Visa exempt countries - want to take the GF away at xmas

[thelongshoot]

Sorry, bit of a naff topic title. Last year we went to Chiang Mai and Pai but this Christma/New Year we fancy going overseas somewhere. I cant be bothered with the visa hassles and would like to go somewhere where my GF can enter visa exempt. Either that, or get a visa easily.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a nice place to go at that time of year - somewhere that a Thai might like?

Its a wide open vague question but i guess I am just looking for suggestions where some of you took your GF without visa hassles, and loved it.

Was thinking about Maldives but it may be a bit hot there for her...

[Forethat]

I guess this depends entirely on what you're after...?

Sun and beach, is that what you're after?

[ukrules]

Maldives = oppressive regime.

[chickenslegs]

Try this link (it's Wikipedia - so double check before you book anything).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visa_requirements_for_Thai_citizens

[Forethat]

Hong Kong - no sun (especially not in December), but right up MY proverbial alley in terms of fun. And the food....oh my..!!

Singapore - sun and you can hop on the ferry to Bintan and spend time at one of the resorts if beach is what you're after.

[Soutpeel]

Maldives = oppressive regime.

also = bloody expensive

My Mrs loves Cape Town...but at time of the year if your worried about the heat, maybe wrong time of the year, as it gets rather toasty

Thai nationals 30 day visa waiver

Edited October 8, 2013 by Soutpeel

[NewlyMintedThai]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/500903-where-can-thai-people-go-without-visa/

[theblether]

Singapore or a decent resort in Bali would go down well. My ex couldn't believe she was in either place.

[mancub]

South Korea ...let her frolick in the snow and freeze her (hopefully) tiny butt off !

To make it worthwhile ,it needs to be somewhere a bit different ,otherwise you'll likely get the disappointing response " It's the same as Thailand ,but Thailand's better "

[thelongshoot]

Thanks to you all for the replies. I hadnt thought of south africa - i am pondering that now. Snow has been mentioned as something she realy wants to see so I guess south korea could be an option yes.... I cant think of anywhere else in the 'region' that would guarantee snow?

Hong Kong and Singers also a good idea, thanks.

Just after somewhere different realy... Somewhere with culture and not in any way simmilar to Thailand I guess

[Soutpeel]

I cant think of nywhere else in the 'region' that would guarantee snow?

Japan....Thai nationals 15 days visa waiver

[klubex99]

NEPAL

I can't say enough good about this place.

It ticks all your boxes, although there is a visa requirement for you both, you get a simple form to fill in on the plane, and as soon as you land in Kathmandu airport (which is mostly deserted) the visa is issued at passport control... Me and wifey were there 3 weeks ago for a week, and we got off the plane and were in a taxi within 10 minutes, visa and all (25USD).

The return flights were 15,000 THB with Thai Airways, direct flight took only 3 hours. We flew past Mt Everest poking above the clouds see my pic below.

FOOD.

They have Thai food if the wife gets homesick, Nepalese food is terrific and tasty, The western food is of a much higher standard than Thailand, Indian food is abound with probably the best chicken tikka masala you will find anywhere. The rice is of a much higher quality than the stodge you get in LOS, The food in restaurants costs around 30% of what it does in any Thai resort (including western food.) Restaurants are 100 times cleaner, staff much more professional and efficient, and most importantly to me, toilets are way more cleaner and hygienic than Thailand, with all restaurants I visited being of minimum 3 to 4 star hotel grade.

The People.

The people there are very very friendly, and I would say friendlier and more helpful than Thais. There is almost zero crime against tourists in Nepal, and that includes scams... The penalties are apparently disproportionately harsh for crime against a tourist and you can walk around Kathmandu at night freely with no fear of someone stabbing you in the neck for your wallet. It is one of the safest cities to visit.

The Culture.

Amazing culture, and full of vibrant festivals going on all over the place all of the time... Lots of temples, huge mix of Hindu and Buddhist... Some parts of Kathmandu will be like walking around India and other parts is like walking around in China. There are more festivals in Nepal per year than there are days in the year... I think around 380 annual festivals, so you will surely bump into one. Be sure to take an organized city tour of Kathmandu, only about $30 each and lasts about 5 hours in private car. You will see Hindus burning their dead on the river bank (ganges style) and the place is full of cows roaming the streets freely and of course the colourful Sadhu holy men can be seen everywhere chugging away of their pot filled chillum pipes. Bhuddist temples with hundredss of monkeys jumping around.... Lots to see really, too many to list.

