Escape to Paradise: Mae Ramat's Garden Home & Restaurant Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: A Review - Mae Ramat's Garden Home & Restaurant… Is it Really Paradise? (Spoiler Alert: Mostly, Yeah.)
Okay, so I just got back from a whirlwind escape to Mae Ramat, and I’m still trying to shake off the dust (and the sheer relaxation) of Escape to Paradise: Mae Ramat's Garden Home & Restaurant. Let me tell you, the name sets the bar HIGH. “Paradise.” That’s a bold statement, right? So, did it deliver? Well, buckle up, because this isn’t your dry, bullet-point hotel review. This is real talk, the good, the slightly-less-good, and the moments that made me go, "WHOA, I need to bottle this feeling."
First off, let's get the practical stuff out of the way, because, let's be honest, you need to know this.
Accessibility: So, accessibility is important. They have "Facilities for disabled guests," and I saw an elevator. I didn't personally need them, but I did see them being used. I’d still recommend confirming specific needs with the hotel directly if you have any.
Cleanliness and Safety: (Because, Let’s Face It, 2024 is a Vibe)
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Yep, check.
- Breakfast takeaway service: Tick! Very helpful for those early morning adventures. I totally snagged a pastry and some fruit one day before heading off to explore the local markets. Perfect.
- Cashless payment service: Excellent. No fumbling for small bills.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Felt safe, yeah. They were on it.
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere!
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Good.
- Safe dining setup: Felt comfortable eating, even outside.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Seemed it.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: No stomach issues, sign of success!
- Individually-wrapped food options: Yes, nice to have the option.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: They tried, which is all you can ask for these days.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Nice to know.
This all made me breathe a sigh of relief. It was like they knew what was on your mind. They took it seriously and that was a big, big plus.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: (Food, Glorious Food!)
Okay, food. This is where things went from “pretty good” to "daydreaming-about-it-right-now" levels of amazing.
- They've got restaurants, a poolside bar, a coffee shop, and a snack bar.
- You can choose from A la carte menu, Buffet and even get Breakfast in room.
- They highlight Asian cuisine in restaurant (and boy, is it good!). There is the Vegetarian restaurant and if you fancy, some International cuisine and Western cuisine.
- Happy hour: Yes, please!
- I was a huge fan of the Soup in restaurant, and the Desserts in restaurant were dreamy.
- They also offered Breakfast service.
I lived for the Asian breakfast. Fresh fruit (amazing!), the perfectly spiced curries, and the coffee, oh the coffee… It wasn’t just breakfast, it was a ceremony. I would sit out on my Terrace (more on that later) and just breathe in the morning. Honestly, the smell alone was worth the whole trip.
Then, one evening, I ordered room service. 24-hour Room service. I was feeling a little antisocial and decadent, so I picked a ton of stuff, including the soup. Everything arrived promptly and was absolutely perfect. I’m not even slightly embarrassed to admit I devoured it all in my bathrobe while watching a movie on the On-demand service. Bliss.
Services and Conveniences: (The Little Things That Make a Big Difference)
This is where Escape to Paradise REALLY shines. They thought of everything.
- Air conditioning in public areas (a lifesaver during the heat!)
- Cash withdrawal (super handy)
- Concierge (helpful and friendly)
- Daily housekeeping (my room was always spotless)
- Doorman (made me feel fancy, even if I wasn’t)
- Dry cleaning and Laundry service (essential when you're traveling and prone to spilling food everywhere, like me).
- Elevator.
- Luggage storage (essential)
- Invoice provided (important for all the travel expenses).
- Meeting/banquet facilities: They had all of that.
- Safety deposit boxes
- Smoking area (for those who…well, you know)
- Wi-Fi for special events
- Xerox/fax in business center
- Front desk [24-hour], made life easy.
Rooms (The Sanctuary):
Okay, let’s talk about the rooms. My room was… well, let’s just say I didn’t want to leave.
- Air conditioning: Essential.
- Alarm clock: Yep.
- Bathrobes: Heaven.
- Bathtub: Soak your cares away.
- Blackout curtains: Slept like a baby (even with the roosters).
- Closet: Plenty of space for my carefully curated travel wardrobe (ahem).
- Coffee/tea maker: My sanity saver in the mornings.
- Complimentary tea: Always a nice touch.
- Daily housekeeping: Room was always sparkling.
- Desk: Great for catching up on emails (reluctantly).
- Extra long bed: So comfortable.
- Free bottled water: Always appreciated.
- Hair dryer: Saved my frizzy mop.
- In-room safe box
- Internet access – wireless
- Ironing facilities
- Laptop workspace
- Linens
- Mini bar: Temptation, but fun.
