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HOT " TRAV TIPS" FROM OUR NINE COUNTRY
TRIP
CHINA - Hong Kong only!
..........For our recent 9 country trip on the Cathay Pacific All Asia
Pass, we were based in Hong Kong, and therefore took about 80% of our flights
from the new Chek Lap Kok Airport,
http://www.hkairport.com ,which is a magnificent all glass and steel
structure that just opened in July, 1998. The center of the transit lounge
is a big food court which hangs over the shopping mall/gate floor below
(food very expensive, of course because you are a captive audience once
you
are up there. so bring your own food, even a small bottle of water is over
$2) After about 11:30P.M. the very loud announcements stop, as the
flights
are over for the night and if you have a flight out early the next morning
it is possible to spend the night there. The lights never dim, so don't
forget the eye shades, but it is quite peaceful and safe and the
authorities don't seem to mind people staying over. You can't beat the
price!!
If you are not into roughing it, and want a real room I highly recommend
ANNE BLACK GUESTHOUSE. It is a 15 minute walk from Nathan road
and cheaper than the Salisbury "Y"(and the Flyer Bus, best way to go back
and forth to
the Airport, willl drop you right on Nathan road) (also, very close to the
Jade Market) The GUESTHOUSE costs approximately $50 per room/night and the
very friendly and helpful staff will even hold bags for you, if you pay
in
advance for your future stays. They can be found on the Internet from the
Hong Kong Tourist Association's Web site (page 65 in your guide) and be
booked
on-line or fax them at: (852) 2761-1269 or e-mail annblack@ywca.org.hk
Don't miss a trip to Stanley Market on H.K. island, if you are into
elegant bargains, Silks, Cashmire sweaters, even buy that extra suitcase
to carry it all back home in, you can afford it, when you FLY FOR FREE,
STAY CHEAP!
********************************************************************
JAPAN --- RYOKAN GUIDE
As you probably know, Japan is like my second home, but I learned something
new this trip. All my favorite "real Japanese-life" Ryokans belong to the
JAPANESE INN GROUP. They can all be booked through the original site
I
suggested, WELCOME INN RESERVATION CENTER on pages 67. and 68., but you
will need to update their address. It has changed to:
WELCOME INN RESERVATION CENTER
c/o International Tourism Center of Japan
Tokyo International Forum, B-1, 3-5-1
Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku
Tokyo, 100, Japan
You can still reach them through the Web site at: http://www.jnto.go.jp
BUT, if you would like to get a small guide to all the JAPANESE INN GROUP'S
Ryokans they have a lovely little publication I picked up in Tokyo, filled
with all kinds of good stuff. Maps, photos, descriptions, for 81 different
Ryokans, even cartoon instructions on how to use Japanese toilets and
baths. Also includes, application form for booking an accommodation
and
updates on traveling in Japan, such as travel pass deals, you can purchase
in Japan. You can get in touch with the JAPANESE INN GROUP directly by
mailing to: Japanese Inn Group Head Office
c/o Sawanoya Ryokan
2-3-11, Yanaka, Taito-ku
Tokyo 110, Japan
I am sure they would be more than happy to mail you this very handy
mini
travel directory to their Inns. Please tell them you got their address
from Vicki Mills at FLY FREE, STAY CHEAP! Guide, as they like to know who
sent you.
*****************************************************************
REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES --- As we were unable to book
in
advance for our stay in the Philippines we took our chances when we arrived
at the Manila Airport. Almost any transaction that you do in the Philippines
is
based on bargaining, and we had a lot of fun doing it.
Upon exiting the customs area, two different Hotel representatives
approached us to see if they could talk us into staying at their Hotel.
