Grand Napat Chiang Mai Review: Why This Budget Family Hotel Surprised Us

If you're looking for a family-friendly hotel in Chiang Mai that offers more space than a standard hotel room without stretching your budget, Grand Napat Serviced Apartments is worth considering.

When we were planning the Chiang Mai section of our Thailand itinerary, we knew we wanted somewhere practical. We were planning to explore the city, visit local markets and use Chiang Mai as a base for Doi Inthanon National Park, so having extra space, easy parking and somewhere to relax after sightseeing was more important to us than being in the middle of the Old Town.

Quick Answer: Is Grand Napat Chiang Mai Good for Families?

Yes. If you're looking for a budget family hotel in Chiang Mai that offers apartment-style accommodation, a swimming pool and good value for money, Grand Napat is one of the best options we found. The separate living space, family-friendly room layout and quieter location made it a practical base for our stay, particularly compared to booking a standard hotel room.

This review is for families deciding where to stay in Chiang Mai with kids. I'll cover the location, room layout, facilities, value for money and whether Grand Napat is a good base for exploring Chiang Mai and northern Thailand.

If you're looking for a spacious family apartment, a pool and good value without paying Old Town hotel prices, Grand Napat is worth considering. I've included the hotel link here so you can see whether the room layout and location would work for your family.

If you're still planning your route, you may also find this guide useful, Chiang Mai & Chiang Rai With Kids: A 3-Day Northern Thailand Itinerary

Just a quick note: some links throughout this guide are affiliate links. This doesn't affect the price you pay, and we only recommend hotels, tours and travel products we've used ourselves or would happily book again.

Why We Chose Grand Napat Chiang Mai

One of the biggest decisions when planning a family holiday to Thailand is choosing between location and space. Many family hotels in Chiang Mai are located inside or around the Old Town. While that puts you close to attractions, you often end up sacrificing space or paying considerably more.

Grand Napat appealed to us because it offered:

• Apartment-style accommodation

• Separate living space

• Swimming pool and gym

• Free parking

• Excellent value compared to many central hotels

After staying there, I'd say it delivered exactly what we were hoping for.

Value for Money: One of the Best Budget Family Hotels in Chiang Mai

Current prices are approximately £59 per night for a Family Deluxe room (our pick) or £28 a night for a Studio, which I thought was excellent value.

Breakfast is available for a small add on, we didn't opt for this given we had the kitchen facilities.

If you're working out your overall Thailand budget, see: How Much Does a Family Trip to Thailand Cost? A Real Budget Breakdown

Location: Slightly Outside Chiang Mai Old Town

Grand Napat isn't located in the heart of the city centre, and that's something worth knowing before booking. For us, this was actually one of its biggest strengths.

The area felt:

• Quieter than central Chiang Mai

• Less touristy

• More residential and local

After Bangkok, we appreciated having a calmer base to return to each evening.

In practical terms:

• Chiang Mai Airport is around 15–20 minutes away

• Grab taxis are widely available

• There are local restaurants, night food markets, shops and convenience stores nearby

• Free parking makes it particularly convenient if you're hiring a car

If you're planning to drive in northern Thailand, Grand Napat works especially well because you're not dealing with busy Old Town traffic every day.

For more on that, see Driving in Chiang Mai: Is It Safe, Easy and Worth It for Families?

Chiang Mai City Attractions Are Easy to Reach

Although Grand Napat sits outside the Old Town, we never felt far away from the places we wanted to visit. Most of Chiang Mai's main attractions were within a 10–15 minute drive, including the Old Town temples, Tha Phae Gate, the Night Bazaar and the Sunday Walking Street area.

We spent our mornings exploring parts of the Old Town, visiting a couple of temples and stopping regularly at cafés to escape the heat before returning to the hotel for some downtime.

Grand Napat worked particularly well because it gave us the flexibility to dip in and out of the city. We'd often spend the morning sightseeing, return to the hotel for pool time and then head back out later to visit the Night Bazaar or Ploen Ruedee Night Market once the temperature dropped. Having that option made the days feel balanced rather than exhausting.

If you're planning your own visit, our guide to Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai With Kids covers the attractions we genuinely thought were worth prioritising and the ones we wouldn't rush back to.

Room Layout: Why It Works So Well for Families

This is where Grand Napat genuinely surprised us. Rather than squeezing into a standard hotel room, we had an apartment with separate living and sleeping areas. For a family of three, that made a noticeable difference.

Our Family Deluxe apartment included:

Separate Bedroom

The bedroom contained:

• One double bed

• One single bed

It was a simple setup, but it worked perfectly for us.

Living Area

Having a separate lounge area was probably the biggest advantage. After busy sightseeing days, Joshua our 8 year old son, could relax while we had somewhere separate to sit, read or organise plans for the following day. It doesn't sound like much, but after moving between different hotels, the extra space felt like a luxury.

Small Kitchen

The kitchenette included:

• Fridge

• Kettle

• Basic cooking equipment

• Pots and pans

We weren't planning to cook extensively, but being able to keep snacks, drinks and breakfast items in the room was genuinely useful.

The extra space was what really sold Grand Napat to us. After several days of moving between hotels, having a separate bedroom and living area made family travel much easier. If that sounds appealing, I've included the hotel link here so you can take a closer look at the apartment options.

Pool and Gym: Simple but Practical

Grand Napat isn't a resort. If you're expecting waterslides, kids' clubs and extensive facilities, you'll find better options elsewhere. What it does provide is a simple setup that works well for families.

