Where to stay in Bangkok?

What are the best areas of Bangkok to rent? What facilities and services can I expect from a Bangkok serviced apartment? What are the best and worst serviced apartments in Bangkok? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and much more in my simple and easy guide to renting a serviced apartment in Bangkok for both expats and travelers.

Bangkok is the Center of Southeast AsiaAs the commercial center of Thailand and the hub of business and leisure travel within Southeast Asia, Bangkok has exceptional hotels of all kinds catering to the business elite and casual traveler.

Recently, a new kind of accommodation has gained favor with business executives on short stays in Bangkok--the luxury serviced apartment. With increased commercial expansion over the past several years, serviced apartments are quickly becoming the favorite choice of living style for their affordable luxury.

What is a Serviced Apartment?
The serviced part of the equation usually refers to the daily or twice weekly cleaning of your room, the furniture, kitchen amenities and so on that normal apartments do not include. Some service apartments also function as hotels, and these are called Aparthotels.

What's So Special About Bangkok Serviced Apartments?Real estate and relocation agents believe Bangkok has the most number of sophisticated apartments the world has to offer. There are not just one or two luxurious apartments, but close to 50. This is because skilled labor is cheap in thailand, and the city itself is a major business hub for the southeast asia region.

Renting a serviced apartment in bangkok can be a daunting task for several reasons--the primary one being there are so many 'fine print' and extra costs involved when signing a weekly, monthly or yearly contract.

I have been living in Bangkok for a few years now, and have gone through several serviced apartments, learning on the way which 'services' are included and what to expect from your stay in Bangkok.

Bangkok's City Plan
The Bangkok Jungle has several meanings, one of them being that the city was never built with a city plan or urban design in mind. The city is a sprawling landscape, a montage of residential and commercial buildings juxtaposing one another. It is home to 10 to 15 million people, depending on who is arriving from the rural country and abroad. The people as well, from poor to affluent, live side by side.The city itself is lopsided; if you look down any major road in bangkok, you will see that both sides of the road arent balanced, building heights are different, and there is an overall lack of symmetry. This is what makes Bangkok unique and charming. And what makes it a jungle.

The Best Areas To Live In Bangkok
Bangkok contains inexpensive to exclusive apartments, but the best ones are found in the following regions of Bangkok:* Sukhumvit, the main road or artery of Bangkok* Asok, one of the most exclusive and expensive areas to live* Thong Lo, the chic and fashionable street,* Sathorn, the business district of Bangkok* Silom, another business and red light district* Ploenchit, business district* Chit Lom, business district

The areas listed above are all within easy access to shopping, dining, entertainment, trains, skytrains, and expressways. If you choose to live in one of these areas, you will experience life in the center of Bangkok's thriving business and shopping centres while indulging in an ultra private serviced apartment in Bangkok. I personally recommend Asok and Chit Lom, as they are the classiest areas of Bangkok, but if you are looking to be close to the night markets Silom is perfect, and Sukhumvit is always a colorful experience.

Facilities and Services of Typical Bangkok Serviced Apartments
These vary between the different types of apartments and condos, but a standard of excellence has been establlished from the increasing competition among serviced apartments. Facilities and services are upgraded regularly to keep up with rival residences. However, before investing in a serviced apartment, be sure to check if these services and facilities are available.5 Services That Should Be Included Free of Charge:* Room Cleaning* Water/Utilities* Internet Usage* 24 Hour Security* Room Service/Errand Boy4 Facilities That Should Be Included* Restaurant* Gym* Pool* Convenience Store

The Loopholes: Length of Stay, Deposits and Electricity
If you are staying for a month or year, the serviced apartment may charge you for electricity. Make sure that you negotiate this price to 6.5 Baht/Unit. A lot of times the apartment owners will charge 8 Baht/Unit for more profit. They only pay 3 or 4 Baht/Unit.Be careful when signing leases; most require a 2 month deposit, and if you move out before your contract is finished you forfeit this deposit.

Make sure the serviced apartment has a laundry service, either in house or out of house. Most serviced apartments have coin operated laundry rooms as well as pick up services. More deluxe suites will have washing machine in the room. Note that most places do not have dryers.How much Should I Pay?

This is a difficult question to answer, but the more facilities a serviced apartment has, the more it will cost. If a serviced apartment has a pool, gym and also functions as a 24 hour hotel, then the monthly price will be above 30,000 Baht.Location also has a large part to do with cost of a bangkok serviced apartment. If you are staying in an area not close to skytrain or subway access, your price will be much lower. Conversely, staying in the business districts of Silom or trendy spots like Ekkamai or Thonglor will raise your monthly rent.

