Today’s Travel Q&A comes from Jordan from New Zealand. Jordan asks:

Question #1. How often do you do our laundry when you’re on the road?

Question #2. How many times do you wear your gruts? Wait, what!?

Watch the video below to hear the answers!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGgMMAm8noo

Thanks for the laugh Jordan! I had to google “gruts” before filming this. The Urban Dictionary came in really handy on this one. LOL!

All jokes aside, we’re proud to have featured your travel questions for our first official Travel Q&A video. Good luck on your move to Vancouver!

Do you have any travel questions for us? If so, please feel free to leave a comment below or get in touch with us via email here and we’ll try our best to answer them!

The post Travel Q&A: Laundry and Underwear appeared first on Pause The Moment - The Ultimate Travel & Adventure Blog!.

###

Don’t Miss Part I: Best of Koh Lanta: Friends, Luxury Villas and Sunset Dinners

Every morning we rolled out of bed and peeked out the window to see if the monkeys we’re hanging around in the trees below our villa. What we found to be most interesting was that the monkeys were on an actual schedule. Each morning, they would make their rounds to all  eight luxury villas in search of food, gadgets and anything else they can get their dirty paws on.

Look at me, I’m so cute! NOT.

There were a few times where we would be sitting in the living room eating breakfast and we would see a monkey the size of a small child walk across the patio. These sneaky basta*ds usually send one big guy ahead to scope out the scene and if all is clear, he gives a shout to his boys and they get their ransack on. After 9 or 10 AM, the monkeys finish up their patrol and make their way up into the hillside and won’t be seen again til the next morning.

We’re told that one mistake you never want to make is to forget to latch your doors when you leave the villa. If you do, you can just about guarantee that you’ll return to what was once a luxury villa turned Motel 6 with holes torn in the mattresses, missing cash, jewelry and mobile phones, an empty refrigerator and toilet paper hanging from the ceiling fans. Do you hate monkeys yet? I sure do.

Hi… hey! I’m over here!

After breakfast we spent an hour or so at the pool. After a quick dip and a brief discussion, we decided to hop on our motorbike and explore more of the southern part of the island. Today, our mission was to find the best beach in Koh Lanta.

We cruised along the windy roads of the south western coast, stopping from time to time to capture some of Koh Lanta’s most beautiful views.

We spotted a small path leading through bush that looked as if it led to a beautiful beach in the distance. We quickly learned that we had arrived at the southernmost beach on the west coast of Koh Lanta, known as Bamboo Bay.

Thankfully, we were on a motorbike because there is absolutely no room to park a car anywhere in the area. Keep this in mind if you’re planning on renting a car and making the 40 minute drive from Saladan. Do yourself a favor and rent a motorbike for this trip. For tips on renting a motorbike in Koh Lanta, click here.

Bamboo Bay is a beautiful white sand beach, crystal clear waters, and virtually no tourists.

Pause The Moment!

Pause The Moment was HERE!

We came, we witnessed, we swam, and we enjoyed our time at Bamboo Bay Beach. On the way home, we made a quick pit-stop to see where we had just spent the last couple of hours. This is what the best beach in Koh Lanta looks like from above.

Bamboo Bay – The Best Beach in Koh Lanta, Thailand

After a relaxing day of fun in the sun, we made our way back to Ancient Realm, showered up and hit the road yet again.

Our next mission: To hunt down a spot to catch one of Koh Lanta’s famous sunsets.

As we were riding along the coast, we quickly realized that the sun was going down a little faster than we had thought it would. Once we arrived at Khlong Nin Beach, we decided to pull off to the side of the road and try to make the best of the sun that was still hovering over the horizon.

Til’ next time…

Want to hear more about our trip to Koh Lanta? Stay tuned for more.

The post Best of Koh Lanta: Monkeys, Bamboo Bay and Incredible Sunsets appeared first on Pause The Moment - The Ultimate Travel & Adventure Blog!.

Last week we met up at the Sunday Night Market with Arturo and Fernanda, followers of Pause The Moment who happened to be in Chiang Mai for the week. How fun!

Arturo & Fernanda from Xalapa, Mexico!

Ryan looks awfully hungry in the background, doesn’t he? He’s chowing down on a delicous chicken kebab from one of his favorite Sunday Night Market street vendors. As Ryan says, “Seriously, how can you resist a chicken kebab for $1.68?”

