3 weeks: solo travel to Thailand (with stop in Hong Kong and Tokyo)?
Dec 1st, 2016, 08:49 AM
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3 weeks: solo travel to Thailand (with stop in Hong Kong and Tokyo)?
Hey guys (30/m here), rethinking my spring trip next year. Flying from US. Is it possible to tackle this trip in three weeks: Hong Kong -> Thailand -> Tokyo? Since it's such a long flight to Thailand, I figured it would be nice to break up the trip and fly to Hong Kong first, stay for 2 - 3 days, then fly to Thailand and explore Bangkok, Chang Mai, islands, then head back to Tokyo for 2 - 3 days before flying home. Is this too ambitious? Or can it be done reasonably and not be too rushed (I will be solo)? Any thoughts?
Dec 1st, 2016, 09:40 AM
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Have you been to any of these places before? If not, here is the problem I would have with your plan. 2-3 days (which means 3-4 nights) is not enough to see either Hong Kong or Tokyo. And if you devote 4-6 days (6-8 nights) you are left with just two weeks in Thailand if you started out with three full weeks on the ground in Asia. Yes, you can do it, but do you want to do it?
Dec 1st, 2016, 09:57 AM
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No, I have never been to Asia. But I just wanted to break up the trip and relax a little, that looks like a lot of flying. I've always wanted to walk the streets of neon streets Tokyo and wander around Hong Kong with no plans or cares.
Dec 1st, 2016, 12:00 PM
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First of all, my experience in 30+ years of flying to Asia is that breaking up the trip with a stopover only makes adjusting to the new time zone more difficult.
- How much of your Thailand trip are you willing to trade for time in Tokyo or Hong Kong?
- What is your budget for hotels? Hong Kong is the most expensive city in Asia for hotels. Tokyo is second or third. Thailand is very reasonably priced.
- Take a look at the impact of the stopovers on the price of your flights. Some airlines will give you "free" stopover - but just one. Consider whether you might be happy with one stopover rather than two.
Wanting to relax a little sounds like Thailand, not Hong Kong or Tokyo. I've been to all of these places, enjoyed them all, but they are very different from each other. Get a hold of some guidebooks, do some reading, and see what is right for you.
- How much of your Thailand trip are you willing to trade for time in Tokyo or Hong Kong?
- What is your budget for hotels? Hong Kong is the most expensive city in Asia for hotels. Tokyo is second or third. Thailand is very reasonably priced.
- Take a look at the impact of the stopovers on the price of your flights. Some airlines will give you "free" stopover - but just one. Consider whether you might be happy with one stopover rather than two.
Wanting to relax a little sounds like Thailand, not Hong Kong or Tokyo. I've been to all of these places, enjoyed them all, but they are very different from each other. Get a hold of some guidebooks, do some reading, and see what is right for you.
Dec 1st, 2016, 07:44 PM
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I think Kathie has given you some excellent advice.
If you do want to break a trip even briefly, consider places that you can stop without forcing the routing of your flights. (In other words, just search for flights to Thailand and see what options you have for stops en route.) Just as one example, for a recent trip to Singapore and Indonesia, I routed through Dubai, where I was able to get a massage about half-way through the very long flight time. For me, that made a nice break en route without adding to my travel cost.
If you do want to break a trip even briefly, consider places that you can stop without forcing the routing of your flights. (In other words, just search for flights to Thailand and see what options you have for stops en route.) Just as one example, for a recent trip to Singapore and Indonesia, I routed through Dubai, where I was able to get a massage about half-way through the very long flight time. For me, that made a nice break en route without adding to my travel cost.
Dec 1st, 2016, 07:59 PM
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Hey guys - even though Thailand is the focus of this trip, I do want to see Tokyo and HK, so I thought this would make sense. I only plan to spend one or two days in Tokyo and Hong Kong.
Dec 1st, 2016, 08:04 PM
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Your trip, your call -- but 2 days is not much for either of these cities, particularly for the one you hit with jet lag.
And your flight to Hong Kong, if direct, would be what, about 15.5 hours? If trying to find a way to break a trip, I'd want something that would leave me with a shorter flight than that! JMO.
And your flight to Hong Kong, if direct, would be what, about 15.5 hours? If trying to find a way to break a trip, I'd want something that would leave me with a shorter flight than that! JMO.
Dec 2nd, 2016, 12:52 AM
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It's your trip, so it's your call as Kja says!
But you posted here to ask for opinions on your three-country plan. And the opinion of those who have responded here (and I agree) is that you will short-change each place if you try and pack too many in.
And can we assume that money is not an issue? Because adding the extra flights in to do both HK and Tokyo as well as Thailand will certainly add significant cost to your trip.
Is there some reason why you think you will never be able to get to East Asia again? If not, I would suggest you combine Thailand with just one of HK or Tokyo instead of both. If you really think you will never get to this part of the world again, then perhaps see if you can make the trip longer than 3 weeks...
It's your prerogative to do it anyway you like but you asked for opinions and that's what you've been given.
But you posted here to ask for opinions on your three-country plan. And the opinion of those who have responded here (and I agree) is that you will short-change each place if you try and pack too many in.
And can we assume that money is not an issue? Because adding the extra flights in to do both HK and Tokyo as well as Thailand will certainly add significant cost to your trip.
Is there some reason why you think you will never be able to get to East Asia again? If not, I would suggest you combine Thailand with just one of HK or Tokyo instead of both. If you really think you will never get to this part of the world again, then perhaps see if you can make the trip longer than 3 weeks...
It's your prerogative to do it anyway you like but you asked for opinions and that's what you've been given.
