We stayed two nights at The Riverie by Katathani, a five star hotel sitting right on the Kok River in Chiang Rai. It’s close to the city centre, a short drive from the Saturday Walking Street Market and about twenty minutes from Chiang Rai International Airport.
This wasn’t a resort we picked for the location. We picked it because we needed somewhere comfortable to land after a few busy days in the mountains. It turned out to be a good choice for our family of four.
Here’s what it was actually like with kids.
What To Expect
The Riverie by Katathani feels grand from the moment you arrive. Big open lobby, gardens everywhere, that “we’ve just checked into somewhere nice” feeling.
It’s currently doing some outside renovation work to keep the grounds looking sharp. We didn’t find it disruptive. It was mostly tucked away and didn’t affect our stay.
The resort sits right along the river, with the water visible from many of the rooms. It’s tucked away from the busier parts of town, so it feels like a proper switch off spot rather than somewhere you nip in and out of during the day.
How To Get There
We didn’t arrive the normal way. We’d spent the night before in the mountains near Chiang Rai, so we booked a half day private transport service. It picked us up, stopped at two temples on the way, then dropped us straight at the hotel.
If you’re coming from Chiang Rai Airport, it’s about a twenty minute drive. Grab works in Chiang Rai and is the easiest option if you’re coming from the city centre or the night bazaar area.
Worth knowing, the hotel isn’t within walking distance of much. You’ll need a taxi or Grab if you want to head into town for dinner or shopping.
If you want to check prices for your own transport into Chiang Rai you can look here.
Where To Stay
We booked two Deluxe Rooms with a restricted view. The rooms were next to each other but not connecting, which was fine for us since our kids are older and don’t need a shared door between rooms.
The rooms themselves were spacious and comfortable, with that classic Lanna style decor the hotel is known for. Nothing to complain about here.
We’d let the hotel know it was my wife’s birthday during our stay, and they went to the trouble of decorating one of the beds with towel swans and rose petals as a welcome touch. It’s a small thing, but it made her day, and it says a lot about how the staff pay attention to the little details.
Having two rooms next to each other worked out well for a family of four. If you’ve got younger children who need to be right next to you, it’s worth asking at booking stage whether connecting rooms are available.
If you want to see the latest room rates you can look here. 👉 The Riverie by Katathani
The bathroom was spacious too, with a proper walk in shower and plenty of counter space, which helps when you’re getting two kids ready at once.
Things To Do
The pool setup here is what really won our kids over. There’s a small waterpark with a few slides, plus a lazy river that both kids loved. Honestly, they barely touched the slides. The lazy river is where they spent most of their time, just floating round and round.
The waterpark closes between 12 and 1pm each day, which we assumed would annoy the kids. It didn’t. The main swimming pool stays open during that hour, so they just moved over there while the waterpark area got a clean and the staff had a break. We actually think it’s a sensible system.
There’s a kids club on site too, though it has a height restriction of under 140cm. Worth checking this in advance if you’ve got a mix of younger and older children, since older kids might not be able to join in.
Food And Dining
Breakfast was one of the highlights of our stay. Plenty of variety, with cook stations where you can get eggs made how you like them, plus a noodle station for something a bit different. Our kids went back for seconds most mornings, which says a lot.
There’s also a small minimart on site called Melon, open from 8am to 8pm. Think of it as a mini 7-Eleven. It stocks the usual snacks and drinks but also swimming essentials and a few souvenirs, handy if anyone forgets goggles or sun cream.
Tips For Families
The resort credit only applies to the spa. Each room comes with a ฿500 credit, so with two rooms booked we had two ฿500 credits between us. The catch is it only counts if your treatment is two hours or longer. My wife booked a four hour treatment and my daughter did two hours, and both said it was worth it. If you’re not planning a longer spa session, factor this in before you count on using the credit.
Save time for the lazy river, not just the slides. If your kids are anything like ours, the lazy river will get more use than the waterpark. The hotel provides floats to use there, so there’s no need to bring your own.
Book transport in advance if you’re not staying centrally. Since the hotel isn’t walking distance to anything, it’s worth sorting a taxi or Grab plan for evenings out, especially with kids in tow.
Pros And Cons
Pros
- Lazy river and pool set up that genuinely kept the kids entertained
- Waterpark closure at lunchtime doesn’t disrupt swimming since the pool stays open
- Strong breakfast with proper variety, including cook stations
- Spacious rooms, good for families needing two rooms side by side
- On site minimart covers swimming essentials if you forget something
Cons
- Spa credit only applies to treatments of two hours or more
- Not within walking distance of restaurants or shops in town
- Kids club has a 140cm height restriction, so older kids may not be able to join
FAQs
Is The Riverie by Katathani good for families?
Yes. The pool and lazy river setup works well for kids, and the breakfast has enough variety to keep fussy eaters happy. Just be aware the kids club has a height limit.
Does the waterpark stay open all day?
No, it closes between 12 and 1pm daily. The main swimming pool stays open during that time, so there’s no real gap in swimming.
Is the hotel walking distance to Chiang Rai city centre?
No. You’ll need a taxi or Grab to reach restaurants, shops or the night bazaar.
What is the kids club height restriction?
Children need to be under 140cm to use the kids club.
How much does a room cost at The Riverie by Katathani?
We paid around ฿11,000 for two Deluxe Rooms across two nights, though rates will vary depending on season and room type.
Conclusion
The Riverie by Katathani turned out to be a genuinely relaxing stop for our family, even though it wasn’t the reason we chose Chiang Rai in the first place. The lazy river alone made it worth the stay for our kids, and the breakfast set us up well for busy days out. Just go in knowing the spa credit has conditions, and sort your transport if you’re planning to explore the city.
If you want to check current prices and availability you can look here. 👉 The Riverie by Katathani
Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. If you book through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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