Destinations in Asia

mimiduck

We are looking for a package deal to go in Asia as we have never been. We were looking to go to either Vietnam/Camboadia/Laos type of a destination. We are looking to go for max 2 weeks and see as much as possible. Our max budget would be £1000 each (if less that would be fantastic of course)



I've never booked all inclusive deals so looking for a bit of guidance (we would like flights, accommodation and guide) and to see as much as possible during our time there (so no luxury hotels or beach holidays etc. looking for more activity type of a break).



The website I found is TravelZoo which seems to have the flights,accommodation and guide included. Are there other site similar to TravelZoo? Sorry if someone has asked this already!



And any tips to those destinations is obviously greatly appreciated.

Voyager2002

Why on earth would you want a package? DIY is so easy...


For example: I booked to stay at the Happy Guest House in Cambodia. I flew into Siem Reap airport and they had a transfer waiting for me. They arranged transport and a guide for me to see the nearby Angkor Wat and also arranged for me to go and see a display of traditional ("Apsara") dancing, with a delicious meal included.They could also provide a rental motor bike or bicycle (pedal or electric), although I arranged these elsewhere in town. When I was ready to move on to another city, they arranged my boat ticket and also telephoned to make a hotel reservation for me.

While they were excellent, there are many other local businesses who were just as good. Expect to spend perhaps twenty pounds per day, not including flights nor the expensive fees to visit Angkor Wat and similar wonders.

Voyager2002

mimiduck wrote: »

The website I found is TravelZoo which seems to have the flights,accommodation and guide included. Are there other site similar to TravelZoo? Sorry if someone has asked this already!

TravelZoo simply advertises deals offered by other travel agencies: if you see something you like you click the link to visit the business selling it. Obviously the quality and reliability of these agencies is hugely variable, so before booking do a search and find some reviews of the travel agent in question.

Doshwaster

There is absolutely no need to book a package holiday to SE Asia. It's one of the easiest regions in to the world to DIY and it will give you far more choice and flexibility.

Two weeks really isn't that much time though so I would be careful about wanting to see "as much as possible". The people who do that spend far too much time dashing around and don't get to fully experience this wonderful part of the world. Far better to pick 3 destinations (4 max) and do them properly in the time you have rather than trying to tick off as many places as possible.

If you have never been to Asia before then Thailand is probably the easiest to cope with. The tourist infrastructure in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are less developed so you might find them a bit more of a challenge as a first timer though you do get more for your money in those countries.

mimiduck

Thanks for the tips so far. I agree 2 weeks isn't much however this is as much as i can get holidays from work.



I am not too keen of Thailand as it is a bit too touristic to me from what i have heard, when I mentioned the countries, doesn't mean I want to see all of them at once, just means I am not too fussed which one I visit as the culture/nature interests us.



Personally the reason for going all inc packages because from what i have seen flights alone were about £500 or above so might as well throw in the rest. Also, I don't have that much time to research etc. which is why I was going for the all inc.

Shimrod

Doshwaster wrote: »

If you have never been to Asia before then Thailand is probably the easiest to cope with. The tourist infrastructure in Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos are less developed so you might find them a bit more of a challenge as a first timer though you do get more for your money in those countries.

I'd agree if you're going off the beaten track, but in the main tourist areas in each country lack of infrastructure does not pose much of challenge.

mimiduck wrote: »

Personally the reason for going all inc packages because from what i have seen flights alone were about £500 or above so might as well throw in the rest. Also, I don't have that much time to research etc. which is why I was going for the all inc.

When are you planning on going? For high season, you need to be going before March, or leave it until November. If the latter, then you have plenty of time for research.


If you want a sample route taking into Cambodia & Laos, then:

• 2-3 days in Vientiane
• Bus then 2-3 days in Vang Vieng
• Bus then 4-5 days in Luang Prabang
• Flight then 4-5 days in Siem Reap

As others have said, food is cheap as are the bus journeys. Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang is 6-7 hours, but has some very scenic stretches.


For research, look on Tripadvisor for top 10 things to do, and the same for hotels - work your way down the list until you get to one that matches your budget. It's a crude approach but works as a starter for 10.



And I'd still recommend taking a copy of Lonely Planet for reference.

blindman

mimiduck wrote: »

Also, I don't have that much time to research etc. which is why I was going for the all inc.

And there's the rub-Spend your time or spend your ££££££.

Vietnam is doable in 14 days, in fact that is how long the free visa will give you IIRC.

Even if your flights are £500 each you will be hard pressed to spend another £500 each in that 14 days IMHO.

Fly into Hanoi and out of Saigon (Ho Chi Min) or vice versa.

Travel by train between cities,

Cheap as chips and easy peasy

Voyager2002

mimiduck wrote: »

I am not too keen of Thailand as it is a bit too touristic to me from

That is not at all my impression (and I have worked there as well as just visiting). True, there are certain places to avoid, and then there are places where the infrastructure for tourism is very useful. For example, I am very pleased that there was someone willing to guide me into the Kao Yai national park and take me right up close to wild elephants.


There is one thing for sure: if you go 'all-inclusive' then you will see only the most touristy aspects of any country.

Mardrew

I agree with Blindman - flight into Hanoi and out of Ho Chi Minh City. That’s what we did last year. We did Hanoi (with an overnight cruise to Halong Bay - expensive but it was worth it to us) - Hue - Hoi An - Ho Chi Minh City. We got cheap internal flights but you can take the train. I do think, for this type of trip, you do have to do the research in order to ensure it is the type of holiday you want. (We loved it,)

slinga

For me if this is your first time in Asia you should try an easier place to visit.


Vietnam/Camboadia/Laos are not that easy to get used to unless you have experienced other asian destinations first.


Don't worry about the touristy aspect.


All Asian destinations are touristy these days.


I'd suggest Penang as a great place for your first visit out here.


You can fly to KL and look around, then on to Penang by car hire, train or flight, or fly to Singapore and then fly to Penang. Malaysia is an easy driving destination.


Penang has great food, good hotels - the Eastern & Oriental Hotel is around GBP 100 per room per night and the Heritage wing is where the writers Somerset Maugham, Joseph Conrad etc used to stay and is also very close to the street food areas, Lots of other boutique hotels, Malay themed to choose from.


Penang also has an long colonial history and you can visit many impressive buildings.


Penang is multi racial and multi cultural so there's a China Town, a Little India and Malay areas to check out.


You've also got beach hotels along Batu Ferringee although guests always seem to use hotel pools to me. Batu F is the one really touristy hang out although there is nothing to see there just the international hotels.


One thing I've never seen in Penang is the faux cultural displays/exhibitions which you seem to get everywhere else, although Penang does iirc have cultural centres along Batu F.

PompeyPete

Weather patterns are important.

Vietnam for example has very different weather in the north to the south, and the central regions.

Flights all over the Region are regularly disrupted or cancelled.

The earlier you book Regional flights, the more likely that schedules will change.

Trying to fit too much in is often a bad idea....Less = More

There are loads of good threads on this forum if you do a simple search.

Very important ***** Always spend your final night in the city you are flying home from. So never risk a domestic flight on the same day as you're International Departure Flight.....stressful, and could easily end up in tears.....expensive ones.