Preparing for Your Journey
Culinary Explorations: Northern Thai Cuisine with Mandy Lee of Lady and Pups
Chiang Mai, Thailand | November 16 - 23, 2025
WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU!
We are so excited to spend time with you in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Your Ace Camps Travel trip will connect you to an incredible community where you’ll meet and form bonds with many wonderful individuals. Given the small-group nature of Ace Camps Travel trips, the health, safety, and well being of you, other guests, the instructors and workshop hosts, and the local communities are a key priority for us.
Please take a moment to read through this document in full as it contains important information that will help you prepare for your Ace Camps Travel trip.
GENERAL
Your Ace Camps Travel Host: Vida Forrest y Salazar
We want every aspect of your trip to be an amazing experience. To help us do that, you will have the support of an Ace Camps Travel Host who travels with the group and is there to make sure your trip runs as smoothly as possible. Vida Forrest y Salazar will be your Ace Camps Travel Host. While she is not a local guide, she will assist you in answering questions you may have along the way. We will send you Vida’s contact info closer to the Trip start date. If you have questions between now and then, please continue to email us at hello@acecampstravel.com.
Group Travel Etiquette
Please remember this is a small-group travel experience. It is important for you to join us with compassion, patience, and respect for everyone you interface with during your Trip. For example, if you are asked to meet at a certain time, please be on time to avoid keeping the rest of the group waiting. If you choose to skip any activities or meals, please confirm your absence with the Ace Camps Travel Host directly so we’re not worried about your location or well-being.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required for all guests that includes: trip cancellation/disruption insurance; travel medical insurance; and medical evacuation insurance. Ace Camps Travel does not sell travel insurance. If you have questions, we suggest you discuss concerns about your coverage directly with a local travel insurance provider. Please ensure your listed emergency contact has all of your travel and medical insurance coverage details.
Itinerary Disclaimer
We do our best to keep to the itinerary on the Trip Details page of the Ace Camps Travel website. However, sometimes adjustments may occur. For example, we may need to make changes to the itinerary due to inclement weather, timetable changes, or circumstances beyond our control. While we do our best to plan ahead and prevent this from happening, it may be unavoidable. It can also happen with little notice, so please bear with us if we have to make modifications to the itinerary on the fly.
Smoking, Illegal Drug Use + Alcohol
Unless it is specified on the itinerary, alcohol is not usually included with meals. If you would like to have alcoholic beverages during your trip, you will need to pay for these separately.
Ace Camps Travel Trips are 100% smoke free and we do not tolerate any kind of illegal drug use. We require responsible alcohol consumption.
COMMUNICATION
On-the-Ground Communication with WhatsApp
While on the ground in Chiang Mai, Thailand, we will be using WhatsApp to communicate. Before you arrive in Thailand, please make sure you have the most up-to-date version of WhatsApp downloaded, installed, and an account set up and working on your mobile device. Your Ace Camps Travel Host, will use WhatsApp to send you daily reminders, updates, and any other important information during the course of your trip. In addition to one-on-one communication with your Ace Camps Travel Host, we’ll be creating a group chat with all registered guests where we will send updates that affect the entire group while on the trip. We encourage everyone to engage on the group chat, as it’s a great place to get to know the rest of your new Ace Camps Travel friends, discuss travel plans and ideas, and share trip photos.
Emergency Numbers
In the case of an emergency, the local emergency numbers to dial in Thailand are as follows: 1155 (Tourist police who will speak English), 191 (police), 199 (fire), and 1669 (medical aid/ambulance).
Mobile Phone Usage
Here are a few other resources you may find helpful when traveling:
Using an ‘e-sim’ app to have data on your phone while you travel (depending on your phone model). There are several companies offering e-sims that can save money instead of roaming through your network provider. Companies like Airalo offer various options to choose from. If you are using country specific e-sims you will need one for Thailand or, you can install an “All Asia” e-sim that covers multiple countries, which may have a slightly higher cost.
Note: While e-sims are great, they do take some time to set up and install so be sure to spend some time before you leave your home country setting it up so you can just turn it on once you land (while we love to help where we can, our Ace Camps Travel Hosts aren’t tech support specialists).
