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Hello all,

I am a fairly seasoned traveller but have never been to South East Asia and would love to get to know the region before moving from the UK to Argentina at the end of this year (tough gig!). My fiance and I are getting married in the UK in September and are hoping to plan a 3 week trip from around the 22 September 2014. We're thinking about SE Asia but don't really know where to start. I've read conflicting things about the weather in October- obviously the area is vast so it will vary hugely and we're certainly not averse to an afternoon downpour or two. A few things about what will govern our choice:

  • We love cities and eating well (on the street, at a M-starred restaurant, whatever!)
  • We like a bit of beach but not sitting baking in the sun for more than a few days
  • We'd ideally combine moving around with longer stints in relaxing places with excellent views to unwind!
  • We were interested in Bali but it looks like it will be full of other honeymooners!
  • We're as happy in a tent with a stonking view/BBQ as in a super plush hotel; ideally we'd combine both
  • Neither of us knows the region so we should be easy to please; if weather is as useful a determining factor as any it would be great to know people's thoughts on what this time of year should mean for our planning

Apologies if there are tons of existing answers to this- happy to be pointed in their direction instead!

Best wishes

Lydia

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1

If you haven't already got a Lonely Planet guidebook, you should get one such as this:
http://shop.lonelyplanet.com/asia/vietnam-cambodia-laos-northern-thailand-travel-guide-3/
It will give you heaps of information about the region, costs, transport, weather and suggestions of intineraries etc.

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How can we answer ? SE Asia is HUGE, with countries which have NOTHING to do one with the other, between the 3000 + islands of Indonesia to developed Malaysia and Thailand (but gorgeous islands) to undeveloped Myanmar (but the amazing temples of Bagan and the Imperial city of Mandalay) to rather flat Cambodia (but with the fabulous temples of Angkor) to ecological Laos to absolutely amazing Vietnam because of its huge diversity of scenery, from the Mzekong Selta to charming Hoi An, Hue, Hanoi, Halong Bay and the mountains along the Chinese border culminating in Sapa at over 3000 m. It all depends on your taste ! SO, buy the LP SE Asia, read through it and decide which country best fit your tastes. As far as I am concerned, I would combine the temples of Angkor with Vietnam (except the Center - Hoi An and Hue : typhoon season in October) = 5 days Cambodia + 5 days south of Vietnaù and the rest in the fabulous North

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I would say that with 3 weeks I'd pick one country and try to get to know that country rather than trying to fit too much in.
I absolutely loved Malaysia/Borneo. It's off of the banana pancake trail and you can fit in a huge amount of things in a short time (jungle stays, tropical beaches, KL and the Batu Caves, the Highlands and plenty more...)

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