Too Many Choices – So Little Time!! Need Help, Pleeaassee!!!
 

The Wish List:

Beijing
Vietnam (Hanoi, Halong, HCMC)
Cambodia (Angkor Wat)
Bangkok
Laos
Hong Kong
Bali

The Problem:

I only have 24 days (November 6-30).

In your opinion, which locations should I concentrate on first and which should I save for another time? (BTW, Bali is the only destination that must stay on the list, no matter what...I’ll be there for five nights).

Not sure if it matters, but I'm travelling solo and I'll be leaving from Chicago.

Many thanks for your help!!!

What are your interests? Knowing what you would like the focus of your tour to be would help to narrow your choices.

Sorry, Femi - you're right.

My interest/hobby is photography and I plan to take as many photos of the countries I visit as I can. I'm not into water sports such as kayaking or water rafting; neither am I into lengthy treks or hikes. Also no camping and I'm sort of squeamish about animals, so no zoos or Monkey Jungles or that type of thing.

I would like to visit major attractions and "not to be missed" sites and would also, in the time I have, to gain an overview of each city visited. I do like history, but I don't want to spend all day traipsing in and out of every museum I come across.

I've been to Bali before, so I'm okay there and know exactly where I want to go. It's the other cities I'm not sure about.

Thanks...

As you know, you've listed way to many places for your short time. I'm guessing that you have 22 days on the ground in Asia (correct me if I'm wrong). Five of those will be in Bali, so that leaves 17 days including intra-Asia travel time. So in that amount of time I'd suggest three or four locations (a location means a stop - not a whole country).

Beijing will be cold - much different weather than your other stops, so in the interest of being able to pack one type of clothing, you may want to drop that. Hong Kong will be cooler than the other locations, so consider that as well.

I consider Angkor to be one of the wonders of the world, so, personally, I'd leave it in. But you need to decide what you want to do/see/experience. If you are interested in Angkor, know that it takes a full three days (4 nights) just to see the major temples. If you are really interested in the temples, you'll want more time.

You've listed Laos - I'm guessing you are referring to one location there, probably Luang Prabang. LP is really lovely, a slow, atmospheric town. I'd recommend you spend a minimum for three full days (4 nights) there as well.

Bangkok is my favorite city in the world. It's a city of contrasts- a great place for a photographer.

I'd tend to leave VN for another trip. Spend a couple of weeks there.

Asia lends itself best to slow travel. If you move too fast, you'll miss it all.

You are welcome to view our photos at www.marlandc.com

I would use Bangkok as your base. From there you would have short flights to Angkor, Hanoi/Halong and/or HCMC, Luang Prabang (Laos) and of course, Bali. Here is the timing I think you need for each:

Angkor 3 or 4 nights (you can get 3 full days and 3 nights if you take the earliest flight from Bangkok)

Hanoi/Halong 3-5 nights Hanoi, 1 night Halong (going in April and spending 5 full days in Hanoi and overnight=2 full days Halong)

HCMC 3 nights/3 full days? (have not been)

Luang Prabang at least 3 nights (you really need at least 3 full days)

Bangkok at least 4 nights - we did 8 on one trip - there is plenty to do in Bangkok

(Bali 5 nights)

Your first "city" should include an extra day to recover from jet lag. I would definitely save Beijing for another trip as it is quite out-of-the-way. Hong Kong is reasonably close by but I don't think you have enough time for it.

You may be able to fly from Vietnam to Angkor and/or Luang Prabang. You can also fly into Hanoi and out of HCMC and vise versa.

Hope this helps.

Here are links to my trip reports:

http://www.btf-archives.com/archive200307/11747.html

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34756780

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=34767241

I agree the other posters.

Beijing should be done with a china trip. Hong Kong is also better suited for a China trip.

That leaves the SE Asian countries.

I would have suggested leaving out Bali, but you want to stay there 5 nights. So I'd suggest cutting out Laos.

That leaves Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand (one city, Bangkok) to split among 17 days, three of which will probably be travel/rest days). This leaves you, at most, five days for each country.

I agree that Beijing is the odd man out in this list. My second choice for elimination would be Vietnam: I don't particularly like HCMC and it's the wrong time of year for Halong.

I could see some merit in using Hong Kong as your entry point. Easy access from Chicago and in itself a fascinating destination. I think Hong Kong and Bali make a good pair -- urban vs rural, worldly vs spiritual.

If not Hong Kong, then I'd choose Bangkok as an urban destination. Singapore isn't on your list (as if you need another) but it would also serve as a good balance to Bali.

Then I'd add either Laos or Cambodia. Both have attractions. If this is going to be your sole grand tour of Asia, then I'd go with Angkor. If you'll be back again, you could consider expanding on Thailand or Indonesia.

Central Java and Borobudur monument would be a consideration as well.

For your situation: Bali, Bangkok, Laos, and Cambodia. Happy Travels!

What air route are you taking to Asia? Would you go via Hong Kong? or Tokyo? to get to, for example, Bangkok? What airline?

If I was flying Cathay Pacific then I would have Hong Kong on the itinerary.

You could have a great trip with two Star Alliance awards and one Bangkok Air ticket:

Ticket 1: Chicago to Bangkok, open jaw, Hong Kong to Tokyo

Ticket 2: Bangkok to Siem Reap to Bangkok on Bangkok Air

Ticket 3: Bangkok to Bali, open jaw, Bali to Hong Kong.

It adds up to four destinations, in order: Bangkok, Siem Reap, Bali, Hong Kong.

Correction:

Ticket 1: Chicago to Bangkok, open jaw, Hong Kong to <b>Chicago</b>

Ahhh...the voices of reason!

I knew I had too much on the agenda. Problem is I want to do and see everything right now. Thank you all for your insight. Kathie, your photos are stunning - simply stunning, and Craig, your trip reports were exactly what I needed.

I'm going to review all the options you all have presented and narrow my focus. I do know, that right now, Beijing is out, and I'm going to postpone two more countries as well. This hasn't been my first trip to Asia, and it certainly won't be my last

Thanks again, everyone!