Fernanda & Liz

The Sunday Night Market tends to get very busy once the sun goes down, so we hit the walking street early in search of cheap food and light foot traffic.

Lots of fresh smoothies ready to be made!

Vintage van turned mobile coffee shop!

If you ever make it to the Sunday Night Market, be sure to grab yourself one of these delicious freshly baked waffles shown below.

Freshly baked street waffles, anyone?

The Sunday Night Market is filled with beautiful artwork. I thought these paintings were really cute.

Can you spot the Dunkin Donuts cup? You New Englander’s will know what I’m talking about.

Fernanda was in search of a new shirt but couldn’t seem to find anything that she loved.

Decisions, decisions…

Tourists and visitors will enjoy the variety of street performers, Thai dancers, and musicians. You might even see a few wacky looking dogs along the way.

One of the more interesting performances was the one put on by this Thai cop in full uniform. The police tend to be grossly underpaid here and I’m guessing that’s why this man is out here working a second job.

How do I even being to explain this next photo?

The temples along the road open their grounds up to a variety of vendors, transforming them into small food courts.

Aw, look who it is!

We highly recommend first time visitors to check out the Sunday Night Market. However, after more than a month of living here, we tend to only visit the markets when we are in search of a variety of cheap food (unless friends are in town of course!)

TIP: After walking through the markets for a few hours, we recommend you head over to Loi Kroh to the road side massage parlor located across from the Raming Lodge Hotel where you can get yourself a 30 minute leg and foot massage for just $2 USD!

Have you been to the Sunday Night Market in Chiang Mai? If so, we would love to hear from you in a comment below!

The post Chiang Mai: A Visit to the Sunday Night Market with New Friends appeared first on Pause The Moment - The Ultimate Travel & Adventure Blog!.

###

Our journey to Koh Lanta began with an early morning flight from Bangkok to Krabi. Once we landed at Krabi International Airport, we hopped in our private mini-bus transfer to Koh Lanta. It was then that we we’re reminded of how insane the mini-bus drivers are here in Thailand.

It sort of reminded us of that one time when we took a public mini bus from Dahab to Cairo in the middle of the night and our driver was doing 100 mph through the windy, mountainous roads with no headlights. Oh, what a night.

How about that time we made the mistake of taking a 28 hour bus ride from Laos to Vietnam with a driver who was overtaking semi-trailer trucks on dangerous bends. The fact that we had birds chirping in cages just a few seats behind us, children urinating in grocery bags and no bathroom on board simply added fuel to the fire. Oh, and did I mention that Mr. Maniac Driver never slept a wink in nearly 30 hours?

Okay, so this mini-bus transfer to Lanta wasn’t that bad but it did get a little scary at times. Once we arrived at the first of two car ferry crossings from the mainland to Koh Lanta, we hopped out of the vehicle to get a breath of fresh air.

Liz & Araseli

Mike, Araseli, Liz and I on the car ferry from Krabi to Koh Lanta.

One more brief ferry ride and we had arrived in a place we fell in love with just three years prior. The balmy island breeze and familiar road side food joints brought back vivid memories of our two week stay back in 2010.

BAAN KANTIANG SEE VILLAS

Mike and Araseli checked into Ancient Realm Resort while we checked into Baan Kantiang See Villas just steps down the road.

We all know what it’s like to see photos of your room when booking your accommodations online. Maybe it’s just me, but I always find that the photos never fully represent the room. Either the accommodations look a hell of a lot worse in person than they did in the photos when you booked or you arrive only to find that the little villa you booked online is actually a palace.

Our two bed, two bath villa at Baan Kantiang See Villas in Koh Lanta.

While our expectations usually end up leaving us severely disappointment, this experience was the exact opposite. The photos of Baan Kantiang See Villas are amazing and they still don’t do this place any justice. It’s one of those places you have to see to believe.

When you’re living it up in a luxurious villa like this one, you almost feel as if you never want to leave. We ventured out to the pool more than a few times during our stay. I mean, seriously. How could you resist this?

Infinity pool overlooking Kantiang Bay in the distance…

We thoroughly enjoyed spending time by the pool during our stay. As a matter of fact, we only visited the beach once over the course of those three days at Baan Kantiang See Villas. We spent the rest of our time lounging in our villa, swimming and even inviting our friends over for lunch by the pool.

Could there be any cooler place to Pause The Moment? I think not!