A Sadhu (Stoned off his face)

The Himayayas

Kathmandu is in the foothills of the Himalayas, and you can see one or two snow capped peaks even from Kathmandu, although in around November - December it is actually a warm 25C average which is a change from sweltering LOS but not cold. In fact just right for me.

Take a 2 hour drive in a bus or private taxi into the mountains up to Nagarkot. Watch the sun rise over the range that includes Everest, with the clouds below your feet. Set at 6,500 feet you are above the clouds, and I just sat for hours on my balcony staring at the snow capped vistas and it is an experience that can not be even matched by sitting on a beach in SEA or anywhere else. It is just simply breathtaking and even the drive is amazing.

Views from my balcony.

Try to spend 2 days and nights in nagarkot, you will not regret it, again everything cheap and top quality.

Another must do is Lake Thewa at Pakhora which is a 6 hour mountain drive or you can fly for around $90 each way, but I recommend the drive through the mountains... It is breathtaking in parts, you just don't get it in a plane.

This is a big tourist destination but nothing on Patts or Phuket, this is pure cultural like the whiole country, it is like being in a time warp, and you will never see a hotel over 6 stories high and all traditional buildings, not these generic holiday glass facade things... it is very colonial still.

The lake can be stunning and changes at different times of the day.

This is not my photo, but gives you an idea...

An interesting thing to visit in Pokhara is the National Gurkha Museum... The most fearless (and feared) fighting unit in the world.

Or just laze by the lake drinking a beer and tucking in to a nice curry... Whatever floats your boat. Its cheap, do what you want. You can even take a days hike in the mountains and visit real Himalayan Buddhist temples... You wife would love that.

Again, the views are spectacular, here is some pics from my balcony in Pokhara.

These were taken in September, so that is the end of the monsoon season so the air was not as clear as it is from late October to January, where the shy is crystal clear. Also, you will hardly see any automobiles in Nagarkot and Pokhara which adds to the pollution free clarity.

December is probably the best time to go to Nepal, the skies are clear and the imagery of the backdrops is magnificent.

Myself and wifey are going back there in mid to end November for 2 weeks, I can't wait... I would live there in a heartbeat because the expat regulations are so simple and foreigners can own land, buy houses, start businesses.. It is welcomed there. But the wife will never move from LOS away from her family, even if it is only 3 hours flight. If we ever broke up, I would be there the following day and I mean that.

If anyone reading this has never been to Nepal, make sure you go there at least once in your lifetime.

Hotels are very cheap and very clean. Obviously depends on the star rating, but in Kathmandu we stayed in 'The Gaju Suite Hotel' which was 3.5 agoda stars and we had a very high end apartment for about 1500 baht a night with awesome restaurant and nightclub on the top floor... I personally recommend it. It is in Thamel District which is the only place to stay, don't stay outside Thamel, Everything you need is in Thamel. It is the culturalhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5Xl7fpqPA4 heart.

Off my head I can't remember the other hotel names in Nagarkot or Pokhara.. but again they were 3 to 4 star and around 1500 baht a night also. All clean and professional with high quality rooms, fittings and amenities.

If you decide to give Nepal a try and want to go hiking in the mountains, PM me and I can put you in touch with an English guy I met in Pokhara who run treks and is cheap and won't rip you off, he is also a great guy.

Although you can see snow on the mountains, it is still warm in the locations I mentioned. In Pakhora it was close to 30C and I was looking at the snow (strange feeling at first).

But when you get right up into the mountains it can drop especially at night, so if you go up high, take a jacket. You can get very cheap and A grade quality North Face jackets which I suspect are Chinese fakes, but who knows?

Everywhere in Nepal you can see large eagles soaring around you, mesmerizing to watch.

I really do hope that you consider Nepal, you will thank me if you do go.

Added a few videos of the 3 locations for you.

Nagarkot

http://youtu.be/O0Zq_Ezsqfs

Pokhara

http://youtu.be/tD-snFobH8E

Kathmandu

http://youtu.be/X5Xl7fpqPA4

Edited October 8, 2013 by klubex99

[thelongshoot]

Klubex99 I just PM'd you

[klubex99]

Klubex99 I just PM'd you

Replied

[theblether]

You've just sold me on it Klubex

[Jasun]

On our first trip, the locals told us that Nepal stands for Never Ending Peace And Love. They were right and we've gone back every couple of years since. It's so easy to get to from BKK, it's even possible to do a long weekend there. There's loads to do beyond trekking, and there's always something happening year round. Be sure to add Chitwan national park and the amazing town of Patan to your list.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patan,_Nepal

[klubex99]

You've just sold me on it Klubex

Hehe.... You won't be disappointed.

