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I'm pretty sure I am, it's 30 days visa free for EU citizens. Although this is the first time I'll ever have left an airport during a layover - is there something else I should know about?
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Oct 30, 2010 11:20
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If you want to do a motorcycle trip from Saigon to Laos to Cambodia to Northern Thailand is the Minsk still the way to go? It seems like you can't get any parts past Laos but with a Honda you can get whatever you need anywhere. My friend and I were talking about this and he is worried about the Minsk. The lucky bastard is about to go on an epic SE Asia trip by bike. His only thing is he wants a clutch on the bike, not automatic. All the bikes I rented back when I was there were automatic, hell I didn't know how to work a clutch. Also, from everything we have read the Minsk breaks down all the time. He just wants something that works and can get fixed anywhere if it stops working. I don't really know about the different Honda bikes like Wave vs Bonus vs whatever else, or if there is a difference. I guess the main thing is you want the most powerful one you can get at your budget. Correct? Also, does Laos only let you get a 7 day visa with a motorcycle? I read more than once, I think in this thread for starters, people had a 30 day visa but it was changed to 7 days when they showed up on motorcycle
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Oct 31, 2010 23:35
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Ribsauce posted:If you want to do a motorcycle trip from Saigon to Laos to Cambodia to Northern Thailand is the Minsk still the way to go? It seems like you can't get any parts past Laos but with a Honda you can get whatever you need anywhere. My friend and I were talking about this and he is worried about the Minsk. The lucky bastard is about to go on an epic SE Asia trip by bike. His only thing is he wants a clutch on the bike, not automatic. All the bikes I rented back when I was there were automatic, hell I didn't know how to work a clutch. Also, from everything we have read the Minsk breaks down all the time. He just wants something that works and can get fixed anywhere if it stops working. If he cuts out Vietnam (or does it on a separate bike) then an XR250 would be best, although kinda pricey. Minsk's aren't terribly reliable (this goes double if you buy it from a shady backpacker), but they're very easy to work on. Mine wasn't really that bad at all as far as breakdowns over 7-8 weeks, but I spent a little extra to get a real creampuff ($450). Parts can be a problem outside of Vietnam/Laos since you can't carry everything, but for the less exotic stuff a local mechanic can usually cobble something together. For example, we replaced the generator coils in my bike by unwinding them, measuring the length of wire, and then going to the market to buy that length of new wire and re-winding it on the coils. Another guy adapted a metal gasket from a step-through for the engine cylinder on my bike by poking some new holes in it. Something like the electrical box you should definitely keep a spare of though. The owner of the shop I dealt with in Hanoi (Flamingo Travel, highly recommended) said he can put parts on a bus and send them wherever if something major happens. I'm not sure if he could get it from Hanoi to northern Thailand though, you'd have to ask. They don't have clutches, but a lot of those step-throughs like the Wave, Dream, etc are 4-speed manuals. They're a little weird because you shift the other way with the foot lever and neutral is before 1, rather than between 1 and 2, but it's not that hard to get used to. Before I got the Minsk I used to favor those; I've never actually ridden one with an automatic transmission. They're convenient, and fine for little day trips in Thailand where the roads are good, but they suck rear end to ride off-road and I wouldn't really plan a long-distance trip/holiday around them unless it was for the sheer novelty/lol factor. What I meant about the 7-day thing is that the bike's temporary import permit was only for 7 days, I still got the normal 30 for myself. I tried explaining to the Lao immigration guys that I was going to be in Laos for the whole duration of the visa with the bike and would logically like 30 days on the bike's temporary import permit too, but they said 7 was the max and I'd have to get it extended at the provincial finance office(s). This could be bullshit or not; I got a different story from each provincial finance office so it's possible the guys at the border were just as clueless and I got unlucky. I crossed at Dien Bien Phu which was pretty remote and hadn't gotten many foreigners (fewer still on bikes) at the time, so it's possible things might be better now. At any rate, if he has to get it extended at the provincial finance offices I definitely recommend digging up a bilingual Lao person from his guesthouse or something to translate, as they're not at all set up for handling foreigners. Pompous Rhombus fucked around with this message at 00:14 on Nov 1, 2010 |
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Nov 1, 2010 00:12
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Ok so I realize this is not a forum of medical professionals but I'd appreciate the goon consensus. Going to Thailand on the 15th of Nov. I really have no idea what vaccinations I am current for. I will be there for two weeks, probably not well off the beaten path--what vaccinations are must-have? I have a doctor's appointment on Wed... I'm not going to be partaking in any sexual activity but I will probably eat lots of street food.
