Greetings all (i've done much reading on these posts - thanks all for the excellent info already - but haven't really been an active user). i'm planning my first trip to asia and am looking for some guidance...

i finally have enough ff miles for a free ticket to Asia (>60,000 usairways dividend). this will be my first time in asai, but i've traveled throughout europe; mid east/north africa (egypt, jordan). after reading these message boards, bkk and bali seem to be great places to visit for asia newbies. i will be traveling with a friend - we're not beach people - late 20s, early 30s artsy/urban types... into food, architecture, shopping, culture.... we will probably have 2.5 weeks for travel ... wondering if folks thing these two destinations are good ideas, and if so, what a good breakdown of days would be? (since i'll be using star alliance, could probably do a stopover in bkk on way to bali) . also, i am open to any other destinations in asia (not limited to s.e)...

thanks a bunch!

-Tricia D

I think Bali and Bangkok would be a nice combination for 2-1/2 weeks. Although we spent 12 days in Bali when we went, many spend just one week. There is also plenty to do in Bangkok - we were there for 8 days in February. If you want to add another destination to your itinerary, consider 3 days at Angkor Wat in Cambodia 3 days in Luang Prabang, Laos or 3-5 days in northern Thailand. All of these areas would fit your criteria. For ideas on what to do in these places, see my trip reports:

Bali - http://www.balitravelforum.com/archive200307/11747.html

Bangkok, Angkor Wat and Luang Prabang -
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34767241

If you aren't beach people, I would suggest you would be better off for your first trip staying within a smaller area and visiting three locations in the Thailand - Cambodia - Laos area. While Bali is lovely and is culturally very different, it is about 6 hours flying time from Bamgkok, so you'd lose two full days of your trip traveling to/from Bali.

I'd recommend something like Bangkok, either Siem Reap for Angkor or Luang Prabang plus a location in Northern Thailand, either the Golden Triangle aea or Chaing Mai. Given your interests, give yourselves plenty of time in Bangkok, some at both the beginning and the end of your trip.

Kathie - While I agree with you almost always, I have to say that the flight to Bali is closer to 4 hours than 6. Also, in spite of Bali being an island, we spent almost no time on the beach. While we did spend one day of our 12 on a snorkeling trip, the rest were spent in non-beach (or ocean) related activities. Bali really fits the bill for what Tricia considers important: food, architecture, shopping and culture. Of course Bangkok and the other places we both mentioned also fit the bill. 2-1/2 weeks for a first trip to SE Asia offers lots of possibilities doesn't it?

i don't want to extend this fist fight...haha...but i think the issue may come down to what you can do with the FF miles...and that could be a problem...certainly you could get to one or to the other, but maybe not both on the same ticket....that you will have to work out with the airlines...and i would start on that yesterday...you might also be able to do a cash and miles ticket as well...

i agree with both kathie and craig...both places are wonderful and are very different and you would benefit from both stops, BUT, i think the airline ticket may be a problem...

in any case before you do too much res wise, see what they will offer you....what are the possibilities and what is available...

btw, prime time in bali is the USA summer and in thailand this is the less desirable time (sept. being the worst month)...prime in much of thailand is late october to the end of feb or into march...prices in thailand start to fall in april and remain low until oct 31....bali prices are highest in june to september...bali is quite affordable however and so is thailand...there are accomodations at all levels of expense and comfort...

so i might tend to agree with kathie then if the airline is an issue....there is tons to do for 2.5 weeks in thailand and laos/cambodia...and more...i am on my 10th trip and this one will be 5 weeks...

i have visited thailand in oct, nov, dec, jan, feb, may and june....all of these times are quite nice but may/june does have some rain in thailand...my time in bali was in june and it was fabulous weatherwise...

if you go to bali, you will want a driver for part of your time...they only cost about $40 per day and make all the difference in the world...we had putu, as did craig above, and really liked him....he is young, about your ages, and drives a nice toyota SUV...

so my advice would be to see what us-scare can offer you and go from there...come back to us after you see and we will flood you with info and help....good luck

I think what Bob is saying is that you may not be allowed a long layover (ie more than 24 hours) in Bangkok for your 60k miles if you are continuing on to Bali. That being said, see what you can work out with the airline. It may make more sense for you to use your 60k to go to Bangkok and then purchase flights onward - the costs are relatively low especially if you deal with someone like Eddie at Seatours in Bangkok who is recommended frequently on this forum.

