Asia - trip to asia

Interested in going on a trip to asia next summer. Somewhere such as singapore, bangkok possibly, or tokyo, hong kong. Also would love austrailia. I thought end of august might be low season? am I wrong? Not find really many airfares under 1000 to any of those places? Is that all I am going to find or do I need to wait for specials?

Matt

Interested in going on a trip to asia next summer. Somewhere such as singapore, bangkok possibly, or tokyo, hong kong. Also would love austrailia. I thought end of august might be low season? am I wrong? Not find really many airfares under 1000 to any of those places? Is that all I am going to find or do I need to wait for specials?

Matt
The best fares for Hong Kong are at Thanksgiving. Summer is expensive. Also the weather in very hot and humid in August. It's lovely in November.

Interested in going on a trip to asia next summer. Somewhere such as singapore, bangkok possibly, or tokyo, hong kong. Also would love austrailia. I thought end of august might be low season? am I wrong? Not find really many airfares under 1000 to any of those places? Is that all I am going to find or do I need to wait for specials?

Matt

no, august (all of it) is typically the most expensive month. june and july can be pricey as well, but not as bad as august.

you should be able to hit all 3 cities (not including oz, which would add an extra $500) for under $1000 all-in, if you play your cards right.

i would look into open jaws into bkk and out of hkg with a stop in nrt. the only airlines that facilitate such out of your neck of the woods are ua and nw because both have hubs at nrt. however, you should also consider jl and nh out of iad/nyc/ord/lax/sfo and possibly buying a separate ticket to get to one of those gateways. jl and nh generally don't charge extra to stop in japan; this should offset the cost of getting yourself to one of their gateways.

in any case, there's no point in looking for tickets now for travel next summer.

We can free airfare to Bangkok, roundtrip. Then really cheap airfare roundtrip from bkk and sin. How woulda trip to those two cities be? Spend a few days in each? Lots to see and do? Or are there others you reccomend more?

Matt

More time in Bangkok, less in Singapore (or swap Hong Kong for Singapore).

August is hot, humid and HK is the pits of the earth then. But it is also when you'll get the cheapest rates for hotels.

November is much better weather, both HK and Bkk but now you getting close to high season and hotel rates will go up.

Singapore is pretty much the same all year round.

Ok, I am able to get free tickets on SQ from LAX-SIN roundtrip. Now how does like 3 nights in singapore and 4 in bangkok sound? Are there side trips from bangkok or singapore you can do? Also whats a cheaper carrier between sin-bkk. Thai wants 1826 usd a person! SQ wants 289,

Matt

try to be reasonable in allocating time. while 3 days is reasonable in singapore, especially if you don't go into malaysia, you're going to love bangkok and 4 days isn't enough time.

there are all sorts of discussion threads about trips to asia on this forum that talk about thailand and places to go, but basically bangkok will take you 4 days to see itself, the weekend market which is fun, is another day, and then there are all sorts of trips (to the old capital, to the floating markets, to the bridge over the river Kwai) that can be done and we haven't even gotten to the beautiful beaches you have to fly to, or to chiang mai.

Singapore is like 50 or 60 miles from the equator so it will be pretty warm during the summer there and in bangkok, which will slow you down a bit.

I'll repeat the warning I've given before. There is a lot to see in Thailand and southeast Asia and transit isn't always the greatest. If you have less than three weeks, you should stick to an area. You can very easily spend three weeks in thailand alone and see a number of different areas. The beaches to the south are among the most beautiful in the world. The areas to the north with the dunes are some of most intriguing in the world.

as far as your flight question, check air asia and silkair

Thanks for advice. Problem that limits our time is my dad needs to get back to work. I also thought july/august in thailand would keep us from visiting many southern beaches and also the northern deep rain forest areas.

Matt

Also whats a cheaper carrier between sin-bkk. Thai wants 1826 usd a person! SQ wants 289
Are you sure that the That airfare quote wasn't in baht?
$1826 USD is more than Thai's premium economy roundtrip fare for the JFK-BKK nonstop.

Travelocity lists SQ fare of $185 for travel until the end of September. I didn't check individual dates.

Air Asia still has there "2,000,000" free seat promo going on. I check checked some random dates in mid to late August and found free tickets on most days. It's a direct flight, taxes and fuel surcharge cost a total of $37 RT.

They do have fairly tight luggage restrictions, so if you've got a ton of stuff, probably best to choose another carrier. I always recommend booking two one way tickets for www.airasia.com so if you miss one flight, you won't throw away the other portion.

Are you sure that the That airfare quote wasn't in baht?
$1826 USD is more than Thai's premium economy roundtrip fare for the JFK-BKK nonstop.
It had to have been. I just swear it said usd. Now some there isnt much to see in singapore? Is it worth spending time there? Or should we just spend all our time exploring bangkok and other cities, islands in thailand? Probably only going to asia 7 nights 8 days keep in mind. What are your guys opinions? I heard singapore is cool but I dont when I will go to SE Asia again so I want to go to deffinitely worth while places.

