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#1
14-03-2008, 03:33
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Where First To Not Double Back
Wondering if anyone can help me with the order and if a plane, bus, or train is the best way of transportation.
Is it easier to get to Laos, Vientiane from chang mai or bankok? Also, is it easier to get to Camobia, Siem Reap or Phnom Penh from Bankok or Vientiane? I don't want to double back if i don't have to. Any suggestions on order or if a train, plane, bus is the best mode of transportation would be appreciated. I'm planning to visit: Thailand Bangkok Phuket Pattaya Chang Mai Laos Vientiane Vang Vieng Cambodia Siem Reap Phnom Penh 
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#2
14-03-2008, 04:06
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does depend upon your time limits and if you are up for some pretty hairy overland or boat trips......but this advice is for time challenged ie less than a month to do all of the above
Fly.....using BKK as your hub....you'll get sick of BKK airport though IN LOS you can traxi BKK to Pattaya but you'll need to fly the other legs....strange thing is you can fly from HKT to CM but not return....so I'd go BKK-HKT-CM-PTY.... IN Cambo.....BKK-PP-SR-BKK....or else the long and horrible Tong lap boat ride SR to PP....about 9 hrs from memory IN Laos......BKK Vientianne and then buses...not sure tha there isa ny alternative....yoiu can also cross over the border on foot from Northern LOS as well if you are adventurous
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 ....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#3
14-03-2008, 04:16
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Thanks for the information. i have 22 days. Thanks for the information Also. Are these plane rides expensive or no? Last edited by bluxed : 14-03-2008 at 04:20.
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#4
14-03-2008, 04:34
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should be under $100 for each leg....ask your travel agent about any plans for flying around the region on say a 4,5,6 leg fare...Thai should have one...it certainly does internally
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....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#5
14-03-2008, 04:41
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Depends on your tastes but 22 days not enough time mate....should just look at BKK-SR return....a short trip to pattaya....a week in Phuket....a few days in CM
If you like Patts better than Phuket maybe go back there afterwards or extend your stay in Phuket if you love it
__________________
....but of course I was verey verey draaank at the taaame!!!
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#6
01-04-2008, 15:22
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A mate of mine she spent about 1 month and says it was just about enough to cover Thai, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. 22 days might be cutting it a bit fine.
I hear Cambodia's gotten expensive for us backpackers 
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#7
02-04-2008, 00:33
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What Nels said really, you have 8 places on your list and 22 days in your trip; that's a tough itinerary. I guess you could do it if you really wanted to, but you are going to see a lot of airports rather than see a lot of where you are visiting. If it were me, and I am planning a Laos/Cambo/Thailand trip in a similar timescale for September, I would drop the Chiang Mai leg and go at it this way: Bangkok to Vientiane, 2 nights. Vientiane to Siam Reap 2 nights, Siam Reap by road (use the bus, the boats are shite/for hippies) to Pnom Penh for 2 nights and then back to Bangkok. Presumably, you will have done a few days in Bangkok to start with so you will be at least 8 nights in and thoroughly knackered. I would fly to Phuket from there, and then take in Pattaya on the way home. You can get a Phuket - Pattaya flight and a taxi back to BKK airport when you fly home. I would not use land borders if I could avoid them, and if it's raining then the road out of Cambodia via Poi Pet will be dangerous; take a flight. I would also sort out my visas before travelling. Poncing about in the visa queue at immigration, prior to poncing about in the immigration queue itself, is not my idea of a great time.
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#8
02-04-2008, 01:23
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You can easily fly from BKK to Phnom penh. Or less easy, you can get a bus. There are plenty of tour operators in BKK that would arrange it. Not sure off hand from Bkk to PP via Poipet but it would be over 12 hours. You will definitely get a good look at the countryside going overland. It can be uncomfortable but if you had time I would recommend it. Buses in Cambodia are slow because the roads are mostly bad but they are improving all the time especially between the main routes. 22 days is very little time. Quote:
Depends on the person, money availability and time... IMO covering the whole of SEA in a month would be cramming a hell of a lot in! You don't really see much of places if you're only staying a few days or a week. Cambodia's is cheap also IMO. You can get a decent room in quest houses from about $5 upwards, cheaper options also... Food, transportation and drink is cheap too.. Last edited by Pad Mc : 02-04-2008 at 01:48.
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#9
02-04-2008, 10:03
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Whats the point in spending 2 - 3 days in each place.. 22 days.. 8 place.. lets say each time you transit you waste your day.. Now you have 22 - 8 14 days.. For 8 places.. Less than 2 days per place..
