Bonjour a tous
de retour d'un voyage de 3 semaine a koh samui (full moon ) et pataya moi qui adore faire la fete et voyager autant dire que je suis amoureux de la thailande🙂
Surtout pataya d'ailleurs j'y retourne un moi en juin j'aimerais savoir si des forumeurs ici connaissent des bons plans sur cette ville.
Moi perso j'adore l'insomnia et le bar a gogo le what 'up😛
Si quelqun connais des bons endroits pour les jeunes (discotheques , salon massages, bar, marcher vetements) ou autres merci de me donner vos avis🙂
(par contre je cherche pas d'hotel jai deja ca soit "le trafalgar" en centre ville soit le "clair de lune" sur walking street selon mon budget)
L'amour c'est comme les cartes si tu as pas une bonne partenaire tu as interet d'avoir une bonne main^^
Si Pattaya te plait et que tu penses que cette ville est représentatrive du pays c'est que tu n'u n'es pas amoureux de la Thailande !! Bref tu sens bon le baltringue 🤪
"Dans vos phrases, n'utilisez qu'un sujet, un verbe, un complément d"objet direct ; Quand vous aurez besoin d'un adjectif, venez me trouver." (Georges Clemenceau)
Si Pattaya te plait et que tu penses que cette ville est représentatrive du pays c'est que tu n'u n'es pas amoureux de la Thailande !! Bref tu sens bon le baltringue 🤪
3 semaines de stage en Issan et il sera guéri de la Thailande 😉
Bonjour a tous
de retour d'un voyage de 3 semaine a koh samui (full moon ) et pataya moi qui adore faire la fete et voyager autant dire que je suis amoureux de la thailande
de retour d'un voyage de 3 semaine a Eurodisney et St-Troppez moi qui adore faire la fete et voyager autant dire que je suis amoureux de la France.
LOL, c'etait obligé que tu te fasses descendre en 2.2 !!!! quand j'ai vu ton titre je savais que ca allait saigner !!!!
quels genres de bons plans tu recherches??? c'est quoi un bon plan pour toi?
Comme tu l'as dit, t'es jeune (comme moi) j'ai ete a Pattaya aussi, vu la reputation, je voulais voir...gros choc ! mais pour boire des canons, faire le con c'est marrant 3,4 jours! je craches pas dans la soupe je m'y suis amusé! mais ne dit pas que tu es amoureux de la thailande apres avoir vu pattaya et samui....
Pattaya c'est artificiel! j'ai fait des rencontres tellement plus belles a Pha Ngan sur ma plage isolé, rencontré des vrais gens, et la tu verras tu serras encore plus retourné!
Sans aller dans l'exces, le stage en issan😎, la prochaine fois, essaye d'aller dans des cojns moins surfaits! tu verras que c'est vraiment autre chose la thailande!
sinon les boites a Pattaya, le Lucifer des pures soirées! le marine, gros son, mais beaucoup de trans, la boite tout au bout de WS mais j'ai perdu le nom vers le petit port, l'insomnia...
gogo j'en ai fait un pour voir, c'est assez glauque! j'aime pas, je me sent mal dans ces "bars" meme pour boire un verre... angelwitches c'est celui ou on nous a ammené...
et pour l'hotel, d'apres les forumeurs, le windy inn ou claire de lune haut la main, rapport qualité prix emplacement !
tu comptes repartir quand?que a pattaya?
PS: la fullmoon c'est Pha Ngan, sinon c'est que pale copie !!!
" L'expérience, ce n'est pas ce qui arrive à quelqu'un, c'est ce que quelqu'un fait avec ce qui lui arrive."
c'est connu a marseille on exagère un peut , 😎😎, il vaut dire SA thailande , , comme il ya une thailande pour chacun ....... il a homis de dire SA ..........
un pigeon , sa se plume non?? qu' il se fase plumer........ les thais de SA thailande sont des experts en la matiere , , 😛
« Le voyage apprend la tolérance. »
Benjamin Disraeli
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Bonjour a tous
de retour d'un voyage de 3 semaine a koh samui (full moon ) et pataya moi qui adore faire la fete et voyager autant dire que je suis amoureux de la thailande🙂
Surtout pataya d'ailleurs j'y retourne un moi en juin j'aimerais savoir si des forumeurs ici connaissent des bons plans sur cette ville.