While Liz didn’t take part in the whole Pause The Moment jumping photo, she did depict her own idea of what it’s like to Pause The Moment. This also happens to be one of my favorite photos of Liz to date.

Liz living the life and soaking up the rays as usual…

Looking back on our initial three day stay at Baan Kantiang made us realize how much value you get for your money in Koh Lanta, Thailand. While we didn’t pay for our stay, we think that $250/night for a two bedroom, two bath luxury villa with a giant terrace overlooking the bay is an absolute steal.

Oh, and you won’t believe me when I tell you that this place goes for somewhere between $100-130/night in low season. You couldn’t get yourself a dingy old motel room for that money in most cities.

Picture this. You and your significant other get together with another couple and head to Lanta. You rent this beautiful villa for $125/night per couple in high season, or as low as $50/night per couple in low season. Hell, bring the whole family along and have everyone find themselves a comfy place to crash if you’d like.

No matter how you look at it, Baan Kantiang See Villas is not only one of the most incredible places to stay in Koh Lanta, but it’s also one of the most affordable places on the island when it boils down to the value you get for your money.

Don’t miss my full review of Baan Kantiang See Villas and my villa tour video.

SUNSET AT NOON

It was our first night in Koh Lanta and we were so excited to be back on the island. In order to celebrate our first evening back, we decided to make a dinner reservation for four at Noon Restaurant.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Noon, they are a small restaurant located on the southwest coast of the island and they’re known to have the best sunset views on the island.

One of the unique features of Noon Restaurant is that if you call ahead and make a reservation, they will come pick you up at your hotel and drop you back off after you’re finished dining. Now, that’s what I call service!

While the pick up service is cool and all, I had just finished up a hardcore haggling session with the motorbike lady and I was determined to drive this bad boy all over the island. Call me stubborn for turning down a free ride to dinner, but in all seriousness, I truly enjoy driving on the opposite side of the road. Oh, and you should also know by now that I love bikes of all kinds both pedal and motorized.

I swear I’m really good at driving on the opposite side of the road… Photo credits: Araseli Asencio

I won’t go too much into detail about the food because I already did that in my review of Noon Restaurant a few weeks ago but what I will say is that the sunset views were magnificent. As for the dinner, it was average and a little on the pricey side.

To be continued…

Want to hear more about our trip to Koh Lanta? Stay tuned for more.

The post Best of Koh Lanta: Friends, Luxury Villas, and Sunset Dinners appeared first on Pause The Moment - The Ultimate Travel & Adventure Blog!.

WASABI POWER GOPRO HERO 3 BATTERY CHARGER KIT

For those of you who don’t know about Wasabi Power, these guys make high quality aftermarket batteries and battery chargers for the GoPro HERO 2 and GoPro HERO 3 cameras.

I’m going to give you guys a quick briefing about my experience with the GoPro and then we’ll move on to my review of the the Wasabi Power kit below.

BACKGROUND:

I’ve owned every model of the GoPro since they released the original GoPro HD Hero. The day the GoPro HERO 2 was released, I immediately made the upgrade. Now a days, I’m a proud owner of the incredible GoPro HERO 3.

Don’t miss: GoPro HERO 3 Black Edition Unboxing Video

Filming with my HERO 3 in Fiji!

As a self-proclaimed GoPro enthusiast, I’ve done more than a fair amount of filming with my GoPro and I’ve really pushed these sweet little cameras to their limits on several occasions.

My most popular GoPro video just broke the 100,000 view mark on YouTube! WATCH it here: World’s Tallest Swing!

THE PROBLEM:

The one thing I learned during my early days of owning a GoPro is that having just one battery is one of the biggest mistakes you can make. I cannot tell you how many times I missed out on filming opportunities due to a dead GoPro battery.

Trust me when I say that one battery is never enough and trust me when I tell you that you do not want to miss out on a potential memory the next time you’re filming.

Fortunately, I stumbled upon an excellent solution for my GoPro battery woes and a very affordable solution at that.

THE SOLUTION:

You could go out and purchase an official GoPro replacement battery along with the GoPro Wall Charger and the GoPro Car Charger but that’s going to run you upwards of $80.

Don’t be crazy!

Why spend $80 on the “official” battery, wall charger and car charger when you can purchase two Wasabi Power batteries and a Wasabi Power wall charger / car charger for less than $25?

Below, you’ll find a table with a pricing comparison for the GoPro Wasabi Charger Kits and the official GoPro Battery and Wall Charger.

