Easy stopover on the way to India?
Dec 30th, 2014, 10:09 PM
#1
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Easy stopover on the way to India?
Would you recommend Singapore, Hong Kong, Vietnam, or Thailand as the most practical stopover flying from US West Coast to India (or India back to US)? All those destinations are on our wish list, but in terms of number of layovers, ease of getting out of airport to points of interest, etc., which would you personally focus your research on? We would like to have maybe 5 days or less. We would also really love to go to Cambodia or Indonesia, but for some reason, those seem a little more off the beaten path. Come to think of it, there are many locations in Asia/SE Asia we'd be up for if you'd recommend it, but we need some focus!
Thanks in advance.
Thanks in advance.
Dec 31st, 2014, 02:07 AM
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I don't think SE Asia is a practical stop-off point to India. Even from the west coast, flights generally go through Europe (although Emirates flies through Dubai). Out of the places you mentioned, Singapore or Hong Kong make the most sense, as I believe you can fly to those destinations directly and then continue on directly to India.
Dec 31st, 2014, 05:39 AM
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Looking at it in terms of being practical - and including you list plus total flight time and cost (I looked out of LAX and from Asia to Delhi), there are a couple of pretty decent ideas:
-Beijing (via Air China)
-Seoul (via Asiana)
-Hong Kong (via Cathay Pacific)
-Tokyo (via ANA [JAL significantly more expensive on the routes/times I looked at])
-Shanghai (via China Eastern)
To get to Bangkok, you'd need to stopover somewhere else. Same with Singapore. And the costs go up significantly.
I agree with Craig that SE Asia makes less sense, and focusing on building in a stopover through China, Japan, or South Korea would work well in terms of feasibility, cost, and time.
If you were willing to go the opposite direction, a stopover in Dubai via Emirates or in Istanbul via Turkish could work well: the flight durations aren't any longer, and in the case of Turkish, prices are competitive. (Would not do Doha via Qatar, because you'd probably have to stop in JFK first before continuing on).
-Beijing (via Air China)
-Seoul (via Asiana)
-Hong Kong (via Cathay Pacific)
-Tokyo (via ANA [JAL significantly more expensive on the routes/times I looked at])
-Shanghai (via China Eastern)
To get to Bangkok, you'd need to stopover somewhere else. Same with Singapore. And the costs go up significantly.
I agree with Craig that SE Asia makes less sense, and focusing on building in a stopover through China, Japan, or South Korea would work well in terms of feasibility, cost, and time.
If you were willing to go the opposite direction, a stopover in Dubai via Emirates or in Istanbul via Turkish could work well: the flight durations aren't any longer, and in the case of Turkish, prices are competitive. (Would not do Doha via Qatar, because you'd probably have to stop in JFK first before continuing on).
Dec 31st, 2014, 07:48 AM
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I think you need a trip to SE Asia to see the places you are interested in, trying to do it as a stopover makes little sense and won't give you what you want in terms of getting to experience these places.
I agree that Hong Kong or Tokyo are good options for stopovers. Personally, I would avoid the mainland Chinese cities.
I agree that Hong Kong or Tokyo are good options for stopovers. Personally, I would avoid the mainland Chinese cities.
Dec 31st, 2014, 10:05 AM
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Many thanks. After reading all your responses and reflecting a bit, I think we are going to pass on SE Asia as a stopover. It's definitely a big area on our list of places to see, but it would be rushed and I agree we need to make it a bigger trip and not a secondary one.
Speaking of needing focus, we are now looking at Jordan or Italy as a potential stop over! Jordan, because I really want to see Petra, and Italy because we've both been but want to experience Naples pizza and Pompeii/Herculaneum together. But I guess those are for different forums…
Speaking of needing focus, we are now looking at Jordan or Italy as a potential stop over! Jordan, because I really want to see Petra, and Italy because we've both been but want to experience Naples pizza and Pompeii/Herculaneum together. But I guess those are for different forums…
Dec 31st, 2014, 11:07 AM
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We traveled to India from LAX on two different airlines to use miles. On our outbound flight to Mumbai on BA, we changed planes in London. On our return flight from Delhi on Thai to LAX, we stopped in Bangkok, so that would in fact be doable.
Dec 31st, 2014, 12:27 PM
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There are no nonstops to India from the west coast and it's pretty much exactly half way around the world - about the same distance whether you fly through Asia or through Europe/the Middle East.
Going there it's faster through Europe and returning slightly shorter through Asia. My Indian friends usually stop in Dubai on Emirates or Ethiad (you could easily go to Jordan from there). Or you can get a free layover in Istanbul on Turkish Air or in London on BA. For the return, the best connections are through Tokyo or Hong Kong.
Going there it's faster through Europe and returning slightly shorter through Asia. My Indian friends usually stop in Dubai on Emirates or Ethiad (you could easily go to Jordan from there). Or you can get a free layover in Istanbul on Turkish Air or in London on BA. For the return, the best connections are through Tokyo or Hong Kong.