SOCIAL MEDIA
If you are taking photos and would like to share them as a part of our trip story please tag your posts and/or stories on Instagram with @acecampstravel or hashtag #acecampstravel
ARRIVAL/DEPARTURE
Arrival Information: November 16, 2025
This trip begins and ends in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The closest International Airport to Chiang Mai is the Chiang Mai International Airport (Airport code: CNX) which is located roughly 5 kilometers from our arrival hotel.
Ground Transportation and Getting to the Hotel: The drive from the airport to our hotel can take about 15 minutes with average traffic but could be 40 minutes with heavy traffic.
Taxis are an easy way to get from the airport to the hotel. We recommend purchasing an official, pre-paid Airport Taxi ticket from one of the kiosks inside the airport, after you pick up your luggage. This is usually $5-7 USD. Another option is to book a car in advance for an airport transfer. This is usually $10-20 USD. There are several other ways to get to the hotel, including tuk-tuks, songthaews and buses which cost less but take more time and effort.
Note: The airports in Thailand can be quite busy and you might find many people calling out to solicit your business for a ride into town. We find it’s easiest to either prearrange an airport transfer or buy a pre-paid ticket for an official Airport Taxi kiosk before leaving the airport. Then you can head directly to your car and get on your way.
Please fill out the Arrival and Departure Form so we have the information we need to schedule your pick up.
You can check into the Tamarind Village Hotel anytime after 2:00pm on Sunday, November 16. If you arrive earlier than 2:00pm, you can drop off your luggage at the front desk and they will store it for you until your room is ready. All hotel rooms have been preassigned using the name you provided on your Booking and Registration form.
Helpful App for Jet Lag
Help manage jet lag with Timeshifter.
Welcome Dinner: Sunday, November 16, 2025
Once we’re all settled at our hotel in Chiang Mai, we’ll be hosting a casual meet + greet welcome dinner so you can get to know the group. Please plan to arrive at our hotel no later than 4:00 pm on Sunday, November 16, if you want to join the welcome dinner. This will give you enough time to check in and get settled before dinner. We’ll share more specific details about when and where to meet for dinner a few days before the Trip start date. If you aren’t able to join the welcome dinner, your Ace Camps Travel Host will be in touch with you to make sure you have all the information you need to join the group the next morning.
Departure Information: Sunday, November 23, 2025
On the morning of Sunday, November 23, our trip in Chiang Mai concludes. You are welcome to have breakfast at the hotel and then you can make your own way to the airport or wherever you’re planning to go next.
If you’d like to arrange for a transfer from the Tamarind Village Hotel to the airport, the hotel staff can assist you in setting that up. The hotel charges about $55 USD for a transfer and you can fit about 5 people in their van. You can also book your own transfer online using an online service or take a taxi.
HOTEL
We will stay at the Tamarind Village Hotel:
50 Rachadamnoen Rd Soi 1, Si Phum, Mueang
Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50200, Thailand
+66 53 418 896
About the Tamarind Village hotel in Chiang Mai:
Location + Getting Around: The Tamarind Village hotel is located within the walls of the historic city center. There are several shops, restaurants and sightseeing locations within a 5,10 or 15 minute walk. Some areas of Chiang Mai might not have sidewalks, and while it is permissible to walk in those areas, you can also take a tuk-tuk to most parts of the city. The hotel can also assist with calling a taxi. If you’d like to call your own car, you can use Grab or Bolt, which work similar to Uber or Lyft.
Note: Chiang Mai can be a vibrant, bustling city, if you are a light to moderately light sleeper we strongly encourage you to bring ear plugs, a sleep mask, and install a white noise app on your phone with earphones to assist in your personal slumber.
Amenities + Food: Each room is equipped with standard amenities including air conditioning, a hairdryer and a mini fridge. The Tamarind Village has a restaurant, pool and spa you can enjoy as well as a small boutique with jewelry, clothing and home accessories. If you’d like to visit the spa, you can find a menu of services here. You’ll want to book a treatment with the hotel in advance to ensure your spot.
HEALTH
Illness (including COVID)
Our goal is for each of our guests to enjoy the amazing trip we’ve put together. To ensure that happens, we make the health and safety of the group as our top priority. Please keep in mind while traveling with a group, you may need to take additional precautions.
In the days leading up to and during your Ace Camps Travel Trip, thoroughly washing your hands, wearing a KN95 mask if you feel ill or if you display symptoms of illness, and keeping a safe distance from others who exhibit signs of illness are small, but impactful, things you can do to keep the trip safe for everyone. Please make sure you bring KN95 masks, hand sanitizer, and a few COVID tests on the trip in case you or those around you start to have symptoms of an illness.