- Non-smoking: Wonderful.
- On-demand movies: Perfect for a lazy evening.
- Private bathroom: Obviously.
- Reading light: For late-night reading.
- Refrigerator: Kept my drinks cold.
- Satellite/cable channels
- Seating area: Cozy.
- Separate shower/bathtub
- Shower
- Slippers: Luxury.
- Smoke detector
- Socket near the bed
- Sofa: Comfy.
- Soundproofing: Quiet, you can't hear a thing.
- Telephone
- Toiletries
- Towels: Fluffy.
- Umbrella
- Wi-Fi [free]
- Window that opens: Fresh air, bliss.
It was clean, comfortable, and felt like a genuine escape. The bed was a cloud. The bathroom was spacious. There was a View. And the Terrace… oh, the terrace! I spent hours out there, drinking coffee, reading, and just being. It was my own little Eden. This is the Room decorations - I loved it.
Things to Do/Ways to Relax: (Because Chilling is an Art)
This is where Escape to Paradise REALLY delivered on the “Paradise” promise.
- Body scrub:Body wrap:Foot bath:Gym/fitness:Massage: I spent an entire afternoon in the spa, and it was pure indulgence. The massage was out-of-this-world. The masseuse was ridiculously skilled, and I emerged feeling like a limp noodle in the best possible way. I'd go back just for that massage. (That's the focus of my praise!)
- Gym/fitness:: I used the gym a couple of times, but let's be honest, all I did was eat and nap.
- Pool with view: Gorgeous! I spent a lot of time bobbing around gazing at the world, with all the other people or with nobody.
- Sauna/Steamroom: Relaxing!
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: Lovely!
- Spa/sauna: Yes, yes, yes!
For the Kids:
While I didn't bring any kids this time, I noticed they do a great job of supporting families.
- Babysitting service: A lifesaver for parents.
- Family/child friendly: Absolutely, which added to the place's charm.
- Kids facilities: They've thought of everything.
- Kids meal
- Access
- Check-in/out [express]: Convenient.
- CCTV in common areas
- CCTV outside property
- **Check-in/
Okay, buckle up buttercups! This isn't your meticulously planned, color-coded vacation itinerary. More like… a diary of a barely-functioning human trying to survive Mae Ramat. And Garden Home and Restaurant? Well, that's our epicentre of chaos.
Mae Ramat Mayhem: A Totally Unofficial, Utterly Chaotic Itinerary
Day 1: Arriving in Paradise (or Maybe Purgatory? The Jury's Still Out)
- 9:00 AM (Roughly): Landed in Mae Sot. The good news? Made it through the flight. The bad news? My luggage decided to take a detour to… who the hell knows where. (Insert mandatory airport meltdown montage here. Tears, frantic phone calls, existential dread.)
- 10:00 AM: Taxi to Garden Home. The drive? Beautiful! Lush greenery, stunning mountains… and the air is thick with the smell of… something. I can't quite place it, but it’s intriguing. Maybe the secret ingredient to Thai happiness?
- 11:00 AM: Check-in at Garden Home. Oh sweet Jesus, the charm! Rustic bungalows nestled in a sea of… well, a garden, of course. Chickens roam free, the air hums with cicadas, and a stray dog is giving me the side-eye. I think I'm in love. Or maybe it's the jet lag talking.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at Garden Home Restaurant. Ordered the Pad Thai. (Original, I know, but comfort food is a must after luggage-less trauma.) And it was… fine. Competent. But… I've had Pad Thai dreams that were more vibrant. The chicken, however, was definitely real. And the view? Overlooking the garden. Delightful.
- 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Attempt at a nap. Failed miserably. The heat? The cicadas? The unresolved baggage situation? Take your pick. Instead, I ended up staring at the bamboo roof of my bungalow, contemplating the meaning of life and the whereabouts of my toothbrush.
- 5:00 PM: Wandered around the property. Found a hidden swing set under a mango tree. Spent an embarrassingly long time swinging. Pure, unadulterated joy! I haven't felt this free since… well, since I last escaped my responsibilities.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at Garden Home. This time, tried the Massaman curry. Okay, now we're talking! Rich, creamy, bursting with flavor. This curry could actually be the secret ingredient to Thai happiness. I'm suddenly very optimistic about my luggage’s return.
- 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Sat on the porch, listening to the sounds of the night. The dog from earlier is now curled up by my feet. He’s clearly a connoisseur of good vibes. Decided Mae Ramat is growing on me.
