This is a new upscale hostel, just built last year, and exceptional in its class. The architecture has a boutique hotel feel, with numerous sitting areas scattered throughout the ground and first floors, and the cleanliness is maintained through a no shoes and no food/drink (water excepted) policy in the living areas. There is also free coffee, tea, rice snacks, and drinking water offered all day in the kitchen. I booked the private balcony room, which included my own balcony, an open air bathroom, and a cooked breakfast set (Set A is quite good). However, as an experienced dorm sleeper, even the dorm room I glanced in to and the communal washroom facilities looked inviting enough. Everything is purpose-built and well-thought out, and the hostel condition would meet high standards in Australia/New Zealand.
Every Baan Mai Kradan team member I interacted with during my stay was friendly and professional with a can-do customer service attitude, and also spoke English well.
The hostel is quite easy to find, and only sits about a 10-15 minute from the bus station or the main restaurant/bar area scattered around the clock tower. The path is along main well-lit and populated streets - no need to chance being ripped off by a dishonest tuk tuk or taxi driver, just download a Google map of Chiang Rai to use offline and use your GPS for navigation.
Baan Mai Kradan is well worth the slightly higher price for both location and condition.
