hoosierbee

I will be in Hong Kong in Mid-May for work, and want to add on a short excursion to SE Asia since I will already be over in that area of the world. I am considering Bali or Thailand (but am very open to other suggestions) , and would like some advice on where it is safe for a 30ish woman to travel alone.

I would mostly like to lounge on a beach, snorkel, etc, but would also like some other "fun" activities to do- hiking, walking tours, etc. I will only be in the area for 3-5 days (depends on flights and work). I would like to spend around $50 a night for a hotel, but I'm not sure how reasonable that is.

I've been lurking on here for a while- this is my first post! I found a similar article but from 2001-ish, and I feel like that area has grown and changed so much since then that fresh eyes could be useful!

Kathie

Both Thailand and Bali are safe and fun destinations for a lone woman. Actually, most of Asia is much safer than the US.

Either destination is a good first destination for Asia. I think I'd recommend Bali, as you have both beach and cultural experiences right there.

rhkkmk

with such a short period i think you should consider bkk as the best location beacuse your travel time would be cut in 1/2, plus you could probably use a discount airline to get there.....check out air asia for instance... you might also see if your over pacific flight could be booked into hong kong and out of bkk--- about the same fare..

take a look at these hotel sights:


www.sawadee.com
www.agoda.com
www.asiarooms.com

pick a hotel that has a pool... in your range there are some but not many... centre point silom is one that is slightly above your range but well located...

i believe you could also fly direct from HK to phuket which would offer you a decent beach area, but not sure the accomodations near the beach would fit into $50..

Cicerone

I think you would enjoy either Thailand or Bali tremendously, and either are fine for a woman alone (I have traveled in both and have lived in Bali). However, if you want to lie on a beach, I would choose Bali as you have a short time, and will find more non-stop flights from Hong Kong and also better weather generally. I think you could easily get a little homestay or small hotel for that price. Better yet, you could get a house, see vrbo.com to get some ideas. I have to say that Bali is far more about beaches (which are fine but not spectacular), so do take time to avail yourself of the amazing cultural activities on offer.

Phuket in Thailand has a few weekly non-stop flights from Hong Kong, but will be <i>very</i> rainy in May. See weatherbase.com and other websites. You could consider Koh Samui, which is on the east coast of Thailand so will be dryer in May. There are some non-stop flights there from Hong Kong; I am not sure what you will find for US$50 a night there, be sure to check the Lonely Planet book which is so good on budget places. You might also find some places on vrbo.com.

If you want a really beautiful beach then, go to Palawan in the Philippines. Travel there involves a flight to Manila, then a light plane trip of about an hour, then often a boat trip of about 45 minutes, so this is going to take up some time, but look at flight schedules and see what works. There is a great resort there, El Nido, see http://www.elnidoresorts.com/. It's very beautiful, but there is nothing else at all to do there but swim, snorkel, kayak. No shops, no village. I don't know if this would interest you. The hotel is over your price range; however you can find others in Palawan which are much cheaper, see a Lonely Planet book or something like tripadvisor.com. You could consider Cebu, which has non-stop flights from Hong Kong; however IMO you have to get out the city to really find the good beaches, and this can take several hours, so I am not sure you save any time. In the Phillippines, the end of May is going to be getting toward the rainy season, but should still be OK.

Vietnamese beach areas are in good weather in May, but probably won’t work with your short time frame (as there are no non-stop flights from Hong Kong, you must go via HCM or Hanoi), but someplace like Hoi An is certainly interesting. I think Hue is completely charming, but may not work so well as part of a beach vacation. Nha Trang has a lovely coastline and beaches. I have not been to Dining in more than a decade, but I believe it still is a beautiful beach. Look at flight schedules for Vietnam beach destinations and see what works.

One more place to possibly consider for a beach vacation is the island of Hainan which is in China, off the coast south of Hong Kong. It is a short non-stop flight from Hong Kong. It is the “Hawaii” of China (a bit of hyperbole there). It does have quite pretty beaches. (You want to go to the south areas around Sanya.). You can explore the island, which has some inland highland portions which some native areas. One caveat would be that it may be a bit rainy. Note also that you would need a PRC visa to go to Hainan Island.

You might also consider a non-beach destination like Ankor Wat in Cambodia or Luang Prabang in Laos. You could easily find hotels in your budget range, and both offer very, very interesting sights and a slice of local life. Both are quite doable in that time frame. Both will be a bit on the rainy side in May, but IMO that will not at all interfere with sightseeing (and may bring some relief from the sun, although it will be humid; but wait until you experience Hong Kong in May…)

The suggestion above on Bangkok is fine if you decide you don’t want a beach (although Bangkok will be rainy in May as well), but I wonder if a US$50 budget in Bangkok will really get you a hotel that you will enjoy. (Not sure it will get you one with a pool.) Even the Shanghai Inn in Chinatown, which has charm (but no pool), is going to cost more than that. See http://www.shanghai-inn.com. Do look around (and see esp the Lonely Planet “top end” reccos), because with the current unrest I could be wrong on prices, but I kind of think you would be stuck in a backpacker hostel on Khao San Road with not much to say for itself.