Which Serviced Apartment Should I Choose?
The serviced apartment market in Bangkok is lead by three groups, The President Group, The Ascott Group, and Centre Point. Most of them offer first class accomodation and have a decent system of serving their customers. However, there are numerous independent serviced apartments to choose from.

The 2 Worst Serviced Apartments in Bangkok*
Ascott Bangkok Sathorn
There have been several articles written in trade journals about the decline in service at the once famous and most prestigious serviced apartment in Bangkok. Once known for attention to customer relations, their lack of it is now glaringly obvious to everyone who stays there. This place is an example of a chain serviced apartment becoming too much like a corporation with no human touch of service.* LebuaRumor is their staff is very untrustworthy. Read the trade journals and 'google' the residence for reviews.

Top 2 Most Luxurious Bangkok Serviced Apartments*
Siri Sathorn ApartmentsSiri Sathorn is a five-star luxury `boutique` property which epitomises private and elegant living in a residential setting. It is a concept of the perfect home which appeals to international traveller. This place caters to Japanese clientelle but of course is open to everyone.*
Fraser Place Urbana Langusan
They have an exclusive 45-metre driveway leading from the main road to the serviced residence for great privacy. They also have some of the best services and customer relations I have ever experienced, pampered is the only word that comes to mindBest Value Bangkok Serviced Apartments* Silom Convent Garden

Newly built in November 2006, this chic serviced apartment is located in the Silom-Sathorn area but has some of the cheapest rates for this business and night market district. For 36,000 Baht/$1000 a month you can have a 38 square meter, 1 bedroom, fully furnished luxurious apartment complete with full kitchen, washer machine, flat screen tv, and rain shower. The only drawback is the place doesn't have a pool or gym, but thats the reason the price is so low and why its one of the best values in Bangkok.

If you are still undecided whether to have a stay in Bangkok on your next trip, it was just recently announced that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to make Bangkok a "paradise" city. The article from the Bangkok Post states the BMA will establish a fund to address trash, pollution and traffic problems. Now is the time to take your next vacation or business trip to Bangkok, as life couldn't get any better in the City of Angels!

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Koh Samui Private and Resort Villas - Which one?

When staying on Koh Samui, what are the main differences between booking a resort-owned villa or a privately owned villa?

Socialising: On a resort you are not isolated from other people as you are when staying at a private villa. On resorts you get to meet other relaxing holidaymakers with whom you can have a chat and share your experiences. On a resort there is always somebody up and about and a simple ‘Good Morning’ may make their day as well as your own.

Privacy: Yet on a resort, and inside your villa, you can still have complete privacy to do your own individual thing, whether you want to party every night, read and relax or just sit back and watch TV or go on the Internet. In a private villa (provided the villa is not overlooked by neighbours) you can sunbathe naked if you wish whereas at a resort this would definitely be frowned upon.

Staff: Normally at a resort there are full-time staffs on hand daily – whose job is to change the linen and keep your villa tidy and spotless as well as clean around the resort generally. This service can be arranged at a private villa but it is not automatically included.

Security: Just like a private villa, with a resort villa you will have your own set of keys so that you can come and go whenever you like. On a resort you will normally see security staff patrolling the grounds, especially at nighttime whereas with a private villa this is very hard to come by. Normally, in a private-owned villa, you are on your own on this issue.

Pools: Some private villas don’t have a swimming pool at all but where there is, it’s obviously for your private use only. Resorts on the other hand always have one or sometimes two communal swimming pools, and for those families with youngsters it’s nice to know that other guests (and staff) are around to make sure they are safe. Also the swimming pools at a resort are cleaned daily, sometimes twice a day, whereas with a private pool you will be lucky if it’s cleaned once a week.

Catering: Most private villas are self-catering – but with upmarket villas the owner sometimes can arrange for food to be prepared by a chef – although this is not cheap. If a resort has its own restaurant you can eat there if you wish – sometimes a meal is included in your booking. Or you can eat out at local restaurants or have cooked food delivered to your villa. Or you can buy produce and supplies locally and cook the food yourself inside your own villa. Please note; not all resorts have villas with cooking facilities – so double check this aspect before you book.

Cost: A resort-owned villa should work out at less cost because of the larger economy of scale where more guests or small parties and groups can be catered for. On the other hand some upmarket resorts can be very expensive owing to their location, exclusivity and furnishings. Go for low-cost *** villa resorts if possible.

Private Villa or Resort Villa?
As they say on Samui – it’s up to you!