Wasabi Power GoPro HERO 2	Wasabi Power GoPro HERO 3	GoPro Wall Charger	GoPro HERO 3 Replacement Battery
Two (2) Wasabi Power GoPro batteries - 3.7V, 1400 mAh One (1) Wasabi Power Mini Rapid A/C Charger with fold-out plug European plug and car adapter 3-year manufacturer warranty	Two (2) Wasabi Power GoPro batteries - 3.7V, 1200mAh One (1) Wasabi Power Mini Rapid A/C Charger with fold-out plug European plug and car adapter 3-year manufacturer warranty	Dual USB port quickly charges up to two cameras at once Simultaneously record video or photos while charging Interchangeable AC plugs for US, UK, EU and AU Works with most devices that charge via USB	Compatible with HERO3 Cameras Only Battery Capacity: 1050 mAh Rechargeable Lithium-Ion Battery
Buy Now!	Buy Now!	Buy Now	Buy Now!

Take a closer look at the value you’re getting here by purchasing the GoPro Wasabi Power Kit. For $25, you’re getting two batteries, a wall charger and a car charger.

If you’re a lover of brand names and you care what you’re friends think, you’ll go with the official GoPro swag and you’ll get yourself one measly battery, one wall charger and one car charger for nearly $80+. Uhh, no thanks! What a ripoff!

BATTLE TESTED, BATTLE APPROVED!

I’ve filmed a lot of fun stuff during my time spent in Thailand so far and I’ve really put these Wasabi batteries to the test. A recent example would be my latest video from Songkran, Thailand’s most popular festival. I mounted my GoPro on a squirt gun with a bicycle mount and went to war in the streets of Chiang Mai.

WATCH: Best of Songkran 2013 – Headshot Edition!

My GoPro was being powered the Wasabi Power batteries through out the entire festival and they performed like a champ!

REVIEWS & TESTIMONIALS

There’s a reason why the GoPro HERO 3 Wasabi Power kit is rated a #1 best seller on Amazon. Check out a couple of rave reviews below.

The Wasabi Power battery and charger combo for GoPro Hero3 is such an amazing value that you might be skeptical. Don’t be. This is the real deal.

You get 2 batteries that exceed the specs of the original GoPro battery. These batteries are 1200mAh whereas the GoPro battery is only 1050 mAh, a difference of 150mAh. That translates to about a 10-15 minute increase in recording time.

So just getting 2 batteries for almost the same price as 1 GoPro battery is a great deal. But Wasabi Power also gives you an AC battery charger, a car charger adapter plus they throw in a European plug.

The batteries fit snugly in my Hero3 Black and I do not have any looseness with the batteries in the AC charger as some people have reported. Works fine for me.

Boggles the mind that GoPro can get away with such highway robbery. But never fear, Wasabi Power is here to ease the pain of buying backup batteries. Thank you Wasabi Power for providing such great value. ~ M. Erb.

I use my GoPro when I am out diving and I usually do several dives each day. I needed extra batteries so that I would always have fresh batteries ready. I searched Amazon and found this perfect package. Not only do you get two batteries with more power than the standard one. You also get a charger that works both in USA and EU and in your car. Being able to charge the batteries in the car is in my view a really nice bonus. Just getting two batteries with more power is in it self worth the cost. ~ Michael

CONCLUSION

If I haven’t talked you into investing $25 towards your GoPro sanity just yet, then I’m not sure what else I can tell you.

Those who are interested in purchasing a Wasabi Power Kit can do so by clicking on the links in the comparison table above or the links below.

Note: If you own a Wasabi Power kit and you’re a satisfied customer, we would love to hear from you. Do us a favor and leave a comment below!

###

Disclosure: All reviews published on Pause The Moment are based on my honest opinion of the product described. Please note that this review contains affiliate links and I will earn a very small commission if you decide to purchase this product through the links provided above. The commission has no affect on the price of the product and they help keep Pause The Moment afloat. Thank you in advance for your support!

The post REVIEW: Wasabi Power Kit for GoPro Cameras appeared first on Pause The Moment - The Ultimate Travel & Adventure Blog!.

HANSAR BANGKOK

Welcome to the Hansar Bangkok, a luxurious boutique hotel consisting of 94 beautifully designed suites.

The property is also home to a French Mediterranean restaurant (Eve), cafe (Cafe Boca), lobby bar (Vue), full service spa (LUXSA Spa), state of the art fitness center, and an infinity edge swimming pool on the 8th floor that will make your feel as if you’re swimming among the high rises.