Moi perso j'adore l'insomnia et le bar a gogo le what 'up😛
Si quelqun connais des bons endroits pour les jeunes (discotheques , salon massages, bar, marcher vetements) ou autres merci de me donner vos avis🙂
(par contre je cherche pas d'hotel jai deja ca soit "le trafalgar" en centre ville soit le "clair de lune" sur walking street selon mon budget)
salut a tous
ecoute il y a pas de plan particulier, par contre il y a le choix pour tous les niveaux que cela soit financier ou physique et n'ecoute pas les primaires du forum
eclate toi tout en restant correct avec les thaies
il y a pas de plan particulier, par contre il y a le choix pour tous les niveaux que cela soit financier ou physique et n'ecoute pas les primaires du forum
eclate toi tout en restant correct avec les thaies
Excellent conseil !
Tu auras de bien meilleurs plans pour t'amuser une fois que tu seras sur place, en bavardant avec d'autres jeunes comme toi.
Ici tu devrais savoir que le simple mot de "Pattaya" allume des passions, notamment chez ceux qui ne connaissent pas ou alors très mal.
J'ai eu l'occasion de le dire par ailleurs, Pattaya est une grande ville, "normale".
Sa réputation tient d'une part au fait qu'il y a quelques rues ou pâtés de maison où les filles sont plus à même de t'attirer à but lucratif. Mais il y a bien d'autres villes comme ça dans le monde, non ?
Et d'autre part cette réputation remonte à bien plus loin car je crois savoir que ça vient du temps où ce village de pêcheurs servait plus ou moins de "base arrière" aux soldats américains enlisés dans la guerre du Vietnam et que donc, les filles sont arrivées pour le "repos du guerrier", d'où le développement du lieu qui, désormais est une ville comme une autre et où tout ne tourne pas autour du sexe comme certains se plaisent à l'affirmer.
Eclate-toi bien !
ecoute il y a pas de plan particulier, par contre il y a le choix pour tous les niveaux que cela soit financier ou physique et n'ecoute pas les primaires du forum
Très drole, tu ne voudrais pas redonner tes conseils sur les ST et les LT ca pourrait être utile a de nombreux forumeurs, surtout a ceux qui ne connaissent pas la pertinence de tes propos mais qui s'offusquent quand on leur fait remarquer 😉
PS. Pimilan, je cherche toujours tes belles plages a Pattaya et je n'y trouves que des poubelles aquatiques 🤪 par contre le marché flottant est très réussi pour une invention touristique et c'est assez sympa, bravo 🙂
ecoute il y a pas de plan particulier, par contre il y a le choix pour tous les niveaux que cela soit financier ou physique et n'ecoute pas les primaires du forum
Très drole, tu ne voudrais pas redonner tes conseils sur les ST et les LT ca pourrait être utile a de nombreux forumeurs, surtout a ceux qui ne connaissent pas la pertinence de tes propos mais qui s'offusquent quand on leur fait remarquer 😉
Venant d'Arothai c'est vrai que le terme "primaires" fait rire.... Lui qui y va pour rencontrer des Gégé, JP, Totor et Cie qui se picolent la tronche et croient être les rois du monde parce qu'une fille qu'ils paient leur accorde un peu de son attention... Une bande de beaufs naifs qu'on rencontre aussi à Chaweng. Et qui ne connaissent rien d'autre du pays ! Demande à Arothai (apres 8 "voyages") s'il a mis les pieds a Ko Lanta, Phangan, et je ne lui parle pas d'Ayutaya ou de Sukkhothai bien trop culturels pour lui !
"Dans vos phrases, n'utilisez qu'un sujet, un verbe, un complément d"objet direct ; Quand vous aurez besoin d'un adjectif, venez me trouver." (Georges Clemenceau)
C'est aussi marrant d'entendre a nouveau les reflexions styles, je cite:
Excellent conseil !
qu'on va me reprocher ensuite 😉 C'est beau ce genre d'encouragement a la prostitution 😠
Boum cela s'apelle de la démagogie.... Mais l'auteur est coutumier du fait 😉
"Dans vos phrases, n'utilisez qu'un sujet, un verbe, un complément d"objet direct ; Quand vous aurez besoin d'un adjectif, venez me trouver." (Georges Clemenceau)
C'est juste dommage de réduire la Thailande a Pattaya..... quand tu découvre le reste, c'est vraiment autre chose ! Pattaya c'est sympa un week end entre potes, faire la fête...