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Smoking and drinking in Thailand

If you arrive as a tourist in Bangkok, you may initially be puzzled as to where to find cigarettes or tobacco. The reason is that tobacco wares are not allowed to be displayed in public and no advertising is allowed.

Smaller shops will usually sell cigarettes (which are not expensive, even the imported ones). Most convenient places to buy tobacco are the 7-Eleven convenience stores scattered around Bangkok. The cigarettes are located just behind the counter, but as I mentioned, you will not actually see them displayed and must aks for them.

Not quite sure why anyone would want to smoke cigarettes, but for the more serious smokers you will find tobacco wares (cigars, pipe tobacco) at Siam Paragon and Emporium. The shops that sell tobacco are called Bangkok Wine Cellar (they mostly sell wine and spirits). There is one located on the 5th floor (next to the Gourmet Market) at Emporium Shopping Center, and another one (a bit larger, maybe somewhat more choice) in the corridor left of Gourmet Market at Siam Paragon (located at the basement level floor). The pipe tobacco and cigars are not openly visible, so you have to ask to see the wares.

Most five star hotels will have a small shop where you can buy tobacco wares. I noticed that these shops are allowed to display tobacco for sale.

Smoking is prohibited in restaurants and public places in Bangkok. Smoking is allowed outside buildings. For example, if you are a smoker and visit a Starbucks for your morning coffee, you may want to select one that has an outdoors section.

When you visit bars, well you will see the reason why smoking has been banned in most places, and gets such a bad press. The bars are filled with smoke, and any visit may have you coughing for the next few days. In our opinion, if smokers would have been more self-restraining, things would not have developed as far as they have now, with smokers being treated almost as bad as plain criminals.

Update : As of February 2011, there is a smoking ban in airconditioned bars and night clubs. Up to then, bars and nightlife entertainment venues had been exempted. A grace period has been granted, and full implementation of the new law will probably occur around May 2011.

Drinking and Buying Alcohol
Drinking alcohol is still allowed in Thailand. However, you can not buy alcohol at all times of day. Shops like supermarkets and 7-Elevens are not allowed to sell alcohol between 2.00-5.00 P.M. and after midnight. Sometime in the morning (the time escapes me) sales are permitted again. As far as we know, you can drink alcohol all day though in restaurants and bars.

On some days (religious and national holidays, election days) alcohol sales are banned altogether, and drinks can not be served even in restaurants and bars (which usually close on these days anyway).

Wines are invariably priced high. Even table wines that would be sold at less than 100 baht a bottle in Europe, cost 400 baht and upwards.

Stronger drinks like whisk(e)y, gin, vodka are quite cheap altogether. A bottle of good whisky such as Grant's or Ballantines can be had at around 550 baht a bottle (about 15 US $).

Most supermarkets will sell wines and spirits. Beers and mostly local brand alcohol is available at 7-Elevens (prices are about 20% higher than at supermarkets though). By the way, Thai brandy (sometimes called whisky or rum) is actually quite tasty and very cheap.

Drunk driving is a major problem in Thailand, and thousands of people are killed each year because of it. Most victims (and perpetrators) are 'low-class' motorcycle drivers, and little is done to enforce existing laws, and/or to improve drivers' conduct. Invariably, each year around New Year and with Songkran (the Thai New Year) there will be temporary campaigns to limit the number of road deaths. Unfortunately, the value of life in Thailand is rather low, and therefore little is done to preserve it.

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Best time to visit Thailand

Thailand's monsoons arrive around July and last into November (the 'rainy season'). They can be uncomfortably, unpredictably sticky. This is followed by a dry, cool period from November to mid-February, followed by much higher relative temperatures from March to June.

By far the best time to visit is from February to March when the weather is kind and the beaches are at their finest.The peak seasons are August, November, December, February and March, with secondary peak months in January and July.

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Best time to visit Thailand

Thailand's monsoons arrive around July and last into November (the 'rainy season'). They can be uncomfortably, unpredictably sticky. This is followed by a dry, cool period from November to mid-February, followed by much higher relative temperatures from March to June.

By far the best time to visit is from February to March when the weather is kind and the beaches are at their finest.

The peak seasons are August, November, December, February and March, with secondary peak months in January and July.

If your main objective is to avoid crowds and to take advantage of discounted rooms and low-season rates, you should consider traveling during the least crowded months (April, May, June, September and October).

On the other hand it's not difficult to leave the crowds behind, even during peak months, if you simply avoid some of the most popular destinations (e.g., Chiang Mai, islands and beaches). This is also the prime time for diving in terms of visibility and accessibility.

