Bangkok Phuket Singapore and Dubai - Easter 2015

MasterPoo

Doshwaster wrote: »

If stopping on Ko Lanta then it would be easier to fly into Krabi or Trang. The transfer from Phuket airport to Ko Lanata is going to be long and expensive.

Can I fly from Krabi to SIN? I bit confused about google flights as it shows it as two stop flight???

KBV - KUL - SIN, I think we should be fine with KBV - KUL and not fly to SIN, but how does this now impact my SIN to Dubai:eek::(

Doshwaster

MasterPoo wrote: »

Can I fly from Krabi to SIN? I bit confused about google flights as it shows it as two stop flight???

KBV - KUL - SIN, I think we should be fine with KBV - KUL and not fly to SIN, but how does this now impact my SIN to Dubai:eek::(

According to Kayak there are direct services with Tiger Air and Air Asia. Picking a random date: http://www.kayak.co.uk/flights/KBV-SIN/2015-04-06

totallybored

MasterPoo wrote: »

Chosen hotel for BKK - http://www.mandarinoriental.com/bangkok/

Only SIN hotel left to do now!

Once thats done, will leave it for a while and then start planning excursions Jan/Feb.

I can highly recommend the Mandarin in Singapore, the club level is excellent.

I discounted the Mandarin in Bangkok for some reason, possibly because I wanted a location next to the sky train. I normally stay at the Hansar as their suites are very good. However, for a one night stopover with jet lag I wouldn't bother with a 5 star hotel. I think I stayed somewhere for about £40 a night near the terminal 21 mall for a quick overnight and then did 3 nights back in the Hansar at the end of the trip before flying back.

pleasedelete

totallybored wrote: »

I can highly recommend the Mandarin in Singapore, the club level is excellent.

I hated the MO club room in Singapore. it was like a silver surfer feeding frenzy- people scrabbling for the food and drink in the evening. The Ritz Carlton next door is much nicer. Breakfast at the MO is in an enormous multi area room- great choice but with a giant buffet much of the food was cold. One of our rooms smelled badly of damp and the toiletries had been used!

Plus the MO dont let children into the club lounge (unless it has changed recently)

slinga

We wouldn't waste money on an expensive hotel unless the company was paying. And then complain/compare the Club Rooms where we'd only eat if we had to because of weather.
Better to be out and trying the local food, 'locally'.

There are so many mid priced hotels in Singapore which are fine.

Personally I wouldn't say thatThe New Majestic Hotel in Singapore was central. It is near some interesting places and night life around the Duxton HIll area but central is Orchard Rd or City Hall.
The Fairmont at City Hall has a great location and not too highly priced.

But Singapore is easy enough to get around by MRT or bus. I don't think I've taken more than 5 taxi rides in over 30 years here except too and from the airport.

Just as a cheap trip to get the feel of Singapore try taking the MRT from City Hall to Clementi.
This passes through the local areas at tree top level.
Then change to a bus at Clementi interchange and take the No 7 back to City Hall which drives down Orchard Rd its whole length.
Make sure you wait 10 minutes max for a double decker rather than get on the single deckers which sometimes are used on this route, and then take the front seats upstairs. This bus will pass through the ex pat areas and give a comparison of local v ex pat.

An hour or so well spent to get a feel for the place.
And all for about £1 per person.

Doshwaster

slinga wrote: »

We wouldn't waste money on an expensive hotel unless the company was paying. And then complain/compare the Club Rooms where we'd only eat if we had to because of weather.
Better to be out and trying the local food, 'locally'.

I agree. It does seem to be a waste of money to go to a 5 star hotel in SE Asia and then eat in their restaurant. Much of the fun of the region is trying local places and food markets. If you don't like something then it has only cost you a few pence for the experience.

I don't know about Singapore but in Bangkok and KL you really don't need to pay more than £50-60 a night for an excellent 4 star in a good location, the sort of hotel which would be £150-200 in London.

PompeyPete

Another one in agreement.

Me and the Mrs are going to Bali (21 nights) and Java (7 nights) this Wednesday.

I've booked all our accommodation on Agoda, Booking.com, Air AsiaGo, or Airbnb. I've spent a grand total of £518 for 28 nights B&B for the pair a us.

All the accommodation (4 hotels) is mid range, well located, and with swimming pool, apart from our first week (Airbnb) which is a homestay.

Cheap as chips, as is eating out while we're there.:)

paddyrg

You're going to be knackered I think - everywhere you're going is hot and you're not giving yourself a lot of jetlag/acclimatization time anywhere!

Anyway, my preferred hotel in Singapore is the Fullerton (old colonial building, in bay area, nearby arts centre and other colonial buildings, short walk from Raffles). If you go, 6th floor Quay rooms have covered balconies which is great in all weathers.

Bangkok is a great city but exhausting - best bet would be to get a nice taxi driver to agree a day rate with you (Maybe Bh400 + meals + tip) as you're going to spend hours in a taxi anyway, and probably don't want to get taken to 'gem centres' by tuktuk drivers claiming Wat Po is closed for 'reasons' and taking commissions (you'd be amazed just how organised gem centre places can be - placing people at temples to act as convincers etc).

Dubai - can take or leave it TBH - everything there is to do is something that's been artificially created for tourists to do. +1 for Oman instead, or alternatively rein Dubai back in as a stopover and make more of your Asia time.

Doshwaster

PompeyPete wrote: »

Another one in agreement.

Me and the Mrs are going to Bali (21 nights) and Java (7 nights) this Wednesday.

I've booked all our accommodation on Agoda, Booking.com, Air AsiaGo, or Airbnb. I've spent a grand total of £518 for 28 nights B&B for the pair a us.

Have a great trip. I'm just putting the finishing touches on a trip to Hong Kong and Vietnam next months. 3 nights accommodation in HK is costing me more than 2 weeks in a variety of guest houses in Vietnam.

PompeyPete

paddyrg wrote: »

and probably don't want to get taken to 'gem centres' by tuktuk drivers claiming Wat Po is closed for 'reasons' and taking commissions (you'd be amazed just how organised gem centre places can be - placing people at temples to act as convincers etc).

Only mugs fall for the scams though.
Failing to plan = planning to fail.;)