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Nov 1, 2010 03:09
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You can get away with none for Thailand but if you are gonna take any I guess Malaria and Hep A are the two biggest ones to consider.
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Nov 1, 2010 05:09
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lemonadesweetheart posted:You can get away with none for Thailand but if you are gonna take any I guess Malaria and Hep A are the two biggest ones to consider. Malaria is an absolute waste of time and money unless you're going well off the beaten path.
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Nov 1, 2010 06:10
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brendanwor posted:Malaria is an absolute waste of time and money unless you're going well off the beaten path. So is Hep A to be honest.
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Nov 1, 2010 09:01
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ohwandernearer posted:Ok so I realize this is not a forum of medical professionals but I'd appreciate the goon consensus. Unfortunately with this kind of question the answer is invariably that if you're on the tourist -sorry, 'traveller' trail they are all unneccessary. Unless you get really unlucky. I'd get a rabies shot - the semi-wild animals you occasionally see around are usually better behaved than most pets but rabies is some nasty, nasty stuff.
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Nov 1, 2010 10:23
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Ribsauce posted:If you want to do a motorcycle trip from Saigon to Laos to Cambodia to Northern Thailand is the Minsk still the way to go? It seems like you can't get any parts past Laos but with a Honda you can get whatever you need anywhere. My friend and I were talking about this and he is worried about the Minsk. The lucky bastard is about to go on an epic SE Asia trip by bike. His only thing is he wants a clutch on the bike, not automatic. All the bikes I rented back when I was there were automatic, hell I didn't know how to work a clutch. Also, from everything we have read the Minsk breaks down all the time. He just wants something that works and can get fixed anywhere if it stops working. I loved the hell out of the Saigon-Hanoi trip I did on a Minsk earlier this year, but that was more in spite of the bike than because of it. I now loving hate Minsks and will never touch one again. For the entire second half of the country it was breaking down literally every day, and 90% of mechanics refused to look at it. I met a Norwegian guy in Hanoi who had bought a manual Honda (not a scooter; it was the kind of big bike the Easy Riders use) for $600 US. For only three hundred extra dollars I could have bought that and had a much better time. The only thing Minsks have going for them is their low price, and in retrospect I really regret not shelling out the tiny bit extra for a better bike and a better trip. Having said that if he does decide on a Minsk tell him to check the serial stamp on the steering column. There's a string of numbers with a single letter in them, and the letter corresponds to the year. Mine was B, which was around 1980, and obviously the older a Minsk is the more prone it is to breakdowns. My friend had a T (1996, the sport model with the higher and harder seat) and it ran much more smoothly than mine. Relatively, though, they're all pieces of poo poo that were built in a lovely country and exported to another lovely country and butchered by lovely mechanics for years.
