With the cheapo, bug-laden guesthouses becoming something of a dying breed, Chiang Mai is now awash with guesthouses and hotels that go by the name of ’boutique’. The Castle is a far cry from the dank guesthouses of yesteryear, and remarkably different from the ubiquitous Hang Dong-designed masses, though the rooms are furnished with teak furniture, flat screen TVs and air-con. What’s most impressive about this guesthouse is the fact that it’s a replica Roman castle. Seriously: tower, castle stones and a pool that looks something similar to a Roman bath – talk about quirky. It makes you wonder if it’s really worth trying to save the extra few baht by staying in a discount tip, but then again, when you’re twenty-two, the tip is alright. The seventeen rooms are all top notch and go for 800-1000 baht with complimentary breakfast, also a coffee shop, wi-fi access and a shuttle bus that will take you around town.