During the trip, if you feel unwell, please alert your Ace Camps Travel Host immediately, wear a mask, and keep a safe distance from others until we know more about your situation. If you exhibit signs of, or test positive for an illness, you should be prepared to follow the advice of local health authorities as well as the Ace Camps Travel Host to ensure the health and safety of the entire group. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, viral nature of your illness, and where we are staying, there may be a need to mask, distance, self isolate, or remove yourself completely from the trip which will be determined by the Ace Camps Travel Host with the best interests of the group health and safety as the main priority.
Per the Ace Camps Travel Terms and Conditions, you are responsible for any additional costs if, due to illness, including COVID, you have to leave a trip early as determined by a health care provider or the Ace Camps Travel Host. This is one of the many reasons we require you to purchase travel insurance.
Medications and Vaccines
You should consult with your doctor and a specialized travel doctor to determine if you need any vaccinations, prescriptions, or special considerations based on your medical history/conditions and based on where you’ll be traveling. For example, you may want to ask about a wide spectrum antibiotic in case of gastrointestinal or other infections. The CDC has several vaccine, prescription and over the counter recommendations for travel to Thailand and a travel doctor will be able to assist you in confirming what is right for you, including advice on Malaria and Dengue Fever.
If you are already taking prescription medication make sure you bring enough with you to cover your time in Thailand and then some. When you pack, make certain you have all your required and important medication in your carry-on luggage.
We encourage you to travel with medications that can help you if you encounter health issues. Here are a few common concerns you may want to consider bringing medications for, though what you choose to travel with is up to you and/or you and your doctor.
Motion sickness, if car or bus rides affect you as we have multiple days with van rides over bumpy roads
Nausea, indigestion, or an upset stomach
Diarrhea/Dysentery
Constipation
Minor aches and pains
Minor and severe allergies
Cold/flu symptoms
Mosquito/bug bites - we recommend an EPA Registered Insect Repellant
Minor cuts and bruises
Stomach Issues
Stomach issues can occur when traveling and eating new types of cuisine. We strongly recommend bringing various medications to ensure if you have any issues, you are able to manage them and continue enjoying your trip.
Eye Glasses + Contact Lenses
If you wear eyeglasses, it is advisable to carry an extra pair on the trip. If you wear contact lenses, you may want to bring extra contacts and an extra pair of back-up regular glasses.
General Fitness
To take full advantage of your trip to Chiang Mai, Thailand it is best to be in good health. Sightseeing, particularly in hot weather, can be tiring and several of our tours are walking tours, require standing and/or will be outside. We will also be cooking in a kitchen which means a good deal of standing in a hot environment.
Water
We do not recommend drinking tap water in Chiang Mai. Our hotel provides each bedroom with bottled water. Bottled water which is available in most shops and restaurants. You can easily purchase bottled water throughout Chiang Mai but we recommend bringing your own bottle to save on one-time plastic usage, and refill it at the hotel.
SAFETY
While many areas of Chiang Mai are considered safe for travelers, it’s important to remember some areas will have higher petty crime against tourists. It's important to remain aware of your belongings and aware of your surroundings. Here are a few specific safety considerations:
Use common sense when walking around town, late at night. If possible, avoid walking alone after dark.
Avoid openly showing your valuables, such as phones, cameras, jewelry.
Given how much we use our phones for navigation or photos, we suggest using a phone lanyard so your phone can’t easily be grabbed out of your hand (and to avoid dropping it!).
Avoid political gatherings or protests, even if they seem peaceful.
Use rideshare apps, such as Grab or Bolt to avoid hailing cabs on the street. Rides from Grab or Bolt will have transparent pricing which you may not have with a taxi and it will avoid your being taken on detours that stop by local shops which can also happen with taxis.
Motor bikes are one of the main forms of transportation in Chiang Mai. Exercise additional caution when crossing streets, walking with locals across intersections where possible. We do not recommend you rent a motorbike while in Chiang Mai. Traffic accidents caused by tourists are common, including various injuries. Tuk-tuks, taxis and Grab rides are inexpensive and safer for non-Thai people.
