Holidays in Asia / Far East...

[Philplop]

I did Halong Bay at Christmas time. It was very cold and very misty. Definitely didn't see it at it's best!

I enjoyed Georgetown in Penang and Melaka, and I'd definitely recommend them to people in Malaysia or who are travelling around for a long time, but as has been said, for a two week holiday other things would come first.

I'm also of the opinion that Thailand takes some beating. It has most of the things that it's neighbours offer, just quite often better and more accessible. Especially for first timers to Asia: Thailand is king.

[GTIR]

Just avoid Pattaya, Ko Samui and Kophangang.

[rich85uk]

XJSJohn said:

Weekend break destinations for Singaporeans

Is that a good sign that they are worth visiting? Or only for a few days of your passing through?

[CRB14]

Philplop said:

I did Halong Bay at Christmas time. It was very cold and very misty. Definitely didn't see it at it's best!

I enjoyed Georgetown in Penang and Melaka, and I'd definitely recommend them to people in Malaysia or who are travelling around for a long time, but as has been said, for a two week holiday other things would come first.

I'm also of the opinion that Thailand takes some beating. It has most of the things that it's neighbours offer, just quite often better and more accessible. Especially for first timers to Asia: Thailand is king.

Agree with this really.

I did Hanoi and Ha Long Bay a few years back in March. Hated it! The bay isn't all it's cracked up to be and, in my eyes, it looks better on TV than it does in the flesh. Thailand trumps it hand down. The people are more accomodating and from what I found generally nicer - although that could be because most of the vietnamese assumed we were american.

I also found Thailand to be a much cleaner place.

If you can squeeze Hong Kong in to a trip I believe it's a must. That place is just insane. As is Bangkok but on a bit of a different level.

Next for me would most likely be South Korea and Japan.

[Philplop]

GTIR said:

Just avoid Pattaya, Ko Samui and Kophangang.

Depends where you go. Apart from Pattaya, but I haven't been there so can't comment.

Koh Samui and Koh Phangan both have nice places. Avoid Chaweng beach and Haad Rin beach and they can be really laid back. Koh Phangan was one of my favourites.

Some places I think you need to really stay in the heart of it to get the proper experience. Melaka you really need to be right in Chinatown, and on the islands you need to be on the beach. Well worth roughing it in a rustic beach hut for at least a night. £10 with an ensuite, a hammock, and step out on to the sand every morning. Better than staying in a luxury tower block with 1000 other people.

[XJSJohn]

rich85uk said:

XJSJohn said:

Weekend break destinations for Singaporeans

Is that a good sign that they are worth visiting? Or only for a few days of your passing through?

Worth visiting for a weekend but not much more ... and avoid the Singaporeans (hehe) Both have good culture, history and heretage with plenty of museums / ond building etc to see, but they can be done and dusted ina few days. Food is good (and the main reason why the Singaporeans go there!!)

For something a bit more obscure and not so busy (very chilled and sleepy, so will again dont stay long) is Pulau Pangkor.

But TBH, most of malaysian destinations are "ok to visit for a few days, then move on .... " As Berw says, good country to live / work in but over rated as a holiday destination if making the effort to travel all the way from Europe. Thailand offers so much more, with plenty of good stuff and much better beaches to boot!

[Xaero]

I've lived in a lot of those countries, they all have a lot to offer, so the only advice I would give is just pick a couple and don't hop around too much, as within a short space of time, you don't want to be spending a lot of time travelling unless that's the actual thing you're going for (like a mekong river boat trip). Japan especially is a bit further out then the rest of SE Asia and so can Indonesia depending on where you're flying from/to.

Laos is another decent place to visit, but I wouldn't necessarily spend a week there.

[Shaoxter]

For 2 weeks I'd say go to Vietnam, Cambodia and Japan - all very different countries.

Vietnam: Hanoi is full of character (as opposed to HCMC) and you can also go to Ha Long Bay while you're there. Hoi An is amazing and a very chilled out place.

Cambodia: This is a must in my view, you'll never see anything like it. The main temples around Angkor are nice but the best ones are the less well preserved temples further out and you get to climb all over them. Hiring a driver is pretty cheap, $50 a day IIRC.

Japan: A very different place culturally, from both Europe and the rest of Asia.

Thailand is way overrated IMO, Bangkok is a dirty and seedy city with huge crowds at the temples. Some beaches are nice though, although still overrun with western tourists and not enough character.

Malaysia and Singapore are a waste of time considering how far you're flying.

[clarkmagpie]

Just back from 2 weeks in Vietnam and Cambodia.
3 nights in each of the following places...
HCMC
Hoi An
Siem Reap
Ha Noi - including 1 night cruise around Ha Long Bay

Amazing place, best holiday we have ever had and ever will.

HCMC
Just mad, the traffic is like nothing you will ever experience.
Didn't think there was a lot to do in the city itself.
Did a trip to the famous Cu Chi Tunnels though, quite an experience and rather harrowing,

Hoi An
Nice beach resort Palm Gardens
Lovely chilled out place, very laid back and the locals very friendly.
Got a nice hand made suit

Siem Reap - Cambodia
The temples are just jaw dropping.
Lots to see and do.
As mentioned, get a driver, best way to see things.

Ha Long Bay
Photos don't do it justice.
Breath taking beauty.
The sunset was incredible.
Swimming and kayaking around some islands was great fun.

