lifeandmylens

>>There is a lot more to Cambodia than Siem Reap - see crellston's post above. And is that "3 days" two nights, three, or four? Three full days (i.e. four nights) is the absolute minimum to properly see the temples. Did you get the book Kathie recommended yet?

Thank you! I have not gotten that book yet. Just started reading two others. Ok

>>What are you going to do for five nights in Chiang Mai?

Great question haha. 3 nights better there?

>>Again, I would not go to Laos just for Luang Prabang, which has become very touristy. Vang Vieng used to be party central but I have read that they have cleaned things up some.

Ok, I can eliminate Loas then.

crellston - I'm sorry I missed your entire post! Looking over it now.

Kathie

The reason to eliminate some stop sis to add time to others. But you still have a number of places where you have only one full day (such as HCMC). I don't know that you can get a sense of any place in one day. You need to prioritize! I don't have any sense of what is most important to you, and I'm guessing that you don't either. You have lots of research to do before you set out on the trip.

Guenmai

Yikes!!! That new itinerary is very intense and I agree that you seem all over the map. Now you've added Laos, Myanmar, and Dubai? It looks like the type of itinerary that a lot of first timers, that I've personally dealt with, put together for visiting European countries, but this is Asia and it's a different ball of wax. I slow down when in S.E. Asia. And to throw in Dubai and Laos? Huh? I'd eliminate both.

Do you realize how much you're going to be in airports and on planes and planes can be delayed and flights canceled? Or how much you will have to deal with other types of transportation? Plus, there's the jet lag and the possibility of becoming ill. I do hope that you get some travel insurance. www.insuremytrip.com.

Why 5 nights in Chiangmai and only 4 in Bangkok? I have been to Chiangmai and liked it while there, but 5 nights? I would give it 3 at the most.

OK. This is how I would do an itinerary: Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia and then fly to Thailand and spend 2 weeks there to just chill out and recuperate. Bangkok has lots great serviced apartments and I would book myself into one and just rest up. Maybe a week in a beach area and then a week in Bangkok at a serviced apartment building.

Then fly out of Bangkok to head south to start that part of your trip. Then, I would do Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. I would not add any more countries to the list no matter how many extra days/ weeks the trip might be able to add onto it.

When, I'm doing my 6 weeks away, my recuperation spot is Malaysia since I spent 3 weeks in Bangkok, but while in Bangkok I'm out running around a lot as I have Thai friends. So, for me to slow down and get ready for my final 3 weeks of my 6-week trip, I go to Malaysia and then after Malaysia, I do the next half of my trip and then in the end, end in Singapore, where my round-trip plane ticket is linked to, and before flying home.

"We have about 2 additional weeks to devote to the trip. Which we could visit other places in each country. Slow down and spend more time in each. Or visit another country. Thoughts?"

I vote for slow down and spend more time in each country instead of just adding on more countries. What it the rush? Do you feel that this will be your only opportunity to visit Asia?

Happy Travels!

kja

A few observations that might sound harsh, but I offer them with the hope that they will prove useful:

IMO, you have already gotten advice from some of the most experienced travelers I know, people who have generously taken time to comment on your ideas. It seems to me that there are two fairly consistent themes: (a) cut back to fewer destinations and (b) do some research. I couuld be mistaken, but I don’t think coming back every day or so with another itinerary that has only minor tweaks and that shows that you haven’t done your research yet helps you very much. In fact, it might end up hurting you, if people “give up on you” before you come up with a reasonable plan worthy of fine-tuning.

BTW, changing your priorities as you think through your options is fine, but when you do so, please SAY so – otherwise, it is very confusing!