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Speaking Thai today

For those of you that want or need to speak the language of love in Thai here’s a small dictionary of Thai love phrases that are sure to impress and excite your new Thai girlfriend. I guarantee she will be amazed and impressed. If you’re having trouble with pronunciation you can ask her for help too which will help to make your relationship more concrete.

Beginning Your Relationship
I am single. (pom yung sot)
You are very beautiful. (koon suay mak mak)
You are very cute. (koon na-ruk mak mak)
I like your smile. (pom chorp roi yim kong koon)
Can I see you tomorrow? (proong nee jer gun dai mai) - For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai”
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Simple itinerary to visit Vietnam

Day 1 - The Old Quarter

Walking around Hanoi is similar to walking around Bangkok – you don’t know where to look first. You need to have every sense working overtime to keep up with its pace. The noise of the traffic, the smells from the foodstalls and the constant view of people and moving frantically around you will do nothing else but astound you upon touching down for the very first time.

The best known area of the city among travellers is the city’s Old Quarter, an area divided up into 36 different streets. In the 13th Century when the area established, each street designated to one of the 36 trades practised in the city. Some of these streets include Bat Dan meaning wooden bowls, Gia Ngu which means fishermen, and Hang Trong which stands for drum. Today there are over 50 streets in the area.

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Simple itinerary to visit Vietnam

Day 1 - The Old Quarter

Walking around Hanoi is similar to walking around Bangkok – you don’t know where to look first. You need to have every sense working overtime to keep up with its pace. The noise of the traffic, the smells from the foodstalls and the constant view of people and moving frantically around you will do nothing else but astound you upon touching down for the very first time.

The best known area of the city among travellers is the city’s Old Quarter, an area divided up into 36 different streets. In the 13th Century when the area established, each street designated to one of the 36 trades practised in the city. Some of these streets include Bat Dan meaning wooden bowls, Gia Ngu which means fishermen, and Hang Trong which stands for drum. Today there are over 50 streets in the area.

The Old Quarter is where everything is situated – it is where the majority of hostels are, as well as a vast selection of cafés and restaurants serving tasty cheap food. Due to the high number of tourists which descend upon this area there are stalls selling anything and everything and all this comes together to make the Old Quarter a melting pot of life.

Day 2 - The city of lakes

There aren’t many cities in the world that have as many lakes as Hanoi does. Walking around the different parts of the city you find you are never far from one. Hoan Kiem Lake can be found right in the centre of the Old Quarter. There is something fascinating about walking from some of the busiest streets in South East Asia to stumble across a wide open lake.

West of the old city is possibly the city’s number one attraction (with Vietnamese tourists anyway), the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, just south of Ho Tay (West Lake). This chamber is where the body of Ho Chi Minh, the first president of the independent republic of North Vietnam, has been laid to rest. Seeing his body is, as you would expect a somewhat sombre experience but it is still quite unique and shouldn’t be missed when in the Vietnamese capital.

Built on a huge complex, beside the mausoleum is the Ho Chi Minh Museum which is dedicated to his life. There are wide open parks here also in this traffic free area making it that more pleasant to visit than other parts of the city.On the southern banks of the West Lake are some of the city’s top restaurants. This doesn’t mean that you will pay gastronomical prices. It just means you will get some top quality food at a price far, far cheaper than in the western world.

If you are the type of traveller who is always looking for new experiences that you will find nowhere else other than in the country you are visiting, try and visit Pho Nghi Tram. This street 10 kilometres north of the city centre has a strip of dog-meat restaurants, something which you don’t find every day.

Day 3 - Vietnam's ancient capital

While Hanoi has only been the capital of Vietnam since 1945, 95 kilometres south of the city is Hoa Lu. This ancient city was the capital of Vietnam from 968-980 under the Dinh dynasty and then until 1009 under the Le Dynasty.Hoa Lu’s two foremost points of interest are the two temples there – Dinh Tien Hoan and Le Dai Hanh.

Both are two commemorate the two dynasties which ruled there in the past. At the front of the first temple is a statue of Emperor Dinh Tien and the second is quite different with a collection of weapons, candles and more artefacts.

From Hoa Lu you are brought to Tam Coc. Meaning ‘Three Caves’, the scenery around here is awe inspiring and it is how it became known as ‘Halong Bay without the water’. You can watch the locals row their boats down the river here before visiting the caves.Organised tours visiting these sites depart from Hanoi around 7.30am on most mornings and return at 5.30pm that evening.

