UKBayern

If you take one or two train trips out of Tokyo, and use the Narita Express, you already have your moneys worth. Train travel in Japan can be really expensive. You should always go on the Hyperdia website and price your trips.

Some trains in Japan are now all reserved seats, so the tactic of not reserving seats does not fly in all cases.

Like Dark Jedi says, as long as you are near a station, you can go anywhere easy and swiftly.

We were warned before we went on our land trip to Japan how small hotel rooms are. "broom cupboard" is a better word than hotel room in Japan. Most hotel rooms have no wardrobes and no storage space for luggage. We were travelling light, but still had to pile our bags up behind the entrance doors. One had to sit on the bed for the other to get past. Also make sure you know how wide the bed is, and don't just book any double. A double bed can be anything, starting at 1.20 meter (47 inches).....

There are many different airlines flying the stretch HKG-REP, so look into that to maximise your time in Asia.

We personally have good experiences with Hong Kong Express, which is sort of a budget carrier (so make sure you price your flight to include luggage), but excellent quality. Another airline besides Cathay and HK Express who flies the route is Cambodia Angkor Air.

Siem Reap is a very small, but modern airport. Most flights all leave at the same time of the day.

From SIN to REP, your options are Jetstar and Singapore Airlines.

In Japan, absolutely don't tip by handing over money directly. Use a box or envelope if you really feel you want to give money. Japanese love little gifts though, as others have already pointed out.

In touristy areas in Asia, the locals have now become so accustomed to tipping, they sometimes expect it, or just don't give you your change back. This happened to us several times in Siem Reap in Cambodia and in Hue in Vietnam. What we just did after we experienced this a couple of times, is wait if somebody was honest, and then let them keep the change or give them something.

We did pay for Tut’s tomb - it’s only 100 EGP ( about £4) and you do see his mummy, which is the only mummy left in the valley. We also paid 1000 EGP (about £40) to see Seti’s tomb which was well worth it - amazing paintings.

But it is just a dead body, his beautiful gold coffin is in the national museum in Cairo. The design of the tomb is very plain, and said to be very similar to that of Ay.

We went into a number of tombs that were beautifully painted, carved and decorated - included in the normal price. The line for Seti's tomb was very long in the sweltering heat, we had read up beforehand and we did not think it worth THAT much extra money.

TLC, I just remembered where you should go: We went into this amazing tomb of Thutmosis III (KV34), all the way in the back. It is a long way up a lot of metal stairs, and then a long way down in the tomb. It is totally different than all the other tombs, since it almost only has beautiful delicate pen drawings and hardly any carvings. It is the only one of its kind, so I hope it is open when you are there. You can see pictures here:

The best tip: get a guide or go on an organised tour. There is so much to see, and you cannot possibly read up on all the history. A good guide can navigate you through the busy spots, take you to a good realiable restaurant, and will be able to read the hieroglyphs. We are very much DIY-tourists, but the times we were in Egypt, we invested in a good tour(guide).

In the valley of the kings, you buy a ticket to go into a number of tombs ( 5 if I recall correctly) Not all tombs are open at the same time, since the delicate wall paintings get damaged from too many tourists breathing in the tombs. (If the tombs get too humid they need to dry out). We did not follow all the tourists into the busy tombs, but walked all the way to the back where hardly any other tourists ventured. It was great, we had those tombs almost to ourselves. We observed where the groups of Egyptian archeology students went, and followed them to a number of very beautiful tombs.

Be please advised there is a shopping mall next to the entrance, but once you get on the minicars to the actual valley, there is nothing there except the tombs. Make sure you stock up on water, sunscreen, and snacks, and go to the bathroom before you get on the minicar ride. I am diabetic, and had not counted on the fact that there was not even a refreshment stand or anything, and ended up eating everybody's sweets.... We were there in January last year (the coolest month), and it was still very very hot in the valley of the kings. Take a hat and plenty of drinking water! Wear comfortable slip-resistent shoes for the steps inside the tombs, and prepare to bend over a lot....

