Autonomy

Hello,

To continue a trend - looking for some advice on holiday destinations. Probably first 2 weeks in August (in Ramadan).

Looking at one or a combination of several of these destinations. It looks like it could be rainy season in some or all of these (is the rainy season bad enough to strike it off the list?).

So - if anyone has any advice, recommendations or other tips on the following, which would you choose?

Not looking for big resort holiday, more nice beach hut, activity, photos, food etc

Langkawi / KL or Singapore
Hong Kong and surrounding area
Vietnam
Cambodia
Thailand (although I've been there, so know enough on this one)

or sod it all and go to the Maldives?

Thanks all!

Auto

Blue Cat

Maldives

Meow

Not SE, but what about Sri Lanka? Not far, not very expensive, plenty to see and do and lovely people and food.

csdf

Any tips on Sri Lanka? East vs West? Is Colombo worth spending any time in?

With the Maldives, my hardest time when researching last year was trying to figure out which of the zillions of islands to pick. In the end I gave up - it seems really geared towards package holidays rather than independent travel.

Autonomy

I'd be happy with Sri Lanka - but that's been vetoed by the "other half"... (not sure why, but them's the rules)

Maldives - I just think I'll be bored after day 1.... it all looks lovely, but too safe and pristine...

Meow

Shes doesn't fancy Sri Lanka? Odd. I'll have a word when I see her Of course the danger there is that you'll visit an elephant orphanage and she'll want to take one home!

Maldives. Not for two weeks. I reckon it's best for a one week total chill.

csdf - Columbo is a massive great sprawl, with just a few decent hotels. If you want a weeks break, I'd suggest the south. I'm very fond of Galle and thereabouts. of course, there is heaps to see across the island, but the infrastructure isn't great so best to avoid too much travelling around. You'd be surprised just how long it takes to get from place to place.

Roadking

We did KL and Langkawi a few years ago. KL was interesting, Langkawi was great. Stayed at the Datai on the beach surrounded by rain forest. Well recommended, just watch out for the thieving little monkeys that break into your room and nick anything they can eat.

shiva

Bangkok, stay at the mandarin oriental quite literally heaven on earth follow up or precede with time at the royal yacht club Phuket in nai harn bay. Both are idilic and a good base to explore the mayhem from. Laos also looks awesome.

shiva

Or for photo paradise try get a tourist visa for Bhutan, off the wall and no beaches in sight but still.....

Autonomy

So far this is looking like the #1 option - The Datai is mega bucks! - How was Langkawi in general? Beach huts or more developed? Enough to occupy me for 10 days or so? How do you get around - mopeds, cabs etc?

Cheers!

Shiva - Have done some in Thailand - I'm keen to go back but the "other half" wants to try somewhere new (and I do agree on that as well though).

Laos looks very interesting I agree - what's the safety like these days (I'm sure it's fine)

Autonomy

I keep promising myself an on my own photo holiday - Bhutan looks very good for that, also looking at Nepal etc...

Madam Medusa

not the best time to go to hong kong, as it's dead hot and humid (oh, just like dubai then) and you wouldn't need more than a few nights there, but you could go from there to cambodia or vietnam, would recommend them both...not sure how the weather is there in the summer though?

haven't been to laos but really want to, it's meant to be amazing...if you were thinking thailand you could go up to the golden triangle and get a boat into laos or take a trip into burma should you so wish...

MM, xx

typical

It's fine but make sure you have your jabs. However, unless you like just being in nature, I'm not sure it's that interesting for the length of time you're thinking of.

Could combine fairly easily with a trip to Vietnam or Thailand.

Inselaffen

try Tioman or Redang, Islands off the East coast of Malaysia

Roadking

Datai was expensive but we stayed for 4 days and the hotel organised trips to the rest of Langkawi. It was our treat to ourselves and well worth the money. I'd say 10 days would be too long but combined with KL, it's a great holiday. We actually spent two days on an island but damned if I can remember where. KL, "island" and then Datai....bliss! 10 days in total.