What to choose for a first summer trip to Asia: Indonesia or Thailand? (page 4 of 5)

You would’ve already won it then!

I’m a bit late to the party... I only got back a week ago after my big month in Thailand, among other places. I replied to your private message in general terms, but I see you’ve already made your choice. But as I told you, even if you end up going to Indonesia, keep Thailand in mind for another time (since I understand you’ll mostly travel in the summer to have more days off). The monsoon isn’t really a deal-breaker (unless you want to go trekking for 3 days and get lost in the northern mountains or ride a scooter on winding roads with your kid on the back). Anyway, it’s really super safe with kids. And honestly, our trip was amazing with the added bonus that it wasn’t packed with tourists—since a lot of people hesitate because of the monsoon, you get to enjoy things without the huge crowds (though it’s still very touristy, don’t imagine it’s deserted😛). That’s mainly what made me hesitate with Indonesia (since I was aiming for Bali, which is also very touristy).

For the flight tickets, bought at the end of March for a mid-July departure, direct flight Paris <> Bangkok with Aircalin (a French airline that serves New Caledonia and stops in Bangkok), 3,600 € for the 3 tickets. Well, mid-July to mid-August is the most expensive time, plus direct flights... there were cheaper options with layovers, around 3,100 € for the 3 tickets at the time! Domestic flights are great (European airlines should take notes) and the prices are super reasonable (for example: 39 € for a Chiang Rai > Bangkok flight with Thai Airways, checked baggage included).

Either way, I think you’ll have a wonderful trip. Indonesia is definitely on my list too.

Hi Air Câlin flight times: CDG 8:50 PM - BKK 2:25 PM BKK 9:40 AM - CDG 5:00 PM Food for thought!!!!

Hi,

Food for thought!!!!

Why?

I was asking myself the same thing😛!!! Well, I just booked the flight without overthinking it—I went for the cheapest direct option at the time. Nothing negative to report; I found the service on par with Air France—nothing exceptional, but decent. The little bonus? It made me want to visit New Caledonia 😎 (for the landscapes)

Hello,

Food for thought!!!!

Why?

Hello, The schedules, quite simply!!!

Always direct flights:

Air France: CDG 4:30 PM - BKK 9:15 AM THAI AIRWAYS: CDG 12:30 PM - BKK 6:00 AM

Air France: BKK 11:30 AM - CDG 6:30 PM THAI AIRWAYS: BKK 12:05 AM - CDG 6:50 AM

So? I still don’t get what you’re getting at.

Yeah? I still don’t get what you’re getting at.

Hi, Just the return flight with Air Câlin:

BKK 9:40 AM – CDG 5:00 PM To check in and drop off your luggage, you need to be there at least 3 hours before departure. That means 6:40 AM. Plus, depending on where you’re coming from, 1 to 1.5 hours of travel time. So, leaving at 5:00 AM.

BKK 9H40 – CDG 17h00To check in and drop off luggage You need to arrive at least 3 hours before departure That means 6:40 AM

That’s not exactly the reality. You have to understand that the flight comes from New Caledonia, so most travelers have already checked in from there, which means there are very few people at check-in in BKK. Personally, we arrived at the airport at 8 AM (for the flight that actually leaves at 9:50 AM), I had checked in online the day before, and that was more than enough. So you have to take that into account—it’s different for other airlines where everyone checks in at BKK, so there’s a line. After that, it’s very personal—3 hours before is for some airports/destinations, 2 hours is enough at BKK, 2 hours 30 minutes if you’re a bit stressed. And on top of that, for Aircalin, since very few people check in at BKK, as I mentioned above.

And the possibility of where you’re coming from—1h to 1h 30m of travel 5:00 AM departure

Well, that’s up to everyone to decide. Personally, I stayed at a hotel near BKK (8 minutes from the airport, their shuttle cost 100 baht for 3 people) that costs 49 € per night. The next morning, I was downstairs at 7:45 AM for the shuttle—definitely not 5:00 AM...

There are many ways to travel, I think. Everyone should adapt based on their budget, personality, stress level, etc...

Hi there, Of course, everyone travels in their own way. I’ve taken the BKK-CDG route more than 40 times (with or without layovers), and I’ve never missed a flight. I always make it a habit to arrive early for check-in and baggage drop-off, and I’ll keep doing that. You can always check in online the day before to save time, but don’t forget there’s a strict deadline for dropping off your bags.

Simply the return flight with Air Câlin

BKK 9:40 AM – CDG 5:00 PM To check in and drop off luggage You need to arrive at least 3 hours before departure That means 6:40 AM Plus the possibility of where you're coming from 1 to 1.5 hours of travel time Leaving at 5:00 AM

I agree with the reasoning—it’s what I do too—and I’d add the issue of traffic jams, which you should never underestimate. So for an international flight that early, I try not to book it if possible. That said, Gange’s reasoning makes sense too, but I don’t want to "waste" a night in a hotel near the airport. Even though fewer passengers board in this case (so shorter check-in lines), the wait time at Immigration and the length of the corridors you have to walk don’t get any shorter.

Simply the return flight with Air Câlin

BKK 9:40 AM – CDG 5:00 PM To check in and drop off luggage You need to arrive at least 3 hours before departure That means 6:40 AM Plus the possibility of where you're coming from 1 to 1.5 hours of travel time So, departure at 5:00 AM

I agree with the reasoning—it’s what I do too—and I also factor in traffic jams, which you should never underestimate. So, for an international flight that early, I try not to book it if possible. That said, Gange’s reasoning makes sense too, but I don’t want to "waste" a night in a hotel near the airport. Even if fewer passengers board in this case, meaning shorter lines at check-in, the wait time at Immigration and the length of the corridors you have to walk don’t get any shorter.

