Pimanninn — A Budget Hotel With a Pool Selling "Luxury Economy" Value
If budget is the main brief but you still want a pool, a gym and a clean, roomy stay — Pimanninn (also written Pimann Inn Hotel) is a name that comes up often in Chiang Rai · It's a large 150+ room budget hotel that bills itself as a "Luxury Economy Hotel" — stripping out the extras to keep rates low, while still offering an outdoor pool, a sauna, ample free parking and breakfast · Standard rooms start at around THB 750/night · The average score sits around 7.9 from a large pool of reviews.
Pimanninn launched on a straightforward idea — it's a "Luxury Economy Hotel" that strips out the extras usually built into a room rate, so guests pay only for what they actually use · The result is a large 150+ room budget hotel that still packs in more than its price suggests — an outdoor pool, a gym, a sauna, a massage room and free parking · For travellers on a sub-฿1,000 budget who still want a pool to cool off in after a day out, that's the main reason this name keeps appearing toward the end of Chiang Rai hotel lists.
Rooms run from Standard and Deluxe up to a Suite · Many reviews note the rooms are larger than expected at this price, with comfortable beds and a clearly divided bathroom · Every room has air conditioning, a fridge, cable TV, a phone, a safe and free Wi-Fi · Some Suite layouts add a small pantry corner and a dining table, which suits longer stays · The decor is plain and unfussy — function over design, which fits the budget concept.
"Spacious room, comfy bed, loads of free parking and friendly staff. For this price you also get a pool and a gym — that's more than fair value."
After value, the points reviews praise most are the pool that stays open until midnight, the gym and the very large free car park · Self-drive travellers in Chiang Rai like it because parking is easy and there's no scramble for a space · Staff earn praise for being friendly and helpful, though a few reviews note limited English · Breakfast is an Asian-leaning buffet — fried noodles, vegetables and a toast station — fine but not a highlight, and several reviews (especially from Western guests) say the continental options are thin.
Location needs to be spelled out clearly, because it's where reviews diverge most · The hotel's own site says it's "in the heart of town," but in reality it sits about 1.9–3 km from the Clock Tower and Night Bazaar · As one guest put it, it's "too far for a nice walk, but too close for a drive" · Without your own vehicle you'll rely on Grab or a motorbike taxi to get into town each time · The upside is that the area is quieter than the centre, and it's near the walking/jogging paths around the old airport runway — good if you like a morning workout.
The honest downsides to know before booking — Pimanninn has been open a long time, and reviews reflect it · Several say the bathrooms and some furniture are old and worn, and in need of renovation · A few rooms have a musty, damp smell or sheets that weren't changed cleanly enough · The beds are firm, Thai-style, which not everyone loves · The pool is shared at times with children's swimming classes during school hours, and some reviews report slow responses to in-room requests (such as asking for toilet paper) · The overall score lands around 7.9–8.0 — good for the price, but not a flawless hotel.
To be honest, Pimanninn isn't for travellers who want a brand-new room or a walk-to-the-Night-Bazaar location · But if you weight a genuinely low price (from around ฿750/night · Suites under ฿1,100 in many periods), a pool, a gym and free parking, and you're not fussy about the age of the building — it delivers value that's hard to find in Chiang Rai · It's a great fit for self-drive travellers who use the hotel as a base to see the White Temple and the Black House, then come back to a cheap night's sleep.
The tip from real guest reviews: you'll get the most out of this place if you drive or rent a car, because the location needs a vehicle and the free parking is generous · If you can, upgrade to a Suite — the price gap is often small but the extra space is big · And if room condition matters to you, request a recently renovated room when you book, because quality here is inconsistent.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Very affordable; strong value for what you get
- ✓ Rooms larger than expected, with comfortable beds
- ✓ Has a pool, a gym and a sauna
- ✓ Ample free parking and friendly staff
- ! Bathrooms and some furniture are old and need renovation
- ! Location is away from the centre; you need a vehicle for town
- ! Breakfast has few Western options
- ✓ Good value, with a pool open late until midnight
- ✓ Rooms are spacious and clean for the price
- ✓ Ample free parking, convenient for self-drivers
- ✓ Helpful staff
- ! Some rooms have a musty smell; sheets not always changed cleanly
- ! Thai-style beds are quite firm
- ! In-room requests are sometimes slow to be answered
- 💡If you want a brand-new, polished room — the hotel has been open a long time, with worn bathrooms and furniture and inconsistent room quality → request a recently renovated room when you book, or step up to a newer hotel for a little more.
- 💡If you don't have your own vehicle — it's about 2–3 km from the Clock Tower and Night Bazaar, "too far to walk, too close to drive" → you'll rely on Grab every time; if you want to walk to the Night Bazaar, choose a hotel in the true centre.
- 💡If a Western breakfast matters to you — the buffet leans Asian, with toast about the only continental option → be prepared, or head out to a café in town instead.