Imperial Chiang Mai Resort Hotel & Sports Club

This is a 50-meter, outdoor pool with backstroke flags. It is in desperate need of TLC (as is true of the entire property) – sharp broken and cracked tiles line the pool (be careful where your feet land if you do flip turns) and exposed drains at the bottom of the pool. It feels like a place that had its heyday 20 years ago. The upside is that I had the whole pool to myself during the entire duration of my swim. Like all pools in this area, it's not heated, so it can be bracingly cold in January. It's a bit of a trek to get here (it's a 20-minute drive from the Nimman/Maya Mall area) and you'll need to wait a while to get a ride share (Grab/Bolt) app to pick you up.

I’ve been here every second day for the the last weeks. It's a great pool and location! And yes…take the road along the river. But, please…pay the entrance fee and respect to the staff. It relieves their life and is better for you!

Great location and pool, especially if you want to avoid the busy city of Chiang Mai. I've been here twice and hardly anyone was in the water either time. It's easy to get to from the city; rent a bike or motorbike. Tip: Take the road along the river, using Google Maps, instead of taking the main road. It's much nicer and just as quick. As with most resorts and hotels in Asia, they don't ask for an entrance fee, just jump in and enjoy. The water is on the cool side: about 21ºC (70ºF).

The pool hours are 8 AM to 8 PM, seven days a week. It's nice and quiet, but I don't know what it is like in the high season. There are changing facilities and hot showers for non-guests, which may be welcome in the "cool" season - roughly November to March.

As with most pools in Thailand, there is no roof, so the water can get quite warm in the hot season. Most Thais don't like to get much sun so, if one has no problem swimming in the middle of the day s/he will have this pool and most others in Thailand all to him/herself.