Our guide advised us against paying for Tut's tomb, since you basically pay for the name and not because the tomb is all that special....

Vietjet has a rather distinct marketing approach...

 

http://www.smh.com.au/business/aviation/coffee-tea-or-bikini-airline-vietjet-stands-by-racy-calendar-in-face-of-criticism-20171228-p4yy3d.html

If that bothers you, you could opt to pay way more on Vietnam Airlines.

We were there third week of November. No problems. Back to normal. Recommend you go to Marble Mountain too.

We were there the 25th of November, and the whole place was flooded again.....

Last month, we flew on Vietjet from Siem Reap to Hanoi. This a low cost carrier (think Southwest or Easyjet) which is privately owned and not state-owned. I come from the airline business myself, and I thought it all looked pretty good and reliable. The website is good and the web check-in was very smooth. The flight deck is mainly Australian, the flight attendants are Vietnamese, but speak some english. Vietjet are cheaper and offer more routes than Vietnam Airlines, but since it is a no-frills airline, you have to factor all costs (you have to pay for luggage, meals, seat assignments etc) to make an informed decision which airline to fly. On many international routes, you can also choose Jetstar or Air Asia.

When we were in Da Nang it was actually pouring down with rain, so we went to the Cham museum. Very interesting sculptures from the Cham period (900-1000 AD).

We just returned from a trip to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, HongKong and Japan last month. We travel extensively all over the world, have been to a great many countries, and speak 5 languages fluently and can understand a couple more for easy contact with locals. I feel I can be honest with you, since you travel extensively as well, so are used to certain things as well.

We did not see more of Cambodia than the trip overland from Thailand to Siem Reap and 4 days in Siem Reap. Compared to other countries, we did not like Cambodia much. We got the hell out of Cambodia and loved every minute in Vietnam, which is totally different. We found people in Siem Reap very fake, and only welcoming of your dollars and not you. You know and feel you are ripped off everywhere. I got so tired of the constant hassle being badgered and cat-called every single second of the day by people who want to sell you something, want you in their tuk-tuk, want you to come into their restaurant, shop, etc. They will tell you anything they think you want to hear and that will entice you to part with your money. They won't take no for an answer and get really stroppy with you. A popular thing to do is stop the tuk-tuk in the middle of nowhere and try to extort more money out of you, on top of what you negotiated in advance. I don't know if you have been to Egypt, it is the same kind of hassle and nagging at the pyramids and in Luxor. A friend of mine who actually speaks Arabic had the same taxi experience in Hurghada all the time where they stop in the middle of the desert.

We bought our visa online in advance, very fast and easy, since we were warned about unsavoury extortionate practices at the land border at Poi Pet (Poi Pet is a hell hole that should be avoided). We thought the smooth and hassle free entry process was well worth the 6 dollars extra, on top of the 30$ visa fee. Siem Reap airport is very modern and efficient, and I doubt you would have any problems there, as in other modern airports.

Officially, Cambodia has its own currency, but nobody want riels, the locals pay with dollars themselves, and the ATMs only dispense US dollars. Only change smaller than 1 dollar is given in riel, ideal to give as a tip to the maid or something. For some strange reason, nobody in Siem Reap wants 2 dollar bills, they just refuse to take them. We have good experiences with the Canadia Bank. Very reliable, clean, nice staff, good ATMs.

Angor Wat is actually just one of the many temples in the area. Ta Prohm is the temple with the vines growing all over them, Angkor Thom is spread out over a large area, the terrace of the elephant king is interesting, and there are many more. If you want to visit the temples, be warned that they are miles apart, and miles away from any hotel and miles away from the city centre. You cannot walk, you cannot rent a bike, scooter, car or any kind of self-drive vehicle, and there is no local bus. You have to rely on tuk-tuks. The going rate to take you around all day, and wait for you whilst you are in the various temples, is 15$. Most hotels know a realible driver. You do have to do your homework where you want to go, the drivers are not licenced guides. Make sure you tell the driver the first day that you do not have a ticket yet, as the ticket office is many miles away from the entrance. The ticket office takes credit cards, you can buy 1, 3 or 7 day tickets. Even if you are only there for 2 days, the 3 day pass ($62) is more economical that 2x a 1 day pass ($37). All hotels can organize a guided tour for you as well, this of course will cost more.

