Asia - Help choose SE Asia places to visit

Good day all,

My first time going to SE Asia for two weeks at the beginning of Jan 2013.

I have decided on three cities to visit thus far, and would like to add one/two more for a 2-3 night stay.

Right now I have:

1) Bangkok
2) Phuket
3) Hong Kong

I am thinking of adding either Bali or Kuala Lumpur right now after Phuket. Does anyone have suggestions as to which one is a better choice or have an additional recommendation?

I like the following:

1) Exciting nightlife (bars, clubs, etc)
2) Inexpensive shopping
3) Great food (any type!)
4) Beaches, sporting events
5) Safety :)

IMO, you have three great choices so far. How many days is your trip and how many days are you planning to spend in each city?

The trip is about 14 days. I'd like to do 2-3 nights in each city.

If one gets that far, one has to see Angkor Wat In Cambodia IMO. Would give Phuket & KL a miss. Try Koh Samui. You'll get a room on the sand for cheaper than the same room a mile from the sand in Phuket. I instead of KL, I would do SGN. I wouldn't move around that much - pick 4 places max. Chiang Mai is a great town. Love Hanoi, but not much nitelife. Ha Long Bay is another must see. I may be a little different, but I like Phnom Penh. It's becoming less of a sh*thole every day ! Sihanoukville is super cheap and fun for a few days. Do your research. Pick 4 places. Find cheap airfare. You don't have enough time to take trains and buses. wj

I would be inclined to spend more time in Thailand which is an absolutely amazing country. Perhaps 3 days in Hong Kong, then 3 in Bangkok, a couple of days in Chiang Mai even Chiang Rai before 3 days in Phuket. Plus TG offers inexpensive domestic fares even in J.

I would be inclined to spend more time in Thailand which is an absolutely amazing country. Perhaps 3 days in Hong Kong, then 3 in Bangkok, a couple of days in Chiang Mai even Chiang Rai before 3 days in Phuket. Plus TG offers inexpensive domestic fares even in J.
Phuket is wretched ! It's become a giant Thai 'rip off machine' since the tsunami. TG is expensive. Fly Nok or Air Asia. J for a 1 hr flight is crazy ! Spend it on the hotel. wj

Phuket is wretched !

Good one. :D
Wretched Phuket (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/15849284-post83.html)

Surely Nha Trang must be a consideration when it comes to a SE Asia beach/partying trip? I'd give Phuket a pass too, tourism is obviously on the rise in SE Asia but Phuket is way more touristy than any other destinations mentioned so far.

I love KL but I think it's more suited towards a "cultural" trip. I don't think it really makes sense to go there with the type of trip you're planning.

Good one. :D
Wretched Phuket (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/15849284-post83.html)

Honestly, I've completely hated it for years now. One of my best friends lives there too. He has to meet me in BKK. If I fly into HKT, I'm on my way to Khao Lahk or Krabi. Only 2 places in Thailand I will not go - Pattaya and Phuket. wj

You're asking quite a bit for such a short trip - what you are forgetting is that when you move locations by air, you really lose the entire day. If I were you, I would make an effort to increase that trip to at least 3 weeks. Did you count the 2 days you'll lose on the transpac trip? Very few destinations in SE Asia, with the exception of Bangkok, have a great deal of nightlife. I put Phuket and Nha Trang in the same category - sleazy!

If I were you, I would start over with the planning part. You might consider Taipei if you like good food and entertainment. I would avoid Indochina unless you have a great deal more time (Vietnam requires at least a month).

You're asking quite a bit for such a short trip - what you are forgetting is that when you move locations by air, you really lose the entire day. If I were you, I would make an effort to increase that trip to at least 3 weeks. Did you count the 2 days you'll lose on the transpac trip? Very few destinations in SE Asia, with the exception of Bangkok, have a great deal of nightlife. I put Phuket and Nha Trang in the same category - sleazy!

If I were you, I would start over with the planning part. You might consider Taipei if you like good food and entertainment. I would avoid Indochina unless you have a great deal more time (Vietnam requires at least a month).
Good advice, but I never found any sleaze in Nha Trang & I was looking hard ! Beach there is way below average. The only real good beaches I've seen in VN are on Phu Quoc. Go to Koh Samui. In Lamai you can get a room on the sand w/AC & TV for $40. Walking distance to plenty of nitelife, restaurants, and a Muay Thai Stadium. PG isn't afraid to charge to get you there though. wj

If you only have 2 weeks in SE Asia then you really don't want to go to more than 4 places otherwise you spend too much time travelling and not enough getting to know a place.

Not sure about doing HK and Bangkok on the same trip unless you love hectic city life. Maybe use one as your hub this time and save the other for your next trip.

If you are basing yourself out of BKK then I'd go for something like a trip of Bangkok (2-3 nights), Chiang Mai (3 nights), Phnom Penh (3 nights) then 5 nights on either Samui or Phuket to end the trip.

