cjp2148

Hi Everyone, hoping you can help and provide some advice and insights for me.

Myself and 2 friends (Americans, females, mid 20s, only speak English) are planning a week long trip to Asia this winter/spring 2015. None of us have been. We realize that a week is not a lot of time, but unfortunately we're all new in our corporate jobs and just can't take off more time.

We are open to anywhere in Asia as we haven't been. We're trying to figure out what would be the best thing to do for a week, spend all the time in 1 city or area, or try to fit more in. Is there a country or city you recommend for a first trip to Asia? What would be a good plan for just 1 week?

Something I was thinking is China, perhaps Hong Kong, Beijing and Great Wall. Or Thailand and Cambodia?

I understand this is a very broad question, but we are in the very early stages of planning and any advice is much appreciated! Thank you!

Kathie

With just a week, and given that this is your first trip to Asia, I'd recommend that you choose one country. I usually recommend Thailand as it has such good infrastructure and the people are so welcoming. If you really must make more than one stop, you could combine Bangkok with Siem Reap Cambodia. BUT - do you have a full week - 7 or 8 nights on the ground in Asia or will part of that be taken up with travel time?

You don't say where you are coming from, but if it is US or Canada or Mexico, you will have a day for night time change you also have to consider.

Also, if budget is a consideration, Hong Kong is one of the most expensive destinations in Asia, while Thailand and Cambodia are very moderately priced.

If you want to consider A Thailand/Cambodia trip, do a bit of research on the temples at Angkor. I highly recommend Dawn Rooney's book, Angkor: A Guide to Cambodia's Wondrous Temples. It takes three full days (4 nights) to visit just the major temples. I don't think it's worth the expensive flight to get there if you aren't interested in the temples.

laurie_ann

With only a week I would start with where, if anywhere, in Asia I could fly nonstop from home. That might limit you to some cities like Tokyo, Beijing, Shanghai or Hong Kong. But have a look. Otherwise the connection time and the further flight segment can eat up a half day (or more) each way. And consider to stay in one city for the week with a day trip or two out. More time savings without necessarily compromising getting a variety of experiences in a single trip.

cjp2148

Thanks so much Kathie! We would have a full week on the ground and we're coming from NYC. Thanks for that book suggestion, I'm going to start researching Thailand and Cambodia.

Have you ever taken the bus or train from Bangkok to Cambodia?

What are your thoughts on Vietnam in a week?

I know I have a lot more research to do, but I love hearing people's personal thoughts!

Kathie

No train from Bangkok to Cambodia. You could get as far as the Cambodian border on a train from Bangkok, but then you'd need to hire a taxi to get you to Siem Reap. Many scams for the unwary at that border crossing and you would use up a whole day doing it. If you decide to go to Cambodia from Bangkok you really must fly given your very short time.

VN for a week - well, again, your time is very limited. You could fly into Hanoi and spend a week there and the surrounding area., but with just a week you don't want to try to "tour" VN. One problem with VN is how long it would take you to get there from NYC - you want to try for a flight that has just one stop between NYC and your destination. Such flights do exist, but you'll find many more flights with two or more stops between NYC and Hanoi.

kja

You might consider either (a) spending the entire time in Beijing (which has more than enough to keep you busy for that length of time) or (b) skip Beijing entirely until you can give it more time. If you are considering Beijing, do give some thought to what it's pollution means for you. For some information about that, see:
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...y-that-bad.cfm

LancasterLad

<<<Have you ever taken the bus or train from Bangkok to Cambodia?>>>

I've taken the train in the opposite direction.

There are 2 trains a day in either direction between Bangkok (Hualamphong) and Aranyapraphet. Aranyapraphet is a town about 5 miles on the Thai side of the border.

Cost of a train ticket for the 6 hour 3rd Class only trip is the ridiculous sum of 48 baht (forty-eight). Full of local colour and flavour, and over 40 short stops along the way. It was one of the highlights of our 5 weeks Thailand and Cambodia trip last year.

You'll find details on the Seat61 website.

