September 22, 2004 -- Despite the recent tragic explosions in Indonesia, this part of the world remains a relatively benign place, and certainly a beautiful and exotic one. Need some more convincing? Check out these deals to Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and Cambodia.
Thailand
For just $599, Best Buy Thailand, an Off Peak Traveler (www.offpeaktraveler.com) deal, includes roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles, five nights of lodging in the Bangkok City Inn, and daily continental breakfast. The package is for select dates from now through March 2005.
For the Thanksgiving period only, there's a $999 package that departs only on November 21, 2004, lasting for 12 days and 10 nights. Included are roundtrip airfare from Los Angeles to Bangkok, a flight from Chiang Mai back to Bangkok after your trip, which includes three nights in the capital, one night in Phitsanulok, one night in Lampang, two nights in Chiang Rai, two nights in Chiang Mai and another night back in Bangkok. Also included are 11 meals (10 breakfasts and one dinner) and all transfers.
Thailand and Cambodia
Go Today has just extended the deadlines for most of their fall and winter trips to Southeast Asia, and we thank them for that, as will you. There are 22 separate deals, with deadlines ranging from October 4 through October 28, 2004, and prices as low as $649 (for the Bangkok Super Special). The prices listed for all deals include roundtrip flights from the US, roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, and accommodations. One package I like especially is the Bangkok & Cambodia Discovery Tour, priced from $1299, which takes you to the exciting Thai capital and to the glories of sleeping Angkor Wat, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The deadline for this trip is October 12, 2004, and in addition to the roundtrip flights, roundtrip airport/hotel transfers, and accommodations (four nights in Bangkok, three in Siem Reap in this case), the trip also includes a half-day tour of Bangkok with an English-speaking guide, all entrance fees, hotel taxes and service charges, baggage handling, and a total of 14 meals (seven breakfasts, four lunches and three dinners).
Among the other 21 tours are two to Bali, four to Bangkok, three covering Thailand, one to Phuket, one to Singapore, four to Vietnam, two "tasting" tours, and four covering more than one country. For any of these, contact the sponsors at www.gotoday.com or phone 425/487-9632 (extra $25 fee for booking on phone).
Vietnam and Cambodia
Djoser (877/356-7376; www.djoserusa.com), one of our favorite specialty tour operators, has two cool packages to Southeast Asia, one for Vietnam for a total of 18 days, and a five-day add-on that takes you to Cambodia. On the Vietnam-only trip, prices start at $1895 from New York, $1845 from Los Angeles in low season, adding $100 or $200 for shoulder or high season, respectively. The combined Vietnam/Cambodia trip costs $2295 from New York, $2245 from Los Angeles. The last available date for departure for both trips is May 19, 2005. In addition to the international flights across the Pacific, the package includes domestic flights, flights from Vietnam to Cambodia (if you take the extension), all transportation, hotels, tour leader services and local guides, and excursions according to the program.
After a flight to Singapore and then Hanoi, in Vietnam, you visit also Lao Cai, Sa Pa, Hue, Hoi An, Qui Nhon, Nha Trang, Tay Ninh and Ho Chi Minh City. Optional excursions to the Mekong Delta and to Cu Chi, as well as to Halong Bay, are available. If you choose the Cambodia extension, you fly from Ho Chi Minh City to Phnom Penh, then journey to Siem Reap for the glories of Angkor Wat before returning home.
NOTE that in none of the air-inclusive packages mentioned above are airport taxes and security charges included.
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