Abroad first time!

Doshwaster

keigcf wrote: »

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.

Vietnam and Cambodia are a different different story, but I have been to Thailand and Malaysia several times and have never seen a beggar or a starving child. They may not be rich countries by Western standards but they both have a reasonable standard of living.

Having said that, Thailand despite being very user-friendly is probably a little too much for someone who has never left the country before.

PompeyPete

Originally Posted by PompeyPete
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.

Exit charge from Phnom Penh airport was US$25. You must have left by road.

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.

Why use them if you think they're expensive? Just been racking my brain, and the only time I've used a taxi outside of BKK was from Chiang Mai airport to the town centre. Train, local bus or van for me.

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.

In that case we struggled, and sniffed around a bit. I think 60-80 bahts was the norm, so what I wrote earlier was a bit out. We paid the prices you suggest, and more, in Sukhumvit. But with locals in Silom, and down Khao San Road it wasn't too difficult to sniff a cheapish bottle out. Ditto in the provinces. Hardly breaking the bank though is it!
The price of beer along the quay in PP, and in Kampot was more than you suggest. I'm sure that wherever you supped you could get a draft beer for 30p, well done.

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.

I commented on your comment, not on my experience, which I haven't got.

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.

Like I said, in Thailand it's train, bus or van for us. Accommodation is the biggest outlay unless you want to doss in a windowless cell! Utilities are very expensive in Cambodia, the cost of which are then passed on to the punter. If you fly out you get stung for US$25, hardly imaginary!

You can keep your beaches thanks:p

I will thanks.
We agree:beer:

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

Mr_Lahey2 wrote: »

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.

Whoosh! Absolutely agree. We had three weeks in Myanmar in February. We booked everything ourselves, local guesthouses, and our taxi/driver/guide for 2 of those weeks, making sure that as much of our pristine US$ went into the local economy, and the very least amount into the hands of the Junta. Best part of US$2,500 we got through, which included about US$200 in tips, all to locals. Hope you approve of that;)

ninky_2

you can find very good all inclusive deals to turkey that are good value for money. make sure you look at reviews of the resort on trip advisor (tripadvisor.com) before booking. although it will be pleasant rather than hot in november (if you go for antalya region).

sharm el sheik in egypt is another popular all inclusive winter destination for brits although i haven't been there myself.

Bob++

Forget the passports and go to the Channel Islands. We just got back from 2 weeks in Jersey and loved it. No currency or language problems and such a great bus service that hire cars are redundant.

Bongedone

What is Cyprus like at that time of year?

keigcf

Bob++ wrote: »

Forget the passports and go to the Channel Islands. We just got back from 2 weeks in Jersey and loved it. No currency or language problems and such a great bus service that hire cars are redundant.

I did suggest Jersey, but hubby wants further afield... I could have coped with Jersey:o

PompeyPete

Bongedone wrote: »

What is Cyprus like at that time of year?

Year on year since Cyprus entered the EU and adopted the Euro, prices have risen, and tourist numbers have steadily declined.
The attitude within the tourist trade is that if visitor numbers decline they compnsate for that by putting the prices up! It doesn't work!!

keigcf

Benidorm old town looks alright, I will check trip advisor for decent hotel:j