As Kathie mentions above, the Border at Poipet has a dubious reputation for all sorts of scams.

We'd just had a almost 3 weeks in Cambodia, and clued ourselves up well before about what to expect.

Immediately before, we'd been staying in Battambang (recommended) for a few days. We got a taxi (an hour or so) to the border at Poipet, arriving at 0945. On arrival we were approached by a few touts. We simply ignored them, and headed on foot to Cambodian Immigration. Only a short queue. No hassle. Then a five minute walk through 'no-mans' land to Thai Immigration, and into Thailand.

Took about 30 minutes in total, and far easier than we'd expected.

We'd already decided to get the train to Bangkok, and also to have have a couple of nights in Aranyapraphet beforehand. Then catch the early morning train. So we simply took a tuk tuk to where we were staying (Market Motel). Had 2 nights there, and got a tuk tuk to the train station for the 0640 train to Bangkok.

Aranyapraphet is a typical non-touristy frontier town. Not over interesting, but with enough to see for a day or so, and the Market Motel was very good vfm.

Aranyapraphet train station is a terminus, so there were plenty of seats available on the train. Even though it was a 3rd Class train, it was very clean, and the toilets functioned. No A/C, but the fans worked well and all the windows were open so there was a constant warm breeze. We sat in the rear carriage where all the monks sit.

Loved it!

crellston

With just a week on the ground don't even think about taking the Aranyabprathet train/bus route into Cambodia. It just takes too much time. LL is right the train ride is great but is offset by the time issues and the border scams which are a real PITA.

A week not long but if you can hit the ground running then I would either spend 3 nights in Bangkok where there is loads to see followed by some beach time either in southern Thailand or if temples interest you then Cambodia and Angkor Wat ( but do fly!)

I am currently in Hanoi where there is a lot to see albeit not as many prominent sights as Bangkok. More than enough to keep you intersted for a few days. The food is amazing. We have just returned from a weeks trekking around Ninh Binh and Cuc Phuong national park. Easily reached from Hanoi and amongst the most beautiful scenery I have seen in Asia. Easy to arrange on the ground with an agent in Hanoi or in advance if you prefer.

Good luck with your research!

LancasterLad

Crellston. Yep, there's no way I'd go down the train route if time was an issue, but I just thought I'd post our train experience, and how we felt about the border at Poipet.

I think the scam issues are only really bad for people who haven't done their homework properly. And it's definitely worst when entering Cambodia at Poipet rather than leaving there back into Thailand.

In the future if we decide to go in the 'wrong' direction then I'd definitely get an e-visa beforehand.

Travelling overland is fabulous, and gets you close to the people.

Glad you're enjoying your adventure.

LancasterLad

Now I've said that, and had a quiet think.

Catching the 0555 train from Hualamphong will get you into Aranyapraphet between 1130-1230.

On a good day, and providing you've done your homework properly, you could have cleared Poipet, had a good run in a taxi, and be in your hotel in Siem Reap by 1600ish. You'd have had a great Thai/Camodian experience.

On the other hand, flying from Bangkok to Siem Reap/Phnom Penh, when you take getting to and from the airport, checking in, hanging around, possible delays, and the flight into consideration takes at least half a day and probably longer.

So there's isn't going to be a lot of time difference between rail/road and flying.

But the best thing to do is to have a longer trip, so that rushing around just to tick boxes doesn't become an issue.

Kathie

Actually, there is a lot of time difference between flying and the train/road to Siem Reap. There are early flights from Bangkok, and you can be in Siem Reap and settled in your hotel before 10 am. The best you can hope for by train/road, as LL says is to get to Siem Reap by 4 pm.

Also, note that the big scams are at the Thailand to Cambodia crossing, the Cambodia to Thailand crossing is not so scam-infested. To prepare for the border crossing, I always recommend reading www.talesofasia.com I'd suggest you read it in any case.

LancasterLad

Swings and roundabouts Kathie.

If tou want to be in your Siem Reap hotel by 1000, what time do you have to set your alarm in your hotel in Bangkok?

