Alt_Newsletter #0003

March 05, 2025

March has arrived, but it really doesn’t feel like it in Chiang Mai!

You don’t need me to tell you that the north of Thailand is usually in the midst of burning season by now, but we are blessed this year with great weather so far!

If we do get a change in conditions we still guarantee clean air and great community at both Alt_ sites. All rooms have air purifiers and the positive air pressure system in the coworking spaces means working, collaborating and meeting new friends will still be firmly on the agenda.

In case you were undecided on paying us a visit, if you use code MARCH20 when booking for this month you’ll get 20% off your stay.

Our doors are always open!

John

In Alt_Newsletter this month:

Celebrate Songkran with an Alt_ deal
We’re looking forward to sharing some good ol’ Texas barbecue!
A learning expedition to Alt_
Upcoming Alt_Events

The biggest party in town is next month!

Two of the biggest annual events in Thailand are now firmly internationally recognised by travellers and nomads, and Chiang Mai does them both the best! The lantern festival in November is unquestionably a must-do-in-Chiang Mai event, but Songkran is at its best in our city too.

It is the biggest party of the year across Thailand, but Chiang Mai offers the best mix of local and visitor interaction - any time of year, in fact.

If you didn’t already know, Songkran - the Thai New Year - is a unique tradition where water is used to cleanse, revere Buddha, and signify good fortune. It also signals the end of the dry season and the start of rainy season, too.

And yes, through all of its tradition and roots in reverance, this water celebration is best know for big waterguns, buckets of water, and dancing in the street, under any source of water locals and visitors can find!

Even better, both Alt_PingRiver and Alt_ChiangMai are within walking distance of the “water war zones” so you won’t be far from the fun!

We think everyone should experience at least one Songkran, so we have an extended offer until the end of April to encourage you to celebrate it with us…

(In fact, if you book in to start your stay in March you can get an additional 10% with code MARCH20!).

Alt_Projects

We’re ready for cowboy hats and low & slow barbecue!

Meeting with leaders of Texas entrepreneurialism at Alt_ last year

It has been just over a year since the Austin-Chiang Mai Sister Cities initiative kicked off, and we officially became sister cities just a couple of weeks ago.

As a member of the Chiang Mai board for Economic Development, John has made some connections already. The startup eco-system in Austin in particular has peaked our interest, and discussions are in place to collaborate.

Gordon Daugherty - founder of Capital Factory - visited Alt_PingRiver last year and was the kick off for a plan to make Chiang Mai an innovation hub.

Alt_’s infrastructure lends itself as an extension of the opportunities being created in Austin, and the links between the two cities could mean support for you if you’re starting up your new venture and visiting us in Chiang Mai.

Watch this space!

Alt_Community Stories

Learning from Alt_

Always smiling, Itay got inspiration from Alt_

It’s not unusual for members to get inspired during their visit at Alt_, or even arrive because they have been told it is a place to find inspiration. The community, locations, the city…they all play their part.

However, it isn’t often a nomad drops in to get inspiration from Alt_ itself. Itay came to Chiang Mai - and specifically to Alt_PingRiver - to learn what he can take to his business.

He is the proprietor of CoCo Space, a coworking space in up-and-coming Siargao, and we chatted about his place and why he spent a couple of weeks at Alt_PingRiver.

“We opened Coco Space less than a year ago, and it’s going great. We’re in the peace of the countryside, but only ten minutes from the town and - more importantly for me - surf!

I actually heard about Alt_ at Coco from one of our members, and they spoke highly of the community and facilities so I thought I’d come to learn and get ideas for how to make Coco even better.

What I’ve loved is the feeling of community, but it isn’t pushy. You are free to put yourself where you want to be. There are community events, and ad-hoc ones, but there is no pressure to be involved in everything. I’ve stayed in a few colivings and they aren’t all as focussed on the work balance.

Coco Space (the name comes from community and coworking - plus Siargao is know as coconut island) has the pillars of community and productivity. It is an island that has high energy, but we’ve created a quiet space as an escape from the craziness where it is easy to meet people and be productive. It is interesting to see the balance in action at Alt_ and hope we have the same at Coco.

We are similar in that there are events every day, and we also have a real connection to the local community. It has turned out to be somewhere for foreigners to mix with locals, collaborate with locals with startups, and deliver some great views of the island!


There was a perception that the Philippines is difficult in terms of the infrastructure, but Starlink has changed the game for us. Also for the local community too, who we work with across a lot of projects.

I’ve loved staying at Alt_ and hoping to set up some sort of collab with John as it’s a great community he has going here.”

Check out Coco Space when (not if!) you head to Siargao. In a short space of time, Itay has created a really special coworking and community space for nomads and locals.

If you have an Alt_ story to tell, or want to appear here and share your thing with the community, fill in this form.

What we’re doing at Alt_ this month

Joannah is a pro Games Master so having her host a limited-space afternoon for beginners to get immersed into Dungeons & Dragons this Saturday is a privelige! Details and a link to book in are below.

Find our regular and recurring events here, but here’s a taste of what’s coming up:

Click on the links to register, or scan the QR code for the event you want to join.

What’s going on in Chiang Mai this month

Alt_ClassifiedAds

Opportunities

Community Manager, Alt_
If you are a social butterfly, can head up a fun activity, or might just love helping people enjoy what Chiang Mai has to offer, then we might have just the thing for you. Our community managers are usually nomads who fancy staying around a little longer, so drop us an email at [email protected] if this sounds like you!

What recent residents have in the pipeline

Develop a Stable Income: Mastermind for Business Starters
Max stayed at Alt_PingRiver in the build up to his Accelerator mastermind in Koh Lanta this month. His next one is in Hoi An at the end of the month, so click on the link above to find out about the luxury villa and what you’ll get from your stay. Use Alt15 to get an exclusive 15% off for being a newsletter subscriber too!

You’ll hear from us again in a couple of weeks when our mid-month mini newsletter comes out.

Have a great month!

John and the Alt_ team.