So I am currently located in Japan, with a fairly decent salary and some 20 days of paid vacation time. Obviously, this means it is time to travel the world! Or at least the parts that are now a lot closer by than they ever used to be. Christmas time is coming up, and I dont want to be stuck in the sticks with nothing but my own loneliness to occupy me, so I am planning on getting out over the Christmas/New Year`s break.
The question, though, is–where should I go?
My tentative plan in Taiwan, for a few reasons: the museum, the outdoors, and rumors of warmth and beaches down south. But how long can it occupy me for? I will probably have 1 or two weeks free… Ive also always wanted to visit South Korea, but there you have the same problem. Its not a huge tourist destination.
Does anyone have any ideas? Taiwan, South Korea, somewhere else?
I am not a big party-er, and I will also be a fairly young female traveling on her own. Most seriously hardcore third world places are basically out of the question, and not really to my liking, so that eliminates quite a few places in SE Asia… I just don`t know!
Taiwan is really nice. My wife and I went there over New Years last year, as well as Vietnam. Both are really great places. I would skip Korea at that times, since it’s damn cold.
Even as a single female travler, you shouldn’t have too many problems in most places. We went to reasonable quality hotels in both Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, and I think you wouldn’t have any problems. There are plenty of tours which you can take, which would be with a group of people.
I’ll ask my wife more tonight about what things you could do in Taiwan. We went to the eat coast in August, which is really beautiful.
We may be going to Cebu over New Year’s but direct flights from Japan are sold out. Lots of places are already sold out, so you need to make plans quickly.
Do you have flexibility when you can take your vacation? If you can avoid the Japanese New Year, you should be all right.
Another vote for Hanoi - easy-going, pleasant, fascinating, not dodgy. While the city itself could occupy you for a long time, there are lots of tourism companies that do bus tours to Sapa or down south, with other backpackers. Alternatively, I found the train not too shabby either (first class is cheap!) albeit quite slow, and the planes didn’t fill me with terror either.
Alternatively, if you really want to make it easy for yourself, Thailand has something for everyone.
I lived in Taiwan for seven years and I can tell you there is NO warmth down south, Kenting is beautiful, but not in the winter! You’ll freeze where ever you go in Taiwan.
I used to go to the Philippines almost every winter break. The island of Boracay and the other islands in the area are paradise. One year I went to Nepal and did the Everest trek, but you probably don’t have enough time for that.
I also went to Thailand. Koh Samui and the islands in that area are wonderful, too.
Thanks for the responses, everyone! Vietnam does sound really tempting as well… And cheap, of course, which is always a plus. Decisions, decisions!
I have some flexibility about when to take my trip, and I will probably be leaving around the 20th of December, if I can get a cheaper flight for that time. Otherwise I will wait til the weekend. I have about a week off, and I will probably have to use some of my vacation time as well, if I leave early.
I really do have to make some decisions soon, though, so if anyone has anything else to add, please feel free…
I had a great time in Vietnam a few years ago - starting in Saigon, down to the Mekong Delta (Can Tho), flew up to Danang and Hoi An, then up to Hue and then Hanoi - took about a month, and could have stayed much longer. Although, it’s split weather most of the year (we went in Jan - 34degC in Saigon, 18degC in Hanoi), so you could do only part of the country if you were interested. Great food, easy to get around, and a very gentle welcoming people (they particularly appreciate it if you learn the basics of the language).
Everybody should go to Angkor in Cambodia. It’s easy to fly in, spend a few days looking at the temples (you can get on a small group tour) and then you can fly on to whereever. There will be some young backpackers hanging out in the taverns in town.
It’s a pretty cheap place, but bring cash. There are no ATMs in Cambodia (as of a couple years ago)
I’ll concur wholeheaertedly on Angkor, it’s awe-inspiring. I went twice on my three-month trip through the region last year. I couldn’t resist going back for another look.
I’d also concur with others who are suggesting Vietnam, especially Hanoi, Sapa and Halong Bay in the north (although it’s a bit cold at that time of year). Warmer are Thailand, Cambodia, and also the beautiful and overlooked Laos. Luang Prabang, in northern Loas was the most wonderful place, definitely worth a visit - there are now cheap flights from Hanoi. If you do go to Laos, check out the Gibbon Experience in the north-west jungles, an unbelievable adventure - living in tree houses, flying through mountains on zip-lines and hiking through amazing landscapes.
But on ATMS… there are now plenty of them in Cambodia, especially in Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, all dispensing US dollars which are commonly used in the region. Laos, on the other hand, has only one international ATM in the county, in Vientiane.