FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - My first TPAC flt. Seeking advice on NW NRT/BKK/HKG/DPS vets
Old Jan 23, 2010 | 10:41 am
  #26  
jiejie
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast USA
Programs: various
Posts: 6,710
Originally Posted by hockeystl
<snip>
Here's the proposed itin:
Feb 18-19: STL-BKK
Feb 19, 20: Personal time in BKK (note: 23:45 arrival into BKK on 19th)
Feb 21-23: Work in Pattaya
Feb 23, 24: Personal time in DPS (note 11:25 arrival into DPS on 23rd)
Feb 25-27: Work in Bali
Feb 27,28: Personal time HKG/Macau (note: 22:30 arrival into HKG on 27th)
Mar 1-4: Work in Macau
Mar 4: HKG-NRT
Mar 4, 5, 6, 7: Personal time in Tokyo
Mar 7: NRT-STL

Comments? Suggestions on possible adjustments of the allocation of personal time? I'm thinking of cutting a day out of DPS and adding to HKG/Macau.
Keep the extra day in Bali (I recommend you stay in Ubud if your work time is not there; if your work is in the Ubud area, then pick a place near a beach) Do not add more to HKG/Macau. Stay in HKG those first 2 nights. You can see a lot in a one-day blitz of HKG, it's quick and easy to get around and well set-up. You will NOT need more time in Pattaya unless you are into prostitutes. Pattaya is a hellhole.

Caveat #1: be aware that Air Asia flights can sometimes be delayed or cancelled, so have some flex-time on that day. I've heard this is more likely with Thai Air Asia than with Air Asia parent (Malaysia based). Usually if I'm on a tight schedule in SE Asia with little margin for error, I try to go mainline not LCC. You'll have to make that judgment call.

Caveat #2: You will be travelling during the Chinese New Year period--this affects not only China and Hong Kong, but every other country in SE Asia with large Chinese populations (= everywhere). Everyone is doing leisure and family travel at this time, and lots of this is international to regional vacation spots. Expect flights to be heavily booked and particularly in/out of DPS and DPS-HKG. Get confirmed seats as soon as you can.

Reminder #3: I'm assuming you already know visa information. Assuming you have a US (or other First World) passport, Thailand, HKG, and Macau do not require visas for "tourists", just show up. You will need your passport to go back and forth between HKG and Macau, each has its own immigration. Indonesia requires a visa, but if you don't want to get one in advance, you can get one on the spot at the DPS airport, take USD cash (I think it's now $25 but someone else can verify). Sometimes getting the visa in advance can save you time if the visa-on-arrival line is long (i.e. if you arrive right after a planeload of Japanese or Korean tourists!) Regardless of visa issue, make SURE your passport has at least 6 months validity left in it--unlike many nearby countries with similar official requirements for entry, Indonesian immigration is prone to actually checking and possibly refusing entry if your passport is near expiry. Now, technically, you are travelling for business and if you are under the auspices of a business/company that will formally get you said visas, go that route. However, if you are a consultant on your own, you can probably enter as a "tourist" without jumping through extra hoops, particularly as you will be in these locations for a very brief period of time and presumably under radar. If you do this, just make sure you put, for purpose-of-visit, "tourist" on any immigration entry form or answer any questions this way, and do NOT say you are there for business. Make sense?

Last edited by jiejie; Jan 23, 2010 at 11:18 am
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