In Siem Reap, we did a 1/2 day Khmer cooking course at the restaurant / cooking school Tigre du Papier. It only cost $15 per person and is great fun. You can choose anything from the menu you want to cook, they take you to the market, and after the cooking, the dishes are eaten together (if you are with more people, choose different dishes to cook so you can share). They even send the recipes to your email address.

Get an Octopus card. It is also valid on the Peak Tram, the Star Ferry and the airport busses. At the end you get back any money that is left on the card (there is a small fee) at any underground station or at the airport.

If you have a British passport (together with French, German, Italian or Spanish passports) and your stay is less than 15 days then you do not need a visa.

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This is only for a SINGLE ENTRY, the OP is visiting 3 different ports!

I found all accommodations in Japan, even 4 star hotels, to be extremely small. We had to pile up our luggage behind the entrance door of the room, because there was no room elsewhere in the room! Travel light!

I have just returned from a land trip to Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Japan last month. For every country in the world it is the same: you need proof that you are leaving the country again (air ticket, cruise papers). Thailand is visa free for UK citizens, so no problems there.

UK ciitzens are in the extremely lucky position that we are amongst one of the handful of passport holders who do not need a visa for Vietnam on the provision a) that you leave the country in 15 days, b) you are a tourist, c) enter via a number of selected airports, d) single-entry only (this would disqualify you!). I found the Vietnamese embassy in Berlin very helpful, I am sure you can get help from the Vietnamese embassy in London. http://www.vietnamembassy.org.uk/ The way I read the rules, you might have to part with some hard-earned cash. My poor Dutch husband had to fork out 70 pounds for the visa and the registrered mail to/from the embassy.....

We found it fairly easy to get Dong from an ATM in Vietnam. The Vietcom bank is reliable for example. I did not come across many places that took credit cards, except for western class hotels.

Dutch and Belgian citizens (you don't say what nationality you are) generally do not need a visa for Japan.

Check with the foreign office of your home country, or ring the Japanese embassy.

We have just returned from a land trip to Vietnam. Be careful that the visa provisions are different for just about every nationality and every travel purpose, and that the rules are ever changing. Normally the Vietnamese embassy in your home country can answer your questions.

Some nationalities (UK, Italy, Germany, Belarus, Malaysia and a few others) do not need a visa at all (but only in some cases, and only if you meet the right criteria), whilst some other nationalities are struck with really heavy visa fees. My Dutch husband had to buy a 65 euro visa (=$ 77, after paying for registered mail it was $ 95 !), whereas I as a British citizen did not need a visa at all for a stay of less than 15 days.

Saying that the cruise lines gouge their passengers seems pretty unfair, since the rates and rules are every changing. On the 30th of June 2017 for example, it was still not known if the visa exemption for certain nationalities would still be in place from the 1st of July, 1 day later! The lady I spoke to at the Vietnamese embassy in Berlin admitted that it was hard for them too to keep up with the latest rules from Hanoi. I also know that every Vietnamese embassy charges a different fee than in a neighbouring country.

All I can advise: Check, Check and Double Check, and know that visa rules for Vietnam change regularly, so don't just rely on what other cruisers on this forum tell you!

Cardiffgirl, the Horizon is another ship that the Sovereign. Horizon is ex-Celebrity, Sovereign is ex-RCCL.

I was researching the Azores for my own (land) vacation, and I found the official website very helpful. They have some great ideas for walking routes of all lengths.

We flew Condor last year returning from Recife, Brazil to Frankfurt after our TA. It is a standard economy product like most average airlines. Nothing fancy, but great value considering what we paid. AND they offer no-hassle one-way tickets.

The entrance fee is now (Jan 2017) for 3 tombs only.

Thanks for your hints. A down-to-basics question: did you happen to use public toilets in the Valley of the Kings or Giza? Wondering how they are -- cleanliness, Western style or not, etc.

