Escape to Paradise: Escent Ville Chiang Mai Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the gloriously chaotic world of Escape to Paradise: Escent Ville Chiang Mai Awaits! This isn't your sanitized, corporate review. This is real. I'm talking messy, opinionated, and probably a little rambling. Let's go!
First Impressions: Landing in Paradise (or at Least, Trying To)
So, Chiang Mai. Beautiful. Lush. Full of… well, let’s just say, experiences. And Escent Ville? It's the promise of sanctuary, a break from the glorious pandemonium. The website boasts… everything. Let's see if it lives up to the hype.
Accessibility - The Good, The Okay, and the "Hmm…"
Right off the bat, gotta talk about accessibility. This is HUGE for some of us, and it’s a mixed bag here. The elevator is a godsend. Elevator, yes! That's a huge win. But, I didn't see specific information on the website about wheelchair accessibility in all the rooms. I'd recommend a direct call to the hotel to make sure.
On-site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges: Again, gotta check with the hotel directly. I did see some options for dining, but accessibility details are crucial.
Wheelchair Accessible: See above. Contact them directly!
The Tech Stuff: Wi-Fi and Beyond (or, My Constant Battle with Connectivity)
Okay, crucial stuff. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES! This is a must-have in my book. I'm a digital nomad at heart, and the thought of paying extra for Wi-Fi makes me twitch. And the fact that they have Internet [LAN] as well? Old school, baby! If you're a hardcore gamer or need that super-stable connection, you're covered. Internet services in general? They seem to have it covered, but the speed and reliability are what you'll really need to know. Wi-Fi in public areas is a given, thankfully.
Rooms: My Personal Oasis (or Could Be)
The rooms? Okay, let's get into the nitty-gritty. Air conditioning? Check. Essential in Chiang Mai's heat. Alarm clock? Fine. I prefer my phone, but hey, options. Bathrobes? Luxurious. Bathtub? Yes, please! After a long day of exploring, a soak is pure bliss. Blackout curtains? Crucial for sleeping in. Coffee/tea maker? YES! Coffee is life. Complimentary tea? A lovely touch. Daily housekeeping? Awesome. Desk? Essential for working. Extra long bed? Good for tall people. Free bottled water? Hydration is key. Hair dryer? Saves luggage space. In-room safe box? Peace of mind. Internet access – wireless? Again, a must. Ironing facilities? Useful. Laptop workspace? Important. Linens? Comfortable, hopefully. Mini bar? Temptation station! Mirror? Essential. Non-smoking? Good for non-smokers. On-demand movies? Great for a lazy night in. Private bathroom? Always a win. Reading light? Perfect for a late-night bookworm session. Refrigerator? Keeps the drinks cold. Satellite/cable channels? Entertainment options. Seating area? A nice bonus. Separate shower/bathtub? Luxury! Shower? Essential. Slippers? Nice touch. Smoke detector? Safety first. Socket near the bed? VERY IMPORTANT for charging phones. Sofa? Comfy. Soundproofing? Fingers crossed! Telephone? Old school, but still useful. Toiletries? Hopefully decent. Towels? Clean, please! Umbrella? Chiang Mai rain! Visual alarm? Inclusive! Wake-up service? Helpful. Wi-Fi [free]? Again, bless. Window that opens? Fresh air!
The "Things to Do" and "Ways to Relax" Extravaganza
Okay, this is where Escent Ville really tries to shine. Let's break it down:
- Spa/Sauna/Steamroom: Oh. My. Goodness. The Spa is the big draw. I'm a sucker for a good spa. The Sauna and Steamroom are icing on the cake. Getting a Body scrub and a Body wrap? Yes, please!
- Fitness Center: I'm not a gym rat, but it's nice to have the option. Gym/fitness.
- Swimming Pool: A Pool with a view? YES! I want a pool I can actually swim in, not just dip my toes. Swimming pool [outdoor].
- Massage: Essential. Foot bath? Relaxing.
Cleanliness and Safety: The "Is it Safe?" Checklist
This is HUGE now.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Good to know.
- Breakfast in room: Nice touch.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Reassuring.
- Doctor/nurse on call: Peace of mind.
- First aid kit: Essential.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere, hopefully.
- Hot water linen and laundry washing: Important.
- Hygiene certification: Good to have.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Smart.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Let's hope they stick to it.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Reassuring.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Interesting.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Crucial.
