Centara Grand Mirage Resort Pattaya - Part 1

Sometimes with work, family and other issues that throw at us, make us forget to treat and love ourselves.  We definitely need to give a little treatment for our own precious body and mind in any form you prefer.  For me, from time to time, I would like to pamper myself with some nice holidays.  I chose Centara Grand Mirage resort in Pattaya that is great for both adults and kids as they have huge water theme park, immediate beach access and more other free activities within the resort.  This place is surely a family-friendly resort.  I've read a lot of reviews and watched many vlogs about this resort and I put this place on top of my bucket lists.  

In such a pronounced hotel, why don't we even book a better room type and pay a little bit extra for opting to the Club Mirage category.  With club benefits, we can enjoy private check-in and check-out concierge, upgraded bedding and in-room amenities, as well as complimentary midday snacks, afternoon tea, pre-dinner cocktails also soft drinks and juices available throughout the day at Zulu Family Lounge.  Continental breakfast is also served here exclusively for Club member holder, but choices are a lot less than the one from the main restaurant.

 

This Zulu Family Lounge is perfect for family with kids as there is a space offering different activity zones including an extensive games area and the highlight is this fully enclosed 10-metre-high slide.  This place could be a little noisy for those who seek some serenity, but is definitely a great place for kids, youngster and parents.  This Zulu family club is open from 7 in the morning until 7 at night.

Reception for Club members

What not to miss is in-room dining

Sea view room

Zulu Family Club

Complimentary alcoholic drink at pre-dinner cocktails

Pictures above just some of food which we could get solely in Zulu Family Club.  They keep rotate the menus.  They are different type of cheeses, finger food, ranges of sweets and drinks as well.

Keep reading for part 2 for more review within the resort itself.  This place is very massive, so I need to break it down into two posts.   

Stay tuned for the next blog still about Centara Resort:

Centara Grand Mirage Resort Pattaya - Part 2

Old School Kafey, Haymarket

Craving of something like cafe food and something fancy last weekend.  So, we landed at this quirky looking cafe owned by Thai.  This place used to serve sweet and dessert only but now they also have savoury dishes in the house.  We tried their toast and also spaghetti. 

Curry chicken toast $19

This toast looks amazing.  The bread was smeared with good amount of butter then toasted to golden brown yet inside was still soft.  Also, the toast came with katsu chicken pieces lying on the bed of creamy omelette and some curry sauce flows on top of them.  It is accompanied with baby spinach leaves and cherry tomatoes dressed with Japanese sesame salad dressing.  This dish tasted pretty good actually.

Beef with pepper sauce toast $28

We also tried their black pepper beef toast.  It was similar with the curry toast earlier, only the different was the meat and sauce.  I still prefer the chicken curry one for taste and flavour wise.  Somehow, chicken curry and toast blended much better together.

Aglio olio spaghetti with grilled sirloin $29

They cooked the spaghetti to al-dente.  This wasn't just a simple aglio alio dish.  It got a little bit Thai influenced.  They added some basil and chili into this spaghetti.  It was delicious and I also like the fact that they cooked the wagyu to medium-rare just what I like. 

Boscaiola fettuccine with salmon $27

I found that their fettuccine was a little too sweet.  Otherwise, it would be perfect. 

Iceberg bingsu (L) $24.90

This cute-looking ice-shaved was so refreshing.  Lychee flavoured ice with some fresh rock melon and watermelon.  It was sweet and fresh at the same time.  For the drinks, I think they were slightly too sweet, especially their butterfly pea coffee. 

Milo volcano $16.90

Croffle with nutella

Matcha orange $9.90 and strawberry velvet soda $9.90

Ice latte butterfly pea and mango yogurt $9.90 each

Old School Kafey

459 Pitt Street, Haymarket

Open: Monday - Thursday 1pm - 11pm and Friday - Sunday 1pm - 11:30pm

Satang Thai Infinity

Satang Thai takeaway is one of my favourites to go for classic Thai dishes.  I've recently found out that they have rebranded their shop and opened another restaurant inside the World Square, more for an upscale market.  Their menus differ from the original store.  In here, they serve lots of seafood products and more like a dine-in restaurant vibe.

Fresh oysters at market price - We had huge pacific oyster today

This oyster is as huge as my palm.  It was ultra fresh and I could tell that they were just freshly shucked as well.  Although I prefer to have it only with squished lemon, but those Thai condiments like chili jam, seafood dipping sauce and deep-fried onions made a nice compliment to this fresh oyster.

Kon Pee Talay $44.90

This kon pee talay dish has variety of seafood from blue swimmer crab, prawn, calamari, mussel and salmon.  They were bathing in a Thai spicy fermented fish dressing.  For garden-fresh, they also added some sweet corn, cherry tomatoes, sliced red onions, chillies and carrot.  The portion was generously big.  With such a big portion, it is good for sharing between 2-4 people.  

Prawn cake $15.90

Duck salad $24.90

This duck salad dish was not that bad but not good either.  Flavour-wise, it was pretty standard but the duck meat itself wasn't that soft and tender to what it supposed to be.

Pad macaroni with prawn $22.90

This macaroni is a simple dish yet taste so good.  My kids love it.

Grilled beef rump $22.90

I am a fan of beef and am a big beef eater as well.  I always take beef seriously.  Unfortunately, they let me down with this dish.  The meat was overcooked, so it was quite tough and chewy.  

Satang Thai Infinity

Word Square, 15/91 Liverpool Street, Sydney

Ph: 0410 922 695

The Splash Koh Chang

After an ultimate relaxation and peacefulness stay, we moved to the next place still in Koh Chang that provide us with an ultimate fun and excitement experience.  The place is called The Splash Koh Chang.  Our kids were so excited, they were so eager for trying all of those sliders. 

My kids got so excited while we're checking-in as they can see a huge water park inside the hotel

The room size is a lot smaller than our previous hotel, Mercure Hideaway Koh Chang.  However, it is sufficient enough and the room is also clean, that's simple what we need anyway.  As we are more likely to do activities outside our room. 

They have those play and sliders that accommodate all ages from little kids to big kids like us.  However, the water park could be a little too crowded especially around 3-6pm.  It was extremely full of fun. 

For the beach side, it made a great outing spot as well.  White sandy beach, calm wave and amazing skyline, it is perfect for swimming especially for young kids and sunset watching. 

They also provide a solid seafood dinner by the beach.  You can have freshly grilled prawns, fish as well as meats and the meal are accompanied with basic menu buffet like salad, fruits and sauces.  I remembered that my husband ordered two kilos of grilled prawns and I felt like having gout just by looking at those prawns.  However, their food was all fresh and superbly cooked also their seafood dipping sauce was spotted on too. 

 

At around 8pm, they have this fire juggling performance performed by professional jugglers.

I had a piece of cheesecake for my dessert that I bought earlier from the cafe on top of Nong Bua Restaurant

We left with a little disappointment with their breakfast.  It was simply because there were too many people and not enough seats, lack of service and they were unable to catch up with those hungry humans.  It was already so hard for us in hunting for a spot - no waitress, literally no one at the front door who will help you finding the table.  Then getting the food was very challenging too.  

Overall, we enjoyed our stay here.  Although, we slept in here only for a night, but it can definitely suck out our power with all the water plays and activities - except kids.  But we were very happy and pleased with their facilities and cleanliness.  I found that the food we had for dinner were also delicious. Basically, we didn't even need to leave the hotel at all for the whole stay. 

  

The Splash Koh Chang

55 Moo 4, Klong Prao Beach 

Ph: +66 39 513 5957