Bangkok is one of the most exciting cities in the world but its best done in small doses and most people find that a 2 or 3 night blow out is enough. Chiang Mai is a great northern Thai city with some fantastic scenery and a buzzing nightlife. Phnom Penh, Cambodia is interesting enough for 2-3 days of sightseeing and cheap living. Of the beach options, I prefer Samui to Phuket as it's cheaper and more laid back (even though it's catching up in terms of development)

Bangkok is one of the most exciting cities in the world but its best done in small doses and most people find that a 2 or 3 night blow out is enough.
I agree with this. I initially hated BKK because of the sheer chaos of the city and the sight of all the greasy middle-aged men walking around with hookers. Then one day I found myself sitting in a cold soulless office longing to be back in BKK. Now I just try to make weekend trips or add an overnight stop on Asia-Europe flights and find that it works well. It's still not my favourite place but I see the positives now.

Lots of valid comments re the seediness of Phuket but, to be fair, the five key criteria listed by the OP are:



I like the following:

1) Exciting nightlife (bars, clubs, etc)
2) Inexpensive shopping
3) Great food (any type!)
4) Beaches, sporting events
5) Safety :)

Therefore being objective about the various places listed:

Five points out of five
- None (arguably Hong Kong, though in practice the beaches will be pretty cold places during winter)

Four points out of five
- Bali (1,2,3,4)
- Kota Kinabalu (2,3,4,5)
- Penang (2,3,4,5) - though the beaches are less pristine
- Phuket (1,2,3,4)

Three out of five
- Bangkok (1,2,3)
- KL (1,2,3)
- Chiang Mai (2,3,5)

The last time I was in Nha Trang was in the last millennium, so I'm not the best placed to comment on what it's like now.

Nice scientific approach TMC. It somehow misses that fact that Phuket has been permanently ruined in the last decade. Not by the tsunami, but by greed. wj

Phuket in the off-season (rainy) is still not too bad. I went to Phuket once (2008 or 2009, I forget) during the winter high season, and it was one of the worst travel experiences I've had anytime anywhere. And expensive to boot. I swore, never again. I do not like the way the violence on foreigners is trending, either, seems much worse in the last couple of years. I'd personally advise giving it a miss. I wouldn't be too keen on Nha Trang, but Mui Ne might fit the bill for a beach place if Vietnam ends up on the menu.

I do agree that with only 14 days, one really needs to limit countries/places. I would definitely keep HK and Bangkok on the list. And perhaps take advice above, and focus a bit more on upcountry Thailand. KL is an OK city but not particularly exciting.

Phuket in the off-season (rainy) is still not too bad. I went to Phuket once (2008 or 2009, I forget) during the winter high season, and it was one of the worst travel experiences I've had anytime anywhere. And expensive to boot. I swore, never again.

The main problem with Phuket is the cost. By most measures it's more expensive place in Thailand. At least in Bangkok you can get good value if you know where to look but Phuket seems to exist solely to extract money from the pockets of foreigners.

However, people shouldn't forget that Phuket is actually a large island province rather than just the main tourist town on Patong. There are other beach areas such a Kata and Karon which are quieter (and a little cheaper) where you can avoid most of the excesses of Patong. Phuket can also serve as a good base for exploring the region such as Phang Nga Bay and Phi Phi island - though you cold equally do both from Krabi.

I can cover a lot of ground in 2 weeks in SEA but that kind of travel is not for everyone. As has been mentioned, when you change cities you will lose some time, not quite a day but a good part of it. If you are looking for nightlife then that may be fine but if you are looking to spend time in a location, shop, explore, etc. you might want to limit your choices.

Personally I really enjoy Bangkok, have been going there for years, but after 3 day's I'm ready to move on. The good thing about Bangkok is you can easily do day trips and be back in the evening (these can be long, long days however!) Kanchanaburi, Ayuthaya are popular day trips.

I like Chiang Mai as well and would recommend the night train from BKK as a different experience from flying (although flying is probably the best option to save time). In addition to the city, there are again many popular day trips through the Golden Triangle, Chiang Rai, etc. that will give you a much different perspective on the country than the big cities!

I'll second the recommendation to go to Siem Reap, Cambodia. Good for 3 days, lots of temple hopping. I'd probably give Phnom Penh a pass on this trip, you have to save something for next time!

I also like Phuket but do agree with many of the other posters that it has changed quite a lot in the past 5+ years. However, I would recommend going there for your first visit as the island does have a lot going for it that you are interested in. The other good choice is Koh Samui which is arguably a better value however flying direct to the island is a more expensive option. Phuket - more nightlife, bigger island, great food, beaches, many day trip options (have you figured out I like day trips!), etc. Koh Samui is similar in all these respects but is not nearly as hectic, easier to get around. I really like Koh Samui now. Pick one for your trip and you won't go wrong.

Hong Kong - great city. I always recommend to friends that have not visited Asia to spend some time in Hong Kong if they can, especially if they are not going anywhere else in Asia. As you will be going elsewhere you can save for later or spend fewer days there.