Day 2: Diving Deep (Literally and Figuratively, Maybe Not Always Successfully)
- 7:00 AM: Woke up to the rooster’s morning salute. Surprisingly, I didn’t hate it. Breakfast at Garden Home: fluffy omelette, fresh fruit, strong coffee. Okay, the coffee is essential.
- 8:00 AM -12:00 PM: Mae Sot Market. The sights! The sounds! The smells! (Some of them less appealing than others.) Got lost in the maze of stalls, haggled for a ridiculously cheap scarf, and bought a bag of dried mango that I devoured in approximately 3 minutes. This is the authentic Thailand they sell you on: sweat, dust, and a smile from the merchant is the best feeling ever.
- 12:00 PM: Returned to Garden Home. Exhausted. Took a dip in the… well, I wouldn’t call it a pool, more like a glorified tub of water. It was cool. It was wet. It served its purpose.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch at Garden Home, again. Fish. And it was good. I got a whole fish for the price of a regular person’s lunch. I began to have a real-world understanding of value, and I’m glad for it.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Attempted to read a book by the pool. Failed again! Kept getting distracted by the butterflies, the chickens, and my own rambling thoughts. This place is a real time-waster… and I love it.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: (And this is the part I'm doubling down on, folks, because it was, like, the best experience of the whole trip.) Visited a local waterfall. The drive itself was an adventure: bumpy roads, breathtaking scenery. The waterfall? Majestic! I’m no expert, but I can confirm there was indeed some waterfall action! Spent two hours just sitting on a rock, listening to the water roar, feeling the mist on my face. Pure, unadulterated peace. Pure. Unadulterated. Bliss. I forgot everything. I forgot my luggage. I forgot my problems. I just… felt. This experience alone made this entire trip worth it. It’s also the closest I’ve ever come to feeling like a legit explorer.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at Garden Home. Chicken fried rice. A nice comfort after the waterfalls. Watching the sunset from the restaurant. Seriously, the colours were unreal. Pink, orange, purple… like someone had spilled a paint factory into the sky.
- 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Stargazing on the porch. The night sky in Mae Ramat is insane. Never seen so many stars. Seriously, I could practically touch them. The stray dog? He was right there beside me. He seemed to enjoy it too.
Day 3: The Great Departure (Hopefully With Luggage This Time?)
- 7:00 AM: Same old rooster. Still kinda like him.
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast at Garden Home. Final pad thai! (Yup, I’m a creature of habit.)
- 9:00 AM: Check-out! With… (drumroll please)… my luggage! Hooray! Turns out, it was on a scenic tour, somewhere in the depths of Bangkok. But hey, it arrived!
- 10:00 AM: Goodbye hugs with dog, the chickens, the mango tree. Heartbreaking.
- 11:00 AM: Taxi to the airport.
- 12:00 PM: Say goodbye to Mae Ramat. I'm leaving with a heart full of memories, a stomach full of curry, and a newfound love for the simple things in life. Would I come back? Absolutely. Would I recommend it? If you're looking for a perfectly planned trip, maybe not. But if you're looking for something real, something raw, something that will make you forget your troubles and truly feel alive? Get yourself to Mae Ramat. You won't regret it.
Important Notes:
- This is not a Michelin-star itinerary. It's honest, it's messy, and it’s all about embracing the imperfections.
- Pace yourself. Mae Ramat encourages relaxation. Don't try to cram too much in.
- The food at Garden Home is fantastic. Eat everything. Seriously.
- Embrace the chaos. Things don't always go according to plan. And that's okay!
- Bring bug spray. Seriously.
Enjoy your adventure. And remember: sometimes, the best experiences are the ones you don't plan.
Saigon's Secret Oasis: Free Pool & Gym, 3 Mins from Ben Thanh!
Escape to Paradise: Mae Ramat's Garden Home & Restaurant – Seriously, What Am I Getting Myself Into? (A Messy FAQ)
Okay, Deep Breath. What *is* Escape to Paradise, exactly? Sounds...vague.
Alright, picture this: you're probably picturing some flawless Instagram feed, right? Crystal clear water, perfect smoothies… Nope. Well, *some* of it might be like that. Escape to Paradise (Mae Ramat's Garden Home & Restaurant) is *supposed* to be a chilled-out retreat. It's in the Mae Ramat region of Thailand, so you WILL be surrounded by nature. Think a home-stay situation with a restaurant attached. Sounds idyllic, and honestly, sometimes it *is*. Other times… well, more on that later. Basically, it's a place to eat, sleep, hopefully relax, and pray you don't get eaten by a giant mosquito.
The Food! I live to eat (and complain). What's the grub like?