Finally, FWIW, I know that some people like “tasting” itineraries – just a bit of time here and there, to “get a sense” of the place. I don’t like them. I hate spending time in transit unnecessarily. And I don’t believe one can “get a sense of an area” – at least not a meaningful one – in just a day or so. You certainly can’t get a sense of a country by staying in its capital only (or any other major city) or by staying only in tourist destinations. (I’m not saying that those can’t be wonderful places to visit, but not if the goal is to “get a sense” of a place.) And personally, I doubt that I will actually ever return to almost anywhere -- there are simply too many places I want to see in this world, and I have too little time to see all those places, so saying to myself that I'm "just" tasting so I can return is, I know in my heart, not likely to be true. In fact, I might end up skipping places simply because I already visited, however briefly, and don’t want to retrace my steps to pick up what I missed. So difficult as it is -- and it is difficult! -- I prefer to identify my priorities, match them to my available time, and then commit to what fits best, even if it means completely skipping something that I'm sure I would enjoy. I’m not saying that you should travel as I do – just giving my perspective.

I hope that helps!

crellston

Couldn’t agree more with kja. You really need to take a step back and decide on either:

- a "top down" approach to planning - decide on which countries you want to visit (I would suggest 3 max).then decide which places within those countries you want to visit or;

- a "bottom up" approach make a list of the top 20 places you would like to visit in order of priority and see how many of those fit into say three countries.

You really need to be strict with yourself or you will keep going around in circles

Guenmai

I wonder the age range of the OP. Maybe that has something to do with the very loaded itinerary that's all over the map. Sort of like going to the Smorgasbord and having one's eyes bigger than one's stomach.

As for getting a sense of a place, there are places in the world, where I have been and didn't spend a lot of time in, but knew that I had no desire to go back to as I had had enough of a sense of the place. So, if the OP wants to squeeze in a lot of places into his/her itinerary and if there's a place that he/she doesn't like then he/she can move on to another place. That's one up side.

Plus, since the OP has a decent amount of time for his/her trip, maybe when the OP actually arrives into S.E. Asia, he/she will realize that what we are suggesting was of value. It takes some travelers to have to actually arrive into a destination and situation before a realty check sets in.

However, I am still one who thinks that the OP should limit the number of countries as to try to spend more time in each one than to spend a lot of wasted time on both, various means of transportation, and also waiting for all of the 3PM check-in times for accommodations of which it's not unusual for one's room not to even be ready at 3PM. I've had that happen even at the 5-star hotel level and have had it happen a lot more at the zero-one star hotel level. So, for me, a longer stay at one hotel, means more time to do things at a certain destination as I'm not wasting time checking in and out of accommodations and trying to schedule transportation to and from a destination to coincide with a bunch of check in and check out times.

Maybe the OP should just make a general itinerary and fly to country #1 and not put any time constraint on it, and then stay as long as he/she wants and then move on to country #2 when he/she feels that it's time to move on. Maybe the whole trip should be set up that way instead of with definite amounts of time being stuck into an itinerary to stay in each place within a country.

We'll just have to wait and see how this all plays out and I hope that the OP takes the time to write a trip report as we've taken a lot of time to try to help out. Smiles.

Happy Travels!

lifeandmylens

I really appreciate all of your help. I definitely am listening. We are early 30's and over zealous. I'm going to refine our desired locations, look into transit times and then start removing some locations and/or countries. I'll re-read all the replies thus far. Thanks so much! I'll be back with a refined itinerary for review

Guenmai

Great. I think you'll be able to come up with a more doable itinerary and one which you will enjoy a lot more than trying to run around from place to place, and then not remember much of any of it when you return home.

I have had all kinds of itineraries, over the many decades, as I started traveling overseas, solo, when I was 17. So, there has been a lot of tweaking of overseas itineraries for me since the 1970s. But, for me one mindset that's really important is to not end up in a stuck-in-stone itinerary, but to be flexible once one is there, on the ground, of a destination. Plus, you're very lucky to have 6-8 weeks. Nearly every summer, over a 20-year period, I used to do up to 11 weeks straight in Europe and would make a rough-draft itinerary and then tweak it when on the ground.

When I have less time to spend overseas, like only 1-2 weeks, then my itinerary is a bit tighter. But, when I'm doing my six weeks in S.E. Asia, I have more leeway to change some things, while on the ground, whether it's the destination, accommodations, flights, time spent in each place, etc.

Happy Travels!

lifeandmylens

Hi all

I’ve been working on the itinerary and now certainly see that travel between each place is a lot more of an issue than I thought!

