Chiang Mai is full of hotels, guesthouses, and hostels, but most travelers hunt for them through booking apps. That is fine if you want to pay more and stick to the same places everyone else books. I wanted something cheaper, cleaner, and quieter. I found it by skipping the app entirely and doing things the old way.
Step One Walk the Streets
I arrived in Chiang Mai in the late morning with my backpack and a rough idea of the area I wanted to stay in. Instead of opening my phone I walked. I checked a few side streets near the old city where I knew smaller guesthouses were tucked away. Within fifteen minutes I was talking to an owner about a room.
Step Two Ask for the Price Without Mentioning a Site
When you book through an app the property pays a cut to the site. By showing up in person you give them a chance to offer a better deal. I asked about the price for a single night and was quoted 450 baht. That is about twelve dollars.
Step Three Check the Room
Before handing over any cash I looked at the room. It was clean, had air conditioning, a hot shower, and free Wi Fi. Nothing fancy but more than enough for me. I have learned to always check before paying because photos can be misleading.
Step Four Negotiate for a Longer Stay
If you like the place ask about staying longer. Many owners will lower the price if you book several nights at once and pay in cash. I stayed four nights and paid less than what two nights would have cost on the booking apps.
Why This Works
In person you can see exactly what you are getting and you can often save twenty to thirty percent compared to online prices. It also supports local owners directly instead of paying fees to a middleman.
If you want more ways to save money while traveling abroad check out Timothy’s Travel Tips. I post the tricks I use to keep my budget low without giving up comfort.
