Bali + ?
 

My friend was thinking of going to Vietnam/Burma/Angkor Wat next July. I told them that I thought it was monsoon season in Vietnam and that traveling there might not be a good idea. I suggested Bali.

She liked that idea (especially since Korean Air flies from IAD-ICN-DPS. She thought she would do one week in Bali and another week (or maybe a little less) in Korea. She then said that that was a bust since Korea was in monsoon (or maybe rainy season) in July as well.

She would like to see two places, since she'll be going on FF tix. If it were me, I'd do the whole two weeks in Bali, but I think she get shpilkes if she's somewhere too long.

Where can I suggest for her to go along with one week in Bali that is reasonable for the weather in July. Changing the travel time is not an option...

TIA

This is a great question but I think it's being asked in the wrong forum. Your friend is still at the stage of trying to decide where to go but is not yet factoring hotels (particularly luxury hotels) into the equation. So I think the folks in the Asia forum are more likely to have helpful answers and I am going to move this there.

Good luck in finding a destination and bear in mind that the monsoons don't run for the entire month of July, depending on location. For example, in Korea and Japan, the monsoon is usually gone by the middle of July -- although it then gets hot and humid!

RichardInSF, moderator, luxury hotels

thanks!

Is it really monsoon season in Vietnam ?

It's hot as hell in Hanoi at the moment !

I personally love travelling in this area during rainy season. Most often it's just more overcast during the day vs bright sunshine, and a bit showery especially in the afternoon. Sometimes heavy but short downpours. Of the places mentioned, In Burma only Yangon and coastal areas are really affected. Yangon isn't a problem, stay out of beaches and Sittwe area during July, and concentrate upcountry. Upcountry Burma (Bagan, Mandalay, Inle, etc.) gets relatively minor affect from the monsoon, at least not enough to have a meaningful effect on sightseeing. Also not so crowded and prices usually down.

Angkor is lovely in the rainy season, green and jungly and not so dusty as in winter high season or March-May horrible hot season. Again, not so many tourists and prices down.

Vietnam South gets monsoon affect but probably nothing the average tourist can't handle. This is mostly Saigon end of the country, Mekong Delta, Phu Quoc Island (I'd avoid the latter in monsoon time). Vietnam Central and North is more affected between October-December, not July. Different directional monsoon.

So while she may ultimately decide on Bali, panning the original places on the basis of weather was bad advice.

I made my comments after observing when major tour companies go to certain countries. Most major companies don't send people to China in July/Aug or Feb as the weather is not ideal. We went in October at what was considered the best time.

Not every place is good all year round - better to wait until the right time - even if it is more money...

Central Vietnam would probably be fine in July; the North could be wet but summer wet, not monsoon wet.

Korea's probably finishing its wet season by July too; that's not to say the weather will be nice, though, even after it!

Anyway, if she's set on Bali, how about island-hopping? Easy to do Lombok and the Gilis.

Bali + ?
 

Bali has lots of option. Southern Bali for beaches , Ubud for culture and maybe somewhere like Amed for total chill. Gili is a good suggestion to

If Bali is definitely in the mix, I'd second the notion of forgetting about another country. Spend one week in Bali and then the rest of the time elsewhere in Indonesia. Would be much more cost and time-effective, and it's a fascinating country.

In other words, you're not speaking from personal experience in these various places??? :eek: :(

I would like to add Nusa Lembongan to that list - I would pick Lembongan over Gilis, unless nightlife is a high priority. If you decide on Lombok the Gilis are very convenient though.

No personal experience, but then again I don't think I need personal experience when judging by professional tour companies that only pick the optimal times.

When you look at the high end tour companies, they only plan trips at the best time. Look at Travcoa. They run tours to China next year in April, May, Sept and October. Why? Probably because Beijing is so hot you either hot as balls or cold as crap if you go in other months. I've been to Beijing, but only in October.

While you can go to Beijing other times of year, why would you want to do that? Do you plan a luxury ski trip at either the beginning or end of the season? You'd have to be a moron if you had the flexibility.

Very strange comments. Most professional tour companies tend to be lemmings, so that's not necessarily a "gold standard" for trip planning.