Matt

this can't really be happening ..

8 days and 7 nights and you're talking about going to ...

Ok, basic southeast asian travel info. If you're coming from the U.S, any trip to southeast asia (except the nonstops to bangkok and singapore from new york) will get you there very late at night.

any trip leaving southeast asia, in turn leaves at like 7 a.m. or thereabout.

So if you in fact have 8 days and 7 nights, one of those nights is the first one where you arrive at depending on the airline 11 p.m. or later and another is probably the last one that has you leaving early the next morning.

that would mean your actual time on the ground amounts to 6 days and you're going to be somewhat jet lagged. Further travel to almost anywhere is going to take another half day or longer.

I'd probably advise if you stick to those numbers of days to go to bangkok and take some day trips to there, there are plenty and save a saturday for the big weekend market.

But if you were desperate to see like singapore, you could take a late evening
flight, take a sightseeing trip in the morning. book tea at raffles for the afternoon, have a singapore sling and fly back that night or the next morning, but you aren't going to see much.

oh, one trick if you really have this little time: fly into one city and out of another. For instance fly into singapore and out of bangkok. Normally it doesn't cost more. You still have to buy a ticket to get from singapore to bangkok, but you're buying a one way ticket, not a round trip and more importantly you're halving the amount of travel time you'll be doing.

Well actually 8 days would be time we are there. Also your flight times are totally wrong for what we have on held. lol

Leave LAX
1:05am and arrive 11:30am next day
Depart Singapore
5:05pm and arrive lax 8:20 that night.

So not what you say we might have. Just FYI. Are there lots of side trips easily done from Bangkok? What are some sites to see side trips from bangkok? So you think just skip singapore together? Would we miss a lot by not going there.

Matt

hmm they must have added non stops from l.a. Everything i've taken has gone thru nrt and arrived late at night.

It's hard to answer on Singapore. But to give you some idea Singapore was created in like 1850. It's not that old. Further some of the older things were torn down. On the other hand, it has one of the best zoos in the world, Raffles tea is fun and historic, the amusement park is fun and it's still Singapore. (the older part of that area is Malaka in Malaysia but it's mostly a ruin).

Thailand is far older and even though Bangkok isn't the oldest part, it's a pretty incredible combination of old and new and the river system is interesting.


Just to give you an idea on some of the tours, here is one tourist place in bangkok's listings

http://www.travelconnecxion.com/index.cfm?menuid=9&position=top

Ayutthay is the old capitol, worth it, though you can get there on your own.

the floating market is pretty touristy

a number of the others you can do yourself (jim thompson house and the palace), but the guide can be nice.

there are tours however too

as i said, with your limited time, I'd probably see if i could fly into singapore and out of bangkok, and spend like 24 to 36 hours in singapore. It's a little hard to answer exactly how much because jet lag is going to be a factor the first day. by the way it looks like the flight times you cited are for singapore air

That airline has a stop overnight in singapore option, that includes hotels

see http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/content/promo/ssh/hotels/index.jsp

also http://www.visitsingapore.com/publish/stbportal/en/home.splash.html

Yes they are. We are possibly going to fly on award tickets with SQ. So what about flying LAX-SIN-BKK and staying there for 6-7 nights. Then flying to SIN and staying there a one or two nights and flying home. Even if we did into SIN and out of BKK or vice versa we still have to go throughg SIN so it doesnt really make a difference.

Matt

your profile says you are based in Tampa.

If that's true and your leaving from there, you might want to look using the singapore air nonstop from newark to singapore instead of the one from l.a. if you are using miles.

It is or at least was the world's longest passenger flight, but it would give you a little additional time. (it leaves like 11 p.m. and gets in like 5:40 a.m. which would give you more time in singapore. I've taken it.

also if you are using united miles for a mileage trip for this--wherever you're leaving from--it's allowed to take multiple carriers and fly into one destination and out of another. United can arrange it so you fly into Singapore but out of Bangkok. It's a good alternative to look at.

Are there lots of side trips easily done from Bangkok? What are some sites to see side trips from bangkok? So you think just skip singapore together? Would we miss a lot by not going there.
A nice 2 or 3-day sidetrip from Bangkok is Ko Samet island, about a 3-hour drive and ferry boat ride from Bangkok. Most of the accomodations are bungalows in all sorts of price ranges located on the beach, and in the evening tables are set out next to the water where you can eat under the stars and fairy lights. The island is very popular with the Thai who tend to flock to the island on weekends and holidays.

Pattaya is a "beach resort" town about 2 hours drive from Bangkok. Owing to its honky tonk nature and large number of adult-oriented bars (it's been called "Patpong on steroids"), people either love it or hate it. I always have a good time when I'm there, but many people really despise it.