Niveau plage, c'est pas la peine...ou alors on a pas les memes critères de plage ! 11h d'avion pour etre a la "Grande Motte" .... y a tellement de plage superbe en thailande! meme Jomtien ca vaut pas samui, ou Pha Ngan !
Chacun est libre de s'amuser ou il le veut, comme dit plus haut toujours dans le respects des thais, et des Thaies....
" L'expérience, ce n'est pas ce qui arrive à quelqu'un, c'est ce que quelqu'un fait avec ce qui lui arrive."
J'ai 2 nuits a passer à Pattaya avant de m'envoler pour Chiang Mai, existe t'il une vie nocturne hors de la walking street et ses bar à néons roses aux…
Je vous explique ma situation, j'arrive en Thaïlande courant début février 2016 et je résiderais essentiellement sur Pattaya au sud du centre ville (j'aurais…
We got back enchanted from a 6-week trip to Cambodia!
Our itinerary: Kampot - Kampong Chhnang - Battambang - Siem Reap - Kampong Cham - Sen Monorom (Mondulkiri) - Banlung (Ratanakiri) - Kratie - Kampong Thom - Phnom Penh.
We traveled by bus, minivan, boat (between Battambang and Siem Reap), overnight bus, scooter, tuk-tuk, and rickshaw for shorter distances. We stayed in guesthouses, homestays, and even in the jungle during a trek.
While the Angkor temples are fabulous, it’s the people you should visit Cambodia for—the "Land of Smiles" truly lives up to its nickname! Tourists gather in Angkor but are quite rare elsewhere, even though the country is easy to travel around.
I won’t describe our trip in detail but instead highlight a few favorite moments.
From Kampot, don’t hesitate to head out around 6 AM to see the fishermen return and their wives selling their catch (just 10 minutes away by the coast). Guaranteed picturesque!
In Battambang, known for its food scene, we discovered a cooking class with Smokin’ Pot (authentic Khmer cooking class). They pick you up from your guesthouse to shop for ingredients (we made fish amok and beef lok lak) at their village market, then cook and eat together. A private class—just the two of us! They also send the recipes via WhatsApp as a PDF. +855 12 821 400
In Siem Reap, I can recommend a francophone tuk-tuk driver who was very attentive to our wishes. We visited tourist spots but also more remote villages and local grilled-pork restaurants with him. He’s a wealth of information about local life, and chatting with him was a real pleasure—we left with regret! You can reach him on WhatsApp: Vung Hem, +855 96 614 0146.
We did a 2-day, 1-night trek in Mondulkiri. Don’t expect a super dense jungle—it looks more like a forest similar to ours. But Nara, our Bunong ethnic guide, made the experience adventurous and ultimately very immersive! WhatsApp +855 86 630 489
Bee Bee’s Chalets homestay: If you pass through Banlung in Ratanakiri, we *loved* this family and their budget-friendly bungalows. Playing Uno, enjoying Nita’s cooking (ask for her fish amok—amazing!), it was a true homestay experience! Contact Nita on WhatsApp: +855 88 818 5525.
In Kratie, rent a scooter and follow the Mekong north for 40 km at your own pace. Being so close to the locals was a treat! Same goes for heading south if you have time.
Kampong Thom: Head 25 km out to visit the pre-Angkorian temples of Sambor Prei Kuk. Around a hundred monuments spread across three sites… and hardly anyone there!
A few practical tips:
Though prices are often listed in dollars, you can always pay in riels (1 USD = 4000 riels), which is what we preferred.
PassApp: An app to book tuk-tuks or rickshaws (and most importantly, know the price upfront).
Virak Buntham: A bus company connecting several cities, bookable online.
Feel free to ask me questions about places, accommodations, etc.—I’d be happy to answer!
Hi,
On September 1st, we're heading to Kalimantan for six weeks, probably from Pontianak to the Derawan Islands.
I've scoured this site, which is usually my go-to 😉, and others like VoyageForum, but recent info is pretty scarce.