As for bringing China into this mix, it's also strange that you seem to equate "China" with "Beijing." Forgetting perhaps, that's it's as big as the USA with all the variation in climate and ideal times for different locations that this implies.

Advise your friend however you see fit. But remember you're the one who asked for advice on open forum, presumably from people who know more than you about these things....from personal experience.

I suggest flying to Bali, and then taking a daytrip from Bali to Komodo. Don't bother staying on Komodo, too risky! You could see the dragons for a few hours then fly back to DPS the same evening, where you could relax on the beach and tell tales of your expedition over a cocktail. Or stay on in Komodo NP all night with no electricity. :rolleyes:

Then when you've done with Bali, get to Gilimanuk and take the ferry across the Bali Straight to Banyuwangi on Java Island. Then make your way by bus to Probolinggo, where you can stay the night and awake for a sunrise climb up Mount Bromo, and its surrounding active volcanoes.

From Probolinggo, you should head via Surabaya on the train down to Yogyakarta and check out Prambanan Candi temples, and nearby Magelang the home of Borobudur, even more impressive than Prambanan. These 2 temples of among the highlights of Asia as a whole, not just Indonesia. From JOG, you could fly back to DPS or onward to CGK, as both airports are serviced by KE and you could make your way home.

Rainforest, beaches, dragons, orangutans, volcanoes, temples, and wildlife all in the space of a couple of weeks?

It is always nice talking about Bali, if your friend has already decided to go there, then decide what kind of things she wants to find in Bali for example like beaches,nightlife, culture, or water sports if she likes diving, etc or the quiet one.

Your friend may spend a week in Bali by doing those activities and another week in other places or countries but if your friend don't want to move further there is also nearer islands as part of Bali e.g: Nusa Lembongan, Nusa penida and also island-hopping which is lombok (e.g: Gilis) which other members also suggest :)

While I'll concede that February is not an optimal time to visit China, summer is the peak travel period for pretty much everywhere in this country. Just look at the airfares, $2,000+ now... and, will almost certainly drop to $1,200 in October.

Komodo is too risky? What are you talking about? It's plenty safe! Komodo should be a 3 day trip to really see the island, as well as a different part of Indonesia.

Now Probolinggo, that is a shithole town, be careful there! And Banyuwangi? That's a port town full of shady characters. The bus ride to Banyu from Bali is on a crazy dangerous road (crazy truck drivers) and the buses are terrible. Fly Bali to Surabaya or Jogja to avoid this, certainly (although I went this way recently just to "check it out")

Agreed to fly to Jogja: base yourself there to see the amazing temples of Prambanan and Borobudur and perhaps the trip to Bromo. The town is awesome too, artsy, just the right amount of tourist, just the right about of "the real java". Jogja is a $25 flight from Bali, so makes a great side trip.

A week in Bali, 3 days in Komodo, and 4 days in Java/Jogja. Perfect! :)

If I did a week in Bali, 4 days in Yogya, then 4 more days somewhere else on java where would you suggest? If I flew or took the train to Surabaya, is there enough to see and do to keep occupied for 3-4 days/nights? I have looked at domestic airfares in Indonesia and they are unbelievably cheap so flying between 2-3 cities is no big deal.

Bromo and Kawah Ijen (ijen Crater), Malang sound good :)

Yeah I'd fly out to Komodo for your remaining days. The diving and snorkeling is fantastic, and seeing the Komodo dragon is a once in a lifetime experience. There are also cool boat trips from Lombok to Komodo that take 3-days one way that are highly recommended. Snorkeling on the way, remote islands, etc. Go with Perama tours: http://peramatour.com/

Perama isn't the cheapest but is highly reputable and won't go if say the seas are rough or something.

Peace,
Ryan

Might want to read this before contemplating the above:

http://www.adventurouskate.com/adven...-in-indonesia/

Holy c@*p! There's absolutely positively no way in he*L I'd ever set foot on a live aboard boat in Indonesia, especially one run by Perama tours. is this company even still in business after this happened?

http://www.peramatour.com/

Still there. I ended up taking one of their tour busses (just as a bus) from Kuta to Lovina in May 2011.