Where to go?

Leanne1812

Hello forum,

I have just booked flights for this years autumn break. I am flying to Kuala Lumpur on the 30th sept and returning to the uk on the 20th oct.
I will spend a few days with my sis who lives in KL and then asia beckons, the trouble is where? Having been to SEA a few times i'm not quite sure where to go this time. Any suggestions anyone? Beach, city, culture, i'm open to all suggestions.

I'll tell you where i've been and don't really want to go again. KL, Singapore, Bali, Phuket, Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Penang, Langkawi.

A friend was recently in Chiang Mai and and loved it. Anyone been? Loved it, hated it? I'm considering Hanoi and maybe Halong Bay as we loved HCM last year. Also Siem Reap ( Angkor Wat) is in the running. Any tips on who to fly with, where to stay etc is most appreciated.

So, tell me where is worth a visit and why if you don't mind sharing your travel adventures.

Thanks in anticipation.

Leanne

Leanne1812

Anyone ..........................:)

Incapuppy

You should find plenty of advice and info on the Trip Advisor and Lonely Planet Thorn Tree forums.

Bob_the_Saver

Air Asia or Tiger Airway down to Macau and Jetfoil over to Hong Kong (Island) (Don't neglect Macau)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyEGXD5hLXU

Leanne1812

Incapuppy wrote: »

You should find plenty of advice and info on the Trip Advisor and Lonely Planet Thorn Tree forums.

Thanks, I do use both these forums just thought i'd ask here too for anyone to share their experiences and adventures from SEA.

Leanne1812

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

Air Asia or Tiger Airway down to Macau and Jetfoil over to Hong Kong (Island) (Don't neglect Macau)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyEGXD5hLXU

Cheers for the link Bob, that sure is a strange boat ride! I will certainly check out Hong Kong/ Macau.

Doshwaster

Leanne1812 wrote: »

A friend was recently in Chiang Mai and and loved it. Anyone been? Loved it, hated it? I'm considering Hanoi and maybe Halong Bay as we loved HCM last year. Also Siem Reap ( Angkor Wat) is in the running. Any tips on who to fly with, where to stay etc is most appreciated.

Chaing Mai is excellent and worth a few days of anyone's time. Becuase it is up in the mountains it is cooler and not so humid as many other parts of Thailand, it's a very laid back city and hasn't been ruined by the tourist trade in the same way that Phuket and Ko Samui have been (Koh Samui isn't that bad but I couldn't stand Phuket). It hasn't yet been discovered by the mass tourist market so most people there are independent travellers. Once you are there there are plenty of guided trips you can book into the surrounding mountains and jungle.

For local flights I wouldn't look any further than Air Asia (esp if you want to use KL as a hub). Excellent service, cheap prices and an extensive network. They are like Ryanair - but good!

I also liked Penang and Langkawi (for different reasons) but I see they are both on your "not-again" list.

Luckyred

Leanne1812 wrote: »

Cheers for the link Bob, that sure is a strange boat ride! I will certainly check out Hong Kong/ Macau.

Hong Kong is well worth a visit IMO. There is so much to see and do. Its fantastic!

Bob_the_Saver

Luckyred wrote: »

Hong Kong is well worth a visit IMO. There is so much to see and do. Its fantastic!

Macau is worth a day or two (at the most), take in the Venetian Casino (Free and no gambling required) and the 'old town'. Don't forget the Jetfoil goes to Hong Kong Island and then take the Star Ferry over to Kowloon (Pennies). If you go to Kowloon (the mainland) you go on a Fast Cat not at all the same.

Macau info here

http://www.passportchop.com/trip-summaries/jetstar-macau-jetsaver-light-challenge/

My top tip, If you fly to Macau use the VERY cheap public bus from the airport to the Ferry Terminal (change a LITTLE money in the airport, you need MOPS (Petakas) and get coins for the machine on the bus). Once you get to the Ferry terminal all of the hotels/casino's have free shuttle buses.

Bananabelly

I have been to all of the places mentioned above.
Hong Kong is a great city for a few days, Macau is maybe worth a day trip but is not that exciting unless you like casinos (and it's not like Vegas, it's just gambling). It is interesting because of the Portuguese influence though.
Angkor Wat is amazing, and I would highly recommend it. Hanoi is also nice, and Halong Bay very pretty though most trips are at least an overnight.
It looks like you have 3 weeks altogether, so maybe 2 to travel? You could see a lot of Cambodia/Laos or Cambodia/Hanoi for example. Or you could go up to chiang Mai for a few days (which is a tourist trap, no matter what anyone says! But still ok for a few days) and then across to Siem Riep. What I am saying is...choose an area and do a few things around there. One city (eg HK) or place (eg Angkor Wat) won't keep you occupied for 2 weeks.

puffinmuffin

Laos is my favourite country in that region, Luang Prabang is gorgeous. Could you fly to Hanoi and travel back down the coast of Vietnam, you can do the whole thing by train, loads of interesting stops along the way? Angkor Wat is awesome, you will need at least two days to see the ruins properly but there isn't a great deal else to do around Siem Reap. I did a boat trip along the Mekong from HCMC to Phnom Penh and then took a bus to Siem Reap.