So, there you go.. Arrive in BKK, 3 days, off to Chiang Mai, 3 days, 3 days in Siem Reap then 3 days in Phuket. Two days in Hong Kong on the way back. Well, that is about 16 days with travel... Enjoy! :)

WOW guys, great stuff - thank you!

I have been away for a few days so I just had a chance to look back at all the comments.

I am now thinking about spending less time in Phuket. I currently have a hotel booked in Khao Lak - I don't know much about this city other then it is supposedly quiet and good for a beach visit for a few days. Is this correct?

After reading all the comments, I am inclined to add Chang Mai.

My only issue is that I am trying to stick to locations with a Marriott - however, if the destination is worth it, I have not problem paying out of pocket.

Khao Lak - pretty slow. Nice place, but not if you're alone. The Marriott is great. IIWY I'd get a shack on the sand for $40 someplace like Koh Chang or Koh Samui that also has a little nitelife. PM me if you need specifics. wj

My first time going to SE Asia
1) Bangkok
2) Phuket
3) Hong Kong

I am thinking of adding either Bali or Kuala Lumpur right now after Phuket. Does anyone have suggestions as to which one is a better choice or have an additional recommendation?

I like the following:

1) Exciting nightlife (bars, clubs, etc)
2) Inexpensive shopping
3) Great food (any type!)
4) Beaches, sporting events
5) Safety :)

I like the idea of choosing Either Bangkok or Hong Kong. But, since you've already decided on both, I think you should stick to that plan. They are very different from one another. Both pretty awesome, certainly on the first visit. Both have amazing food, with cheap cheap, expensive and everything in between.

For City,
Don't rule out Chiang Mai. Great walking city, nice people, cheap and delicious food, nightlife, not alot, just enough to keep you for a few days, plenty of stuff like day excursions to do, a great place to do absolutely nothing as well.

Kuala Lumpur is interesting to walk around (a bore if you just take the transit) but then there is Singapore too. But, in Singapore both decent room and nightlife will be quite expensive.

For Beach
I would choose Phuket over Bali. But you can do them both!!! Base your decisions on your hotel budget/taste etc. The big once for me is the FOOD. In my opinion Thai food is 3000% more delicious than Indonesian food. On average Air Asia flights Phuket to Denpasar (Bali) are cheaper than Bangkok to Denpasar.

Sticking up for Phuket



Phuket in the off-season (rainy) is still not too bad. I went to Phuket once (2008 or 2009, I forget) during the winter high season, and it was one of the worst travel experiences I've had anytime anywhere. And expensive to boot....

The main problem with Phuket is the cost. By most measures it's more expensive place in Thailand. At least in Bangkok you can get good value if you know where to look but Phuket seems to exist solely to extract money from the pockets of foreigners.

However, people shouldn't forget that Phuket is actually a large island province rather than just the main tourist town on Patong. There are other beach areas such a Kata and Karon which are quieter (and a little cheaper) where you can avoid most of the excesses of Patong. Phuket can also serve as a good base for exploring the region such as Phang Nga Bay and Phi Phi island

Phuket is not the terrible place posters are making it out to be. Phuket Island has expensive resorts throughout the areas that are not as populated. Isolated, they are subject to safety concerns coming and going, overpriced food and transportation in/out of the hotels.

Yes, Patong Beach, has quadrupled in size since the tsunami, and there is still a major focus of sex for sale along the main nightlife street. But, let me assure you there is more than debauchery and scams in Patong. There is still lots of good clean fun to be had, especially if you like nightlife and partying. I run a backpacker hostel / budget guesthouse. My guests priorities include sun, partying, and low prices. Another demographic is the 30-50+ people who choose to stay here for 3 to 6 months a year. Cheap rooms and food, relative safety, ability to either walk or scooter around, affordable nightlife, and lots of beach, suntanning are their priorities. Patong has grown up since some of you have been here.

Sleep all night, and tour, suntan, beach, laze around all day or
Sleep all day, and eat drink and be merry all night
Phuket has both.

As far as random violence, muggings, purses snatchings are mostly reported in the rurual areas, Rawai (Beautiful Nai Harn) (Kata) and the south of the island with the most reported instances, and ANY beach area (urban or rural) between the hours of 02:00 - 08:00. My advice is to stay away from any beach after midnight, and avoid walking or riding a scooter anywhere in the island that is at all isolated, including commuting between beach communities. If you're at a resort, take a taxi in and out at night.

Patong is not dangerous to the typical tourist... unless you are arguing with the strong mafia over parking or their extortionate taxi prices. In fact, Patong may be the safest part of the whole island, unless you're staying within your resort walls.

