Looking for some Travel Tips (Asean Area)

soil_2

PompeyPete wrote: »

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.

The other thing with Air Asia is to beware of odd routings. Something like Bangkok-Singapore is not risky, but when you get more esoteric routings, especially ones that have not been established long, beware that Air Asia are liable to cancel confirmed flights because of lack of interest, and this may leave you a large bill finding alternative flights - if there is no non-stop alternative, this can be quite inconvenient.

Also the Tune hotel in Kuching is only £7/night anyway.

Add to that that you can fly KK-Kuching for £35 each return on Air Asia anyway (inclusive of booking fee/taxes), and I think you paid exactly the going rate.

soil_2

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.

Best you check out the LCC's fee structure before bringing 45kg. They charge for ANY checked luggage, but generally speaking 15kg is cheap, 20kg is 50% more, and more than 20kg and you can be doubling the cost of your flight.

Doshwaster

PompeyPete wrote: »

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.

Yes, the Navalai is a good choice if you want to be by the river. It's not too expensive (about £50 a night) and much better than the backpacker type places around Khao San but not too far away from it's cheap bars and shops.

I still don't mind the Sukhumvit area - it's right on the Sky Train network and within walking distance of a lot of shopping an night-life. Of course, it depends on what you are looking for. Don't got to Sukhumvit for peace and quiet.

soil_2

Doshwaster wrote: »

Yes, the Navalai is a good choice if you want to be by the river. It's not too expensive (about £50 a night) and much better than the backpacker type places around Khao San but not too far away from it's cheap bars and shops.

I still don't mind the Sukhumvit area - it's right on the Sky Train network and within walking distance of a lot of shopping an night-life. Of course, it depends on what you are looking for. Don't got to Sukhumvit for peace and quiet.

It all depends really.

If you want backpacker bars, Banglamphu/Khao San Road. If you want go-go bars or nice restaurants Sukhumvit.

Taxis are cheap anyway wherever you stay.

trrk

Check out www.travelfish.org - it has a lot of information on most of the places you are going. The Lonely Planet forum (www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree) is also a good source of info with a detailed forum about each country and hundreds of posters who have been on similar trips to you. We travelled through all those countries, just by land but over quite a lot longer than you (6 months).

General piece of advice - read the above forums about the common scams and rip offs. There are lots of them in this area but almost all are easily avoidable if you recognise them.

A few recommendations:

Malaysia - Melaka, Perhentian Islands especially the smaller island (don't miss these - the best beach place we went in the whole trip), Penang (lots to do here)

Thailand - the southern islands of Koh Lipe, Koh Bulon, Koh Mak, Koh Kraden and Koh Ngai are really nice and quiet and have some beautiful beaches. Railay is well worth a visit - very beautiful. Sukhothai and Ayuthuya if you like ruins. Chang Mai and Mai Hong Son are nice cities in north Thailand. The Saturday night market in Chang Mai is one of the better ones in SE Asia. Buses are good in Nth Thailand if the train doesn't go where you want. The 2 main routes into Laos are the one previously mentioned for Vientiane or the one that involves a 2 days boat trip to Luang Prabang (can be organised from Chang Mai or Chang Rai)

Laos - definately see Luang Prabang. Area around Muong Ngoi and Nong Kiaw is nice. Vang Vieng seems past it's used by date unless you like sitting in restaurants consuming "happy" things (i.e dope) and watching reruns of American TV. The southern Mekong islands of Don Khon and Don Det are also nice and quite relaxing but quite far from Luang Prabang.

Cambodia - at least 3 days for the Angkor temples or 7 if you are really into ruins (tickets come in 1, 3 or 7 days). Make sure you see some other place in Cambodia as Siem Reap is a tourist bubble not representative of the whole country. Kampot is quite pleasant and the countryside around Battambang is interesting (but not the city). Rabbit Island if you want a rustic budget beach break (beach huts for around $5) or LazyBeach for something more comfortable.

