Travel Asia

So i was thinkin about going to thailand originaly but recently have found a friend who is willing to travel around more of asia with me (as im not confident enough to do it on my own having never stepped foot on the continent...other than changing planes or waiting to refuel...) so anyways i was wondering if anyone knows about a website where i can find out about general asia travel?? specifically i guess i would like to fly to thailand first and then travel to other countrys on land (im guessin by rail?) where would i find out about this? and also im hearin alot of thailand doesnt like people comin in if they dont have a ticket out? well if i want to travel by land i wont have a ticket out...but rest assured ill b leaving!

thanks in advance

cleanboy

Quoting cleanboy

So i was thinkin about going to thailand originaly but recently have found a friend who is willing to travel around more of asia with me (as im not confident enough to do it on my own having never stepped foot on the continent...other than changing planes or waiting to refuel...) so anyways i was wondering if anyone knows about a website where i can find out about general asia travel?? specifically i guess i would like to fly to thailand first and then travel to other countrys on land (im guessin by rail?) where would i find out about this? and also im hearin alot of thailand doesnt like people comin in if they dont have a ticket out? well if i want to travel by land i wont have a ticket out...but rest assured ill b leaving!

thanks in advance

cleanboy

I keep reading that Thai immigration will check for return tickets out - so far in many years of travel to Thailand I have never been asked about a return ticket. More info on this from Thai Visa forum: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/

If you are purchasing a one way ticket to Thailand and expect to fly home from another country consider getting a round trip to Thailand with an "open jaw" ticket. This would give you a return ticket that you can use when you get tired of rice and chicken. Usually an open jaw ticket is a little more than a regular round trip but sometimes 2 one way tickets are more expensive!

Compare the price of a round trip ticket and the price of a one way ticket and figure you would have to pay double that single price to go back home - which is cheaper? Make sure you check the prices for your flights a couple days before and a couple days after your best date - sometimes just changing your departure a day or two your price will be cheaper - sometimes!!!

Pick up a Lonely Planet travel guide on Southeast Asia and see what they advise. From Thailand you have all sorts of transportation you can use for travel within the country or to neighboring countries. You can take long distance buses and/or trains to Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Malaysia and of course all over Thailand too!

Read up on the countries you have an interest in. Figure out where everything is on a map and figure the best and cheapest way to connect the dots. You also need visas for the communist countries like Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam - read up on that too! Thailand and Malaysia you can enter without a prior visa if you are from the UK.

Once your start on your trip it's only one step after the other! If your friend backs out go to Thailand anyway, it's a good "starter" country to begin with. Millions of tourists go to Thailand every year, most of them for the first time. Here are some other travel forums you can get info from:

http://forum.virtualtourist.com/forum-1943-1-Travel-Thailand-1-forum.html

http://thorntree.lonelyplanet.com/

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowForum-g293916-i3687-o20-Bangkok.html

http://www.travelfish.org/board/index.php

Now you have to read up on how to get money when you need it, advice on hotels (always mention your price range,) any inoculations you might need, etc.

Stay in Bangkok for the first few days to get used to the time changes, heat and relax a bit! Young travelers usually head for Khao San Road, my preference is Sukhumvit Road though, but I am an old fart!

Good luck.

Quoting cleanboy

and also im hearin alot of thailand doesnt like people comin in if they dont have a ticket out? well if i want to travel by land i wont have a ticket out...but rest assured ill b leaving!

thanks in advance

cleanboy

Hi cleanboy,

It's not that you will have trouble when you get to thailand it is that your airline will not let you on the flight if you don't have proof of onward travel. Most countries don't need a visa for Thailand, you just get an 30 day stamp on entry so you need to prove you have onward travel within 30 days before you get on the flight. If you are planning on going to different countries in Asia like Cambodia you could just book a cheap one way flight out of Thailand within your 30 days to prove to your airline you won't be overstaying. You can apply for a 60 day Visa before you leave but you will still need proof of onward travel. Alternatively you could get a flight that you can change the dates of your return flight on arrival so have it booked for within 30days then push it back which is what I'm doing in a few weeks Hope this helps!

South East Asia is my first journey outside off Europe and Thailand seems to be a easy place to start. There are plenty of guidebooks so I'd get one and start reading and then search the net for more info on places that interest you. Thorntree and Travelfish are good forums for info which Frosty already mentioned. I can give you more info on my itinerary in Thailand if you still feel a bit lost!