**Life is Better with Dogs**

This review is dedicated to dog lovers, featuring a newly opened accommodation in Mae Rim, Chiang Mai (opened in March 2017). This dog-friendly hotel welcomes families with furry friends, offering more than just rooms. It boasts a dog-friendly café, a spacious swimming pool for dogs, and separate accommodations for humans and their canine companions.

Let's explore the unique services offered by "PAWTEL: Dog Hotel Club," a small haven spanning 2.5 acres, catering to families traveling with their beloved dogs.

**Pawtel: Dog Hotel Club**
https://www.facebook.com/pawtelchiangmai/

This accommodation is located in Mae Rim, Chiang Mai (approximately 21 km from Nimmanhaemin Road). If you are coming from Chiang Mai city, do not take the left turn that leads to the main tourist attractions (such as the Botanical Garden, Mon Cham, or Maesa Elephant Camp). Instead, continue a little further and turn left following the signs for Wat Chedi Luang. For easy navigation, simply enter "Pawtel Hotel" into Google Maps. The pin location is accurate and there will be no deviations. From the main road, follow the path for approximately 3.1 km and you will see the hotel on your left-hand side.

Upon arrival at the accommodation, check-in is required. The lobby features a high, open ceiling, creating a spacious and airy atmosphere.

The accommodation is divided into two zones: a pet-friendly hotel and a general hotel. The rooms are further divided into those that allow pets and those that do not. The area behind the lobby is a dedicated zone for pets, including a pet boarding facility, grooming services, and a swimming pool for dogs. More details will be provided later. Let's take a look at the general hotel area first.

++ This open space can be used to set up tables for events or even host a BBQ party. ++

The accommodation zone is located in a separate area. You don't have to worry about noise at night, as the distance from the dog's accommodation is quite far. The accommodation itself is a 3-story building (no elevator) with 6 types of rooms, totaling 14 rooms. The corner rooms have more space than the other rooms (Super Room). The walls are decorated with pictures of dogs in various poses.

++ Room layout and location as shown in this image. ++

All rooms have a pool view (Dogs are not allowed in this pool area).

☆ Dip Room - The ground floor features Pool Access rooms (pets are not allowed on this floor). Super Dip Rooms offer a kitchenette with a microwave.

☆ Dog Room - The second floor offers rooms where owners can stay with their dogs. These rooms have designated sleeping areas for dogs, and each room can accommodate up to two dogs weighing no more than 10 kg each.

☆ Deck Room - Floor 3: Pets are not allowed in the room. This room features a special balcony with a bathtub. The Super Deck Room has a mezzanine level above the bed.

** We stayed in a Super Deck Room for this stay. **

The room does not have a closet, only a hanging rack.

View from the balcony of the room

Inside the bathroom.

This room type features a mezzanine level above the bed (Super Deck Room only) and a bathtub on the balcony.

The large window at the end of the bed gets a bit hot in the afternoon because the sun shines in this way, but the light in the late afternoon is beautiful.

The venue boasts a unique Western European barn-style decor, featuring reclaimed wood that has been incorporated into the design in a modern and harmonious way. One can't help but wonder where they found such beautiful old wood. Additionally, they have had the brilliant idea of using bundles of scrap wood to create bedside tables.

The room amenities are standard for most accommodations, including a hairdryer, kettle, television, refrigerator, etc. Notably, the in-room television features a special channel that displays live footage from security cameras, allowing guests to monitor their dogs staying in a separate zone if they have chosen to have them boarded there.

During the Green Season (rainy season) until the end of October, room rates start at only 1,300 baht for the Dog Room and 1,700 baht for the Super Dog Room, which allows dogs to stay without any additional charges. Dog beds are also provided, making it a great value and a unique selling point for the property.

++ Dog-friendly rooms that allow your furry friend to stay in the room with you ++

++ Dog bed corner in the Dog Room ++

For Deck Room and Dip Room, the price is higher. However, even for rooms without breakfast, the price does not exceed 2,000 baht.

++ Kitchenette with microwave in Super Dip Room ++

A small cafe named "Paw's Café" is located in front of the accommodation.

Visitors are welcome to stop by for a meal or coffee even if they are not staying at the hotel. The receptionist, Yuji, is friendly and welcoming.

The hotel's canine staff, I understand, received extensive training before the hotel's opening. As a result, they are well-behaved, obedient, and knowledgeable about their duties. We have been familiar with this location since its construction and have frequently followed its page. We are familiar with a dog named "พอใจ," but unfortunately, we did not see her on this visit. They informed us that "พอใจ" was on maternity leave, and the father was another Shiba Inu dog at the hotel named "นานา."

In summary, he has 3 Shiba Inu dogs. However, after this, there may be many more Shiba Inu puppies running around once they are born.

Paw's Café offers all-day breakfast for hotel guests, with a concept of "All Day Breakfast" allowing guests to enjoy breakfast at their convenience. While there is no set menu, the café uses fresh produce from the Royal Project, ensuring a variety of dishes each day. This approach prevents repetitive menus for guests staying multiple nights.

A three-day, two-night stay revealed a health-conscious menu that would likely appeal to those seeking a healthy lifestyle. However, our camera-carrying child, a fan of hearty buffets, was less enthusiastic. Personally, having previously followed a clean diet, I found the food to be palatable and not bland like typical strict clean eating regimens.