Vietnam - Mekong Delta but not necessary to do the tour. Hoi An is nice but touristy. Mue Nie and Nha Trang are both good beach areas (Nha Trang more of a city). Halong Bay or Cat Ba Island. Hill-tribe markets, especially Bac Ha and Can Cau.

PompeyPete

soil wrote: »

The other thing with Air Asia is to beware of odd routings. Something like Bangkok-Singapore is not risky, but when you get more esoteric routings, especially ones that have not been established long, beware that Air Asia are liable to cancel confirmed flights because of lack of interest, and this may leave you a large bill finding alternative flights - if there is no non-stop alternative, this can be quite inconvenient.

But not the case on popular routes that are always full. Flights were on time, and the aircraft were spotless. Ditto on Air Asia between Yangon-BKK-Phnom Penh.

soil wrote: »

Also the Tune hotel in Kuching is only £7/night anyway.

Just done a search: 7 nights at the end of this month £123 total inc of 12 hours a/c and towels/comfort pack. Over a 7night perios you'll probably need quite a bit more than 12 hours a/c.

soil wrote: »

Add to that that you can fly KK-Kuching for £35 each return on Air Asia anyway (inclusive of booking fee/taxes), and I think you paid exactly the going rate.

Same dates on Air Asia website. 2 x daytime return flights £159 total.

That totals £282. No doubt if you book further in advance you could get it cheaper. But £120 was a bargain.

PompeyPete

soil wrote: »

Taxis are cheap anyway wherever you stay.

Fine, so long as you don't mind being stuck in traffic for yonks, and choking on fumes!
Travel on the public ferries is a great way to see local life in action. Ditto the skytrain. Both methods know where they're going too, whereas you could be taken for a [literally] ride by a taxi driver. And if you do take a taxi try and have your intended destination scribed on a bit of card in Thai to help the driver.

soil_2

PompeyPete wrote: »

Just done a search: 7 nights at the end of this month £123 total inc of 12 hours a/c and towels/comfort pack. Over a 7night perios you'll probably need quite a bit more than 12 hours a/c.



Same dates on Air Asia website. 2 x daytime return flights £159 total.

That totals £282. No doubt if you book further in advance you could get it cheaper. But £120 was a bargain.

I checked for October, and you didn't say whether your £120 included a/c and towels.

They are the same company which is why they might be able to do a deal (and which is also why they sell rooms for £7/night then try to stick about £20/night on top of that for towels, tv, etc.)

PompeyPete

trrk wrote: »

Chang Mai and Mai Hong Son are nice cities in north Thailand. The Saturday night market in Chang Mai is one of the better ones in SE Asia. ....or the one that involves a 2 days boat trip to Luang Prabang (can be organised from Chang Mai or Chang Rai)

Laos - Vang Vieng seems past it's used by date unless you like sitting in restaurants consuming "happy" things (i.e dope) and watching reruns of American TV.

Cambodia - Kampot is quite pleasant...

Chiang Mai is a mini BKK. Choke on exhaust fumes, and be very careful crossing the roads. There's a lot better markets in SE Asia than Chiang Mai.

Vang Vieng. Be "happy" if you want, but it's not obligatory. Rent a bike and get out of town.

Kampot Hire a tuk-tuk for the day, and let it take you to Kep and the pepper farms.

trrk

PompeyPete wrote: »

Travel on the public ferries is a great way to see local life in action. Ditto the skytrain. Both methods know where they're going too, whereas you could be taken for a [literally] ride by a taxi driver. And if you do take a taxi try and have your intended destination scribed on a bit of card in Thai to help the driver.

Agreed - try to take public transport whenever you can. Bangkok's taxi drivers are some of the most dishonest in Asia and rarely want to use the meter. Tuk tuks are even worse and if you do get a low price it's probably because they want to take you on a massive shopping expedition. The Khao San and Bangalamphu area is convenient for first time visitors as it's near the Grand Palace, Wat Arun etc but it's inconvenient for the Skytrain.

If in Bangkok for a weekend don't miss the big weekend market.