The FOOD. Ah, the glorious, unpredictable, sometimes-slightly-questionable food. Look, the restaurant is the beating heart of the place. The menu boasts a mix of Thai staples and some Western-leaning options. Expect curries, stir-fries, and the classic Pad Thai. Now, *here's* the thing: the quality? It's a rollercoaster. One day you'll get a divine Massaman curry that makes you weep with joy (seriously, I almost cried), then the next day... well, let's just say the green curry tasted suspiciously of… *something*. And the presentation? Uh...it varies. Sometimes it's all beautifully arranged, other times it looks like it was scraped onto the plate in a rush. But, and this is important, *most* of the time, it's delicious. And very, very reasonably priced. I remember this ONE time... the mango sticky rice. Oh. My. God. I'd go back just for that. It was so good, I practically licked the plate clean. (Don't judge me. I was hungry.)
Accommodation: What kind of sleeping situation we are talking about?
Rooms, you'll find rooms, you know, the basic necessities. They're more home-stay vibes than Four Seasons. Think simple, clean (mostly), and surrounded by nature. Don't expect air conditioning in every single room. And the hot water can be a little… temperamental. One morning, I took the *coldest* shower of my life. Felt like I was back in the ice age. The view from my room? Stunning. Overlooking the rice paddies, and the sun setting over the mountains. But again, don't go expecting luxury. It's more about embracing the simplicity. And the occasional gecko in your room. Get used to it. They're part of the charm (or at least, that's what I keep telling myself).
Is it actually a "Paradise" kind of place? Or is that just marketing fluff?
Paradise? *Pfft*. Okay, maybe not *literal* paradise. Unless your definition of paradise includes a healthy dose of humidity, bugs, and the occasional power outage. But, here's the thing... it *can* be pretty darn close. When the sun is setting, the birds are singing, and you're sipping a Singha beer… yeah, that's pretty close to paradise. It's more of a *rustic* paradise. It's not manicured. It's real. It's got its flaws. But that's part of its charm, right? Honestly, the imperfections are what make it memorable, I'd take that more seriously than perfection.
I'm a control freak. Will I be able to handle the "unplanned" aspects of this place?
Oh, honey, that's a tough one. If you *thrive* on schedules and predictability, this place might send you into a full-blown meltdown. Things happen at their own pace. "Thai time" is a thing. Be prepared for potential hiccups. Like, I ordered a taxi and ended up waiting for an hour. Or a slight miscommunication about a tour. Or the WiFi (which is patchy, by the way). You'll have to learn to roll with the punches, embrace the chaos, and find the humor in the unexpected. And trust me, there *will* be unexpected. It's kind of the whole point. It might be a learning experience, and you will probably come out of it a changed person. Or at least, a person with a few good stories.
Activities? What can I actually *do* there? Aside from eating glorious mango sticky rice.
Okay, let's pivot from my mango sticky rice obsession. Aside from stuffing your face, you can actually do stuff! The area is surrounded by nature, so think hiking, exploring waterfalls, and visiting local villages. You can get a massage (highly recommended!). And the staff is usually happy to help arrange excursions. Just remember to double-check the details (see previous answers about potential miscommunications). Oh! I almost forgot, they offer Cooking classes. I have not done that one myself, but I heard the locals always do a great job.
Seriously though, plan an extra day or two for you to enjoy the area.
This sounds like it's in the middle of nowhere… getting there, is it a nightmare?
Yep, it's not exactly a quick hop, skip, and a jump. Getting to Mae Ramat will require some planning. You'll likely fly into a larger city (like Chiang Mai) and then you'll need to get from there to Mae Ramat. This usually involves a combination of buses, taxis, maybe even a tuk-tuk if you're feeling adventurous. The roads can be… well, let's just say they're not smooth. But the journey *is* part of the adventure, right? And, hey, at least you'll be rewarded with some seriously beautiful scenery along the way. The views from the bus were breathtaking. At least, I think they were. I might have been asleep for half the journey. But, bring some snacks, be prepared for delays, and definitely download some podcasts or movies.
Who is this place *really* for? Should I even consider coming?
Alright. Here's the truth. If you're looking for a sterile, perfectly curated, luxurious experience, then, no. This ain't it. This is for people who want to disconnect, to experience something a little bit different. If you're open to adventure, to the unexpected, to embracing a slower pace of life, then, YES. Come. Seriously, do it. It might not be flawless, but it's authentic. It's a chance to truly switch off and recharge. And, let's be honest, that mango sticky rice is worth the trip alone. I, myself, have been trying to replicate the recipe since I came back. I alsoCozy Stay Spot