The
first one offered us a nights stay with breakfast for approximately $50
for
the room. My husband said, what about our transportation to the hotel,
could you throw that in. The first gentleman hesitated, he made a face,
but
the lovely young woman who represented a rather mediocre hotel (of course
we didn't know that at the time) said no problem, we have a car right
outside for you. So, over the other representatives protests, we climbed
into the private taxi to our hotel. Well, you could tell it had seen better
days, probably had been at least a three star hotel at one time, but was
now a little run down, but the lobby was still nice. They recommended that
we didn't leave the hotel after dark, so we didn't, had a good nights sleep
and enjoyed the American style full breakfast very much. Now, the story
gets good, since we weren't able to go out that night I decided I wanted
to
spend a few hours shopping. JO JO our driver informed us that he was
available to take me around town for sightseeing/shopping. The shopping
was fantastic. The already bargain priced items were made even cheaper
for
me, as Jo Jo told them, as we entered to give me a good price. One
place,
my favorite, E. C. MANANZAN HANDICRAFTS, (UPL Building, Sta. Clara,
Intramuros, Manila......across from the Spanish Fort), gave me everything
50% OFF, the already incredibly low tag price. At 44 Philippine pesos to
the
dollar, everything was a good deal. I bought fine quality T-shirts
for $4,
gorgeous hand dyed batik wraps, with a myriad of uses for $7 and fine
silver bangle bracelets for under $10. Did a lot of Christmas shopping,
early. Jo Jo ended up taking me around for four hours for only $10
and
later he took us back to the Airport. Yes, we had our own
private car at our disposal for almost the whole day for $15 and the
hotel/breakfast was only $50. So, I think our 24 hours in the Philippines
was quite good value for money. You can write to JO JO, he is a lovely
gentleman, who really helped to make our trip special. He could provide
transportation to and from the Airport, but he prefers to be your
guide/driver for day trips. Next time we go to the Philippines we will let
him take us further a field, to places like the Taal Volcano and the famous
waterfalls (sorry I won't even attempt to spell them) and canoe trip that
is down that way. Here's how you can reach him:
Through his company,
Janjee Tourist Transport
Jo Jo, Driver/Guide
1 Bagong Lipunan St.
B.F. International
CAA Compound Las Pinas
Republic of the Philippines
Cell phone no. 0918 874 1062
Res, phone no. 826-96-03
Ado De Castro is Jo Jo's partner, so you might reach him at this address
or
these phone numbers. The best thing is to call from Manila, as the
post
isn't always that reliable.
*****************************************************************
TAIWAN --- WE DID A HOMESTAY
We stayed with lovely people, who we requested through the Educator's Bed
and Breakfast network (they can be found through our LINKS page), and
they went out of there way to help us get around in a country were you may
need
some help getting around. That is why I am going to include a few suggestions
for
some really nice tours you can find through the Information Center in the
Taipei Airport.
The company is EDISON TRAVEL SERVICE. I find that it is nice to relax and
let a
local travel company show you around, especially if its good value for money.
Their
Taipei numbers are:
Phone: 563-5313 or 563-4621 (a phone call from a pay phone is approximately
5 cents.) Fax: (02) 563-4803 (24 hours)
--Half day Taipei City Tour - NT$ 500, approx. $15
--Three hour Taipei Night Tour - NT$900, approx. $27
Includes: Mongolian Bar-B-Que Dinner,
Lungshan Temple,
Hwashi Night Market, Top View Taipei
Observatory
(Don't miss visiting a Night Market
in Taipei!!)
--Three nights & four days Taiwan Island Excursion - NT$ 9500,
approx. $287
Includes: everything, Hotels, bus/rail
transportation, except food.
Destinations too numerous to include,
a great sampling of what Taiwan
has to offer.
Write for a FREE Brochure to: EDISON TRAVEL SERVICE
4F, NO. 190 Sung Chaiang Rd.
Taipei , Taiwan
****************************************************************
KOREA --- "THANKS PHILIP" FOR MAKING OUR STAY SO ENJOYABLE!
KOREAN HOTELS RESERVATION is definitely the way to go if you want
to really
take advantage of being able to stay at a four star hotel for a great
price. We paid $59.00 per night, for our room at the marvelous Holiday Inn
Seoul Garden (Mapo area) and were really pleased with the accommodations,
the location (half a block from a major metro station), and ease of getting
back and forth to the Airport. The subways are delightfully new, clean and
IN ENGLISH. You can travel all over for approximately fifty cents.
You can find them at http://www.khrc.com or speak with Philip Yeo
directly
by calling their Toll FREE number 1-800-251-4848. He can also be reached
by
e-mail at Philip@khrc.com. When you make your booking, be sure to
identify
yourself as a reader of FLY FREE, STAY CHEAP! and he will give you a 5%
discount, just for being one of our readers.
Checking at the front desk before we left the hotel, I found out
something
I could barely believe, if we had just turned up on their doorstop, without
making our reservation through KHRC, before we left home we would have had
to pay approximately $168 for the same room!!!!
