Thailand + Laos + Cambodia in 4 weeks?
Apr 23rd, 2006, 10:25 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thailand + Laos + Cambodia in 4 weeks?
Hey everyone,
I think this is my first actual post on this site, so hello! My boyfriend and I are going to SEA this summer. We have already decided that we want to do Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang in Laos, and an island. Thing is, thanks to Karen (althom1122)'s amazing trip to SEA I now really want to add Cambodia (Angkor Wat) to the list but my boyfriend is against it. he thinks it would be too much to pack into our 4 weeks.
What do you guys think? is that too much to pack into four weeks? Also, does anyone know what price the flight is to Siem Reap from Thailand? We'll probably be on a tight budget.
Also... seeing as I have your attention
.... how easy is it once you're in thailand to book flights to laos or an island etc. Is it hard to find a travel agent that speaks english? or could we book them online? I have been trying to learn some basic thai, but not sure it will work over there
Thank you all so much! I LOVE everyone's trip journals so i will be sure to post mine when we get back
I think this is my first actual post on this site, so hello! My boyfriend and I are going to SEA this summer. We have already decided that we want to do Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Luang Prabang in Laos, and an island. Thing is, thanks to Karen (althom1122)'s amazing trip to SEA I now really want to add Cambodia (Angkor Wat) to the list but my boyfriend is against it. he thinks it would be too much to pack into our 4 weeks.
What do you guys think? is that too much to pack into four weeks? Also, does anyone know what price the flight is to Siem Reap from Thailand? We'll probably be on a tight budget.
Also... seeing as I have your attention
.... how easy is it once you're in thailand to book flights to laos or an island etc. Is it hard to find a travel agent that speaks english? or could we book them online? I have been trying to learn some basic thai, but not sure it will work over thereThank you all so much! I LOVE everyone's trip journals so i will be sure to post mine when we get back
Apr 23rd, 2006, 10:59 AM
#2
Thanks so much, Irish, for your comments on my trip report.
We did our trip in just three weeks and, although we didn't have any beach time, we went everywhere you're going, PLUS Mae Hong Son (which with just two days seemed rushed). So with FOUR weeks and not doing MHS, I think you could do it pretty easily.
Something like this would be how I'd lay it out:
5 days Bangkok
4 days Chiang Mai
3-4 days Luang Prabang
3-4 days Siem Reap
6-7 days at the beach
Last couple of days back in BKK
If you're going to do this many flights, suggest looking into the Bangkok Airways Discovery Pass. Don't forget my advice about the Luang Prabang flights (from Chiang Mai, at least) not being daily so you'll need to carefully plan your itinerary.
Scotters is the expert on this board on flights, so hopefully he can help with your questions on booking flights. The ones to Siem Reap get fairly booked, I think - although there are many every day.
English isn't a problem - virtually everyone involved in the travel industry speaks at least enough that you can get by. It was amazing to me how widely spoken English is - makes it so easy to get around and make arrangements. Good luck - you'll have a ball. And we'll expect a trip report! Feel free to ask us lots of questions in the meantime.
Karen
We did our trip in just three weeks and, although we didn't have any beach time, we went everywhere you're going, PLUS Mae Hong Son (which with just two days seemed rushed). So with FOUR weeks and not doing MHS, I think you could do it pretty easily.
Something like this would be how I'd lay it out:
5 days Bangkok
4 days Chiang Mai
3-4 days Luang Prabang
3-4 days Siem Reap
6-7 days at the beach
Last couple of days back in BKK
If you're going to do this many flights, suggest looking into the Bangkok Airways Discovery Pass. Don't forget my advice about the Luang Prabang flights (from Chiang Mai, at least) not being daily so you'll need to carefully plan your itinerary.
Scotters is the expert on this board on flights, so hopefully he can help with your questions on booking flights. The ones to Siem Reap get fairly booked, I think - although there are many every day.
English isn't a problem - virtually everyone involved in the travel industry speaks at least enough that you can get by. It was amazing to me how widely spoken English is - makes it so easy to get around and make arrangements. Good luck - you'll have a ball. And we'll expect a trip report! Feel free to ask us lots of questions in the meantime.