I'd love any tips on places you've visited—our itinerary is still a work in progress.
We're two couples traveling with backpacks, using buses, boats, guesthouses, and homestays.
Thanks in advance!
Hi there,
We’re planning a 3-week family trip next summer with our three kids, who’ll be 8, 8, and 7 years old.
After some research, we’re leaning toward Malaysia to combine nature/forests and paradise beaches. The idea is to introduce our kids to the country’s culture, nature, and wildlife.
We want a great trip but without splurging on luxury options like high-end lodges and resorts. We’re looking for comfort with a touch of authenticity—basically, a good middle ground.
I’ve started putting together an itinerary and would love your expert advice and tips to help us build this amazing trip with our little ones.
Day 1: Departure from France
Day 2: Kuala Lumpur
Stay at a hotel near the airport or KL Sentral.
Just one night.
Day 3: Morning flight to Sandakan (Borneo).
Stay in Sepilok
Day 4: Sepilok:
* Orangutan Center
* Malayan Sun Bear Center
* Rainforest Discovery Centre
Day 5: Depart for Kinabatangan.
Boat safari in the late afternoon.
Day 6: Sunrise safari.
Jungle walk.
Evening safari.
Day 7: Final safari.
Return to Sandakan.
Flight to Kuala Lumpur, then to Kota Bharu (or overnight transit depending on schedules).
Day 8: Transfer to the port.
Boat to the Perhentian Islands.
Days 9 to 13: Perhentian Besar
5 full days.
* Snorkeling
* Hiking
* Turtle watching
* Wild beaches
* Relaxation
Day 14: Return to the mainland.
Bus or private car to Taman Negara.
Hello, it’s been a while since I last asked for your help on this forum—I’ve really missed it! I hope you’re all doing well, whether you're new or returning members.
I’m planning a trip from February 6 to 18, 2027, with my sister (we’re 47 and 50—time flies!). I’ve got my eye on a flight from Paris that lands in Bangkok on February 7 at 3 PM, with a return flight from Bangkok on February 18 at noon.
My sister has never been to this destination, and it’ll be her first time in Asia. Her priorities: beaches, sunshine, and cocktails by the shore. For me, I love that too, but I also enjoy exploring, nature, forests, and a bit of comfort (mixing guesthouses and higher-end hotels with pools). A little evening entertainment would be great, but not too much—good cocktails in a nice atmosphere rather than a rave party ;-). And I can’t help but dream of taking her on a little trek through a tropical forest (guaranteed memories and laughs, though she might curse me at the time) and showing her some karst landscapes.
I’ve been to Thailand before, but it was 15 years ago...
The idea is to give her a taste of Bangkok for 1 or 2 nights, a few days on an island (but which one...?), a tropical forest excursion with 1 or 2 nights on-site (Khao Sok?), and then back to Bangkok.
For the "main" island, even after reading the *Guide du Routard*, I’m still undecided. It’s hard to find a place that ticks all the boxes without feeling as crowded as the French Riviera in August: Koh Lanta? Khao Lak (though it’s not an island)? Koh Tao (I could maybe get my PADI certification, but I’m afraid she’d get bored, and it might be better to save that for a solo trip)? Koh Yao Yai (I worry we’d be bored in the evenings)? What a dilemma!
Thank you if you’ve read this far! Feel free to share any advice—it’ll all be warmly welcomed.
Here’s a rough outline of the itinerary (I’d rather skip a night in Bangkok if needed):
· Saturday, February 6, 2027: departure (overnight flight)
· Sunday, February 7, 2027: arrival at 3 PM, probably at the hotel by 6 PM, evening in Bangkok (overnight in Bangkok)
· Monday, February 8, 2027: day in Bangkok (Wat Pho and a floating market?) (overnight in Bangkok)
· Tuesday, February 9, 2027: travel to Koh Lanta or another island (flight to Phuket or Krabi?) (overnight on island "x")
· Wednesday, February 10, 2027: beach and walks (overnight on island "x")
· Thursday, February 11, 2027: beach and walks (overnight on island "x")
· Friday, February 12, 2027: beach and walks (overnight on island "x")
· Saturday, February 13, 2027: beach and walks (overnight on island "x")
· Sunday, February 14, 2027: beach and walks (overnight on island "x")
· Monday, February 15, 2027: travel to Khao Sok—nighttime excursion to Khao Sok (overnight in Khao Sok)
· Tuesday, February 16, 2027: exploration and hike in Khao Sok (overnight in Khao Sok)
· Wednesday, February 17, 2027: return trip to Bangkok (overnight in Bangkok)
· Thursday, February 18, 2027: return flight to Paris at noon
I’m planning a trip to Cambodia and was set on visiting the Ratanakiri region, which seemed to match what we love most in terms of landscapes: forests, jungle, greenery...