A type of puppetry which originated in Northern Vietnam is water puppetry. Hanoi is the best place to see this ancient art is in the Municipal Water Puppet Theatre in the Old Quarter. Two performances take place in this theatre on the north eastern shores of Hoan Kiem Lake and is an absolute must for any visit to Hanoi, the city where the artform originated.

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Go-Go Bar scam in Thailand

You are walking along Patpong Road and some pathetic looking tout invites you to an a go-go bar upstairs performing ping-pong, darts and horny snake shows. You are told a beer is a 100 baht, but when you get the bill it is for 1,500 (tout downstairs forgot to tell you there was a huge cover charge).

The scammers in there are violently dangerous, don’t get into a fight (a Japanese guy was murdered a few years ago in one of those bars). Tell them politely that you need a receipt to get your money back from the company (entertainment expenses).

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10 reasons to visit Vietnam

Being one of the most charming capital cities in Asia where past, present and future are all bended so well in one single place, Hanoi truly deserves a several days stay. And, make sure you go these places to have best experience of Vietnam's capital city.

1. Ho Chi Minh complex, visiting his Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace and his old houses. The Mausoleum is where the body of the greatest president of Vietnam is kept in a glass coffin. The Presidential Palace is a beautiful French building that was originally built for the French General Governor of Indochina, later on Ho Chi Minh worked in the building.

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10 reasons to visit Vietnam

Being one of the most charming capital cities in Asia where past, present and future are all bended so well in one single place, Hanoi truly deserves a several days stay. And, make sure you go these places to have best experience of Vietnam's capital city.

1. Ho Chi Minh complex, visiting his Mausoleum, the Presidential Palace and his old houses. The Mausoleum is where the body of the greatest president of Vietnam is kept in a glass coffin. The Presidential Palace is a beautiful French building that was originally built for the French General Governor of Indochina, later on Ho Chi Minh worked in the building.

2. One Pillar Pagoda: Built in the 11th century as a memorial to the Goddess of Mercy. The whole pagoda stands on a column and it shapes like a lotus flower, erected from a little pond.

3. The Temple of Literature: the once biggest education center of Vietnam and also the most beautiful temple in the country dedicated to Confucius- the founder of Confucianism.

4. Museum of Ethnology: Biggest one in town displaying exhibits and lives of 54 groups of people living in Vietnam. The place has an exotic collection of traditional houses of peoples in Vietnam.

5. Old Quarter: Trading part of the city, most populated and flourish place in town. Thousands of tiny shops selling cheap things. Ideal to look for clothes, fake watches, fake Lacoste T-shirt and nice painting galleries. Every last 3 evening of the week, part of the Old Quarter is only for the pedestrians (traffic is banned). Local shops are the set up in the middle of the daytime-busy streets to sell local thing. Pretty good for going out having a look. Watch your language once you're here, just to be on the safe side.

6. Ngoc Son temple: A nice little temple dedicated to one of the 10 best generals in war history. The temple was built in the 18 century. Make sure you see a turtle (maintained in a glass coffin) to the small roof next to the temple, which used to be living in the water of the lake.

7. Cheap clothes and watches: Go to Hang Dao street (near the Sword Lake). This is where you can find a 4$ Lacost T-shirts or a 3$ Swiss watch. I'm sure they're not really bad comparing to a the genuin.

8. For a traffic experience? Spend around 3-4$/hour renting a cyclo, you will be cycled around the Old Quarter, be a part of the amazing traffic. After that, first thing you're gonna say is: I have survived.

9. Wanna taste a bit of the local culture? Go to cafe Lam (91 Nguyen Huu Huan street) where you taste nice Vietnamese coffee, but seeing the local is more interesting for those who expect)

10. Heard of the Water Puppet show? It originated in Vietnam and the ticket is about 2.5$ where you see 1 hour show of the stunning art takes place on the water. The Puppet theater is on the bank of the Sword Lake. Can't miss it.

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Go-go Bar Scam in Thailand

You are walking along Patpong Road and some pathetic looking tout invites you to an a go-go bar upstairs performing ping-pong, darts and horny snake shows. You are told a beer is a 100 baht, but when you get the bill it is for 1,500 (tout downstairs forgot to tell you there was a huge cover charge).

The scammers in there are violently dangerous, don’t get into a fight (a Japanese guy was murdered a few years ago in one of those bars). Tell them politely that you need a receipt to get your money back from the company (entertainment expenses).

Act dumb and play it nice, like it’s not your money they are ripping off. Outside, go straight to the tourist cops, there is a good chance you will get your money back.

