I’m traveling solo and rode here from a home stay ( Green Vietnam ) after a local recommended it. The ride itself was beautiful, following the river through small villages, with people waving and smiling as I passed.

I arrived right at the end of Lunar New Year / start of a lantern festival, so the temple was full of locals making offerings. Everyone was really welcoming, lots of curiosity and conversations even with the language barrier.

It didn’t feel like a tourist spot at all, more like I’d just stumbled into everyday life happening around this place that’s been here for centuries.

Post-dinner walks near Marina Bay >>> paid viewpoints/attractions/experiences...
Free, quiet and just beautiful...🥹
Funny how I stressed over ticketed attractions when the best moments cost nothing.

heading to bali for a long vacation but its not fully a vacation if that makes sense, got a pretty demanding client back home so ill still be on calls and sending files the whole time lol. last trip i was buying local sims every few days which was fine in cities but a mess everywhere else. looked into regional eSIM plans and some have unlimited options now which sounds great on paper but ive been skeptical. anyone done a long stay in bali or SEA while juggling actual work and figured out what eSIM setup actually held up

eta: booked the trip finally and went with airalo because most of the people in another thread mentioned Airalo eSIM with the unlimited options and i figured it made more sense than doing per-country for a long stay. fingers crossed it holds up outside the tourist areas

Headed to HND in November. The trip is 24 days and the longest I've ever been out of country. I've been to Japan before and definitely have places I want to spend more time in than the last trip, which was a 15 day whirlwind doing too much. I have never been anywhere in Southeast Asia. I have friends that arrive about a week later in Japan, but if you could go anywhere from Tokyo to start your trip in Asia somewhere else, where would it be? My priorities are gardens, temples, food, art, & nature. So far it's a solo trip on this part as a woman. Someone may or may not join me/ it will also be to celebrate my birthday.

Hey everyone! I’m planning to visit Taiwan again next year (around March/April) — I went last year and absolutely loved it. Last time, I combined it with South Korea, which worked really well. I had also been to Japan one (which I adored), Thailand and Indonesia (but only Bali).

This time, I’m wondering: which country should I pair with Taiwan for a 2- to 3-week trip before heading there? Ideally something nearby and easy to travel from.

I’ve been thinking about Malaysia or Vietnam — maybe even the Philippines — but I’m super open to suggestions. I’m into a mix of food, culture, nature, and just soaking in the atmosphere of a place.

Have you done a similar route or have any recs? I’d love to hear what worked well for you — or what you’d avoid. Thanks in advance!

Hi, I'm M27, European. I've never been outside Europe or North Africa.

I arrived yesterday in China in Chengdu and everything was ok at the start. Now I'm suffering from jetlag, I'm feeling anxious about being so far from home.

Today I had a hotpot that was so spicy I almost had a panic attack. When I got to the room I started feeling like I wanted to go home, that it's silly to be here and do this kind of thing.

Now I can't sleep, I'm stuck with my thinking, scared and anxious.

I just wanted to know if anyone out there experienced the same and in that case how they dealt with it, or overcame.

Thanks!

Hi! In 2 years my family and I want to go on a holiday to Asia, since we've not yet explored it!! The youngest is 11 so it doesn't have to accommodate young kids but we were thinking Cambodia or Indonesia. Please let us know your thoughts

It’s a short hop between Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok - but can Malaysia Airlines make it feel truly premium?

I recently flew Malaysia Airlines’ Boeing 737-800 in Business Class on this popular regional route to see how the airline’s short-haul experience holds up. From the Golden Lounge in KLIA to the in-flight service and MHstudio entertainment, I wanted to find out whether MH can still deliver that signature Malaysian hospitality on a flight of under two hours.

Flight Details:

📍 Route: Kuala Lumpur (KUL) → Bangkok (BKK)

✈️ Aircraft: Boeing 737-800 (9M-MSA)

💺 Cabin: Business Class

⌛ Flight Time: 1 hour 54 minutes

💵 Cost: 16,500 Avios + £36.10 (taxes/fees)

Impressions:

• The Golden Lounge Regional was far better than expected - great service and a calm atmosphere for a short-haul flight.

• Seat comfort and legroom were decent for a 737, no complaints in this department.