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Nov 2, 2010 00:51
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freebooter posted:I loved the hell out of the Saigon-Hanoi trip I did on a Minsk earlier this year, but that was more in spite of the bike than because of it. I now loving hate Minsks and will never touch one again. For the entire second half of the country it was breaking down literally every day, and 90% of mechanics refused to look at it. What, like an XR250, or one of those 110-125cc ones that have the gas tank up top and look kinda like a real motorcycle? If it was an XR250 for $650 (in Vietnam, where they've been banned from being imported for years) it was definitely stolen or otherwise not legit, and the mechanics I talked to said those little Hondas were not much more reliable. Well-worn XR250's are more in the $1,000 range in Cambodia, I think more than double that in Vietnam because they're so rare. My Minsk was a Sport that was owned by a foreign lawyer and maintained by a good shop. It would have things rattle loose or whatever on a semi-regular basis, the only time it actually left me stranded was the mechanic replacing a chain that didn't really need it (the new Chinese chain separated and punched a hole in the transmission, we replaced it with the old one, put a new tranny casing on the bike, and it was right as rain for the rest of the trip). Another time I blew a tire and had to spend the night in the jungle, but it was my own fault for not buying another spare kit when I lost my original one. Little poo poo like the accelerator cable coming loose, engine gasket blowing, or sparkplug getting fouled you can fix by yourself pretty easily, and I didn't mind having to bump-start it every now and then. I wouldn't say the only thing Minsks have going for them is the price; they're really well-suited for dirt/rough roads. I was making awesome time in Laos and tearing past locals on scooters because they have to dodge every little dip and pothole in the road; with a Minsk you can just blast right over them by virtue of its fatter tires and more robust suspension. That kind of riding is fun as hell, and I actually looked forward to the bad roads rather than dreading them as I did on a step-through. Sure, if I had Real Person Money to spend I'd definitely buy/rent an XR250 because that is probably even better on trails and more reliable to boot, but on a budget it's pretty much Minsk or step-through. I seem to have had a much better experience with the Minsk than most people, I think it's probably worth the extra money to buy one from a shop. Pompous Rhombus fucked around with this message at 01:28 on Nov 2, 2010 |
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Nov 2, 2010 01:26
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Crivens posted:Unfortunately with this kind of question the answer is invariably that if you're on the tourist -sorry, 'traveller' trail they are all unneccessary. Unless you get really unlucky. Getting a rabies shot prior to exposure is somewhat pointless as well in this case. Typical prophylactic series is I believe 2 shots prior to exposure, but you still need 3 shots after exposure. So, if you can't get access to rabies shots after exposure, you're still hosed, but if you can, it's essentially 100% effective, and very little difference whether you got prophylactic shots or not. Not to mention how much cheaper it is getting the shots in SEA compared to the US. I got bit by a cat in Phnom Penh and got post-exposure shots out of an abundance of caution, and it cost me something like $30 per shot. In the US, it's more like $200 per shot. I would get Hep A though, it's a cheap shot, lasts for a while, and it isn't something that you can consciously avoid like rabies and (to a degree) malaria. If I remember right you need 2 shots a month apart or so, but it's still fairly effective even after 1.
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Nov 2, 2010 15:56
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kalicki posted:Getting a rabies shot prior to exposure is somewhat pointless as well in this case. I don't see why people don't get a hep A/B shot. You can get infected with them fairly easy, especially hep A (toilet, food). And it's not that hard/expensive (for me it was largely free) to get the shots.(you have to go 3 times to the doctor though).
