Multi-Centre Holidays

Marker_2

Any recommendations on the best sites you have booked multi centre holidays with (I'm thinking price and quality).

I'm looking at Thailand (Phuket/Bangkok) which will combine two or three other places like Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and/or Bali.

Any recommendation appreciated.

alwaysskint96

Surely that ould be easier to book the flights and hotels yourself- probably better value and more flexible also

Marker_2

Bumping this thread a bit, and would appreciate advice/comments from people who have done a Thailand Multi Centre hol and included other destinations.

I want to do either Bangkok/Phuket or Bangkok/Koh Samui (not sure on the beach side yet) and combine it with Hong Kong or Singapore or both if I could.

Any recommendations?

richardw

Bangkok/Khao Lak/Siem Reap

Doshwaster

I do a multi-centre trip to Thailand every year, sometimes spilling over into neighbouring countries. The only way to organise it is to Do It Yourself - any travel agent will either charge a fortune or won't give you many options.

Some trips I have done in recent years:
Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Phuket
Bangkok - Phnom Penh - Koh Samui
Kuala Lumpur - Penang/Langkawi - Bangkok
Bangkok - Krabi (Ao Nang) - Koh Samui

I'm starting to think about a Hong Kong to Bangkok open jaw for next year.

The best airlines for the region are Air Asia and Bangkok Airways both of which have extensive networks. For hotels try http://www.asiarooms.com/, http://www.sawadee.com/ and http://www.asiawebdirect.com/

If you've only ever gone on package holidays before then it may be a little daunting but it really is the best way and planning your own itinerary is a load of fun. Thailand is one of the easiest countries in the world to travel around independently.

There are plenty of Thailand/SE Asia regular on this forum. Feel free to ask any questions. First of all, do you have any idea of a budget and how long the trip will be?

slinga

My wife loves planing these multi center holidays.
Not only does she get the best prices but in her investigation she finds lots of places worth visiting which we'd never go to usually.

DIY, you know it makes sense.
.

Doshwaster

slinga wrote: »

My wife loves planing these multi center holidays.
Not only does she get the best prices but in her investigation she finds lots of places worth visiting which we'd never go to usually.

DIY, you know it makes sense.
.

So rather than DIY you "Get the wife to do it"

I agree though, I love planning these types of trips. It's great fun researching airline schedules, destinations, hotels, transfers and activities. You can build up a virtual itinerary then rip it up and start again until you find your perfect trip.

Marker_2

Thank you so much for your post Doshwaster. My ball park figure is £4000 and that is with two adults one child and one infant (Obviously it is a finger in the air figure but I wouldnt want to stray too far from that). I'd like to go between 10 and 14 nights. Ideally in the school hols, but I'd be quite prepared to bare the brunt of the school rath if we could only afford this sort of holiday during school term (no school can provide the experience and culture in those sorts of countries).

I will research your links when I have a free evening to throw myself into it, and see what I find.

In your experience when is the cheapest time to go, and what time of year weather wise would you say is ideal for our family. My baby did amazingly well at 8 months old in Cuba in August, but now he's older I don't want him to be too uncomfortable with the heat.

Your advice is appreciated

aileth

My parents have done multi-centre all booked for them before with Kuoni and TC Signature. Both were good, very hassle free, Kuoni I would say was slightly better. The Kuoni one was Hong Kong, Singapore and the Maldives.

I planned my own multi-centre trip within Japan and I found it SO much fun doing all the researching, price crunching, and the excitement that comes with finding a hidden bargain. Yes, getting an agency to do it makes it very smooth, but you can discover lots of hidden gems by yourself, e.g. I booked a traditional inn in Japan which the companies couldn't do and it was one experience I'll never, ever forget.

zagfles

Marker wrote: »

Thank you so much for your post Doshwaster. My ball park figure is £4000 and that is with two adults one child and one infant (Obviously it is a finger in the air figure but I wouldnt want to stray too far from that). I'd like to go between 10 and 14 nights. Ideally in the school hols, but I'd be quite prepared to bare the brunt of the school rath if we could only afford this sort of holiday during school term (no school can provide the experience and culture in those sorts of countries).

I will research your links when I have a free evening to throw myself into it, and see what I find.

In your experience when is the cheapest time to go, and what time of year weather wise would you say is ideal for our family. My baby did amazingly well at 8 months old in Cuba in August, but now he's older I don't want him to be too uncomfortable with the heat.

Your advice is appreciated

For exotic holidays with kids you really should read Mr Wang's blog http://www.thesummerholidayofalifetime.com

Obviously_the_best

Just look at Kayak for an open jaw flight to your first destination and from your last, then use Tiger Air and Jetstar to get around. Book the hotels from Trivago with some help from Tripadvisor.

Cheap and easy.