The reality of Patong is that except for about 4 months of high season, there is a tremendous Oversupply of hotel rooms. This means you can get a very nice room for $15 in low season (even as low as $10 and under if you look hard) (Between December and February prices will be sky high though). Because of the population explosion over the past few years, we now have a decent choice of expat catered businesses, live music, cheap foreign food & cheap Thai food, and probably every fast food you could imagine. The major shopping mall, in the centre of town has a supermarket, department stores with affordable clothes/shopping, dozens of restaurants, a movie theatre, bowling alley, etc. A decent Thai massage will cost you $6-9/hr. Some of the bars will close at 02:00 ish, but most nightlife & discos will close about 04:30 am. Then as people meander home, surrounding restaurants will usually be quite busy serving alcohol and food until about 06:00, just about the time the sun comes up.

People that frequent Patong NEVER take the overpriced transportation options (tuk-tuk, taxi), ignore the go-go touts, jet-skis, avoid the expensive bars, don't talk to tailors, and skip the street markets. It's as easy as that.

For me, the highlights are Halong Bay, Temples of Angkor, Bagan complex, Samui beaches, Singapore, Borobudur and Prambanan, Bali beaches, Komodo National Park.

The next step down with include Phukets beaches, with some temples of Bangkok, the Malaysian Borneo rainforests, as well as KL city, with Mount Bromo sunrise climb, Tana Toraja and Wakatobi in Sulawesi rounding things off in an off-the-beaten track kinda way. :cool:

Hidden gems include cruises on the Irrewaddy or Mekong rivers, Schwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, Wat Xieng Thong in Laos, Da Nang beaches and My Son Cham ruins, Brunei, sailing over the equator from Java to the Sumatran rainforest, and an island paradise off Malaysia, such as Tioman or Redang - not to mention the Golden Triangle region of Northern Thailand.

I tend to agree with a lot of the sentiment on this thread. Skip Phuket entirely. Even putting aside safety and cost, there are far nicer beaches to be seen in Thailand.

Also, consider taking Hong Kong off the itinerary (unless you are getting a free stopover on the way in or the way out). That would allow you to spend more time in SE Asia.

Agree that you should consider adding Chiang Mai and Siem Reap.

Overall, two weeks is not a long trip and you don't want to spend 20% of it in transit.

oh gosh!! it is so sad and it is somewhat embarrassing to now that one of wonderful place has been ruined because of man's greed. on the other hand Phucket is actually still a good place to visit.

keep talking about the choice for additional place, i suggest for visiting Bali. you said that you are keen on with the exciting nightlife, you can find it in Kuta, and for the inexpensive shopping there are so many traditional markets which you provide the thing you want to buy :)

Exciting nightlife: Bangkok, you will love RCA.
inexpensive shopping: Hongkong.
Great food: Hochiminh City and Hanoi.
Beach: koh Samui, Danang and Nha Trang.
Safety: above cities are same same.

Safety: above cities are same same.

No, mister, you no right - above cities are same same but different!* :D

*Translation: I would like to partake of whatever illegal substance that you have been consuming in order to think that, for example, Bangkok and Hong Kong are in the same safety bracket.

Of course they can't exactly be the same. Anyway, the safety concept is different from country to country, from city to city, from you and me. As long as the tourist doesn't walk alone on the street at 11pm, with camera, iphone and LV purse and yell out that I have 10k USD in the pocket, she will be ok.

Phnom Penh has ecellent nightlife and would be more of an adventure than Chiang Mai. Chiang Mai is pretty dull.

Thank you all for the advise! I am still planning but have narrowed it down to these locations:

1) Bangkok
2) Chiang Mai
3) Khoa Lak (staying at the JW Marriott there - it looks and sounds great)
- as a side note, does anyone have experience in this area? things to do, sights to see? ie: scuba, restaurants, day trips
4) Hong Kong

I have decided to skip Phuket all together.

If anyone thinks I should swap out one place or another, please let me know!

Thanks again.

Khoa Lak (staying at the JW Marriott there - it looks and sounds great)
- as a side note, does anyone have experience in this area? things to do, sights to see? ie: scuba, restaurants, day trips


I have decided to skip Phuket all together.



[PERSONAL OPINION]
Khao Lak is pretty sleepy, but hard to beat for scuba daytrips and liveaboards to the Similan Islands. Phuket is also a good base for diving, but it is popular enough that there are downsides.

I am taking divers to Thailand for three weeks in peak high season, two weeks around Phuket and one week Khao Lak, mostly on dive boats.

First time to the region, two weeks, not diving, the must sees in my opinion would be Bangkok and Angkor. Two countries in two weeks is plenty.

That said, Hong Kong is also a great city, if not technically in Southeast Asia. I personally like Phnom Penh. Chiang Mai is worth a look if it's convenient, mostly to explore the surrounding region.

Malaysia, Singapore, Bali, Vietnam, all great places, but save them for your next trip.
[/PERSONAL OPINION]

Exciting nightlife: Bangkok, you will love RCA.
inexpensive shopping: Hongkong.
Great food: Hochiminh City and Hanoi.
Beach: koh Samui, Danang and Nha Trang.
Safety: above cities are same same.

Hong Kong has inexpensive shopping? Hmm...any suggestions?