Dec 2nd, 2016, 08:17 AM
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I agree with everyone above. Just getting to and from the airport in Tokyo is a time consuming (and not cheap)venture. All those cities are pretty far away from each other so factor in almost a day of travel in between.
Consider focusing on Thailand and save the other cities for another time. Or just go to Bangkok, Tokyo and Hong Kong. You could spend at least a week in any of those cities and still have plenty to do. Each of my trips to Asia have been for three weeks, but they've been in-depth and at a slower pace instead of ticking off boxes on my bucket list. Just plan to go back instead.
As an aside, if you plan to be in Tokyo for sakura, you need to book your accommodations now as it is very crowded that time of year.
Consider focusing on Thailand and save the other cities for another time. Or just go to Bangkok, Tokyo and Hong Kong. You could spend at least a week in any of those cities and still have plenty to do. Each of my trips to Asia have been for three weeks, but they've been in-depth and at a slower pace instead of ticking off boxes on my bucket list. Just plan to go back instead.
As an aside, if you plan to be in Tokyo for sakura, you need to book your accommodations now as it is very crowded that time of year.
Dec 2nd, 2016, 08:44 AM
#10
>>Is this too ambitious? Or can it be done reasonably and not be too rushed
It is ambitious, can be done, will be rushed. From your last post I understand that 2 or 3 days really means one or two nights.
The unreasonable part of the plan is spending only one or two nights in HK. I am one who make ambitious plans. I believe that 5 nights with 4 full days in HK would be just right, but you could cut it to 4 nights.
Go to HK first, then a nonstop to Chiang Mai or the south of Thailand. Or BKK. But make the easiest stop in Thailand at the end. Then stop in Tokyo for one night, if you must.
It is ambitious, can be done, will be rushed. From your last post I understand that 2 or 3 days really means one or two nights.
The unreasonable part of the plan is spending only one or two nights in HK. I am one who make ambitious plans. I believe that 5 nights with 4 full days in HK would be just right, but you could cut it to 4 nights.
Go to HK first, then a nonstop to Chiang Mai or the south of Thailand. Or BKK. But make the easiest stop in Thailand at the end. Then stop in Tokyo for one night, if you must.
Dec 2nd, 2016, 11:14 AM
#11
>>I only plan to spend one or two days in Tokyo and Hong Kong.<<
To get one full day you'd need two nights; 2 full days = 3 nights. And the first stop over you may be a jet lagged mess - or not. Then you have the 2 full days eaten up going to/from Asia, and another nearly full day for each move. So now you are down to about 12 days for Thailand.
If you really REALLY want to visit HK or Tokyo -- pick <u>one</u> of them and spend 3 or 4 days (4 or 5 nights). Leave the other for another trip.
To get one full day you'd need two nights; 2 full days = 3 nights. And the first stop over you may be a jet lagged mess - or not. Then you have the 2 full days eaten up going to/from Asia, and another nearly full day for each move. So now you are down to about 12 days for Thailand.
If you really REALLY want to visit HK or Tokyo -- pick <u>one</u> of them and spend 3 or 4 days (4 or 5 nights). Leave the other for another trip.
Dec 2nd, 2016, 12:30 PM
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"bizkitgto on Dec 1, 16 at 8:59pm
Hey guys - even though Thailand is the focus of this trip, I do want to see Tokyo and HK, so I thought this would make sense. I only plan to spend one or two days in Tokyo and Hong Kong."
You've gotten some really good advice above. As to what you decided to do, as it's your trip, is up to you. But, I've been vacationing in Asia regularly since the 90s and will be back to Bangkok (3 weeks) and then Malaysia (one place in Malaysia), Singapore, and a Hong Kong add on for 5 nights. But, I have 6.5 weeks. I'm not one to run through Asia on an, "If it's Europe This Must Be Belgium" type of schedule as the folks in that movie did. I like to relax in Asia and absorb it, not just run through it and check off sites for example. But, to each his own.
I fly from L.A. to Asia on Singapore Air and the plane stops in Narita, so if I decide to do Tokyo some day, I'll take that route and get off at Narita and then fly on to Singapore later or fly on to Singapore first and then stop in Narita and do Tokyo on the way back to L.A. But, for now it's the L.A.- Narita (plane change)- Singapore-Bangkok route as that works well for me. If I were you, I'd only pick two countries for 3 weeks, especially since it's your first trip to Asia.
Happy Travels!
Hey guys - even though Thailand is the focus of this trip, I do want to see Tokyo and HK, so I thought this would make sense. I only plan to spend one or two days in Tokyo and Hong Kong."
You've gotten some really good advice above. As to what you decided to do, as it's your trip, is up to you. But, I've been vacationing in Asia regularly since the 90s and will be back to Bangkok (3 weeks) and then Malaysia (one place in Malaysia), Singapore, and a Hong Kong add on for 5 nights. But, I have 6.5 weeks. I'm not one to run through Asia on an, "If it's Europe This Must Be Belgium" type of schedule as the folks in that movie did. I like to relax in Asia and absorb it, not just run through it and check off sites for example. But, to each his own.
I fly from L.A. to Asia on Singapore Air and the plane stops in Narita, so if I decide to do Tokyo some day, I'll take that route and get off at Narita and then fly on to Singapore later or fly on to Singapore first and then stop in Narita and do Tokyo on the way back to L.A. But, for now it's the L.A.- Narita (plane change)- Singapore-Bangkok route as that works well for me. If I were you, I'd only pick two countries for 3 weeks, especially since it's your first trip to Asia.
Happy Travels!