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Nov 2, 2010 19:37
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kalicki posted:I would get Hep A though, it's a cheap shot, lasts for a while, and it isn't something that you can consciously avoid like rabies and (to a degree) malaria. If I remember right you need 2 shots a month apart or so, but it's still fairly effective even after 1. 2 shots for Hep A. First one at 0, second one ideally at 5 months. Provides protection for 10 years. If you don't have five months there are accelerated schedules that are almost as effective as the five month one. Hep B is three shots at 0, 1, and 5. ohwandernearer posted:Ok so I realize this is not a forum of medical professionals but I'd appreciate the goon consensus. In your case I'd recommend not worrying about it -- go as you are. Seriously. Also what the hell do you mean you're not going to be partaking in any sexual activity? Of course you are. Even if you're scared of brown people I don't think you how hard British girls shake the slut-richter once they get off an airplane in a warm country. psst: http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?threadid=3260679#post371853945 raton fucked around with this message at 00:49 on Nov 3, 2010 |
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Nov 3, 2010 00:47
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Pompous Rhombus posted:What, like an XR250, or one of those 110-125cc ones that have the gas tank up top and look kinda like a real motorcycle? If it was an XR250 for $650 (in Vietnam, where they've been banned from being imported for years) it was definitely stolen or otherwise not legit, and the mechanics I talked to said those little Hondas were not much more reliable. It was something like this, which I guess is a Honda Bonus: http://www.flickr.com/photos/henrytapia/443632633/ Of course I don't know how easy it would be to actually find one for sale, every other backpacker ad in Hanoi was for either Minsks or scooters. I do lay the blame for lovely breakdowns squarely at the feet of the Vietnamese, who don't take care of their things and then don't fix them properly when they break. I'm sure if I got a Minsk fresh off the factory line in Belarus and took it back home it would be great, and I'm sure if an XR-250 spent twenty years at the hands of Vietnamese mechanics it wouldn't run so well either. And I do suspect most Vietnamese mechanics will have trouble with manual transmission bikes. I guess you should just buy the newest bike you can regardless of what it is.
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Nov 3, 2010 01:14
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Rhombus, that is the bike I was talking about earlier . I see all types of ads for them on the lonelyplanet/thorntree forums
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Nov 3, 2010 04:23
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Ribsauce posted:Rhombus, that is the bike I was talking about earlier . I see all types of ads for them on the lonelyplanet/thorntree forums    DO NOT BUY A BIKE FROM A BACKPACKER
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Nov 3, 2010 12:44
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Someone give me some ideas on what to do in Hoi An. We're here one more day and so far we've gone to the Japanese tombs (lol), the beach a few kilometers down, ate some decent food, slept and then went for some karaoke. I miss Ho Chi Minh. 
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Nov 3, 2010 16:14
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Shampy posted:Someone give me some ideas on what to do in Hoi An. We're here one more day and so far we've gone to the Japanese tombs (lol), the beach a few kilometers down, ate some decent food, slept and then went for some karaoke. I miss Ho Chi Minh. Get a loving Colonel Sanders suit made at one of the cheap tailors. Biggest regret of my trip.
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Nov 3, 2010 16:32
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Pompous Rhombus posted:Get a loving Colonel Sanders suit made at one of the cheap tailors. Biggest regret of my trip. I entertained the idea of getting some clothes made since I want to start teaching in Ho Chi Minh and I didn't bring anything professional but I've decided not to deal with the hassle since I won't be here much longer. Looks like I made the right choice, hahahaa.
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Nov 3, 2010 16:45
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Shampy posted:I entertained the idea of getting some clothes made since I want to start teaching in Ho Chi Minh and I didn't bring anything professional but I've decided not to deal with the hassle since I won't be here much longer. Sorry, should have been more clear: not getting a Colonel Sanders suit made was the biggest regret of my trip! I got a really nice normal suit done at Yaly (higher end store) but I think my ex threw out the pants, I'm sending them my measurements to get another pair made.
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Nov 3, 2010 20:35
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Pompous Rhombus posted:
edit Best place to buy something in Saigon/Ho Chi Minh City? Ribsauce fucked around with this message at 03:55 on Nov 5, 2010 |
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Nov 3, 2010 23:21
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Pompous Rhombus posted:
If that's your code how do you intend to sell it at the end of your trip? Ribsauce, there are two Western bike dealers in Saigon. One is named Kevin Raven and deals in Minsks and Hondas, all of his Minsks that I tried ran like poo poo though and the guy himself is a wanker. The other is Kurt, fattyontherun@hotmail.com, who is much friendlier and more affable. He sold a Minsk to some acquaintances of mine and it hosed up on them the next day (although I suspect this may have been their own fault with an oil/petrol fuckup), he refused to give them their money back. On the other hand some friends of mine bought a Minsk off him and never had a single issue with it (the only ever Minsk I came across that ran flawlessly). edit: if you do go with Kurt don't let him talk you into using his lovely Vietnamese mechanic who is just as lovely as every other Vietnamese mechanic and (like all of them in tourist areas, and many more besides) will charge you Western prices.