Remember currency does change and we were there the end of August,
1998, so
please make allowances for that and for the added costs of service and tax,
which came to approximately $11 more, but even so it was a great bargain!
We've found it really pays to work with companies on-line and now it even
pays to identify yourself as one of our readers, as we get more and more
travel related companies to give you an extra 5% off.
If you stay at this hotel you must try their full body massage, includes:
shower, shampoo and facial with frozen chopped cucumbers, strawberry
yogurt, and other goodies; . One half hour only $20. It's a not to
be
missed experience! (Sorry guys, I think it is only a girl thing, but I
would check, I am sure they have something special for you, too!)
*******************************************************************
THAILAND --- LAND OF TEMPLES, not to be missed. Also
filled with bargains,
hotels from $29/night, can be found easily and booked on the Web from
http://Asiatravel.com. But we found a "good value for money" stay in the
middle of everything in Bangkok, just off of the famous Silom Road, where
ou are in the same neighborhood with the major hotels, like: Holiday Inn,
Crowne Plaza, Oriental, Royal Orchid, etc. within easy walking distance
to
wonderful outside markets and the Choa Phraya River. The place is SILOM
VILLAGE INN, they were offering rooms at half price.(around $40) Don't
miss going to go to the Royal Orchid Hotel or Oriental Hotel, to sign up
for an unforgettable boat trip to the THONBURI side of the river to see
how people live on the canals. Silom Village Inn is set in a tropical setting
of traditional Thai wooden houses all of which are at least 50 years old
they
have a shopping arcade and outdoor Thai and Seafood restaurant that has
Thai Classical dancing in the evenings. You can reach them by writing
to:
Silom Village Trade Centre, 286 Silom Road, Bangkok, Thailand.
Phone: (662) 635-6810-6, Fax: (662) 635- 6817
*******************************************************************
SINGAPORE --- "THE CLEANEST CITY IN ASIA"
http://www.travel.com.sg, reminded me of downtown Honolulu, with its flowering
trees,
wide boulevards and Chinese Markets. But, even though it looks like it might
be part of
the U.S. it still very Asian. We stayed in a Hostel for approximately $45/night
very close to Orchard Road (the main drag) One of the highlights of
the
trip to Singapore was going to "Little India" where for $20 I bought three
gorgeous silk Sarees, that's really cheap, because it included two
petticoats, as well. When you figure that each Saree is made from 6 yds
of
material, that's less than $1 a yd. for 100% silk material. A wonderful
Chinese Market was just up the street from our hostel (where we had a
private room) and "Little India" was only a ten minute walk away. Singapore
has many hostels, tons of shopping from ritzy glitzy to the "real people"
stuff and the most amazing, not-to- be missed, gigantic fountains.
Recommendation for a good, well located cheap sleep: Waterloo Hostel
(Hotel), 55, Waterloo Street, 4th Floor Reception, Singapore 187954,
Phone: 336 6555, Fax: 336 2160
You can visit my Saree shop, where they give lots of personal attention,
such as teaching you how to wrap your new Saree, if you ask nicely. It's
at: KRISHNA SAREES, 69, Serangoon Road, Singapore 217974, Phone: 296 6128.
Shopping in "Little India" at HALIFAX TRADERS, Mr. K. Kumaran, sold
me a
beautiful silver necklace and earring set, to be worn with my Sarees.
He specializes in 925 Sterling Silver Jewelery and Kashmir Paper Mache
Boxes. He was so lovely even gave me FREE bindis. (You know, the spot
that
a woman wears on her forehead, that Kate Winslet has made famous by wearing
with her Sarees all over London.) He wanted to extend this invitation to
you, if you get a chance, while in Singapore and buy something from him
and
identify yourselves as a reader of FLY FREE, STAY CHEAP! he will be glad
to
give you a discount. You may have to remind him that I was there in
September, 1998. You can find him in the Little India Arcade, Showroom
#01-15, #01-67, 48 Serangoon Road, Singapore 217959, Phone/Fax: (65) 291
7734.
*******************************************************************
INDONESIA --- "STAYED FOR A SONG" In the spirit
of checking out all the
deals, to share them with you, we took a chance and stayed with a
gentleman, we met through a Travel Web site.
Here is our experience, reprinted from my 10-15-98,"Letter to the Editor",
which appeared in Arthur Frommer's daily newsletter.
