Aus vs SE Asia?

[andrew311]

I’ve posted previously on this forum in connection to which Far East cities we should see if we go to Australia for our honeymoon next year. The return flights won’t be out for a couple of weeks so I still have a bit of time to consider some alternatives. What has thrown me slightly is that a few people have said with us never being to SE Asia before just staying in SE Asia would make for a more interesting holiday? We’ve kind of spoiled it for ourselves with going on some excellent holidays which would have made fantastic honeymoons.

We’ve toured the US pretty extensively so no interest in going back, toured South America, India, and been to beach holidays including the Maldives which would be hard to live up to for a beach holiday anywhere else.

May seems to be a bit of an iffy time weather wise for some of the destinations we’d consider, from what I understand it will be autumn in Aus with the north being dry and warm and the South (Sydney, Melbourne) cooler and wetter. One thing that is putting me off a bit is the exchange rate as the Aus $ is at an all time high vs £ so our money won’t go as far. We planned to spend around 4 weeks in Aus and 3 to 4 nights in Bangkok or Hong Kong on the way out or back.

As with other places we’ve been to it’s hard to describe what attracts us to anyone place, we just like seeing new places and like the variety. We’re going to hopefully do a little driving where it’s feasible and visit a couple of cities as well as the Whitsundays to have some R&R and possibly sail.

[BigAlinEmbra]

There's no guarantee that Oz is going to get much cheaper, and if you can't blow out on the honeymoon, then when can you?!

You're obviously into travel, so I personally don't really see the point in compromising just because some folk on the the internet said SE Asia is better than Oz!

I've been to SE Asia and loved it, but I'm not sure I'd want my marriage to kick off with the missus wondering why I'd gone for the cheap option!

Just add SE Asia to the list and go for an early year escape from winter break sometime!

[sussexjob]

Oz is very expensive at the mo, we were on the road 3 months ago and basic and i mean very basic motels were 95Aus$ a night and 4 star were 200-300 all very well when 2.50-3 to the pound but now 1.50 it's a different ball game.

[andrew311]

Thanks for the replies. Tbh the money side of things isn't my biggest concern, more is it worth going to the extra expense that may not be as enjoyable or interesting of a holiday.

I think we'll always be able to go to Thailand, whilst to try and do Aus and sort of justice you need a good few weeks minimum to even scratch the surface.

[VEA]

I can Highly recommend this place!

http://rasananda.com/

And it is definitely not cheap either!

We actually won 5 nights there when we were staying just down the beach in a raffle they were having at a party.

SE Asia is great, and there are plenty of the slightly more swank hotels appearing all over the place at the moment!

We also did a bit in Oz and I was amazed by how expensive it is now!

Really I would say to you that it depends what you want out of the holiday, I know it is your honeymoon so do you want to spend your time on the beach, or do you want to be driving through the outback, or rock climbing on a small island in the gulf of Thailand... or... or...or (you get my point).

If you need ideas on where to stay in Thailand or anywhere in SE Asia then drop me a message and I will be happy to put some ideas in your head.

[BigAlinEmbra]

FWIW I don't think Thailand is the best bit of SE Asia to visit, but it does depend what you're planning on doing.

It is better served for luxury hotels and if you want to do some diving then fair enough. For culture and sights consider Vietnam and Cambodia too.

I didn't really bond with Thailand, but only had a few days there and it was the end of the trip so may have been end of holiday blues.