Anyway, if you do want to see such a sinful show (or any a go-go bar that is) only go into one that is managed by King’s Group Co. Ltd.

All there bars have a huge plaque outside saying so. King’s Group upstairs a go-gos are the only non-scams on Patpong. Their downstairs a go-go are also by far and away the best.

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6 reasons to visit Vietnam

Most people think of Vietnam as a war. But the old history has all gone. Now peace and safety resides. It's opening to the world as a friendly and exotic place on earth to be.

So why don't you think of coming. I'll name some of the reasons why you should:

1. She's a new place. It's not touristy like in Thailand and many places you go, people got stunned by your appearance.

2. She's safe and friendly. The majority of people in Vietnam are farmers, pure farmers. Many of them have never learnt of much apart from the village they were born in. Naturally, they're almost all friendly and safe to be around. Moreover, the communist government does a good job in ensuring securities all over the country. Nothing of a crime has happened to tourists for the last decades.

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6 reason why one must visit Vietnam

Most people think of Vietnam as a war. But the old history has all gone. Now peace and safety resides. It's opening to the world as a friendly and exotic place on earth to be.So why don't you think of coming. I'll name some of the reasons why you should:

1. She's a new place. It's not touristy like in Thailand and many places you go, people got stunned by your appearance.

2. She's safe and friendly. The majority of people in Vietnam are farmers, pure farmers. Many of them have never learnt of much apart from the village they were born in. Naturally, they're almost all friendly and safe to be around. Moreover, the communist government does a good job in ensuring securities all over the country. Nothing of a crime has happened to tourists for the last decades.

3. She has lots to see: A thin country stretching for thousands of Km from North to South. It has beautiful mountains with colorful and rich culture hill tribes. It has beaches and many of those are considered best in the world but still, they're not touristy. Sound cool enough? Not end yet, she's home to 7 UNESCO World Heritages. Almost anywhere you go, you're tumble on a World Heritage.

4. She's cheap. If you want to, then 1 dollar could buy you a basic lunch or dinner. Wandering around and you want to find somewhere to sit and drink? Mostly you don't have to pay more than one dollar for it. Cheap accommodations and services are everywhere around the Old Quarter in Hanoi and Pham Ngu Lao street or Bui Vien street – Sai Gon (if you're traveling on a tight budget). If not a tight budget? Never mind. You have top hotels and resorts of the world in here.

5. Is travel here convenient? Sure, many companies operate the open bus (good quality in general) and they run almost to every capital cities in the country. Moving around is very easy.

6. After all, traveling is to experience the difference. And Vietnam simply is from any place that you have been.

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Gearing up to Philippines

Getting Ready for Your Trip to the Philippines.

Let’s assume you’ve done your regular prep-work: made provisions for paying your bills back home + having the means to monitor all your banking activity online, clearing out your credit cards, securing your travel documents, securing your home and pets, having a medical exam + getting the necessary vaccinations if you need it, putting your memberships on hold, dealing with all your mail for the duration of your vacay, etc.

Pay special attention to:

• Appropriate Clothing. The Philippines only has two kinds of weather, really: hot weather, and rainy weather. It’s a tropical country, which means you can get away with a single layer of clothing for the most part- a simple t-shirt and jeans, for example. You might still want to keep a coat with you if you feel cold. Or if you want to pack light, you can go ahead and just buy clothes when you get there.

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Use taxi in Bangkok, Thailand

Perhaps the easiest and most comfortable way to get around, if not always the quickest, is by the aircon taxi. These come in quite a few different colours though the green-yellow and red-blue ones are the most common.

Bangkok has thousands of taxis, and finding one at any time is never a problem. The occasional exception to this is during a monsoon season downpour. By international standards they're very cheap too, the flagfall rate is 35B (0.85 US$ approx) including the first 2km and it's 5B/km after that.

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Use taxi in Bangkok, Thailand

Perhaps the easiest and most comfortable way to get around, if not always the quickest, is by the aircon taxi. These come in quite a few different colours though the green-yellow and red-blue ones are the most common.

Bangkok has thousands of taxis, and finding one at any time is never a problem. The occasional exception to this is during a monsoon season downpour. By international standards they're very cheap too, the flagfall rate is 35B (0.85 US$ approx) including the first 2km and it's 5B/km after that.

This means that even relatively long journeys, such as from Sukhumvit to the Grand Palace often aren't above 100B (2.5 US$). A surcharge is applied in traffic jams (1.25B/m when moving under 6km/h), meaning at night when there's not much traffic they're definitely the best way of getting around.