[PERSONAL OPINION]
Khao Lak is pretty sleepy, but hard to beat for scuba daytrips and liveaboards to the Similan Islands. Phuket is also a good base for diving, but it is popular enough that there are downsides.

I am taking divers to Thailand for three weeks in peak high season, two weeks around Phuket and one week Khao Lak, mostly on dive boats.

First time to the region, two weeks, not diving, the must sees in my opinion would be Bangkok and Angkor. Two countries in two weeks is plenty.

That said, Hong Kong is also a great city, if not technically in Southeast Asia. I personally like Phnom Penh. Chiang Mai is worth a look if it's convenient, mostly to explore the surrounding region.

Malaysia, Singapore, Bali, Vietnam, all great places, but save them for your next trip.
[/PERSONAL OPINION]

I'll be there in peak season as well (early Jan). Any recommendations for dive operators or dive locations for day trips from Khao Lak?

I'll be there in peak season as well (early Jan). Any recommendations for dive operators or dive locations for day trips from Khao Lak?

I have had good experiences with Khao Lak Scuba Adventures (http://www.khaolakscubaadventures.com/). Price is a concern, as I take multiple dive trips annually. Groups are four divers and a divemaster, and I appreciate that they pay attention to experience and ability when grouping. They are extremely proactive about reef conservation and dive etiquette.

KSA is economical and the accommodations are comfortable, if not luxurious. Bathrooms are shared, always very clean. The food is perfectly good, simple, predominantly Thai cuisine. I bring my own gear, but theirs looks fine, SeaQuest style BCs, full foot fins, shorty, regs, included in the price. Nitrox and large capacity tanks are extra. The listed price is for a four person bunk bed cabin. We opt for the upgrade to two person cabins.

Daytrips incorporate a speedboat out to the Manta Queen III, permanently stationed in the Similans. When the dive day is over, the speedboat returns daytrippers to Khao Lak.

We have two trips booked back-to-back with KSA: A 3d/2n/10dive trip on Manta Queen III followed by a 4d/4n/14dive trip on MQ I. We are diving the Similans with them Jan 1-7. What are your dates?

There are many good operators in Khao Lak, and it's sometimes possible to score a great deal last minute, space available. I wish I could be more help with the other operators, but I don't have personal experience.

PM if you like, and I will try to provide more detailed answers to any specific questions you have.

I have a similar request, but my likes are somewhat different. And it will be my first trip to Asia as well:

1) Architecture & Archaeology
2) Natural Monuments
3) Nightlife
4) Health/Safety

1. Architecture & Archaeology
I love visiting temples, churches are other interesting buildings. Places I love for their architecture include Barcelona (Gaudi), Paris, Budapest. I am also interested in Ancient/Roman archaeology. For instance, I have visited Hadrians' Wall, Chitzen Itza, Tulum, Coba, Pompeii, etc.

2. Natural Monuments
Best example here would be Monument Valley and Arches National Park. Totally crazy about that.

3. Nightlife
There should be something to do to at night. I don't wanna be bored in my hotel room during a vacation.

4. Health/Safety
I prefer to stay in clean, modern hotels, but a smaller inn can be nice as well. Not interested in staying "Cabana-style" in the mud. Prefer properties with a pool, but give nil for the beach. It is a plus if there is a spa.

I have one or two weeks for this trip (including air travel). Any suggestions?

Given the time frame, dieuwer2, I would say that Thailand and maybe Siem Reap make sense. Might depend somewhat on your budget as well.

SE Asia in general is filled to overflowing with temples. You can't swing a proverbial dead cat without hitting another temple. Now, of course not all temples are created equal. But I think you could easily spend 2 weeks in Thailand visiting temples and archaeologically interesting sites. You've got the big main temples in Bangkok and places like the Grand Palace and royal sites. Then there's Ayutthaya, Sukhothai (and surrounding sites like Si Satchanalai) which are ancient capitals with old ruins. You can add Lop Buri in there as well. And if you want to head east there's the old Khmer sites in Isaan like Phimai, Phnom Rung, Prasat Muang Tam. There's the places in the north like Chiang Mai and the nearby cities like Lampang and Lamphun which have some very old temples.

There are several large national parks. Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park near Phitsanulok (and not far from Sukhothai) has some interesting nodule rock formations, but not a lot of big monumental things like arches. Khao Yai national park has some nice waterfalls and wildlife.

Bangkok has a lot of nightlife of all sorts. Chiang Mai has a good variety of things to do as well. The more provincial places less so.

For a first trip to Asia I think Thailand is a good choice. The tourism infrastructure is well-developed. The hospitality is great. It's relatively cheap and easy to get around.

For a first trip to Asia I think Thailand is a good choice. The tourism infrastructure is well-developed. The hospitality is great. It's relatively cheap and easy to get around.

I was thinking of Thailand (Bangkok) as well. Maybe it is a good idea to go on a one-week vacation first to check things out, before commiting more time and money towards a longer trip.