[klubex99]

On our first trip, the locals told us that Nepal stands for Never Ending Peace And Love. They were right and we've gone back every couple of years since. It's so easy to get to from BKK, it's even possible to do a long weekend there. There's loads to do beyond trekking, and there's always something happening year round. Be sure to add Chitwan national park and the amazing town of Patan to your list.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patan,_Nepal

Yep... It is the sort of place you will deffinately go back once you been there once.

I will add Patan and Chitwan to my schedule in November.

If I can get hold of some gold pans, I would love to have a crack at some panning in the mountain streams. The geology of the Himalayas is perfect for gold.

[Cuban]

The best bit of taking Thai GF/wife out of the country is that she is now a foreigner too.

Singapore - they love shopping.

[al007]

Senior Member klubex99

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NEPAL

thank you an excellent intro to Nepal, it is now added to my list of MUST VISIT places

[Docno]

Hong Kong - no sun (especially not in December), but right up MY proverbial alley in terms of fun. And the food....oh my..!!

Singapore - sun and you can hop on the ferry to Bintan and spend time at one of the resorts if beach is what you're after.

I live in Singapore. I wouldn't personally recommend it, though I know many Thais actually like it because it's "clean" (not an attraction to me). That said, it's just a city, and an expensive one at that ... especially the hotels. I'd personally go with Bali ... good beaches, affordable nightlife, and an interesting culture that a lot of Thais would connect with. Previously took my Thai gf to Siem Reap and she loved it, but she may not be that typical...

[ezzra]

The Philippines is one destination she won't need a visa and it's cheap to fly there with Cebu Pacific,

there you will find some of the most amazing beaches sceneries, cheap eat and cheap hotels.

[kikoman]

Klubex99,

Thank you for the introduction to Nepal, My son married a young lady from there and she is the sweetest most considerate Daughter-in-law I have, I would love to see the country she comes from.

Thank you again for your very informative post.

Cheers:

[mmushr00m]

South Korea. No visa required and its cheapish. Add the current popularity of Korean dramas its a win win.

You can find guest houses in the Myoung Dong area of Seoul for B1000-1500.

Edited October 9, 2013 by mmushr00m

[ToddWeston]

Klubex99 - Thank you, Thank you - great write up

[ToddWeston]

The Philippines is one destination she won't need a visa and it's cheap to fly there with Cebu Pacific,

there you will find some of the most amazing beaches sceneries, cheap eat and cheap hotels.

Well in my experience the hotels are a rip off $150 to $200, the food is AWFUL, Boracay is full of Korean travellers or locals who stay up all night, Palawan is full of dog turds and bloddy expensive to get to with all the little add ons. The rice terraces are nice but you can't get there without hitting Manila.

Manila is a tip, and nothing to see or do that doesn't involve going to a mall. Ask a few Thais who have been to Manila how hungry they were on their trip and how grateful they were to return to the LOS.

OP Thanks to the post from Klubex I think you've found a winning destination with Nepal.

[JLCrab]

I made a trip to Nepal about 15 years ago and stayed at The Everest View Hotel billed as the highest hotel in the world. Flew in Pilatus STOL & Helicopter and flew out helicopter

http://www.nepaltrekkingtours.com/images/luxury-hotel-lodge-everest-view-trekking.jpg

[Ghengisthai]

Bali ticks the boxes for me. Sun, sand, sights. The rice terraces are a must. Sanur is a laid back beach destination, plenty of restaurants and resorts. Biking down a beautiful beach, bike rental was a reasonable price . The food is different but still feels asian. The prices here were very reasonable, If your very big bags are very full of money Singapore is cool.

[Suradit69]

Maldives = oppressive regime.

also = bloody expensive

My Mrs loves Cape Town...but at time of the year if your worried about the heat, maybe wrong time of the year, as it gets rather toasty

Thai nationals 30 day visa waiver

I doubt anyone used to Thai weather would find Cape Town very hot in December. Usually in the mid 20's, rarely hitting 30 degrees and usually quite cool in the evening along with a continuing sea breeze.

[NewlyMintedThai]

Nepal is a fantastic country. As long as your partner doesn't have khaek-phobia.