Generally, at the really touristy attractions, there are Western style toilets. How clean they are, is in the eye of the beholder, but for Egyptian standards, it is paradise. Please note to take small change (50 Eurocents, 10 Egyptian pounds, something like that) to pay the toilet attendant before you go in. Generally, you get the toilet paper from the attendant when you enter. In Egypt, people are dependant on tips, you will get shouted at if you do not tip. If you are on a guided tour, the guide generally knows where clean and reliable toilets are.

At the Valley of the Kings last week, there were several toilets at the ticket office/visitor center (entrance/exit) that were fairly clean. Please note that once you get on the little train to the tombs, there are no facilities at all beyond that point: no toilets, no refreshments, no shops, nothing.

In Giza, the guide took us to one of the fast food restaurants across from the Sfinx, but that is 6 years ago, so I would not know anymore.

I just found this FB page. Looks like many passengers are very angry because Pullmantur decided to do maintenance work on the Sovereign during last week's cruise.

 

I know that maintenance is being done all the time on ships but looking at the photos I think this is a bit too much.

 

https://www.facebook.com/obraspullmantursovereing/?ref=page_internal

Please keep in mind that work is always carried out on cruises, to keep the ship in tiptop order. On all our cruises, there was some kind of maintenance going on. On our Costa cruise, new carpet was being laid in the cabins around us. On RCCL Splendour, they were painting the deck. Last year, on Pullmantur, they were painting the railings. HAL renovated a hot tub on our sailing, and were painting in the (unused) corridors. Princess too.

It looks like Pullmantur was doing work in 1 staircase from the pictures. Maybe there were no guests anywhere near this staircase? We also do not know when the casino was closed and for how long. Who knows if it was closed from 8 am to 11 am? Some people are drama queens and very entitled, and will post stuff like this to weasle a few bucks out of the cruiseline.

We were on the Transatlantic to Brazil last year. Most passengers were not Spanish, but a mix of 39 nationalities. Almost all European countries were represented, as well as Brazilians. This cruise had a weird demography: because the cruise was so cheap and had gone viral on backpacking fora, most passengers were under 30. We (mid-40) have never been on a cruise where we felt so old.... A Med cruise or a Caribbean cruise will of course attract a different age group. A closed loop from a Spanish port will certainly host more Spanish passengers.

The announcements and shows were all in Spanish, English and Portuguese (because of the destination Brazil). Shows were of the non-verbal kind (dance, music, mime), because of all the different nationalities. A phenomenon we know from Costa. There were less games and other day activities than we are used to from US cruiselines, but in line with Costa. If you have so many different language and age groups, it is hard to host activities such as a quiz of course. The cabin staff and wait staff speak rudimentary English, sometimes we had to speak slowly or rephrase a question. Restaurant seating is done on the basis of language, we were on a table with 3 Brits, 1 Dutchman (my partner) and 1 American, all in the age bracket 42-55. Three of which are professional chefs, and we all agreed the food was very good, especially considering the price we paid. Of course, there was no really fancy stuff like lobster.

The ship feels and looks like a RCCL ship. We have been on 2 RCCL cruises, and Pullmantur has kept the decor, the names of the restaurants and bars, everything. Down to the curtains and upholstery in the cabin. So if you have been on one of the smaller RCCL ship before, you will see it is identical and feel right at home. We were on the RCCL Splendour OTS -> same ship.

Because there were so many young people on board, and the insanely low sticker price, this ocean crossing did not automatically include a drinks package. We did not buy one, because one of us does not drink. Like any RCCL cruise, there is coffee, tea, hot chocolate, ice tea and lemonade at the Windjammer buffet. The drink prices were very reasonable, a Coke was 1,50 EUR, a glass of house wine EUR 2,50. People who did get the drinks package were surprised how much was included.

I agree with Wayward that there were too little clothes hangers in the cupboard. We asked the friendly cabin attendant for more.

If I am correct, this is the third time in a couple of months that a Viking ship is involved. People pay good money for a Viking river cruise, but there are obviously safety issues.