Vietnam / Cambodia / Thailand next year

Leanne1812

I've stayed in Khao San & riverside locations.

I hated Khao San, it just felt dirty. It probably didn't help when I saw a huge rat running around in the bushes where we were having dinner. I know they are probably most places but when you see them it makes you squeamish. The pavements seemed to be overrun with cockroaches too. Yuck!

If I were to return I'd always stay at a riverside location, it really is fascinating to watch everyday life on the river.

Pompey, as far as internal flights go I know where you're coming from. I think we had this discussion before. Maybe I was just very unlucky with my overnight train journey but its put me off ever doing it again.

Leanne1812

PompeyPete wrote: »

Battambang is worth at least 3 nights, as is Kampot and Kep. It's easy to exit Cambodia from Battambang, just over an hour by taxi to the Poipet border (easy enough providing you remain alert to scams).



Yep, too many ill mannered and disrespectful tour groups, especially Koreans! The place being overrun completed spoiled the main sights for us, so we spent too much time hitting the Happy Hours down Pub Street.

The Angkor site has also been heavily plundered over the years by corrupt government officials, and thieving-to-order racketeers.

We've done the Temples of Bagan in Myanmar, which we enjoyed a lot more, although a couple of days of it leaves you with temple fatigue!



I hate internal flights in beautiful countries where there is so much to be seen on the ground...

http://www.canbypublications.com/

It's a 199 miles (not Kms) from PP to SR. The Giant Ibis bus costs $13, and is a very comfortable ride, and now that road has been improved and is now like a speed track, the bigger the vehicle the safer you feel. Here's the Giant Ibis website...

http://www.giantibis.com/

You got a good deal though as a taxi btween PP and SR is normally a least $75.

Open to suggestions, we've done a little research. Is Sihanoukville worth a visit? We'd like a few days chilling on a half decent beach.

Angkor is still worth visiting though. I was very impressed with the renovation work. Not so much with the masses of tour guides. We went solo as other travellers we'd spoke to said the guides went into so much detail they got bored. All templed out as they say add the heat and humidity into that and it can be quite heavy going.

It was 2 years ago but I'm pretty sure it was $60. Our hotel was very helpful with arranging the transfer.

bylromarha

PompeyPete wrote: »

So why did you stay there?:D

Because a room for 2 adults and 2 children where they don't walk out into a dodgy scene is a hard thing to find in Bangkok. If we were a couple travelling I'd never have opted for New Siam. As a family travelling we had another option a little out of the city which was a little less money with all the same facilities. We opted for more money in the city. The Riverside location didn't add anything to our stay except more hawkers trying to pick us up from our perceived expensive hotel.

PompeyPete wrote: »

I'd love to read your trip report;).

Why? We had a great time thanks. Of all the countries, our favourite stop was easily Phnom Penh. Wore my bespoke handmade Cambodian boots today. Love those boots.

Leanne1812

bylromarha wrote: »

Why? We had a great time thanks. Of all the countries, our favourite stop was easily Phnom Penh. Wore my bespoke handmade Cambodian boots today. Love those boots.

Haha,you just reminded me, I got boots made in Hoi An. They looked lovely on display but I wanted brown instead of black. I was so pleased at getting made to measure boots for £25. When I picked them up hubby said they looked like brown wellies with a heel! I wore them once and they went in the bin

Systema_2

Leanne1812 wrote: »

Pompey, as far as internal flights go I know where you're coming from. I think we had this discussion before. Maybe I was just very unlucky with my overnight train journey but its put me off ever doing it again.

We have done many short and long - day and overnight train journeys in Vietnam and love them but have friends who only ever went on one and would not set foot on one of them every again.

Know what you mean about the wellies - my suit was nothing like I imagined it to be and still in the bag I brought it home in - hubby said I should have left it where it was.

Hoping to be back there end of Feb.

totallybored

Leanne1812 wrote: »

Open to suggestions, we've done a little research. Is Sihanoukville worth a visit? We'd like a few days chilling on a half decent beach.
.

I considered Sihanoukville but ruled it out as I was worried it might be a bit too backpackerish. Kampot had quite a few of them arriving squashed in mini buses from Sihanoukville. I loved Kep though. Although it doesn't have a beach atm (they did seem to be creating on where the giant crab is) I stayed at Knai Bang Chatt and spent my time relaxing by the pool in front of the sea.

danandjens_worldtravels

Shianoukville - I would avoid. Lovely people there but the poverty and difficulties of Cambodia are very apparent. (Sadly children who want your leftovers, drinks bottles and beach selling along with lots of child sex tourism warnings)

I've only stayed in the cheapo backpacker areas of all these countries (Koa San Road hotel for me is 300Bht/£6 a room and I love it) I'm not sure even the nicer hotels/hostels will be able to shield you from the unpleasantness of reality in Shianoukville. This poverty is all over Cambodia, however I suppose you are less affected in the unique places wheras a beach is a beach - so its very obvious to compare. Don't let this put you off visiting Cambodia - its a wonderful country and the people are interesting, have an amusing sense of humour and are welcoming.

If you want beach do a few days in Thailand at the end our your trip before you go home.

Is it possible to increase your trip to 3 months rather than 3 weeks???

totallybored

richardw wrote: »

Yes, that's not quite correct about Jetstar, it's new routes to Phu Quoc and Nha Trang from Ho Chi Minh

Nha Trang was my least favourite place in SE Asia, I hated it. Full of Russian package tourists and Russian beauty salons.

maggiesoop

Wow, just logged on! Thanks guys, really appreciate the time and effort put into your advice and links. Will have a look at everything in depth over the weekend. The main thread seems to be not to visit all 3 but I really doubt we'll be back so would appreciate which 2 to visit if one had to choose. The scenery and people being more important than standard of hotel.

Thanks again.

totallybored

maggiesoop wrote: »

Wow, just logged on! Thanks guys, really appreciate the time and effort put into your advice and links. Will have a look at everything in depth over the weekend. The main thread seems to be not to visit all 3 but I really doubt we'll be back so would appreciate which 2 to visit if one had to choose. The scenery and people being more important than standard of hotel.

Thanks again.

Cambodia and Thailand! I did both this summer for 3 weeks (mainly Cambodia but started and ended in Bangkok) and last year I went on my own and did all 3 including a beach in Thailand. I preferred Cambodia over Vietnam. The people are much nicer and I found it much less touristy. I think I might have done a trip report for my solo trip so have a search through my old posts.