Imperial Mae Hong Son Resort — a teak-woodland resort on the edge of town with a great location and friendly staff, but an ageing building
Imperial Mae Hong Son Resort is a large midrange resort with 104 rooms, set in a patch of teak woodland in the Pang Moo area on the edge of Mae Hong Son town — most guests pick it for the location: only about 10 minutes from the airport and roughly 2 km from the town centre · The grounds are shaded by mature trees, with an outdoor pool, a garden restaurant and a free shuttle into town · Real guest reviews praise the staff and breakfast, but agree on one thing: the building and rooms are starting to show their age · From approx. ฿1,300/night.
Imperial Mae Hong Son Resort has been part of the Mae Hong Son scene for many years · The resort sits in a stand of teak woodland in the Pang Moo area, on the Pai River basin, with several low-rise buildings spread through gardens of mature trees · Reviews agree that the main draw is the shady, peaceful natural setting while still being close to both the airport and the town · At 104 rooms it can absorb tour groups and parties, so it shows up often in Mae Hong Son package itineraries.
Rooms range from Deluxe up to Junior Suites and Honeymoon Suites · Standard rooms are around 32 square metres, each with a private balcony, fridge and air conditioning, finished in warm Lanna-style woodwork · Guests like that the rooms are noticeably larger than many in-town hotels at a similar price, and that many look out over the gardens or the pool · But to be straight about it, plenty of reviews note that the furniture and bathrooms are tired — some rooms have water stains, faded corridor carpets, or a musty, damp smell — so go in with the right expectations.
"Big room, comfortable balcony, lovely green garden view, and the staff were really sweet — breakfast was good too. But the bathroom and furniture clearly have a lot of years on them."
The facilities are fairly complete for the price · There is an outdoor swimming pool, a garden restaurant and bar, a fitness room, a sauna and conference rooms · Breakfast is frequently praised in reviews for both variety and flavour, and the refurbished garden bar gets good marks for its food · One thing to know: several reviews complain that the pool is sometimes closed for maintenance or not well kept, so if the pool matters to you, check with the resort first · Hot water in some rooms is also reported as inconsistent, swinging between scalding and cold.
The staff are one of the most consistently praised parts of a stay here · Many reviews describe the team as friendly and helpful — with taxis, sightseeing tips and the shuttle · The resort runs a free shuttle into town on a set schedule, which helps a lot given its edge-of-town position, since you cannot walk into the centre · A few reviewers found the front desk a little flat at check-in, but the overall weight of opinion on service leans positive.
Location is the real advantage here · It is about 10 minutes from Mae Hong Son Airport and roughly 2 km from the town centre and Nong Jong Kham lake, just a few minutes by car · That makes it a sensible pick if you fly into Mae Hong Son and want a stay near the airport without a long transfer · The teak-woodland grounds are quieter than the in-town hotels · The flip side is that getting to the walking street or to dinner by the lake means a short drive or waiting for the shuttle.
On the numbers, Imperial Mae Hong Son Resort scores around 7 on real guest reviews across the booking platforms, and sits #3 of 16 hotels in Mae Hong Son on TripAdvisor (3.5/5 from more than 250 reviews) · That reflects a resort with good bones and a strong location that has simply aged, with upkeep that is uneven in places · It is good value if you want a large room near the airport, but it is not the pick if you need a crisp, modern room.
Bottom line from real reviews: Imperial Mae Hong Son Resort suits travellers who want a large midrange room, a location near the airport, and shady teak-woodland surroundings and who are not fussy about how new the room is · Staff, breakfast and location are the standout points · But if you expect modern rooms and bathrooms, plan to spend your time in the pool, or want to walk straight to the walking street, this place may not fit — ask for a recently renovated room, check the room and pool condition at check-in, and plan around the shuttle schedule.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Handy location near the airport and town
- ✓ Large rooms with private balconies and green garden views
- ✓ Friendly, helpful staff
- ✓ Varied, tasty breakfast and a free town shuttle
- ! The building and bathrooms are dated and need updating in places
- ! The pool is sometimes closed for maintenance or poorly kept
- ! Edge-of-town location — you cannot walk into the centre
- ✓ Spacious rooms that are good value, suited to families and groups
- ✓ Shady, peaceful teak-woodland setting
- ✓ Close to the airport, convenient for flying in and out
- ✓ The garden bar and restaurant are praised for their food
- ! Furniture, carpets and towels are tired in places
- ! Inconsistent hot water in some rooms
- ! Some rooms have a musty, damp smell — ask to change if you hit one
- 💡If you expect a modern, crisp room and bathroom — this is an older resort where many areas show their age, with tired furniture and fittings → ask for a recently renovated room and check its condition at check-in; if you find a musty smell or stains, ask to switch.
- 💡If you are coming mainly for the pool — reviews complain it is sometimes closed for maintenance or poorly kept → confirm the pool's status with the resort before booking, especially out of high season.
- 💡If you want to walk straight to the walking street and Nong Jong Kham — the resort is on the edge of town in Pang Moo, about 2 km out → use the free scheduled shuttle, or budget for a taxi for dinner and evening sightseeing in town.