The Polkadot Travel Lounge – With Kirsty from Mobile Travel Agents

We’re all busy right? There never seems to be enough hours in the day, and throw wedding planning into the mix – zero time! So how great is the idea of having a travel agent come to you, or work around your hours? By working with MTA – Mobile Travel Agents, you can meet and book your holiday anytime or anywhere – your home, your office, or even the local coffee shop! We are joined by the lovely Kirsty Thomas-Thoeun from MTA, and she has a huge wealth of knowledge to share with us today, having organised countless honeymoons, overseas weddings and helped set the scene for a few proposals!

What is your favourite region?

Without a doubt Asia is my favourite region – in particular Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar. Married to a Cambodian, I have made countless trips to this region and it is an area I have an unrelenting passion for.

Asia is a great choice for honeymooners from Australia – close to home and offering so many different experiences. Fantastic food and shopping, scenic destinations and culture – but the biggest highlight of Asia is often its people. In Cambodia and Vietnam for example, the people are so warm and friendly, the staff at hotels & resorts go the extra mile to make sure your honeymoon is perfect.

Top Resort Recommendation?

Asia has a great array of accommodation options – stunning resorts, small boutique hotels, beautiful colonial hotels, ecolodges, spa retreats and some great river cruises. Whatever your fancy is, it can be catered too.

There are so many great resorts and boutique hotels in Asia – but two of my favourites are in Cambodia, both are located in Siem Reap just minutes from the amazing Angkor temples.

Shinta Mani – A stunning boutique hotel created by acclaimed architect Bill Bensley, it is a contemporary property with Khmer inspired design and wonderful staff. It is also a property that truly gives back to its local community through its Shinta Mani Foundation – which works with underprivileged young Cambodians.

Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor – Built in 1932, Raffles is the grand old dame of Siem Reap – a beautifully restored colonial landmark hotel with an exquisite pool area – one of the largest in the country. Outdoor Apsara performances with dinner are a highlight.

Images courtesy Shinta Mani

Suggestions for great honeymoon activities?

Many people think honeymoons should be about just relaxing in a five star resort. Whilst this suits many couples, I have found through organising many honeymoons, often the couple (or one spouse) gets itchy feet sitting around by the pool or beach for the entire honeymoon.

I personally tailor-make honeymoons to have a balance of both relaxation and time spent immersing yourselves in the culture of the destination.

For the more adventurous, we can include activities like a river cruise or trek to visit hill tribes.

I am very lucky to work with some great local operators in SE Asia (and other parts of the world) who can organise some amazing, one of a kind experiences – basically if you can imagine it, we can generally arrange it.

Activities can include:

• Partake in a moving Buddhist blessing with monks in Myanmar, Thailand or Cambodia. This special blessing imparts good luck and happiness on your honeymoon. Traditional Baci ceremonies are also possible in Laos.
• Romantic and relaxing “His & hers” Spa treatments
• Private cooking classes in Hoi An, Vietnam

The ideal location for a proposal?

Hoi An in Vietnam is beautiful at full moon festival time when thousands of lotus shaped lanterns are released on the river – said to bring happiness luck and love. Cruising downstream in a tiny sampan or on a bridge or restaurant overlooking this river would be a magical spot for a proposal.

I am all for natural settings – where possible just you and your partner, be it somewhere close to home or whilst on a holiday.

If wanting to propose whilst away on holidays – I can assist guys (or girls) to organise that special dinner, picnic lunch on a deserted beach, sunset river cruise, dinner near temples – all great locations for proposals

Hoi An Images courtesy Lonely Planet

Best kept secret honeymoon location?

I have just returned from Myanmar (Burma) – it is an amazing destination – very scenic, full of beautiful people & whilst it has captured the attention of travellers in the last year or two – it remains a more untouched destination. There are some great colonial hotels including The Strand, amazing temples and sunsets in Bagan, boat trips on Inle Lake, hilltribes and plenty of ways to have a break that is off the beaten track. The next couple years will see more boutique hotels and resorts open in Myanmar.

For couples that want some time on the beach too – Myanmar has its own very laidback coastline with slow paced beach areas of Ngapali or Ngwe Saung.

Or combine some time in Myanmar with a week or two at any of the beautiful beach resorts in Thailand.

Myanmar Images courtesy Lonely Planet 

Memories of my own honeymoon in Vietnam are flooding back, and I wish we were heading there tomorrow. It truly is a remarkably beautiful region to visit, and I hope more people can experience the people and culture for themselves. Thanks so much to Kristy for sharing her fantastic honeymoon ideas with us today, your passion is contagious! If you’d like to tap into her wealth of knowledge, head to her MTA webpage to find out more and get in touch!