Asia - Arriving BKK 11/23 . Help me plan after that.

Headed home the long way after Peace Corps service. Going through SE Asia on an extreme budget.

I've got a Lonely Planet and am looking, but it's boggling my mind. Especially the transportation options between countries.

Timeframe: Female solo traveler arriving 23 Nov, will fly back to the States Christmas day or shortly thereafter. (No ticket purchased yet, but it looks KUL-LAX might be cheapest; Amtrak from there.) I don't think I'd spend more than a week in one country.

Budget: Shoestring. I have about $2k for the trip and will be Couchsurfing as much as possible. I'm not a fancy restaurant-type person or anything and like to walk around and take pictures.

Preferences: To see a lot but not spend too much time in one place. I love parks and beaches, but to me, a beach is a beach and mountains are mountains. I'd like to see a rainforest and caves, but it's not necessary to visit two in each country.

Thanks for input. I'm trying really hard to get excited about this trip, but right now I'm just sick at the thought of leaving Morocco.

First advice... take your time. SE Asia is amazing.

BKK is a great city. Lots to do there. You can find cheap accomodation in the Khao San area. $10 a night.

Lots to see in Thailand (the islands are amazing), Cambodia (see Siam Reap) and Myanmar (Bagan). You can get by buses to the Islands and the north in Thailand and to Cambodia. If you what to do Myanmar, book a flight now on Air Asia. It will be very cheap. Laos and Vietnam are also great. The internet is full of information. No need for Lonely planet although you can buy it for nothing in BKK. Food is very very cheap in SE Asia.

Your budget is adequate if you keep to a few countries. Thailand is very affordable in the three major categories of accommodations, food and transportation.

Thailand overbuilt lodging spaces anticipating growth in the tourist industry and there is real competition in pricing. Although you will be in the region at the beginning of high season, you should be able to do without A/C anywhere, which can substantially inflate lodging costs if you opt for it. Local food in Thailand is cheap and good. Buses are inexpensive, reliable and reasonably comfortable.

With about a month in the region, I would advise a few days in Bangkok, hop a bus north to Chiang Mai, Pai, Mae Hong Son, possible side trip to Laos, back to Bangkok, head south by bus to the islands (Southern Thailand is not my thing , but here is a great resource - Tezza's Beaches and Islands (http://tezza-thailandbeachesandislands.blogspot.com/)), then backtrack by train to Bangkok and home.

A side trip to Angkor is possible if you skip the islands, or really skimp elsewhere. On your budget figure minimum 5 days. Buses, boats, food are all cheap there, but lodging can cost a little more.

Your budget may not allow flying during the peak travel period in December, unless you pre-plan carefully and buy Air Asia tickets on sale, like now. You don't have the time or money, IMO, to include Myanmar or Vietnam, or Malaysia other than passing through to KUL.

$35-40 a day should see you through.

If you opt for the Thai islands it might make sense to fly home from KUL, but otherwise, BKK should be a better choice, given the time and money to travel to KL.

It sounds like you really love Morocco, but SEAsia is very compelling. I think you might enjoy yourself.

Thanks! I am trying to get up for it.

I did put an additional parameter today -- I will head to Orlando Dec. 26 from Saigon. So I'll be sticking to the mainland throughout the duration.

With almost five weeks, and leaving the region from Saigon, you could spend two weeks in Thailand, a week traveling through Laos, a week in Cambodia and a few days in the Delta and Saigon.

Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Northern Thailand loop to Chiang Rai - into Laos from Chiang Khong - down the Mekong to Luang Prabang - bus to Vang Vieng and Vientiane - Fly to Siem Reap - bus to Phnom Penh - boat or bus through the Delta to Saigon.

Have fun!

Keep everyone posted on your whereabouts and check here....http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/thailand/893777-ongoing-thailand-meet-flyertalker-thread.html

If there is one during your visit, join them. I'm sure one of the participants will be happy to take care of your bill ;)

Safe travels

Bangkok - Chiang Mai - Northern Thailand loop to Chiang Rai - into Laos from Chiang Khong - down the Mekong to Luang Prabang - bus to Vang Vieng and Vientiane - Fly to Siem Reap - bus to Phnom Penh - boat or bus through the Delta to Saigon.

This is a good itinerary to follow. It makes for a nice loop. I wouldn't have a set itinerary that would lock you into dates. You can play it by ear and just move on to the next city when you feel like moving on.

$2000 for one month in SE Asia is easily doable. Just stay and eat at all the backpacker places and you'll be easily under budget.

Thanks very much. I'm starting to get into it, even though my heart's going to be in Morocco for a long, long time.

I'm planning a trip within almost the same timeframe. I chose to take an ovenight train to ubon ratchathani, then cross into southern laos, spend time there for jungles, some temples and gorgeous mekong islands. there's caves all over laos as well. Then move south into cambodia with lots of stops along the way to phnom penh. From there to sihanoukville for some beachlife on otres, and back to bangkok along the coastline.

This itinerary is optimised for minimum travel times between locations and taking it easy. All locations visited and travel options are dirt cheap and well within your budget. I might do it differently if I hadn't visited certain location before (Siem reap, Kampot, Kep.) If your flight back will be from KUL, you might try to finish your journey in siem reap and take a cheap Air Asia flight to KUL. SR is a bit of a dead end otherwise (you'll waste a day on an unpleasant bus to bangkok or overpay for air ticket.)

About budget; 15$ gets you decent room/bungalow for the night in most places. In Laos and Cambodia you can usually find something comfortable for 10, but keep the flexibility. 15$ keeps you well fed, 5$ gives you motos somewhere and back or an intercity bus. Generally Thailand will be more expensive. Myanmar is great but will end up costing you too much in air tickets. I haven't been to Vietnam, but I guess you should fly there directly if you intend to travel there. Exception if you can get your return flight from Saigon, that will be very convenient and easily reachable from cambodia.

An overnight train from bangkok to laos border is 25$, cheaper than any flight and saves you one night's accommodation.

If 2k is supposed to cover air tickets as well, your budget is tight but fully realistic. 40$/day would keep you very comfortable throughout your journey. If your flights cost 700$, that's exactly what you'll have. As a safety buffer, you can always cut your daily spending as low as 15$ by sacrificing various comforts.

Don't count on couchsurfing! You might get lucky, but that system is based on reciprocality. SE asians don't travel nearly as much as westerners, so you can imagine the imbalance between westerners wanting to couchsurf there and the quantity of local couches, especially in high season.