood. The hotel does an excellent job of creating a relaxing atmosphere in the busy city.

The suite we were given was fantastic, and the rooftop swimming pool provided an excellent place to relax while taking in the views.

The hotel can be booked for as few as 20,000 Hilton Honors points, representing tremendous value considering the nightly cash rates. Add in the complimentary suite upgrade, and we got even more value from our points redemption.

I will absolutely stay at the AMANOR Hotel again on my next visit to Chiang Mai. Although the city has numerous cost-effective local luxury hotels, the AMANOR Hotel had fantastic value.