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Only 10 days in SE Asia (including travel from SFO) Angkor Wat & what?

Only 10 days in SE Asia (including travel from SFO) Angkor Wat & what?

Old Oct 28th, 2013, 08:27 PM
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Only 10 days in SE Asia (including travel from SFO) Angkor Wat & what?

First time post here! I want to travel to Angkor Wat in March for my 50th birthday and am looking for some advice. I only have 10 days for this trip, including travel to/from SFO. As amazing as AW sounds, I think three or four days there would be good for me, which leaves me another 3 days for something else. I thought about PP, but if I'm going to spend 6 hours each way on a bus, I'd rather just fly to Bali. (I realize you can fly between SR & PP, but I prefer not to fly turboprops, esp. in developing countries) So, I came up with this:
Day 1 - leave SFO
Day 2 - arrive Siem Reap
Days 3,4,&5 - Angkor Wat
Day 6 - fly to Bali
Days 7,8,9 - Ubud
Day 10 - fly home
Is this crazy? If so, any other suggestions for what to combine with AW?
Thanks in advance! R
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Old Oct 29th, 2013, 12:40 AM
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Not sure what your interests are but Luang Prabang and surroundings in Laos is great or Thailand maybe. I've flown on plenty of turbo prop planes in SE Asia with no problems whatsoever but you have to be comfortable.
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Old Oct 29th, 2013, 04:53 AM
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Is this crazy? Yes, I am afraid it is. I may be wrong, but I doubt you will get a direct flight from Siem Reap to Bali, in fact you will probably need two connections. A high percentage of your time will be spent in the air, in airports or on the way to and from airports. With the time you have available I would either go to PP, a fascinating city ( the bus ride is an "experience " but 6 hours is not as bad as it sounds!). Otherwise, I would go with silverwools suggestion of LP, although I am not sure whether this would entail a turbo prop plane?
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Old Oct 29th, 2013, 05:21 AM
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I agree that this itinerary makes little sense. As crellston notes, you'll spend a lot of your time in the air. It will take several connections to get from SFO to REP. And a connecting flight to get to Bali - for 3 days?

Save Bali for another trip. A combination of Bangkok and Siem Reap makes the most sense for his short trip. Even trying to get to/from Luang Prabang will make things more complicated.

There are a number of options to fly from SFO to BKK with one plane change, then you can fly to REP the next morning. You will arrive in REP on your third day out of SFO. Spend three full days there, then fly to Bangkok - it's an amazing city, my favorite in the world. Spend three days in Bangkok then fly home.
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Old Oct 29th, 2013, 08:10 AM
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Ha! Thank you all for the quick responses and reality checks. I have had a hard time admitting that combining Bali and Angkor into one trip this short didn't make sense, and your answers were just what I needed.

I think Bangkok does make the most sense, though I'll also investigate PP. I love cities, but spending time in one is not my first choice for this particular trip. BKK would involve overnights on both ends of the trip, since I'd probably have to book SFO/BKK and BKK/REP separately. These trips also use two different airports. With PP, we could probably just continue on to REP the day we arrive & then just add on a few days at the end.

I'm open to other ideas & suggestions as well. Thanks again for your help! Rob
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Old Oct 29th, 2013, 08:24 AM
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What is your routing that flies you to REP? Most people get to Siem Reap through Bangkok. And I'd much rather spend time in Bangkok than in PP.
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Old Oct 29th, 2013, 11:27 AM
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Bangkok Airways has a good safety record. You could do SFO-Bangkok, then fly Bangkok Airways: Bangkok-Siem Reap-Luang Prabang-Bangkok using their Discovery fare.

Another option is the Korean Air flight from Seoul to REP. A lot of people who go to REP regularly like both the airline and the schedule. You could go by land to other spots in Cambodia; Battambang, Kep, etc.
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Old Oct 29th, 2013, 03:32 PM
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I'm not entirely opposed to Plan A. No doubt that you'll have to spend a long tiring day at airports, in airplanes and in transit, but if at the end you're where you want to be it may be worth some suffering.

You can connect from Siem Reap to Bali through Kuala Lumpur. It makes a long day, but the next day you'll wake up in Ubud. I don't think three days is any where near sufficient to fully explore Bali; however it's enough for for a positive and enjoyable experience.

I like Bangkok a lot and Laos is on the top of my to-visit list, but if your heart is set on Angkor + Bali for your 50th, you can make it work.
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Old Oct 30th, 2013, 05:53 AM
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Kathie-our flight takes us to Siem Reap but not through Bangkok. It's Buffalo-JFK-Seoul-Siem Reap. I'm sure SFORob could find something similar but from the west coast. Probably with fewer connections than starting from the east coast. Maybe SFO-Seoul-Siem Reap??
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Old Oct 30th, 2013, 06:33 AM
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Yes, Korean Air does have a flight to Siem Reap from Seoul. I wondered if that was the flight SFORob is planning to take or if another airline is offering a different routing.

