Plz critique itinerary again: Bangkok, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia
Aug 24th, 2004, 10:58 PM
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Plz critique itinerary again: Bangkok, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia
Please critique Itinerary again: Bangkok, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia. (Dec 2004) Thanks!
5 nights Thailand,Bangkok (Shangri La Hotel?)
4 nights Laos, Luang Prarang
5 nights Vietnam, Hanoi (Salute Hotel?)
2 nights " , Hue
4 nights " , Hoian (Vinh Hung, Hotel?) antique room/canopy bed.
2 nights " , Danang
3 nights Cambodia, Siem Reap (Angor Wat)
5 nights Thailand, Bangkok.
Will try Justfares.com for reasonable rate round trip.
Plan to book BKK airdiscovery pass through a travel agent in Bangkok and get visas via the travel agent. Will try Priceline for Bangkok hotels. We like reasonable, charming hotels. Thank you again for your comments.
5 nights Thailand,Bangkok (Shangri La Hotel?)
4 nights Laos, Luang Prarang
5 nights Vietnam, Hanoi (Salute Hotel?)
2 nights " , Hue
4 nights " , Hoian (Vinh Hung, Hotel?) antique room/canopy bed.
2 nights " , Danang
3 nights Cambodia, Siem Reap (Angor Wat)
5 nights Thailand, Bangkok.
Will try Justfares.com for reasonable rate round trip.
Plan to book BKK airdiscovery pass through a travel agent in Bangkok and get visas via the travel agent. Will try Priceline for Bangkok hotels. We like reasonable, charming hotels. Thank you again for your comments.
Aug 25th, 2004, 06:18 AM
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Bkk air has a toll free no in the US. It is 866-226-4565. Each leg is $50 + tax. Ask for details. They fly Cambodia but not Vietnam unforturnately. I am also planning a big SE Asia trip. Too many choices.
Aug 25th, 2004, 07:59 AM
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Mohan, actually Bangkok Air does have a flight into VN. The $50 legs are domestic only, the international legs are more. They also have a Heritage pass that goes in a circle to all the worlld heritage sites they fly to (Siem Reap, Luang Prabang, Hue, Sukothai).
Aug 25th, 2004, 08:51 AM
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If you're staying in Hoi An for 4 nights there is no real reason to stay in Danang -- they are very very near each other. I would go spend those two nights someplace else -- perhaps Nha Trang which is lovely or Dalat.
Aug 25th, 2004, 10:11 AM
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Kathie: Customer service at BKK air said they stopped flying to Vietnam several months ago. They don't have the heritage pass but they have something called the discovery pass. There is no mention of either pass on the website. When I asked if I could go up to the office, the answer was 'no'.
Aug 25th, 2004, 04:19 PM
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Hi. I'm not sure what other input you've had. But what are you going to do in Luang Prabang for four nights. It is an amazing little place ... but unless you're going to do some hiking or something, I wouldn't recommend more than a couple of days there, as it is very small.
In Bangkok, Shangri La Hotel is good. Its very big, and therefore a bit impersonal but it is the location which I adore. Right on the river, where you can eat outside, you can take river tours and long tailed boat trips from there to get to the Grand Palace etc easily. My personal favourite hotel in Bangkok is however the Sukhothai Hotel. It is beautiful and serene, wonderful architecture and interior design.
And finally, if you are going to Cambodia, then why not add on a night or two in Phnom Penh too? It is a lovely little city, with an amazing history.
I'm assuming you have a great itinerary for Bangkok? Yell if you need any more advice.
In Bangkok, Shangri La Hotel is good. Its very big, and therefore a bit impersonal but it is the location which I adore. Right on the river, where you can eat outside, you can take river tours and long tailed boat trips from there to get to the Grand Palace etc easily. My personal favourite hotel in Bangkok is however the Sukhothai Hotel. It is beautiful and serene, wonderful architecture and interior design.
And finally, if you are going to Cambodia, then why not add on a night or two in Phnom Penh too? It is a lovely little city, with an amazing history.
I'm assuming you have a great itinerary for Bangkok? Yell if you need any more advice.
Aug 25th, 2004, 07:01 PM
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mohan, sorry to hear that Bangkok Air has stopped their service to VN.
LindaNZ, there is plenty to do in Luang Prabang (even without treking). I spent a week there and loved every minute. On the other hand, I wouldn't go out of my way to go to PP, Cambodia. To each their own, I guess.
LindaNZ, there is plenty to do in Luang Prabang (even without treking). I spent a week there and loved every minute. On the other hand, I wouldn't go out of my way to go to PP, Cambodia. To each their own, I guess.
Aug 25th, 2004, 07:05 PM
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Hi Isis-Which Vinh Hung are you staying at in Hoi An? There are 3 and no.2 is not good. The original is supposed to be where Michael Caine stayed when he made the movie, The Quiet American. No. 2 has a dirty pool, rude staff, lumpy beds and power failures! We lasted one night and got out of there quick. There are some lovely cheap hotels in Hoi An like Cua Dai Hotel on the Cua Dai beach Rd Us30 per night. It is a lovely old hotel and in a great spot not right in town but 5 mins walk to everything. There is a really nice travel agent next door who can organise trips to My Son & taxi for US5 to the airport. Don't miss Kimijan restaurant (Viet-French Cuisine-magic stuff at 30 Nguyen Thai Hoc in Hoi An). Danang is a hole of a place imho. Spend 3 nts in Hue at the Saigon Morin hotel and 5 in Hoi An. Sounds like a great trip plan to me! Have a ball!!
