Koh Samui + Bali

[Deleted User]

A question for any SE Asia hands on here.

We have free accomodation offers in both Koh Samui and Bali and would like to spend 4-6 weeks there sometime between April and June 2023.

Any information on how to plan the best ( ie cheapest ) route or favourite airlines within the region to take would be much appreciated.

We are also looking for any other locations in that region we could fit it in such as Vietnam/Cambodia.

We have no constraints on time or budget or route or stopovers but obviously being MSErs we'd like to do it as cheaply as possible within reason.

Any indication of likely weather - heat and humidity mainly - of those months would also be helpful.

We're back-packing pensioners who travel everywhere hand luggage only.

Many thanks in advance for anyone taking the trouble to respond.

Voyager2002

You have almost limitless possibilities!

One suggestion: Koh Samui is fairly near to the border with Malaysia, and just the other side of that border is the island of Penang with the fantastic city of Georgetown. Lots to see and do there, as well as the main railway line to Kuala Lumpur (and onward to Singapore). KL is a worthwhile destination while its airport is the hub for Air Asia, a decent no-frills operation that serves plenty of destinations in Indonesia. Near to KL is Melaka, another fascinating city with an even longer history than Georgetown, and with a ferry to Indonesia.

[Deleted User]

One suggestion I've received elsewhere is to use Bangkok as a hub and then travel back and forwards to Bali and perhaps Cambodia. Any thoughts ? We're seeing return flights to bangkok for around £350.

Certainly our time in Koh Samui gives us room to explore around that area.

Humidity-wise wise is there much difference between April,May June ? We don't mind heat or rain.

Voyager2002

Deleted_User said:

One suggestion I've received elsewhere is to use Bangkok as a hub and then travel back and forwards to Bali and perhaps Cambodia. Any thoughts ? We're seeing return flights to bangkok for around £350.

The main reason to visit Cambodia is to see Angkor Wat (stunning!), near to Siem Reap which has its own airport. Flying times to SR from Bangkok and from KL are similar, and when I was in the region fares from KL were actually lower!

It is easy to fly between Koh Samui and Bangkok, but with surface transport KL is probably closer than Bangkok.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for all the help so far.

We'e scored £420 return flights for the entire month of May LHR-BKK with Lufthansa operated by Swiss.

So far we've decided on a few nights in Bangkok to recover before the short hop to Ko Samui.

We're probably sorted for flights to Siem reap and have a local contact to organise a decent beach resort for us.

It's the final leg to Bali - back to Bangkok or KL or straight to Bali ?

Voyager2002

Deleted_User said:

Thanks for all the help so far.

We'e scored £420 return flights for the entire month of May LHR-BKK with Lufthansa operated by Swiss.

So far we've decided on a few nights in Bangkok to recover before the short hop to Ko Samui.

We're probably sorted for flights to Siem reap and have a local contact to organise a decent beach resort for us.

It's the final leg to Bali - back to Bangkok or KL or straight to Bali ?

You are planning too much for just one month. When I went to Cambodia I only visited Siem Reap/Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh and that took a month. Probably best either to extend your time or save Bali for your next trip.

I suggest that Koh Samui is a better place to recover than Bangkok: you could arrive and sleep in a nice hotel near the airport and then get a flight straight to KS in the morning to relax after the long journey.

If you are determined to go to Bali after Cambodia I suggest a flight to KL, and then the next sensible connecting flight to Bali. There are lounges in KL airport that offer massages and other amenities, although the city is rather a long way away.

[Deleted User]

Thanks for that.

We actually fancy a couple of days in Bangkok as it's many years since we've been. Some cracking 5 star hotel deals.

Our Ko Samui place is a villa with a private pool so a different vibe altogether.

I'm trying to fit in  Bali as we have a couple of home exchanges banked since before the pandemic and I want to use them before the owners think about selling them - I'm not sure next when we'll be in that part of the world.

I agree. Cambodia really is a flying visit but it's realy so the missus can see Angkor Wat. After that I'm happy to hit a beach resort.

Thanks for the intel on the flights.

Voyager2002

Deleted_User said:

We actually fancy a couple of days in Bangkok as it's many years since we've been. Some cracking 5 star hotel deals.

That is a great idea, but probably not right after a long flight. Personally I would enjoy Bangkok more if it came after a relaxing time on an island, particularly in a villa with a private pool.

Do you plan a beach resort in Cambodia after Angkor Wat? It might make more sense to go to Bali right after Siem Reap.

[Deleted User]

Yes, that's the plan.

Any suggestions for a resort ?

[Deleted User]

A quick update - we've now decided to get the overnight train and ferry from Bangkok to KS so will spend at least two days and one night in Bangkok.

So we're sorted till the KS-Sim Reap leg ( being a bit dozy I'm organising all this in chronological order ). It looks like routing back through BKK unless there's somewhere on the way we can stay for a few days ?

Doshwaster

Deleted_User said:

A quick update - we've now decided to get the overnight train and ferry from Bangkok to KS so will spend at least two days and one night in Bangkok.

So we're sorted till the KS-Sim Reap leg ( being a bit dozy I'm organising all this in chronological order ). It looks like routing back through BKK unless there's somewhere on the way we can stay for a few days ?

Train + ferry is a good idea. It's much slower than the direct flight but a lot more scenic if you aren't in a rusg. There's something special about arriving at an island by sea.

For Samui to Siem Reap, the easiest (and most expensive) would be Bangkok Airways via BKK or a combination of budget airlines via DMK and/or Surat Thani on the mainland. I suppose other options would be to go via KL (not my favourite city in SEA but OK for a couple of days in a cheap luxury hotel)

I like Siem Reap a lot - it's easy to get overloaded on temples so don't try to see everything but it's just a nice town to hang out in for a few days with 50 cent beers. Phnom Penh is also an interesting city as it's rapidly developing though it does have quite a seedy underside so you have to be wary in some area.