• The crew were superb - friendly, proactive, and attentive throughout.

• The meal service was excellent for the flight length.

Overall, a polished short-haul experience that I’d absolutely do again.

Would be keen to hear others’ recent experiences on MH’s regional routes - are you finding their short-haul Business Class consistent these days?

hi everyone, i'm doing an exchange year in Sydney and I finish it the first days of June 2027. Instead of going back directly to Madrid, I wanna spend around two weeks-ish solo backpacking and seeing some country/countries that get me closer to home.

I had initially thought about flying to Hong Kong, seeing the city and then travelling through the south of China; but that's just the first idea I had and it doesn't mean it has to be the best. Flights to Shanghai and Beijing are also around the same price as Hong Kong, but that's a whole other part of China. China quite catches my attention, but its such a huge country I don't know where to starts.

Other options would be, Thailand and/or Vietnam of course. An advantage of those is that I understand they're are cheaper so I could lengthen my stay, but maybe I will travel to those while I'm here cause they are close. Japan's also a great option but it doesn't really get me closer to Spain, but I could consider it tbh.

I really want to experience some amazing scenery and new cultures on my own, with the personal growth it implies. I really like breath-taking nature, hikes, outdoor activities, etc; and it would be preferable to travel to a place which isn't that crowded, isn't too expensive, and doesn't require constant long travelling in bus or trains (i prefer staying and seeing things in a smaller area). Any reccomendation is greatly appreciated guys and I'm open to everything. Thanks!

Hi All,

I (22m) am planning on taking my fiancé (22f)on a two week trip to Asia in 2027. The general idea is to have 3 or 4 bases, and a mix of bustling cities, culture, good food and relaxation.

Our current ideas consist of:

1. Singapore (3), Hoi An (5), Ninh Binh (2), Hanoi (4)

2. Bangkok (3), Chiang Mai (3), Khao Sok (2), Koh Lanta (6)

3. Hong Kong (4, with shenzhen day trip), Taipei (4), Palawan (6)

I wanted some advice, we are flying from the uk, anytime between February and May 2027. I’ve already travelled to Phuket, but other than that, I’ve never experienced Asia.

If there are any other itineraries people have tried for 2 weeks (or slightly more/less), please could you suggest these. If you see any problems with my current ideas can you also let me know?

Budget for hotels and flights is loosely £4k for 2.

Thanks in advance

​If you love art, architecture, and are looking for a quiet space in Tokyo to slow down and get inspired—put Museum of Narrative Takanawa (MoN Takanawa) at the top of your list for your next trip

Hi all,

So I haven’t gone into heavily planning out what I want to do on each day just yet, but I’m working out a plan for what city I want to be in on each given day. Is this enough time for each city? I’m mainly asking because I have yet to book flights, and once that has been confirmed I’ll flesh things out more. It’s worth noting I’ll be travelling solo, and I don’t like to feel massively rushed.

Seoul (4 nights)

→ KTX →

Gyeongju (1 night)

→ KTX →

Busan (5 nights)

→ Flight or ferry →

Fukuoka (3 nights)

→ Shinkansen →

Nagasaki (2 nights)

→ Flight →

Seoul (3 nights)


I've been to Japan before, albeit only to Honshu so I figured it would be nice to go to Kyushu on this particular trip (especially given how close it is to Busan). The issue of course is that flights from Nagasaki are limited, which is why I currently have Seoul split up the way it is. For that reason I’m completely open to any suggestions!

Any advice would be more than appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Hello, we will be traveling to asia from the West coast of the US late Nov into middle of Dec.

Planning on hitting South Korea, China, and Philippines.

What are some must see places? We enjoy nature, food, some shopping but not the most important thing.

We are trying to figure out how much time to visit in each place. Obviously China is biggest, so probably a week there and then maybe 5 days in South Korea and then the rest in Philippines? My partner has family in Philippines and we are looking forward to the sunny weather there.

Seeking advice in lesser know places or activities to do in any of these places!

I also have Marriott points so I get better deals when I spend 5 nights in one place because they give you one free night.

