Looking for some Travel Tips (Asean Area)

soil_2

I would avoid Phuket personally, it's very tacky but perhaps for six males it's ok. Ko Phi Phi is a dreadful overdeveloped tourist trap. The Vieng Tai got Lonely Planetized years ago and is to be avoided. There is a better choice on the way towards the Grand Palace, I forget the name though.

Have not been to Cambodia in 10 years but liked it much better than Cambodia.

Rather than all the Thai islands you could try the Gili islands. Beaches in Bali are not world-class try Lombok (but quiet), or Gilis for a more party island atmosphere but not as unpleasantly exploitative as the Thai islands.

jamsandwiches

soil wrote: »

Have not been to Cambodia in 10 years but liked it much better than Cambodia.

;)

Bob_the_Saver

jamsandwiches wrote: »

soil wrote: »

Have not been to Cambodia in 10 years but liked it much better than Cambodia.

;)

I preferred Cambodia

Doshwaster

jamsandwiches wrote: »

soil wrote: »

Have not been to Cambodia in 10 years but liked it much better than Cambodia.

;)

As they say, if you can remember Cambodia, you weren't really there.

soil_2

jamsandwiches wrote: »

soil wrote: »

Have not been to Cambodia in 10 years but liked it much better than Cambodia.

;)

lol than Thailand.

dickydonkin

Doshwaster wrote: »

As above, let Air Asia be your guide. They are a fantastic airline (who put the likes of Ryanair and Easyjet to shame) with very low prices and an extensive network. Long distance buses and trains are also good value, especially in Malaysia, if you aren't in such a rush to get around.

That said - don't assume the likes of Air Asia are always cheaper than full service carriers.

Last January, I purchased a flight with Cathay Pacific from Bangkok to Singapore which cost around the same as Air Asia by the time all of their add ons were factored in - what made that flight better value was that my wife and I were upgraded to business on the return sector.

Today I have just booked a flight for January 2012 with Qatar Airways from Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh for 12,130THB with 33 kilos of luggage allowance, seat selection and meal - the same route on Air Asia is 12,615THB.

One is a supposedly lo-co no frills carrier - the other a 5* airline.

I am not suggesting legacy carriers will always be cheaper but what I am stating that low cost carriers sometimes don't always live up to their name.

jamsandwiches

Thanks for the information about Qatar to Vietnam - annoys me when I can take up to 45kgs with Jet Airways as far as Bangkok then Vietnam Airlines only lets me have 20kgs for the onward flight.

Doshwaster

jamsandwiches wrote: »

Thanks for the information about Qatar to Vietnam - annoys me when I can take up to 45kgs with Jet Airways as far as Bangkok then Vietnam Airlines only lets me have 20kgs for the onward flight.

The secret to travelling around SE Asia is to travel light. The weather is hot and humid, clothing is cheap to buy and laundry services are everywhere. If you are going to be moving around a lot you don't want to be lugging around a huge suitcase with you.

I've always found Air Asia to be excellent value for flights inside Malaysia and Thailand and for short flights their no-frills service is fine. I'm not sure I'd go with them on longer routes.

PompeyPete

Make sure you stay near the river or Sky train in BKK. Khao San area fits the bill. Navalai River Resort is great, and right on Pier 11. Personally I'd avoid the Sukhumvit area.

Nong Khai in NE Thailand hasn't been mentioned. It's a lovely laid back frontier town right on the Meekong. It's probably the best place to enter Laos by land. I'd get the overnight sleeper train from BKK, and spend a few days at the Mutmee guesthouse. Then cross the Friendship Bridge into Laos, buy your visa as you cross.

Vientiene is 20 minutes by tuk tuk once you've crossed the Bridge. Spend a couple of days in Vientiene then rent a van to take you to Vang Vieng (4 hours). It's a wacky place, and is on the beaten path for most visitors to Laos. A couple of days there, then hire another van to take you to Luang Prabang (7 hours). Lovely place. A few days there, then fly to your next country.

PompeyPete

Just a note on Air Asia. A couple of years ago I booked two x return flights between Kota Kinabalu - Kuching in Borneo, plus 7 nights at the Tune Hotel in Kuching for £120 (absolute total for 2 of us). You'll see these flights + hotel on their website. Book when you see otherwise the best offers will be snapped up pdq.