Getting away to the Away Resort in Chiang Mai was just what I needed!
Tucked away down an alley, Away feels like you’re away, yet it is only a couple minutes walk from the famous Tha Pae Gate, a short distance to the Night Bazaar, and right nearby Tha Pae Road with some magnificent temples, shopping, restaurants, and cafes. It’s the best of all worlds in the magical city of Chiang Mai.
The Away Resort is a luxury hotel with beautiful decor and outstanding service, yet is reasonably priced (rooms start at B2500, or about $78/night). Some of us come here because it is the only vegetarian resort in the city (there are a few other small, low-budget veg options in Chiang Mai, though not nearly on this level), but others come to Away because it’s a great hotel in a great location. There is no bad reason to stay at Away.
No meat or alcohol is served on the premises and the entire hotel is non-smoking to align with Buddhist values. Away is a hotel of peace, respect, and tranquility. A relaxing oasis that is healthy, fun, posh, and compassionate, even at the risk of lower profits for higher spirits.
Away is all-vegetarian, mostly vegan, with a lovely breakfast buffet included, with lunch and dinner available in their Moreganic restaurant. The food, presentation, ambiance, and service were all excellent. The staff are all friendly, cheerful, helpful, and at least bilingual, each providing exquisite service that, if anything, seems over the top.
The food is plentiful, beautifully-plated, and delicious without being pretentious. Breakfast included breads and pastries (oh, those fluffy pastries!), mini-pancakes and mini-waffles, various fruits and veggies, grilled vegetables and faux meats, rice soup, yogurt and muesli, and a selection of fresh juices. My dinner of tofu sate with peanut sauce, Away‘s special version of Chiang Mai’s famous khao soi, and then their mango with sticky rice for dessert was an absolute treat!
For those who want to take home an intangible souvenir, there is a daily cooking class with their chef. (There are a few other vegetarian cooking classes in town and any cooking class will allow for a veg option.) Away also has a rotating schedule of classes for towel origami, fan and umbrella painting, and fruit carving. Want to learn how to make a towel elephant? You can!
If you would rather relax, that is easy to do here! The beds are super comfortable (I slept so well!), the rooms have a TV, cell phone (!), and free wi-fi.
The bathroom is spacious and luxurious with beautiful blue tiles, including a big bathtub and two large shower spigots in the separate shower stall, the robes and towels are soft and cozy, and there is room service, laundry service, and a concierge who can help with excursions. You could sit out on your private balcony, as I happily did for a while, delighting in how pleasurable it is. Some of the items in the mini-bar are even free, so feel free to enjoy those while you’re relaxing! And then there’s the pool. I definitely could have — and should have — stayed at this hotel longer!
There are plenty of veg restaurants in Chiang Mai and the staff can help you find some of them. Try Goodsouls, Vegan Heaven, Ama Vegan Kitchen, Taste From Heaven, Pure Vegan Heaven, Anchan, Amrita Garden, and others for excellent meals, while you are in town (check HappyCow for details). For a day out of town, booking time at Elephant Nature Park, a magnificent elephant sanctuary with a huge vegan buffet lunch, is a gift to yourself and a highlight of many people’s visits, while supporting this amazing non-profit organization and interacting with rescued elephants.
The Away Chiang Mai Resort is an amazing eco-hotel in an amazing city. Given that when I was there for my complimentary stay during the low season the hotel was completely full, I encourage you to book early. You won’t regret it.
9 Soi 1 Kotchasarn Road, Chang Klan,
Chiang Mai, 50100, Thailand
tel: +66 53 90 4974
email: book.acmt@awayresorts.com
web: awayresorts.com/resorts/chiang-mai-thapae
Dan Brook, Ph.D. teaches sociology at San Jose State University, from where he organizes the annual Hands on Thailand (HoT) program. Dan has a veg website called Eco-Eating. He’s also on the Board of the San Francisco Veg Society and the Advisory Board of Jewish Veg.
