Thailand and Vietnam - February 2017

basil92

PompeyPete wrote: »

With MSE in mind, here's a couple of costings, all for two people...

- Return Emirates flights from LGW to Bangkok...£794.62

Note: there are several Emirates flights a day, so it's easy to choose flights that suit you, and particularly so if you want to avoid having the expense of Airport hotels.

- Return NOK Air flights from Bangkok to Hanoi...£167.87

I'll add to them as and when hotels etc appear on our bank statement.

I'm having a senior moment...can you clarify, is that £794 for TWO people LGW to Bangkok return?:o

Vietnam is where I want to go next (along with Thailand) but my budget will be minimal to say the least.

If you've been before OP, when is the best time to go? (Obviously I will do lots of research myself before hand, but saw your thread and thought I may as well ask).

PompeyPete

Doshwaster wrote: »

Oh goodie. Another PP Expedition thread. I do enjoy reading about your travel plans

I've just looked that place up and it's right on the edge of the Old Quarter. Personally, I would have stopped closer to the lake but it's still a reasonable area and within walking distance of most places once you get your bearings. You could easily spend a few days exploring (and getting lost in) the maze of side streets.

Getting lost is all part of the excitement. So long as all exits lead to Beer Street.:beer:

Doshwaster wrote: »

I'd avoid taxis and cyclos as much as possible as they are just about the worst rip-off merchants I've come across in SE Asia.

Yep Vinasun and Mai Linh taxis only, and only on the meter.

Doshwaster wrote: »

In the Old Quarter head to Beer Corner, grab a tiny plastic stool, a cheap beer and just watch the world pass by.

I'm sure that will be close to the top of our agenda. Those under-size plastic chairs need checking-out before applying too much weight on them.:)

PompeyPete

basil92 wrote: »

I'm having a senior moment...can you clarify, is that £794 for TWO people LGW to Bangkok return?:o

Yep for 2 people. Search on Skyscanner, but book direct with the airline. We got basically the same price last year with Qatar Air return to Saigon.

basil92 wrote: »

Vietnam is where I want to go next (along with Thailand) but my budget will be minimal to say the least.

Once you've got the cost of the flights out of the way, the rest comes down to your own budget. Follow this thread and I'll be postings more details on our expenditure, and it'll probably be close to your expectations.

basil92 wrote: »

If you've been before OP, when is the best time to go? (Obviously I will do lots of research myself before hand, but saw your thread and thought I may as well ask).

You answered your own question. Research where you're interested in before booking flights.

Doshwaster

PompeyPete wrote: »

Getting lost is all part of the excitement. So long as all exits lead to Beer Street.:beer:

Ta Hien is the main Beer Street. After a couple of days your beer homing instinct just automatically takes you there when you think you are lost.

https://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g293924-d9983248-Reviews-Ta_Hien_Street-Hanoi.html

Much more fun than the KSR in Bangkok as it's less commercially developed and you still get a good mix of locals too.

PompeyPete

Update on costings, all are totals for two people...

- Return Emirates flights from LGW to Bangkok...£794.62

- Return NOK Air flights from Bangkok to Hanoi...£167.87

- New Siam Palace View [Bangkok] - 3 nights. 3,4,5 Feb. Room only, swimming pool ...£68.97

- Sky Resort [Kanchanaburi] - 3 nights. 6,7,8 Feb. Room only, swimming pool...£46.05

- 3B Homestay [Hanoi] - 5 nights. 10,11,12,13,14 Feb. Bed & Breakfast... £85.00

I'll add to them as and when.

Arkers

Hi Pompey,


Just a quick question, what sites do you search in order of preference for your flights? Do you look at TA for your hotels, and then contact them directly. Please keep posting as it's nice to travel vicariously until I'm in a position to follow suit.


Thanks Arkers

PompeyPete

Arkers wrote: »

Just a quick question, what sites do you search in order of preference for your flights? Do you look at TA for your hotels, and then contact them directly. Please keep posting as it's nice to travel vicariously until I'm in a position to follow suit.

Hi Arkers.

I search on Skyscanner for flights, but book direct with the airline. My benchmark price for Bangkok is c£400, and a little more for Vietnam.

Also important to get convenient flight times, and make sure if flying via a Middle East hub that the layover is no longer than 3 hours.

Qatar Air and Emirates have several flights a day from London. There are direct non-stop flights with Eva, Thai Air, and Vietnam Air. But it's nice to stop half-way and stretch your legs. Have used Etihad a couple of times too, but I dont like Abu Dhabi airport.

For hotels in Bangkok, it's important to know what area you want to stay. Ideally it should have easy access to the Skytrain or Underground, or Public Ferries. We like being by the Chao Phraya river in Banglamphu.

For any other places I tend to stick with firm recommendations from trusty types on the respective Trip Advisor forums. But even then, location is important.

I avoid hotels that have tour groups, particularly Chinese, arriving and departing one after the other

Who to book with? I've just booked two places direct with the hotel as the rates are slightly cheaper than Booking.com or Agoda, plus I've made contact with the hotel. But Booking.com and Agoda are fine, they're owned by the same company, but their websites work slightly differently.

There's all sorts of considerations, so homework is important. The saying..."Failing to Prepare = Preparing to Fail" is how I look at things.:)

Doshwaster

Arkers wrote: »

Just a quick question, what sites do you search in order of preference for your flights? Do you look at TA for your hotels, and then contact them directly. Please keep posting as it's nice to travel vicariously until I'm in a position to follow suit.

With smaller independent hotels and lodgings it is always worth contacting them directly. Often they will be able to offer a better deal than through the big booking sites - and if they don't reply then you know to steer clear!

Also when going somewhere for the first time it can help to book a transfer through the hotel. They will either have their own driver or use a taxi firm they trust.

PompeyPete

Doshwaster wrote: »

Also when going somewhere for the first time it can help to book a transfer through the hotel. They will either have their own driver or use a taxi firm they trust.

By the time we clear immigration in Hanoi it'll be about 2100, and Hanoi is new to us. So I've gone down the safe route of asking the hotel to provide a pick-up from the airport. It's a bit dearer that way, but worth it for the peace of mind.

fifeken

I usually leave BKK on a flight in the early hours of the morning, but book that night in my accommodation anyway. Even with a 20:35 departure, I wouldn't want to be out of my room at 11:00am with nowhere to go and freshen up. Do you have anything planned along these lines?