jspbeutp

Anyone have a recommendation for a company that provides interesting trips to Cambodia, Burma, Laos and Vietnam? Planning to go over the Christmas break for 10 to 12 days. Not looking for a luxury tour, but not hostels. Off the beaten path OK.

Kathie

Are you looking for a group tour or just a company to do the planning and booking for you? In 10 days, you are obviously not going to 4 countries. Most of us here are independent travelers. SE Asia is a very easy place to travel around on your own.

qwovadis

smartours.com has good prices

also affordableaisa.com

affordabletours.com good general comp site

zicasso.com luxurylink.com for upscale custom non group


Happy Planning,

jspbeutp

We could likely travel on our own. I just thought it might be less expensive to book with a company that included air travel and some hotel deals. Our chief interests are in Cambodia and Laos. I have been to Hanoi, but would like to see another small part of Vietnam. Obviously we cannot do more than a cursory visit to the area, focusing on the highlights. Some tour companies will customize a trip for you so you don't have to travel with a group. We did that with a local company in Peru that made all the arrangements and we sometimes hooked up with groups for specific tours. I'm just not sure where to start.

Kathie

A tour company like Smartours might be able to get you better airfare, but you'll likely do better on hotels on your own. Tour companies often use hotels that are not in great locations, so the "great deal" on the price comes with another price - wasting your time and money geting to the areas of the city you want to be in. One of the other disadvantages of tour companies is that they tend to move fast, so you miss what you went to these countries for - to see a different way of life.

Start by deciding what is most important to you in these countries. If Cambodia and Laos are your top priorities, stick with those two in a mere 10 days. In Cambodia, the premier site is Angkor. You will want three full days (four nights) to see just the so-called major temples. Buy yourself a copy of Dawn Rooney's book. "Angkor: A guide to Cambodia's Wondrous Temples" to help you decide if you need even more time there. Take a look at a guidebook to Cambodia and decide if you also want to spend a day or two in Phonm Pehn.

In Laos, you'll want time in Luang Prabang, not less than three full days and you may well want more time.

Take a look at our photos of these places at www.marlandc.com as the photos may help in your decision-making.

Once you know what interests you most you can look at logistics and decide whether you want a tour or an agency to set things up for you, but you need to know what you want first.

Smeagol

I used Tonkin travel for my trip to Vitenam, and whilst I did book some of my own hotels they got me great rates on flights and some hotels ( I just picked out what I wanted them to book for me) I couldn't get anywhere near the price they quoted on 2 of the hotels, so in some cases they do save you money on hotels. Just because youbare using a tour operator doesn't mean you have to book tour guides etc, I again booked these independently.

For Laos and Cambodia I booked everything myself but for Burma I asked Santa Maria to arrange everything ( mainly because I am short on time at the moment and we have very limited time in Burma so wanted to pack loads in)

thursdaysd

The first time I went to Cambodia and Laos I went on Intrepid tours. The last time I went to Vietnam I used Tonkin. But southeast Asia is very easy to do on your own with a good guidebook or two.

jspbeutp

If my son, 26, and I planned a trip on our own, what gateway city should we fly into -- Bangkok? -- (we're from the Midwest) and would we need to return to that city to fly back? Would we fly from country to country or take bus or train? Any hotel recommendations in Cambodia and Laos? (I'm giving up on Burma!) Not sure how much of Vietnam we could see. Whole trip needs to be under 2 weeks. Discovered that SmarTours doesn't have any tours going over the Christmas break. Thanks to all for some of the suggestions. I'm thinking we may have to cobble something together on our own...

Kathie

Bangkok is usually the least expensive gatway city to SE Asia. You can fly out of a different city, but check to see what makes sense in terms of price. Flying is the most efficient way to get around. Where the budget airline, Air Asia, flies it's quite cheap. If you opt to go to Siem Reap and Luang Prabang, the Bangkok Air Discovery pass will lower you airfare costs, as those are expensive places to fly to.

Overland travel can be slow. There are trains in Thailand, but not really in Cambodia or Laos. I'd leave VN for another trip - you just don't have time.

It's easy to put this together on your own. Since you'll be flying into Bangkok an itinerary of Bangkok, Siem Reap and Luang Prabang would fill your two weeks quite nicely. If you want to go this Christmas, you need to get reservations soon for flights and especially for a place to stay in Luang Prabang.

jspbeutp

Kathie: Thank you so much for your advice. Do you have a suggestion for a place to stay in Luang Prabang or Siem Riep? My son wants to go to Bangkok ( I lived there 2 years in 1969 and was back 10 years ago) so he would be happy for a day or two there at the front and/or back of the trip. I'm more interested in accommodations that have some local flavor rather than a Hilton or Holiday Inn type place.

Kathie

What price range per night?

jspbeutp

Looking for hotels in a moderate price range. I haven't checked out travel guides yet (I work full time) so I have no idea what the offerings are. We can't afford luxury spots, but don't want bottom of the barrel. Looking for quirky, charming, different places to stay, clean, safe, convenient -- sometimes a tall order.

Kathie

Moderate doesn't tell us much. Dollars per night?

Here, look at these websites:
www.agoda.com
www.asiarooms.com
for places in Cambodia and Laos.

For Thailand, www.sawasdee.com as well as the two above.

Note that tax and service adds 15-18% but the booking sites often include it in their price (read the fine print to be sure). Most prices on these websites include breakfast, which is well worth it, as otherwise, hotel breakfasts are pricey ($16-20 pp), lavish buffets.