Location: Chiang Mai | Rating: 3 star | Rooms: 18 | Pool: yes | Spa: yes
Situated 20 minutes drive from the bustling centre of Chiang Mai, Joy’s House is an oasis of calm and a perfect place to base yourself while exploring Thailand’s second city. If you’re looking for an authentic, good-hearted and friendly Thai welcome, this is the place for you. It’s literally a traditional family guesthouse – the main building is an old-style teakwood construction on stilts and was Joy’s parents’ home. It retains its family atmosphere too and if you’re travelling with children they will have a unique chance to meet and hang out with local kids from Joy’s ‘School for Life’ project. As well as visiting Chiang Mai, we recommend trying out a cooking lesson or food tour with one of Joy’s family or treating yourself to a massage in their spa.
Why we work with them
Joy’s House set up the School for Life in 2003 in the mountains north of the city. It provides a home and education for around 140 children in difficult circumstances and you will be likely to meet some of the graduates working at Joy’s House to gain vocational skills in the front office, kitchen, bar or garden, as well as housekeeping and engineering / maintenance. It’s also possible to visit the school upon request to learn more about their work.