South east Asia - where to go?
Discussion
Off to Singapore for a few days in October to see family. Booked flights in/out (spending a total of 5 nights in Singapore) but still have another 10 days to use up.
Anyone got any suggestions on where is good? Ideally a few days by a beach and a few days with city break stuff too.
Did Thailand in 2009 so not too sure about going back, although it's a possibility.
Cheers.
Anyone got any suggestions on where is good? Ideally a few days by a beach and a few days with city break stuff too.
Did Thailand in 2009 so not too sure about going back, although it's a possibility.
Cheers.
You wanna be cultural or just beer and beach?
Cultural - Siem Reap / Bagen / Chang Mai
Beach - Thailand (i like Krabi but it depends on what you want!)
Or something else?
There is loads to to in Singa and if you are visiting people that live here they will be able to keep ypu occupied. Would suggest drop the City bit as you will get that here. For 5 days, just pick one place to explore / chill.
ETA - October is close to change in monsoon time, should be ok in Singa, but will be getting wet further north (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia etc) and its being a funny season this year, the NE monsoon is still hanging on in Singa in the evening 2 months after i would expect it gone!
Cultural - Siem Reap / Bagen / Chang Mai
Beach - Thailand (i like Krabi but it depends on what you want!)
Or something else?
There is loads to to in Singa and if you are visiting people that live here they will be able to keep ypu occupied. Would suggest drop the City bit as you will get that here. For 5 days, just pick one place to explore / chill.
ETA - October is close to change in monsoon time, should be ok in Singa, but will be getting wet further north (Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia etc) and its being a funny season this year, the NE monsoon is still hanging on in Singa in the evening 2 months after i would expect it gone!
Edited by XJSJohn on Monday 23 May 15:09
Langkawi looks pretty nice. How is the nightlife there? Don't want something mental but somewhere with a few bars etc would be good.
XJSJohn - did Chiang Mai on my trip to Thai in 2009. I agree that maybe it'd be an idea to get away from cities although I find myself going nuts with more than a few days by the beach/pool (I'd rather be doing stuff).
Cheers for the responses so far.
XJSJohn - did Chiang Mai on my trip to Thai in 2009. I agree that maybe it'd be an idea to get away from cities although I find myself going nuts with more than a few days by the beach/pool (I'd rather be doing stuff).
Cheers for the responses so far.
i live out here and never bother with anti malaria stuff. its the Dengue feaver you need to worry about from mozzies and there is nothing to prevent that other than a can of raid and a fly swat.
Regarding Angkor Wat / Siem Reap this is well worth a trip and you will easily use up 5 days there with plenty of activity, but for temples and all that stuff that is off the tourist path have a look at Bagen inMyanmar Burma. Even more incredible temples than Angkor Wat and no-one there!
RE langkawi, i love it there but thats because i go sailing there, the hotel resourts can be a bit on the "romantic" side as lots of people go there for honeymoon's. If the sailing idea appeals Sunsail charter yachts there.
Regarding Angkor Wat / Siem Reap this is well worth a trip and you will easily use up 5 days there with plenty of activity, but for temples and all that stuff that is off the tourist path have a look at Bagen in
RE langkawi, i love it there but thats because i go sailing there, the hotel resourts can be a bit on the "romantic" side as lots of people go there for honeymoon's. If the sailing idea appeals Sunsail charter yachts there.
Lankowi's a dump, I used to live there, nothing to travel 12 hours in a plane for. As John said Krabbie is the best beach to fly to easy from Sing, Batam is Ok for the golf and the girls, 45 minutes from Sing by boat.
As I always say KL is a great city to live in but from a tourist point of view? Again i wouldn't travel 12 hours for whats on offer. You need to book 24 hours in advance to get up the twin towers for example, shopping is good and again there are the girls, Beach Club, Thai Bar, Rum Jungle etc.
My kids have travelled all over S E Asia but they spend no time in Malaysaa, except to vist me, then they are off some where without the Islamic restrictions. And before some one says Borneo is great, I have a house there and leave every weekend, you seen one monkey you seen um all.
When in Oct you coming, Moto GP at sepang in Oct, 10 pound for a stand ticket.
As I always say KL is a great city to live in but from a tourist point of view? Again i wouldn't travel 12 hours for whats on offer. You need to book 24 hours in advance to get up the twin towers for example, shopping is good and again there are the girls, Beach Club, Thai Bar, Rum Jungle etc.
My kids have travelled all over S E Asia but they spend no time in Malaysaa, except to vist me, then they are off some where without the Islamic restrictions. And before some one says Borneo is great, I have a house there and leave every weekend, you seen one monkey you seen um all.
When in Oct you coming, Moto GP at sepang in Oct, 10 pound for a stand ticket.
BigWithey said:
I feel the same about London, funny how half the world want's to visit?? I guess living somewhere can make you jaded? 
Also he's already in Singapore so a couple of hours is not too far.
to be fair, i live in Singapore and enjoy a weekend in KL because of friends, but no way i would recomend it as a tourist destination, not with many of the other options in SE Asia, good fun party city for a weekend, but Bangkok or Jakarta does it better, however i can only drive to KL.Also he's already in Singapore so a couple of hours is not too far.