- Safe dining setup: Necessary.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Yep.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Hopefully.
- Sterilizing equipment: Good.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Fueling the Adventure
Okay, let's talk food. Because, let's be honest, I live to eat.
- A la carte in restaurant: Always good to have options.
- Alternative meal arrangement: Helpful for dietary restrictions.
- Asian breakfast: YES! I’m here for the congee.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Fingers crossed for some amazing Pad Thai.
- Bar: Drinks!
- Bottle of water: Hydration is key.
- Breakfast [buffet]: I love a good buffet.
- Breakfast service: Essential.
- Buffet in restaurant: More food!
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Always welcome.
- Coffee shop: Caffeine fix, check.
- Desserts in restaurant: Bring on the mango sticky rice!
- Happy hour: Yes, please!
- International cuisine in restaurant: Variety is the spice of life.
- Poolside bar: Drinks by the pool? Sign me up.
- Restaurants: Options are good.
- Room service [24-hour]: Perfect for late-night cravings.
- Salad in restaurant: Gotta eat your greens.
- Snack bar: Midnight snacks, yes!
- Soup in restaurant: Comfort food.
- Vegetarian restaurant: Excellent, especially if you're vegetarian.
- Western breakfast: Sometimes you just need eggs and bacon.
- Western cuisine in restaurant: More options.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
- Air conditioning in public area: Crucial.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: Useful.
- Business facilities: Good for business travelers.
- Cash withdrawal: Handy.
- Concierge: Helpful.
- Contactless check-in/out: Smart.
- Convenience store: Snacks!
- Currency exchange: Useful.
- Daily housekeeping: Excellent.
- Doorman: Welcome.
- Dry cleaning: Useful.
- Elevator: Crucial.
- Essential condiments: Small but appreciated.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Needs to be checked.
- Food delivery: Excellent.
- Gift/souvenir shop: Tempting.
- Indoor venue for special events: Good.
- Invoice provided: Useful.
- Ironing service: Useful.
- Laundry service: Very welcome.
- Luggage storage: Helpful.
- Meeting/banquet facilities: Fine.
- Meetings: Good.
- Meeting stationery: Fine.
- On-site event hosting: Good.
- Outdoor venue for special events: Nice.
- Projector/LED display: Good.
- Safety deposit boxes: Secure.
- Seminars: Fine.
- Shrine: Interesting.
- Smoking area: Necessary.
- Terrace: Relax
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's perfectly polished travel itinerary. This is… well, this is my trip to Escent Ville Chiang Mai, and it's gonna be a glorious, messy, hilarious, and probably slightly sweaty adventure. Let’s see if I can even keep track of it all…
Escent Ville Chiang Mai: A Chaotic Chronicle
Day 1: Arrival, and the Great Mosquito Massacre (Also, Pad Thai Dreams)
Morning (or, technically, the middle of the night): Arrived at Chiang Mai airport. Jet lag? Oh, honey, it's a full-blown jet lag coma. I swear, I almost missed my transfer. The driver, bless his heart, looked like he'd seen a ghost when I finally stumbled out of the arrivals hall. He probably thought he was picking up a zombie.
Mid-morning: Check-in at Escent Ville. The lobby? Stunning. The room? Okay, it's a room. The air con is blasting like a hurricane, which is a godsend because the humidity outside is trying to melt my face. I swear, I'm already glistening.
Afternoon: The Great Mosquito Massacre: Unpacked. Found four mosquitoes already plotting my demise. Seriously, the aggressive mosquitoes in Thailand are a national treasure… of annoyance. Spent a solid hour swatting, cursing, and generally feeling like a clumsy warrior in a tiny, air-conditioned arena. Victory! (I think.)
Evening: Food. Glorious, glorious food. Wandered (slightly lost) to a local food stall. Ordered Pad Thai. Ate Pad Thai. The Pad Thai was so good, I nearly wept. Seriously. It was a religious experience. I think I might have accidentally licked the plate. Don't judge. Then, walked back to the hotel. I am full.
Night: Passed out.
Day 2: Temples, Taxis, and a Near-Disaster Involving a Mango Sticky Rice Overdose
Morning: Woke up feeling like a crumpled piece of paper. But, coffee! The hotel coffee was surprisingly decent. Fueled up, and ready for temples.
