mini vacation using sing as a base
 

Well I am turning to the 'experts'. I am planning on visiting a friend living in Singapore..and the two of us have been discussing a mini vacation from there. Unfortunately it will have to be over Chinese New Year when she can get some time off work. We had talked about a few things but so far nothing has seemed right. Some countries basically close down around that time (we had talked about Viet Nam,but from what we understand that basically does shut down except for family oriented activities.. and she ended up going there for a week anyway. There were one or two other things we tossed around...anyone have any ideas/suggestions? Neither of us are 'beach' types..both like a variety of things to do..touring, historical sights etc. One world access would be a plus for me.. (not for her tho!!) Moderate prices would also be great!! Thank you all in advance..FT has never failed to let me down when looking for ideas!!

Bangkok?? That seems pretty close and I dun think they really shut down during CNY... There are Chinese there, but in general I dun think the city shuts down like in Singapore.

If Bangkok's been done... then consider Chiang Mai, the cooler weather there during this period is much welcomed from the warm humid weather in Singapore.

would there be enough to do in chiang mai to warrant 5 days or so there?? i spent a few days there almost 20 yrs ago but dont remember tooo much to do...altho i did have a thai massage which was incredible!! p

Hello retirementdreams,

I can see the both of you, large sun hats, carrying your shoes and walking back to your hotel at dusk, splashing your feet in the ocean, recalling how only a few years before how you used to love the surf and the sand.

It can still be done for little (moderate) prices. The key to the exercise is to limit your baggage to carry on and the short holiday is a breeze. From the word GO you will be saving money cause you can catch the MRt out to the airport. Nowadays you can flit up to Penang for a couple of days on Silk air, stay somewhere pleasant like the E&O, explore the old city and split your accommodation with their old sister hotel the Lone Pine at Batu Ferringhi. Good shopping, very cheap facials and massages, and some beautiful rain forrest walks. From Penang you hail another LCC and hop over to the capital KL which I find exciting or to Langkawi.

We had a mini break in SIN last year, holed up at the Sheraton, and the Shangrila over on Sentosa. We did day trip up to Mallacca, boy was that good, and we explored on our own over the straits in Malaysia. From the boat terminal we took day trips over to the nearby Indonesian islands and we flew down to Denpasar, had a driver take us up to Ubud for a couple of days in the serinity of the hills and mountains. Our main O/S base is BKK and regardless of what you have heard, Thailand never closes down, maybe just before 4am it slows down a bit, but not noticeably. Check out web pages for silk ait, asia air, and jetstar. Just for the time being disregard your OW or *A, and the amount of money you will save is amazing because you need it for your accommodation. NOW here's where it's fun. Us smarties who travel all the time always book in on the executive floors and these floors have a ton of stuff we never get to use. Like scones and cakes @3pm, drinkies and canapes @sixish and you don't have to wait for breakie with all the tourists because if you choose to, you can have on your own floor. Hey there is heaps of other stuff like free internet, and if one of you is a lady, free washing. Look I mention this floor as we booked our inlaws into on and that was 5 years ago and they haven't stopped talking and reccommending it. You will have a ball, personally we take all our friends to BKK as it's so raw and confronting and without fail, everyone has a great time. Before I close, just before you are ready to leave keep a close watch on the TG website and under the booking engine you will notice when they have them "SPECIALS" and check the return ones and for moderate actually CHEAP money you can put together 2 day mini breaks x BKK so ensure your visa are in order , hope i have been of help, i've enjoyed partaking in your adventure regards bkkrop

>>some good ideas here.. ive been to bangkok and chiang mai both ..but its been years.. roxann and i are going to chat in a week or so and toss out some ideas and see what sounds good to both of us. she actually suggested that i mite like to go to vietnam for a bit before i meet up with her.. so theres another idea (and since my birthday is the end of january maybe ill be there for my birthday!! havent hammered out anything firm yet so still open for ideas!! will keep you posted!!..