Angela_Smith

I am going to have 3 weeks off in November to travel in Asia. It will be my 40th b'day present to myself. I will be traveling solo due to my husband refusing to fly. What would you do? I LOVE cultural type of activities and thought that Hong Kong and Bangkok looked interesting. When I spent 3 weeks in Europe, last year, my favorite things to do were festivals, markets, cafes, etc. Museums are okay, but not a must do for me. I will be flying in from Atlanta, but other than that am wide open. I do not have issues with jet lag. I am fiercely independent. Last year, I did Paris, London, various places in Italy, Amsterdam and Dublin.

Kathie

SE Asia is my favorite part of the world. And Nov is a great time to visit mainland SE Asia. I might choose a combination of Bangkok, Siem Reap, Cambodia (for Angkor Wat) and Luang Prabang, Laos. The trick is not to go too many places. SE Asia is a place to slow down and experience. Lots of other places to consider: Hong Kong is a wonderful city (but lodging is very expensive), Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia is a fascinating world Heritage site and has perhaps the best street food anywhere, If you want wildlife, it's hard to beat Sabah (Malaysian Borneo), Indonesia is a huge and varied country...

Our photos might help: www.marlandc.com

Happy planning!

thursdaysd

Forget the solo female traveler bit - Asia is a very safe destination and you can go anywhere you like.

I agree with Kathie that SEA is a great destination, but so are China, Japan and Taiwan, although Japan and northern China would probably be a bit chilly in November. With three weeks you could do two countries in SEA - Cambodia and Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, for instance. I suggest a visit to the library or bookstore to spend some time with the glossy guidebooks with lots of photos.

Iowa_Redhead

I could spend 3 weeks in just China quite happily. It's a little chillier than some people like but I was in China in late December and loved it. The shoulder/off season means that you don't have the crowds of people. Dress in layers and you're set. I spent most of my time in Cuddle Duds (a light base layer), jeans and a light sweater and jacket.

marmot

Every country in Asia (much like every country in Europe) has something to offer so it's a matter of picking a few locations and assuming you'll be back for the rest at a later date.

I'm partial to Southeast Asia too and think you could put together a great three week sampler that would include cities, nature, culture, beaches, history and lots of good food.

In order to keep airport time to the minimum I would limit choices to three or four places and plan some auxiliary surface travel from each. My top picks would be Siem Reap, Bangkok, Bali and Singapore.

StanKase

My suggestions would be Bangkok for 5-6 days, Angor Wat for 3 days, Bali (4-5), Yogjakarta (2-3).You are independent but a guide eill expand your horizons for sure in Angor Wat. Bali and Yogjakarta.In BK maybe 1-2 days a guide would be useful.
In those destinations thecost of the guides are $55-$75 for a 9-10 hour day and a good one really enriched the visits plus expedites getting around by 50%. Only if you are going through HongKongand there isno or a minimal charge would I spend time in HK and if so 2 full days is sufficient.

thursdaysd

I am not a fan of Bangkok, but it is a big transport hub so you may well wind up there. Just no reason to spend 5-6 days there. Also, a good guidebook will render actual guides unnecessary, unless you really want one.

tansmets

Hong Kong is really interesting, with much more to do than Bangkok, so I'll second that recommendation. Lodging is pricey though. November is a great time for SE Asia - low season rates with good weather. Also i'd recommend Japan.

If you have 3 weeks i'd spend time in both Northern Asia and SEA. They are very different. Maybe a combination of Kyoto (3 days) , Hong Kong (3 days , Guilin/Yangshou (3 days), 4 if you like hiking and want to go to Longsheng. And then some time in SEA - i'd go to Bangkok, Luang Prabang (2 - 3 days), and maybe somewhere else in Thailand or Malaysia. From Hong Kong you can get one of many flights to BKK and from BKK it's easy to get around Thailand.

thursdaysd

@Sandeep - in three weeks???

StanKase

Maybe we have an over reliance on guifes but over 40+ years of travel and probably 60 trips to totally unfamilar areas where language amomg other things were somewhat of a limitation we probably had 2-3 times were guides were totally unnecessary. On the others they enhanced the trips by providing insights that the guide books we had be it Fodors, Rogue or Lonely Planet could not provide. Probavly 75% of the guides to us to their homes or their parents homes which always was an exciting experience. KIt you are spending $4000+/- nan extra $500-$600 to make it 50% better sure makes sense to me. I can recommend guides we used in Java and Bali but was not inpressed with the one we used ibn Taiwan for example.

Kathie

You don't NEED a guide in any of these places we've suggested. Some people like to use a guide for a day or two, but you can be as independent in a country where you don't know the language as you can in a country where you do, IMO.

