kdk1965

We are a family of 6, kids ages 15, 12, 9 and 9. Feedback is welcome and needed

Day 1--12/23--Arrive at HCMC airport at 2130. Lodging still undecided
Day 2--HCMC major sites
Day 3--Mekong Delta or more major sites
Day 4--Mekong Delta
Day 5--Mekong Delta
Day 6--Transport to Phnom Penh by river or by taxi, TBD
Day 7--PP
Day 8--PP
Day 9--Transport to Siem Reap by bus--I think-and try to see the sunset
Day 10--SR
Day 11--SR
Day 12--SR
Day 13--Return to Korea, late

I am still at the point of settling on where to spend the days. We got really good prices flying into HCMC and out of SR so that is the only thing lodged in stone at the moment.

I do want to find a good guide who is kiddo friendly and willing to answer the million questions my children like to generate. I am also willing to do it myself since I have plenty of time to read and study before we go. I have considered taking the PP time down to one full day instead of two, but am not sure about the advantages.

TBD:
1. Definite itinerary
2. Hotels/hostels?
3. transportation between major sites
4. travel agency to book Mekong Delta trip. Ideally I would like to book the tour and the trip to Cambodia at the same time. Since there are so many of us we are just about our own tour group.
5. Tour guide in Siem Reap.
6. Do I need a guide for PP?

Thanks everyone! As always, the Fodors community is the best.

rhkkmk

your hotel in SR will get a guide for you....ask in advance....ponheavy is very popular with people here....you will need a van to cart you around...make sure you note that...
cost is about $20-25 per day each...probably more for the van....

why the bus?? i would fly to save time...

Kathie

Your itinerary looks good, with a good amount of time in each place.

Bob is right, your hotel in SR can set up a driver (and guide if you wish). Usual prices are US$20-25 per day for each your driver and guide. And I agree with Bob, do ask for a van.

Usually, the best advice about arranging trips out of HCMC is to wait until you are there to book. In your case, I can certainly see that planning ahead makes sense. You should be able to arrange a Mekong Delta trip and transport to Siem Reap that is a private tour (just your family) for a reasonable price.

By the way, the Mekong Delta and Siem Reap are malarial risk areas.

thursdaysd

Sorry Bob, but I would disagree about flying PP to SR. The bus is comfortable, the road is now in pretty good shape, and you get a great look at the countryside, instead of the inside of yet-another-plane. It's also a whole lot cheaper.

kdk - lots of info on Cambodia and travel to/from/around at talesofasia.com. I used Delta Adventure Tours for a delta tour plus boat to PP, but they were fairly bare bones. Saigon Travel looked more comfortable.

kdk1965

Thanks everyone!

We won't be flying for a variety of reasons, mostly because I would rather put that money into other things. However, I also have found that it is a different experience to take alternate transportation, and dragging my children through the experiences is actually part of the fun.

We have contacted our Army doc here and he said no anti-malerials. However, he also said he is going at the end of the month to a special training on travel meds and to call back first of Nov. We'll travel with antibiotics as well.

I have been reading threads on this site about hotels and am still searching for the perfect fit. If anyone knows of a SR hotel with a pool where we can stay for under 1000.00 for the four or five nights we'll be there that would be great.

Thanks again for the help!!

KimJapan

For Siem Reap, you can easily get a room for $100.00/night with a pool. If you have 3 in each room that's 2 rooms for $1000.00. However, I would reserve very, very soon as it is peak season. Look at http://www.canbypublications.com/siemreap/srhotels.htm to start out. Bopha Angkor, La Noria, Mysteres d'Angkor are good examples of what you might find in your price range. Of course, you can spend less, or you can spend more. Many places that do not have pools do have an agreement with a nearby hotel that has a pool for guests to use it for a small fee, too, so that might be something to consider.

althom1122

It doesn't get a lot of attention here, but we stayed in Pavilion Indochine Resort in Siem Reap and enjoyed it very much. It's just $50 a night and has a nice (not large) pool. Rooms were very clean and and perfectly comfortable. I'd highly recommend it. The only downside is that it's not in town. But it's not too far either and with a driver, there's no problem getting around. It's right across the street from a wat and language training school - and a "Killing Fields" site. It's where (if you read my trip report you'll see the account - search on Karen and Julie) I had a marvelous encounter with some locals who tried to tried to teach me a little Cambodian...


Here's the link to the hotel - the pictures are an accurate depiction. A small continental breakfast is included (bread and some fruit as I remember). If you want more, you'll have to pay. The restaurant (outdoors) is pretty good.

http://www.pavillon-indochine.com/ho...-siem-reap.htm

Scotters

I would spend one more day in HCMC and limit the Mekong Delta cruise to 3 days and still end up in PP on day 6. I am sure that you can get a tour that includes the trip from Chau Doc to PP. For good mid range hotels take a look at the following (each has a pool which the kids will enjoy)
Juliana hotel - 2 superior triple at $78 each
Goldiana hotel - 2 delxe triple at $79 each
Phnom Penh Hotel - 2 deluxe triple at $100 each.

Instead of taking the bus to SR at $9 each, hire a van with driver. Should cost not much more than the bus and you can stop at any place that interests you.

In SR there are many good hotels that will cost less than $150 per night for 6 people and have a pool. In my opion a necessity after a hot and tiring visit to the temples.
A couple you might look at
Bopha Angkor (which has good reviews)
2 poolsde deluxe rooms with 2 extra beds will cost about $140. Other type rooms are cheaper.
Angkor Holiday - 2 superior triple at $104, deluxe at $152
Day Inn - somewhat more but with a few more frills - 2 deluxe triple at $180.

kdk1965

You are all awesome! I am going to start narrowing down and book hotels this week.

