Abroad first time!

hethmar

Have a look on trip advisor and google the suggestions so far. The least scarey would be Malta which seems about the safest place Ive been to be honest Its just you may get a bit of rain there in November, though it would still be warm (I got a sun tan there in February one year). Tunisia is full of people trying to drag you to their shops or beg from you.

So have a look on the net at the Canaries, Malta and Spain and see what you feel about them.Canaries have a lot of time share touts.

Have a lovely time. (And good on your mum for thinking about hungry kids)

a_sav

We went to Cascais -Portugal, lovely old fishing village, gentle beaches and very pleasent all round and people speak English

Mr_Lahey2

The Far East, maybe Cambodia. Probably the most relaxing and cheapest place outisde of Africa.

PompeyPete

Mr_Lahey2 wrote: »

The Far East, maybe Cambodia. Probably the most relaxing and cheapest place outisde of Africa.

Wow! That's a bit adventurous for a first trip out of UK.
Had a few days in Phnom Penh and Kampot at the beginning of March.

Loved it, but the accommodation was double what you'd pay for the same standard in Thailand. The reason for that is because domestic utilities in Cambodia are very expensive, and of course the cost get's passed onto the hotel guest. Apart from hotel costs most things are fairly inexpensive and on a par with Thailand.

Regrettably, Cambodia is also awash with people who've have lost a limb or three, either due to the ravages of war, or having trod on a landmine. They are not very well looked after by the Cambodian government, and consequently you'll come across many beggars. I don't think they are sights that the OP would like to see on his first trip abroad.

karenmay33

i liked it @ the calella palace 4* on the costa brava, cheap all inc indoor and outdoor pool fab rooms, the staff are helpfull and the food is better than the reviews say. you can also use your all inc card in the sister hotels book dinners in the sister hotels there are about 8 on the costa brava coast. train in calella which takes you into Barcelona for 6 euros each way, the H top hotel group also put on trips costing aprox 18 Euros each. ryanair fly cheap into Girona

keigcf

Mr_Lahey2 wrote: »

The Far East, maybe Cambodia. Probably the most relaxing and cheapest place outisde of Africa.

Sorry not for me, its a big thing for me just flying as I hate heights. I would hate seeing starving children, or people with bits missing it would upset me alot.

Mr_Lahey2

PompeyPete wrote: »

Wow! That's a bit adventurous for a first trip out of UK.
Had a few days in Phnom Penh and Kampot at the beginning of March.

Loved it, but the accommodation was double what you'd pay for the same standard in Thailand. The reason for that is because domestic utilities in Cambodia are very expensive, and of course the cost get's passed onto the hotel guest. Apart from hotel costs most things are fairly inexpensive and on a par with Thailand.

Regrettably, Cambodia is also awash with people who've have lost a limb or three, either due to the ravages of war, or having trod on a landmine. They are not very well looked after by the Cambodian government, and consequently you'll come across many beggars. I don't think they are sights that the OP would like to see on his first trip abroad.

Cambodia is much, much cheaper than Thailand. I am in Thailand right now and have been in and out of here for the past couple of months. Last week i was in Cambodia and had a driver (tuk tuk) for the day at a mere $12, or the 160km taxi journey that cost $25.
Food is an average $1 and a pint of beer $0.50 Of course you can pay much more but there is no need to.
Also, except for at Poipet you are much less likely to be ripped off in Cambodia than in Thailand, have you ever been to Hat Yai? That skid mark is almost as bad as Delhi. Or ever tried to get a taxi in Koh Samui? Even yesterday as i took the Sangethaw from Na Din Pier in Koh Samet to Sai Kaew (i know my spellings are poor) the driver tried over charging me by 100%. Of course, had i realised it was only about a KM i'd have walked.
Thailand is one of the more expensive countries in (SE) Asia and accommodation aside is on par with Singapore. China, Vietnam, India, Indonesia (except Bali) Cambodia and Malaysia are all cheaper than Thailand. And Langkawi in Malaysia has beaches that rival any in for Thailand (except maybe Ko Phi Phi which is ridiculously expensive to get to anyway and Ko Ma on the North coast of Ko Phangan)

Zara77

Hi
I would suggest Rome.At that time of year less touristy and a really welcoming City. Most people speak english,are incredibley friendly and go out of their way to help you. The actual City is so beautiful,its like a living Museum. Honestly its like a visual treat for your eyes. The food-if eaten in local small cafes,is really superb. The flavours are magical,with just a few ingredients. And familiar-in the sense that,you can opt for food that you have had before-eg,pizza,pasta&great breads. Cost wise not too bad,less demand at that time of year. Although with a little research before hand,you will not fall prey to any of the tourist trap-eg,Restuarants charging for fish by weight,touting waiters trying to husher you in from outside and expensive water bottles. They have water fountains everywhere that the locals use to drink from/or top up their bottles. They have really great supermarkets,that you could pickup lunch bits and just eat out in the evening-thereby cutting costs.
Where ever you end up going,i hope you have a lovely time.

PompeyPete

Mr_Lahey2 wrote: »

Cambodia is much, much cheaper than Thailand.

