Spend a Week in India, Vietnam, or Italy?
Feb 23, 2015, 5:47 pm
#61
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
Couldnt agree more and loved every minute of our three trips.. it is what trave is all about.
Also agree with this description of Vietnam. It's always good to see the world from a different perspective and hear about the AmeRican wAR. Beautiful country, friendly industrious people. Do ha long bay for a night of two and Hue.
Our second trip was Kerala, drive to Munnar in the tea growing area, to Madurai and temples, followed by a few days in Mumbai with a side trip to the Ajunta and Ellora caves staying in A urangabad. Lots of variety, south is very different than north. Kerala and Munn ar were green and beautiful, very uncrowded. Kerala has rivers with resorts and houseboats, a very educated and literate populatIon. We would still like to do east India, Kolkata, dar jeeLing, Maybe siKim. I would also highly recommend VaranasI. It's a powerful spiritual place that makes you come face to face with life and death in the cycle of human activity.
If I had to rank the three India, Vietnam, and Instanbul. Cambodia I'd put in too. It has a sad recent history, and in the race to bring it back, they are not really practicing sustainable tourism, and it might not look the same in a few years.
Go and explore
Also agree with this description of Vietnam. It's always good to see the world from a different perspective and hear about the AmeRican wAR. Beautiful country, friendly industrious people. Do ha long bay for a night of two and Hue.
Our second trip was Kerala, drive to Munnar in the tea growing area, to Madurai and temples, followed by a few days in Mumbai with a side trip to the Ajunta and Ellora caves staying in A urangabad. Lots of variety, south is very different than north. Kerala and Munn ar were green and beautiful, very uncrowded. Kerala has rivers with resorts and houseboats, a very educated and literate populatIon. We would still like to do east India, Kolkata, dar jeeLing, Maybe siKim. I would also highly recommend VaranasI. It's a powerful spiritual place that makes you come face to face with life and death in the cycle of human activity.
If I had to rank the three India, Vietnam, and Instanbul. Cambodia I'd put in too. It has a sad recent history, and in the race to bring it back, they are not really practicing sustainable tourism, and it might not look the same in a few years.
Go and explore
Late May/early June is around the peak of the hot season. Personally, I would avoid the golden triangle completely (45C or higher in the shade is *NOT* my idea of a relaxing vacation).
Whoever told you that DEL would be cooler than BOM in late May is just plain wrong. BOM will be mid 30s, but very humid (this would be just before the monsoons), DEL will be on the upper side of 40C and dry.
I wouldn't go to Leh, you want to budget around two weeks for that trip.
As a native (who dislikes hot dry weather), here are a few additional suggestions:
(a) If you don't mind the heat, and a bit of additional travel, go to watch a cat or two.
Ranthambore, Kanha, Kaziranga, Tadoba, Corbett are good options for tigers, Gir for lions.
(b) If you want a historical holiday along with a few beach trips, fly into BOM (wander around the old city, visit Elephanta, possibly the Vasai fort and Kanheri), and go down the coast to Goa or Kerala (Kochi and Thiruvantanapuram are good options to end the trip, there are flights to the middle east from both cities and from Goa). You could wander down to Murud-Janjira, and then continue to Goa (spend a day or two there dealing with Portuguese influenced architecture and food). From Goa, head down to Mangalore and finally end up in Kochi
(c) Spend the entire week in Kerala
(d) Visit the Himalayan foothills (note that you will be visiting in peak season and there will be crowds). On the eastern side, Sikkim (fly into DEL, then to Bagdogra, or fly to CCU and overnight train to New Jaipaiguri) and Darjeeling (same options). In the west, Dehradun, Mussorie, Haridwar, Dalhousie, Dharmashala/Mcleodganj are overnight road trips from Delhi.
(e) Fly into Bhubhaneshwar and tour Orissa.
(f) Do the Bangalore, Mysore, Belur/Halabeed trips, with a couple of days to visit Hampi (again, heat).
Whoever told you that DEL would be cooler than BOM in late May is just plain wrong. BOM will be mid 30s, but very humid (this would be just before the monsoons), DEL will be on the upper side of 40C and dry.
I wouldn't go to Leh, you want to budget around two weeks for that trip.
As a native (who dislikes hot dry weather), here are a few additional suggestions:
(a) If you don't mind the heat, and a bit of additional travel, go to watch a cat or two.
Ranthambore, Kanha, Kaziranga, Tadoba, Corbett are good options for tigers, Gir for lions.
(b) If you want a historical holiday along with a few beach trips, fly into BOM (wander around the old city, visit Elephanta, possibly the Vasai fort and Kanheri), and go down the coast to Goa or Kerala (Kochi and Thiruvantanapuram are good options to end the trip, there are flights to the middle east from both cities and from Goa). You could wander down to Murud-Janjira, and then continue to Goa (spend a day or two there dealing with Portuguese influenced architecture and food). From Goa, head down to Mangalore and finally end up in Kochi
(c) Spend the entire week in Kerala
(d) Visit the Himalayan foothills (note that you will be visiting in peak season and there will be crowds). On the eastern side, Sikkim (fly into DEL, then to Bagdogra, or fly to CCU and overnight train to New Jaipaiguri) and Darjeeling (same options). In the west, Dehradun, Mussorie, Haridwar, Dalhousie, Dharmashala/Mcleodganj are overnight road trips from Delhi.
(e) Fly into Bhubhaneshwar and tour Orissa.
