Next holiday destination ?

[norsurin]

My next trip is Bangkok. Hua-hin.. Cebu and Bali.

[Cameroni]

There are Australians in Bali though. Something to consider.

[KhunLA]

No suggestions for OP, as we have enough tourist here, TH, already.  Haven't been on a real holiday outside of TH in 25 yrs, so would be useless info.

 

For us, soon out the door to a bit further south in TH.  A loop down through Surat Thani, Phang Nga, Krabi ... then undecided.  Take it one day at a time after the first few.

[NorthernRyland]

5 hours ago, Dcheech said:

Hanoi

Hanoi was high stress for me compared to Thailand and the people themselves even were a little hostile and standoffish. Sapa was really nice but again the people made it way more high strung then it needed to be. Lots of beeping, congestion, pushing and yelling in general. If the locals were more relaxed it would be a very fun place to ride around on your motorbike and check out the area.

[NorthernRyland]

11 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

I've done the usual Singapore, Malaysia, Seoul, Taiwan, Shanghai, etc  some good, some bad - most major metropolosis cities unfortunately in Asia are all looking the same. 

 

Then don't go the metropolitan cities? 

[Mahseer]

Train from the north is operational. Neighbour was there February and checked out 3 days early as just couldn't handle the masses. Not sure if a seasonal surge or full time suspect the former. The charm that was once Luang Prabang has definitely gone. 

[BenCrew]

2 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

Why does Bali get such a bad rep?

 

Is it full of Benidorm Brits and cheap australians ?

 

I don't know, it'll be my first visit to Bali, but I'm going to a resort in Kuta, not where the backpackers frequent! 🤞

[Cameroni]

15 minutes ago, BenCrew said:

 

I don't know, it'll be my first visit to Bali, but I'm going to a resort in Kuta, not where the backpackers frequent! 🤞

 

Kuta is where all the backpackers and Australians are. You want to be in Nusa Dua.

[georgegeorgia]

2 hours ago, Fat is a type of crazy said:

Bali is beautiful if you go to the right places ..tourists are widespread but the Kuta Legian bit is where it gets the bad reputation. Go to Bali - then Lombok and see a much more beautiful Kuta Beach and the spectacular Mt Rinjani and dark sand beaches in the north then go to Sumba and Komodo for the dragons  and Flores for the picturesque forests and waters and portuguese influence then to Timor for a look and then to Darwin an hour by air and see Kakadu. 

And pop into Alice Springs to meet interesting people,they say the night time walking around the "Alice " is the best 

[georgegeorgia]

1 hour ago, norsurin said:

My next trip is Bangkok. Hua-hin.. Cebu and Bali.

Cebu City the mini Manila 

.....beep beep beep beep beep 

 

I guess Mactan island may be better than the City 

[BenCrew]

1 hour ago, Cameroni said:

 

Kuta is where all the backpackers and Australians are. You want to be in Nusa Dua.

This resort is 10km out of town. It's very quiet by the dark sandy beach. I'm not looking at going into town, it's just a relaxing by the pool kind of vacation.

[BenCrew]

20 minutes ago, BenCrew said:

This resort is 10km out of town. It's very quiet by the dark sandy beach. I'm not looking at going into town, it's just a relaxing by the pool kind of vacation.

Correction, it's actually 36km from Kuta town! All good! 😂

[DonniePeverley]

8 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

Bali is a horror show

 

Culture decades gone

 

Unfortunately Thailand is heading the same way. 

[DonniePeverley]

6 hours ago, Cameroni said:

There are Australians in Bali though. Something to consider.

 

Are the worst than the Benidorm Brits though ?

[DonniePeverley]

6 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

Then don't go the metropolitan cities? 

 

In my younger 20's ... i loved the buzz of these big cities. Would love the hussle bussle, good museums, and that chaos i loved. Not so much now. As time has gone on these cities now are starting to look the same - the same exact thing everywhere here in Asia. 

 

[NorthernRyland]

17 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

In my younger 20's ... i loved the buzz of these big cities. Would love the hussle bussle, good museums, and that chaos i loved. Not so much now. As time has gone on these cities now are starting to look the same - the same exact thing everywhere here in Asia. 

 

 

I'm right there with you. Most of Thailand or any country are small cities so it's easily solvable. I'd travel around Thailand first and tour the small cities if you haven't yet then branch out to other countries.

[Harrisfan]

6 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

And pop into Alice Springs to meet interesting people,they say the night time walking around the "Alice " is the best 

Ayers Rock is amazing

[DonniePeverley]

8 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

I'm right there with you. Most of Thailand or any country are small cities so it's easily solvable. I'd travel around Thailand first and tour the small cities if you haven't yet then branch out to other countries.

 

 

Any cities you recommend ? 

[Scouse123]

On 4/15/2025 at 8:02 AM, bkk6060 said:

Siem Reap might fit you.

 

That would be good, I agree, but no beach....I love it there.

 

Maybe, Danang in Vietnam?

[Scouse123]

12 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

Are the worst than the Benidorm Brits though ?

 

About the same, tacky happy hours and pissed up kids.

[Scouse123]

On 4/15/2025 at 2:12 AM, DonniePeverley said:

Got a few weeks off ... let's have some inspiration where you guys are heading, and some info.

 

I've done the usual Singapore, Malaysia, Seoul, Taiwan, Shanghai, etc  some good, some bad - most major metropolosis cities unfortunately in Asia are all looking the same. 

 

Looking for something different. Now i'm getting older i actually prefer more slower type places, rather than hectic cities. 

 

One country i didn't quite enjoy was Japan. I know alot of hipsters go on about it, but i found it rather unremarkable. 

 

Where you all heading this year ?

 

 

Vietnam and Cambidia.

[Woke to Sounds]

On 4/14/2025 at 7:50 PM, KhunLA said:

Dread air travel, and had my fill of long flights, as anything over 2hrs.  Add the hassle of to and from, along with hours needed to arrive early for check ins ... NO THANKS

 

We stay local, 1 country, as 15+ year of plane travel was enough, and most before 9/11 security BS. 

 

Agree.

 

Air travel post Nine-11 and Kovid can SUCK it.

 

You could once fly without being shook down as a potential criminal.

 

The kids have no clue.

[JJ-Thailand]

On 4/15/2025 at 2:12 AM, DonniePeverley said:

Where you all heading this year?

We live in a tropical paradise, why go anywhere?

[KhaoHom]

54 minutes ago, JJ-Thailand said:

We live in a tropical paradise, why go anywhere?

 

 

I'm still on holiday here until 21. I reckon I've spent one year of my life here and an additional year in similar tropical places.

[RayOday]

Here are a few locations that don't see too many folks excluding those in China.

- Perhentian Islands, Malaysia

- Da lat, VN (Don't stop in the Russian colony of Nha Trang. Too many scammers but some good restaurants)

- Himchal, Pradesh 

- Manali, IN

- Uttarakhand, IN

- Kerala, IN

- Pondicherry, IN (Puducherry)

- So many beautifully remote.    places in the Philippines. Do some homework. https://www.visitmyphilippines.com/destination.html

 

- China travel is too big to cover here. I lived there for 15+ years as a westerner and have been to most provinces and have driven across the country 4x. Yunnan is beautiful as is Sichuan west of Chengdu. Xinjiang is a rough and beautiful area but is probably off limits now. I travelled ~4500 kms there about 15 years ago. Never travel to NChina on a national holiday. I admire the work of a Russian photographer based in Shanghai, Oleg Novikov. Peruse his photos to find the tranquil and beautiful in China. http://olegnovikov.com/index.shtml

- Nepal is always cool

[NorthernRyland]

6 hours ago, DonniePeverley said:

 

 

Any cities you recommend ? 

Personally I like to go to a place rent a motorbike and start exploring any interesting roads in the area like mountains or places with notable attractions, waterfalls etc... Just see how the people are living, hopefully get to see some crazy roads to in the mountains. 

 

Any of the towns around the mountains are nice if you can figure out where the attractions are. Even around Chiang Mai there's lots of nice areas which aren't in the city itself. Driving town to town, stay a couple nights in a nice resort. Mae Hong Song, Chiang Dao, Phayao, Chiang Rai, Nan all have attractions around the area. I really like the actual town of Mae Hong Song of Phayao myself.

[NorthernRyland]

2 hours ago, JJ-Thailand said:

We live in a tropical paradise, why go anywhere?

Because you're bored of the tropics? Some cooler weather and different trees are always nice.

[Blueman1]

On 4/15/2025 at 2:38 AM, save the frogs said:

 

Exactly.

Instead of changing locations, just change the escort tyoe. Go for Russian or Ukranian escorts.

They will only charge you 8,000 baht to spend an hour with you on your yacht. 

 

 

I Didn't KNOW They were that CHEAP......Might Pop Down & Have a Look, IF The Mrs will let me....555 !!

[Blueman1]

4 hours ago, KhaoHom said:

 

 

I'm still on holiday here until 21. I reckon I've spent one year of my life here and an additional year in similar tropical places.

Where's That ?? Looks Nice !!