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?

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.

The location of the Ben Tranh market is also ” middle ground”, usefully positioned centrally between the two main accommodation areas mentioned above, and close enough to both to be walked. The advantage then is that you can go to either of these areas to eat or drink, and easily get back home.

The other major advantage to the Ben Trahn area, is the Ben Tranh Market itself. The market offers a full and colourful array of goods during the day, housed within one of the oldest standing buildings in Saigon. Still about half local market, it carries a huge range of foods, including seafood, fruit, dried foods, spices, and most other things you can think of that have a strong odour, as well as textiles, home-wares, flowers and jewelery.

In the evening, the market closes, and the streets surrounding become a lively night market, with a hastily setup range of food stalls and retail “booths”. We found a good little bar, and watched the amazing transformation of Phan chu trinh, from a busy thoroughfare to a bustling market, at exactly 5.30pm. One minute traffic, then barriers go up, then people come from all directions with stalls and merchandise, then its a market! Wonderful bit of street theatre!

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?

There are 7 places on the island to stay as far as I saw, all by 2 of those quite upmarket ($100+ per night). I only saw two that were of a price within my budget (up to 1500 baht), and the better looking of those was Ko Ngai Seafood Bungalows.

The name is a little unusual, but speaking to the lovely lady who owns the establishment, she explained that the bungalows were a fairly new addition, to what previously had been the only, non-resort restaurant on the island.

She runs 9 bungalows in a crescent shaped layout facing the beach. Bungalow 9, that we stayed in, was the closest to the beach - about 5 meters away! They are simple bamboo bungalows, with cold water shower, and generator only power (operated night only). Fan cooled (when the power is on). They were basic, mattress with sheets, mosquito net over the bed, concrete floor, with a bamboo mat at the door. Definitely nothing too flash.

The value in this place, is the location. You can be in the water with 5 to 6 large strides! And it makes for an excellent little balcony to have a lukewarm beer and enjoy the sunset (real cold would be better, but not a reality). The place was not cheap at 1100 baht, but I would go back in a flash.

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 

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.

A overview of this research trip is as follows-

Hotel in Ben Thanh Market area of Saigon, nice and central, but not awash with backpackers. 

3 day minibus trip through Mekong delta area, stopping overnight at Can Tho and Chau Doc

Mekong river explorer trips at My Tho, Can Tho floating markets and Chau Doc fish farms.

Ferry crossing to Phu Quoc Island from Rach Gia.

 Accommodation on Long Beach, Phu Quoc, with time to explore the town of Duong Dong, and more of this unspoilt island.

Keep you eye out for more details on all these areas, and the rest of the Vietnem Explorer Itinerary! All to follow!

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

Below is the company’s latest official statement, regarding operations:

Viva Macau - Office Closure

April 06, 2010

As a direct result of the revocation of the Viva Macau Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) – a globally unprecedented event in international aviation – Viva Macau is now seeking legal advice for an orderly and responsible winding down of the business.

Viva Macau’s office is now closed. For any passenger inquiries, please contact the Macau Government Crisis Center at:

Tourism Crisis Management Office
Alameda Dr. Carlos
Edificio “Hot Line”, 14 andar, Macau
Telephone: +853 2872 3993
Fax: +853 2872 2726
Email: info@ggct.gov.mo
Web site: http://www.ggct.gov.mo/

Overseas:
Japan: +090 3220 5564
Jakarta: +62 21 8370 5913
Sydney: +61 2 8267 7212
Ho Chi Minh: +84 90 393 5134
Hanoi: +84 9133 20993

Viva Macau Airlines Continues to Refund All Affected Passengers

March 30, 2010

Viva Macau Airlines would like to thank all passengers affected by the recent flight cancellations for their patience and tolerance. We have activated our refund procedure to efficiently handle all refund requests: a total of 1,642 refund requests were processed yesterday in our office to the customer’s satisfaction in accordance with our Conditions of Carriage.

Customers always come first at Viva Macau Airlines, and we will continue to do our best to help all passengers with refunds in accordance with our Conditions of Carriage, including those holding Viva Macau Airlines tickets not yet affected by the cancellations. We are now working to reinstate operations in the fastest possible timeframe.

Viva Macau Airlines has set up a special hotline at 853-28718880 or 853-28718883 for enquiries. Procedures for refunds registrations include the following:

• Come to Viva Macau Airlines office (12/F., AIA Tower, No 251A-301 Avenida Comercial de Macau, Macau), Office Hours: 9am-6pm, Mon-Fri
• Email to refund@flyvivamacau.com , provide name, reservation number and detail contact
• Call Viva Macau Airlines overseas office hotline:
  Macau：853-28718880 or 853-28718883
  Australia：1300 363 044
  Vietnam：+84 42260 6688
  Indonesia：+62213926932 / 62212300892
  Japan :81(0)3 54303418

Viva Macau Airlines is continuing to communicate actively with all parties concerned. We are seeking to minimise the inconvenience caused to our passengers, as always we are keen to continue our mission to “Bring the world to Macau”.

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 !

However, what we decided was to stay somewhere other than Kuta, because, in thinking about why I wasn’t keen to go back, Kuta was the answer! (having stayed there 13 times previously, I have probably been more exposed than most on its transformation).

Anyhow, we stayed in Sanur this time round. What a difference. To me, Sanur reminded me a lot of Kuta when I first stayed there in 1983! Green, low rise development, reasonably light of cars. All nice things. The main traffic carrying road is well away from the Beach and the tourist streets.

In addition, the boardwalk along the beach stretches from on end of Sanur to the other, and provides an excellent opportunity for small restaurants, cafes, shops and other services to operate in a low key, open air format.

No annoying hawkers,l no-one selling time share, no bemo and taxi hassles, and, to be honest, it feels a lot safer. In sanur you just don’t have an uncomfortable look at every minivan that drives past. Having said that, security still seams to be reasonably good, particularly in restaurants and hotels.

Yep, I am back onboard with Bali - but it is Sanur all they way (I must be getting old??)

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.

Public Boat

8.00 am - 60,000rph

10.30am - 80,000rph

Speed Boat

9.00am

12.30pm

14.30pm

16.00pm

These are quoted from the Optasal Office (0361)9189900

Hopefully, this updated information is useful