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Nov 6, 2010 00:08
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So I've put the finishing touches on my upcoming Thailand underwater adventure... Bangkok, Khao Lak, Surin Islands National Park, Khao Sok National Park, Sukhothai, Koh Tao, Koh Phangan, 1 night in Kuala Lumpur and 12 hours in Singapore and then home. Can't wait! Edit: I went to the Honorary Thai Consulate here in Adelaide yesterday to apply for a 60 day tourist visa. Both single and multiple entry visas are free until March - jackpot. Turn around time is only a few days. Finch! fucked around with this message at 03:22 on Nov 6, 2010 |
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Nov 6, 2010 03:19
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Well it looks like their trip just changed to a Hanoi start. Cuong's still the place to go?
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Nov 6, 2010 15:35
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freebooter posted:If that's your code how do you intend to sell it at the end of your trip? Heh, do as I say... in all honesty my bike was fine at the end of the trip (maybe even a little better than when I started after the Lao mechanic and I went over it for like a week), aside from a little slippage between 2nd and 3rd and I wouldn't have had a problem selling it to someone else. I only left myself like 2 days at the end though, so I didn't have time to get a real buyer, sold it back to the shop for $250. It was worth another $100 at least, but obviously a bike shop isn't a charity and I still wound up ahead versus a rental. The guy at the shop said a dude came by looking to buy one the day after I left  Ribsauce posted:Well it looks like their trip just changed to a Hanoi start. Cuong's still the place to go?  I can highly recommend Flamingo Travel though; Mr Hung, the owner, is an awesome guy who's very knowledgeable and passionate about riding in the region, also very honest. (I'm not as big a fan of his chief mechanic, but if you work everything out with Hung at the office ahead of time, shouldn't be a problem.) He's got a pretty wide selection of bikes, not just Minsks.The riding in the north is really awesome, they should definitely check it out if they can. Might be a good test run if they just want to do a week or so loop on a rental, then decide what they want to do for the rest of the trip when they get back to Hanoi.
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Nov 6, 2010 18:21
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Rhombus, you can probably really help here. One guy only has 6 days before he has to be back in Hanoi. What ride should they do? They only want to spend about 4 or 5 hours max on the bikes per day. What is the best route to look at? Should they not bother with a bike (doubtful but gonna ask). I think they want to rent for this then maybe one of them will buy one depending how it goes. I will tell them to rent from Flamingo Travel. thanks, you have been really helpful so far edit instead of booking in advance and giving a huge deposit, can they book day of with passport? Ribsauce fucked around with this message at 19:48 on Nov 6, 2010 |
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Nov 6, 2010 19:44
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Ribsauce posted:Rhombus, you can probably really help here. One guy only has 6 days before he has to be back in Hanoi. What ride should they do? They only want to spend about 4 or 5 hours max on the bikes per day. What is the best route to look at? Should they not bother with a bike (doubtful but gonna ask). I think they want to rent for this then maybe one of them will buy one depending how it goes. I will tell them to rent from Flamingo Travel. I did a loop through NW Vietnam (Hanoi-Son La-Dien Bien Phu-Lai Chao-Sapa-Hanoi), although for 6 days it might be kind of tight, I think I was gone 7 and some of those were pretty long riding days. I'd ask Flamingo about itineraries when they get there; they know the area a lot better than I do and will probably have some good recommendations. A guide is well-worth it if it's within their budget; they'll see more, have more meaningful interactions with local people, be in a better situation if there's a breakdown, etc. I think the deposit thing is just for online bookings. You can also just walk right up and rent one; I guess there's no guarantee they'll have the exact bike they want, but they've got a pretty big selection so there should be something your friends will want. Also IIRC they don't take passports as deposits in Vietnam (you have to show them when you're checking in at a guesthouse), Flamingo held my US driver's license when I rented a scooter from them. Dunno what the policy is if you don't have a random photo ID, but I don't think it would be a big deal. (I could be off on this, it's been two years and rules change.)
