I am planning a trip, advice from UK People please.....?

Hello.


I am 21 from England and me and my boyfriend are planning a trip to Asia next year. (2010)


We want to go to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand.


June, July and August.





Main questions::::::


1 - What type of paperwork will be needed and do i have to get them in advance (Visa's etc) ?





2 - We are planning to save 拢3000 each. Is this enough?





3 - Are these places safe? (I realise they are not going to be as safe as where i live, but you know what i mean)





4 - What essentials will i need in a backpack?





5 - Regarding travel - is it easy to get a flight from one place to another within these countries?





And any other help you think i may need.


I have never done this before and neither has any of my family so any tips would be great.





Thanks.I am planning a trip, advice from UK People please.....?
1) For Thailand and Cambodia you'll get a 30 day stamp in your passport when you enter the country automatically as UK citizens. For Thailand its free, for Cambodia it isn't - you can check the price on a website but I think its US$25 for Cambodia. For Vietnam, as UK nationals, you have to arrange a visa in advance of arriving into the country.





2) GBP3,000? Does this include your flight? Probably enough although could be a bit tight, especially if you want you flights to and from UK-SE Asia included in it (ebookers.com is good for flights UK-Bangkok-UK flights). 3 months in SE Asia on GBP1,000 per month? Well, you're a couple so really its GBP2,000 a month between the two of you so that looks more like it. Put like that it looks OK if you are careful. I'd advise bringing an ATM card/credit card just in case. The British pound has gone down a lot in the last year, if it fell as much again in the next year I don't know - GBP 3000 each is OK at today's foreign exchange rates.





3) They are if you use your common sense and avoid what are obviously dangerous situations. If you have experience backpacking in Europe already you'll be better prepared. Every country has its share of fraudsters. Thailand is safer than Cambodia. (Actually, I think Bangkok is safer than some parts of the UK (e.g. Broad Street in Birmingham on a Saturday night.) Toursits do get killed occassionally but I don't remember reading any story about a tourist getting into trouble except when they we're being prudent about their personal safety. Walking on a beach alone at mignight can be dangerous but so can walking on Hamstead Heath alone at the same time of day. It just about being as smart when you're travelling as you would be at home.





4) Stuff to bring. The obvious. You don't need to load yourselves down with Lonely planets as you can buy them when you arrive second hand and therefore cheap. Might be worth getting a cheap previous edition from amazon for your first country to go to - they normally cost a pound %26amp; P%26amp;P on amazon. I can't think of any essentials that you can buy in the UK that you can't get in Bangkok - maybe your particular brand of prescription medicine/the pill (if you use that - not my business), but that's about it. If you decide to travel light from UK to Bangkok and buy stuff when you arrive you have the collective knowledge of YA Thailand to call upon and they know pretty much where to buy anything and everything in Bangkok that you could buy in the UK and probably a lot cheaper than in the UK.





5) Pretty much. AirAsia.com is cheap (although not as cheap as it used to be) if you book at least one month in advance. Where there isn't a flight you can get a coach.





Tip: don't be too flush with spending at the beginning. Make a budget (including an emergency fund) and stick to it. Don't buy gifts to take home until the end. Bring mobile phone each and have them unlocked when you arrive and use local SIM card - calling home from a mobile/to each other if you get separated using a local SIM isn't that expensive - calling rates are cheaper in SE Asia than UK. Get proper travel insurance in case of accidents. Make an itinerary and check for previous answers in YA about how to get to and from the places you're going - chances are its been covered before.I am planning a trip, advice from UK People please.....?
No problem. Look forward to more questions nearer the time of your visit. Isn't it interesting (well to me anyway) that by asking for UK people's advice the regulars in YA Thailand from the US stayed away and, co-incidentally, the number of thumbs down fell dramatically (to zero) - now we know.

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You will get a 30 day permit on arrival and this can be extended for another 30 days by crossing a border and comming straight back in.Last I heard you could only do this twice and then need to spend 3 monnths out of the country but the rules change all the time.


