Suggestions for Pacific Rim Trip

[Sonny]

Question for those of you have traveled abroad to the Pacific Rim - My wife and I are thinking about taking a long 10 - 14 day trip in Summer 2008 to Asia/Australia.

What locales would you recommend visiting in that part of the world (and why?). Thinking Japan and Hong Kong. But would like to hear your suggestions if you have been over there.

[horn17]

Sonny,

We have an office in Brisbane, Australia, I can get some feeback for you from them if you would like. A couple of the engineers here have been out there, and loved it recently, I'll find out what they did, etc....

[StrykerFSU]

I really enjoyed my trips to Japan. Obviously the culture and history are worth the trip alone. At times I did feel a bit like a character in Lost in Translation but that is to be expected I suppose.

I also strongly encourage you to consider New Zealand. The people are exceedingly warm and friendly and it's not nearly as expensive as Japan. I spent the majority of my time on the South Island which is an outdoorsmen's paradise (in the camping not hunting sense).

I just got back from Perth/Fremantle Australia but I was only there for a few days so I can't offer much other than saying that the weather was warm and the beer cold.

I'd be happy to answer any specific questions you might have if you want to shoot me a PM.

[Sonny]

I've heard really great things about Australia & New Zealand both.

But it seems to me like you would have to pick one or the other:
Australia/New Zealand or Japan/Hong Kong/Korea
if you only had 10-14 days to spend over there.

[Sonny]

Also forgot to add - We are thinking of late May/June 2008 for this trip.

[Jana]

If you're going to Asia in the summer of 2008 - why not go to Beijing for the Olympics?

[Sonny]

If you're going to Asia in the summer of 2008 - why not go to Beijing for the Olympics?

Thought about that... but the Summer Games are in August. And we would need to be over there in late May/early June time frame.

[KnoxVegas]

yes, the either/or is tough but makes sense sine there is so much to do in both. As far as Australia goes, You could do Sydney & Cairns and fly out of Cairns to Japan or Hong Kong. Keep in mind that the flight from Cairns, in extreme northern Queensland, is still another 8 to 9 hours. May/June is like our November/December season wise. Then again, I lived down there and winter in Sydney is mid-50s.

Suggestions for Australia:
Sydney
There is heaps to do in Sydney, from the daggy (BridgeClimb) to the beautiful (a day in the Hunter Valley wine region)

Queensland
If you are into nature, I suggest flying to Hervey Bay in Queensland, hiring a 4x4 and spending sometime on Fraser Island. It is the largest sand island in the world. Home to the cleanest freshwater lakes in the world. The only remaining pure dingo population left in the world.

Northern Territory
Uluru and the Olgas

Western Australia
I love Perth. Is is a beautiful place. Just keep in mind that after flying from the States, Perth is another 2040 miles or about Chicago to Los Angeles. You can fly out of Perth to Hong Kong and Japan.

You can call me for anything other suggestions on where to go in Oz. I lived there. I got engaged down there. My son is named after a spot in Sydney. We go down every two years and in fact are looking at going the same time next year before Jen heads off to China in August. My overall suggestion, based on the time that you are going to be down there is: Less is more. The time change is a huge factor. The change of seasons does effect people. You can have a full Oz experience just hanging around Sydney or Brisbane. Melbourne is nice too but again, that makes for a longer trip up to Asia. The more you try to do the less enjoyable the trip may become.

[KnoxVegas]

Oh, I forgot the most important tip of all: Business class or better. Except no substitutes. If you fly United, I might be able to help. The again, Qantas (trivia question: What does Qantas stand for?) flies from LAX to OZ and they have a low-cost airline (Australian Airlines) that flies between OZ and Asia, so a package with them might save you heaps of money.

[StrykerFSU]

I concur, I wouldn't try to mix Oz with Asia...or even NZ for that matter. It'd be like visiting America for the first time and hopping from Miami to NYC to Chicago to etc.

And having just flown home from Perth two weeks ago, I can attest that coach is a little, shall we say undesirable. But I had no choice as the govt. doesn't see fit to allow First Class travel on the tax payer's dime.

[Sonny]

We will flying Business Class. There is no chance I would stay on a plane that long in Coach!

[KnoxVegas]

It is an international flight and when the car comes out about 35 minutes into the plane, the Vitamin B can help, if ever so slightly, make you forget that you are stuffed into an 18-inch wide seat.

The gov't doesn't allow you to upgrade using your own miles or do they still not allow you to accrue miles? Then again a free flight to OZ is better than nothing.

[laxative]

I spent a semester in Beijing and highly reccommend it. The culture and history are amazing. And it is extremely cheap!


If you need an interpretter I'm available for reasonable rates

[shrekjr]

Coincidentally, my wife and I are planning a trip like that about the same time, although probably more like June/July. As mentioned previously, I have heard that is their winter so maybe not the best time to go as we are interested in doing some diving while there and would prefer warmer water. It sounds like there is a lot of experience on here so I will be watching this thread closely for tips as you answer Sonny's questions.

[Hackalicious]

Question for those of you have traveled abroad to the Pacific Rim - My wife and I are thinking about taking a long 10 - 14 day trip in Summer 2008 to Asia/Australia.

What locales would you recommend visiting in that part of the world (and why?). Thinking Japan and Hong Kong. But would like to hear your suggestions if you have been over there.

My favorites in Southeast Asia are Thailand, and Bali and Lombok in Indonesia. If you had more time and were up for the adventure, Angkor Wat is a once in a lifetime place to visit.

If you go that route, Singapore is a good place to fly into. It has great flight connections and is really easy to get acclimated. Bangkok has better connections these days too.