Guenmai

"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. "

Sometimes what I do, depending on what trip it is and the situation, is book a refundable room so that I know that I have a room, but then when it's closer to actually getting ready to arrive to the destination, where the room is located, I go back online and book the non-refundable room for a bit of a lower price and then cancel out the refundable-room reservation. I've done that quite a bit.

I have also landed in a destination with a refundable accommodation and then while at the destination, if I didn't like it, just canceled the remaining days for that room, within the allowed time period, and then moved on. When I did this, in S.E. Asia on a few trips, I had not prepaid the cost of the room, but had booked it to be able to pay at the hotel.

Happy Travels!

crellston

Cyansiam "Expedia is generally the cheapest as Booking.com do not show the rate with taxes until you go to the booking page."

Sorry but I think you have got that the wrong way around. It is Expedia who add on taxes at the last minute. Booking.com show the price with taxes at outset for the vast majority of countries. IME it only seems to be Malayasia where this is added at the booking stage.

Guenmai, did you compare those prices at the time of booking and make notes or just retrospectively? If the latter, I would imagine that the prices would tend to rise anyway the closer you get to the date of arrival.

It does make sense to shop around, I revisit the sites I use periodically but have found I;the last few years that booking always comes out ahead. There will always be anomalies. Using the same site/ app for bookings regularly does have the advantage of familiarity which can make life easier.

OP it may help if. You mentioned what type/price of accomodation you are looking for as this can make a big difference on availability and price and booking method.

Guenmai

I did both; compared different sites at the time of booking and compared prices on both sites recently. And as far as my date of arrival, the YMCA arrival isn't until February.

As far as which one adds on taxes, they both added them on at check out.

I check various prices, but prefer to use Expedia's website. Plus, I have always had really good customer service, on phone, if anything came up. I had booked one accommodation, online, of which was non-refundable. But, after clicking it, it hit me that I had booked the wrong date. I called Expedia and they contacted the S.E. Asian accommodation and had the non-refundable canceled and rebooked to the correct date. So, customer service is also important to me.

Happy Travels!

lifeandmylens

Thank you all so much for the itinerary help. We've talked about it at length and agree we are ok with getting only a "taste of SEA". We're also the type that after a week in one place we're usually getting very antsy.

Regarding accommodations - since it's such a long trip, I would like to keep the average price per night at $125 max, maybe $150 - if this is possible.

I've also decided flights between destinations will make more sense than long overland drives. So all the flights below are all nonstop, but it will add costs. Here's what I'm thinking now. Please let me know your thoughts. The obvious outliers many will suggest to eliminate are Dubai, Singapore and Bali. But we do want to see these places, Dubai being a free stopover.

Critiques welcome please!


Nights spent there:

Jan 4-6 Dubai

Jan 7-9 Yangon

Jan 9-11 Bagan

Jan 12-14 Inle Lake

Jan 15-16 Mandalay

Jan 17-20 Bangkok

Jan 21-23 Chiang Rai

Jan 24-27 Chiang Mai
—— drive from Chiang Rai

Jan 28-Feb 1 Krabi

Feb 2-5 Siem Reap

Feb 6-7 Hanoi

Feb 8-10 Halong Bay (on a boat)

Feb 11-12 Hoi An

Feb 12-14 Hue

Feb 15-18 Ho Chi Minh City
—— (One day for Mekong Delta)

Feb 19-22 Singapore

Feb 23-26 Yogyakarta & Borobudur

Feb 27-March 3 Bali

March 3 Fly Home

Guenmai

Below is a link to various food in the region. I have been following Mark's Vlogs for quite some time and am on his mailing list. He's American, married to a Thai and lives in Bangkok and has had quite an interesting travel life growing up.

https://migrationology.com

Happy Travels!

marmot

I think you're thinking in the right direction, but still need to pare down a few destinations. In the last ice age when we were in our 30's my husband and I made a similar multi-stop trip. We had a great time but by the end of 2 weeks we were totally exhausted -- physically and mentally (and that was only 2 weeks). By the time we got to our last stop, Tokyo, we slept most of the day. We always intended to go back but 30 years has past and we still haven't made it back to Japan.

What you cut depends on your priorities, but if it were up to me (and of course it isn't) I would reduce Dubai to one night and skip Mandalay, Chiang Mai and Hue this trip.

Use the extra days to build in rest days at some of your favorite locations. Southeast Asia is a slow place. Sometimes you have to stay still and let it come to you. Sometimes you want to re-visit "best of" when you feel better, when it isn't raining, when you know more what to expect. Or just stay longer because you're not finished with the experience.

Central Java is a wonderful destination but I cannot impress enough how crazy Borobudur, Prambanan and the key attractions in Yogyakarta are on weekends, especially Sundays.

Kathie

You still have too many stops and not enough time in most places.

In particular, your VN plans are unrealistic - you seem to have forgotten about travel time again. Marmot has some good suggestions.

Guenmai

I agree with the above. But, if that's how the OP wants to schedule the trip, then that's the way it will be scheduled. I throw in the towel.

Happy Travels!

CaliNurse

Hi Shawn! I've seen your website--beautiful photos!! Your "handle" was a tipoff!

You've received excellent advice above r/t routing and slowing down and savoring, rather than taking the "sampler" approach, to your trip. That said, your priorities evidently differ. Your main goal may be not just to experience, but also to photograph, a wide variety of places while you have the time and energy to do it

If you love a place, you'll be back--you have decades ahead in which to do so/ (I'm jealous!) Some of us here are nearly (or in my case, more) than twice your early-thirties ages and have a different perspective because of it. (It took me almost forty years after first visiting to return to two favorite countries--India and Uganda--so I know you will do it!)

Now, specific itinerary question. You say above that you're stating the number of nights in each listed destination. You have only two nights in Hanoi, but three in Ha Long Bay. Please reconsider that. I loved the overnight boat on Bai Tu Long Bay (quieter but adjacent to Ha Long) but one night was enough. Maybe decrease that HLB boat time to one or max two nights, and add another night or two to Hanoi, or elsewhere.

Unless you particularly want the westernized shopping-mall high rise version of a SEA city, you could decrease the number of nights in Singapore from four total to three. Then, put at least one of those nights elsewhere. Maybe add to the two nights (far too little) you have for Hanoi. NO comparison, imho, in terms of where you should spend that time.Hanoi is sooo much more interesting from every point of view (including the lens one!).

I have not been to your other destinations and defer on numbers of nights, to fellow experienced Fodorites, as to where you can re-arrange adding/subtracting days within your desired city/country itinerary

Guenmai

As for age, I'm a high-energy 62 year old, but have been out on the overseas roads, almost annually and solo, since I was 17. As for the perspective, I once did those cramped trips, but even as young as in my 20s and on, I planned trips where I slowed things down and was glad that I did. Some trips I had to cram in a lot as I might have only had a week for vacation and then had to fly home and go back to work the next day. But, when I had longer periods for vacations, I then usually slowed things down. But, if the OP wants to try the intense itinerary, then so be it. Maybe it will be tweaked while on the ground.

As for Singapore, I don't look at it only as a westernized shopping mall version of S.E. Asia. But, then again, I usually stay there long enough to get into it more and go all over Singapore and not just spend time in the heart of the city. But, to each his own. Plus, I find it very relaxing there after running around in more rugged places.

Hopefully, the OP's trip will turn out to be what he/she wants it to be and I wish the best to him/her.

Happy Travels!