Langkawi is a day trip and not much more in my opinion, you would need to hire a car to get the most of the trip.
From Singapore you can get a cheap flight to Da Nang and visit Hoi An in Vietnam and many other great places on the way back to Saigon. This could be done within 10 days without any problems.
I would also recommend Siem Reap for the temples of Angkor Wat, I was there earlier this year and was pretty gob smacked at the size of the temples and the area they cover!
If you want jungle action the Taman Negara park in Malaysia is a great adventure!
From Singapore you can get a cheap flight to Da Nang and visit Hoi An in Vietnam and many other great places on the way back to Saigon. This could be done within 10 days without any problems.
I would also recommend Siem Reap for the temples of Angkor Wat, I was there earlier this year and was pretty gob smacked at the size of the temples and the area they cover!
If you want jungle action the Taman Negara park in Malaysia is a great adventure!
Siem Reap is nothing special as a town, but the temples near it are one of my favourite ever destinations - absolutely awesome - one of the must-sees of the area. Make sure you get your hotel to arrange you a driver and guide - these people are very good at avoiding the Korean coach tours. We paid $20 for each chap per day, inc. car, back in 2005. Shouldn't be more than double that now, I'd hope.
(If you want somewhere 'cheap' but straight and with a good location, go for Pavillon Indochine - run by a French ex-pat journo - he went over to cover 'the troubles', married a Khmer girl and stayed there.)
Langkawi supposed to be nice as a beach resort. Saigon worth a visit too - Cu Chi tunnels a short trip away and Mekong Delta a day trip/overnighter.
Further afield - Sabah, Borneo:-
- Sepilok orang-utan sanctuary is really worthwhile.
- Sunsets on west coast (Kota Kinabalu - now't special as a town though) are beautiful.
- Mt Kintamani is a popular destination - Nat'l Park around it, inc. the rafflesia flower (IF it's flowering), plus a lot of hikes up it.
- north point of island is supposed to have excellent diving.
(If you want somewhere 'cheap' but straight and with a good location, go for Pavillon Indochine - run by a French ex-pat journo - he went over to cover 'the troubles', married a Khmer girl and stayed there.)
Langkawi supposed to be nice as a beach resort. Saigon worth a visit too - Cu Chi tunnels a short trip away and Mekong Delta a day trip/overnighter.
Further afield - Sabah, Borneo:-
- Sepilok orang-utan sanctuary is really worthwhile.
- Sunsets on west coast (Kota Kinabalu - now't special as a town though) are beautiful.
- Mt Kintamani is a popular destination - Nat'l Park around it, inc. the rafflesia flower (IF it's flowering), plus a lot of hikes up it.
- north point of island is supposed to have excellent diving.
havoc said:
Siem Reap is nothing special as a town, but the temples near it are one of my favourite ever destinations - absolutely awesome - one of the must-sees of the area. Make sure you get your hotel to arrange you a driver and guide - these people are very good at avoiding the Korean coach tours. We paid $20 for each chap per day, inc. car, back in 2005. Shouldn't be more than double that now, I'd hope.
(If you want somewhere 'cheap' but straight and with a good location, go for Pavillon Indochine - run by a French ex-pat journo - he went over to cover 'the troubles', married a Khmer girl and stayed there.)
Langkawi supposed to be nice as a beach resort. Saigon worth a visit too - Cu Chi tunnels a short trip away and Mekong Delta a day trip/overnighter.
Further afield - Sabah, Borneo:-
- Sepilok orang-utan sanctuary is really worthwhile.
- Sunsets on west coast (Kota Kinabalu - now't special as a town though) are beautiful.
- Mt Kintamani is a popular destination - Nat'l Park around it, inc. the rafflesia flower (IF it's flowering), plus a lot of hikes up it.
- north point of island is supposed to have excellent diving.
Siem Reap is very special as a town.....(If you want somewhere 'cheap' but straight and with a good location, go for Pavillon Indochine - run by a French ex-pat journo - he went over to cover 'the troubles', married a Khmer girl and stayed there.)
Langkawi supposed to be nice as a beach resort. Saigon worth a visit too - Cu Chi tunnels a short trip away and Mekong Delta a day trip/overnighter.
Further afield - Sabah, Borneo:-
- Sepilok orang-utan sanctuary is really worthwhile.
- Sunsets on west coast (Kota Kinabalu - now't special as a town though) are beautiful.
- Mt Kintamani is a popular destination - Nat'l Park around it, inc. the rafflesia flower (IF it's flowering), plus a lot of hikes up it.
- north point of island is supposed to have excellent diving.
Where else in the world do you have "Pub Street" where they serve pints of cold lager for $0.50 a pint!
Don't get the downer on Langkowi - it's a nice chilled island with lots of boat trips and excursions to do, and it's a piece of piss to get to from Singapore.
Depends if you want a beach holiday or a cultural trip. Siem Reap would be the best choice for a true taste of Asia, the temples are fantastic. HCMC is also good for a few days. You could also look at some of the Indonesian islands as well.
Depends if you want a beach holiday or a cultural trip. Siem Reap would be the best choice for a true taste of Asia, the temples are fantastic. HCMC is also good for a few days. You could also look at some of the Indonesian islands as well.
Gassing Station | Holidays & Travel | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff