Cambodia, Vietnam & Laos: Jewels of Southeast Asia Meets Thread

[figmentfan2009]

here is her current report. Not a lot of detail, but some interesting pictures.

 

[sayhello]

here is her current report. Not a lot of detail, but some interesting pictures.

Very cool! Thanks for the link!

Sayhello

 

[Cousin Orville]

Thanks for the link. She has some neat pictures up already. Getting very excited... Tripit tells me I've got 37 days to go!

 

[TexasTravelGirl]

I am really looking forward to the feedback on this trip, I am strongly considering it for 2014, and I think it would be the perfect way to explore these countries. Since it is new there really is not a lot of feedback on it, but given it is Disney I am sure it will be as close to perfect that you can get!

Does anyone know of any feedback on solo travel with ABD? I would love to go on this trip, but my DH not so much...

Jen

 

[sayhello]

I am really looking forward to the feedback on this trip, I am strongly considering it for 2014, and I think it would be the perfect way to explore these countries. Since it is new there really is not a lot of feedback on it, but given it is Disney I am sure it will be as close to perfect that you can get!

Does anyone know of any feedback on solo travel with ABD? I would love to go on this trip, but my DH not so much...

Jen

Do you have specific questions about solo travel with ABD? I'm leaving on my 5th Solo ABD in 3 weeks, and I'd be happy to answer any & all questions you have.

There is a single supplement added to the cost of the trip (usually about 40% of the per person double occupancy cost). I have never felt out of place traveling solo on an ABD, and find it a wonderful way to do solo travel, as, even though I'm traveling on my own, I am not *alone* (unless I want to be). I also feel much safer, knowing there's a bunch of people (and 2 Adventure Guides) expecting me to be at a particular place at a particular time, who would notice right away if something happened to me.

Sayhello

 

[DisneyKevin]

I book many solo travelers and they all report the same information.

It's perfect acceptable to do things on your own, but it's nice to have a group if you want to spend time with people.

Kevin@DreamsUnlimitedTravel.com

 

[TexasTravelGirl]

Sayhello,

No not really, I know if I am going to travel solo Disney would be an amazing way to go. I just think this is the perfect way to go, my husband has no desire to go to South East Asia, but I do, and I think going with ABD is the perfect way to go. I am currently planning on booking another trip once the 2014 dates are available, but I am liking what I see on this one.

 

[sayhello]

Sayhello,

No not really, I know if I am going to travel solo Disney would be an amazing way to go. I just think this is the perfect way to go, my husband has no desire to go to South East Asia, but I do, and I think going with ABD is the perfect way to go. I am currently planning on booking another trip once the 2014 dates are available, but I am liking what I see on this one.

I totally agree with you. I do think ABD is the perfect way to go. Just be aware, ABD's are seriously addictive!

Sayhello

 

[sjlsk8r]

Is anyone familiar with visa on arrival in Vietnam? I know you need the approval letter before arrive there. But, I was just wondering if any one has received a visa by this method and if you would recommend it?

 

[DisFan10]

Is anyone familiar with visa on arrival in Vietnam? I know you need the approval letter before arrive there. But, I was just wondering if any one has received a visa by this method and if you would recommend it?

We obtained the visa-on-arrival when we went to Vietnam last year and it was very convenient. We used this company and I would recommend them for a hassle-free way to get your Vietnamese visa.

http://www.hotels-in-vietnam.com/vietnam/vietnam-visa.html

When we landed in Hanoi, we went to the Visa-on-Arrival counter and gave them our passports and the Approval Letter (which we had printed from the email) and paid the Stamping Fee (in U.S. dollars). They processed our visas and we were on our way within 10 minutes.

 

[deckes]

Just heard from Jennae. She will be our guide on the June 24th trip. After following her trip report on Facebook, we are so excited. One more month!

 

[sayhello]

Just heard from Jennae. She will be our guide on the June 24th trip. After following her trip report on Facebook, we are so excited. One more month!

Her reports look amazing! So looking forward to hearing your report when you get back!

Sayhello

 

[austraveler]

We just booked for the September 2014 trip. Very excited!!!

 

[austraveler]

Changed to April 2014 to increase the chance of other children on the trip. My boys will be 10, 12 and 14.

 

[abbyjt]

Please post here if you would like to talk with anyone else who has signed up to travel to Southeast Asia with ABD in 2013/2014.

You can also share information/ask questions about the Cambodia, Vietnam & Laos Jewels of Southeast Asia ABD.

Please try and keep this thread on topic to discussion and questions about the Southeast Asia ABD. Off topic posts will be deleted or moved.

Thanks!
Sayhello

Roll Call:

Current
Jun 10 - 21, 2013 - Cousin Orville, his son (8) & his Dad
Jun 24 - Jul 5, 2013 - deckes
- ABD Whovians, ?? & daughters (14 & 10)
Jul 8 - 19, 2013 - smep013 & husband
- disneyphx, husband & daughter (8)
- lrweaver & daughter (14)
- sjlsk8r & ??
Jul 22 - Aug 2, 2013 - figmentfan2009, DH, DD & DS
Apr 14 - 25, 2014 - austraveler & ?? & boys (10, 12 & 14)
Dec 22, 2014 - Jan 2, 2015 - AddictedtoTravel & ??

We're on the June 24 trip too. Three kids, 19, 16, 15

 

[sayhello]

We're on the June 24 trip too. Three kids, 19, 16, 15

So if I'm reading your sig correctly, that's trip #8 for you guys??? And Peru will be #9? Wow!

Which was your favorite?

Sayhello

 

[abbyjt]

Really hard to answer. They were all great, that's why we keep coming back. The kids didn't come to Italy, and they're not coming to Peru. My husband would probably say South Africa was his favorite because of the safari, which was amazing. My favorite was Greece, I'm an architect and I've always wanted to go to the Parthenon. I loved the mix of activities and history and the food was the best of any ABD we've been on. That's today. Vietnam could bump it (we eat pho-Vietnamese soup-all the time, so I'm looking forward to the food in Vietnam too). I didn't add it to my signature, but we booked the new Austria trip for next summer.

Our kids all loved the China trip. They call it their favorite based on the other kids on that trip. On that trip there were a lot of teens and they bonded instantly and still talk on facebook all the time. Actually they keep in touch with all the kids from all the trips, maybe except the first. That was before Facebook.

 

[deckes]

Heard from Jennae yesterday regarding exactly how often we have to coverup for temples & also regarding footwear for rice picking. The days we have to coverup are the day we are in Hanoi, the morning we are in Laos and also for certain parts of Angor Wat if you go on your own (ABD part does not require it). As far as rice picking you can wear boots, bare feet or not do at all. Definitely helps with the packing...

 

[ABD Whovians]

Thanks deckes!

We're excited as we approach the final countdown...

Looking forward to seeing you and abbyjt and Jennae on Monday. Or perhaps you're on the same flight with us - we are on Asiana JFK - Seoul - HCMC leaving Saturday at 1pm.

Now if we can prevent our girls from shouting, "Goooood morning, Vietnam!" when we land I think we'll call that a victory. I'm sure nobody there will ever have heard that before.

See you soon!

 

[abbyjt]

We leave tomorrow, Friday. Same flight from JFK on Asiana Airline. See you there. very excited