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Nov 6, 2010 20:08
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My partner and I have booked flights for from Christchurch (NZ) to Phuket 7 May next year. The plan is to stay in Phuket 2 nights to adjust, then fly to Bangkok on the 9th stay one night, then catch the early train/bus to the Cambodian border on the 10th. Will spend a few days in Cambodia then back to Bkk, maybe some islands, and back to Phuket to fly home on the 23rd. Can anyone recommend a good budget guest house or similar in Bangkok close to the train station? I believe the earlier train leaves just before 6am to Aranyaprathet, so I don't want to be fluffing around trying to navigate across a city I'm unfamiliar with. I have already booked the first 2 nights in Phuket at the Karon Cafe Inn, as our flight arrives at 9.30pm and we'd rather not have to worry about finding accommodation at that time. Any comments on this place? It seemed to have good reviews, though I know that doesn't always mean much. For Cambodia and the rest of the time when we're back in Bangkok is it a good idea to leave accommodation open and just find somewhere to stay on the day we need it? Should we be looking at booking the domestic flights from Phuket to Bangkok now, or do they get cheaper closer to the time? The cheapest HKT - BKK return flights I can find now are around 5100 baht, not sure if that's good or not.
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Nov 7, 2010 09:36
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Spiderling posted:Can anyone recommend a good budget guest house or similar in Bangkok close to the train station? I believe the earlier train leaves just before 6am to Aranyaprathet, so I don't want to be fluffing around trying to navigate across a city I'm unfamiliar with. I like this place in Bangkok: http://www.nirasbankoc.com/ The guys there will get a taxi easily enough - they got one for me at 4:30am last year! It's not far from the train station, but it's too far to walk comfortably. Have a look at Nok Air for flights: http://www.nokair.com. They fly from a more central airprot (Don Mueang) and have some pretty cheap flights. I'm seeing 3900-ish return.
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Nov 7, 2010 10:01
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Steve., I don't know when you're leaving or how long you're going to stay but just remember that the tourist visa "starts" once it's issued (at least the ones I've had). There'll be a date on it that says "Enter before (date)". Just thought I'd let you know so you don't get a tourist visa months in advance which will be expired once you arrive  Spiderling: I would not worry about booking any domestic flights now. And unless you have a fetish for trains you might want to get on a bus or minivan to the border as trains are notoriously slow.
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Nov 7, 2010 18:39
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Steve. posted:I like this place in Bangkok: http://www.nirasbankoc.com/ I can also back up that Nok Air is absolutely fine to fly with, having flown the BKK-HKT route with them. They're owned by Thai Airways.
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Nov 7, 2010 21:03
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Ringo R posted:Steve., I don't know when you're leaving or how long you're going to stay but just remember that the tourist visa "starts" once it's issued (at least the ones I've had). There'll be a date on it that says "Enter before (date)". Just thought I'd let you know so you don't get a tourist visa months in advance which will be expired once you arrive Thanks for the heads up. I leave in less than a month, and I'm due to pick the visa up in a couple of days. If it's not kosher I'll get another visa issued - although the woman who was handling my application seemed to think I had the timing right. My understanding (admittedly just from reading various Thai embassy websites) was that the visa had to be used within x number of days from the date of issue, but if the bearer entered Thailand during that period then the 2 month visa period or whatever started from the entry date. We'll see - getting there on an expired visa would suck brendanwor posted:I can also back up that Nok Air is absolutely fine to fly with, having flown the BKK-HKT route with them. They're owned by Thai Airways. Sweet. I'm doing Nok Air BKK/HKT in mid December, too. Anything is better than 1-2-Go was, right?  Now, if only I could find a working email address for Bangkok Airways. Both their mail servers are busted, and I need to change a reservation...