I agree w/Glennaa about Thailand, but considering your interests, flying 24hrs from BOS to SE Asia and missing Angkor Wat is just plane crazy ! If you've got 2 weeks, I'd also consider flying up to Yangon for the Schwegadon Complex and the temples of Bagan. Pretty cheap on Air Asia.

3) Khoa Lak (staying at the JW Marriott there - it looks and sounds great)
- as a side note, does anyone have experience in this area? things to do, sights to see? ie: scuba, restaurants, day trips
4) Hong Kong

I have decided to skip Phuket all together.

You will love Khao Lak. But, there is virtually NOTHING to do there but ENJOY THE RESORT and do day trips, diving, etc.

which brings me back to your list of importance

I like the following:
1) Exciting nightlife (bars, clubs, etc)
2) Inexpensive shopping
3) Great food (any type!)
4) Beaches, sporting events
5) Safety


I still think Patong cannot be beat for the Party Atmosphere, but...

You will have OK nightlife in BKK, although it takes a while to get 'in the know' for places like which after hours clubs are good and which are just scams.

Although I know nothing about HKG nightlife, I think it should be quite good.

The Similan Islands are open 6 months per year. I hear trips and diving there are worth seeing. Some are day trips, some are live-aboard boats.

As far as DIVING TOUR COMPANIES. This is one place where you MUST DO YOUR HOMEWORK. Thailand has to be a world leader in MISREPRESENTATION of services and products. You can have the best and the worst competing against each other, and their advertising campaigns are no indication whether they are good or bad. My recommendation is to check online review sites, such as tripadvisor.com and I am sure there are dive specific sites too Problems to look for are deceptive pricing (overcharging/not delivering what they promised), safety issues (yes, people die diving in Thailand, CHECK YOUR GEAR YOURSELF), and cleanliness issues (BEDBUG infestations on live-aboards are not uncommon; and they follow on your luggage, for the surprise that keeps on biting).
DO YOUR RESEARCH and REST ASSURED THAT THOSE COMPANIES THAT ARE GREAT CAN BE FOUND ONLINE!

Have a great trip!

I agree w/Glennaa about Thailand, but considering your interests, flying 24hrs from BOS to SE Asia and missing Angkor Wat is just plane crazy ! If you've got 2 weeks, I'd also consider flying up to Yangon for the Schwegadon Complex and the temples of Bagan. Pretty cheap on Air Asia.

It's been some time since my last visit to Bagan and RGN and there are some great sites there but the Angkor temples are pretty spectacular. I've got to agree with WJ that, with your passions, that's pretty much on your list of 1-2 things you must do.

I agree w/Glennaa about Thailand, but considering your interests, flying 24hrs from BOS to SE Asia and missing Angkor Wat is just plane crazy ! If you've got 2 weeks, I'd also consider flying up to Yangon for the Schwegadon Complex and the temples of Bagan. Pretty cheap on Air Asia.

I guess that means I should suck up the expensive airfare BKK-REP. Are there affordable all-in airfare packages? I have looked into land-based tours to Angkor Wat, but it seems quiet a trek.

I guess that means I should suck up the expensive airfare BKK-REP. Are there affordable all-in airfare packages? I have looked into land-based tours to Angkor Wat, but it seems quiet a trek.
Doubt it, Bangkok Air has you over a barrel. Everything else is d*mn cheap though !

MODS: Double post. Please delete.

the question about options for BKK-REP gets asked here all the time. And I think the consensus is that you either pay up to PG since the have the route locked up or take some overland option. You can also get to PNH somewhat cheaply and go by road from there as well. But that all takes time. On a short trip it probably makes the most sense to just pay the fare and fly direct.

Noticed that SIN-REP actually is rather cheap compared to BKK-REP.
With respect to temples in Thailand and Cambodia, the consensus is that Ayutthaya pales to Angkor Wat? It is really worth spending close to $1000 to just see Angor Wat?

Noticed that SIN-REP actually is rather cheap compared to BKK-REP.
With respect to temples in Thailand and Cambodia, the consensus is that Ayutthaya pales to Angkor Wat? It is really worth spending close to $1000 to just see Angor Wat?
Yup !

With respect to temples in Thailand and Cambodia, the consensus is that Ayutthaya pales to Angkor Wat? It is really worth spending close to $1000 to just see Angor Wat?

Any amount of money spent is worth seeing REP, if that is what you like, but I am upset that the consensus that Ayutthaya is not as good. With REP, it is confined to an area where you can drive from one temple to the next within the confines of the park, so it is manageable, whilst Thailand is full of old temples and Kymer history, yet it is spread out. The finest assembly of structures are at Preah Vihear, this area is a treasure trove, Chiang Mai, Sukhathai and Phanom Rung are superb, in the old section of CNX you could spend months exploring. Poor old Thailand gets a bad review, I think it is because the majority of tourist want the beer and sand culture as against the historical. The cheapest fares to REP are through Malaysia or Vietnam. Personally I believe you will spend more than 1000 dollars to visit REP, if money is tight, it is a lot to spend on 2 days and you haven't scratched the surface of Cambodia, PNH is so edgy you should see it. enjoy your travels.

