Travel Question/Advice about Asia traveling

#16
Depends what sort of experience you're after. I'd go Japan over China if you're after something fairly crowd-pleasing (Japan is just beautiful) and if you're up for something a bit more unusual, I'd look into Vietnam and Cambodia.
 
#17
Sri Lanka is amazing. I spent a month there and loved it.

You can go from relaxing on the beach (or swimming / surfing / snorkelling / diving / whale watching) to picking tea to hiking in the forest or up to Adams peak or to world's end. There are safaris (leopards, tons of elephants), jewelry shopping (sapphires are their specialty), lots of temples and ancient ruins. The town of Nuwara Eliya is a British colonial town in the hills so it's cool and reminiscent of Britain.

The food is delicious and cheap! We could eat breakfast for $1usd per person per day at the right places. The people are friendly and curious.

In short, if you love relaxing on the beach, shopping, adventure, thrill seeking, good food, gorgeous historical sites, wildlife, friendly people, and a really inexpensive country, I recommend Sri Lanka.

If you have more specific questions let me know :smile:
 
#18
I just read that your dad can't walk much. We hired tuktuks to bring us around everywhere. A tuktuk from Colombo to Galle (2 hours each way) plus the guide driving me where I wanted to go all day cost about $20usd. A driver taking us to Kandy (half day drive) is as little as $60usd. The city isn't super walking friendly so tuktuks and taxis were often used.
 
#19
Recommend Laos (Luang Prabang and Northern Thailand (Chiang Mai and Chaing Rai) - it's a slower relaxing pace cheap (comparatively) lots of culture, great tasty food. Can take the slow boat from Laos to Thailand
 
#20
Cambodia, Vietnam yes all rather nice and you will be able to easily hire drivers at a very low cost to take you around. It is also safe. Since its your first trip out to Asia, it's a long flight here and to get to Vietnam or Cambodia likely means you have to transit in Hong Kong (via west coast) or Bangkok (via east coast). I suggest for an Asia virgin tour either of these 2 cities is where you should go. Both are modern cosmopolitan cities, English is easily accessible and there is a lot to see and have fun. From bangkok city you can easily commute to their islands and access to gorgeous beaches for some R&R.
 
#21
I recommend Japan. I think it gets a bad rap as being expensive, which was probably very true in the past. But isn't necessarily so nowadays. Tokyo, for instance, is a huge city, but offers something for every budget. Honestly, if you plan in advance or look to rent an apartment or stay at an extended stay hotel, for instance, it can be very affordable. Tokyo is very modern and metropolitan, but you know you're in Japan. You can do day trips in and around the city. And easily get around by subway, buses, or taxis. You can pace the trip for your father, by exploring different areas each day, visiting temples, museums, parks, etc. So that he doesn't have to walk too much each day. This website is great for planning out visits.

http://www.japan-guide.com

The food, and variety of it, in Japan is fantastic, but like anywhere else, you should be selective. There is a lot of good to excellent food, of all cuisines and types, that can be had for less than you'd think. Even less than some big cities in the U.S. There is no tipping at restaurants. If you go, you must visit the basements of the large department stores. They display food there like you would not believe.

I would say the biggest expenditure for a trip to Japan may be the airfare and transportation. Everything else, you can modify according to your budget.
 
#22
Also, since you are planning a trip in the Fall, you could visit Kyoto instead or also, which is in a region that is southwest of Tokyo. The autumn leaves, even as they are just turning, are gorgeous. The best time to catch the autumn leaves in all their glory varies. I believe it's sometime in November, but you can see some leaves as early as October and into December. It won't be hot like summer during the fall months, after September. Kyoto is beautiful and full of charm. It has the cultural treasures you are looking for.


tatsu_k said:
Hello Ladies,



I want an advice if possible, as I am in a situation no one of people i know could help me with information :smile:. I live in NYC and travel home to E Europe to visit my father once in every two years, when im visiting we travel together. We never went anywhere outside Europe and we've been quit to a few countries there.



Now, I am really considering going to Asia. I am ready to see something totally different and new and share it with my father. Here is the question: which country should we go? I know its a tricky question, but then again, no Maldives or any romantic destinations lol,. We are planning to go in fall 2015. I was thinking between Sri Lanka, Vietnam, maybe Beijing/Shanghai (China) or South Korea. What are your thoughts? Few things: i would love it to be $ friendly (i heard Singapore is expensive), not super hot, no crazy long walks (again, because of my dad's health). And mostly im looking for cultural treasures, something unforgettable.



I've never been to Asia, never did any research on countries there. Maybe if you visited/lived/live in any of those countries, you can share little experience?



I would really appreciate any thoughts. Last time when i traveled to Portugal, ladies here gave few tips that worked out great, so im here for the second time :smile:



Thanks!
Click to expand...
 
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#23
tatsu_k said:
Hello Ladies,

I want an advice if possible, as I am in a situation no one of people i know could help me with information :smile:. I live in NYC and travel home to E Europe to visit my father once in every two years, when im visiting we travel together. We never went anywhere outside Europe and we've been quit to a few countries there.

Now, I am really considering going to Asia. I am ready to see something totally different and new and share it with my father. Here is the question: which country should we go? I know its a tricky question, but then again, no Maldives or any romantic destinations lol,. We are planning to go in fall 2015. I was thinking between Sri Lanka, Vietnam, maybe Beijing/Shanghai (China) or South Korea. What are your thoughts? Few things: i would love it to be $ friendly (i heard Singapore is expensive), not super hot, no crazy long walks (again, because of my dad's health). And mostly im looking for cultural treasures, something unforgettable.

I've never been to Asia, never did any research on countries there. Maybe if you visited/lived/live in any of those countries, you can share little experience?

I would really appreciate any thoughts. Last time when i traveled to Portugal, ladies here gave few tips that worked out great, so im here for the second time :smile:

Thanks!
Click to expand...
It depends on what you want to see. Cambodia has a lot of temples. Singapore is a bit expensive (I've just been there) but I think it's probably just the shopping. You can easily find hawker stalls that sell inexpensive but yummy and safe food. The MRT will take you everywhere although there is some walking to be done.

In Hong Kong, the food is great and the cost of living isn't so high.

If you like beaches, you can visit the Philippines.
 
#24
If you want beach side and mix of city life u can consider Phuket or Penang or Bali (maybe Langkawi Island too)
Big city with rich culture (modern hotels, malls but not too expensive) - Bangkok, Saigon, Kuala Lumpur
Big city, extensive shopping and Disneyland! - Hong Kong (and maybe mix it with Shenzhen for silk shopping and nature tours or even Macau for casinos.

I'm originally from Singapore, living in Kuala Lumpur and travel extensively in the region so let me know if there's any way I can help :smile:
 
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