I was thinking recently about the Asian coutries I have travelled to, and thought about the cost differences in visiting these different countries. I thought I might just do a quick ranking of  relative positioning I found in the total visiting costs - accom, travel, food, drinks etc, for a “regular” tourist..

As follows, from Cheapest to Dearest

Vietnam

Nepal

India

Indonesia

Thailand

Malaysia

Brunei

Singapore

These are the Asian Countries I have visited, so I wont comment on others. Does anyone disagree or have comment to add?

Click Here to consider Asian Itineraries’ 3 levels of travel packages

The streets directly surrounding the Ben Tranh Market make an interesting area to stay in Ho Chi Minh City, and fill a “middle ground” between the Pham Ngu Lao Backpacker area, and the more upmarket Dong Khoi Area that houses most of the 5 star options. The Ben Tranh area is predominantly small and mini hotels, up to a maximum of about 5 levels, and often with only a half a dozen rooms on each level.

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Ko Ngai is a tiny dot off the South Andaman Coast, about an hour by speedboat from Ko Lanta, itself about 2 hours south from Phuket. I’ve commented before on the island, the tranquility, and coral reef that runs off the beach. This, and the fact the main beach is east facing, towards the mainland, and sheltered from weather and swell from the open sea to the west, are just some of the factors that make this island idyllic.

But where can you stay if you go there?

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I have recently been shopping around heavily, to find a great rate for a week in Phuket, Thailand. I have been to Patong Beach several times over the last few years and always wonder if I am getting a good deal! The Thais can be very convincing, so I pay, but then I am always left wondering….

Anyhow, I have tried walkup rates, as well as both shopfront and Internet travel agents. Todate, the best solution I have been able to find, has been a search and compare website -www.HotelsCombined.com“>HotelsCombined

This site search 40+ booking websites, to find the best deal! It included the big names, and some reputable local companies. I have used this website to book the Andaman Resort, and Laguna Beach Resort. Both times I ended up with a deal about 30% under elsewhere, and I was directed to a different booking engine each time! This demonstrates that they don’t appear to play commission favourites, it appears to really be about the best deal!

Good for Us!

Have a look- www.HotelsCombined.com“>Hotels Combined

Click Here to Get the Latest Low Cost Airline Information 

Having recently returned from a trip from Ho Chi Minh City, 3 days through the Mekong Delta, onto Phu Quoc Island, and then return to Siagon, I thought it necessary to comment on the service by TNK Travel.

We first came to notice the custom tours TNK could organise, through a google search and as a result, thier website. They offered an itinerary that looked like it would suit our requirements, and at a reasonable price, so we were interested. However, we were unable to research much else about TNK, as they didnt appear to have much feedback from sites such as Trip-Advisor. Reason being, they are a new tour company, and not having a lot of exposure yet.

I can confidently say to others considering thier services, that they are a genuine travel company, with an office in the Ngu Lao St area of Siagon. (216 De Tham St).

We found thier staff and vehicles to be excellent, and very much enjoyed our tour! I intend to post plenty more details soon.

I have recently returned from what will soon become another Asian Itinerary for the website, or a least part of one. Having done a trip through Vietnam, from Hanoi to Saigon previously, this was the little bit of the country, west from Ho Chi Minh city, that was needed to complete a full “Tour of Vietnam”.

A overview of this research trip is as follows-

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Are you booked to fly Viva Macau? If so, we suggest immediate action to get your refund. Experience suggests, that now that the company has ceased operations and is shutting their offices, that handing over to a receiver or administrator is not far away. At that point, refunds will become a long, drawn out process! For refund action, we suggest you contact the following email address ASAP - refund@flyvivamacau.com

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Click Here to consider Asian Itineraries’ 3 levels of travel packagesHaving been effected by the business failing of Perth based airline “Indojet”, I am always on the lookout for more troubles in the Airline industry. Particularly the Low Cost model. Latest company having trouble ans suspending services is Viva Macau. A much larger airline, and probably many more people involved, both in Sydney, Melbourne and several other countries? This this their most recent statement :

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 Click Here to Search and Compare Bali Hotel Prices

Having been to Bali many times over the last 25 years, after my last visit in 2008, I decided I was “All Bali’d out” and would not go back in a hurry. However, time takes the edge of memories, and come 2010, and the need for a quick, easy getaway, we decided Bali it was ! Read the rest of this entry »

Click Here to consider Asian Itineraries’ 3 levels of travel packages 

Having previously given details of times and costs of the ferry services from Sanur, Bali to Lembongan Island, I thought it was probably timely to give an update. Having returned from Sanur in February 2010, I noted the ferry times and prices as follows.

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