There's no exams that have to be passed to become a taxi driver in Bangkok, and so many have a less than encyclopedic knowledge of the city. Communication can be a problem with the majority of Bangkok's taxi drivers too. It's worth bearing in mind that many taxi (and tuk tuk) drivers are from Thailand's poor Isaan (northeast) region, are likely to be fairly uneducated and many speak little English.

Even the ones that can will probably not be able to read a map that's written only in English. Although there are a large number Thai words that have been taken straight from English, they often come out with a distinctly Thai pronunciation that can be markedly different from the original.

The two tone green and yellow taxis are generally reckoned to be the best ones. These are driven by the owner, while all others are rented out by the day. Of course, everything really depends on the driver rather than the color of the car, and there's not really any major difference between any of them.

All licensed taxis have yellow and black number plates. Tipping of taxi drivers is not really a Thai practice, though rounding the fare up to the nearest 5B or 10B is fairly common. Any more is not expected and not really necessary.

If you're unlucky, the driver will sometimes claim to have no change to try and force you to leave a 30% tip or thereabouts - getting out to change money at a nearby store will often lead to him remembering where his change is kept. If you aren't near any taxis, you can phone 1661 and order one to pick you up. This costs the meter fee + 20B.

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Get cash in Indonesia

While you are in Indonesia, you should only use cash to makepurchases or transactions. Credit card fraud is rampant in Indonesia,and I just think it would be best to avoid using your credit cardwhile in country.

You have several options to access cash in Indonesia:

1. Bring the currency with you.
You can order foreign currency at mostbanks in the U.S. and they should have it for you in less than 5 days.
Pros: You have your money when you arrive in country and you don'thave to worry about using money changers or anything. There issomething to be said for not having to worry about changing your moneythe second you arrive at the airport, when you are exhausted and disoriented and probably cranky.
Cons: Probably the worst exchange rate you're going to find. However, if you wantto just order a little bit of currency and change the rest when youget in country, that's not a bad option either.

2. You can exchange your money when you get to the Surabaya airport, however the exchange rate is better in Jakarta Airport.
If you choose this option, definitely bring the crispest, cleanest,NEWEST $100 bills you can find. Go to the bank to get these. If yourbills are from before 1996, too worn, or torn in any way, they willnot accept them. And that would suck. You get the best exchange rateon $100 bills, then $50 bills have the next best rate, and they maynot accept anything smaller than a $20 bill.
Pros: Good exchange rate.
Cons: It's a hassle, and sometimes their English is pretty bad.There's a higher risk of getting fake currency, although this is unlikely.

3. You can exchange money at a local bank in Indonesia. The samewear&tear issues from #2 apply here.
Pros: Best exchange rate you can find.
Cons: A really really really big hassle. I do NOT recommenddoing this, as it is time consuming and just annoying to try and finda good bank.

4. Traveler's cheques.
Pros: Good exchange rate, very SAFE.
Cons: big hassle

5. You can withdraw your money at ATMs. This is a really the best option because ATMs really are all over the place at airports and shoppingmalls and other places like that. Most ATM cards will work in Indonesia (those associated with Visa, MasterCard, Plus, Cirrus, etc.are all accepted).
Pros: Good exchange rate. You don't have to actually deal with real people, which is nice and safe when you're in Indonesia.
Cons: You might get charged with fees all over the place. Anything from yourbank charging you a transaction fee bc it's not one of theirATMs, then you'll have an International Transaction fee, then you will most likely get charged a fee from the Indonesian bank whose ATM itis, etc.

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Vietnam travel guide

PEOPLE

The majority of the population is comprised of the Viet or Kinh (87%) people who speak the Vietnamese language. The minority population is made up of 54 ethnic hill tribe people who mainly live in the extreme south, central and northern mountainous areas of the country. The best-known hill tribes are the TÃ y, Hmong, Zao, White and Black Thai, Muong (both mainly from the north), and the Hoa, Khmer in the South. Each hill tribe has its own unique customs and dialect and some are able to speak official Vietnamese language.

LANGUAGE

Vietnamese, the national language is tonal and monosyllabic, which means the meanings of the word change according to the pitch they are pronounced at. The accents and some words are quite distinct among the three regions of North, Central, and South.

Today, English, French and Chinese have replaced Russian as the most studied and spoken languages.

MONEY

The official currency, the dong and is non-convertible. There are coins 200, 1.000, 5.000 used in the local currency and the notes come in denominations of 100, 200,) 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 (2 notes), 100,000 (2notes) and 500.000 dong notes.

