I've only been to S.E. Asia in the fall - Oct-Dec time frame. If you go to N. Vietnam, earlier is better than later, while further south later is better. No reason to exclude Vietnam - it's just as safe. Actually, main safety issue in Cambodia (and Laos) is unexploded ordinance, but tourist areas have been cleared.

Obviously, the more time the better. Without knowing how many places you want to see, it's difficult to give an estimate. For instance, just Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) in Cambodia, or Phnom Penh as well? Battambang and the coast?

Thanks for the insight. I was thinking we would need three weeks, I have so many booksmarks as it is in just the Thailand book alone!

thursdaysd, how was the weather in Oct.? Originally that was the time we were looking at. I know it's hot, but how rainy was it? Or is it always rainy?

I'm not thinking right now I'm all that interested in the beaches, I think we'll want to concentrate our time on temples and such. When we were in Egypt last month we spent the last couple days in Hurghada on the Red Sea, and it just felt strange after spending so much time with all that history! (not to mention the rude Russian tourists!)

Still looking into how much we want to see in Cambodia, I want to spend at least three or four days in Siem Reap, other than that I'm not sure. There's so many beautiful things to see and do I'm overwhelmed! We're pouring through the books this weekend to narrow our choices.

Thanks again for your help! Of, and gpanda, I did look up innovasian.com, thanks for the suggestion!

I know I'm probably the only one here, but I didn't do the beaches in Thailand. I like the beach, but I wanted to use the time I had to see all the other things there are to see.

Jenn

Jenn - no, you're not alone. In 2004 I decided to spend Christmas in Laos instead of on the Thai islands. So I missed the tsunami....

heymo - enjoyed your Egypt trip report (although I decided against revisiting Egypt on my next trip.) The year I was in S. E. Asia in Oct. I started in Malaysia, and there was rain, but not a whole lot. Then I moved on to Laos and I don't remember any rain there. You can read my trip report at www.wilhelmswords.com/asia2002. There are just so many great places that you need to figure you will return, but three weeks is a good start. If you go in October, consider starting in Hanoi and moving south, visiting Cambodia on the way to Thailand. Maybe a week for each country, skipping the Thai beaches.

Thursdaysd- thanks for the compliment on my trip report. It was my first attempt, and I was afraid I had rattled on too much. I agree, though I really enjoyed our time there for the most part, I would not go again. Mostly, there are just too many other places on our list to see.

I'm glad I'm not alone in skipping the beach. Don't get me wrong, I love the beach, but I can go to the beach anywhere. I will look into starting in Hanoi, that was one of our options.

While I haven't been to Thailand or Cambodia, I have travelled with OAT several times (France, Costa Rica, Turkey, and East Africa). While it is true that the average traveller is retired, I'm in my 40s and was amazed how often the older people were actually fitter than I am. Out of the 4 trips I was on, they all had 12 or 13 people, and used a bus that was sized to have several extra seats, yet only 1/3 to 1/2 the size of those big tour busses. On every trip, I found the arrangements to be seamless. I choose their trips because they tend to be slightly off the beaten track and less 'Americanized' than some of the more luxurious tours, while also being a better value.

For your first trip to Asia, Definitely use a tour company. If you can use Kuoni from where you are then they are ideal because they will tailor exactly what you want. Loads of info and links on our site.....take a look at
www.leightravelclub.com

I went to Thailand and Cambodia with Oat. We were there the last of Oct and the first of Nov 2006. The weather was very good.Yes, it was pretty darn warm, but nothing that one couldn't handle. No Rain, I guess we had just missed it, by about a week. Bangkok was still showing sighs of flooding.

I have traveled with OAT two times. Egypt was an amazing trip.Fast paced and interesting all the way.I highly recommend that one.
Thailand I didn't enjoy as much. To much bus time between places for my taste. But we did see and learn a lot of things, that I think I would have missed on my own.

I did Love the day at Elephant camp!!! . :-d

The OAT Cambodia part was wonderful. Awesome Guide,and was also fast paced and very interesting. The time there was way to short.I wish we could have had a couple more days here.

It is true that OAT draws an older group. However, they were a very interesting and fun loving group, both trips. Most of the people were very adventurous and in pretty good shape. I am 53 and I was the next to the youngest one. There was a 19 year old what came with his Grandmother, on the Thailand trip. He seemed to have a pretty good time, for the most part. I don't think age would be a problem here.

I have traveled independently myself and do like to plan and do my own thing also. You don't have as much freedom on a tour. However a couple of people from our tour did strike out on there own on a couple of days. So that is possible to do, if you like the idea of a tour, but have a few other things you want to do instead of the itinary that is planned for the day.
The part I do like about the tours is not thinking about how to get from point "A" to point "B". I saw and learned a lot more then I do when I am on my own. Also, the insight, about life there,that you get, from the guides, and the home hosted visits, is worth alot.