Aug 25th, 2004, 07:12 PM
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My husband and i also enjoyed our 3 days in LP tremendously. Do not know if you enjoy adventure sports but they have a couple of travel agencies who organize 1 day trips. We went sea kayaking - to the Pak Ou caves actually. The caves themselves were IMO nothing great but the kayaking was great. Cost is US$25 per head and was a day we really enjoyed. We also spent a day cycling and a day at the waterfall.
Oct 27th, 2004, 02:49 AM
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Finalized the itinerary. Thanks to all.
VSP Travel Agency in BKK helped book airline flights for us. The agency will help us obtain visas when we arrive in BKK but because there is a holiday on 12/10/04, there will be a delay in obtaining our Visas so we are spending more time in BKK at the beginning of the trip.
7 nights BKK - Grand Inn, Soi 3
3 nights Chaing Rai - Waing Inn, planning two day tour hill tribes.
1 night Chaing Mai - Suriwongse, just plan to shop one day in Chaing Mai
4 nights Luang Prabang - Sala Prabang
2 nights Siem Reap - Red Piano
(it's during the holidays so difficult to book outgoing flights)
5 nights Hanoi - Salute Hotel
2 nights Hue - Dong Loi Hotel
2 nights Danang - hotel?
(my husband previously lived in Danang)
3 nights Hoi Ann - Ving Hung1 Special Room (the room where Michael Caine stayed in the movie the Quiet American)
3 nights Saigon - Rex Hotel, nostalgic hotel with roof top bar
1 night BKK
Now to do detailed itinerary for sightseeing. Previously visited BKK and Chaing Mai last year.
VSP Travel Agency in BKK helped book airline flights for us. The agency will help us obtain visas when we arrive in BKK but because there is a holiday on 12/10/04, there will be a delay in obtaining our Visas so we are spending more time in BKK at the beginning of the trip.
7 nights BKK - Grand Inn, Soi 3
3 nights Chaing Rai - Waing Inn, planning two day tour hill tribes.
1 night Chaing Mai - Suriwongse, just plan to shop one day in Chaing Mai
4 nights Luang Prabang - Sala Prabang
2 nights Siem Reap - Red Piano
(it's during the holidays so difficult to book outgoing flights)
5 nights Hanoi - Salute Hotel
2 nights Hue - Dong Loi Hotel
2 nights Danang - hotel?
(my husband previously lived in Danang)
3 nights Hoi Ann - Ving Hung1 Special Room (the room where Michael Caine stayed in the movie the Quiet American)
3 nights Saigon - Rex Hotel, nostalgic hotel with roof top bar
1 night BKK
Now to do detailed itinerary for sightseeing. Previously visited BKK and Chaing Mai last year.
Oct 27th, 2004, 04:11 AM
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IsisMnroe:
I would have the Bangkok time loaded into the end of my trip and here is why- do you guys love shopping? Well there is no better place to shop than Bangkok.
All of your Bangkok time is front loaded which means you will be lugging all those purchases all through Asia- you don't want to do that. Better to do the major shopping at the end of your trip- load up till your suitacases are full and then blow town
I would have the Bangkok time loaded into the end of my trip and here is why- do you guys love shopping? Well there is no better place to shop than Bangkok.
All of your Bangkok time is front loaded which means you will be lugging all those purchases all through Asia- you don't want to do that. Better to do the major shopping at the end of your trip- load up till your suitacases are full and then blow town
Oct 27th, 2004, 04:37 AM
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The other option is u spend your last night in the same as your first few and leave your shopping with them in a locked bag in left luggage - most hotels will offer such a service, Bkk hotels are normally great!
Oct 27th, 2004, 02:12 PM
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Yes, wanted to stay in Bangkok more days at the tail end and stay at Shangri La but next time will try to get the Visas from here rather than BKK.
I plan to store my luggage at the same hotel in BKK; they will let me store luggage for one week and if it is more than one week I have to negotiate with the hotel but I am willing to pay for storage at the hotel. I do like to shop.
Now reading comments on Visas so I can be prepared on my next trip. It says I can get Visa in Laos on arrival and Visa in Cambodia on arrival so it looks like I would have had to arrange Vietnam visa in advance from here. I get better and better and more experience the more we travel.
Thank you for your comments!
I plan to store my luggage at the same hotel in BKK; they will let me store luggage for one week and if it is more than one week I have to negotiate with the hotel but I am willing to pay for storage at the hotel. I do like to shop.
Now reading comments on Visas so I can be prepared on my next trip. It says I can get Visa in Laos on arrival and Visa in Cambodia on arrival so it looks like I would have had to arrange Vietnam visa in advance from here. I get better and better and more experience the more we travel.
Thank you for your comments!
Oct 27th, 2004, 05:49 PM
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i would not worry about any one week rule for luggage storage...just give the bellman a good tip when you leave it and when you pick it up...they could care less...i wouldn't leave it there for a month or more but two weeks should be fine...
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