The US dollar, preferably crisp clean bills, is widely accepted among major shops and restaurants. Travelers checks can be cashed at authorized foreign exchange outlets and banks, and require presentation of passport. There is normally a 2 to 5 percent transaction fee for cashing travelers checks. Visa and MasterCard are accepted in some of the bigger hotels and restaurants. Prices are usually quoted in USD so if you are paying in Dong check the exchange rate first.

ATM machines are available at major cities: Hanoi , Halong, Haiphong , Hue , Danang, Nha Trang and Saigon .

At the time of writing trades at approximately 16,000 dong to US$ 1 and 20,000 VND to 1 Euro.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

No vaccinations are officially required by the Vietnamese authorities, however immunization against cholera, hepatitis, typhoid, tetanus, polio and Japanese encephalitis is advised. Please consult your doctors for further medical advice.

You should carry a basic medical kit that includes anti diarrhoea tablets and re-hydration salts. Medical standards outside Hanoi and Saigon are lower that those found in western countries.

COMMUNICATIONS & BUSINESS HOURS

Vietnam is 7 hours ahead of GMT and does not observe daylight saving time.

Phones

Communication fees in Vietnam are quite high but impeccable. You can use pre-paid card phone services for your hand phone, the sim card costs around 15 US$. Prepaid card costs 100,000, 300.000 and 500.000 VND.

The best International rates are from the post offices that have a pay per call service and a fax service. The central post offices in Hanoi , Saigon and Hue also accept calling cards from various international telecommunications companies. It is not possible to make collect calls from Vietnam .

For lower cost, dial 171+00+ number you want.

Internet

Internet and e-mail services are readily available in most major places throughout the country. Some hotels will have this service available and there are many Internet cafes in the major areas. The speed of your connection will vary however depending on the time of day. Average charge for Internet usage is around 4.000 VND per hour in cyber cafe internet.

Several hotels for business travelers in Hanoi and Saigon are equipped internet with high speed access in business center and in room guest.

Trading Hours

Government offices and banks are open Monday to Friday. The banks close at 3:30 p.m. If you need to visit a government office do not do it during lunch periods. These usually last 1 to 2 hours. Post offices are open 7 days a week.

Most shops will be open until around 9 p.m. Snacks and bars will close around midnight however there a few new nightclubs in Hanoi and Saigon that stay open into the wee hours.

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Arrival in Vietnam

All visitors must complete an Entry/exit Card. This should be submitted together with passport and visa to the Immigration Department officials at the point of entry. The Exit portion will be torn off and returned to the visitor, who should retain this for presentation upon departure. It is a good idea to staple this into your passport on the page that has your visa stamp.

Customs procedures

All visitors must complete a Customs Declaration Form. Both the copy and the original will be stamped. The Customs officers will retain the original copy while the copy (so called yellow paper) will be given back to the visitor, who must submit it upon departure.

hese forms will be passed to you on your flight to Vietnam . Every form asks for your contact address in Vietnam .

Airport Departure Tax

There is a international departure tax of US$ 14 in Saigon and US$ 14 in Hanoi . Domestic departure taxes are included in air fare.

Getting There & Away

Ho Chi Minh City's (Saigon) Tan Son Nhat Airport is Vietnam 's busiest international air hub, followed by Hanoi 's Noi Bai Airpot. A few international flights also serve Danang. Singapore, Hongkong, Bangkok have emerged as the principle embarkation points for Vietnam but it's still possible to get direct flights from a number of major Asian and European cities and a few American, Australian cities. Departure tax is US$14 in Hanoi and 14 US $ in Saigon, which can be paid in Vietnam Dong or US dollars.

There are currently six border crossings for travellers coming to Vietnam, but more may open soon. All crossing points suffer from heavy policing and often requests for 'immigration fees'.

For getting to from China, it's become very popular to cross the border at Friendship Pass or Dong Dang, 20km (12mi) north of Lang Son in northeast Vietnam , to get to/from Namning. There is a twice-weekly international train between Beijing and Hanoi that stops at Friendship Pass. The other popular border crossing with China is at Lao Cai (near Sapa) in northwest Vietnam, which lies on the railway line between Hanoi and Kunming in China 's Yunnan Province. There's also a seldom used crossing at Mong Cai, Quang Ninh Province.

It's possible to enter Laos from Lao Bao in north-central Vietnam; there's an international bus from Danang to Savannakhet ( Laos ). The other crossing is at Keo Nua Pass/Cau Treo, west of Vinh.

The only crossing to Cambodia is via Moc Bai; an international bus links Phnom Penh with Ho Chi Minh City .

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