My husband and I selected this B&B based on the Trip Advisor reviews and several emails with Paulo (the owner) who made it clear that we would be his only guests for 3 nights and he would be able to escort us on all of the excursions listed on his web site. We never would have chosen to stay in such a remote area if we thought we would be on our own. He stated in emails that we would discuss the many tours (with him) when we arrived. The web site mentions tours that he will take you on. We had read one negative review on Trip Advisor which complained that the guests did not feel welcome. We ignored that review and booked 3 nights.
Thaton was a 4 hour bus ride from Chiang Mai. I sent an email as to our approximate arrival time and called the B&B when we arrived, just as we were informed to do. The owner's wife (Nid) acted surprised when I called...as if she had no inkling we were coming. She eventually said she would pick us up (as promised on the web site and in emails.) She sent a scooter! My husband and I rode one at a time with our backpacks and no helmets. My husband and I were very upset as it was not expected AND there was a mini van in the parking lot with their B&B name on it. We felt she did not want to be troubled with picking us up so she sent an employee.
The grounds are beautiful and the cottage very nice. The young woman who showed us to our room said Nid was sick when I asked about tours. I asked when we could talk with her and she said maybe tomorrow. We were beginning to get upset as we were in the middle of nowhere with no promise of the tours we had traveled so far to experience!
A while later, Nid made an appearance and showed us some tours. She made it VERY CLEAR that her husband was in France and she was not taking us anywhere. In all fairness, Paulo had emailed me a few days before we left for Asia and said he would be in France on business. He said Nid spoke English and it would be "no problem" to keep our reservation. He apparently never asked Nid if this was ok. She was cold toward us and we were made to feel like an imposition from the moment we arrived.
She gave us 2 glasses of juice and some fruit and hesitantly agreed to make dinner for us, also a service available according to the website. My husband joked and said "Want to bet these juie glasses will be here tomorrow morning?" By the way, he was correct, the ant covered glasses were stil on our patio table the following morning. We swam and drank the 2 beers in the refrigerator. I had read o previous reviews that the free mini bar is limited in what it contains, but guests can request additional beverages without a charge. We had 2 more beers and we were charged for them.
We decided quickly that we would not be staying here. My husband and I have been traveling for 20 years and have never felt so uncomfortable and unwelcome, especially in Thailand where everyone is so friendly. I went to the common area to use the computer and felt very uncomfortable as it felt as if I were intruding in someone's living room. There were several children and other adults (living?) there and my attempt to smile and be friendly was ignored. I left. By 6:00 there was no mention of when or if we would be eating so we headed up to the patio and were ignored for about another 45 minutes until Nid finally said dinner would be at 7:30. The dinner was delicious, I believe it was 240 baht per person. It was at dinner that my husband said we would be leaving the next day and could she please arrange a driver.
The next day we drove to Chiang Rai. Summary: We wasted over a day and night with this experience. We left a wonderful place in Chiang Mai, hoping to travel the less beaten path (as promised) and wasted money and time for nothing. The negative energy and feelings of discomfort were a shame on a vacation. I emailed Paulo after the incident and never heard from him.
I waited several days to write this so I could make a fair and calm review. We felt there should have been at least an apology for promises not kept. I can not speak for what the experience would be like if Paulo was there...but if it is only his wife DO NOT GO!