LOBBY AREA

As soon as you step through the front doors of the Hansar Bangkok, you’re greeted by the smiling staff, shiny teak wood, and large, colorful artwork that just begs for a second look.

VERTIGO SUITE

The Vertigo Suite is the second largest (882 sq ft / 82 sqm), and second most expensive suite at Hansar, yet it is still extremely reasonably priced in comparison to many luxury boutique properties across the globe.

A member of the Hansar staff led us from the lobby to the 11th floor to gave us our first real glimpse of the Vertigo Suite, our home for the next couple of nights.

LIVING ROOM / OFFICE

As soon as we walked in, we were amazed by the size of the living room/office area. There was a large flat panel television, desk, small couch, mini refrigerator, safe and more. Slide back

BATHROOM / WARDROBE

Perhaps one of the best features of the Vertigo Suite happens to be smack dab in the middle of the room. This large, custom marble tub and half glass wall enclosure provides a view of the bedroom like no other suite in the world.

Both the toilet and shower in the Vertigo Suite are enclosed by clear glass. This may or may not be an issue for some of you. We had no problem utilizing these facilities but we imagine that those who are in the early stages of a relationship will either need to be very comfortable with using the toilet in an open setting in front of each other, or choose another type of suite.

BEDROOM

Meet the World’s Most Comfortable Bed! I’ve stayed in a hell of a lot of hotels, resorts, and villas over the years and I can just about guarantee that you’ve never slept in a bed as plush as this one. Imagine sleeping in the clouds and you’ll get a slight understanding of what I’m rambling on about. The biggest problem I found was that once I hopped into this bed, it was extremely difficult to want to get out of it. Is that a problem?

ROOFTOP POOL

The infinity edge pool located atop the 8th floor looks over a few of the areas quiet sois and the Royal Bangkok Sports Club in the distance. Plush towels, cold water and delicious snacks are all within arms reach. Swim a few laps, soak up some rays and take advantage of your time spent at Hansar Bangkok.

LUXSA SPA

Those who enjoy their spa treatments will fall head over heels in love with Hansar’s LUXSA Spa. During our stay, we were fortunate enough to be able to experience a 30 minute Thai massage session. Our first ever couples Thai massage left us incredibly relaxed, somewhat sleepy and yearning for more.

LOCATION

The Hansar Bangkok is conveniently located just steps from the BTS Skytrain Ratchadamri Station. Its location is a perfect match for travelers who are interested exploring the hustle and bustle of the city and returning home to a relaxing home away from home.

CONTACT

Website: Hansar Bangkok

Contact: http://www.hansarbangkok.com/contact

Telephone: +66 22 09 1234

VIDEO TOUR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8ncqSNgaBk

The post REVIEW: Hansar Bangkok Hotel appeared first on Pause The Moment - The Ultimate Travel & Adventure Blog!.

TRAVEL Q&A VIDEO SERIES

Welcome to our brand new video series where we try our best to answer any travel questions you might have for us.

Potential topics include:

• Budget travel
• Independent travel
• Adventure travel
• Bucket lists
• Travel tips & Advice
• Favorite adventures
• Budgeting on the road
• Saving money
• Staying fit on the road
• Solo travel
• Favorite Hotels
• Packing tips
• Recommended travel gear
• Our favorite travel products
• Questions about travel immunizations
• Places you must see before you die
• …and what ever else is on your mind!

HOW IT WORKS:

Create a short list of travel related questions that you would like to ask us and leave a comment below. If you would prefer not to comment, you can always send your questions in via our contact page.

Note: Feel free to ask specific questions for Liz or myself. General questions will be answered by the both of us.

Leave a comment below with your questions!

###

P.S. – Credits go out to my good friend Matt from Expert Vagabond for the inspiration to start this series!

The post Travel Q&A with Pause The Moment appeared first on Pause The Moment - The Ultimate Travel & Adventure Blog!.

After returning from our second trip to Koh Lanta, Thailand, we decided it would only be right to share our favorite places to chow down on the island.

We decided to base ourselves in Kantiang Bay due to the relaxed and laid back atmosphere. This side of the island was fairly new to us, so we weren’t too sure where to go when it came to finding good food.

Fortunately, upon arrival, we met David, one of the new owners at Ancient Realm Resort. David gave us, in his opinion, the best places to eat on Kantiang Bay. We took his advice and he could not have been any more spot on!