Karen
Apr 23rd, 2006, 11:19 AM
#3
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 6,664
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think you can do it all in 4 weeks, but if time is an issue, I would skip Luang Prabang and add Cambodia. angkor Wat really is unique. I agree with karen that you should look at a Bangkok Air discovery pass. They are the only airline from BKK to Siem Riep and by using the pass you save a fair amount. It takes at least three legs to make up a pass, but since you're going to a beach, you can include those legs to either Phuket or Ko samui. Chiang Mai as well for that matter. I think the international legs are $90 and the domestic legs $70. You call a number in NYC, make the reservations and then send them a certified check. It's simple and reliable.
Apr 23rd, 2006, 12:34 PM
#4
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It will pay you get to a Discovery Pass, which you MUST do before departing to SE Asia. I'm an advocate of slow travel, but I do think you could manage the kind of schedule outlined by Althom (Karen). That is 5 locations in four weeks, which is manageable.
Apr 23rd, 2006, 07:47 PM
#5
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 29,053
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the flight to LP or SR on its own is quite expensive---like $275 each round trip...with discover they were on $80 each way but i think that has now increased to $90...
do not leave booking them until you get there as the discovery pass has to be booked and paid for in usa...
some other flights are easy to book in thailand but you may not get the dates and times you want...
do not leave booking them until you get there as the discovery pass has to be booked and paid for in usa...
some other flights are easy to book in thailand but you may not get the dates and times you want...
Apr 23rd, 2006, 09:36 PM
#6
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 187
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
http://www.fodors.com/forums_reg/thr...ect.jsp?fid=27
Asia We found that it is cheaper to buy tickets while in Thailand for surrounding areas, and there are travel agencies where english is spoken. Bangkok Air and Thai Airways have special coupons you can purchase for a reasonable price. Siem Reap is wonderful, and you can travel there from any of the areas you mentioned. Good luck!
Asia We found that it is cheaper to buy tickets while in Thailand for surrounding areas, and there are travel agencies where english is spoken. Bangkok Air and Thai Airways have special coupons you can purchase for a reasonable price. Siem Reap is wonderful, and you can travel there from any of the areas you mentioned. Good luck!
Apr 23rd, 2006, 09:46 PM
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
wow that discovery pass sounds amazing! thank you so much everyone. i discussed it again with the boy and he's just a little nervous about safety in Cambodia. i told him SR is just as safe as LP or BK so here's hoping i can twist his arm thank you all again so much! i love this forum.
thank you all again so much! i love this forum.
Apr 24th, 2006, 06:38 AM
#9
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Irish, recommend that your friend do some reading. I expect that he is reacting to reports of Cambodia not being a sfe destination back in the 1990s, when so many landmines were present and the Khmer Rouge was still in power.
Apr 24th, 2006, 08:55 AM
#10
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 47
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hi-- You may want to look at my recent posting, "36 custom tour to SE Asia." We did Thailand, Myanmar, Laos, VN & Cambodia in that timeframe, without any problem.
From a practical standpoint,considering your budget, keep in mind the Int'l departure A/P taxes. Cambodia is thre highest @ $25 ea. Also, a 3 day pass to Angkor Wat is $40 ea---and you'll probabaly want to spend that much time to see ALL the ruins, especially Ta Prohm. Also, the visa costs of $30(Laos) & $20 (Cambodia) per person. Cambodia, and ALL the countries were totally safe. You'll love it, especially, the young children.
Last thing, before you decide----you may want to get recommended vaccinations & Maleria med, which you may not have considered.
So, put aside a couple hundred extra bucks, go, and enjoy.
From a practical standpoint,considering your budget, keep in mind the Int'l departure A/P taxes. Cambodia is thre highest @ $25 ea. Also, a 3 day pass to Angkor Wat is $40 ea---and you'll probabaly want to spend that much time to see ALL the ruins, especially Ta Prohm. Also, the visa costs of $30(Laos) & $20 (Cambodia) per person. Cambodia, and ALL the countries were totally safe. You'll love it, especially, the young children.