On the first day, they served chicken breast, vegetable salad, and boiled eggs. The salad dressing was delicious, with a slightly sweet taste and a hint of sour passion fruit, creating a refreshing contrast that prevented it from being too rich.

For the second day, breakfast consisted of toast with poached eggs and fresh fruit yogurt. However, I wasn't too fond of the plain toast without butter or jam. The yogurt, on the other hand, was delicious. My only critique of breakfast is that they could have offered an additional beverage option, such as tea, coffee, or juice, as they only served plain water.

Discussing coffee, I couldn't resist ordering a cup, even though I usually only drink iced coffee and dislike hot coffee. But this time, I made an exception because of the adorable "Paw's Coffee" cup. Staying true to its concept as a dog-friendly cafe, they also offer a selection of dog treats for sale.

Now, let's move on to the zone specifically designed for dogs. Our four-legged models, "Haiku - Sukjai - Didi" from the "Doghall Dog Guide Travel" page, are ready to showcase their charm.

Our family has been raising over 10 dogs, including Shih Tzus, Dalmatians, Poodles, and Chihuahuas. My sister used to take them to dog camp with Doghall, a famous dog trainer, whom we have known for almost 10 years since Ms. Hall was still alive. However, after I got married and started my own family, we stopped raising dogs due to frequent travels, which made it inconvenient.

Thanks to Facebook, we are always updated on each other's lives, even though we haven't seen each other for a long time. When I heard about this hotel, the first thing that came to mind was the Doghall family. So, I invited them to come along because it's been a long time since we've all been together.

Before taking the children to play in the water, let's take a look at the dog-friendly hotel zone. There are daily, weekly, and monthly rates available, and you can choose between a fan room or an air-conditioned room (air-conditioned rooms have specific hours for turning the air conditioner on and off). There is also a swimming pool, a grassy field for running around, and a dog-specific salon.

++ Dog-friendly hotel zone and swimming pool exclusively for dogs ++

Day-use is available for dogs to swim and play, and grooming services are also offered. Grooming services start at 300 baht and include bathing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and brushing. Additional services such as tick and flea removal are also available.

Dog Boarding Facilities

The dog boarding facilities consist of individual rooms within a larger structure referred to as a "Barn." These rooms are further divided by internal fences, creating separate spaces for different dog sizes. Smaller and medium-sized dogs are housed in groups of six per room, while larger dogs have individual rooms with a maximum capacity of two dogs.

Boarding fees start at 250 Baht per day for rooms with fans and 300 Baht per day for rooms with air conditioning. Staff are present to care for the dogs until 9:00 PM.

Additionally, there will be a large, unfenced room that serves as a family room for dogs from the same household. (No images are available as this room is currently under renovation.)

In the event of an emergency, Pawtel has a network of nearby 24-hour veterinary hospitals that can be reached within 10 minutes.

The dogs at this facility are not confined to cages all the time. They are let out to walk around the room, one at a time, and there is a grassy area outside the central room where they can run and play. The dogs are rotated between rooms and are let out to play three times a day: morning, noon, and evening. During the morning playtime, the staff also takes the opportunity to clean the dogs' rooms.

The communal lawn and dog rooms are thoroughly cleaned every week to prevent the spread of ticks and fleas that may be lurking.

Another special service is that they offer pick-up and drop-off services for your dog to your home. This service is free within 15 km from Pawtel. If the distance exceeds this, there will be an additional charge based on the distance.

++ This car is a hotel limousine (called for luxury) used to pick up and drop off dogs at the hotel. ++

While overnight boarding and bathing-grooming services are not available, the facility offers a unique amenity: a dedicated swimming pool for dogs. This spacious pool features a gentle slope, allowing dogs to easily climb in and out. Swimming sessions start at 300 baht for small dogs, with prices increasing slightly for larger breeds or those with long fur.

++ The sharks are ready to dive into the pool! ++

The swimming pool service includes a Dog Master who supervises the dogs at all times. Life jackets of all sizes are available, and there is no additional charge for owners who wish to swim with their dogs. In other words, the price covers swimming for both dogs and their owners.

++ These two puppies are experiencing the joys of swimming for the first time. ++

The children at Doghall are having a wonderful time playing in the water.

This accommodation boasts a distinct style that caters to dog-loving families, offering opportunities for owners and their furry companions to engage in shared activities.

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Personal opinion: As the accommodation is relatively new and has only been open for two months, some of the regulations regarding dog stays seem to be a bit problematic.

Dog-friendly rooms (Dog Room) may have weight and quantity restrictions. This has been discussed with the accommodation. For example, if the weight exceeds 10 kg, there may be additional charges or additional damage deposits. It is believed that dog lovers who take their dogs on vacation would not want their dogs to be separated in another zone.

* Guests staying at the hotel with their dogs, although they do not have to pay extra to stay, but if they want to take their dogs to play in the pool, they will have to pay the same amount as guests who bring their dogs to play without staying. There are no discounts. ... I think it would be better to offer a special price or discount for guests who are staying at the hotel. This would create a selling point and encourage more people to participate in the activity.

It remains to be seen whether the accommodation will adjust its rules. The information presented in this review is based on a stay in early June 2017. If you are unsure or have any questions about bringing your dog to stay, or if you would like to inquire about other information, we recommend that you contact Pawtel directly.

This review aims to introduce a newly opened pet-friendly accommodation and its services. We apologize for any omissions or changes in information and appreciate your visit.

Nina's Journey