However, as I started looking into the area, I read that deforestation there is massive, and some of the info on the topic is years old—the situation hasn’t improved since, unfortunately.
So my question is: is Ratanakiri still worth visiting, and does it justify the long travel time and distance to get there?
I’ve seen that jungle treks are possible, but from experience, I know guides sometimes hesitate to venture deep into the forest and stick to shorter walks along the edges of parks.
Hi there,
I’ve found so many tips and reviews on this forum, so it’s my turn to contribute a little.
We spent just over two weeks with our family, with the following itinerary:
- Hanoi: 5 days
- Halong Bay: 3 days and 2 nights
- Tam Coc: 3 days
- Mai Chau: 2 days
- Sapa: 3 days
We got around by bike, scooter, Grab, and bus.
Our main accommodations were homestays and hotels in Hanoi.
We visited lots of museums, temples, and neighborhoods in Hanoi.
We did a 2-day, 1-night trek in Sapa with May, a Hmong local, without going through an agency.
A few small regrets: the weather was overcast, and we couldn’t make it to Fansipan, but nothing major 😅. We also couldn’t find transport to get from Sapa to Mu Cang Chai.
Other than that, this trip will stay in our memories for the kindness of the Vietnamese people, the connections we made, the food (street food, homestays...), the coffee 😋, the landscapes, and how easy it was to get around...
Our goal was to take our time and focus only on a small part of northern Vietnam.
If you need any tips or recommendations, don’t hesitate to ask.
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Cédric.
Hi there, we’re landing at Hanoi Airport and would like to head straight to Cao Bang without going into Hanoi. Does anyone know if there are buses that go directly from the airport to Cao Bang (especially in the early afternoon)? Thanks in advance!
Hi everyone,
I’m currently working on a 30-day itinerary for May/June 2027.
10 days in eastern Java (Malang, Bromo, waterfalls, Meru Beriti Park, Banyuwangi, and Ijen), a short transit in Ubud for a few days, then Flores before heading back to Jakarta.
We’ll spend 15 days in Flores (the classic route: Moni, Bajawa, Riung, Ruteng, ending in Labuan Bajo).
I’d love some firsthand feedback on flights to Maumere or Ende from Bali Denpasar. I know there are no direct routes and that you have to connect through Labuan Bajo or Timor (I think), which isn’t an issue in itself.
But I’ve read here and there that flights to these destinations can be delayed—or worse, canceled—and that it’s better to fly in and out of Labuan Bajo, which isn’t exactly ideal...
Thanks for any tips or experiences you can share!
hi everyone,
I want to travel in the north for 3 weeks in September-October 2026 to meet ethnic minorities, photograph mountain rice terraces and their harvest, and revisit Halong Bay—but maybe Lan Ha Bay instead. Can you recommend one or more local agencies?
Thanks, and happy holidays!
I need some expert advice on these two destinations for a 15-day trip. We land in KL and plan to stay for 2 days before heading to Borneo and finishing with an island for snorkeling.
For those who’ve been, what are your must-sees?
We were thinking of spending the last 3 days on the Perhentian Islands, unless you’ve got another island to recommend near Borneo.
Thanks for your tips and help!
Hi everyone,
Could you share your thoughts on my 3-week itinerary?
We’re a small group (family + friends) of 12 people, planning to leave around January 21, 2027.
Here’s my itinerary:
3 nights in Bangkok
4 nights in Chiang Mai
3 nights on Koh Samui
3 nights on Koh Phangan
4 nights in Krabi
4 nights in Phuket
I’m also open to any great tips you might have...
Thanks, everyone! Alain.