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Nov 8, 2010 01:06
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Yey, I found cheap tickets to bangkok in february. With only 20 days of holiday, I'm gonna have to make a lot of choices. Naïve as I am, I thought I could find a cheap flight from bangkok to luang prabang, laos. But the prices are insane. Even with lao airline. Originally, I wanted to rent a bike there and drive to the north to Nong Kiaow and then further south-east to the plain of jars, and then back to luang prabang. But now I'm gonna take a plane to udon thani and then a bus or something to vientiane (about a 100 k further). (Unless somebody knows a better option.) But having to start from vientiane adds a lot of k's to the trip and I think I might have to drop the plain of jars. How many kilometers (or miles) can I hope to do on the roads there? Keeping in mind that I really want to take it easy. And definately have days without driving. i guess I'll have to stop at vang vieng inbetween vientiane and luang prabang. But people say it's a bit of a tourist shithole. I'm gonna rent a baja in vientiane (some french guy called jules is the best I've been told, but they charge 30 a day for a baja). A tour is not an option, it's too expensive and they require a real motorcycle drivers license that you had for at least a year (which I don't have). Problem is, without a tour, I might stick to the main road, affraid of getting lost. Anyway, I was hoping to have some time left to do something in thailand/cambodia too, totally not motorcycling related, because I'm affraid that I'm gonna get sick of it after a while. Maybe flying back to krabi for the rockcliming/beach. Hope you guys can give me some advice.
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Nov 8, 2010 03:46
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mrfart posted:Yey, I found cheap tickets to bangkok in february. Yeah, there really aren't bike rentals in Luang Prabang because of the UNESCO stuff; there was a German dude running a garage with Minsks under the radar when I was there 2 years ago, but I dunno if he's still in business or not. Vientiane is your best bet. I dunno what the flight runs, but if you want to be cheap you can take the bus/train it from Bangkok to Vientiane. I've done the bus several times and it's not that bad, just takes all day (or night, depending on what service you opt for). I dunno about kilometers a day, it depends on the rider, the bike, the conditions, and what you want to stop for. I just kind of measured by towns: Vientiane to Vang Vieng is like 4-5 hours, it's another half-day from there to Luang Prabang. Luang Prabang to Phonsavan was a day ride, Phonsavan to Sam Neua another day, Sam Neau to Udomxai took me like 3 days (stopped in Nong Khiaw, and Viang Thong), but mostly because I didn't want to ride in the rain or chance getting stuck riding after dark. Udomxai to Luang Prabang should be about another day's ride. If you get sick of riding, you can put the bike on top of a regular bus (not the ritzy-VIP jobs for tourists, the old school ones with no AC and people carrying chickens and bags of frogs and poo poo like that) and have it sent wherever. I'm of two minds on Vang Vieng; the first time I went there I loving hated it, the second time I had a great time. If you're not into drugs and whatever I think you can still appreciate it if you've done a few weeks off the beaten path; suddenly pizza sounds like a loving awesome idea and you don't mind seeing a few white faces. On the other hand, it basically is a mini-Khao San Road in the middle of rural Laos and it's easy to not be in the mood for that. You could also look in to one of those regional airpasses; you basically buy 3+ flights at once (from a network of the "real" regional airlines) and get a pretty nice discount. It's good if you're flying out of some of the more "indie" airports that Air Asia and the other budget carriers don't serve, like Luang Prabang, Siam Reap, etc. You could just fly in/out of Luang Prabang (3 days is probably enough) and bypass Vang Vieng altogether if you want, then check out southern Laos on a motorbike (Baja's are only $20/day out of Pakse last I checked) and then head back to Thailand.
