roosevelt

I am interested in advice on tour companies in Vietnam and Cambodia. I have read references to Buffalo, Tonkin Travel and Innovasion. Initially, I thought that I could book all the travel on my own, but I am now thinking (after getting a rate of $355/night for a club floor room at the Sofitel Metropole) that maybe the ground operators have access to better rates and can help with details that I don't need to worry about. We like the spirit of adventure and getting to appreciate how the people live. We do not need somebody to take us to a museum where we can get audioguides and to shop or dinner restaurants. Pointing us in the right direction or reading the forum will help with shopping/restaurants. We see guides as facilitating appreciating the culture and history. We will be in Vietnam from Jan. 26, 2010 until we fly to Phom Penh on Feb. 11, 2010 then on to Siam Reap on Feb. 13 until Feb. 17. Please advise.

Smeagol

I am currently conversing with Tonkin travel who are being very helpful, unfortunately i have yet to have a response from Buffalo travel from over a week ago!
However i have found i can get better rates myself at the Metropole (and the Hyatt in HCMC) using this great site www.whatahotel.com and if you book their special rate rooms you get additional things thrown in (like breakfast in some cases) another good thing is you do not pre-pay!!!
I used them for the Pen in BKK last year and apart from the fact i couldnt get there due to the airport closure, my reservation was all in good order.

I am probably going to use Tonkin for transfer and some of the tours (Halong, Mekong Delta)

Robert_W

My wife and I visited AngkorWat two weeks ago. We extremely enjoyed our holiday and our trip was arranged by a local tour operator named Amazing Angkor Tour. We would highly recommend this agent for the tour arrangement in Cambodia. You could contact them through Email: [email protected] and their website http://www.amazingangkortour.com
Our tour guide spoke very good English; he took us to visit few schools at the rural area. We learned a lot of information about the real life of the Cambodian children and the orphanages there. Amazing Angkor Tour founded a charitable organization called Cambodian Child’s Dream (CCDO) http://www.cambodian-ccd.org which aims at building water wells, library, classrooms and sponsoring children to go to school. They do such a very great works for the community!!!

SaraJane

I have just arranged some hotel and travel with I travel, http://www.itravel-online.com/

Hope that this just gives you another option.

SaraJane

The Metropole is one of the most expensive hotels in Hanoi. There are many hotels here that would get you five nights accomodation for the 355 you were quoted. In Hanoi you could go with a hotel without a pool and this would be much cheaper, and there are many places now in Hanoi where you can get a great breakfast. In Siem reap I stayed at the Steung Hotel which was downtown, just around the corner from great restaurants and shops.I guss it depends on what your needs are. When we go on a holiday visiting various cities we mix up the hotels a bit, going between local hotels to the big chain hotels. Not sure if this helps.

Smeagol

I just want to add that Tonkin have secured me great rates in Hanoi, Halong and Mui Ne, way better than any rates i could find and they include taxes etc. The only one i could find cheaper was the Park Hyatt with whatahotel.com!! (got a club room incl taxes for $333 @ the Sofitel Metropole)

I personally likedon't mind spending the money on hotels if they have character and charm but as sarajane says it really depends on what you want. Am sure there are many cheaper options in Hanoi.