(f) Do the Bangalore, Mysore, Belur/Halabeed trips, with a couple of days to visit Hampi (again, heat).
Let us know what you are thinking and planning.
Feb 23, 2015, 6:21 pm
#62
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 89
May will also be cheaper than December/January.
Feb 24, 2015, 7:49 pm
#64
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
Feb 24, 2015, 8:06 pm
#65
Join Date: May 2004
Programs: BA blue, LH Senator, KQ (FB) gold
Posts: 8,215
The classic line from Chennai is that it has three seasons, hot, hotter, and hottest. Late May/early June is 'hottest' season which may seem odd to North Americans where the hottest season is July/August.
Feb 24, 2015, 8:14 pm
#66
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: North Sentinel Island
Programs: UA Gold, BONVOY TIT
Posts: 777
We hired a driver and drove around to various sights, and spent a couple of nights on a houseboat. It was a great change of pace from the rest of India.
Feb 25, 2015, 3:57 am
#67
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Tokyo
Programs: SPG LT Plat ANA Plat
Posts: 596
I am an American and I am currently sitting in "North Vietnam" on a couch in Hanoi i can tell you there is no anti American sentiment sure they might charge you a couple extra dollars at an entrance to a touristy spot but they do that to the Russian gentleman standing in line behind me. In the past year I have spent almost 5 weeks here in Hanoi and never feel like I'm somehow behind enemy lines or something. I think you should come out here and take a look for yourself.
The Vietnamese people as a rule are gentle, kind, generous and hospitable, if there is any negative US feeling, and I doubt it since they WON the war, it is due to the atrocities committed by US troops. I do not deny the VC were as bad, but certainly no worse.
Feb 25, 2015, 3:59 am
#68
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Tokyo
Programs: SPG LT Plat ANA Plat
Posts: 596
As I say, US has some great teachers !!
Feb 25, 2015, 8:19 am
#69
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
We flew in to DEL in an afternoon and headed directly to Jaipur. That was really the only part of the trip that felt like a long(ish) drive...about 5 hours with minimal stopping, other than the minor car accident we were in. (Totally normal...plan on being involved in one or two while you're there...it's part of the experience. 
)
One could easily tack on a 1-hour flight to Jaipur and start the tour from there: that's not a bad option. But the richness of that first few hours on the road in India is something I'll truly never forget...the people, bizarre vehicles large and small, fauna all over the roadway, sights, smells, scenery...everything. That ride was as completely foreign as anything I've ever done.
) One could easily tack on a 1-hour flight to Jaipur and start the tour from there: that's not a bad option. But the richness of that first few hours on the road in India is something I'll truly never forget...the people, bizarre vehicles large and small, fauna all over the roadway, sights, smells, scenery...everything. That ride was as completely foreign as anything I've ever done.
I'd suggest avoiding cars as much as possible while there. We took the train from Delhi to Jaipur. It was definitely a cultural experience (during which I had waaaay too much chai from the chai wallah) and didn't need to worry about being in a car accident. The super premium first class fare is still ridiculously cheap by Western standards (I think it was like $30). You could also fly, of course.
I think US citizens are now eligible for a visa on arrival, as of a month or so ago.
Feb 25, 2015, 9:38 am
#70
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: US Air, UA BA LH AI DELTA MARRIOTT CHOICE SGP
Posts: 9,883
I didn't think there was anything as scary as driving in India until I discovered driving at night in India.
I'd suggest avoiding cars as much as possible while there. We took the train from Delhi to Jaipur. It was definitely a cultural experience (during which I had waaaay too much chai from the chai wallah) and didn't need to worry about being in a car accident. The super premium first class fare is still ridiculously cheap by Western standards (I think it was like $30). You could also fly, of course.
I think US citizens are now eligible for a visa on arrival, as of a month or so ago.
I'd suggest avoiding cars as much as possible while there. We took the train from Delhi to Jaipur. It was definitely a cultural experience (during which I had waaaay too much chai from the chai wallah) and didn't need to worry about being in a car accident. The super premium first class fare is still ridiculously cheap by Western standards (I think it was like $30). You could also fly, of course.
I think US citizens are now eligible for a visa on arrival, as of a month or so ago.
Feb 26, 2015, 7:46 pm
#71
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: AA PL, DL GM
Posts: 33
Thanks to everyone for the great insight! I'm still trying to decide but leaning towards Vietnam. I would have a complete week in the country. Flying over from AUH on a Tuesday then departing the following Tuesday. That allows me plenty of time to get back to the US by Thursday night!
Feb 27, 2015, 3:34 pm
#72
Join Date: Mar 2008
Posts: 661
Goa is a fantastic place to vacation, the beaches of South Goa are secluded and great.
You could go sailing in the backwaters of Kerala for an amazing, peaceful experience:
You could go trekking in the mountains around Uttarkhand or Kashmir, again plenty of solitude and incredible panoramas to be had:
check out the deserts of Rajasthan:
Or experience some of the world's best coral reefs and beaches in the Lakshwadeep islands:
India has another chain of Islands - the Andaman and Nicobar islands which are also spectacular for a ocean getaway!
As you can see, your opinion of India is incorrect... it's not all poverty. Per Conde Nast some of the finest hotels in the world are actually in India, owned by the Taj Group
They are frightfully expensive though!In addition, there is a lot of wildlife to see in India as well, India has some amazing national parks for seeing Tigers in their natural habitat!