Not only was this a wonderful opportunity to escape the city to a tropical Island for the weekend….. but this resort was rated #1 Hotel in Thailand, 2019 Travellers’ Choice on Trip Advisor! I couldn’t wait!

When organising a holiday, there are some important things that Mosaic Travel look for in accomodation before reserving it for you, and I’m pleased to say… Pimalai had the lot!

Service

One of the most important things to Mosaic is how our clients are looked after when they’re away from home. Service counts! We choose trusted suppliers to ensure you’re looked after when in our care.

From the moment we landed in Koh Lanta, Pimalai were they to take care of us! A representative met with us in the arrivals hall who lead us to the comfortable air-conditioned van to take us to the pier. It was now time for a speed boat to the Island!

As we approached the main pier, the long queues became visible and I thought with dread “this is going to take forever!”. Worry not! Our driver veered off the main road, down a small lane to the private, Pimalai jetty. The boat transfer was just for us and ready to go as soon as we were given our iced water! 

Now that’s great service!

Once on the Island, we found another air-conditioned van waiting for us and were briskly taken to the resort!

Location

Once you arrive at your destination, the last thing you want to do is trek back and forth from your hotel to the best parts of the area. The location of your hotel is something that can make or break your stay and something that we look into at great lengths.

Overlooking their own private beach and surrounded by lush, tropical jungle, Pimalai had the best of both worlds. It had everything you could want for a holiday on a tropical, Thai Island, complete with monkeys, geckos and other wildlife!

Facilities

The facilities at your hotel work together with other components to enhance your stay and ensure your time (and money) is well spent.

Pimalai featured an array of dining options, swimming pools, luxury day spa and sporting activities but none caught my eye quite like the beach activities! I passed by the stand up paddle boards and catamaran before deciding: it was time to go boogie boarding!

Giving guests access to these different activities is quite unique at a hotel, and made for an extremely fun and memorable experience.

Extra Touches

When a hotel goes beyond their duty of hosting, you can really feel the difference. It makes them stand out and you instantly feel welcomed, and at ease.

This is where Pimalai excelled!

-Iced water served by the pool and beach (perfect after a spot of boogie boarding!)

-A reusable beach bag for the duration of our stay

-Organic, relaxation tea and biscuits presented during turn down service

-Classes to learn local specialties including massage and cooking

-Eco minded touches throughout the resort

These were all very thoughtful gestures that align with how we want Mosaic travellers to be treated while on holiday.

This resort had gone above and beyond to ensure all guests had a luxurious stay here, and they certainly had a very happy Mosaic Traveller!

To book your next luxury escape, call Rosie at Mosaic Travel on (03) 5275 4583

The post What does Mosaic look for in a hotel? appeared first on Mosaic Travel.

Food plays such a huge part in Thai culture, it’s more than just a meal, it’s a time for friends and families to cook, eat and spend time together.

It provides a livelihood for so many:

Village famers

Cooks

Street food vendors

The lady on the foothpath selling bags of limes and chillies!

Street food can be found anywhere at any time on food carts, motorbike BBQ’s, smoothie stands, tropical fruit carts, ice cream bicycles, foot path restaurants… the list goes on!

All the food I’ve eaten from these places has been 100% safe to eat and more delicious than the hotel restaurant! (Sorry to my Doctor back home in Geelong!)

While having so many options may seem overwhelming, a lot of stall holders are able to tell you the English name of what they’re selling. If not, point, smile and enjoy what you’re served – it’s more than likely going to be delicious!

These are my top 5 street meals:

BBQ fish

Salt crusted fresh whole fish (similar to snapper) stuffed with herbs and BBQ’d to perfection!

These fish come with noodles, lettuce and a hot pungent sauce (think lime, fresh herbs, chilli and garlic).

Take a lettuce leaf in your hand to form a cup, fill with fish, noodles and sauce then roll – it can get messy.

Expect to pay up to $10 for 1 fish with all the accompaniments (pricey for street food, but worth it).

**Don’t be put off by the look of these fish, they are my absolute favourite! Please don’t be afraid to try it!!

Pork leg on rice

Pork is king in Thailand, and this simple dish is an absolute winner.

The pork has been slowly braised in a delicious broth (soy, garlic and herbs) until juicy and tender then is served on rice with fresh herbs.

A large pile of the stewed pork can be seen at the front of the shop to help you know you’ve found the right place – it’s a great reason to stop and have a quick plate!

This costs between $2 and $4 depending if your dish comes with boiled egg or not.

Mango Sticky Rice

Street dessert! Mango’s are abundant here and enjoyed in salads, smoothies or the classic “mango sticky rice”.

Rice cooked with sweetened coconut milk is matched with fresh mango, a creamy coconut/pandan sauce and crunchy mung beans (don’t be put off by the name, they’re just like crushed peanuts!).

This simple dessert is creamy, sweet and fresh and is a reason itself for coming to Thailand!

Chicken/pork skewers

After a quick snack? BBQ skewers can be easily found in stalls or on the back of a motorbike BBQ.

Sticky grilled pork or chicken with a soy based glaze are a delicious snack for $0.50C to $1 each.

Chicken noodle soup

Similar to “pho”, this delicious soup is a staple in a Thai and expat diet!

For $2, you get a bowl of noodles, tender chicken and broth made with daikon (Asian white radish) bought to your table. Also available with duck! Yum!

At the table, you can customise your bowl with a choice of fresh ingredients:

Thai basil

Bean shoots

Boiled eggs

Lotus root

Cabbage

Snake beans (Similar to green beans)

Then add your seasonings:

Fish sauce

Sugar

Peanuts

Chilli (in 3 different varieties: dry flakes, wet flakes and chilli vinegar)

If you’re not sure what to add, just watch a local!

This lunch follows the rule of thai cooking by including something sweet (sugar), salty (fish sauce) and hot (chilli).

It’s fresh, flavoursome and a steal at $2 per bowl.

Once you’ve enjoyed your street meal, leave your empty plate and cutlery (spoon and fork) on the table and let the cook know you enjoyed it by saying“aroy mak!” (arr-roy muck)– it gets a smile every time.

The post Bangkok Street Food – By Mosaic correspondent Holly Richardson appeared first on Mosaic Travel.