Mandy Patterson MTA - Mobile Travel Agents

19/03/2026

The world is a better place with deep fried ice cream!

19/03/2026

Lovely feast of Asian food with industry colleagues. Courtesy of the sales team at St Regis hotel Deer Valley Utah and Marriott hotels. There are days when I do enjoy job...

This restaurant has done a great job catering a set menu for a group with multiple dietary requirements!

25/02/2026

One of the features on an Azamara cruise is their White Night party. Believe me, everyone dresses on theme.

The pool deck is cleared and set up for an amazing barbecue buffet with every kind of tasty food you could think of including steaks and fresh lobster off the grill.

We've had a bit of drizzle but our Finnish Captain (aka the Crazy Viking!) changed course so the event could be held on deck. And what a balmy evening at sea...perfect for dancing to the live band.

I thought I wasn't having dessert but who can resist men in uniform offering Crepes Suzette and ice cream!

24/02/2026

Diverse day out on an Azamara shore excursion.

From a gorgeous Chinese temple dedicated to a15th Century Admiral of the Chinese navy who opened up trade with Java...

To a coffee and spice plantation in the highlands and a ruubber plantation. Former territory of the Dutch East India Company.

We take all these items for granted and forget sometimes humans work hard to produce all this!

23/02/2026

Tonight I enjoyed a lovely dinner at one of the speciality restaurants onboard Azamara Pursuit "Prime C" steakhouse. Shannon from the cruise line hosted a select group from Mobile Travel Agents as part of our Seminar At Sea experience.

The food in the main dining room and upper deck buffet is really very good with a wide variety to suit all tastes. But for a special occasion, a romantic dinner or a higher quality of produce it's worth treating yourself.

I started with delicious crab cakes, followed by an elegant lobster salad. There are definitely choices other than beef on the menu. But, quite frankly, I couldn't say no to Filet Mignon with peppercorn sauce! We ordered as a group all 6 side dishes so everyone could have a taste. Steak cut chips, creamed spinach and mushrooms were as much as I could manage.

No surprise, that I did not have room for dessert. But others loved their choices.

A good time and a good laugh was had by all!

20/02/2026

And now on to our next adventure!

Cruising through Indonesia, the Spice Islands, through to Singapore on the lovely Azamara Pursuit. This ship takes a maximum of around 700 guests. In my opinion that falls in the cruising sweet spot; not so few that it's too "close" but not so many that it's chaos.

For a shorter cruise I opted to book an Oceanview room. The window is actually quite large, but doesn't open, lovely bed, petite couch, bathroom and storage. Over 7 nights it's do-able even with a travel companion. With anything longer or for a cruise with headline views like Malta, New York, Caribbean trust me and take a Balcony room or Suite.

20/02/2026

Bali has come a long way since my first visit in thr late 80s. Some things very familiar and some pretty slick enhancements.

Little street shops selling bargain price hats and shirts, lovely gardens and local statues. But the roads have improved out of sight and lots of great food and drink...minus the Bali Belly!

We caught up with friends at the Byrd House Beach Club and experienced the chilled Sanur coastal vibe. Highly recommend for great Italian and local food.

Kinda miss hailing the old Bemo drivers to get home but the fancy new air-conditioned taxis are a winner in the heat.

18/02/2026

Those who know me would tell you I'm not the type to get excited about breakfast. More likely cocktails at sunset!

I have to say this is hands down the best hotel buffet breakfast I have enjoyed in years.

Egg station, sweet pancake and French toast station, beautiful pastries, breads, salads, dairy offerings, cereals, nuts, seeds, jams, chutneys. Or wander over to the Indonesian, Chinese, Indian stations for a savoury choice. Everything is fresh and delicious.

Great selection of gluten free treats (including cakes) and hand brewed Indonesian coffee.

My personal favourite was the fresh cut tropical fruit bar. Forget your standard rock hard fridge stored fruits; indulge in Pineapple, Dragonfruit, Pomelo, Rambutan and whatever else takes your fancy.

MTA Travel has affiliations with various hotel chains so I booked myself on their Hyatt Prive exclusive rates. This includes:

-Early checkin and late checkout
-This amazing breakfast daily for two guests
-Room upgrade, subject to availability
-$100USD hotel credit to spend.

Well, that might be used up at Happy Hour...

18/02/2026

First time back to Bali in quite a few years and my first time in the beachside area of Sanur.

After a very long travel day it's quite delightful to wake at a beautiful hotel with a Zen vibe. Just what the travel doctor ordered!

02/02/2026

Embark on a breathtaking journey through the Tuamotus & Society Islands with French Polynesia's destination expert. Discover unparalleled luxury and explore paradise like never before! 🌺✨ https://inspires.to/experiences/10-11-night-itineraries-tuamotus-society-islands-wplp31

Discover Paradise with French Polynesia's Destination Expert

22/01/2026

Love this photo...the Northern Lights from a forest in Finland. Still one of my bucket list items yet to be completed!

What do you have in mind for 2026?

20/10/2025