Travel ideas for East-Asia vacation?
November 28, 2007 9:34 AM Subscribe
I'm planning 3 weeks this summer to travel with some friends (just out of college) to East Asia. Ideally, we'd like to fly from NY to Hong Kong, Singapore, and Bangkok (in the cheapest possible order/arrangement). Any suggestions on attractions/lodgings/things-you-have-to-see at each destination (for the budget-conscious?)
Spending approximately 4-5 days at each destination, hopefully spending a little time in the city and a little time exploring outside (i.e. I heard the beaches in Puket, near Bangkok, are very beautiful, so thats definitely planned).
I also got a ton of great advice from this thread about visiting Thailand.
posted by Alison at 9:56 AM on November 28, 2007
posted by Alison at 9:56 AM on November 28, 2007
Three weeks for these 3 major hubs would be a bit rushed, unless you want to do mostly urban travel and a few days at the beach. (Nothing wrong with that).
I lived next door to Hong Kong for more than 3 years, it's a great place to live, but not an amazing place to visit, in my opinion. Also, it's very expensive.
If I were you, I'd try to go up from Singapore through Malaysia, through Phuket or another southern beach in Thailand, up to Bangkok, into northern Thailand (Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai for starters), maybe into Laos, if not into Cambodia, then Vietnam if you have time.
Highlights: Angkor Watt in Siemreap, Cambodia. Worth the detour. Beaches in Malaysia, food in Thailand, and Vietnam, the whole damn country.
Phuket can be kinda rainy in the summer. Not saying it's not worth a trip, just check things out before you go.
Don't try to see everything in SE Asia in 3 weeks. Assume you'll be back someday and leave some things for a different trip. I'd really try to maximize my time spent outside of the hub cities you mentioned. They're great cities, but the difference between major international cities is shrinking every year.
posted by bluejayk at 10:03 AM on November 28, 2007
I lived next door to Hong Kong for more than 3 years, it's a great place to live, but not an amazing place to visit, in my opinion. Also, it's very expensive.
If I were you, I'd try to go up from Singapore through Malaysia, through Phuket or another southern beach in Thailand, up to Bangkok, into northern Thailand (Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai for starters), maybe into Laos, if not into Cambodia, then Vietnam if you have time.
Highlights: Angkor Watt in Siemreap, Cambodia. Worth the detour. Beaches in Malaysia, food in Thailand, and Vietnam, the whole damn country.
Phuket can be kinda rainy in the summer. Not saying it's not worth a trip, just check things out before you go.
Don't try to see everything in SE Asia in 3 weeks. Assume you'll be back someday and leave some things for a different trip. I'd really try to maximize my time spent outside of the hub cities you mentioned. They're great cities, but the difference between major international cities is shrinking every year.
posted by bluejayk at 10:03 AM on November 28, 2007
Bangkok - must see the Chatuchuk Market. The Suan Lum Night Market is fun too - great place for souvenirs.
posted by kdern at 10:23 AM on November 28, 2007
posted by kdern at 10:23 AM on November 28, 2007
I have to second Ankgor Wat. I spent a week and a half in Cambodia last summer, only 2 days at Angkor Wat. Could easily have spent more time there. It is the neatest thing I have ever seen.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 12:50 PM on November 28, 2007
posted by ActingTheGoat at 12:50 PM on November 28, 2007
If your on a budget, stay away from Hong Kong and Singapore, and hit Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos.
I found Singapore to be sterile, material, and expensive. Although the night zoo was pretty cool.
I thought Hong Kong was awesome. The contrast in culture is something to behold. It is very expensive though. Try and find a hostel and then just hit the streets. Lan-Kwai-Fong has some great restaurants and bars. And you have to go up Victoria Peak.
Bangkok is um, interesting. Don't be afraid to get a foot massage for 5 bucks in a hole-in-the-wall massage parlor. It's a great experience. And for grins and giggles take a stroll through Pat Pong or Soi Cowboy.
posted by jasondigitized at 2:25 PM on November 28, 2007
I found Singapore to be sterile, material, and expensive. Although the night zoo was pretty cool.
I thought Hong Kong was awesome. The contrast in culture is something to behold. It is very expensive though. Try and find a hostel and then just hit the streets. Lan-Kwai-Fong has some great restaurants and bars. And you have to go up Victoria Peak.
Bangkok is um, interesting. Don't be afraid to get a foot massage for 5 bucks in a hole-in-the-wall massage parlor. It's a great experience. And for grins and giggles take a stroll through Pat Pong or Soi Cowboy.
posted by jasondigitized at 2:25 PM on November 28, 2007
Thailand: Seconding all those people who said to skip Phuket for something closer, cheaper, and less over-run. Bangkok's funny, because some people love it and some people really don't. I loved it, spent 7 days there, and still was not out of things to do. I've posted some long long comments about places to go and eat in Bangkok, but don't have links at the moment.
(If you choose one guidebook for the city though, I was really happy with the Lonely Planet Best of Bangkok. It's not the full-size Bangkok, which I also had, and is not as good, especially in the map area.)
posted by whatzit at 2:38 PM on November 28, 2007
(If you choose one guidebook for the city though, I was really happy with the Lonely Planet Best of Bangkok. It's not the full-size Bangkok, which I also had, and is not as good, especially in the map area.)
posted by whatzit at 2:38 PM on November 28, 2007
Hong Kong is expensive compared to SE Asia but it's not too bad in my experience. 4-5 days should be plenty. The Peak is worth seeing on a clear day, Lantau is worth a trip for the monastery and the big buddha.
If time allows, go to Macau for a day. It's awesome, and extremely weird.
posted by the duck by the oboe at 2:46 PM on November 28, 2007
If time allows, go to Macau for a day. It's awesome, and extremely weird.
posted by the duck by the oboe at 2:46 PM on November 28, 2007
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I did take a few great side trips from Phuket for not much money. With one we got to visit an isolated stilt village at low tide. It was amusing to watch the mudskippers flop around and quite revealing to see how the community was set up.
posted by Alison at 9:52 AM on November 28, 2007