Ha Noi
Bit more character than HCMC
Again, lots to see and do.


Food and drink everywhere was cheap.
The food was very good as well.

[eco21]

My wife and I done 4 weeks in Asia,

Flew to Singapore for a few days to see friends and for her to shop (5 nights)

Flew to Hanoi for a bit of culture and Halong Bay (3 nights)

Flew to Bali (Nusa Dua) - loved it (7 nights)

Flew to Koh Samui - done FMP on Haad Rin and on the beach mostly (10 nights)

Flew to Bangkok - was what I was expecting - could be as seedy as you wanted to allow yourself to be - we went for a wander and loved it (2 nights)

We were looking for more relaxing places to go and not so much culture, was a get away holiday that had been looking forward to.

Flew with Emirates(new Airbus A380 - second journey, Qatar, Malaysia & Bangkok Airways - never had a bad flight)

[eco21]

My wife and I done 4 weeks in Asia,

Flew to Singapore for a few days to see friends and for her to shop (5 nights)

Flew to Hanoi for a bit of culture and Halong Bay (3 nights)

Flew to Bali (Nusa Dua) - loved it (7 nights)

Flew to Koh Samui - done FMP on Haad Rin and on the beach mostly (10 nights)

Flew to Bangkok - was what I was expecting - could be as seedy as you wanted to allow yourself to be - we went for a wander and loved it (2 nights)

We were looking for more relaxing places to go and not so much culture, was a get away holiday that had been looking forward to.

Flew with Emirates(new Airbus A380 - second journey, Qatar, Malaysia & Bangkok Airways - never had a bad flight)

[Kenty]

Have a look at the trips offered by Travel Indochina - Aussie outfit with office in Oxford. We have been with them three times and brilliant.

[GTIR]

Philplop said:

GTIR said:

Just avoid Pattaya, Ko Samui and Kophangang.

Depends where you go. Apart from Pattaya, but I haven't been there so can't comment.

Koh Samui and Koh Phangan both have nice places. Avoid Chaweng beach and Haad Rin beach and they can be really laid back. Koh Phangan was one of my favourites.

Some places I think you need to really stay in the heart of it to get the proper experience. Melaka you really need to be right in Chinatown, and on the islands you need to be on the beach. Well worth roughing it in a rustic beach hut for at least a night. £10 with an ensuite, a hammock, and step out on to the sand every morning. Better than staying in a luxury tower block with 1000 other people.

Like any popular tourist place they all get ruined. I'd say the hey day was before McDonlads and Burger King moved in so mid 90's. I found those places overpriced and overrated on a recent visit.

Ko Phi Phi is still nice.

[Johnniem]

Whatever you do don't leave Halong Bay out of your intinerary. Amazing!

We have visited Thailand on many occasions and out of all the places we visited Ko Racha Yai (The Racha) was by far the best for luxury accomodation. Check out the webbie. www.theracha.com

We loved Railay beach although it is a bit manic with visitors boats sometimes. Take a trip to Bamboo Island with Elizabeth and her Thai husband Sun. Brilliant! They take you out for the day on their boat and tour around. Lunch is spent on a beach (we stopped at Bamboo Island) and Sun cooks a Thai meal (you can choose your menu pre trip) in a hole on the sand. See their webbie here...

http://www.andamancampandcruise.com/

Bangkok is a must do even for a couple of days. Flush with excitement and shopping for essentials in MBK store. Choose your jeans or trousers and they will be altered to fit, for free, in less than 30 minutes.

Have a great trip and let's have some feedback when you return!

JM

[pork911]

Burma.

[andysgriff]

One option. Base yourself in KL and use it as a hub for travelling all over Asia from KLIA2 (cheaply) with AirAsia.

[anonymous-user]

You don't need to base in kl to use air Asia, it just adds expense, air Asia has a small network now, I was in Kota kinabalu yesterday catching air Asia home to kl, and around the time of my flight there where flights to Penang and Singapore. Air Asia is a good way to get around and it is cheap.

[Philplop]

GTIR said:

Like any popular tourist place they all get ruined. I'd say the hey day was before McDonlads and Burger King moved in so mid 90's. I found those places overpriced and overrated on a recent visit.

Ko Phi Phi is still nice.

Ko Phi Phi is one of the worst for it! I assume you didn't stay in Ton Sai? Full of loud clubs staffed by western kids, which I never saw anywhere else in Asia.

I knew about Samui and Phangan, so avoided the main beaches and really enjoyed it. I didn't know about Phi Phi, stayed in town in the twin bays and thought it was crap.

Even the busiest islands have their quiet places. And the quiet islands have their busy places!

[PauloV12V]

Ko Phi Phi is one of the worst for it! I assume you didn't stay in Ton Sai? Full of loud clubs staffed by western kids, which I never saw anywhere else in Asia.

I knew about Samui and Phangan, so avoided the main beaches and really enjoyed it. I didn't know about Phi Phi, stayed in town in the twin bays and thought it was crap.

Even the busiest islands have their quiet places. And the quiet islands have their busy places!
[/quote]


We are away in Thailand early next year...where is the best then for avoiding all the noise, dirty beaches and seedy tourist side? We were thinking Krabi? khao Lak?

[SimonV8ster]

I've not been there but I've heard that the areas south of Krabi are nice and worth a visit, especially Koh Lanta. This was from a friend who was sailing in that area, he was always glad to get away from Phuket..........