Chris - you are in Buffalo? I spent part of my growing up years on Grand Island.
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Old Oct 30th, 2013, 11:47 AM
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Small world Kathie! I actually live in Colden-ski country but our best friends are in Grand Island on Trails End, near Whitehaven. I grew up in Kenmore/Town of Tonawanda so not too far from GI.

I couldn't make things work with Korean Air which was the airline I was considering. Asiana is how we're flying but Jet Blue from BFL to JFK. Fingers crossed we can leave on 1/4/14 as you may know our reputation for winter weather.
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Old Oct 30th, 2013, 11:52 AM
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It is a small world. I used to live on Whitehaven Road. Lots of years ago, so have never hears of Trails End. I remember well the snow in Western NY... that's one reason I live in Seattle!
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Old Oct 30th, 2013, 11:58 AM
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SFORob-My daughter spent almost 3 weeks in Bali over her Xmas break in 2011. She loved Ubud.

I'm with the others who are suggesting Phnom Penh or Bangkok with Bangkok being my first choice as there so many things to see/do to suit any kind of interest you may have other than beach.
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Old Oct 30th, 2013, 06:32 PM
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Thanks to everyone for weighing in ( & nice that a couple of you upstate NY folks connected!) So, I'm down to 2 options:

1. Fly SAL via HK & Singapore to REP, spend four days there, fly AsiaAir REP to BKK, spend a few days there, then return to SFO via Singapore & HK. Total flight time 47 hrs & avoids doubling back to BKK.

2. Fly Cathay Pacific via HK to REP, spend four days, fly or bus to PP for a few days there, and then return to SFO via HK. Total flight time 38 hrs, plus flight or bus to PP.

While the 9 hours of extra flying might seem a turn off, it's really a draw since the CP flight leaves PP at 7 pm & I find that last day of a trip with an evening flight tricky.

Thanks again for the different perspectives!

So, now deciding between BKK & PP.
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Old Oct 31st, 2013, 05:18 AM
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IMO, Bangkok has so much more to offer, it wouldn't even be a decision. But take a look at both. I expect you'll be back to SE Asia - many of us here are addicted. Next time - Bali.
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Old Oct 31st, 2013, 05:31 AM
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PS By SAL do you mean Singapore Air? If so, I think you could fly Bangkok to Singapore to LAX and spend much less flying time. Singapore Air is abbreviated SIA.
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Old Oct 31st, 2013, 10:27 AM
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I think SAL was a typo as SAL is San Salvador. The L on the keyboard is right underneath the I. I make typos like that all the time when I try to type faster than my expertise in typing allows!

Singapore Air makes more sense from the west coast and is highly rated.

SFORob- Hard choice between Phnom Penh and Bangkok. I suggest you do some research on both to see what appeals to your interests most and then decide. Either way you can't go wrong as both have much to offer.

If you decide to do PP you have the option of taking the Giant Ibis bus from SR. My daughter did that last Xmas time and said the ride was quite pleasant and very inexpensive. www.giantibis.com

Could also do an overnight or even day trip from PP to Kampot/Kep.
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Old Oct 31st, 2013, 10:34 AM
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OOps! My mistake. I think SAL is short for Singapore Air Lines?? SAL refers to San Salvador Airport!
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Old Oct 31st, 2013, 05:35 PM
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Warm greetings to Fodor's, SFORob, on this fine Friday flying day and early congrats on 50th birthday celebration in Asia -- and perhaps flying with my primary and cherished business travel carrier, Singapore Airlines. (As my profile page review of San Francisco's Waterbar notes, SFO is my main N. America business port, following my current primary posting of Singapore.)

Not certain of your ultimate budget, will go ahead with the ongoing highest praise of SIA's business class product ex-SFO [via SQ1 (SFO-HKG) and SQ15 (SFO-ICN)] I've experienced for work.

Should SIA economy class ex-SFO be your choice, will highly encourage you to peruse the ever-evolving singaporeair dot com for preferred seating and special meal options. Also, don't be shy over putting in advance notice about your impending 50th. As my review of the Jimbaran Puri Bali indicates, those superlative SQ cabin crews can make a birthday flight rather joyous (SQ 942/943 J in our case).

Will highly encourage Bangkok for at least a few days. I am most fortunate to call Singapore home for work and family residence, but will always consider BKK to be The Centre of the Known Universe. Should you desire lodging reccos, pleased to offer opinions of the various Bangkok properties have had the pleasure of staying at for work and holiday over the years.

Savour your planning, Rob; very happy for you. (And highly suspect I'll be flying in and out of SFO for work a few more times before your March departure; will pass along any updates & suggestions.) Early and warm weekend wishes (and SQ flights) to you and all,

macintosh (robert)


... Singapore Airlines, You're a Great Way to Fly ...
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Old Oct 31st, 2013, 05:44 PM
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While I love Singapore Airlines, it makes little sense to fly almost 3 hours south of Cambodia just to double-back and fly that far again to get back.

Fly via Hong Kong if those are your only choices.

But I'd also echo that flying through Bangkok makes the most sense.
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