I’d love to get some feedback on our itinerary—it’s probably pretty basic! This is our second trip to Asia and our first to Indonesia. We have three kids aged 20, 18, and 12. We land in Jakarta at 4 PM, spend 3 nights/2 days there, then take the train to Yogyakarta for 3 nights/2 days, followed by the train to Surabaya for 2 nights/1 day, then the train to Bromo for 1 day/1 night, a private driver to Ijen for 2 nights/2 days, then on to Bali (Ubud) for 4 nights/3 days, followed by Gili Air for 3 nights/2 days, Senggigi (Lombok) for 2 nights, and finally 5 nights in Kuta. I’m considering cutting the 2 nights in Senggigi to just keep Kuta and extend it to 7 nights. In Lombok, I’m not sure how to get around since I’m not comfortable with scooters... Your thoughts on all of this, and any advice, are more than welcome—don’t hesitate!
For those wondering why cities like Jakarta and Surabaya: we don’t often get the chance to visit big Asian cities, so we wanted to include that discovery in our trip. The trains between Jakarta and Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Probolinggo are booked. The return flight from Lombok to Jakarta is also set. Accommodations are booked but flexible (same for the trains).
Hi! I’m planning a 15-day trip to Malaysia. The idea is to visit KL for 2 or 3 days, then Borneo, and I’m wondering what to do with the rest of the time. I’d like to finish with the Perhentian Islands... What do you think? Any tips or advice would be great—I’d really appreciate it!
Hi everyone,
I’m looking for addresses for guesthouses or, even better, houseboats or rafting houses on the River Kwai, between Kanchanaburi and Sangkhlaburi, to spend a few weeks contemplating this beautiful river.
Thanks for your suggestions!
Premaria
Hi there,
we’re currently in Mai Chau and tomorrow we’re hitting the road back to Hanoi to head up toward Bac Ha and Sapa.
We haven’t really had a set plan since we arrived—we’ve already done the Halong Bay on land and by sea.
I’ve got 2 free days before heading to Bac Ha and Sapa.
Any tips?
Thanks, and looking forward to hearing from you.
Hi fellow travelers,
First trip to Vietnam.
We’ll be arriving in Ho Chi Minh City during Tet.
Is it complicated to find accommodation and get around during this period?
Any tips would be welcome.
Thanks for your replies.
Silly question—backpack or hard-shell suitcase for the Sepilok, Kinabatangan, Tioman, KL trip?
I’m struggling to fit all my son’s and my stuff into the 70L backpack... and I’m thinking a suitcase would be easier, but I’m not sure if it’ll work for getting around.
Hi there,
I didn’t plan to return to Thailand this year, but my health conditions mean it’ll be the best place for me to stay between two trips to India. The tourism setup there is so well-organized that it’s the most "comfortable" country for a short visit. Thailand feels too sanitized for my taste, and there’s too much religion, Buddha, and the King, but it’s still the best option given how my health has been evolving. I’d considered two weeks in ThaTon for hiking, but I got too sick from the burn-offs during my trips to the mountains around Chiang Rai. So I’m not sure where to go this year. Definitely not the sea, touristy spots, or the mountains with burn-offs...
Hello.
In 1996, we crossed Vietnam from Saigon to Hanoi by motorbike—Minsk bikes we bought in Saigon. I haven’t been back since, and it seems like a lot has changed.
- We’re heading to the south (well, the north and center) with the family in July-August (3 people).
- Is the road network more developed now? Back then, there was only National Route 1 from south to north. I’m thinking of renting a car this time (no motorbike with the family—though in ’96, they had a Jawa sidecar for sale, and we hesitated… maybe it’s for the best).
- Is Halong Bay really something to avoid because of overtourism? Even back then, it was pretty crowded. Is there a less touristy alternative?
- We’ll be traveling from Hanoi down to Danang (the only city we didn’t stop in back in ’96). Even though it’s a bit overhyped in a Chinese-tourist kind of way (from what I’ve read), we’re only going for the beach—pure relaxation for 7 days. The beaches are stunning, and I know the South China Sea is warm like coffee.
- Then, we’ll visit Hoi An, where I stopped in ’96. It was already popular with backpackers back then, but no glowing boats or all the touristy fuss!
- After that, Hue, where I have great memories—it’s a beautiful city.
- And also the nature around Ninh Binh, followed by 2-3 days in Hanoi.
