Naomi spa

Worth knowing up front: this one is for men aged 19 and over, so it isn't a couples' spa or a family afternoon out. Once that's clear, the picture reviewers paint is consistent. Skilled hands, an unhurried pace, therapists who are warm and chatty, and people leaving already planning the next visit. One Korean reviewer rated it well above the equivalent places he'd tried in Bangkok and Pattaya, which tells you something about the standard of the massage rather than the size of the venue.

The hours are the other thing that sets it apart. Doors open at noon and stay open until 2am, every day of the week. Most spas in Chiang Rai have shut by early evening, so if you've spent the day out at the temples or on the river and want something late, this fills a gap that very little else in the city does. Afternoons will be quieter if you'd rather not wait.