Cheap travel from Hong Kong

April 26, 2006 12:39 AM

Help me figure out the cheapest way to travel around SE Asia and China for two-three weeks at the end of May, based in Hong Kong, leaving from and returning to Osaka.

I'm currently an exchange student in Osaka, and, as the semester is starting to wind up, myself and some friends are thinking about making one last trip over to mainland Asia. We have no real idea what we want to do, or where we want to do it (we do know no more Thailand, though, great country, but i'm ready for something new). I have about 1500 dollars to play with, I want to fly out of Osaka around May 25, and be back in Japan around June 10 or so. So far, the cheapest flight we can find out of Osaka is to Hong Kong. I don't really want to be in Hong Kong for more than a few days, though, so I want to know how easy (and how much) it would be to get from, and back to, Hong Kong to places like Cambodia, Laos, or really anywhere in mainland China?

posted by MostHolyPorcine to Travel & Transportation around China (3 answers total)

If I understand correctly, you want to go to Cambodia, Laos and/or China, but via Hong Kong, as flights are cheaper to/from Hong Kong-Osaka. But instead of going to Hong Kong, which will eat up your funds and cost you time travelling, why not save the money and spend it on flying more directly.

For example you may well be able to get a pretty cheap return flight to Bangkok from Osaka. You could then go overland in a day to Cambodia, and proceed overland to northern Laos at leisure. From Luang Prabang you could get a fairly cheap connecting flight back to Bangkok for your return to Osaka.

I'm not too familair with flight prices in China, but I would say since you only have two weeks, you would be better restricting yourself to Cambodia/Laos or China. Sorry if this isn't exactly the type of answer you are looking for, but it may be worth considering.
posted by MetaMonkey at 2:48 AM on April 26, 2006

Where is your home country? If you're actually from the US or Canada, it would be a good deal for you to go home first (assuming you already have your ticket) and then get the amazing Cathay Pacific All Asia Pass.
posted by randomstriker at 2:59 AM on April 26, 2006

Dragon Air flies to Phnom Penh from Hong Kong, but I don't know what they charge.

On Air Asia you could get a cheap flight (US$35) from Macau to Bangkok, then Bangkok to Phnom Penh (US$25), Xiamen, Kota Kinabalu, or Penang.
posted by soiled cowboy at 10:20 AM on April 26, 2006