One question that came up is would you all recommend booking all hotels in destinations that I want to go to the entire trip, or just the first few places and “wing it” once we over there?

My concern is being locked into an itinerary and what if we want more time in xyz place than planned.

In Jan-March, how easy (or more expensive) will stuff generally be to book last minute?

Thanks all!
Shawn

Kathie

You don't need to book it all before you go. Book your hotel at your first few destinations, then book online for the next destination, etc. In general, you will get better prices online. Walk-up reservations will be the most expensive. Just be aware of any holidays that will impact you (like Tet for VN), and make sure you book those way ahead of time.

thursdaysd

I don't know that I agree about walk up prices being more expensive. Of course, I sleep rather more cheaply than Kathie does, I think.

Guenmai

As for booking hotels, it can depend a lot on your price range along with what periods will be more popular periods for certain accommodations than in other periods. It's not an exact science and can be quite unpredictable.

What I just did, for my entire return trip to Japan for Summer 2018, is booked all accommodations on Expedia (when some great prices popped up), but also booked them all where they can be canceled, if needed, and canceled the day before my planned arrival and with full refund. So, at least I know that I have places to stay, but if I decide to change my plans and possibly go elsewhere , I can cancel and get full refunds. And although I prepaid them all, there is an option of if you want to prepay them or pay at the hotel.

As for me, Expedia is my best travel friend. LOL! Plus, I find it really easy to keep track of all of my crazy, and I mean really crazy bookings, and various overseas annual trips, by using their system. I book 95% with them and have racked up some serious points that have either given me free, hotel nights (like at the Pen/Bangkok on the upcoming trip) or a reduction in the prices of hotels and with amenities. I also have my AmEx account linked to Expedia and just used those AmEx points to buy a plane ticket within S.E. Asia and with nearly a $150. in savings.

I have also booked about half of the upcoming Asia trip in that manner of booking. But, if one waits until closer to one's departure time, then one usually ends up without the refund option.

When I first went to S.E. Asia, 19 years ago, I changed my itinerary quite a bit and on the spot. But, I had booked accommodations where I was able to do such. Read the fine print when making bookings. I also just walked into some hotels, like in Chiangmai, and bargained the desk clerks down to my price. If the hotel wasn't booked solid, then I just asked if it wouldn't be better to provide me a room, at my price, than to let the room go empty. Well, it worked.

I think that maybe what you should do is decide on what destinations that will definitely stay in your itinerary and then make a list of interested accommodations that you are considering in those places. Then run them by us as there are most likely folks who either know of them or have possibly stayed in them, or the area of the accommodation, and can give advice on such.

I'm glad that you're reworking that last itinerary of yours. Smiles.

Happy Travels!

kja

I must admit that Expedia listings always seemed above my price point. Perhaps things have changed? I quit consulting it at least a decade ago....

marmot

For Bali -- and Indonesia in general-- January-March is low season and it will be easy to find well priced accommodation at all price levels at the last minute. The exception would be the holiday weekends around Lunar New Year (February16) and Nyepi (March 17). Use a few on-line booking services like Agoda and compare deals.

For air travel from place to place you can't beat AirAsia for ease of use and price. On AirAsia last minute bookings actually make more sense than advance planning even though rate may be somewhat higher. There are substantial change fees and cancelling is effectively impossible.

Guenmai

"kja on Oct 14, 17 at 6:38pm
I must admit that Expedia listings always seemed above my price point. Perhaps things have changed? I quit consulting it at least a decade ago...."

Things change in a decade. For the upcoming trip, I booked 3 nights at the YMCA International House, in Singapore at #1 Orchard Road, and on Expedia for a total of $293.52 for 3 nights. Then, after using some Expedia points, the price came down to $274.23 total. I first stayed at that same YMCA in 19 years ago and used to book directly through the hotel whenever I stayed there. But, for years now, one has been able to book it on Expedia and get the Expedia points. Personally, I have been more than satisfied with Expedia.

