Please help with this route Singapore/Seam Reap/Phuket/Singapore
Dec 17th, 2006, 07:07 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 736
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Please help with this route Singapore/Seam Reap/Phuket/Singapore
Two years ago we went on organized tour to Thailand - Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai. At that time, we did not have vacation time to extend our vacations to Seam Reap or Phuket. So this year, we have about two weeks, and we are thinking of building our vacations around seeing Angkor Vat and spending some time on the beach in Phuket. I thought of flying to Singapore, spend a few days there, and then connect to Phuket and Siem Reap. It seems simple, but I can not figure out the best and budget way to do it. I am not that familiar with Asian local airlines. I looked into Asian passes, and none of them seems particularly beneficial to us. I think one option would be to fly from Sin to Seam Reap on SilkAir, then from Siem Reap to Phuket on Bangkok Air, and then from Phuket to Sin on Silk Air again. However, this comes out costly. Are there any other options? Are there any air/hotels packages from Sin, that would be cheaper than buying separate flights?
Thank you in advance for your help!
Thank you in advance for your help!
Dec 17th, 2006, 07:22 PM
#2
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It would be easier and cheaper to fly in and out of Bangkok rather than Singapore. If you fly into Bangkok, you can buy a Discovery Pass from Bangkok Air. You would have three legs on Bangkok Air, BKK-SR, SR-PKT, PKT-BKK, which is what is required fort he airpass.
You can fly in and out of SIngapore, but the distances are longer and the flights on Silk Air are more expensive.
You can fly in and out of SIngapore, but the distances are longer and the flights on Silk Air are more expensive.
Dec 17th, 2006, 08:59 PM
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 736
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Katie, I agree with you. I picked Singapore, because we've been to Bangkok recently, and even though we loved it, I wanted to see something else. Also, Singapore Airlines has some air/hotel packages from LAX that seem very reasonable.
Dec 17th, 2006, 09:04 PM
#4
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 5,034
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
On Tuesday, Friday and Sunday, Jetstar Asia flies Singapore - Siem Reap for a very reasonable S$78.00 plus tax...coming to about US$100.00 per person all in. They also have special fares all the time that are even cheaper. Silk Air also flies this route for a bit more money.
You could also take the overnight train or bus to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore and take Air Asia to Siem Reap for next to nothing..about US$25.00 per person for the flight, plus the time and expense for getting to KL...when I figured it all out, came to about US$75.00 total if I remember correctly. In the end, we decided the savings wasn't great enough to make us go to KL to fly Air Asia, and we will use Jet Star from Singapore.
You could also take the overnight train or bus to Kuala Lumpur from Singapore and take Air Asia to Siem Reap for next to nothing..about US$25.00 per person for the flight, plus the time and expense for getting to KL...when I figured it all out, came to about US$75.00 total if I remember correctly. In the end, we decided the savings wasn't great enough to make us go to KL to fly Air Asia, and we will use Jet Star from Singapore.
Dec 18th, 2006, 03:57 AM
#6
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,751
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You have multiple choices, as everyone has said Silk Air from Singapore to Siem Reap or Tiger, both those plus Jetstar from Singapore to Phuket.
The flight time from Singapore is scheduled as 1 hr 40 but takes more like 1 hr 25 so not that much longer than from BKK. There are multiple flights SIN-Phuket (HKT) and even Silk Air offer some good deal.
If you use the budget carriers from Singapore you can get good deals but if you are doping it thru singapore Airlines 'do check' for specials with add-ons, from Australia they heavily promote the add on sectors for a 'minimal extra cost' and the deals are good.
What time of year are you planning on ?
The flight time from Singapore is scheduled as 1 hr 40 but takes more like 1 hr 25 so not that much longer than from BKK. There are multiple flights SIN-Phuket (HKT) and even Silk Air offer some good deal.
If you use the budget carriers from Singapore you can get good deals but if you are doping it thru singapore Airlines 'do check' for specials with add-ons, from Australia they heavily promote the add on sectors for a 'minimal extra cost' and the deals are good.
What time of year are you planning on ?
Dec 18th, 2006, 05:54 AM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 736
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kim, Twofortheroad, James,
Thank you so much for your help so far! I looked into JetStar and Tiger airlines, and they do look cheaper than SilkAir.
James, we would like to go in February (I hope it is not too late to book everything).
