I nearly stayed here but my friend who lives near Chiang Mai saved me and said don't do it. Boy was I lucky. Please read the recent reviews as they are accurate in many respects. All I can comment on is the lobby, general ambience and the location as I did not stay overnight but I did go and have a look. The place is far from the shopping district and places to eat. It's sort of out in no man's land and it's an area that while safe for a male like me, I'd be hesitant if I was a woman or elderly. I was surprised as this Novotel is nothing and I mean nothing like other Novotels where I have stayed. in Thailand. There is a great selection of reasonably priced hotels near some interesting places in Chiang Mai and I strongly suggest you consider all of your options before staying here.

The hotel is nice but the rooms are old and need a good refresh !
The hotel is a little bit far from the city center (but easy to go by tuk tuk or even walking).
I was disappointed, usually Novotel have a higher standard.

Fantastic hotel, everything about it was great. The location was good, near a fabulous little supermarket, down a nice side-street. Quite a way to the Night Bazaar, but plenty of tuk-tuks around to take you there.

Just arrived in Chiang Mai yesterday afternoon. 120 Baht flat rate (no meter) from airport to Novotel (150 Baht for minivan). Check-in took mysteriously long time, though, not too bad. Assigned room 326. Entire 3rd floor stank of old carpet and stale cigarette smoke. Room was big with the largest bed I have ever seen in my life (mattress is all one piece). The room was "clean" in the sense that the tables, sheets, counters, etc appeared to have been cleaned by the housekeepers, but the room was dirty in the sense that the carpet, paint, tile grout, shower walls, toilet, and furniture are very old, worn, stained, and smelly. Seriously, except for the nice sheets on the bed and a nice mini-bar area, the room looked like a run-down motel room. Also, internet access is not free and there are no drawers and very little closet space for clothes. Paid only 860 Baht (US$27) for this "Superior" room, so I figure you get what you pay for.

"Upgraded" to a "Deluxe" room for 500 Baht more (to about $45/night total). The only differences were newer carpet (no stains) slightly newer furniture (though still no drawers), and the absence of the 3rd floor stench. Immediately got on the internet and found another hotel on TripAdvisor (Raming Lodge, very nice). Checked out of Novotel next morning.

Breakfast was 250 Baht each and was just so-so. Variety of food, but nothing tasted that good. Pool area had nice view of mountains, but the lounge chairs are in terrible shape and there were no towels anywhere. Fitness center equipment was about as old as our room furnishings, and some looked inoperative. No gym towels provided.

I'll end on a positive note. The staff is incredibly nice and constantly want to assist you. The free 10 minute shuttle to the night bazaar was convenient and punctual.

Pictures I posted are of the upgraded "Deluxe" room, but still are a bit misleading in that they make the room look nicer than it really is.