Happy Travels!

kja

@ Guenmai -- thanks for that information! I'll keep using booking.com -- I like its options, but I'm glad to know that Expedia has changed.

kja

@ Guenmai: Oh right, expedia prices show up on tripadvisor searches! I rarely find its prices competitive for the places I'm considering, but then, IME, one needs to dig in a bit to find out whether the quoted prices are for the rooms in which I have an interest.... Again, thanks for the info!

crellston

It is perfectly ok to wing it in SE Asia for most places. Even In Vietnam over Tet, you will find it easy to get rooms. Airfares in Vietnam over that period may be difficult though. I use a mixture of walk-in and booking.com and rarely find much difference in price for budget to mid range places. Five star places are a different matter and booking Direct is usually the cheapest.

Book a few nights stay via booking.com and you will qualify for a "genius" discount (10%) off usual rates. I invariably find booking.com cheaper than Expedia, Agoda, hotels.com etc. Many industry surveys support this conclusion.

Re Air Asia. Sign up for their loyalty programme and you will get advised of sales in advance. The fares on these can be a steal. Their fare are usually either non refundable or flexible in that you can change subject to paying te revised fare closer to the departure. Not a change fee per se. I have always found the flexible fare to be substantially higher and not worth the money.

The reality is you should be reasonably sure of your itinerary on a trip like this so I would plan airfares as far ahead as possible, if you need to change then bite the bullet and pay the higher fare if you really need to. It has worked fine for me 5js way over many long trips around Asia, primarily using AA for flights - probably 50+ over the last three years.

Cyansiam

January/February - mostly booked up now for Phuket and would presume same for the rest of Thailand, this is when the Russians return for their Xmas holidays and Chinese for Chinese New Year. Siem Reap is supposedly now packed with Chinese tourists so this could be the same for the rest of the countries you are looking at....certainly will apply in Penang.

Asian Flights - always cheaper the earlier you book unless they have sales so sign up for the offers but I would try and book asap due to the time of year you are travelling, pick the cheapest price that will let you change the flights if necessary, most allow if over 24 hours before travelling.

For Phuket...only way to get better walk in rates is if they are empty and you are resident and even then they argue!

Expedia is generally the cheapest as Booking.com do not show the rate with taxes until you go to the booking page. If you book the flights and hotel with Expedia then 99% always cheaper. Always check the hotel websites as sometimes slightly cheaper or they have packages.

Guenmai

lifeandmylens: Shop around for prices on various websites to see what works out best for you as far as accommodations as prices aren't set in stone.

Out of curiosity, I just checked the prices on booking.com to the prices that I paid on Expedia for the same rooms and dates for the upcoming S.E. Asia trip and found :

3 nights at the YMCA International Hotel-Singapore
Booking/com- $314. tax included
Expedia- $293.52 tax included- although I paid $274.23 with Expedia points

5 nights at my hotel in Penang although Booking didn't even offer the corner suite that I booked through Expedia, so I compared the regular suite prices
Booking-$831. tax included
Expedia- $ 843.59 tax included

* I first booked the corner suite through the hotel, but it popped up on Expedia for less and thus booked it on Expedia and then e-mailed the hotel, weekend before last, for them to cancel their reservation and instead to use the Expedia confirmation number instead of which they said they would. Plus, now not only have I paid a lower price, but will also get Expedia points.

1 night at serviced apartment building #1 in Bangkok with my regular 80 square-meter studio
Booking- $ 180. total
Expedia- $ 152.74 which I paid and no points used

2 weeks at serviced apartment building # 2 in Bangkok
Booking- $3,653.
Expedia-$2,246.60 no points used-Expedia had a 33% off sale

5 nights at Anantara Siam Hotel
Booking- $1,242. total
Expedia- $ 1116.22 total without points I used points and paid $ 846.38 total

1 night at the Peninsula Hotel in Bangkok- free through Expedia

As for the Four Seasons in Singapore, both Booking and Expedia are sold out, but with Expedia there was VIP (amenities and possible upgrade included). However, I booked the hotel on the Four Seasons website, but then the same room popped up on Expedia for less and I canceled the hotel-site reservation and booked it on Expedia for the full, 7 nights and will thus get Expedia points as I wouldn't have gotten them on the hotel's website.

I have one more country destination on the above trip, but didn't compare the prices for that one.

Happy Travels!