A few months before the D2hotel in Chiang Mai opened, we were told by the hotel's management that there would be "a whole new concept" in greeting guests, which piqued my interest. What could someone possibly do that's different these days at a hotel check-in desk? Have a massage on the spot? A singing telegram perhaps?

It turns out a singing telegram wasn't far from the truth. When we checked into the D2 recently, we were handed glasses of iced lemongrass juice. As a porter ushered us towards the elevator, about twenty staff members broke into an old fashioned, Fred Astaire-style choreographed dance routine.

Welcome to the world of D2, where having fun is just as important as high thread-count sheets and designer water bottles in guest rooms. When the D2, a member of Dusit Hotels as well as Small Luxury Hotels, officially opened in January 2006, it filled a much-needed gap in Chiang Mai's hotel scene. Before its opening, there was only one stylish hotel in the centre of town””The Chedi. The remainder of the luxury hotels, namely the Mandarin Oriental and The Four Seasons, are out of town and are more resorts rather than urban hotels.

The D2's location on Chang Klan Road is spot-on for getting the most out of a Chiang Mai stay, and is ideally located just half a block from the Night Bazaar. For something a bit more upscale, try Living Space on Thaphae Road, just a short walk away. For more stylish boutiques, jump in a cab to Nimmanhemin Road for sleek housewares and accessories. D2 is also walking distance to plenty of cafes, bars and restaurants as well as Tapae Gateway, home of the ancient Thai temples (Wats). At the end of the day if all you want to do is relax, there's an outdoor pool and spa, as well as the in-house Moxie restaurant which serves Thai and international food.

The hotel will appeal to young at heart travellers who want a stylish place to stay without any pretentiousness. The decor is hip and modern, with the signature colour being orange. Like many boutique hotels, the lobby also doubles as the hotel's bar/lounge, so there's plenty of people-watching, hobnobbing and yes, occasional dancing. The funkiness is consistent throughout the whole hotel””the D2's fleet of cars even includes a London taxi painted in orange livery.

The room decor reminded us of Townhouse in Miami but D2 is more luxurious. All 130 rooms feature thick striped carpets, flat-screen televisions and platform beds. A squashy round orange cushion adds a bit of beach ball fun to the bed. Sofas are built in and the furniture design is mostly boxy and contemporary. There is also a small orange acrylic box on the desk housing a surprise for the guest (the hotel is big on surprises). This can be anything from lemon-flavoured biscotti to herbal massage balls.

One of the best aspects of the D2, apart from its location, is the staff. The hotel management went out of their way to hire people who fit in with the laid-back attitude of the hotel. If you want a poker-faced staff who maintain a distance from guests, then the D2 isn't for you. It's not unusual to see wait-staff sashaying or practically pirouetting between tables, but professionalism is always maintained. The concierge desk was helpful and courteous, providing guests with a comprehensive shopping guide of places that you'd actually want to visit, and not the usual tourist tat.

There was only one instance where the fun was taken too far. Without spoiling the surprise, all we'll say is that after shutting out all the lights, we discovered a very well hidden light bulb. Turning it off required some crawling and sleuthing around. A touch of the surreal, maybe, but all part of D2's De-Light-ful experience.

Rates start at $154.

D2hotel Chiang Mai
100 Chang Klan Road
Tambol Chang Klan
Amphur Muang
Chiang Mai 50100
Thailand
Phone: +66 (0) 5399 9999

www.d2hotels.com or www.slh.com