Thailand/Cambodia/Hong Kong(?) for 3-4 weeks?
Replies: 5 - Last Post: Jan 17, 2013 9:49 AM Last Post By: sdavidova
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Thailand/Cambodia/Hong Kong(?) for 3-4 weeks?
Hi all! I am 26 and travelled extensively solo in college but have really put international travel (aside from business) on the backburner the past few years and really want to get back into it. I am currently trying to put together a trip to Asia for February/March. I am very flexible with both time and money, but am thinking about 3 weeks or so. I am wanting to go to Thailand (it will be the height of frigid winter here in Chicago so the beaches are appealing!) and am trying to figure out the best combination of places. Cambodia and Hong Kong are also high on my list. Also considering Laos instead of one of the locations. Right now I am trying to decide if I should just take my time in Thailand and do beaches + Chiang Mai or just go to Angkor Wat for the history/cultural piece and focus on beach in Thailand. I like to drink, dance, have fun but do not want a Cancun feeling (I googled the full moon parties and they look pretty dreadful!) but something a little more mellow. I am not very interested in spending much if any time in Bangkok. I am considering flying into and/or out of Hong Kong as well (just probably 3 days to get a feel of the city on this trip), as I have always wanted to go there and don't know when I would be back on that side of the world, and it is only about $100 more to do rt flights from Chicago to Hong Kong and Hong Kong to Thailand as it is to just fly to Thailand. Is this crazy? I am really liking the mix of the beach + history + modern city but don't know if I should focus my efforts elsewhere.I would be traveling solo and looking for places that would be accessible as a solo woman and/or not too romantic/coupley, though my sense is all these are good options from both safety and meeting people perspective.
Any suggestions based on the above, or any ideal itineraries you may have or other places I should consider would be appreciated!
Edited by: kuglof21
Edited by: kuglof21
1
Hellobeach + history + modern city? This is all in Thailand!
Bangkok - Modern city / mix cultural
History - Sukhothai,Ayutthaya,Chiang Mai,Lopburi,Surin etc.
Beach - All province from south of Thailand
2
The Andaman coast will be really nice that time of year. If I were you, I would just go to the beach -- Krabi, Phuket, or Phi Phi -- and if I am beached-out after a week or two, fly to Chiang Mai or Siem Reap. If not, I just kick it on the beach.No sense trying to predict now how you'll feel then. It isn't like you have to buy Angkor Wat tickets weeks in advance.
BTW, Cathy Pacific will fly you ORD-HKG-BKK-ORD in February for $1,463.80 all in.
4
Thanks -- is it much more to book flights the week-of vs in advance?
The cheap tickets sell out earlier. Buying today, BKK-Phuket r/t this weekend on AirAsia is 5000 baht; for a month from now, 3300 baht; two months from now 2900. You are basically paying $50 for the flexibility.
You might buy the R/T ticket now and just figure, hey, if I'm enjoying myself, or want to leave early, I change it, or (and never forget this possibility) just throw away the return ticket and buy a new one. We are talking $30 or $40 here, compared the thousands the whole trip cost.
(AirAsia allows changes up to 48 hours before departure -- of course, you will pay the difference if the fare has gone up.)
5
Hi kuglof21, would you please share your trip details? I am planning a similar vacation (mix of cultural tourism and beach vacation) in December for 3 weeks and I was planning on visiting Bangkok, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phuket and Hong Kong, but it would be great to read about your experience and itinerary before I book anything. Thanks!