When in Bangkok, the Chatuchak weekend market is an incredible (and exhausting) experience with more than 6000 vendors and scores of thousands of customers on a non-rainy weekend.

For a first time visitor to SE Asia with limited time, Singapore is a destination that would be very low on my "must see" list. It's a nice, clean, modern city, but I personally don't think that has much of an Asian feel.

Ok thanks for everyones advice so far. I guss I need to make some things more clear though. Moving to LA so I will be there and flying from there. Also redeeming delta miles. I am possibly considering KE which has new ptv's on certain flights. NWA is just 747 service from LAX unforturnately though which they are not updated. i am told singapore air would be worth extra miles though.

Are there any good places near bangkok to go into the jungle and elephant trekking. Is that a fun activity to do while over there. For our amount of time there is it worth trying to fit in a island for beaching it or not? We will see then possibly about skipping singapore.

Matt

For someone going to SE Asia on limited time, just list me maybe priority cities/places to visit so that helpes me to research them and also make some more descisions. Appreciate all your help, asia is new to me so thats why I am clueless.

Matt

Hi Matt.

Ok, first I don't believe singapore air is part of sky team if you are talking about using delta miles. singapore is in star alliance. But you may have meant you were talking about paying for a trip on singapore

Second if you are using miles, don't just assume you can pick and choose what you want. You'll find that the airlines are sometimes a bit screwy on which flights are available on miles and getting out on weekends can be especially hard. Where you go can depend on availability of the segments.

i agree with the above poster that Bangkok will be much more interesting, but if you want to get a flavor of something else, the trip you probably want is singapore and bangkok, without much time in singapore.

Ideally fly to Singapore, spend a day there taking a sightseeing trip, doing tea at raffles, and going to the amusement park or the zoo, leaving the next day sometime for bangkok, where you'll spend up to 3 days doing the temples etc. (jim thompson's house, museum, palace), take a day to go to the old capitol, and a weekend day to go to the weekend market (which is one of the best in asia). If you have time, see thai kick boxing, pat pong (however it's spelled), maybe get a massage, ride the boats on the river, and go to the best blues bar outside chicago (the saxophone bar) and do some shopping. One of the intriguing things about bangkok is how it has very exotic looking temples and art on one side, and some very modern malls on the other. the combination is intriguing.

Then leave to the states from Bangkok. don't go back to singapore. If you are flying ke, there should be nonstop flights from bkk to korea.

you're not really going to have time for anything else and the real question is whether you'll have time for all this. If the northwest flights become the only ones available, they are the ones that arrive late at night.

The thai beaches are lovely but as mentioned above, getting to them, then out to the beaches to have fun, is really going to take more time than you have unless you do an absolutely ridiculous race of flying in the morning, beaching in the afternoon and flying out the next morning. It's not worth it.

the best blues bar outside chicago (the saxophone bar)Please could we have more specific details on this?Full address etc? Thanks.

Thanks again. Actually you can redeem delta skymiles on SQ. I have some on hold right now. I know we wont get availability whenever, thats why I have been checking. So we will make thailand priority to visit. Also is there any way to go elephant trekking near bangkok or somewhere easy to get to.

My mom is concerned about us traveling to Asia area because the US Department of State is concerned about terriost activity in Thailand. Can you help me convince her so my dad and i can go.

Matt

I'm not sure what you mean by elephant trekking - riding an elephant or going on an overnight trip that includes elephants? Bangkok is not noted for either. Most people go to Chiang Mai for elephants and/or trekking. CM has numerous camps and trekking outfits working out of there and is about a one-hour inexpensive plane flight away from Bangkok.

As for terrorism, anything could happen anywhere, but apart from the most southern Thai provinces the threat is considered to be fairly minimal.

treking in thailand takes three days minimim and is done from the south or southwest. As the poster above mentions, seeing the elephants, which by the way is pretty touristy, is done out of chiang mai. i believe you can do treks from there.

you might have time for a day in chaing mai if you skip singapore, but you don't have much time for both.

thailand is pretty safe.

here is a little on the saxophone bar, but any concierge knows where it is. http://www.frommers.com/destinations/bangkok/N2895.html

again, you're trying to make extensive plans for a lot of time on the ground, when the amount of time you'll have in fact is dictated by the flights you can get. It's highly unlikely you'll have more than 6 days on the ground, unless you pay for flights.

You might want to look closely at your flight alternatives

It would appear that if you end up being able to get miles, but having to fly on northwest for both legs, you would get to singapore at 12:55 a.m. and would leave from singapore or bangkok at 6a.m. or 7 a.m. which would mean you would have essentially 6 days to do anything.