Late Morning: Temple Hopping: Visited Wat Phra Singh and Wat Chedi Luang. Wat Phra Singh was beautiful, but I was more focused on avoiding the overly persistent vendors selling, well, everything. Wat Chedi Luang was impressive. I walked around it for a while.
Lunch: Found a cute little cafe, tucked away from the crowds. Ordered a smoothie and some kind of noodle dish. The smoothie was pure bliss. The noodle dish? Let's just say it had a unique flavor profile. I ate it anyway, because, you know, gotta experience the culture.
Afternoon: Taxi Troubles: Tried to hail a taxi. Failed. Tried again. Failed. Found a Tuk Tuk. Negotiated a price. Felt slightly ripped off, but also, I was too hot to argue. The Tuk Tuk ride was a chaotic, exhilarating blur of honking, dodging scooters, and me clinging on for dear life.
Evening: Mango Sticky Rice Mania: Found the BEST mango sticky rice. Seriously, the stuff of dreams. Ate one. Ate another. Ate a third. I think I might have actually blacked out from the sugar rush. Woke up in a blissful, sticky haze. Might have a mango sticky rice problem…
Night: Watched some TV, and tried to figure out how to use the Thai channels. Failed.
Day 3: Cooking Class, Elephant Encounters (and a Moment of Existential Dread)
Morning: Cooking class! Finally, something I can actually do! Chopping vegetables, grinding spices, and generally making a mess. The instructor was patient, even when I almost set the kitchen on fire while trying to make green curry. The curry, however, was amazing. I'm basically a Thai chef now.
Afternoon: Elephant Sanctuary (the good kind): This was the highlight of the trip, hands down. Spent the afternoon at an ethical elephant sanctuary. Fed elephants, bathed elephants, and generally felt overwhelmed by their gentle giants. Seeing these incredible creatures up close, and knowing they were being treated with respect, was truly moving. Okay, I might have shed a tear or two. Don't tell anyone.
Evening: The Hotel Pool and Existential Dread: Back at the hotel. The pool looked inviting. I put on my swimsuit. Then, I looked at myself in the mirror. My reflection was a sweaty, slightly sunburnt, mango sticky rice-addicted mess. I had a moment of existential dread. "Is this all there is?" I asked myself. The answer, of course, was a resounding "Yes, and it's glorious." I jumped in the pool anyway.
Night: Thai massage. Bliss.
Day 4: Market Mayhem, and the Sadness of Leaving
Morning: Explored the Chiang Mai Night Bazaar. So many things! So many smells! So many people! Got utterly lost. Bought some souvenirs. Bargained (badly). Had a blast.
Afternoon: The Goodbye: Checked out of the hotel. Said goodbye to the incredible staff. Feeling a little sad.
Evening: Airport. Flight home. Wishing I could stay just a little bit longer.
Final Thoughts:
Escent Ville Chiang Mai? A great base. Chiang Mai itself? Magical, chaotic, and utterly unforgettable. Did everything go according to plan? Absolutely not. Did I have a blast? Absolutely yes. Would I go back? In a heartbeat. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find some more mango sticky rice.
Uncover Santana do Riacho's Hidden Gem: Pousada Opicodocipo Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Escent Ville Chiang Mai Awaits! - Or Does It? (My Rambling Thoughts)
So, Escent Ville Chiang Mai... Is it REALLY paradise? (Because I'm skeptical.)
Okay, let's be real. "Paradise" is a BIG word. Like, inflatable-pool-sized big. Escent Ville? Well, it *tries*. And honestly? Sometimes it succeeds, and sometimes... well, let's just say my expectations got a bit of a reality check. I went in expecting pristine perfection, like those Instagram photos. You know the ones – perfectly symmetrical pool, smiling people, impossibly blue skies.
The reality? First, the lobby. Gorgeous. Marble floors, that signature Escent Ville scent (which, I have to admit, I loved, even though it felt a *little* like they were trying REALLY hard). Then… the room. Okay, it was nice. Actually, it was *very* nice. But… (and this is a big but, people) the air conditioning sounded like a dying walrus. Seriously, it was a constant "Hnnnngh... hnnnngh..." all night. My sleep? Not paradise. More like a grumpy, walrus-adjacent nap.
What's the deal with the location? Is it actually *in* Chiang Mai? (Because I'm terrible at geography.)