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Nov 8, 2010 04:12
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Steve. posted:My understanding (admittedly just from reading various Thai embassy websites) was that the visa had to be used within x number of days from the date of issue, but if the bearer entered Thailand during that period then the 2 month visa period or whatever started from the entry date. Yes, you are correct. Sorry I wasn't clear. What I meant was that if you want to re-enter the country and get an additional 60 days, you must do that before the "Enter before X" date
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Nov 8, 2010 06:30
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Ringo R posted:Yes, you are correct. Sorry I wasn't clear. What I meant was that if you want to re-enter the country and get an additional 60 days, you must do that before the "Enter before X" date Ah! I see what you mean now...! Unfortunately I don't think I'll be taking advantage of the multiple entry visa - "real life" back here starts again in early February, and as much as I'd love to spend 120 days in Thailand and even longer in nearby countries it's not really feasible... yet  I think the woman who was doing the paperwork just wanted to give me a multiple entry visa because it was free and didn't require any more effort than ticking one box rather than the other. No additional travel documentation, nothing. I guess it might be useful if I get bored on Koh Tao and want to go to Penang for a few days or something, though. I miss Penang
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Nov 8, 2010 07:23
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Thanks for the replies Just thought of more questions, - What's the best option for getting from Phuket airport to where we're staying? If taxi, what should I expect to pay? - I'd like to do the elephant ride thing while in Phuket, even though it's a bit touristy. But I'd want to avoid places that are mean to the elephants. Any recommendations for places that treat their elephants well? - Can anyone recommend a good budget guesthouse in Siem Reap? - Is there a departure tax leaving Phuket airport internationally? I'll surely have more closer to the time, it being 6 months away and all..
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Nov 8, 2010 20:03
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Oh mrfart, forgot to address it in my last post (was reminded because I just picked it up from next to the computer to put away); grab a copy of Rough Guide's "Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos" map if you're riding independently and worried about getting lost. In practice it's generally not a big problem going from town to town (pretty much every sign of relevance will be in Western script), but it's helpful to have for getting an idea of distances, alternate routes, etc. It's not *amazingly* accurate as far as road quality corresponding to what's on the map, but it's better than nothing. It's also made of this papery-plastic substance that makes it pretty much impervious to tearing/spills/rain.
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Nov 9, 2010 00:59
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- What's the best option for getting from Phuket airport to where we're staying? If taxi, what should I expect to pay? Taxi is by far the easiest. Expect to pay up to 500 baht (all of around $15) depending on how touristy and lost you appear to be. - Can anyone recommend a good budget guesthouse in Siem Reap? How budget is budget? I can highly recommend The Villa Siem Reap, but it's more boutique-style accommodation that's probably above the budget of your average backpacker (but is by no means expensive). - Is there a departure tax leaving Phuket airport internationally? As far as I'm aware yes, but it's included in your airfare.
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Nov 9, 2010 01:15
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Pompous Rhombus posted:Yeah, there really aren't bike rentals in Luang Prabang because of the UNESCO stuff; there was a German dude running a garage with Minsks under the radar when I was there 2 years ago, but I dunno if he's still in business or not. Vientiane is your best bet. Thanks for the info. I was gonna go by train at first. But it's a 10 hour ride at night, the plane is about 1 hour and it's around 20 euros (I can actually choose between air asia and nokair, prices about the same, the difference is the airport I think?). I'm looking into the discovery pass thing, but I'm not sure how I can get one in my country (belgium). Northern laos looks more interesting/beautifull to ride in than the south, though. But I might be wrong about that. They do have cheaper baja's in vientiane too. But this guy has all new bikes that get checked after every ride, insured against theft, proper helmets, pick up can be arranged etc... So maybe it's worth the extra? I haven't forgotten my downhill experiences without any brakes in thailand yet I guess
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Nov 9, 2010 01:27
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