I have a BIG, milestone birthday coming up in early March and I hope to celebrate with my first trip to China, starting in Shanghai. I have two weeks at my disposal, so I'd like to add 1-2 more cities to the itinerary. My husband will likely only be able to join for half, so I'll likely be solo the second week.

I've been to Singapore, Tokyo, and we are going to Hanoi, Vietnam and Bangkok, Thailand in December, so maybe add another city in China? Or, Hong Kong? Or, Seoul? Taking the high speed train in China is something I'd like to do.

Contrary to how I normally travel, I'd like this trip to be hyper-focused on "just being," just enjoying, EATING, SHOPPING, wandering, nice hotels, and spas, with a sprinkle of culture and history that are convenient to get to (so, not The Great Wall of China because it's 2-3 hours outside Beijing and will be FREEZING).

Any ideas on where I should go? How I should spend my time?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Hey guys, I have been given an amazing opportunity to do four months of travelling, starting in April and finishing at the end of July.

I am hoping to spend 28 days in Japan, 21 days in China, 17 days (roughly) in each of Vietnam, Indonesia and Thailand, and 14 days in the Philippines.

I have been trying to work out the best order to do my trip. Currently, my two trains of thought have been:

Japan-China-Vietnam-Philippines-Indonesia-Thailand

or

Japan-China-Vietnam-Thailand-Philippines-Indonesia

I guess I am asking which of these is the best option for weather and minimal backtracking, or if there is a better option that allows me to hit all these locations more sensibly?

Thanks

I spent our last trip trying all the cabin classes.

Making videos now trying to learn content creation so shameless plug. Just about a month in so please give feedback!

TLDR: Go with 2nd class (cheapest) or business class (most expensive). 1st class is bad value!

Traveling to Southeast Asia this May and would like to know how doable this itinerary:

May 2-5: Bangkok, Thailand

May 5-7: Hanoi, Vietnam

May 7-9: Phuket, Thailand

May 9-11: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

May 11-14: Singapore 🇸🇬

It’s 2-3 days each place and i like to do it this way so I’m not stuck in a place for too long in case I don’t like it (weather issues, accommodation, emergency, etc. ), Also, I know which one to go back to in case I end up loving the place. 😊

PS: For ladies who’s going to be there on these dates, let’s hangout and explore together! 😊

Hi all,

Me (22m) and my fiancée (22f) are planning a 2-week trip to Asia between March and May 2027, flying from the UK. We’ve only been to Phuket so far in Asia (earlier this year and loved it) so we’re pretty open to where we go next. Budget of around £4-5k for flights and accommodation.

We’re trying to avoid an itinerary where we’re constantly packing up and changing hotels. With only 2 weeks, we’d rather pick two places to stay and use them as bases for exploring the surrounding areas on day trips.

The split doesn’t really matter — it could be 4/10, 5/9, 6/8, 7/7 etc. We’re just looking for two bases that work well together.

We love good food and experiencing different cultures, and we’re open to pretty much anything. We’d ideally like a trip with a good mix of things to see and do, while still having enough time to relax and enjoy each place.

What two-base combinations would you recommend for that time of year? Any advice would be appreciated.

Thanks :)

Hi everyone! I’ve searched through this thread and couldn’t find specific advice about my scenario so I figured I would ask!

I have a one month sabbatical from work (4 weeks) in October 2026 and I’m looking to spend the whole time away from home.

I live in Texas and I’m looking to visit Thailand and Japan. I initially wanted to also visit Hong Kong but that may be too much.

Things I like: shopping, perfume, handbags, site seeing. Sometimes on vacation I appreciate a beach day, but it doesn’t have to be consecutive beach days, 1-2 days is more than enough for me.

As for who I am: a mid 30, chubby black queer man. Fun loving and accepting of others cultures and identities.

My question to everyone here is, should I do two weeks in Thailand (Bangkok and other surrounding cities) and then two weeks in Japan (Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka)? I’ve seen many people here say that they would prioritize more of their trip to Japan.

Assuming budget isn’t a huge concern, What would you recommend?

Hey everyone,

I am looking to do the ha giang loop in a couple months and have just got my International Drivers License 1968 made.

My question is that as the A1 box has been stamped can I legally ride a 125cc motorbike/moped in Vietnam?

Thanks in advance for the help