Travel Tips - AIR TRAVEL IN SOUTHEAST ASIA - Cambodia - Thailand - April 2007

AIR TRAVEL - Travel to Thailand's provinces Chiang Mai, Krabi & Phuket - Angkor Wat Temples - Phnom Penh - Vietnam - Malaysia - Singapore

Wednesday April 25, 2007 - National Radio Text Service

AIR TRAVEL IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

When it comes to budget air travel in Southeast Asia, Air Asia Airlines is the 800-pound gorilla. They offer the most incredible prices to lure a potential customer into their fold the problem is you must be lucky and timely enough to take advantage of what they have to offer.

During a booking period from April 24 to April 29 incredible deals are available for a travel period from October 1 2007 to March 29, 2008. All trips must be booked online @: www.airasia.com.

At this time the airline is offering ONE-WAY trips FROM Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport to Hat Yai and Narathiwat for only 11 baht. Currently 34.83 baht equal one US dollar ($1). That translates into a fare of ONLY 34 US cents for the ticket.

The problem is both of those locations are in the southern part of the country where all of the problems with civil conflict fighting occur though the center of those incidents are further south along the Malaysian border. But there's more.

Air Asia also is offering trips to more frequently traveled tourist destinations such as Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Krabi and Phuket for only 91 baht ONE WAY. The dollar cost would be US $2.61.

At that price one can travel to other Thai locations such as Udon Thani, Ubon Ratchathani and Surat Thani.

International flights are also available through the same booking and travel period from Bangkok to Malaysian destinations Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Langkawi, and the city state Singapore as well as Phnom Penh, Cambodia for only 211 baht. That translates to a fare of US $6.06.

Other Asian destinations from Bangkok include Hanoi, Yangon, Macau and Xiamen for only 311 baht or US $8.93. Too good to be true... You betcha.

The airline claims to have 100,000 seats available but the problem is can you book one of the available seats and its ad notes that the fares are subject to availability. They also note that seats are limited and may not be available on all flights, public holidays, school breaks and weekends.

Other charges that exceed the cost of the ticket are airport taxes, surcharge and fees. Fuel costs factor into the surcharges.

A major point to consider is that Southeast Asia is a day ahead (12 to 14 hours) than the time in the USA and must be factored in if you chose to try and book one of these trips from there.

In the past the airline offered trips to all destinations for only one baht or 3 US cents. That deal was offered October 14, 2006 for a travel period from January 4, 2007 to June 30, 2007. If you miss the deal currently available check the website for new promotions that may fall into your travel period.

CAMBODIA'S ANGKOR WAT and SIEM REAP

To fly to Cambodia's famed Angkor (Wat) Temples you have only one choice from Bangkok and that is with Bangkok Airways. They have a monopoly on the route and their fares reflect that given the amount of miles flown verses the cost of the ticket.

Siem Reap is the destination where there is lodging and dining and is just a few kilometers from the temples.

Web site: www.bangkokair.com

CAMBODIA AIRPORT TAX

In Cambodia departure tax is US $6 for domestic flights and US $ 25 for International flights.

AIRLINES FROM SIEM REAP

There are several airlines that service Siem Reap to other countries. They include:

Malaysia Airlines to Kuala Lumpur: www.malaysiaairlines.com

Vietnam Airlines to Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi: www.vietnamair.com

Siem Reap Airways to Phnom Penh, Luan Prabang, Laos and Hong Kong: www.siemreapairways.com

PHNOM PENH

The Royal Palace in Phnom Penh ranked number 2 on our NR (National Radio) Top 10 most read stories since our web site launch in April 1997.

SIHANOUKVILLE

We no longer recommend visiting the beach town of Sihanoukville. There have been numerous problems regarding safety. Much of the problem occurs from foreigners traveling through and living in the area. Several travelers have been reported missing after having been last seen in the town. There is a lack of law enforcement protection... BEWARE.

ATM MACHINES NOW AVAILABLE IN CAMBODIA

This past summer of 2005 ANZ Bank began business in the country. They have provided what many travelers need most…. ATM machines.

They are located in several areas in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap at Star Mart stores. In Siem Reap there is one located on Route No. 6 near the Sokha Angkor hotel.

AIR TRAVEL to TIBET -

Air China Adds Service to Tibetan Plateau. Mrs. Zhang Lan, Senior Vice President for Air China said, “The beauty, culture, and majestic environment of Tibet are drawing visitors from all over the world."

The imposing Tibetan Plateau is the highest plateau on earth. The world’s highest mountain, Mount Everest, is a feature of Tibet, and the region is also known the world over for the culture and history of Tibetan Buddhism. FULL STORY

JEWELRY SCAM IN THAILAND

Beware of the jewelry scam hustle in Thailand. It has been going on for years. Tourists are lured by tuk tuk, taxi drivers to an office or jewelry shops and sold stones that have little or no value.

Ten years ago a tuk tuk driver in Chiang Mai took us to an office to hear about this great deal where we could make money.

The office was near the train station. Upon arrival it appeared that there was very little in the way of furnishings. The small offices contained basically a desk and chair and nothing hanging from the gray walls.

We were told that they had a customer in the US that was waiting for the package of jewelry. The sales rep said that the tax to ship the items was very expensive.

We were asked to pay a sum of money for the jewelry. Our profit was to be made when we delivered the goods to their customer.

TIP: Save your time, trouble and most of all…money.

GETTING AROUND BANGKOK

BANGKOK'S TRANSIT ANGELS BTS & MRT Bangkok's BTS Skytrain and the recently completed MRT subway train line give a traveler access to a fascinating city in a short period of time.

The two train systems connect at key areas known for dining, shopping, recreation and amusement.

BTS SKYTRAIN - ELEVATED TRAIN LINE

Operates 6am to midnight. Fares range from 10 to 40 baht.

This BTS Skytrain transit system contains two lines. They have stops that can connect you from the National Stadium, MBK and Silom Square shopping centers and the Thaksin Bridge.

Along this route you may access to the Royal Bangkok Sports Club and racetrack, the Silom business district.

Below the bridge there is an Express boat stop. The boat travels a major portion of the Chayo Phrya River with numerous stops including the Grand Palace.

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