Must get yourself a guidebook of south-east Asia. I recommend lonely planet as it tels you almost everything in detail.
you don't need a visa for thailand if you are not staying more than one month, and im pretty sure the other countries are the same, yes 3000 each is plenty the cost of living here is forty percent less than uk, in my opinion only speaking for thailand its much safer than uk, but like anywhere in the world its better to keep where there are lots of people, there are many nice cheap hotels for you to stay.
Thank you for your interesting in our country, Thailand and neighbors


1. For Thailand, you need only passport..you can get visa on arrival here..for the others, i am not sure sorry.


2.I think so, becuase the cost of live in these three countries are not so high as yours


3. Yes


4. Medicines for your congenital disease is the most neccessary..the others such as cloth..food..and hotel...you can find the cheap ones here


5.yes, it is





Please refer to the site below that might be helpful
Hi,


Question 4 - here you can find a good list of what to take to a backpacking trip:


http://www.trekcafe.com/Travel-Destinations/index.php?action=Trekking_Checklist_Travel_Gear%26amp;srcPageNum=1





Hope it helps,


Jen
Well, UK people ????? I hate you, hate you and hate you.


Please read below:-


Refusal of Airport Transit Visa ?


My friend from India wanted to go to Chile (South America) and he got visa for Chile stamped on his passport. Then he took a ticket to Santiago, Chile from Delhi via London and SaoPaulo from British Airways, a confirmed ticket.


We found it very strange from the UK Embassy site of India that he needed an Airport Transit Visa for London Airport even when his halt at airport was only for 4 hours and his connecting flight was from the same terminal.


We thought that it was one more way of earning money and so he applied for the same. To our surprise we also found that UK Embassy needed some strange documents which may be required for a regular tourist visa to UK but apparently not required for an Airport Transit Visa. These documents were like financial guarantee and original bank statements etc.


In any case, he applied for the visa along with the requisite documents. To our surprise, he was refused the visa and the letter did not give any reason for the refusal and there was no right to appeal also.


Thinking that it might be a mistake, he again applied for the visa, this time explaining his position that he holds a visa for his ultimate destination and that he was to only catch a connecting flight from London. But this time also he was refused visa. Again no reasons were given and there was no right to appeal.


So my friend had to suffer not only financial losses but mental torture also. Is there no international law to curb these wrong practices.?


My friend was never refused any visa in the past as he has not outside India except once to Dubai.


This Airport Transit Visa has come into force recently in all European/ Schegen countries. Some countries like South Africa have rather doing away with such a visa to make traveling easier.
1) You can get Visa on arrival for Thailand and Cambodia. You'll have to apply for a Visa for Vietnam. This can be done with a travel agent in Thailand for about 35 quid





2) That should be fine. Thailand will be the most expensive tho. Always haggle especailly with the tuk tuk drivers. They will fleece you.





3) They are fine, just use common sense. Seriously people worry about how dangerous they are. Not nearly has dangerous on a high street after closing time.





4) Silk bed liner, wind up torch, good first aid kit (you can get meds in Thailand easily and cheaply) At least three travel locks, Mossie net (depends on your budget for hotels!), Bite cream! A sense of humour,





5) Very easy especially with Air Asia and very cheap too. It will save you alot of hours on the bus and is well worth doing.





One thing thats been good for me is to use a big can of bug spray to clear a room before I stay in it. Just spray the corners of the room and go to dinner by the time you get back any nasties should be pushing up flowers.
Best to check with your travel agent regarding visas. I know that for Thailand you will be stamped a 30 day tourist visa free when you arrive in Bangkok. Cost wise, Asia is a lot cheaper than the UK, hotels from a tenner, food great tasting and very good value.


Thailand is a very safe country to visit and travel around, and would think the other countries are similar, just dont go flashing large amounts of cash around. Remember alot of Asia is still very very poor.


You will have a great holiday, just be respectful and friendly. If you require any specific medications, either bring with you or keep a copy of your prescription to show in pharmacies. Toiletries are readily available everywhere, all brands, asians are a very clean people.