Trip Around Asia

Hello,

I have been wanting to go to Asia for the longest time, and I think I will be going sometime next summer. I was in Taiwan for two months before and I'd really like to return. I have several questions that I was hoping someone could help me with

Here are some background details: I would like to visit Taiwan, Hong Kong, somewhere in mainland China (Beijing/Shanghai?), Korea, and Japan. I can go in June, July, or August. I'd probably want to spend about a month for the whole trip but suggestions are welcome if that's too long/short. I may be going with a couple of friends; one of them speaks Mandarin and knows Taipei well, another speaks Korean and is currently in Seoul so I'd be going there, and a couple of them speak Japanese. Not sure about where to go in Japan or mainland China yet so I'm definitely open to suggestions!

I have a few questions that I was hoping someone could help me with:

1. Which month would be best to go in terms of saving money and any other factors? June, July, or August? I was thinking June because many people go back to Asia during summer break, and for high school that's July-Aug.

2. What would you estimate the cost to be for this whole trip? Are there any deals I could get for this?

3. Should I use a travel agent / tours / etc. when going around each place or do it all myself?

4. How long would be ideal for such a trip?

5. When would be the best time to buy tickets? I suppose just look out for deals in the next 9 months or so?

6. I remember someone telling me before that if you fly often you should sign up for some membership or something? I haven't travelled that much so I don't know much about this. If I'm buying so many flight tickets, would there be something I should do to take advantage of this?

7. Any other suggestions?


I know this is a long post, so thank you very much!

1. Schools in Asia do not all have their summer breaks at the same time as we do in North America. I can not speak specifically to the countries you are visiting, just saying it is one thing to be aware of. You should also check if there are major holidays during the time you will be visiting as hotel prices may be high.

2. How much did it cost you to stay in Taiwan for 2 months? It depends on your lifestyle. Will you stay in hotels or hostels? Including airfare I would say $5k to $10k. HK and Japan ain't cheap. There are a lot of deals out there, but you will have to do the work to find them.

3. If you have the time to do the research on the net then do it yourself. Buying several tour packages to cover the places you want to go would be expensive and the "on the bus every morning" thing could get to you after a while. You might plan one package tour during the trip but you should also allow for flexibility. If you book a lot of non-refundable flights/packages/hotels then you will have to stick to that or lose your $.

4. As long as you can. You will never see everything anyway. Make a list of what you want to do and see how long the list would take to cover.

5. Planning is everything, once you have an idea of what you are doing then you can start booking flights. Once you have a plan, look for a good deal but don't wait around trying to save $20.

6. Join the frequent flyer program of whichever airline you fly to Asia. Look for flights with affiliate airlines when flying in Asia, for example Air Canada is part of the Star Alliance so look for flights on ANA, Asiana, Air China. Take some time to learn about whichever program you join. This trip would get you enough miles for a free flight sometime in the future, unless you only buy the cheapest fares which may not earn miles, so this is another reason to read up on what you are joining. Search for budget airlines flying the routes you are interested in, they are quite often much cheaper. If you are staying in hotels, even some of the time then join their program, like Starwood to get points for future free stays.

7. Take the time to come back and post about how your planning is coming along and what you have decided to do and see. I would like to go to Korea and would be interested to hear what you have planned.

Originally Posted by bgalm

Hello,

I have been wanting to go to Asia for the longest time, and I think I will be going sometime next summer. I was in Taiwan for two months before and I'd really like to return. I have several questions that I was hoping someone could help me with

Here are some background details: I would like to visit Taiwan, Hong Kong, somewhere in mainland China (Beijing/Shanghai?), Korea, and Japan. I can go in June, July, or August. I'd probably want to spend about a month for the whole trip but suggestions are welcome if that's too long/short. I may be going with a couple of friends; one of them speaks Mandarin and knows Taipei well, another speaks Korean and is currently in Seoul so I'd be going there, and a couple of them speak Japanese. Not sure about where to go in Japan or mainland China yet so I'm definitely open to suggestions!

I have a few questions that I was hoping someone could help me with:

1. Which month would be best to go in terms of saving money and any other factors? June, July, or August? I was thinking June because many people go back to Asia during summer break, and for high school that's July-Aug.

2. What would you estimate the cost to be for this whole trip? Are there any deals I could get for this?

3. Should I use a travel agent / tours / etc. when going around each place or do it all myself?

4. How long would be ideal for such a trip?

5. When would be the best time to buy tickets? I suppose just look out for deals in the next 9 months or so?

6. I remember someone telling me before that if you fly often you should sign up for some membership or something? I haven't travelled that much so I don't know much about this. If I'm buying so many flight tickets, would there be something I should do to take advantage of this?

7. Any other suggestions?


I know this is a long post, so thank you very much!