My biggest concern is my tendency to cram as much as possible into too few days. I purposely gave us this much time so we could spend at least part of it relaxing. So, having a pool for the kiddos is critical. I did have several friends here point out that I was devoting too much time to SR, but I assume that we will not only see the ones everyone sees but also find some less touristed.

One of our favorite things in Chiang Mai was the insect museum, in part because it was locally owned and run. Other than the land mine museum, does anyone know of similar kinds of places where we will be? I'm looking for a personal touch, as well as something a little out of the ordinary.

Thanks!!

Mary in Korea

connette

Where is the insect museum? That really sounds great. We loved the other ones we have been to in Vancouver and Costa Rica. Please tell me more.

Kathie

You will want at least that much time in Siem Reap. It takes three days to see all of the major temples. I spent a week and didn't see all of the accessible temples. And you do want to take mid-day off every day and have some time by the pool.

peacheysmokey

Kdk,

I'm going to Thailand and Cambodia Christmas time too. There is a driver in SR named Ponheary Ly that is very highly recommended on this board. We were unable to personally book her or her brother, but we are using a friend of hers. Through Ponheary, we booked the Angkor Holiday Hotel (which has a pool) for $50 a night. I can't yet personally vouch for the hotel, but it is tourist class, in town, and fairly new. Ponheary presumably gets a cut from the hotel, so I would guess you can book through her without using her guide services. Her email is [email protected]

kdk1965

The Insect Museum was one of the quirky things mentioned in a guide book. It was west of the Chiang Mai moat. If you head out as if you are going to the zoo, you will take a left down a side street. The museum is on your right.

We also have emailed Ponheary. She suggested the same hotel, which is where we will stay if she cannot arrange lodging at Bopha Angkor.

Now to arrange the Vietnam and PP time.


Mary in Korea

kdk1965

Here's a link for the museum:

http://www.travel-phuket.com/05may-museum.htm

It is NOT in phuket!

Scotters

You can get a superior room at the Angkor Holiday for as low as $34 including taxes/service charges/breakfast. A deluxe is $53. I believe Ponheary arranges hotels through a family travel agent so in some cases rates can be cheaper through a website booking agent.

connette

Mary in Korea,

Thank you for the bug museum info. It just got added to my list for our visit coming up in the next few weeks. It looks great.

kdk1965

You're welcome!
Okay, new itinerary:
Day 1--12/23--Arrive at HCMC airport at 2130. Lodging still undecided
Day 2--HCMC major sites
Day 3--more major sites, likely the tunnels and Caodai temple
Day 4--Mekong Delta
Day 5--Mekong Delta
Day 6--Transport to Phnom Penh by river or by taxi, TBD
Day 7--PP
Day 8--PP
Day 9--Transport to Siem Reap by bus--I think-and try to see the sunset
Day 10--SR
Day 11--SR
Day 12--SR
Day 13--Return to Korea, late

I was thinking about the suggestion to simply do a one day Mekong Delta tour and then having the tour company book our crossing as well. Is it possible to drive? How is the boat trip? Is it kid friendly? Mine are pretty good travellers...Then there is the question of luggage. Is it safe for me to assume that the boat will have the capability to hold several suitcases?

Is there enough to do in PP to warrant the rest of the day we travel plus another two days? Or, should we try to get to SR on Day 8, which gives us a full five days in SR?

Since we will hopefully be using Ponheary or her brother, I was considering at least part of a day at a school. For those who have done such a thing, is it better to write a check while there or carry school supplies with us?

Any suggestions for hotel in HCMC? Anything not within the usual that we shouldn't miss?

Thanks again everyone! This board is just awesome!!

Kathie

Let me answwer teh question about visiting a school... If you want to write a check or charge to your credit card, do so though www.theplf.org Otherwise, bring CASH, Ponheary has connections to get school supplies, uniforms, etc for far less than you can.

connette

Mary,

We really liked the Hotel Majestic in HCMC. It often gets good reviews on this board. We did stay there on two occasions and I will find my previous post and add it to the bottom of the email. One thing we did not do and regreted was something called the deluxe rice barge from Chau Doc to PP.
We were considering 2 nights in Can Tho, one night in Chau Doc and then the deluxe rice barge to PP. We ended up just doing day trips and flying to PP, and wish we would have done the above instead for more of a feel of the Delta area. Maybe I will get a do-over one day.

Previous post:

We really liked the Majestic in our first room. Ask for a deluxe room facing the river. It has double windows(essential) and a small balcony.
Our second stay we were upgraded to a huge suite. It was like a small apartment, but did not have double windows. It was so loud I cannot tell you. Everything was different. Bad a/c, old hard towels, bad bed - even the robes were old and rough. NOTHING like our first room. It really made me realize why you get such conflicting opinions on the same hotel. We had conflicting opinions. We also could not believe the condition of the Rex. It looked like a bad double-wide trailer inside.

Scotters

I would keep the Mekong Delta trip just as you have it with the final leg by boat from Chau Doc to Phnom Penh. An example of a 3 day tour would be
Day 1 - HCMC to Can Tho with overnight stay.
Day 2 - Can Tho to Chau Doc (overnight)
Day 3 - Chau Doc to Phnom Penh by speedboat, arriving around 14.00

Reduce your time in PP by one day as two of the sites which are highly recommended Choeung Ek (The killing Fields) and Tuol Sleng Museum (Museum of Genocide) would not be suitable for kids. Add the extra day in SR.

Also consider donnating some school supplies to a school in PP as they are more in need of them since so few tourists here as compared to SR.