Last thing, before you decide----you may want to get recommended vaccinations & Maleria med, which you may not have considered.
So, put aside a couple hundred extra bucks, go, and enjoy.
Apr 24th, 2006, 02:21 PM
#11
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Certainly in 4 weeks you have time to visit Bangkok/Chiang Mai/ Luang Prabang/Siem Reap and a beach place. Karen's suggested route is a good suggestion. The Bangkok Air Pass as mentioned can save you some money but you have to be careful on the routes that you chose. With taxes/fuel charges the $90 international coupon becomes $117 and the domestic either 59.50 or 69.50. It can be used for Lao Airline flights also but their normal fares are usually cheaper. Here is a rough outline of the plane fares to the various places and a suggested sequence
Bangkok/Chiang Mai
Bangkok and Thai airlines are $66 and $69. Pass $60. Discount Airlines run between $36 to $40. If you booked Air Asia now for August flights you can get a fare as low as $25. But be aware that on discount airlines the the baggage allowance is very strict and a lot lower than regular flights.
Chiang Mai/Luang Prabang
Lao airlines flies tues/fri/sun only. Cost $80. Pass would be $117
Luang Prabang/Bangkok/SiemReap/Bangkok
Regular fare on Bangkok Airlines would be $137+$258 = $395 The pass will cost $117x3 = $351. You leave LP in the early afternoon, stop over at bangkok for 2 hours and connect to 6pm flight to SR.
Total cost about $491 excluding airport taxes 1000 baht in Thailand, $25 Cambodia and Laos $10. If you use a discount airline from BK/CM it could be up to $35 less.
I have not included a flight cost to a beach as you will have to deceide which one.
Hopes this helps in your planning
Bangkok/Chiang Mai
Bangkok and Thai airlines are $66 and $69. Pass $60. Discount Airlines run between $36 to $40. If you booked Air Asia now for August flights you can get a fare as low as $25. But be aware that on discount airlines the the baggage allowance is very strict and a lot lower than regular flights.
Chiang Mai/Luang Prabang
Lao airlines flies tues/fri/sun only. Cost $80. Pass would be $117
Luang Prabang/Bangkok/SiemReap/Bangkok
Regular fare on Bangkok Airlines would be $137+$258 = $395 The pass will cost $117x3 = $351. You leave LP in the early afternoon, stop over at bangkok for 2 hours and connect to 6pm flight to SR.
Total cost about $491 excluding airport taxes 1000 baht in Thailand, $25 Cambodia and Laos $10. If you use a discount airline from BK/CM it could be up to $35 less.
I have not included a flight cost to a beach as you will have to deceide which one.
Hopes this helps in your planning
Apr 24th, 2006, 09:00 PM
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Everyone, thank you so much for your help. Scotters, thanks a million for detailing the prices of tickets not on the discovery pass. I was wondering how much they would cost. Do you suggest, even if we don't go for the discovery pass, to buy the tickets here or once we get there? I think we're definitely going to add Cambodia into the trip as long as we have the money For beaches we're thinking Samui or possibly that Nangyuan Island that I saw posted somewhere.
For beaches we're thinking Samui or possibly that Nangyuan Island that I saw posted somewhere.
Apr 25th, 2006, 01:04 AM
#13
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 194
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm pretty sure that with a Bangkok Airways Discovery airpass, you can fly direct from Siem Reap to Luang Prabang and from Luang Prabang to Chiang Mai using their affiliated carriers. I've just realised that Scotters has given you the cost breakdown between using the pass on the Luang Prabang - Chiang Mai leg and the affiliated carrier themselves (Lao). Perhaps he knows the cost of Siem Reap to Luang Prabang using the affiliated carrier on that route.
