The Great Wall of China is essential on any trip to Beijing and probably any trip to China. Visiting the Great Wall can be complicated. There are so many sections of the wall, tour providers and ancillary attractions to consider that it can make your head spin. The options and the cost can add up …
We love a good business class rewards redemption, but we love it even more when we get to try out a newly revamped business class product. We were super excited to try out the refreshed Japan Airlines Business Class Sky Suite on a Boeing 767 from Beijing to Tokyo. After a round of economy flights …
Having finished up our stay in Hanoi (including an awesome two-day one-night Bhaya Cruise on Ha Long Bay), it was time to see the rest of Vietnam. We have been consistently impressed by the quality and efficiency of trains in Vietnam, and highly recommend it as a transport option as you make your way through …
After a few lovely nights in Hoi An, it was time to continue our southward journey through Vietnam. Next up was Nha Trang, a beach destination (with great snorkeling!) about ten hours south by train. In this post, we cover how we got from Hoi An to Da Nang (the nearest train station) and then …
Before we even left the US last summer, we had our first six months of travel fully planned: flights booked and accommodations reserved. As we enter the second half of our trip, we’re back on the travel-planning train as we try to figure out where we’re going, when and how much it’s going to cost. …
When you’re in Luang Prabang, Laos, you might hear the dusty streets and river tubing of Vang Vieng calling your name. And when you do, finding a way there isn’t difficult, but there a few options you should consider. In this post we’ll share our experience on one of the options: taking the Minivan from Luang …
While there apparently used to be a ferry, the only way to cross the Chiang Khong (Thailand) – Huay Xai (Laos) border these days is via the Friendship Bridge, which has a pretty specific series of steps for crossing. Here’s our step-by-step instructions for crossing from Chiang Khong into Huay Xai. 1. Getting to Friendship …
One of the most fun parts of the Southeast Asia backpacker trail is the slow boat from the border town of Huay Xai, Laos to the tourist hotspot Luang Prabang, Laos. The two-day trip totals about 14 hours with an overnight stop on Pakbeng, Laos. Note: Some sources refer to this same ride as the …
If you’re heading from Thailand to Laos, there’s a good chance you’ll be following a rough route of Bangkok to Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai to Chiang Khong. Chiang Khong is where you’ll find the Chiang Khong / Huay Xais border between Thailand and Laos, which is in turn the jumping off point for the Two-Day Slow …
Our journey through Southeast Asia has relied heavily on ground transit, particularly trains and busses. After a buggy overnight train ride from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, we gladly welcomed a bus ride . We ended up on the Greenbus VIP bus from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai. In this post, we cover how we booked …