leaving on a jet plane

March 18, 2005 8:47 AM

I've decided to go on vacation this year and I'm in the early stages of planning it. My style is backpack/hostel/budget travel. Yes, I already know about Let's Go and Lonely Planet. I'll be leaving 9/2 and coming back the 14th. I've got my destinations narrowed to the following: Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, or Moscow. Any experience/advice please.
posted by pieoverdone to Travel & Transportation (5 answers total)

Tokyo and HongKong are supposed to be very very expensive. Doing Moscow and St. Petersburg might be a good alternative.
posted by amberglow at 9:26 AM on March 18, 2005

Try couchsurfing. We've had nothing but great results with it.
posted by bryanzera at 10:10 AM on March 18, 2005

A Polish guy I met in Germany who had travelled all over Europe said Moscow was the coolest city he had been to, others I've known have expressed similar sentiments. I don't think any of them had been to Asia though, so the comparison might not help...
posted by spaghetti at 1:17 PM on March 18, 2005

Yikes, Japan, Korea and Hong Kong aren't the best backpacking destinations. Never been, but I've heard great things about Russia once you get past the ridiculous visa processes.
posted by borkingchikapa at 6:02 PM on March 18, 2005

I live in Tokyo and it's a crowded, noisy and generally expensive place. Lugging a big backpack around the city ain't much fun. There are plenty of guest houses, though, and a rockin' night life if that's what you're looking for.

It's just a big, big city, with lots to see and do, but if you want to "rough it", I'd recommend another Asian city I've backpacked two different times: Bangkok. Much more tourist-oriented (which is both good and bad). Khao San Road is the seedy but quite fun backpacker's row, with tons of guest houses and restaurants.

Japan is great in so many ways, but it's not the best place for tourism.
posted by zardoz at 1:11 AM on March 19, 2005