For the Air Calin flight Nouméa – CDG

Nouméa to Bangkok flight at 10:20 AM Bangkok to CDG flight at 12:45 PM All passengers coming from Nouméa deplane in Bangkok for aircraft cleaning, even those continuing to CDG

Well well 😉, I think it’s all very personal and depends on the travel context. I wasn’t in Bangkok myself—I arrived in BKK the night before leaving the next morning. If I *had* been in Bangkok, I would’ve stayed in the city and left early the next day to enjoy my last evening. I did that on the way there (I was heading to Laos for a wedding). I took the train from BKK after arriving from Paris to Ratchaprarop station and stayed at a hotel right next to it (40 baht for the trip—totally worth it and no traffic hassle), then left the next day to catch my flight to Luang Prabang.

Otherwise, the Aircalin flight was 400 € cheaper than AF and Thai. So it really depends on everyone’s budget too. Honestly, I didn’t even check the schedule—it was really secondary for me... as long as the flight was direct and not with some obscure airline.

But for that reason, I really think it depends on each person (budget, personality, travel context, etc.) 😛

Hi Michèle,

Thanks for your contributions.

There was a bit of a mix-up: in the end, I’m leaning more toward a trip to Thailand after realizing how complex a trip to Indonesia can be (lots of flights, less developed infrastructure, etc.).

I can’t read your second private message because of a platform bug (it keeps taking me back to the first one—will check again later).

Thanks for the chat about flights. I’ll probably leave from Brussels or Amsterdam, but now I know I’ll need to plan on spending a night in BKK or leaving later than you did to get back to Europe. :-)

About domestic flights: - Did you buy them in advance or on the spot? - Did you do all your travel within Thailand by plane? - Based on what you’ve heard or experienced there, would you recommend buses, trains, or boats?

Have a great weekend!

Damien

Hello, In Thailand, the daytime and nighttime road-based public transport network is so well-developed and often comfortable that you can easily skip domestic flights, especially with 4-5 weeks. Buses are so numerous that most of the time, booking your seats the day before* at the bus station or through your accommodation is enough. Sleeper trains are an additional option not to be overlooked, but you need to book them much earlier. You can buy your domestic flights on the spot (including at 7/Eleven convenience stores in some cases) a few days before, but it's better to save that for routes with plenty of options (e.g., Bangkok-Chiang Mai) and not for a departure during the weekend. Bangkok has two airports: the main one (Suvarnabhumi, pronounced Su-wan-na-poom, international code BKK) and the secondary one mostly used by low-cost airlines (Don Mueang, code DMK). Both are international and not close to each other.

I gathered that you're not a fan of crowds, which should encourage you not to stay *only* on the tourist highway and could result in a really interesting itinerary. If you need info/help/suggestions based on your tastes while planning, we're always here.

If you're now certain it'll be Thailand, I think you should start a new thread in the Thailand section (this one is getting a bit off-track) instead of the "traveling with kids" section.

* or even 1-2 hours before departure on many routes.

Hi Thierry,

Thanks again for these super helpful practical tips.

I’ll borrow some guidebooks from the local library, and once I’ve got a better idea of my itinerary, I’ll start a new thread like you suggested to talk it through.

Enjoy the time until then, and safe travels if you get the chance!

Damien

I’m going to borrow a few guidebooks from the municipal library

That’s a really great idea—one I think too few people consider. At this stage of research/planning, it doesn’t matter if it’s not the latest edition.

For getting around, it all depends on your itinerary.

If you want to explore all corners of Thailand, you’ll need to plan some domestic flights. North + south: one international flight in and out from Phuket or Krabi.

For travel, trains are nicer than buses. More room to move around, especially with a kid... Plus better views. Some routes need to be booked in advance.

Renting a car is an option worth considering. It’s the best way to get around comfortably. Best for less populated areas! (International driver’s permit required)

You can also book pre-reserved taxis to travel between cities. Much cheaper than in Europe, and when traveling with others, it’s often cheaper than the bus...

I also found there were noticeably fewer public transport options than before.

Hi, Oh shoot, actually my next message was about my domestic flights (I took 2). But anyway, Thierry/Attila covered everything—it was mostly thanks to the forum’s tips that I planned my trip😛. I’ll definitely add a little travel journal too; it might give some ideas. Happy planning! !

If you want to go to all four corners of Thailand, you’ll need to plan some domestic flights. The north + the south:

I hope he doesn’t want to go to all four corners—we don’t want him turning his trip into a marathon or a game of hopscotch...

About the need to connect the North to the South with a direct flight—if that’s what you meant—the itinerary can easily include a stop between the two to avoid flying. For example, a direct VIP bus from Chiang Mai to Kanchanaburi, visiting for 4 nights (just the city) to 8-9 nights (the whole province), then a 55-minute bus (route 81, A/C) from Kan to Ban Pong, and from there, an overnight train to the South. The result? You skip the flight, explore a beautiful province, and avoid passing through Bangkok.

For getting around, the train is nicer than the bus.

Only the Rapid or Express trains, though—because the third-class slow trains, uh, well, you’d better be *very* patient, even if they do have the advantage of not requiring reservations.

Renting a car is an option worth considering. It’s the best way to get around comfortably.

Obviously, it’s more comfortable—like in any country, you’re stating the obvious a bit... But I see two downsides that I don’t think are negligible: - As long as you’re in your car, you’re not really with the Thais, - Doing the whole circuit that way pushes you to visit too quickly.



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