To the Editor:
"Just returned from Asia last week and had to get this right out to your
readers. While surfing the net I found Mr. Theodorus Palit's offer to stay
in his home in Jakarta for $5 per night. Thinking how unusual it was,
but
always interested in a "Cheap Stay", I contacted Mr. Palit by
e-mail. Mr. Palit's cordial reply led us to take him up on his offer.
My
husband and I were only days away from leaving on our one month trip.
Arriving at the airport in Jakarta, to see his smiling face behind the
signboard bearing our name, was a great relief. He welcomed us into
his
home and was more than willing to pick us up from the airport ($6) and
transport us back ($6), offering us dinner and all the comforts of home,
except running water (which did not make a big difference, as we were only
there for one night. He had plenty of bottled fresh water. We found
people
very friendly, shouting hello to us, as we walked the ten blocks to and
from Mr. Palit's fabulous shopping center. Food was especially inexpensive.
A complete dinner for two, "Benihana Style" cooked on the table top, Soup,
Beef, Chicken, Vegetables, Rice and two Drinks came to only 24,750 rupiah,
which was $2.25 (at that time). Wonderful food, CD's for $5, the whole
country seems to be a bargain. While planning the trip, I had read about
nice hotels for anywhere from $10 to $20 a night, but staying with a family
for $5 beats all of the other cheap stays. The best part was having Mr.
Palit as a guide to tell us all about this destination and give us advice.
If you want to get in touch with him you can e-mail him directly at
theodorus_palit@merck.com." Don't forget to tell him I sent you.
*******************************************************************
MALAYSIA --- TWO FAB FINDS IN MALAYSIA.
http://www.interknowledge.com/malaysia
This is another country that is really hurting for tourists. Kuala Lumpur
has one of the newest, (just opened) state of the art, Airports in the
world and it is way out in the Countryside, waiting for all the hoards of
travelers to begin arriving. You also get the feeling that they are
more
than ready to accommodate a world of travelers when you see their gorgeous
downtown area over one hour away, by bus from the Airport. K.L. has
magnificent five star hotels, fine dining, entertainment, world class
shopping, the works! Only one problem, it is half empty, due to the
economic slowdown in Asia. When you find an economic situation like this
you know their are deals to be had. Yes, you can get a reservation at a
very fine hotel right from the arrivals lobby in the Airport.
--The first find was staying at the beautiful, at least four star,
Equatorial Hotel, even had a pool terrace with a beautiful view of the
city. Our very deluxe room came with the best hotel buffet breakfast
I
have ever had. Since they cater to many different ethnic groups, their
breakfast included: full omelet station, Indian breakfast, Japanese
breakfast, cereal station, assorted danish, assorted fruits, juices,
sausages, potatoes and muffins, coffees and teas. You could stay and
eat
for hours, if you cared to, and all this was included in the unbelievably
low price of $50/night for the room.
--The second bargain we found and something that should not be missed
when
visiting KL is to take a boat up the River to: TAMAN NAGARA RESORT.
They
bill themselves as being a 15 acre resort inside the "Worlds Oldest
Tropical Rainforest" "A haven for hundreds of species of wildlife, exotic
birds, fish and plants".
The park itself covers 4,343 sq. km of virgin jungle. Taman
Negara offers
exhilarating experiences. Just a taste of what they have in store
for
you: JUNGLE TREKKING, (canopy walking, longest hanging bridge in the
world) NIGHT JUNGLE WALKS, SWIMMING UNDER WATERFALLS,
BIRD WATCHING, CAVE EXPLORATION, RAPID SHOOTING, just to
mention a few.
They offer a great variety of sleeps, from the really cheap
stay at the hostel for $10/pp/night to a room in their Guesthouse for $43
to
Chalet Suites and Bungalows right on the river. They will be glad to send
you
a free, photo filled brochure if you write to them at:
Taman Negara Resort, Kuala Lumpur Sales and Reservation Office:
Lot 6, 2nd Floor, Hotel Istana, No 73 Jalan Raja Chulan,
50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Phone: (60-3) 245 5585
Fax: (60-3) 245 5430
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Compai! Osaka Japan, First City after
flying out of Hong Kong. Took train
from the Airport.
In front of Tokyo's Ueno Zoo with my
friend Yoshi
Yoshi in Tokyo Temple showing us how
to use ceremonial water dipper.
Learning how to wrap a Saree in Singapore
Shopping in Malaysia
At a Thai Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia
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