Some Other Country For A Change

[epicstuff]

Bored with the same old Panang Visa Run ,, Done Phenompen and loas Too many times,

where else can a fellow go thats not too costly and a chance to see something different and have a little adventure , without spending too much money?

What destinations are easy and fun and being offered at good rates .

Any opinions , comparisons , like Phillapines or Yangon, Hong Hong maybe even india (cheap flights there) ,etc Forget Singapore .

[JimmyTheMook]

Bored with the same old Panang Visa Run ,, Done Phenompen and loas Too many times,

where else can a fellow go thats not too costly and a chance to see something different and have a little adventure , without spending too much money?

What destinations are easy and fun and being offered at good rates .

Any opinions , comparisons , like Phillapines or Yangon, Hong Hong maybe even india (cheap flights there) ,etc Forget Singapore .

Calcutta, India - cheap & direct flights from Bkk.

Also you get to see what a living toilet India is.

[PhilHarries]

I can't advise on the ease of getting a visa there but Ha Noi is cheap and certainly an adventure to be recommended. The only problem with some of these other destinations is that you need a visa to go there. If your passport is getting full the lost pages get to be an issue particularly if the cost of a new one is a big thing for you.

[JonnieB]

Bored with the same old Penang Visa Run ,, Done Phenom pen and Laos Too many times,

What destinations are easy and fun and being offered at good rates .

You don't state the specifics of your visa-run situation, i.e., if you need to obtain another visa during the run or you are just checking-off another visa run on a multi-entry visa. Most make multiple trips to Penang because it is one of the few places (besides a long and expensive trip back home) where one can still pick-up a Tourist or Non-Imm visa with RELATIVELY little hassle.

However, if you don't need to secure a new visa, then of course, you can do a visa run to many interesting places all around SE Asia. I once did a check-off visa run to Kota Kinabalu. KK is the capitol of the Malaysian state of Sabah, which is located on the Malaysian half of the island of Borneo. Air Asia had a return flight from Bangkok for about $100 at the time. Granted KK is not the most stimulating place to be but it is on the backpacker/eco traveler trail so there are lots of cheap guest-houses and hotels (also 3-4 star too if that's your style...lots of Asian tourists also). Decent and cheap food too. Activities include scuba diving (not great but decent and can see whale sharks in season), animal (bird and monkey) reserves, and mountain trekking (mount Kinabalu, one of Asia's highest mountains is a couple hours drive from town). So this is one choice.

I have been to Philippines many times too. Airfares are pretty cheap ($300-500). Interesting people, food only mediocre however. Again, very good opportunities for Scuba if that's your thing. Cheap nightlife also.

Hong Kong I have never felt too interesting. Okay, maybe go once to see the airport and the outer islands can be pretty. View from Victoria Peak can be nice and the bracing cold winter weather there can be a nice change from Thailand (but I don't have any cold-weather clothes anymore ) Tour packages there can be had for pretty cheap...2 nite packages for $250-$300 per person sometimes (inc. airfare). However, unless you are really into shopping or eating expensive Chinese food, not very interesting place.

However, Macao, just down the Pearl River from HK, is very interesting. It's like a little piece of Europe (especially Portugal) in the middle of Asia. Architecture and food are blend of Chinese and Portuguese. Interesting historical museums, ruins, and churches. Of course, also casinos if that's of interest. Direct flights from Bangkok are limited,however.

[Fred Sanford]

I can't advise on the ease of getting a visa there but Ha Noi is cheap and certainly an adventure to be recommended. The only problem with some of these other destinations is that you need a visa to go there. If your passport is getting full the lost pages get to be an issue particularly if the cost of a new one is a big thing for you.

Hanoi was in the top 20 (maybe 10) of highest cost of living cities

[tropo]

I have been to Philippines many times too. Airfares are pretty cheap ($300-500). Interesting people, food only mediocre however. Again, very good opportunities for Scuba if that's your thing. Cheap nightlife also.

I wouldn't recommend the Philippines for any kind of visa.

[PhilHarries]

I can't advise on the ease of getting a visa there but Ha Noi is cheap and certainly an adventure to be recommended. The only problem with some of these other destinations is that you need a visa to go there. If your passport is getting full the lost pages get to be an issue particularly if the cost of a new one is a big thing for you.

Hanoi was in the top 20 (maybe 10) of highest cost of living cities

cracking good joke there.............. err.........you are joking right?

You don't want to believe everything you see on the internet.

[sbk]

Shanghai --good shopping, crazy atmosphere and they do give non-imm O visas.

But, you need a visa if you are going to stay longer than 48 hours, it appears.

Visas are not required of Citizens of the following countries, who transit through Pudong Airport or Hongqiao Airport of Shanghai, provided they hold valid passports, visas for the onward countries, final destination tickets and have booked seats, and stay in Shanghai for less than 48 hours : Republic of Korea, United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Austria, Greece.

source: Chinese Embassy in USA

[BADBRAD]

I can't advise on the ease of getting a visa there but Ha Noi is cheap and certainly an adventure to be recommended. The only problem with some of these other destinations is that you need a visa to go there. If your passport is getting full the lost pages get to be an issue particularly if the cost of a new one is a big thing for you.

Hanoi was in the top 20 (maybe 10) of highest cost of living cities

cracking good joke there.............. err.........you are joking right?

You don't want to believe everything you see on the internet.

The cost of living in Hanoi is quite high due to the prices of real estate/rental. They are on a par with those of San Francisco, I know because I have lived in both places. But as a tourist destination, Ha Noi is very cheap. Much cheaper than say, Bangkok. Also, I found getting a tourist visa for Thailand there very easy. 30 USD and got it the same day. As mentioned before, most nationalities do need a visa to enter Vietnam.