Where is the least expensive place to travel to in Asia?
 

I could use some help from the Asia regulars. I just posted on the Russia board that my husband and I are going to Helsinki Russia and Turkey in April 2012

A friend just emailed me to ask if I would go with her on a trip in January 2012. I never pass up an opportunity, but because I am doing the trip mentioned above, I need a very inexpensive trip to make this work.

I think I can strech it to 2 1/2 weeks. I will fly from Vancouver and most likely to Bangkok as those flights are fairly inexpensive, $1000 all in.

I just came back from Laos in February, and have done Thailand before so dont want to go to either of those.

On the top of my list has been Burma. Is it inexpensive though? Can we do it 'on the cheap'. I dont need 4 or 5 star. As long as it is clean I am okay. And wondering about the costs of getting around the country. There will be two or perhaps three of us, all women.

Second choice would be Vietnam and /or maybe back to Cambodia.

Any ideas??? Thanks in advance.

China and India can be done cheaply as well cheaper than Thailand overall and comparable to Laos, Cambodia etc.

thanks Hanuman. I did India last year and have done China already. Hoping to do something new.

Then definately Burma! You can do it cheaply and if you book everything yourself, except for internal airfares, then it would be very cheap IMO.

thanks. I have been searching for fares for the internal flights and cant seem to find any prices. Do you know if I have to go to a trave agent to get the fares/bookings?

When we went we used our local agent in Bangkok but I think you can do some online booking.

Try: http://www.airbagan.com/

Cambodia can also be done very cheaply. I've been to both it and Myanmar and which every one you decide on I'm sure you'll have a fantastic time. Its probably a bit more user friendly (read easier) than Myanmar.

Debbe, Burma has to be done through a travel agent in Burma. Most of us have used Santa Maria with great success. Do a search but they will customize - no need for guides, just all the necessary arrangements. And definitely cheap...

travelzoo.com has some great deals with affordableasia.com

$999 all in including air might have a look...

Hi there
in South east Asia i think vietnam and Cambodia is cheapest for travel around, even the high accommodation market is still cheaper than Thai Land. lately inflation in creasing up and vietnam domestic currency is losing value that even more advantage for tourist use strong dollar. in the other living cost in vietnam is low that dragging all others service low too.

oops u do not want to go to thailand

still great deals for price there in other areas

so cambodia vietnam for budget for me my fav...

awesome beaches at great prices...

Burma can be inexpensive, but... the US dollar (which is the currency you must use) has fallen dramatically against the kyat. When we were there in Nov 2009, we got 1000 kyat to the dollar, right now you are lucky to get 750 to the dollar. Most of your expense will be paid in US dollars: all air, train, bus tickets, all accommodation, all entry fees and your exit fee. Food, small purchase, taxis, etc are paid in kyat.

Also, tourism in Burma appears to be surging this year, likely due to the release of ASSK. We had some difficulty getting our hotels of choice (high end, so not what you are looking for) but we have even found flights between Yangon and Bangkok in November are pretty full - many days already sold out. January is similar in that it is also high season.

So I expect prices will be going up - supply and demand. But I haven't hears of pries being raised yet.

Thanks everyone. I will keep doing my research and let you know what I come up with. I found some flights from Bangkok to Yangon on Air Asia for $50 ow all in which is awesome.

The Air Asia flights are a bargain - book early as prices are lower and those flights will fill up.

Awesome deal on Air Asia, We thought Burma was very very reasonable. Even the internal flights were cheap--two were just $ 36 per person. Two others were more than double, I think. Both Santa Maria and the agency we used, Goldenrock, will make those arrangements for you as cheaply as you can if not cheaper. We also used their guides and drivers and it made the trip SO easy. A guide for $ 25 a day seems cheap to me. Have fun planning.

wonderful, thanks Patty. I am going to read your report again. I will contact Santa Maria if my friend agrees with Burma, which I am pushing for.

Kathie I am hoping my friend will agree with the Burma choice and I will book those flights right away. I know when I was planning this trip last year the flights were much more expensive, but I dont think Air Asia flew there last year.

We are two ladies in our 60s, budget travelers, and we went to Myanmar on our own a couple of years ago . . . it was extrememly inexpensive, easy, and WONDERFUL!

I typed up my travelog and would be happy to send it if you want, just email me at [email protected].

Happy travels,
Sandy

Sandy I read your report on Laos just before I went in January and you travel as I do. I would love to have your report on Burma, but I cant seem to get your email address to work
My email is
[email protected]
Thanks.

we found vietnam to be very reasonable... and very interesting...

burma can be reasonable but has much less infr-structure than most of the other SEA countries..

Thanks Bob. Meeting with my friend over lunch tomorow to discuss options.
I just found that Air Mandalay has a discover pass for $215US for four flights.
I sent an email to Santa Maria to see what their rates are too.
I am hoping that we can swing Burma, especially after reading Kathies and NY womans reports again and looking at Kathies and Pattys pictures.