We spent five weeks going to all the same places in your plan, plus several days in Mae Hong Son but minus the beach and I found that I could have done with more time in each place. However, having said that I wouldn't have wanted to miss any of the places we went to! There is so much to see and do that the temptation is try to fit it all in and that's when it starts to feel a bit rushed and packed. Also, I imagine that it will be very hot in summer and so pacing yourselves will be fundamental.
I think Karen's suggestion of how to apportion the days would probably work well. You might have to juggle the days a bit for flights etc.
Another consideration is having the malarial zones in sequence in terms of not having to take the antimalarials for so long.
Whatever, with all the helpful advice you get from the kind people of this forum you will have fun planning what will be a great trip!
We spent five weeks going to all the same places in your plan, plus several days in Mae Hong Son but minus the beach and I found that I could have done with more time in each place. However, having said that I wouldn't have wanted to miss any of the places we went to! There is so much to see and do that the temptation is try to fit it all in and that's when it starts to feel a bit rushed and packed. Also, I imagine that it will be very hot in summer and so pacing yourselves will be fundamental.
I think Karen's suggestion of how to apportion the days would probably work well. You might have to juggle the days a bit for flights etc.
Another consideration is having the malarial zones in sequence in terms of not having to take the antimalarials for so long.
Whatever, with all the helpful advice you get from the kind people of this forum you will have fun planning what will be a great trip!
Apr 25th, 2006, 05:56 AM
#14
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Note that if you are going to Samui, Bangkok Air is the only carrier, so you'll definitely want their Discovery Pass.
Also, some people are fine with flying Lao Aviation, others will take extra time to avoid Lao flights. In the past, Lao Aviation had lots of "incidents" with their old Chinese-built and Russian-built planes. I still wouldn't fly any route that uses those old planes (which I don't believe are used on any international flights any more).
Also, some people are fine with flying Lao Aviation, others will take extra time to avoid Lao flights. In the past, Lao Aviation had lots of "incidents" with their old Chinese-built and Russian-built planes. I still wouldn't fly any route that uses those old planes (which I don't believe are used on any international flights any more).
Apr 25th, 2006, 07:35 AM
#15
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There are no direct flights between Siem Reap and Luang Prabang. You have to fly to Vientiane and make connections there. Flying from SR you can get to LP in the same day. The reverse, you have to spend a night in Vientiane as the flight leaves at 6.30 am to SR.
Laos is a lot safer now since they got rid of the Chinese/Russian built planes.
Laos is a lot safer now since they got rid of the Chinese/Russian built planes.
Apr 25th, 2006, 07:39 AM
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
you guys are amazing. one other thing (sorry if i'm being annoying) but I read somewhere that you can only get a visa for Laos from the vientienne airport or the friendship bridge border, is that right? I know it would probably be better to get our visas over here, but as we are leaving in approx 1 month I'm not sure we would have time..
Apr 25th, 2006, 08:17 AM
#17
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,100
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
irishcheer21 - I made a mistake when I said there were no direct flights between LP and SR. At least in the winter season they show a flight on tues/thurs/sat to SR. I don't know if they operate this in the summer. If they do you can propably use the pass at $117. I don't know what their regular fare is. A funny thing is that they show no flight SR tO LP.
You can get a visa at both airports costing $30-31 for 15 days.
You can get a visa at both airports costing $30-31 for 15 days.
Apr 25th, 2006, 08:54 AM
#19
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 33,288
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You can get a Lao visa at the airport at Luang Prabang as well, and there are several other land borders that offer visas as well. Make sure you bring passport pics for your visas to Cambodia and Laos, and one for the Angkor pass as well.
Apr 26th, 2006, 02:38 AM
#20
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2006
Posts: 35
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
you guys are amazing. i wish there was another way to thank you. i guess a trip report will have to do The Discovery Pass people aren't being the most responsive through email but I will definitely let everyone know what we decide flightwise etc. And I think visas at the airport will be the way to go with such little time left before our trip (so excited!!). Thank you all again so much.
The Discovery Pass people aren't being the most responsive through email but I will definitely let everyone know what we decide flightwise etc. And I think visas at the airport will be the way to go with such little time left before our trip (so excited!!). Thank you all again so much.