Could you please also reccommend comfortable, but not too fancy hotel on the beach in Phuket (I think, Patong beach would be good for us).
Thank you so much for your help so far! I looked into JetStar and Tiger airlines, and they do look cheaper than SilkAir.
James, we would like to go in February (I hope it is not too late to book everything).
Could you please also reccommend comfortable, but not too fancy hotel on the beach in Phuket (I think, Patong beach would be good for us).
Dec 18th, 2006, 06:40 AM
#8
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,751
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mid February is Chinese New Year (!), New year itself I 'think' is the 18th, flights up from Singapore to Phuket would be quite busy, I would certainly try and get seats booked.
I lived for years in Patong and go back frequently, I pressume you have checked the beaches, Patong is by far the busiest.
There are only a couple of places on the beach in Patong, Impiana Cabana is ok but you pay for being on the beach and the beach there is very very crowded indeed, http://www.beachsiam.com/impiana-cabana.html all the others are across the busy beach road or set up behind Patong around Soi Nanai and the Patong hills or elsewhere 'not' on the beach. There is a huge choice, what sort of budget ?
Across the road from the beach is the busyiest part are the Thara Patong, Patong beach Hotel, Holiday Inn, merlin, Club Andaman, Graceland and plenty of others.
Once you are sure you really want to stay in Patong then advise what sort of budget, and what sort of place you want to stay.
Le meridien is just south of Patong in it's own Cove which is nice but you pay for it!!
http://www.patong-beach-hotels.com gives you a place to start, being in Patong means close to the nightlife, restaurants, shopping, all complete with Mcdonalds, Starbucks, Hagen Daz and the Disney Shop, you can walk from most places otherwise tuk-tuk around. Plenty of guesthouses and budget accommodations also.
If you choose to stay at queiter beaches you can still be within around 20 mins of Patong, but again, absolute beachfront places are limited in the busy beach areas, they exist, but it's not rows of beachfront hotels / resorts at all.
Come back with budget and the sort of place you want.
I lived for years in Patong and go back frequently, I pressume you have checked the beaches, Patong is by far the busiest.
There are only a couple of places on the beach in Patong, Impiana Cabana is ok but you pay for being on the beach and the beach there is very very crowded indeed, http://www.beachsiam.com/impiana-cabana.html all the others are across the busy beach road or set up behind Patong around Soi Nanai and the Patong hills or elsewhere 'not' on the beach. There is a huge choice, what sort of budget ?
Across the road from the beach is the busyiest part are the Thara Patong, Patong beach Hotel, Holiday Inn, merlin, Club Andaman, Graceland and plenty of others.
Once you are sure you really want to stay in Patong then advise what sort of budget, and what sort of place you want to stay.
Le meridien is just south of Patong in it's own Cove which is nice but you pay for it!!
http://www.patong-beach-hotels.com gives you a place to start, being in Patong means close to the nightlife, restaurants, shopping, all complete with Mcdonalds, Starbucks, Hagen Daz and the Disney Shop, you can walk from most places otherwise tuk-tuk around. Plenty of guesthouses and budget accommodations also.
If you choose to stay at queiter beaches you can still be within around 20 mins of Patong, but again, absolute beachfront places are limited in the busy beach areas, they exist, but it's not rows of beachfront hotels / resorts at all.
Come back with budget and the sort of place you want.
Dec 18th, 2006, 07:01 AM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,751
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Sorry, I just noticed your 'comfortable but not too fancy' comment, Ok, well I don't know how that goes with prices but if you want clean and comfortable place easy and not too far from the beach and not too crowded then Coconut Village in Patong is what I call 'good value for money' del-luxe around USD 65-70, quieter part at South end of Patong, few minutes walk to the beach, you can walk into busier area easily.
If you wanted something better Club Andaman is in the USD 150 range, nice grounds, near enough to busiest part yet quieter, Graceland furth away from center, around same price for a seaview, Thara Patong around 120, Impiana 200-250, so you see why I say Cocount Village good value at USD 60-70 ! Leelawadee is about 15 mins walk to the beach at the foot of the hills, but good value around 55-60.
Kamala beach Hotel, 20 minutes North of Patong under USD 100 for seaview. Kamala Dream about 65-80, but that 80 gives you a nice studio !, good value small place.
