Holidays to South Asia?(eg Thailand etc) Suggestions please? (£1000 Budget -3 weeks)

katesheet

Can you give suggestions of holidays to go on in the early new year, in South Asia,

Considerations, China, Thailand, and many more countries in South Asia, open to suggestions.

avoiding the monsoon periods.

When to go? - Jan - March
(so that the weather is nice and sunny)


Purpose of visit, a bit of everything, site seeing, a break, time on the beech relaxing, in the sun.

Duration/Price
3 weeks minimum,
price were looking £1000 per person.

Have you been anywhere for about £1000 per person (Adults), in South Asia this year for 3weeks?


any suggestions and advice would be appreciated,

________________

What sites/companies offer the best deals? (which are also 'trustworthy' and will not offer a good deal with a bad service?

Thanks

blindman

China-Bejing\Shanghai and Xian (terracotta warriors ) can be done in March-Coldest of winter is over and pre-tourist and hot\sandy weather.
So no beachwear needed

If you're really quick you can get a Visa free entry into China-you have to leave after 72 hrs to your onward destination (IIRC) Though this "triangle" would not be feasable IMHO).

Otherwise visa is about £100 per person.

Trailfinders are a good agent

SW17

blindman wrote: »

China-Bejing\Shanghai and Xian (terracotta warriors ) can be done in March-Coldest of winter is over and pre-tourist and hot\sandy weather.
So no beachwear needed

If you're really quick you can get a Visa free entry into China-you have to leave after 72 hrs to your onward destination (IIRC) Though this "triangle" would not be feasable IMHO).

The 72 hour transit visa exemption does not yet allow you to leave the city of entry (except in Hangzhou and Guangzhou, where you can travel around the neighbouring region), so a UK citizen could not do any combination of Beijing / Shanghai / Xian in a single trip without a visa. it's really designed for business travellers rather than leisure. It works though, I used it in Shanghai earlier this year.

Doshwaster

Once you take out the air fare then £1000 doesn't go far for 3 weeks.

Bangkok is the major hub for the region so there are always flight deals available, especially if you don't mind a stop-over on the way. I'd spend a few days there then head out to explore. There will be loads of cheap flights/buses/trains available.

The major tourist areas of Thailand will be busy an fairly expensive at that time of year so I'd look at Cambodia or Vietnam which will be cheaper and quieter.

NiftyDigits

You could even stretch it out to a month if you are proper travellers.
Last two seats.




That will leave you with £670 each. Sharing 20kg of luggage will bring that down to £633 each. Perhaps head to a cheaper island and slum it for a week. You can easily get a beach bungalow on Samui for £16 per night. Waste a week there, doing nothing Get your drinks from the 7 Eleven, eat with the locals. You can eat for 2 with £5 in some places. A scooter is a good idea if you have some proficiency, as it will allow you to explore the island cheaply. Budget £5 per day inclusive of fuel. Three square meals, some drinks, a motorbike, your accommodation and your daily budget is mostly eaten away.

It's not an ample budget, so I would suggest some careful planning. But it can be done.
The first week will give you time to get your bearings and to get used to life on your budget.
Don't neglect good travel insurance.

Danny_G

Perhaps walking into Thomsons for some information.

NiftyDigits

Danny_G wrote: »

Perhaps walking into Thomsons for some information.

That's as dopey a reply as I've seen on this board.
What has that to do with money saving? Do you think Thomson will be able to supply such a package?
If you don't have anything of use to add, why expose yourself..?

dawyldthing

We did Thailand, Maylasia and Singapore and I think I spend £1600 in 3 weeks. If you don't mind hostels some in Thailand are only around £2 a night. We stayed at cheap charlies in Pattaya I think it were for £2 a night (although spew went May to June in 2012, so it might be more now). There's also a cheap hostel just off the main road in Bangkok and a hostel in Krabi which was cheap (if you go on hostel world or hostel bookers it should be on there). Trains are cheap, but buses are even cheaper. Keep all personal belongings on you as on one coach someone had her card gone from her bags, on the boat to koh phanagan my friend had some jewellery taken. It's a really cheap place to visit, you could easily do it for a grand if you eat with the locals and travel on local buses

slinga

NiftyDigits wrote: »

You could even stretch it out to a month if you are proper travellers.
Last two seats.




That will leave you with £670 each. Sharing 20kg of luggage will bring that down to £633 each. Perhaps head to a cheaper island and slum it for a week. You can easily get a beach bungalow on Samui for £16 per night. Waste a week there, doing nothing Get your drinks from the 7 Eleven, eat with the locals. You can eat for 2 with £5 in some places. A scooter is a good idea if you have some proficiency, as it will allow you to explore the island cheaply. Budget £5 per day inclusive of fuel. Three square meals, some drinks, a motorbike, your accommodation and your daily budget is mostly eaten away.

It's not an ample budget, so I would suggest some careful planning. But it can be done.
The first week will give you time to get your bearings and to get used to life on your budget.
Don't neglect good travel insurance.

Great ticket price but 4 weeks in Thailand on a tight budget would be close to a nightmare for me, anyway. Regular visitor to Thailand before the Tsunami, haven't been since, not because of the Tsunami though.

OP doesn't give age so perhaps they are either in their teens or OAPs otherwise 4 weeks seems a longish time away.

Can't see OAPs doing 4 weeks at a budget in Thailand.

BTW I'm an OAP.

slinga

This is a helpful site to ask questions.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/far-east-asia-59/

Doshwaster

Danny_G wrote: »

Perhaps walking into Thomsons for some information.

They would be able to give you information but would be useless at helping plan a budget trip to SE Asia. They are in the business of selling packages not where to find a room for a £5 a night, how to get around by bus or where the best street food can be found.

£1000 for 3 weeks is just about do-able but it would mean quite a bit of roughing it so you need to set your expectations accordingly and plan for it. The people who have problems in SE are those who go with a tight budget and then blow it in the first few days. It may be cheaper than Europe but there are still many easy ways of spending money there and the locals will always be happy to help separate you from your cash.