Nantrungjai Boutique Hotel — Big Rooms in a Lanna Garden, with a Free Ride from the Airport
If you land at Nan Airport without a car, Nantrungjai Boutique Hotel is one of the first names worth a look — it sits about 5 minutes away and runs a free airport pickup. The property is a cluster of low Lanna-style buildings with pale grey-tiled gabled roofs, spread around a wide garden dotted with cute little plaster figurines. The thing guests mention most, though, is the rooms: they're far bigger than the price suggests — starting at 38 sqm and going up to a 70 sqm Junior Suite that sleeps four without feeling tight.
Nantrungjai is built as several low blocks scattered around a garden rather than one tall tower. The roofs are pale-tiled Lanna gables, the columns white plaster, the balconies carved timber — walking the grounds in the evening feels more like an upcountry resort than a town hotel. Rooms come in three main types: the Boutique Room at 38 sqm, the Premier Room at 57 sqm, and the Junior Suite at 70 sqm. All have polished tile floors, high ceilings and a separate sitting area, and guests consistently note that even the cheapest room is larger than expected — comfortable for three or four people.
The detail that wins over fly-in guests is the free airport transfer. Nan Nakhon Airport is only about 3 km away, a 5-minute drive, and if you send your flight time ahead the hotel arranges a car to collect you. Breakfast is a buffet served 6:30–10:00, built around freshly cooked Thai dishes with a fresh-salad corner, bread, eggs and fruit. Thai guests tend to rate it well and say the food doesn't run out — but if you're hoping for a big Western spread, the selection there is on the thin side, so set expectations accordingly.
Guests say: "The room was much bigger than they expected, the garden was shady and pleasant to walk in, the staff were lovely, and a car was waiting to pick them up right at the airport."
Out in the garden there's an outdoor pool ringed by trees and sun loungers — quiet, easy-going, and good for letting kids in for a mid-morning swim. The little plaster figurines tucked into corners of the garden are a small touch that children love photographing. Beyond that, there's an on-site restaurant, a massage service, a karaoke room, bicycles to borrow and plenty of free parking. It's a hotel that suits families road-tripping through Nan more than travellers who want to wander the old town on foot.
On location, let's be straight: the hotel sits on the Nan–Tha Wang Pha road (Route 101) on the edge of town, not in the old centre with Wat Phumin and the walking street. It's roughly a 10–12 minute drive into town. With your own car or a rented motorbike that's a non-issue, but if you have no transport and want to stroll out to restaurants and cafés, this isn't as handy as a central hotel. The upside is the quiet — no traffic noise, and you'll sleep well.
The overall score sits at 8.6/10 from 30 Trip.com reviews, with 3.5 stars on TripAdvisor (ranked #2 of 3 boutique hotels in Nan). Guests agree on the cleanliness, the room size, and the staff who help around the clock. The honest gripes: Wi-Fi that's strong in the lobby but weak in some rooms, and buildings and a pool that are starting to show their age next to newer hotels. None of it is a dealbreaker, but it's worth picturing the real thing before you book.
On price, the Boutique Room starts around ฿1,200/night including breakfast and the airport pickup, which is genuinely good value for a 38 sqm room in Nan. Want more space and you step up to the Premier at 57 sqm for about ฿1,600, or the Junior Suite at 70 sqm for about ฿2,200. In the cool high season (November–January), when people pour into Nan for the cold weather and the Chompoo Phu Kha blossoms, rates climb and rooms fill fast — book at least 3–4 weeks ahead.
Bottom line: Nantrungjai works best for families or groups of friends driving through Nan who want a big, good-value room, a leafy garden, and don't mind being out of the centre. You get the free airport ride, a pool for the kids, and attentive staff. If your plan is to stroll to Wat Phumin and the evening walking street without a car, look at a hotel in town instead — but if you've already got wheels, this is a solid pick that won't disappoint.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Rooms very spacious and clean — sleep several people
- ✓ Staff friendly and helpful around the clock
- ✓ Free airport transfer — a real plus for fly-in guests
- ✓ Buffet breakfast with freshly cooked Thai dishes
- ! Out of town — you really need a car to get around
- ! Wi-Fi weak in some rooms, stronger in the lobby
- ! Buildings and pool are starting to show their age
- ✓ Wide, shady garden with figurines that kids love
- ✓ Quiet outdoor pool — good for families
- ✓ Generous free parking for road-trippers
- ✓ Good value for the room size you get
- ! Limited Western options at breakfast
- ! Drive needed to reach Wat Phumin and the walking street
- ! Some bathroom fittings look dated with the building's age
- 💡If you have no car — the hotel is out of town on the Nan–Tha Wang Pha road, with no walking access to restaurants or cafés → rent a motorbike in town or lean on the free airport pickup to get yourself there
- 💡If you need Wi-Fi for work — the signal is strongest in the lobby and weak in spots inside the rooms → work from the lobby or restaurant area, or bring a mobile data SIM as backup
- 💡If you're travelling as a family — the 70 sqm Junior Suite sleeping four beats booking two small rooms, and you get the pool and garden in one place → note your headcount at booking so they set up an extra bed