Kim67

Recommendations please - we're heading home in the next couple of weeks. Villa packing starts today, then off to the Ranches for a couple of weeks to stay with a friend. The container will take five to six weeks to get back to Brisbane, so thinking of a week or two in Asia. Two adults, three kids (who are pretty resilient kind of travellers). Don't want to just lay on a beach, any suggestions and experiences appreciated. Thanks guys. Kim x

Bahtatboy

Beijing. So many things to see. Should be cheap...

(Was going to say Tokyo, too, but then realised you'd put "inexpensive" in the title, and with the Yen gone bonkers at the moment, it's silly expensive.)

al dente

We went to Thailand around the same time of year.

Did a few days in Chang Mai, doing elephant trekking and thai cookery courses.

A few days in BKK, lots to see and do

A week on Koh Samui, again kept busy with boat trips etc and a couple of days just relaxing.

Kim67

Thanks guys, both sound like ideas to explore.

flares

A KL, Singapore, Club Med Bintan or Cherating triangle

ctfc

Bali is one of the most amazing places on the planet and easy to add further adventure if needed with short trips off to other nearby islands. We rented a small house in Ubud a couple of years back for US10 / day which came with a maid who cooked breakfast and a gardener/security dude. Loveliest, kindest people, fab food and unique fascinating culture.

Bahtatboy

Not been there yet, but a couple of friends have just gone, organised the first night's accommodation for $25 and were confident of finding something cheaper when they got there. Don't think I've ever heard bad accounts.

Kim67

Thanks for your ideas guys - If we go Thai Airways we save about 13k on a direct flight to Brisbane with Emirates so Thailand i looking like a good choice at the moment, but will explore all suggestions.

Poitin

Sri lanka is very cheap and interesting - Then hop to sinagapore and on to Oz.

check it out

Kim67

Will do thanks love. We've decided to fill in some time so we get home not too long before the container - apartments in Asia are a bit cheaper than Kangaroo point and the kids a looking forward to a holiday before heading back to school. Two and a half months just hasn't been enough.

co durham boy

Penang , great place , great food and you can do it fairly cheaply

Inselaffen

Kota Kinabalu on Borneo
Diving, climb up the mountain, see the Orangutan

hnd

Second Poitin above on Sri Lanka - had a fabulous 8 nights there earlier this year. Mind you we went bonkers and had 5 different hotels because we just wanted a break and to see as much as we could so we could decide where we'd return to if/as/when we return.

Stayed at Kandelama for 2 nights -fab hotel and food- (nr Dambulla) and visited the elephant orphanage at Peenywalla on the way there (sp?) and Sigiriya (Lion Rock) while we were there; then on to Kandy for one night (Temple of the Golden Tooth and cultural dance show); then got the train to the station just outside Nureya Elia and two nights at the Tea Station (a bit of R&R); then on to Bentota for two nights - did a day trip down to Galle (which was where the tsunami hit in 2004 - very sobering drive there ... all those graves) visiting a moonstone mine and a turtle sanctuary on the way; then back to Colombo for our last night.

Not so many miles/kilometres but lots of time spent in the car but well worth every minute of it. Would we do it again? Yes, definitely

Kim67

Thanks for your suggestions everyone.

Norm_uk

Beijing's not as cheap as it used to be and without a local guide you're likely to get fleeced too...but it's not as bad as Shanghai or Hong Kong.

For inexpensive I'd say Thailand, Bali, Kuala Lampour or Boracay in the Philippines.

N.