SE Asia or Japan

[KathyTN]

I'd love input and insight regarding these two trips. I'd like to go with my young adult daughter. We are trying to decide between the two trips.

tbh, the reason that I'm asking here is that after reading the recent trip review about the long bus rides, and the 4 long hours until a bathroom stop on the SE Asia trip, I'm now very apprehensive about that trip. One thing that I count on for the ABD trips is comfort! I figure if ABD trips are scheduled with kids in mind, there won't be anything like this. I've been on other ABDs, and there is usually a bathroom on the coach.....and plenty of consideration from the guides and well planned out for comfort breaks (planned or emergency) so hearing this is a surprise. We aren't even considering Iceland or Sicily because of feedback on long / uncomfortable bus rides.

"I just don't think, at this age, I'm meant to live an uncomfortable life. I just don't have the will." ha!

Any input, or sharing of experience is really appreciated.


Thanks!

 

[jimmymc]

AquaDame has a TR going on SE Asia here: https://www.disboards.com/threads/se-asia-abd-2025.3960970/

sayhello's Japan report: https://www.disboards.com/threads/t...ated-10-26-abd-day-10-tokyo-in-color.3750186/

calypso726's Japan report: https://www.disboards.com/threads/japan-adults-only-9-29-19.3771628/

While I haven't done either trip, I have visited Japan on my own and think it's pretty easy to travel to. Public transit is great, there are tons of hotels and restaurants at every price range. For longer travel, the bullet trains were even better than I imagined they would be, and I had pretty high expectations to begin with. The standard seats are bigger than you'd expect, and the trains are smooth and quiet.

Japan was an amazing trip, and I'm going back in less than a month, but I also think the Japan AbD is incredibly overpriced for what you get. On the other hand, I am really considering the SE Asia AbD in a few years. I think it looks like an amazing trip and is worth the premium.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

I've heard great things about the SE Asia trip and it was always on the list, but I held back because of Ha Long Bay. Now that they've added that in to the itinerary for 2026, it has probably moved to the top of my list.

Japan was great. I did it the first year though (2019) and there were a couple longer bus rides that are not there now. The worst bathroom incident I can remember was in China. I want to say we were coming back from the Great Wall and a bunch of us had to go. We excepted peer pressure and he stopped, LOL.

I was also a little alarmed by the long bus ride w/o a stop that AquaDame mentioned, but I suspect that will be addressed in future trips. And if it's not, you can always tell the guides ahead of time that you will likely need a stop--be assured you won't be the only one.

Ironically one of the worst bathroom experiences we've had in 7 trips was in St. Petersburg (Add-on) where we had lunch at a restaurant that had one bathroom for each sex for everyone in there. It was horrible. Super long lines.

P.S. I should have added that I still like the Japan itinerary but not as much as when I went, and with Ha Long Bay now in there for 2026, I'd vote SE Asia

 

[sayhello]

I've heard great things about the SE Asia trip and it was always on the list, but I held back because of Ha Long Bay. Now that they've added that in to the itinerary for 2026, it has probably moved to the top of my list.

Japan was great. I did it the first year though (2019) and there were a couple longer bus rides that are not there now. The worst bathroom incident I can remember was in China. I want to say we were coming back from the Great Wall and a bunch of us had to go. We excepted peer pressure and he stopped, LOL.

I was also a little alarmed by the long bus ride w/o a stop that AquaDame mentioned, but I suspect that will be addressed in future trips. And if it's not, you can always tell the guides ahead of time that you will likely need a stop--be assured you won't be the only one.

Ironically one of the worst bathroom experiences we've had in 7 trips was in St. Petersburg (Add-on) where we had lunch at a restaurant that had one bathroom for each sex for everyone in there. It was horrible. Super long lines.

P.S. I should have added that I still like the Japan itinerary but not as much as when I went, and with Ha Long Bay now in there for 2026, I'd vote SE Asia

Then there was the bathroom break we had to ask for in the Hutong in Beijing before the crafts. In the *very* communal community bathroom!

Sayhello

 

[Travel60]

I leave tomorrow for 15 days in South Korea (Seoul and Buson) and Japan (Osaka, Kyoto and Tokyo). It is a university alumni group trip (20 persons) by AHI Travel. Only long bus ride from what I can tell is to DMZ. We do the bullet train between cities. In both countries. There is one mother/daughter combo. Will report at end of trip.

 

[CaliforniaGirl09]

Then there was the bathroom break we had to ask for in the Hutong in Beijing before the crafts. In the *very* communal community bathroom!

Sayhello

Oh my goodness, LOL. How could I forget that one? Getting the authentic experience for sure.