The previous speculation notwithstanding, you certainly can get an award ticket through US Airways that lets you stop in both Bangkok and Bali (Denpensar). Thai has 1 non-stop/day from Bangkok to Denpensar. For the return flight, it will probably be easiest to return through Singapore.

In Bali, I'd suggest you consider staying in the Ubud area, in the central part of the island. This area is chock-full of Balinese arts and culture: it seems as if every home has a sculptor or musician or painter.

Bali and Bangkok would make a terrific pair of places, sort of contrasting harmonies. Both are certainly SE Asian and populated by peoples with a fantastic and wonderful outlook on life. But while Bangkok is non-stop urban frenzy, Bali can be amazingly peaceful and serene, at least as long as you stay away from Denpensar and the beach-bar areas.

We're doing the same thing, Bangkok and Bali, on Star Alliance miles (flying on Thai) in a few weeks. The award allows a stopover, which we are taking advantage of to go to Burma. I obviously think the pairing is a great idea! I totally agree with others who have recommended LP and Angkor Wat as short 3-4 day excursions from Bangkok. Both are fantastic.

I think before you start planning where to go and what to do, you should get US Airways on the phone and explore your options for when you can go where. Awards are pretty hard to book if you are using the lower point levels, which you would be for 60,000. You will likely need to be flexible in dates and/or destinations, and hopefully you are giving yourself plenty of lead time for the booking.

You can start looking 330 days out, and as your departure date gets closer, more seats may or may not be released for award use. Be sure to explore all partner options as well, and as the CSRs are not always forthcoming in offering partner routings, be sure to research possible routings and carriers before making the call to US Air. Be prepared to call many times, unless you are unbelievably lucky and get exactly what you want first or second time around.

That out of the way, BKK and Bali seem really nice to me, though with 2 1/2 weeks I might be inclined to do either Bangkok/Thailand with 3 stops (BKK, Chaing Mai and maybe Siem Reap or Luang Prabang if it interests you) OR I'd stop in BKK for 3 days and then go to Bali for 2 weeks. Bali may seem like a small island but there is enough to see and do there to take a year without going near a beach. If you are intersted in culture, Bali has some of the most tourist accessible culture I've experienced anywhere.

Just curious, rizzoto and CCC. what is the length of the stopover allowed prior to continuing on to the ultimate destination? I have not tried this recently thus my "speculation" about the 24 hour rule.

It seems Thai Airways would be the most logical carrier for an Asian destination with a stopover in BKK. Their rules for Star Alliance award ticketing allow one stopover in each direction en route to the final destination as long as it isn't backtracking. An single open jaw is also allowed. No time limit for the stopover is mentioned. 24 hours is usually the limit for a "stopover" when stopovers are not allowed per rules of ticketing. Thai's Star Alliance award ticketing rules: http://www.thaiairways.com/Royal_Orc...conditions.htm

Craig, I'm not certain what the maximum stopover is, but we're stopping over in Bangkok for 11 days. I think the rule is that you are allowed either a stopover or an open jaw.

OK, thanks. I guess it still makes sense to check with your airline after you've determined what you want to do.

According to the rules, you seem to be allowed at least one stopover, maybe two (one in each direction) and an open jaw, as they say "also" about open jaw. Under those rules, you could make a very nice routing I think.

To further elaborate on what Kim is saying, 24 hours is the maximum amount of time one can spend in a spot before it is considered a stopover. Last summer, we were able to get award tickets on Thai all the way to Luang Prabang via Chiang Mai. Because our departure flight to LP left 22 hours - not 24 - later, we were able to spend a day in CM without it counting against us. We were then able to use our stopover later in the trip in Bangkok.

to kim's point of calling back to the airline...it took me four calls to northwest this winter to get my fall dates, and i was at the first day or two of the seats being open for booking....the first three people were of no help at all and said all the dates were full....the next lady i got said, "how about air france" and i said sure and i got the best booking i have ever had to thailand....so point being you just have to keep calling...i also find that one segment of a proposed flight is booked solid...this happens narita to bangkok quite often to me...

bottom line my point is that the airlines are the most difficult portion of planning a trip these days and that assuming that you want to do both thailand and bali might prove difficult, even with lots of lead time and 300+ days is the place to start...