Agree w/90%. This is the part I don't - IMO Ayutthaya is maybe 20% as impressive as Angkor, max. Absolutely should be on the schedule though. Ancient City and Erawan Museum (although not ancient) are also worth a day trip.

Noticed that SIN-REP actually is rather cheap compared to BKK-REP.
With respect to temples in Thailand and Cambodia, the consensus is that Ayutthaya pales to Angkor Wat? It is really worth spending close to $1000 to just see Angor Wat?

Ayuthaya is wonderful and well worth a trip for a few days but it does pale in comparison to the many temples of Angkor. On the flip side, with a new flood bearing down on the island [Ayuthaya], the temples were in many cases damaged last year and another extended flood could chase irreparable structural problems.

Any amount of money spent is worth seeing REP, if that is what you like, but I am upset that the consensus that Ayutthaya is not as good. With REP, it is confined to an area where you can drive from one temple to the next within the confines of the park, so it is manageable...

And there are many temples that arent' within the park but nearby (I'd prefer not to list these) or quite some distance away (Koh Ker, Beng Melea, Phanom Kulen, Beng Meanchey etc)



...whilst Thailand is full of old temples and Kymer history, yet it is spread out. The finest assembly of structures are at Preah Vihear, this area is a treasure trove, Chiang Mai, Sukhathai and Phanom Rung are superb, in the old section of CNX you could spend months exploring. Poor old Thailand gets a bad review, I think it is because the majority of tourist want the beer and sand culture as against the historical. The cheapest fares to REP are through Malaysia or Vietnam. Personally I believe you will spend more than 1000 dollars to visit REP, if money is tight, it is a lot to spend on 2 days and you haven't scratched the surface of Cambodia, PNH is so edgy you should see it. enjoy your travels.

OK, the way you delve into this one could get the idea you were promoting these multiple Thai areas as part of Khmer history which, with the exception in your mentions of Phanom Rung, is not true. I agree with your assessment of the old city of Chiang Mai where, by my count, there are over 40 temples and I've amassed photos and GPS locations of them all. I've walked on every little soi/trok in the old city.

Going from BKK to REP with flights can be done for significantly less than $1k so long as you're not in need of a room at LaRenisance. The flight itself will cost $400, tickets for 2 days $60 (actually that's a three day pass or 2 one day passes), two days of a tuk tuk $30-$40 depending upon how far afield you go. Food can be had for cheap or expensive... So it comes down to where you'd want to stay.

Living in Boston, I have two things against me: 1) SE Asia basically is at the other side of the globe, and thus 2) travel time and airfare are at a premium.

Keeping this in mind, how about the following itinerary:

Days 1 - 3, Arrive in Phuket. Relax for one day to get rid of jetlag. Next two days, explore Phan Nga Bay (boating, snorkling, etc.)
Days 4 - 6, Fly to Siem Riep via BKK and visit Angkor Wat for two days.
Days 5 - 12, Back to Bangkok to visit sights (Grand Palace, Floating Market, etc), plus day trip to Ayutthaya.

Living in Boston, I have two things against me: 1) SE Asia basically is at the other side of the globe, and thus 2) travel time and airfare are at a premium.

Keeping this in mind, how about the following itinerary:

Days 1 - 3, Arrive in Phuket. Relax for one day to get rid of jetlag. Next two days, explore Phan Nga Bay (boating, snorkling, etc.)
Days 4 - 6, Fly to Siem Riep via BKK and visit Angkor Wat for two days.
Days 5 - 12, Back to Bangkok to visit sights (Grand Palace, Floating Market, etc), plus day trip to Ayutthaya.

I might suggest you add another day to Siem Riep and take one away from BKK. Even perhaps another day in Phuket and take another away from BKK. As mentioned above, there is another flood headed towards Ayutthaya now, so that part of the trip might not be possible.

Depends on when the trip is planned of course. But Ayutthaya floods pretty much every year in the Sept-Oct timeframe.

There are other day trip possibilities besides Ayutthaya if necessary.

I also agree that while the main Angkor sites in Siem Reap are great, the quiet(er) and smaller temples away from the main (overrun) temples are worth the time to visit.

Is Preah Vihear even open again or are the troops still lined up there? There's also Phimai which I really liked a lot. But given the proposed plan it is not an option for this trip.

I think dieuwer2's plan is not unreasonable. Certainly I think it is better than most itineraries we see here with people trying to jam 10 destinations into 7 days. Phuket wouldn't be my choice but that is definitely a personal thing. I agree that taking a day away from Bangkok and adding it to REP would be a reasonable idea.

Depends on when the trip is planned of course. But Ayutthaya floods pretty much every year in the Sept-Oct timeframe.

The trip is planned for late next year (November- December).

