The hotel in Chiang Mai met all the needs of a detail-oriented guest, and even offered pleasant surprises

Aleenta Retreat Chiang Mai, where I stayed during my trip to Thailand, was a delightful surprise. This hotel only officially opened in April this year, and its iconic main building consists of two wooden houses that are over two hundred years old, preserved from the Lanna Kingdom to the present day. The hotel is imbued with a unique cultural atmosphere. Each morning starts with yoga and mindfulness meditation, followed by a refreshing and healthy breakfast after the exercise. Staying here allows one to relax both body and mind, and to focus on inner feelings. Aleenta seamlessly integrates environmental protection and support for local crafts into every detail of the hotel. The snacks and water provided in the rooms are all in glass containers, and the toiletries are stored in ceramic containers. The hand-carved wooden fish and frogs are not only toys for entertainment but also secret signals for communicating with the room service staff. Placing them on the bed means 'bed linen change needed,' and at the door means 'do not disturb.' The restaurant offers authentic Northern Thai cuisine, influenced by the dietary cultures of Myanmar, Laos, and China's Xishuangbanna, as Northern Thailand was once the long-independent Lanna Kingdom. Northern Thai dishes are relatively mild in flavor, following ancient cooking methods, with dishes like herb-grilled chicken skewers, lemon fish soup, and curry pineapple rice highly recommended. During meditation, I changed into a set of white cotton clothes prepared by the hotel, which were very skin-friendly. When it was time to leave, no one wanted to part with them, so we bought the same ones from the hotel boutique to take home. A closer look at the handmade clothes and backpacks displayed in the boutique reveals the artistic temperament that flows in the blood of Thai craftsmen.