It's better to stick only to a few places, traveling too much in a short time results in a lot of wasted time and money (eg. travel time, limited transportation and hotel options, cost of flight, etc.), and in the end you'll see very little. You'll be tired out after the first week. Keep mind the culture shock, jet lag, different diet, hot weather, and having to find your way around with no personal transportation. For your trip, I would do Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Beijing or Shanghai…..do Korea and Japan another time.

Book a flight to Taiwan first, there are always cheap flights to Hong Kong from Taiwan since there are no direct flights to mainland China (last time I check). From Hong Kong you’ll have lots of travel options to get to Beijing or Shanghai.

Originally Posted by Wiill

there are no direct flights to mainland China (last time I check). From Hong Kong you’ll have lots of travel options to get to Beijing or Shanghai.

Air Canada fly direct from YVR to Beijing and Shanghai and also from YYZ.

Originally Posted by Cheap

Air Canada fly direct from YVR to Beijing and Shanghai and also from YYZ.

You have to pay for a visa to enter China, that's at least 2 visas you'll need if fly there direct....

Originally Posted by Wiill

You have to pay for a visa to enter China, that's at least 2 visas you'll need if fly there direct....

If you are traveling around different countries there is no reason to fly all the way back to where you started just to catch a flight home. If I were planning this trip I would not buy a round trip ticket, I would buy an open jaw and fly into the first country I wanted to visit and fly home from the last country.

What was it about Taiwan that made you really want to return?

Thanks everyone for the responses!

Originally Posted by Cheap

1. Schools in Asia do not all have their summer breaks at the same time as we do in North America. I can not speak specifically to the countries you are visiting, just saying it is one thing to be aware of. You should also check if there are major holidays during the time you will be visiting as hotel prices may be high.

Actually, I had heard from many people in Canada to try and avoid July-Aug because CANADIAN students are off for summer and a lot of students here are Asian and return back for the summer. So that would inflate the prices for July-Aug.

Originally Posted by Cheap

2. How much did it cost you to stay in Taiwan for 2 months? It depends on your lifestyle. Will you stay in hotels or hostels? Including airfare I would say $5k to $10k. HK and Japan ain't cheap. There are a lot of deals out there, but you will have to do the work to find them.

Actually I went with my girlfriend, and her dad (who resides in Taiwan) had a spare bedroom, so I paid nothing for rent And a lot of meals were covered when we went out with her family... it was fantastic.

Additionally, my best friend will be in Korea, so I could stay at his place for nothing. The only place I'd be paying for rent would be Japan... but again I have some friends there that could possibly hook me up

Originally Posted by Cheap

7. Take the time to come back and post about how your planning is coming along and what you have decided to do and see. I would like to go to Korea and would be interested to hear what you have planned.

Sure will, thanks for all the advice!

Originally Posted by Wiill

It's better to stick only to a few places, traveling too much in a short time results in a lot of wasted time and money (eg. travel time, limited transportation and hotel options, cost of flight, etc.), and in the end you'll see very little. You'll be tired out after the first week. Keep mind the culture shock, jet lag, different diet, hot weather, and having to find your way around with no personal transportation. For your trip, I would do Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Beijing or Shanghai…..do Korea and Japan another time.

Book a flight to Taiwan first, there are always cheap flights to Hong Kong from Taiwan since there are no direct flights to mainland China (last time I check). From Hong Kong you’ll have lots of travel options to get to Beijing or Shanghai.

Thanks for the advice. Actually, my highest priority is Japan, then Korea, then Taiwan. Those are the three that I absolutely must go. So, I COULD potentially omit China if it makes things much cheaper / easier.

Originally Posted by Aznsilvrboy

What was it about Taiwan that made you really want to return?

The FOOD! I miss the food so damn much Especially the uber prices on everything. I hear the girls are quite the eye candy as well, although I went with my gf so I wouldn't really know as she was my sole focus of attention and would kill me if I had wandering eyes

Originally Posted by bgalm

Actually, I had heard from many people in Canada to try and avoid July-Aug because CANADIAN students are off for summer and a lot of students here are Asian and return back for the summer. So that would inflate the prices for July-Aug.

I understood you were talking about Canadian students (don't some Uni students finish in May) but when you compare the effects of thousands of Canadians going somewhere compared to the millions of locals who could be off for some celebration then a few thousand Canadians really doesn't matter. I got burned once (trying to book a flight) and after that I check what national holidays and celebrations are going on before I make my plan.

Originally Posted by bgalm

Japan, then Korea, then Taiwan.

That looks reasonable for a month long trip.

have you looked at the cathay pacific all-asia pass? they've severely restricted it compared to other years but i know some people have gotten cheaper flights with it with just two segments instead of an open jaw return.