Keep your valuables safe:
To avoid petty theft or pick pocketing, especially in crowded city centers and markets, we suggest leaving any valuables you don’t need at home. Avoid wearing flashy watches or expensive jewelry. Wear a crossbody bag with a zipped compartment for your valuables and keep the bag towards the front of your body. If you have a backpack, wear it towards the front so someone can’t open it from behind you in a busy crowd.
Get an international data plan or eSim for your mobile phone:
We strongly encourage you to have an international data plan on your phone so you can always have access to Google Maps for navigation and WhatsApp for communication with your Ace Camps Travel host, in case you get separated from the group. See notes about mobile e-sims above in the Communication section.
MONEY
Cash + Credit Cards
The national currency in Thailand is Thai Baht (THB). Many places accept credit cards but some will charge a 1-3% fee to use a card. Cash is usually needed for smaller shops and almost all street vendors and tuk-tuks only accept cash. Mid-range shops and restaurants will usually accept credit cards but you’ll want cash for tips.
ATMs are widely available throughout Chiang Mai and they accept most international cards. The ATM will likely dispense larger bills but you’ll want to try and break them to keep smaller denominations for tuk-tuks and tips.
Gratuities
Tipping is not traditionally part of Thai culture, however, in the more touristed areas it is becoming more common. Tips and gratuities for your guides, group drivers, and group meals are taken care of by Ace Camps Travel. However, there are some places during your trip that you may choose to leave a tip if you choose to:
Tamarind Village: Ace Camps Travel will take care of the hotel staff in general, but if you would like to leave something for housekeeping, a food server that has taken care of you, or a porter who has helped with your bags, we encourage you to do so on your own. For housekeeping 50-100 Baht per day (left daily) and for porters 30-70 Baht is appropriate.
Restaurants: At a luxury or upscale restaurant check to see if there is a service charge which would take the place of a tip. If there is not, a 10% tip would be appreciated. At a mid-range restaurant, you can round the bill up, leaving 50-100 Baht. For a casual place, you can leave 20-50 Baht and no tip is expected for street food vendors.
Massages: At high-end locations, 10-20% is appropriate. For a mid-range to low-end massage, 50-100 Baht is appropriate. It is often customary to give the tip directly to your attendant rather than leaving with the front desk.
Transportation: For tuk-tuk drivers, 20-50 Baht is usually appropriate unless they have taken you a very long distance.
CULTURAL CONSIDERATIONS
Chiang Mai and Thailand as a whole are incredible places with rich culture and history. As we explore, you may encounter customs and items that are different than you are used to. Please view these new experiences with respectful curiosity and engage with them keeping an open mind.
Temples
It is important to be respectful when entering temples. Your shoulders and knees should be covered and you will need to remove your shoes. Be advised there are some temples that do not allow women to enter. When you are inside of a temple, it is considered rude to have your feet pointing towards the Buddha. If you are seated, you can kneel with your feet pointing behind you and away from the Buddha or you can sit with your feet off the side.
Greetings and Thank Yous
The "wai" is the traditional greeting. Place your hands, palms together in a prayer-like gesture, near the center of your chest and bow your head slightly toward your hands. The higher the hands and deeper the bow, the more respect shown. You can combine the wai with hello/goodbye; for women Sawatdee khâ" (Sà-wàt-dee KAA) or for men "Sawatdee khráp" (Sà-wàt-dee KRAHP) = Hello/Goodbye.
You should also wai when saying thank you; for women Khòp kun khâ (Kawp koon KAH), for men Khòp kun khráp (Kawp koon KRAHP).
Transportation
Taxis, tuk-tuks, songthaews and cars from Grab or Bolt are the most common ways to get around Chiang Mai. If you take a taxi, tuk-tuk or songthaew make sure to ask about the price before you get in, you may haggle before landing on a price. You will also want to confirm that you’re going directly to your destination, especially in a taxi. Sometimes helpful drivers will offer to take you to a great spot for shopping which can often be a high-pressure, commission-based store before they will take you to your actual destination. It’s best to confirm these things before you get into the taxi, but if you ask once you are seated and you don’t like the answer, you should get out of the taxi (before it starts moving) and find another one that meets your needs.
Bargaining
Bargaining is customary with tuk-tuks and in many market stalls. Bargaining should be approached as a light and kind interaction, not a confrontation. If a price is displayed somewhere, that is usually an indication they are not open to bargaining. Most places that serve food, and stores in malls or higher-end shops do not usually bargain.