Please do some hiking when you are in Hong Kong! It is such a marvelous place for it! Pretty hot and humid in May, but the plus side is that the air starts to clear up and views become excellent! See my posts called “Cicerone’s Favourite Hong Kong Walks II: Paradise Found! From Happy Valley to Stanley in High Heels! (Almost) The Tsz Lo Lan Shan Path” and “Cicerone's Favourite Hong Kong Walks III: The Dragon's Back” and “Cicerone's Favourite Hong Kong Walks: Severn Road, The Peak “. You can find all of these posts by clicking on these links:
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...l-night-ma.cfm http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...eels-alm-1.cfm
http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...agons-back.cfm and at http://www.fodors.com/community/asia...d-the-peak.cfm. Walking and hiking are the subject of numerous excellent books which you can find here. Dymocks, a local chain of bookstores here, has an excellent selection of walking books, go to http://www.dymocks.com.au/contentsta..._Hong+Kong.asp for a list of locations in Hong Kong. <i>The Serious Hiker's Guide to Hong Kong</i> and <i>The Leisurely Hiker's Guide to Hong Kong</i>, both by Pete Spurrier, are very good for walks all over Hong Kong, and <i>Above the City</i> is good for walks on Hong Kong Island.

A helpful website run by hiking enthusiast in Hong Kong is at http://www.hkcrystal.com/hiking/index.asp. (you can even join one of his hikes). For hiking trial information for all parts of Hong Kong, go to http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/count...u_vis_cou.html. The Hong Kong Tourist Board has a free guide which you can pick up at any of their offices called “Exploring Hong Kong’s Countryside: A Visitor’s Companion” which has descriptions of walks and maps; if you are stopping into the HKTB office this would be worthwhile getting. You can get hiking maps for free at the Government Publications Office, located in the Murray Building, 22 Garden Road (tel 2537-1910). This is right next to the bottom station for the Peak Tram, and most tourists will go right by it on the way to the Peak Tram, so it is easy to stop in if you want to pick up maps. They are open 9-6 pm Mon-Fri and 9-12 Sat (confirm the Saturday, the rules recently changed and some government offices are closed on Saturdays). Discover Hong Kong has some suggestions at http://www.discoverhongkong.com/eng/...alk_natu.jhtml. There is an amateur group of hikers in Hong Kong and you can join walks at http://www.hktrampers.com/Mambo/comp...page/Itemid,1/. There are several groups where you can pay for guided hikes, take a look at http://www.walkhongkong.com/pages/940968/index.htm and http://www.kayak-and-hike.com. I don't know the former group, but have gone on some of Paul Etherington’s trips, and they are quite good. I also applaud their efforts to make this type of activity available to tourists in Hong Kong.

SiamJai

Of all the solo-female travellers i've met in person, every one of them has prefered Thailand to Bali. Thailand's beaches are far nicer than Bali's. And from what i hear, at least in Thailand foreign women don't get any hassle from local young men hoping they can find some 'good time'. Women in Thailand are left to their own devices and don't have to fend off men all the time.

During my short trip to Bali i got fed up of all the vendors on the beaches poking me every 3 minutes trying to sell me a trinket. Yes, Thailand has vendors on the beaches but at least they don't hassle you unlike on Bali.

Kathie

I guess it depends on which beaches you go to both in Thailand and on Bali, SiamJai. If you at at Kuta beach on Bali the touts will be very annoying. On Sanur, on the other hand, there are very few and they are not persistent. In Thailand, I would say that Patong likely has the most touts, not just on the beach. but in the streets.

I've traveled to both places and enjoyed them both.

hoosierbee

Wow, amazing information, especially Cicerone! I do have a PRC Visa, actually I fly into HKK and then spend most of the time in Southern China for work. I had not considered Hainan. Many of my cohorts in our Asia office recommended Thailand to visit.

Rhkkmk, thank you for the hotel websites. I found several hotels in my price range in Phuket yesterday visa Sawadee- I am traveling at the beginning of the low season, so that works well for me.

Kathie

You might also keep your eye on www.latestays.com

You should be able to get great prices in Phuket as long as you don't mind the rain.

hoosierbee

Cicerone, I have been looking at Samui, and it seems like an ideal place for me! I haven't been able to find affordable flights direct from HK yet, but I am still looking. Phuket flights were around $250USD, while Samui flights were $600USD.

Kathie, thanks for the website rec!

whirlwind

Phuket probably has more international flights, so that may explain the fare difference with Samui. If you stay in Phuket and want to save some money, consider staying in Phuket Town, which is also closer to the airport. You can easily get a nice room with a pool for about $30-40. (the Pearl Hotel is not bad) and just take a songthaew bus to the beaches for about a buck (half hour or so). It is safe, but I would not walk alone on any beach at night.

marmot

Bali is absolutely safe for a 30ish woman to travel alone. The level of harassment is low. It's a small island and there's plenty to do -- nature, culture, sand and sea. The weather will be good in May.

I would however think that US$50 a night is on the low side for Bali. It's definitely doable but may get you more basic accommodation than you'd be comfortable with. (Same goes for Thailand.)

If you take the Cathay non-stop you arrive midday and leave at 4:00 p.m. so let's say you have two half days and three whole days. In that case I'd spend the first two days in the Ubud area and the last two at the beach. I'd recommend Komaneka or Alam Sari in Ubud and the Sofitel in Seminyak.

There's a lot of shopping, spa-ing, nature and cultural events in both areas, plus good restaurants and clubs.

Are you by any chance in a creative industry? If yes, don't miss Bali -- the level of creativity in arts, crafts, home furnishings and architecture is astonishing. I like Thailand and agree that the beaches are superb (better than Bali) but Bali has a magical, mystical element that is uniquely appealing.

Kathie

Samui flights are always much more expensive than flights to Phuket, so you won't find any bargains. You also won't find bargains at hotels as it's moving into high season on Samui.
Personally, I wouldn't stay in Phuket town, as whirlwind notes, it's half an hour from the beaches.

I do think you'll need to increase your hotel budget, no matter where you choose.

Bali would be an entirely different experience. I love both places, but think you'll get a better cultural experience in Bali in such a short time. You don't get the Thai cultural experience at the international beach resorts.