Probably at about 0400. And if you want a good night's kip beforehand then you have to forego a good nightout.

LancasterLad

And is the destination more important than the journey? For me it's often the latter, especially in-country.

I've paid a small fortune to get there from Europe at 40,000 feet, so I want to experience the destination at the same level as the people that live there.

Kathie

To each one's own, LL.

crellston

LL I share your preference for train, or any non air travel for that matter! Despite the scams or attempts at scams, we found it to be a pleasant was a pleasant enough trip to Aranyabprahtet sharing a carriage with a variety of friendly Thais. However, the drive through to Siem Reap did not seem that engaging, dull, dusty and very flat from what I recall and not a great deal to see along the way. Not agreat intro for a first time trip to Asia.

Incidentally, we start of on the first stage of our trip from Hanoi to Saigon on the "Reunification Express" tomorrow night -should prove intersting!

back toy our original question cjp. Have you considered Laos? A lot less developed than most countries in Indochina, a trip to Luang Prabang along with Bangkok would be a nice balance as there is plenty of stuff you can do around LP as well as the city itself which is very pretty with loads of temples.

cmstraf

What about one stop New York-San Francisco-Kansai airport, then take a 50 minute train to Kyoto and spend the week there?

marmot

Could you narrow in on your travel dates, or could it be any time between January and May? The weather may make a difference in your choice of destination.

Also, what interests you most? Culture like arts & crafts, performing arts, architecture & ancient monuments, religious temples & ceremonies; Nature and adventure like, beach tim,e trekking, water sports; Wellness like spas, retreats, yoga; shopping, eating, clubbing?

In a week's time you could pair one city - plus one non-urban environment. My choices would be Bangkok or Singapore along with Angkor, Bali or South Thailand.

Bali, both n the Ubud area and at the southern beaches, is a particularly good in combination with Singapore. You could also add-on Central Java -- Yogyakarta and Borobudur. Indonesia ia a particularly good value right now as the dollar is very strong and probably will be into the first half of 2015. I wouldn't recommend Bali's beaches In January/February, though, as this is the rainy season.

LancasterLad

@Crellston<<<However, the drive through to Siem Reap did not seem that engaging, dull, dusty and very flat from what I recall and not a great deal to see along the way. Not agreat intro for a first time trip to Asia.>>>

From the border at Poipet it's only 75 minutes (US$35) by taxi to Battambang. It's firmly on the tourist trail, but much less visited than SR or PP. Surrounded by glorious countryside. We finished off there for 5 nights, but it's just as easy to start there, and then move on to Siem Reap (or elsewhere). Easy to do, but it all comes down to having the time available to do it, and too many people don't have the time.

silverwool

Definitely don't try and go overland from Bangkok to Cambodia. My daughter does it regularly without any hassles but she speaks Cambodian. She's always amused at how the touts try and keep her away from the backpackers once they realise she knows the ropes. Flying is very easy and would normally be a lot quicker. Also you'll find plenty of good guesthouses in the $20 - $30 range. (This is including own facilities, aircon etc - maybe a bit more if you want a pool.)

Luang Prabang is also worth considering in conjunction with Bangkok.

LancasterLad

Touts do their business speaking quite good english.

Dealing with scammers and hassle is par for the course all over SE Asia. You need to know how to deal with the problem, and it's not difficult, it's called homework. Then brush these people off your shoulder by completely ignoring them. They quickly know they're wasting their time, and will carry on to the next mug.

All you need to know is at the touch of a button. These took me seconds to find...

http://www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Travel-...A.Warning.html

http://tripologist.com/south-east-as...border-poipet/

So hey-presto, we're now fully clued up on how to deal with the Poipet Border. There'll be plenty more along the way through Cambodia.

Overland [by train] is a great way to travel providing time is on your side, and the 3rd Class train to Aranyapraphet will leave lasting memories. The only memory of my last flight is of the poor cabin crew having to deal with irate passengers because the latter couldn't find anywhere to stow their hand luggage.