Fern Resort Mae Hong Son

3 nights, room 35. We choose Fern Resort based on previous reviews and were very happy. Room 35: We asked for a room overlooking the rice paddies - even though we knew they wouldn't be green - it was beautiful and quiet and everything we wanted. It was a longer walk to the restaurant and reception - but we liked that aspect. For us, Room 35 was particularly good because it was far enough away from the infinity pool that it was private from that area and other guests noise did not carry. The room had two sections. A large bedroom with two external doors, balconies off both sides, one (the backdoor) overlooking a stream and bush and the other (the front door) overlooking the rice fields. The second section was the very large bathroom area, fridge and wardrobe and safe - closed off from the bedroom by double doors. This area had a slight musty (mould ?) smell which I couldn't locate the source - but it did not venture into the bedroom so sleeping was not a problem. Restaurant: We are the type of traveller, who usually go out exploring to eat local, on the street and not at hotels. However, in this case we ate each night at the Fern Resort because we both wanted to drink alcohol and walking to dinner was not an option. To that end we really enjoyed the setting of the restaurant and the way the lighting was done. It felt very romantic. We were grateful the restaurant was available and particularly enjoyed the Aubergine Spicy Salad and a chicken dish and a pork dish, both of which were "recommended" on the menu. For dinner there was a large Thai choice (as opposed to information given from another reviewer who said there was limited choice), there were many pages to the menu. They offered proper cocktails and cold beer. The service was as expected - delightful. For breakfast (included), there were also many choices from western (toast & jam) & eggs cooked on demand your way - to a big selection of Thai dishes, rice porridge, fried rice, noodles, assortment of Thai sweets. They changed each day we were there. Someone mentioned dogs in the restaurant. I am allergic to dogs and they did not bother me. The dogs are obviously well treated, have plenty of free room to roam around the property and are friendly but not aggressive. I saw the staff feed them after meal service - pretty good recycling of all the food that guests take and then leave on their plates in my opinion.

Terrible maintainance. The room was not well maintained, probably not used a long time during Covid. We heard rats running around on the ceiling having their own 'party' at night, and we could not sleep.

We were very impressed with the fern resort from the moment we arrived. The staff were so charming and welcoming. We both arrived quite poorly and they were so attentive to our needs snd provided cut fruit and ginger and lemon tea to our room, let me stress we did not get ill here but at a previous accommodation, these folks helped us. The facilities are amazing and the location, trees, greenery , streams and swimming pools just so well thought out and presented. I wish we could have stayed as it would have been the perfect recovery location, a very special thank you to all the lovely staff for looking after us so well.