That’s the plan. I’d love to hear any tips to avoid mass tourism, and if anyone’s done this before:
- Is it possible to rent a car in Danang and drop it off in Hanoi?
Hey everyone,
I’m over in East Borneo in mid-July.
I’m struggling to wrap up the end of my itinerary, even though it’s pretty straightforward (long but simple).
Last year, we did Malaysia (KL and the mainland + around Kuching).
Day 1 – Arrive in Kota Kinabalu early, stroll around town and hit the must-sees.
Day 2 – Excursion to Tunku Abdul Rahman Park, snorkeling at 3 islands.
Day 3 – Hike around Mount Kinabalu without summiting (450 per person, no way).
Day 4 – Poring Hot Springs + evening flight to Sandakan.
Day 5-6-7 – Kinabatangan River (still looking for the right guide).
Day 8 – Sepilok for the orangutans, the Sun Bear Centre, and Rainforest Discovery Centre.
Day 9 – Selingan, turtle island.
Day 10 – Head to Semporna.
Day 11-12-13-14 – Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai.
Day 15 – Bohey Dulang.
Day 16 to Day 25: I’M STUCK.
I looked into Danum Valley, but for 3 days/2 nights, they’re quoting 650 € per person—come on, that’s ridiculous.
I checked out a detour into Indonesia (still East Borneo), but I’m having trouble deciding what would be amazing.
I read about Sangalaki + Kakaban (2 islands, 1 base) / Mahakam Delta - Kutai (orangutans and river) / Sungai Boh (Dayak Kayan) – jungle & culture.
But honestly, I’m struggling to finalize this itinerary.
If we venture that way, we’d head back to KK from Balikpapan.
For a 4-month stay in Egypt, I had ENORMOUS problems. The regulations are very bureaucratic and extremely nitpicky there. For a 4-month stay in the Philippines, I was wondering if the procedures are just as complicated? I’m bringing my cell phone with an eSIM. Should I choose a plan from Canada for use in the Philippines, or should I get a plan only once I arrive? After 30 days, do I renew with the Canadian provider I chose before leaving, or do I switch to a local company? Do I need to register my phone with the authorities in the Philippines? (That was the case in Egypt.) For the 3rd and 4th months, will it be just as simple—renewing with a Canadian or local provider—or should I expect problems?
Hello,
I’ll be in Malaysia with my wife, mainly in Langkawi and Penang for Christmas and New Year’s at the end of 2026.
If you’ve had the experience—and since I’ve read (though it’s not very clear) that these two islands get quite crowded during this period—would you recommend booking accommodation well in advance, or is it easy to find something on the spot?
Hotels or Airbnb?
Do you have any great tips for accommodation or any practical info to share?
We’ll be staying 5 to 7 days on each island.
Thanks in advance for your replies
Hi there. To make the most of Lake Toba, is it better to find accommodation on the lake’s shores (which one?) or on Samosir Island? Thanks for your tips!
Hi there,
We’re heading to Vietnam as a family on July 8th for a little over 3 weeks (north and center). We’ve only booked the first 3 nights in Hanoi, and nothing else after that. We like to decide things on the spot and go with the flow, without rushing everywhere. But I’m still a bit unsure: when heading down to the center (Hue), is it better to book the overnight trains in advance? We don’t want to take any flights while we’re there—just use the overnight train for the long trips. But I’m worried we won’t get seats if we buy the tickets on the spot, say, 2 days before. What do the experts here think? And which website can we use to book the tickets? Thanks in advance for your tips!
Hi everyone!
I’m heading back to Thailand in July 2026 with a stopover in Cambodia to visit the Angkor site.
After Angkor, I’ve booked a stay on Ko Chang island. Does anyone know if there are direct transport options from Cambodia to Ko Chang without having to go back through Bangkok? That would be amazing!!
I think there are, but I’d need more details!!
I went to Thailand in February 2025 and don’t remember having to apply for a visa—is that still the case now? And for Cambodia too?
Thanks so much!!!
Laurence from Bayonne
Hi,
After our trip to China, we want to spend a week in the Philippines for some beach time and snorkeling.
We're looking for the best spot to settle in—nice beaches, great marine life, and short transfer times.
Thanks for your suggestions!