The Gecko Hideaway Story

I bought this house in 2011, during many years of living abroad as a humanitarian worker. I needed somewhere within easy reach of an international airport to recharge in between missions and store things that no longer fit in my suitcase. I had lived in Bangkok for a few years and loved it, so Thailand seemed a natural choice. Being an Aussie with ready access to beautiful beaches, the mountains and culture of Northern Thailand held greater appeal. After a very brief search with the help of wonderful property manager Angkana, I was lucky enough to find this place. It fit the bill perfectly and I fell in love with the area. More than a decade later it is still my happy place, where I can unwind with the slower pace of village life, close to nature, just a short drive away from Chiang Mai city with all its modern conveniences, food, art, history and culture. Over the years this house has provided many wonderful memories of holidays with family and friends, and as a peaceful remote-working location.

Why Gecko Hideaway? Now that I have re-settled in Australia, I don’t come here as often as I used to, although I am still a regular traveller with my humanitarian consulting work. Property manager, Angkana, who lives nearby, has done a wonderful job of taking care of it in my absence. But I don’t want it standing empty and being a constant drain on my finances, it should be used! I want it to be enjoyed by other like-minded people, at an affordable price, as a small way of giving back to those who are also passionate humanitarians and others doing great things. Hence the launch of Gecko Hideaway.

But fair warning, it’s not for everyone. A luxury 5-star resort with full tourist amenities it is not. There’s no beach and no pool (yet). It’s for people on the more intrepid scale of travel:  self-catering, self-driving, willing to cheerfully embrace life in a rural Thai village, and who don’t mind sharing space with the resident geckos and the quirks of nature. If this is all sounding good to you so far, fantastic. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!

- Victoria Bannon, Host/Owner