You will really get under the skin of a place in 48 hours, feel like you have really absorbed all the local vibe ?? Define you goals a little, what you like, is bars gogo's girls and nightlife high on the list, or is temple treking, beach, etc more your style.. From there cut out perhaps a 3rd of the destinations.. I am looking at doing a Cambo Laos run later in the year, I wouldnt try to rush those two into less than a month but then I would want to have some time to suss out each spot. You could try Chaing Mai, Luam Prabang, Vang Vieng, Vientiene in a short loop. Vientiene being major stop there you probably have fast travel options to Siam Reap, or PP to loop that. Back out via BKK for Phuket or Patts. Unless your main goal is to look out the window of an over packed minibus I still say your trying to do way to much to really see anything of each place. I guess you could bracket the entire tour with a short BKK stay and finish with a short Patts stay (both will be expensive compared to backpacker price) leaving 18 or so days to do the loop I suggested above. That at least brings you into a bit over a week in Laos and a bit over a week on Cambo.
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#10
02-04-2008, 21:28
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Lets say 20 days. Thailand - Diving in phuket, Mongering in Patts (or maybe no patts) Shopping in BKK(2 days) Laos- Countryside ? Cambodia- Temples Think you can whip up an itinerary ? 
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#11
03-04-2008, 10:07
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OK well diving and mongering come out early in the priority list and are a little different than some of the backpacking goals.. Also diving can be time intensive..
I think you have 2 very different goals here.. Thailand with its shopping / diving / mongering.. And Laos and Cambo with its rougher edged temples / ruins / chill..
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#12
03-04-2008, 15:31
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Spot on mate.
I think Id give priority to Cambo/Laos for the Temples, Jungles, Ruins, Chill  Been to LOS before so I can give the "activities" a backseat. 10 days - LOS 10 days - Cambo/Laos Maybe add 2 days for travel. My point of entry would be BKK. Ideally I think I should move out and spend time in Laos/Cambo and give it the time it requires. That way even if I eat into some of my LOS time it wont hurt as much. Bangkok to Vientiane Vientiane to Vang Vieng and Lunag Prabhang Then onwards to Siam Reap (by road?) Siam Reap to Pnom Penh, and then back to BKK ? Then I could do BKK-Phuket (air) and patts on the way back. Or if I overstayed in Cambo maybe just take a bus down to Pats for a few days till its time to go home. Im probably going to get into LOS first week of june. Note : @LOS your right about my mixed goals. I dont mind roughing it out backpacker style. Just need to figure out the routes, travel mode(road/air) etc. Last edited by ma_kore : 03-04-2008 at 16:07.
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#13
03-04-2008, 19:05
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I would say then your above sounds good..
BKK a bit gets some Thai city and shopping in.. Chiang Mai in transit, up to Luam Prabang and down Vang Vien and onto Vientiene (thats one direction heading south).. From there get over to Siam Reap, possibly short plane to minimize southern Loas bad roads and connections into Cambo.. SR heading to PP.. Maybe Sihanook.. Then into patts for some mongering blow out.. If you have time diving or phuket is a plane flight away but personally I think even just that is 22 days easy..
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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#15
04-04-2008, 21:24
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Boat travel on rivers and lakes? The roads are a lot more rough and unsafe. 
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#16
04-04-2008, 23:10
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Boat travel on Tonle Sap is notoriously unsafe and uncomfortable in the hot months. The water level drops and boats run aground, they overcrowd the boats and there is no air con, it takes 9 hours PP-SR and costs at least double what the bus costs.
The road between SR and PP is fine, bus trip 5-6 hours and costs around $10.
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#17
04-04-2008, 23:50
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Fair point regarding safety.
I had intended to get that boat/ferry but was advised against it in Phnom Penh because it leaves very early and takes a lot longer than going by road, also its meant to be a very boring 9 hour trip.
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#18
05-04-2008, 01:57
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Right chaps, Bus it is then !
As far as possible I will stick to bus, but for anything longer than 9-10 hours on road I might look at the flights. Approx cost of flights that Id need to take? I know Im asking questions that have been beaten to death or that can easily be answered with the search... but as long as you guys are happy to answer why not :p cheers!
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#19
05-04-2008, 17:54
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Speaking of dodgy Cambodian boats and ferries, heres a pic of a river crossing ferry between Ko Kong and Sihanookville. Now that I think of it it was very unsafe!
I personally enjoyed that journey in Cambodia but it might not be for everyone.
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#20
05-04-2008, 20:03
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Christ on a bike! That would have had me looking for a bridge. Is that a cop car at the front?
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#22
06-04-2008, 08:42
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If you're going to Laos for countryside and laid back vibe, skip over Vientiane and go to Luang Prabang. (Dont tell your friends though, the reason it's nice is because it hasnt been spoiled by the tourism industry.)
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#24
06-04-2008, 09:29
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Trains are usually odd, slow, connection issues etc.. But somehow I like train journeys, you meet people, it feels like travelling.
Mates who where here before the budget airlines used to use the BKK to Penang (butter worth ??) train, get a VIP cabin, hit the bar carriage, have a sit down meal, overnight trip.. Many said it was great. I remember one saying he took a BG with him and was screwing in his cabin watching Thailand flow by his window.. Thats travelling in style !!
__________________
Men have only 2 emotional states, hungry and horny.. So ladies, if you see me without an erection, make me a sandwich.
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