Restrooms
In most hotels (including ours), restaurants, malls and tourist areas you’ll find Western-style toilets. Though the toilets are Western-style the Thai plumbing is usually quite old and not able to handle flushing toilet paper. Instead of flushing the toilet paper, you’ll place it in the trash bin located next to the toilet.
In rural areas, markets, older buildings and some local restaurants you might encounter squat toilets. When we are out on our tours and in some rural areas we might encounter squat toilets. These toilets often use water to rinse yourself after using the restroom instead of toilet paper. if you aren’t familiar with this method, it’s helpful to carry some tissues with you. If you use tissues instead of the water, make sure you do not put the tissues in the toilet, and instead place them in the trash bin.
It’s also helpful to have cash, specifically some coins on hand as there is often a small fee for use of public restrooms.
Monarchy
Never criticize, joke about, or disrespect the King, Queen, or any royal family members. There are very strict laws against this (even in jest) that carry serious legal consequences including imprisonment. You may hear the national anthem in the morning or evening in public spaces and you should stand quietly and respectfully through its duration.
Photography
Make sure you ask for permission before taking photos of people, especially monks or indigenous people. Do not take photos of airports or military locations.
Food/Eating
We will be in several rural locations throughout our trip. It is considered polite to try everything that is offered.
WHAT TO BRING
Now onto the fun stuff - what should you bring?!? Below are some suggestions, based on our experience. Chiang Mai is the second largest city in Thailand, about the size of New Orleans, Louisiana or Tampa, Florida. While you will be able to find toiletry staples if you forgot something, you will likely not be able to find a brand you are used to so please keep this in mind when you’re planning and packing.
When packing, keep in mind it will be hot and while our hotel has air conditioning, we will be traveling to rural locations that will not. You’ll want to have a mix of clothing for the warm weather as well as modest clothing for entering temples and closed-toe shoes for our time cooking in the industrial kitchens.
General
PASSPORT (make sure it has at least six months on it) and consider bringing a photocopy and/or passport photos. In the (hopefully!) unlikely event your passport gets lost or stolen, an extra set of passport photos can make it easier for you to get a replacement.
Travel plug adapters, depending on the country you are traveling from. Types A and C are the most commonly used plug type in Thailand, both the style used in The United States and in Europe. Though you may not need them, we recommend bringing both types.
EPA registered insect repellant or bug spray with DEET.
Extra tissues and hand sanitizer in case you encounter squat toilets.
Clothing
Clothing that covers your shoulders and knees for entering temples, or a shawl to cover yourself.
Cool, breathable clothing for the day when it’s hot (linen is always a great option) and a slightly warmer layer for the evening as the temperatures may dip into the 60s.
Rain shell and/or small umbrella (rain showers are always a possibility!).
Comfortable workshop clothing you don’t mind cooking in.
Bathing suit, if you feel like a dip in hotel pool.
Footwear
Comfortable and supportive footwear you can walk in for moderate distances and on a variety of terrain. We’ll have a walking tours and some parts of our days with Andy and Yao will be walking around. Also keep in mind if you enter a temple you’ll need to take off your shoes.
Closed-toe shoes for our days when we are cooking.
Personal Items
Glasses and/or prescription sunglasses if needed
Toiletries kit, including your own shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, if you are particular or there are certain brands you prefer to use while traveling
Sunscreen, sunhat, sunglasses
EPA registered insect repellant or bug spray with DEET.
Extra tissues and hand sanitizer in case you encounter squat toilets.
Refillable water bottle
Earplugs (high quality foam or sleep focused noise dampening, such as Loop)
KN95 masks–in an effort to keep our group as safe as possible, you may be asked to wear a mask
Luggage
We suggest keeping important items in your carry-on in case your luggage gets lost en route to Chiang Mai. We also suggest putting AirTags in your luggage so you can track their location, in the event they get lost in transit.
Weather
November is considered to a dry season for Chiang Mai with “cool” temperatures, though the “cool” in Thailand can be much warmer than some people are used to. The average temperatures are usually in the mid-high 80s F during the days and mid-high 60s F in the evening. While this is the drier season, it’s good to have an umbrella or rain shell just in case.
THANK YOU AND SEE YOU SOON!
Thank you for taking the time to review this information, we hope these details help with your travel planning and prepare you for your time exploring Chiang Mai, Thailand. If you have questions between now and then, please continue to email us at hello@acecampstravel.com. See you in Chiang Mai!