Have you factored in the cost of am Entry and Exit Visa for Cambodia? US$45 total. Zero cost for Thailand. You have to factor in the accommodation costs when you make a proper comparison! It's not much kop saying you can save US$10 on food and drink, when you are paying US$15 more on accommodation!! We don't do beaches, so I can't comment on resort costs, but can imagine they are quite high.

Mr_Lahey2 wrote: »

Last week i was in Cambodia and had a driver (tuk tuk) for the day at a mere $12, or the 160km taxi journey that cost $25.

Yep, we hired a tuk-tuk for the day in Kampot. It was good value. But I wouldn't bother with a tuk-tuk in Thailand. I'd hire a push-bike for US$2 a day and pedal round the countryside. I'll agree with the taxi too, but taxis are also inexpensive in Thailand (but don't know about the beach resorts).

Mr_Lahey2 wrote: »

Food is an average $1 and a pint of beer $0.50 Of course you can pay much more but there is no need to.

I'll take your word for it. We travel on a shoestring too, and I've never found street food in Thailand costing much more than you say. We never had much trouble in seeking our a big bottle of Chiang or Singha between 40-70 bahts in Thailand.

Mr_Lahey2 wrote: »

Also, except for at Poipet you are much less likely to be ripped off in Cambodia than in Thailand, have you ever been to Hat Yai? That skid mark is almost as bad as Delhi. Or ever tried to get a taxi in Koh Samui? Even yesterday as i took the Sangethaw from Na Din Pier in Koh Samet to Sai Kaew (i know my spellings are poor) the driver tried over charging me by 100%. Of course, had i realised it was only about a KM i'd have walked.

Stay away from the Thai resorts then! Never had any trouble in Kanchaburi, Chiang Mai or Nong Khai.

Mr_Lahey2 wrote: »

Thailand is one of the more expensive countries in (SE) Asia and accommodation aside is on par with Singapore. China, Vietnam, India, Indonesia (except Bali) Cambodia and Malaysia are all cheaper than Thailand.

Accommodation is usually by far you greatest expense. How can you make an objective comparison if you don't cost in the accommodation!? Plus Entry and Exit costs.

Mr_Lahey2 wrote: »

And Langkawi in Malaysia has beaches that rival any in for Thailand (except maybe Ko Phi Phi which is ridiculously expensive to get to anyway and Ko Ma on the North coast of Ko Phangan)

You can keep your beaches thanks:p

All that said, my post was to help the original OP. If you were taking your first nervous steps out of UK on holiday I don't think you'd really want to see a country strewn with amputees with a begging bowl in their hand (providing they had a hand)!

Enjoy the rest of your trip, sounds packed with incident and excitement:D

Mr_Lahey2

PompeyPete wrote: »

Have you factored in the cost of am Entry and Exit Visa for Cambodia? US$45 total. Zero cost for Thailand. You have to factor in the accommodation costs when you make a proper comparison! It's not much kop saying you can save US$10 on food and drink, when you are paying US$15 more on accommodation!! We don't do beaches, so I can't comment on resort costs, but can imagine they are quite high.

Entry and Exit visa? I dont know what Cambodia you went to but then one i went to was $20 for the visa, end of.



Yep, we hired a tuk-tuk for the day in Kampot. It was good value. But I wouldn't bother with a tuk-tuk in Thailand. I'd hire a push-bike for US$2 a day and pedal round the countryside. I'll agree with the taxi too, but taxis are also inexpensive in Thailand (but don't know about the beach resorts).

Taxi's in Bangkok are cheap, every where else they are nothing short of extortionate.


I'll take your word for it. We travel on a shoestring too, and I've never found street food in Thailand costing much more than you say. We never had much trouble in seeking our a big bottle of Chiang or Singha between 40-70 bahts in Thailand.

At a restaurant in Thailand you will struggle to get a large beer for les than 90 Baht with 100 being the norm. Thats almost two quid, like i said, a pint in most restaurants in Cambodia is 30 pence.



Stay away from the Thai resorts then! Never had any trouble in Kanchaburi, Chiang Mai or Nong Khai.

I dont stay in resorts, i have, but dont usually. And to be fair if you have only been to the above places then you can't really comment.


Accommodation is usually by far you greatest expense. How can you make an objective comparison if you don't cost in the accommodation!? Plus Entry and Exit costs.

No it isn't, i have found transport to be the single biggest cost. Accomodation is far cheaper in Cambodia than even in Bangkok where hotels are so cheap its stupid. But if we really want to get silly about your imagniary 'exit cost' lets look at the stupid 15 day Thai visa unless you fly into Thailand. 30 days in Cambodia regardless.

You can keep your beaches thanks:p

I will thanks.

All that said, my post was to help the original OP. If you were taking your first nervous steps out of UK on holiday I don't think you'd really want to see a country strewn with amputees with a begging bowl in their hand (providing they had a hand)!

Enjoy the rest of your trip, sounds packed with incident and excitement

I would rather visit a country that has suffered for decades at the hands of war and poverty and put my my money into the local economy than grease the palms of ex pats whilst boogying on down with bunch of British chavs.