If you fly Korean air there, you might be able to get another day since their flight to Singapore leaves at 12:30 a.m., but you'd have an 8 hour layover in seoul and still arrive at 6:25 at night and unless you took northwest back from bangkok, you'd have to leave bangkok saturday night, not sunday morning. Some of the Korean air flights, depending on the day have a shorter layover of like 4 hours, but you need to look at your flight alternatives to figure the amount of time you'd have.

in short your planning--especially on a short trip like this--depends on the flights you get. If you can get Korean air there and the Northwest flight back, it would appear you'd have one more day, on the ground than you would any other way (except paying for the flight) but you might have a ridiculously long layover in seoul depending on what day of the week you're flying.

by the way, the ideal trip is to fly nonstop from la. Thai air does non stop from lax to bangkok on tuesday friday and sunday going both directions, leaving lax at 11:50 p.m. and leaving bangkok at like 8:20 p.m. (and arriving in la that same night). And you already know about the singapore air flights.

Tiger Air for cheap Flights from Singapore to BKK (And other places)

I guess I dont mean trekking but i saw online somwhere up chiang mai you can do like half day trips on elephant. That is what I ment. I know you keep saying not enough time but we are not going expecting to see every little thing of every little place.

Matt

There are many elephant camps around Chiang Mai offering elephant rides. I know of no such places around Bangkok. Chiang Mai IS worth a few days visit - elephant camps, rafting, Doi Inthanon (Thailand's tallest mountain with many scenic waterfalls), Doi Suthep temple, etc. This website describes many of the things that you seem to be interested in doing: http://www.chiangmai1.com/ . As I said, CM is a short, inexpensive flight away from BKK.

Possible change of plans.

We possibily may go somewhere maybe a tad more safe and quicker to get to. I appreciate all the Thailand help.

We are considering going to Japan. A couple of cities probably during the trip. KE nonstop flights and SQ are not available to tokyo:( Only thing we can get is NWA LAX-NRT. How bad are they to japan? Also how bad is the 747?

Matt

We possibily may go somewhere maybe a tad more safe and quicker to get to. I appreciate all the Thailand help.
More safe than Thailand? And this from somebody living in Florida? :confused: Tell your mom to compare the murder rates in your home state (946 (http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/fsac/Crime_Trends/violent/murder.asp) in for 2004 alone) and the number of tourists killed by terrorists in Thailand in the last 10 years (which would be zero).

Also, much as I otherwise love the country, Japan is incredibly hot, muggy and generally unpleasant in August. Add in the transport-jamming Obon holidays towards the end of the month and it's probably the worst possible time of year to go.

compare the murder rates in your home state (946 (http://www.fdle.state.fl.us/fsac/Crime_Trends/violent/murder.asp) in for 2004 alone) and the number of tourists killed by terrorists in Thailand in the last 10 years (which would be zero).

Seems like an apples to oranges comparison ... it got me thinking about whether George W Bush knows about the number of deaths attributable to turrrrrssts in Florida compared with the number of deaths attributable to turrrrrssts in Florida.... :D

Possible change of plans.

We possibily may go somewhere maybe a tad more safe and quicker to get to. I appreciate all the Thailand help.

We are considering going to Japan.
Sigh. I've heard of some people not visiting Thailand because of nervousness about the avian flu, but fear of terrorist attacks there is a first to me.

Well, if you do go to Japan, just hope that the express train doesn't jump the tracks (http://www.cnn.com/2005/WORLD/asiapcf/12/25/japan.derailment.ap/index.html) or that some religious loonies don't release Sarin gas in the subway or that Japan doesn't get hit with one of its routine deadly earthquakes.

You may want to consider Epcot.

Yes, there is muslim terrorist activity in 3 provinces, Yala, Pattana, and Narrathawat. They are located on the Malaysian border and are over 500 miles from Bangkok. Thailand is one of the safeest countries in the world. Be sure to look left when crossing the street, but out government fails to tell you that.

The only airport in the affected area is Hat (Had) Yai. This is not on the normal tourism trail unless one is a Malaysian visiting for a day or two.

hey cleveland is a nice city and it has the rock and roll hall of fame

More seriously, the costs of Japan are a lot higher than the costs of thailand. You're probably talking about significantly higher costs, though less travel time

Why not consider visiting Malaysia? :) The country is safe and very near to Singapore. Weather in Malaysia is almost always hot and humid though. The islands are nice and the forests are beautiful!

Seems like an apples to oranges comparison ... it got me thinking about whether George W Bush knows about the number of deaths attributable to turrrrrssts in Florida compared with the number of deaths attributable to turrrrrssts in Florida.... :D

Luv your response.... :)

Seriously speak, I travel to Asia 3-4 times a year, with my wife and alone. Unless you're deaf, blind and dumb, Thailand is no worse than any other country in Asia when it comes to terrorism, avian flu, etc.