Swimming Pool

The pool was a good size and never felt particularly crowded during our stay. It became an easy way to cool down after sightseeing. We found ourselves regularly returning in the late afternoon when the heat peaked.

Pool towels were provided free of charge.

Gym

The gym sits next to the pool, which worked surprisingly well.

One of us could spend some time exercising while still keeping an eye on Joshua. It's a small detail, but one that made family logistics easier.

It was small, not overly well air conditioned but had several pieces of cardio equipment, some weights machines and hand weights.

Why This Matters in Chiang Mai

One thing many first-time visitors underestimate is the heat.

The best days in Chiang Mai usually balance:

• Sightseeing in the morning

• Lunch and downtime

• Pool time during the hottest hours

• Markets and restaurants in the evening

Having a pool available made that routine very easy.

What's Near Grand Napat Chiang Mai?

Ploen Ruedee Night Market

One of our favourite discoveries was the Ploen Ruedee Night Market. It felt family-friendly, relaxed and far less stressful than some larger markets.

You'll find:

• Smoothies

• Thai street food

• Chicken wings

• Curries

• Desserts

• Drinks for adults

This became one of our favourite evening activities in Chiang Mai.

Restaurants and Convenience Stores

A few minutes from the hotel you'll also find:

• Local restaurants

• Small supermarkets

• A nearby 7-Eleven

One evening we ate at a local restaurant where the entire meal cost less than £10 for the three of us. Joshua loved the strawberry milkshake, while we enjoyed trying dishes we honestly weren't entirely sure we'd ordered. Those tend to be the memorable travel moments.

What Worked Well

What We Loved

• Spacious apartment layout

• Separate bedroom and living area

• Quiet location

• Good value for money

• Pool and gym

• Free parking

• Nearby restaurants and markets

What To Be Aware Of

• Not within walking distance of major attractions

• Kitchen facilities are fairly basic

• You'll likely need a car or Grab taxis to visit the main sites

Final Verdict: Is Grand Napat One of the Best Budget Family Hotels in Chiang Mai?

For families looking for space and value, I think it is. Grand Napat won't have the facilities of a large family resort, but that's not what it's trying to be.

Instead, it offers:

• Apartment-style accommodation

• A quieter location

• Family-friendly room layouts

• Good facilities

• Excellent value for money

For us, it struck a great balance between sightseeing and downtime. We could explore Chiang Mai during the day, relax by the pool in the afternoon and return to a space that felt much larger than a typical hotel room.

If you're looking for a budget family hotel in Chiang Mai and don't mind being slightly outside the city centre, Grand Napat is one of the strongest value-for-money options we'd happily recommend.

If Grand Napat sounds like the type of accommodation you're looking for, I've included the hotel link here so you can take a look and see whether it's the right fit for your family.

FAQ's: Grand Napat Apartments

Is Grand Napat Chiang Mai suitable for families with children?

Yes, particularly if you're looking for extra space rather than resort-style facilities. The apartment-style layout gives families separate sleeping and living areas, which can make a big difference after busy sightseeing days. We found having a separate bedroom and lounge area much more practical than staying in a standard hotel room with an extra bed.

How far is Grand Napat from Chiang Mai Old Town?

Grand Napat is typically around a 10–15 minute drive from Chiang Mai Old Town, depending on traffic. We found it easy to reach the main temples, markets and cafés while still enjoying a quieter location away from the busiest tourist areas.

If you're planning your sightseeing, our guide to Best Things to Do in Chiang Mai With Kids explains which attractions are actually worth prioritising.

Do you need a car when staying at Grand Napat Chiang Mai?

No, but it helps. We hired a car because we planned to visit places outside the city such as Doi Inthanon National Park, and the free parking made that very convenient. However, Grab is widely available throughout Chiang Mai and is an affordable way to get between the hotel, Old Town and the night markets.

For more on this, see Driving in Chiang Mai: Is It Safe, Easy and Worth It for Families?

Is Grand Napat a good base for visiting Doi Inthanon National Park?

Yes. One of the reasons we chose Grand Napat was because we wanted to explore beyond Chiang Mai itself. The drive to Doi Inthanon takes around 1.5–2 hours, making it an easy day trip. Being able to leave early, explore the waterfalls and viewpoints, and return to the apartment for a swim afterwards worked really well for our family.

You can read more in Doi Inthanon With Kids: Is Thailand's Highest Mountain Worth the Trip?

Is Grand Napat good value compared to other family hotels in Chiang Mai?

For us, absolutely. We paid around £59 per night for an apartment with a separate bedroom, living room, kitchenette, pool and free parking. If you're travelling as a family of three or four, that often works out better value than booking a smaller hotel room and paying for additional beds. Compared with several other hotels we stayed in throughout Thailand, it was one of the strongest value-for-money options on the trip.

For other recommendations, see Best Thailand Family Hotels: Where We Stayed & Would Book Again.

plan your TRIP TO chiang mai

If you’re planning your family trip to Chiang Mai, these guides will help you pull everything together:

About Plan Family Escapes

We’re a UK-based family sharing real, experience-led travel guides based on trips we’ve taken with our school-age son Joshua across destinations like Lapland, Turkey and India.

Everything we share is based on what we’ve personally experienced — with honest advice on what actually works when travelling with kids, focusing on making family travel easier, more comfortable and genuinely enjoyable.