Yes and no! It's in Chiang Mai, but not *right* in the heart of the action. Think a bit outside the main city, a little bit quieter. Which, honestly? I appreciated. I'm not a huge fan of being elbow-to-elbow with a million tourists all the time.
The plus side: It's close to the airport. Super convenient after a long flight, especially if you're, like me, and your brain turns to mush after more than six hours in the air. The downside? Getting to the *really* cool stuff (temples, markets, food stalls of deliciousness) requires a taxi or a tuk-tuk ride. Which, depending on your haggling skills, can get a little pricey. I once spent way too much on a tuk-tuk ride because I was too tired to argue. Lesson learned: ALWAYS argue. Always.
The pool. It looks AMAZING in the pictures. Is it as good in real life? (Because I'm a pool snob.)
Okay, the pool. This is where Escent Ville *almost* redeemed itself. The pictures? They don't lie. It's gorgeous. Infinity edge, overlooking… well, not the ocean, obviously, but a pretty decent view of the surrounding area. I spent a solid afternoon just floating around, pretending I was in a James Bond movie.
The *almost* part? It was crowded. Like, surprisingly, annoyingly crowded. Apparently, everyone else also wanted to pretend they were James Bond. Finding a sun lounger was like a competitive sport. I ended up sharing one with a very enthusiastic, and slightly sunburned, German couple. (They were lovely, though. Shared their sunscreen. Saved my skin, honestly.)
Also, I witnessed a child, bless his heart, accidentally pee in the pool. So, you know, paradise with a hint of chlorine and… yeah. Let's move on.
What about the food? I heard the breakfast buffet is legendary. (And I LOVE breakfast.)
Oh, the breakfast buffet. Okay, here's where I went from "slightly skeptical" to "enthusiastically hungry." It *is* legendary. I mean, seriously, it was insane. Everything you could possibly imagine. Fresh fruit that tasted like sunshine, pastries that melted in your mouth, eggs cooked to order, noodles, rice, curries… I’m getting hungry just thinking about it.
I may have… overindulged. Let's just say I spent a good portion of the morning in a food coma, contemplating the meaning of life and the sheer genius of scrambled eggs. It was a culinary adventure, a truly epic breakfast experience. The kind of breakfast that makes you consider staying in the hotel *just* for the breakfast.
Okay, but the *service*? Hotels can be so hit or miss. (I'm picky about service.)
The service was… generally good. The staff were friendly and helpful, always smiling, always trying their best. But… (there's always a but, isn't there?) there were a few hiccups.
For example, the first day, I asked for extra towels. They never arrived. I called again. Still nothing. Finally, on the third call, I got a towel. But by then, I was already starting to feel a little bit like a neglected orphan. And the language barrier, sometimes, was a thing. Not a huge deal, but definitely noticeable. I tried to order a coffee once and ended up with a pineapple smoothie. (Which, actually, wasn't the worst thing in the world.)
Would you go back? (Be honest!)
Hmm. That's a tough one. Honestly? Yes, probably. Despite the walrus AC, the crowded pool, and the occasional towel-related drama, there were enough good things to outweigh the bad. The breakfast alone is almost worth it. Almost.
It's not *perfect* paradise. But it's a decent escape. And hey, who knows? Maybe they'll fix the AC. And maybe, just maybe, I'll finally learn how to haggle. Or at least, remember to pack more sunscreen. The potential for a truly amazing trip is definitely there, just maybe manage your expectations, and don't be afraid to complain. That’s my advice. And get the breakfast.
Is there a spa? And should I get a massage? (Because I'm always up for a massage.)
Yes, there is a spa! And yes, you should ABSOLUTELY get a massage! Seriously, do not leave without experiencing the spa. I had a traditional Thai massage, and it was… well, it was borderline life-changing. Okay, maybe not *life-changing*, but it was incredible. The masseuse was a tiny woman with the strength of a thousand suns. She kneaded out every knot, every tension headache, every lingering thought about that darn walrus AC.
The spa itself was beautiful, tranquil, smelling of exotic oils. It was the closest I got to actual, unadulterated paradise during my stay. Seriously, block out some time, book a massage, and just… melt. You won't regret it. This is the one thing I'd go back for, in a heartbeat. Forget the pool, forget the location, forget the questionable air conditioning. The spa? Pure bliss. Go, now! Book it! Seriously!