Let us know how you are coming in planning your trip and whether we can offer any additional info.

juliasmom

I went to Asia by myself for the first time in 1990. I was totally comfortable. My six week itinerary was Hong Kong, Bangkok, tour of Northern Thailand, tour of Southern Thailand, Phuket, Singapore, Bali.

I returned in 1994 to China for 3 weeks, all on a tour. I have since been to Vietnam 3 times, alone and with a child.

I would recommend limit it to 1 or 2 countries and get to know them well.

Iowa_Redhead

<<<You don't NEED a guide in any of these places we've suggested. >>>

Kathie's right. I went to China almost 2 years ago (solo young woman) and could only say hello and thank you in Chinese. When I left I also knew the words for one, two, three and tampon! You can do a LOT with charades, a smile and patience so please don't let a language barrier be a barrier.

I didn't have a guide and never felt the need for one. My experience was actually quite different simply because I was alone. An older couple in Shanghai pulled me into their morning exercises, people everywhere approached me because I was alone and that never would have happened with a guide.

StanKase

Our rationale for a guide is in almost all cases no matter how much pre-reading a quakity guide, and we research that through the 3-4 Forums, and personal recommendations,the guides have enriched the experienced somes by 10-15% and other times by 50%. We do not use a guide absolutely every day for it is fun to go it alone once in a while when knowlege gathering is not on our list. But if we can afford a $10,000+ trip for my wife and I an additional $500-$700 is not going to break the bank and it has proven to us how much more we have learned in countries like Egypt,Guyana and the far Northern Thailand walking with the tribes for example. I venture to say we have been to places that few travelers other than explorers have been as a result and that is neat.

mrwunrfl

November is a great time to visit Japan. Good weather, fall colors. Japan is a great place to visit for an independent traveler. Easy to travel the country by rail. The Tokyo subway/rail system map might be intimidating at first, but you will get the hang of it and be able to go practically anywhere on your own.

I would fly into Tokyo. Go to Meiji Jingu on a Sunday for Shichi-go-san celebration and likely see Shinto wedding ceremonies. Adorable kids, gorgeous kimonos (colorful ones on the kids and formal kimono on the wedding celebrants), the shrine and the park.

Traveling generally north to south with the fall colors: Nikko, Hakone, Shirakawago, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima & Miyajima. Kanazawa, Takayama, walk the Nakasendo in the Kiso Valley. Tateyama-Kurobe Alpine Route. Kagura in Takachiho. Sumo in Fukuoka.

Visit a hot springs and stay at a traditional ryokan with a kaiseki dinner, in Hakone for example. Here is a nice traditional ryokan on Miyajima (which is home to Isukushima Shrine): http://www.japaneseguesthouses.com/d...a/momijiso.htm

A few of the places I mentioned are World Heritage Sites and listed here:
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2251.html

mrwunrfl

If I was traveling on an FF award ticket then I would probably take advantage of the free stopover. A long stopover in Japan to/from Thailand, Bali, or Hong Kong.

MmePerdu

I find Hong Kong a fascinating world class city that should be visited for the international ambiance and history at least once. Despite the fact that it's expensive I try to spend a few days there on each trip to Asia.

Bangkok is interesting but, as stated, is more of a transit place. If it fits in on your way to somewhere else it's definitely worth a few days, especially if you don't plan to spend time anywhere else in Thailand. It's worth it just for the food. Stay on the river. The corridor served by the express boats is, for me, the best part.

Since you mention those 2 I'd say go with your instincts and spend 3-5 days in each of those. I've been to lots of places in Asia, not all by any means, but of those I've visited I suggest the following smaller cities for the remainder of your 3 weeks, not necessarily all of them: Kunching in Malaysian Borneo. Georgetown in Penang, Malaysia (stay at the Cheong Fatt Tse Mansion). Ubud, Bali.

I don't necessarily recommend it as I prefer longer visits in each place but if you treat this trip as reconnaissance and think you'll be back then there's be an arguement for 4 days in each of the 5 places I mention.

MmePerdu

Spelling error: Kuching in Malaysian Borneo. Not Kunching.

Amy

Hong Kong wouldn't be my first choice.

Vietnam/Cambodia is a wonderful combination that would fit nicely into three weeks, or, of course, there's India. Three weeks there barely scratches the surface.

(I've traveled in all three just fine as a solo female--as well as in HK.)

lapaz

Hi Angela, I am a solo traveler from Atlanta area. Thailand for me is all about relaxation/foods/massages. I could sit there for 3 weeks, enjoying just that. Took tours in Viet Nam and it was very interesting. I wouldn't mind going back. HK/China/Japan were all just okay for me. I am hoping to visit Cambodia, India, etc this year. But, if you do well with cold weather, how about trekking in Nepal? I did it some years ago, and it is one of the most memorable trips of my life.