Here are 5 restaurants that you won’t want to miss during your next visit to Koh Lanta:

DRUNKEN SAILORS

The crew really know how to do it right at Drunken Sailors. Not only is the food outstanding but the service, cozy atmosphere and the iced lattes keep you coming back for more.

This coffee shop/restaurant is a lovely relaxed space decorated with hammocks, bean bag chairs, books, DVD’s for rent and chess games to be played, all of which adds to the laid back atmosphere.

Serving up a good mix of both traditional Thai and western food, no matter what you order it is consistently fantastic.

We recommend:

• Pasta Carbonara w/ garlic bread
• Garlic chicken sandwich
• Fish Burger (this is a special and if you are lucky enough to be there when it’s on the menu it’s a must!)
• and just about any one of their delicious iced lattes!

For more information, visit them on Facebook: Drunken Sailors

PHAD THAI ROCK N’ ROLL

Phad Thai Rock n Roll is a very unique place on the roadside in Ba Kantiang that truly serves up the best pad thai in Koh Lanta. It’s worth the trip, no matter where you’re staying on the island.

The menu is small, consisting only of pad thai, fried rice, stir fried ribbon noodles and delicious fruit smoothies but everything is of top quality.

The owners are absolutely wonderful and create a very friendly atmosphere. Portions are big and prices are cheap, all with rock and roll playing on the stereo.

We recommend:

• Pad Thai (of course!)
• Berry Deluxe (Fruit smoothie)

For more information, visit them on Facebook: Phad Thai Rock n Roll

KANTIANG RESTAURANT

Kantiang is a local family run restaurant offering a range of authentic Thai dishes, located just south of 7-11 in Kantiang Bay.

You’ll notice that many locals dine here and that’s one of the things you should look for when it comes to finding good local restaurants in Koh Lanta. Both the prices and the food are amazing.

We dined here on numerous occasions during our visit to Koh Lanta and we simply couldn’t get enough of it.

We recommend:

• Garlic chicken w/ rice
• Stir fried chicken w/ peppers.
• Beef w/ Sweet Peppers

NANG SABAI GERMAN BAKERY

The Nang Sabai German Bakery has been on our list of favorite restaurants in Koh Lanta ever since our first visit in 2010. Its very easy to find as it’s right on the main road in Khlong Dao.

All of the breads, pastries and cakes are made fresh daily.

We recommend:

• Ciabatta bread sandwich
• Lemon cake
• Blueberry crumb

RED SNAPPER

Red Snapper is an open air restaurant in a tastefully lit garden setting located on the Phra Ae Beach Road.

The owners Joyce and Ed combine a European taste with Thai herbs and spices to produce excellent fusion food. The menu, which rotates every 6-8 weeks in order to maintain a high level of creativity in the kitchen, mainly consists of tapas style dishes, although there are larger plates available as well.

Prices are slightly higher than most restaurants in Koh Lanta but definitely worth the money.

We recommend:

• Quesadillas w/ jalapeno cream cheese
• BBQ Ribs
• Meatballs

For more information, visit: Red Snapper Restaurant

—

Do you have any favorite restaurants in Koh Lanta? If so, feel free to share your favorites with us in a comment below.

The post The Top 5 Best Restaurants in Koh Lanta appeared first on Pause The Moment - The Ultimate Travel & Adventure Blog!.

7,500 TRUEBLUE POINTS!

Planning a trip anytime from now until June 19th. 2013?

Here’s the scoop behind the latest JetBlue 7,500 point promotion.

JetBlue is currently offering 7,500 TrueBlue points for new member signups to their TrueBlue accounts.

The only stipulation is that after signing up for a JetBlue TrueBlue account, you must book and fly a round-trip flight before 6/19/13.

HOW TO REGISTER:

Follow these three steps below in order to score your 7,500 TrueBlue points.

1. Click here and fill out the form to join TrueBlue and register for the promotion.
2. Book your round-trip flight (Enter your TrueBlue # during booking)
3. Make sure you fly by June 19, 2013!

DETAILS:

Here are a few things you should know before you signup.

• Offer valid for new JetBlue TrueBlue members only.
• You MUST book and fly before 6/19/13.
• You MUST remember to enter your TrueBlue account number during the booking of your flight.
• You must enroll and register prior to booking your flights
• If you cancel your reservation, no TrueBlue points will be awarded.