I think dieuwer2's plan is not unreasonable. Certainly I think it is better than most itineraries we see here with people trying to jam 10 destinations into 7 days. Phuket wouldn't be my choice but that is definitely a personal thing. I agree that taking a day away from Bangkok and adding it to REP would be a reasonable idea.

I added Phuket because I wanted a nice and tranquil place to relax after 24 hours in a plane (jetlag). I am also interested in exploring Phan Nga Bay, I love the rock formations and the possibility to swim and snorkel. I don't care for the beach however.

Hong Kong has inexpensive shopping? Hmm...any suggestions?

Ladies Market for fake goods :-)?

j/k Rolexes and LV bags at the authorized stores are a bit cheaper than the U.S. because it's tax free.

According to my experience i would be spend more time in Goa. i am always go to Goa for enjoing weekend time.It's becoming less of every day ! Goa tour is super cheap and fun for a few days. Do your research.I was looking hard ! Beach there is way below average. The only real good beaches I've seen in resort in goa.

Living in Boston, I have two things against me: 1) SE Asia basically is at the other side of the globe, and thus 2) travel time and airfare are at a premium.

Keeping this in mind, how about the following itinerary:

Days 1 - 3, Arrive in Phuket. Relax for one day to get rid of jetlag. Next two days, explore Phan Nga Bay (boating, snorkling, etc.)
Days 4 - 6, Fly to Siem Riep via BKK and visit Angkor Wat for two days.
Days 5 - 12, Back to Bangkok to visit sights (Grand Palace, Floating Market, etc), plus day trip to Ayutthaya.
This looks pretty good to me. I would probably change it thus:
Days 1 - 3, Arrive in Phuket. Relax for one day to get rid of jetlag. Next two days, explore Phan Nga Bay (boating, snorkling, etc.)
Days 4 - 8, Bangkok to visit sights (Grand Palace, Floating Market, etc), plus day trip to Ayutthaya.
Days 9 - 12, Fly to Siem Riep and visit Angkor Wat. Fly home from SR.

This looks pretty good to me. I would probably change it thus:
Days 1 - 3, Arrive in Phuket. Relax for one day to get rid of jetlag. Next two days, explore Phan Nga Bay (boating, snorkling, etc.)
Days 4 - 8, Bangkok to visit sights (Grand Palace, Floating Market, etc), plus day trip to Ayutthaya.
Days 9 - 12, Fly to Siem Riep and visit Angkor Wat. Fly home from SR.

I prefer to end my trip in BKK due to more reasonable flight departure times.

Just saw some news that Cambodia Angkor Air is going to start offering REP-BKK flights (4x per week to start) beginning in Nov. Hopefully a little competition on the route will be good for fares. Unless they just decide to charge the same as PG.

Just saw some news that Cambodia Angkor Air is going to start offering REP-BKK flights (4x per week to start) beginning in Nov. Hopefully a little competition on the route will be good for fares. Unless they just decide to charge the same as PG.

http://www.ttrweekly.com/site/2012/09/cambodia-angkor-expands-to-bangkok/

This looks pretty good to me. I would probably change it thus:
Days 1 - 3, Arrive in Phuket. Relax for one day to get rid of jetlag. Next two days, explore Phan Nga Bay (boating, snorkling, etc.)
Days 4 - 8, Bangkok to visit sights (Grand Palace, Floating Market, etc), plus day trip to Ayutthaya.
Days 9 - 12, Fly to Siem Riep and visit Angkor Wat. Fly home from SR.

Planning to shorten it a bit:
HKT (Fri - Sun), then to BKK (Mo - Thu), and end in REP (Fri - Sun). Fly home Sun evening. Too short or ok?

Just saw some news that Cambodia Angkor Air is going to start offering REP-BKK flights (4x per week to start) beginning in Nov. Hopefully a little competition on the route will be good for fares. Unless they just decide to charge the same as PG.

Great find ! $99 RT through Dec. Such a deal !

I recently went to Hong Kong, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, and Singapore. Hong Kong was my favorite by far. Singapore is definitely nice, but it all seemed too "manufactured" for my taste. The W Hong Kong was my favorite hotel, even better than St. Regis Singapore.

Planning to shorten it a bit:
HKT (Fri - Sun), then to BKK (Mo - Thu), and end in REP (Fri - Sun). Fly home Sun evening. Too short or ok?

What days are you traveling?
Is it Friday to Phuket, Monday to Bangkok and Friday to Siem Reap?
With two non-travel days in Phuket, 3 in Bangkok and 2 in SR?
It looks like the right allocation IMO, although one more day in each would make it just that much better.

What days are you traveling?
Is it Friday to Phuket, Monday to Bangkok and Friday to Siem Reap?
With two non-travel days in Phuket, 3 in Bangkok and 2 in SR?
It looks like the right allocation IMO, although one more day in each would make it just that much better.

Plan:

Siem Reap (3 nights, 2 full days)
Bangkok (5 nights, 4 full days)
Phuket (4 nights, 3 full days)