Across from the beach at Karon the Old Phuket Hotel ( where I usualy stay these days when down there ) is about 65-95, but that top end does give you a small jacuzzi, short walk to the beach, much quieter than Patong.
Le Meridien is around the 220 range that time of year.
If you wanted something better Club Andaman is in the USD 150 range, nice grounds, near enough to busiest part yet quieter, Graceland furth away from center, around same price for a seaview, Thara Patong around 120, Impiana 200-250, so you see why I say Cocount Village good value at USD 60-70 ! Leelawadee is about 15 mins walk to the beach at the foot of the hills, but good value around 55-60.
Kamala beach Hotel, 20 minutes North of Patong under USD 100 for seaview. Kamala Dream about 65-80, but that 80 gives you a nice studio !, good value small place.
Across from the beach at Karon the Old Phuket Hotel ( where I usualy stay these days when down there ) is about 65-95, but that top end does give you a small jacuzzi, short walk to the beach, much quieter than Patong.
Le Meridien is around the 220 range that time of year.
Dec 18th, 2006, 07:04 AM
#10
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,751
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'll just add in C& N Resort, next to Leelawadee is around 40-50 a night, but bit of a steeep walk up at the front! Small pool next to the cafe area for breakfast, views over Patong. Small but clean, and cheap! ( Must not be confused with C&N Mansion on Rat-U-Thit which is budget place) but same owner.
Dec 18th, 2006, 07:06 AM
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,751
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tip: Avoid flights Friday north from Singapore to Phuket and Sunday nigth or Monday south as they tend to be very busy, you probably have better chance for a cheap fare with budget airlines mid week.
Though again do check what Singapore will charge for a Silfk Air add on ( Singapore Airlines owns Silk Air and their flights also now caary SQ flight numbers most routes, so for ticketing they are the same, so do ask about how much for that add-on ).
Though again do check what Singapore will charge for a Silfk Air add on ( Singapore Airlines owns Silk Air and their flights also now caary SQ flight numbers most routes, so for ticketing they are the same, so do ask about how much for that add-on ).
Dec 18th, 2006, 10:44 AM
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 736
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
James, thank you so much for all this information! It is so much help!
My dates are somewhat flexible, so I would like you suggestion on when to travel. Is it a good idea to be on Chinese New Year in Singapore? I have never been to Asia during Chinese New Year, so I don’t know what to expect. If this is a special experience, then I can plan around it.
Here is what I am planning to do now:
Singapore Airline has a promotional package from LAX that includes a roundtrip to SIN, then 2 nights in SIN, flight to Seam Ream, 3 nights in Seam Reap, return flight to Singapore. I can plan this so that journey is completed on Feb, 17, then stay in Singapore on Feb, 18, and then fly to Phuket on Monday or Tuesday.
What do you think?
Also, my package will include 3 nights in Angkor Vat. Should I extend it by 1 night? I think I need at least 3.5 days to see the main sights.
I have not done an extensive research on Phuket beaches. I thought that Patong would be convenient, because it is close to everything (restaurants, side trips, etc). I thought, maybe we can taxi to a nicer beach if we don’t like Patong. What is the good beach for swimming?
Thank you so much again! I almost gave up on this trip, because I was not sure how to organize it, and now I have the plan
My dates are somewhat flexible, so I would like you suggestion on when to travel. Is it a good idea to be on Chinese New Year in Singapore? I have never been to Asia during Chinese New Year, so I don’t know what to expect. If this is a special experience, then I can plan around it.
Here is what I am planning to do now:
Singapore Airline has a promotional package from LAX that includes a roundtrip to SIN, then 2 nights in SIN, flight to Seam Ream, 3 nights in Seam Reap, return flight to Singapore. I can plan this so that journey is completed on Feb, 17, then stay in Singapore on Feb, 18, and then fly to Phuket on Monday or Tuesday.
What do you think?
Also, my package will include 3 nights in Angkor Vat. Should I extend it by 1 night? I think I need at least 3.5 days to see the main sights.
I have not done an extensive research on Phuket beaches. I thought that Patong would be convenient, because it is close to everything (restaurants, side trips, etc). I thought, maybe we can taxi to a nicer beach if we don’t like Patong. What is the good beach for swimming?
Thank you so much again! I almost gave up on this trip, because I was not sure how to organize it, and now I have the plan