WHAT CAN I USE MY NEWLY ACQUIRED POINTS FOR?

Future flights, of course! Award flights on JetBlue start at 5,000 points plus $2.50 taxes/fees. Some round-trip flights start at 10,000 TrueBlue points. With 7,500 points, you’ll be well on your way to getting your next flight free.

You should also know that as a TrueBlue member, you will earn 6 points per dollar spent when you book you future flights through JetBlue.com.

Example:

$300 flight = 1,800 TrueBlue points.

Yep, just one $300 flight will bring your total points from 7,500 to 9,300 TrueBlue points! That’s just 700 shy of a possible round-trip flight on the house.

—

What do you think about this deal? We’ love to hear from you!

The post Join JetBlue TrueBlue – Earn 7,500 Points! appeared first on Pause The Moment - The Ultimate Travel & Adventure Blog!.

ANCIENT REALM RESORT

Welcome to Ancient Realm Resort, a small, cozy and extremely affordable resort now in a brand new location just steps from Kantiang Bay.

Those of you who have been following along with Pause The Moment for some time now might remember our review of Ancient Realm Resort during our first trip to Koh Lanta back in 2010. When we arrived to Lanta in 2010, our plans were to stay for two nights. Those two nights turned into two weeks thanks to the beauty and the idyllic setting of the old Ancient Realm.

The good news is that since Ancient Realm Resort has moved from Klong Dao to Kantiang Bay, most things have only improved. The new location is perfect for those who are in search of beautiful beaches, delicious Thai food, tasty fruit shakes, and little to no road noise. If you’re looking for the party here, you’re in the wrong place!

RESORT / COMMON AREAS

Ancient Realm Resort is small. Don’t let the photos fool you. You could do laps around the property in mere seconds.

The tall structure that you see in the center of the photograph above is the outdoor massage/lounge area. Those who prefer to have their massages outdoors can do so by heading upstairs to the open air massage area.

Downstairs, you’ll find a small couch and seating area equipped with a television that I’m not sure anyone ever uses. It seems that many people enjoy reading in the shade here.

We really enjoyed the work that was put into designing the footpaths that lead you to your rooms. The stone and tile work here will have you leaving with all sorts of new ideas for your own home and garden.

BEDROOMS

While the rooms at the resort may appear to be situated in separate bungalows, they are not. I believe many of Ancient Realm’s old clients will find this to be slightly disappointing. One of the things we loved most about the old location of Ancient Realm was the privacy and homey feeling of having your own bungalow.

All seven rooms at Ancient Realm are located inside of one decent-sized L shaped building. Sort of like block of motel rooms in a way, just much nicer.

Our room was small, yet spacious enough to be comfortable. There was a comfortable king-size bed on a bamboo frame, mini-refrigerator, small table, television, wardrobe, digital safe and more.

BATHROOMS

The bathroom was very small and a little on the dark side. Otherwise, I would describe it as sufficient for what we needed it for. The Ancient Realm staff stocked our room with fresh towels and soap daily.

POOL

The pool at ancient realm is small, yet refreshing enough to take a dip. You won’t be doing any laps here.

Thankfully, the resort is small, so the chances that you and five others will be hanging around in pool at the same time are pretty slim.

AMENITIES

• Common Area
• On-site Spa Services (Temple Spa)
• On-site Restaurant & small Bar
• Free Breakfast
• Mini Refrigerator
• King-size Beds
• Free Wi-Fi
• Small Television with Satellite Cable
• In-room safe
• Wardrobe/storage space

CONCLUSION:

If you’re looking for clean and affordable accommodations in Kantiang Bay, Ancient Realm Resort is for you. The property is approximately three minutes walk from the beach and a variety of excellent restaurants.

Note: Since the move from Klong Dao, ownership has changed hands. The new owners are now David and Glen, two Aussies who are extremely friendly and welcoming. These guys really know the island well and they’re always happy to give suggestions of good places to eat, things to see, and where to see the best sunset.

We really enjoyed our stay at Ancient Realm this time around and we highly recommend you give them a shot the next time you’re in Koh Lanta.

CONTACT

Website: Ancient Realm Resort

Email: Contact Us!

Address: 174/5 Moo 5, Kantiang Bay, Koh Lanta Yai, Krabi, Thailand, 81150

The post Ancient Realm Resort Review appeared first on Pause The Moment - The Ultimate Travel & Adventure Blog!.