Others say that’s not possible and that there is only one possible answer, ALIENS!!
Whatever the way was, the place is breathtaking and you’ll certainly enjoy walking around these ruins.
Take a look at some pictures.
Bayon Temple
The second one in this list of 3 Must-See Temples in Cambodia
The temple of the many faces. This temple was also built by the Khmer empire by the end of the 12th century.
It was built to worship Buddha, and its most distinctive feature is the many faces. There are a total of 216, and surprisingly the faces don’t represent buddha’s face.
Many scholars actually believe that the faces are supposed to resemble the one of Jayavarman VII, the king who built the temple.
Walking around this site, you’ll see many galleries, scenes of the everyday life of the Khmer people engraved on the stone walls.
Unfortunately, there isn’t any kind of text accompanying the images.
So many things are left to imaginations when trying to figure out what most of the images mean.
Here you can take a look at some pictures.
Ta Prohm Temple
Without a doubt, the most impressive characteristic of this temple is the trees’ huge roots growing all-around what’s left of what once was a Mahayana Buddhist monastery, and also a university.
This temple, just like the other 2 I already mentioned, is a UNESCO heritage site.
And unlike the other 2, Ta Prohm is pretty much in the same conditions as it was found. There is a restoration program already on its way.
Angkor city is big, and the most popular way to get around is by Tuk Tuk
As you can see, the place is big, walking from temple to temple is not a smart idea, especially if you’re not in shape.
Riding bikes might be an interesting way to get around, but remember is gonna be hot.
Most likely you’ll be sweating nonstop.
Plus you gotta take care of your bike. Remember that, in some temples, you’ll have the chance to climb on pyramid-like structures.
And I’m not sure if you can just park your bike somewhere, and then expect it to be there when you return.
A Tuk Tuk driver will charge you around USD 15 to drive you around all day long.
They will take you to Temple A, wait for you outside for as long as you wish, and then take you to Temple B and so on until they drop you back at your hotel, hostel or anywhere else.
Also, while you guys are riding from temple to temple, you can ask the tuk tuk driver to stop for a while.
Maybe to take a picture of the city’s gates or just to admire the beauty of the countryside.
How Do You Find a Tuk-Tuk Driver?
You can either ask someone at the front desk of your hotel to get one for you or just go out on the streets and find one.
It’s no big deal, if you’re gonna be exploring the ruins for more than 1 day, the same Tuk Tuk driver can go and pick you up again on the next day and so on, as long as you pay them they’ll agree.
Do I Have to Pay to Explore the Ruins?
The answer is YES, you have to pay, prices were increased a the beginning of 2017 and this is what they look like now.
1-day pass US $37
3 days pass US $62
7 days pass US $72
If you buy a 3 days or 7 days pass, it doesn’t mean you have to do all your visits one day after the other.
The 3 days pass has a validity of 10 days from the moment of the purchase, and the 7 days pass has a validity of one month, so no need to rush.
Where Do You Get The Pass?
You have to go to the Angkor Wat Ticket Office, they’re open Monday to Sunday from 5 AM to 5:30 PM, and how do you get there?
Don’t worry your Tuk Tuk driver will take you there so you can buy the pass before going to visit the temples, they know the drill.
When you’re applying for your pass, make sure you have your passport with you.
They’ll take a picture of your face and print it on your pass, you’ll have to wear it around your neck every time you visit a temple, make sure you don’t lose it.
Is Siem Reap, Angkor Safe?
Yes, it is, I was there for almost a week, I was spending my days visiting temples and at night visiting the souvenir and local markets plus hitting the bars and clubs.
I didn’t feel threatened at all.
The temples are located in jungle areas, so from time to time, you’ll find yourself walking around trees and bushes and rocks on the sides, as if you’re so far away from civilization, but at no time I felt any kind of threat.
What’s the Nightlife Like?
It’s nice and very affordable, there is no better way to end the day than to go to the Pub Street and have some beer and local food.
The place is packed with different restaurants, bars and shops, you’ll see foreigners everywhere, and you’ll also see buy 1 get 1 free on beers for sure.
You’ll even find restaurants offering entertainment like traditional Khmer dances.
Can I Use US dollars in Cambodia?
Yes, all restaurants, bars, shops, and street vendors accept US dollars.
A lot of street food sells for 1 to 3 dollars, so make sure you carry some 1 dollar bills.
If you try to pay with a bill of 20 or above, they might have trouble finding change.
Can I go from Bangkok to Siem Reap by Bus?
Yes, it’s actually very easy, to get to Siem Reap, I took a bus from Bangkok, Thailand.
The ride was around 10 hours, the bus will take you to the Poipet checking point, where you can pay and process a visa on arrival.
The cost of living in Cambodia is cheap in comparison with developed western and Asian nations.
As of January 2019 these are the average costs
The average daily price for traveling in Siem Reap is 32 USD
Price for one day of food is 11 USD on average
The average price for a hotel room for a couple is 24 USD
In the following table, you’ll find more information about the cost of food, water, transportation and more in Siem Reap Cambodia.
Their Smart Children
Now before I finish this post, I wanna talk a little bit about a part of Angkor that many times goes unnoticed.
I’m talking about some of the smartest children you’ll ever meet, and that definitely deserve better in life.
These Children have managed to become multilingual as a way of surviving, it’s just insane.
They approach you just like any other child in South East Asia trying to sell something to you, at first you’ll be surprised by their fairly okay English.
Then they’ll ask you where you’re from and start speaking your native language.
When I told them I’m from Nicaragua and that my native language is Spanish, they started speaking Spanish, and they told me they could speak many languages.
So I asked them to speak Chinese, and they started speaking mandarin, it was impressive.
The reason why they learn all these languages is so they can sell more souvenirs, which is both amazing and sad at the same time.
I ended up buying many of the magnets and key chains they were selling, Did I do the right thing? Did I just encourage this kind of child labor to continue?
These children definitely deserve better.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fsejLJazoRg
There you have it the Must See Temples of Cambodia, plus useful information, do you agree with me?
So, have you ever heard or read that we all have someone who looks like us somewhere in the world?
How spooky would it be if you turn the corner and run into someone who looks a LOT like you?
I think I would freak out a little bit.
Well, this kind of phenomenon doesn’t just happen among us humans, it also happens in the traveling world, what I’m trying to say is that there are tourist spots in the world that are very similar to others located on a totally different continent.
More specifically European and Asian Travel Destinations
Do you want to find out which? Let’s start this list of comparisons now!!! In this article you’ll also find a section on how to get to the destinations mentioned on this post.
1 Eiffel Tower VS Pearl Tower
Eiffel Tower and Pearl Tower comparison
Now before someone wants to kill me for comparing an iconic tourist landmark like the Eiffel Tower, to what some (not me) might call an ugly tower in Shanghai, please just have in mind that all I’m trying to point out is that they’re similar, but not the same.
They are both landmark towers in vibrant cities of their respective countries, Eiffel Tower is 324 meters tall and Pearl Tower is 468 meters tall, Eiffel Tower has 3 floors whereas Pearl Tower has 14, Eiffel Tower was built in the late 1880’s , Pearl Tower is just a baby as its construction finished in 1994
In my very humble opinion, they are both impressive and both deserved to be visited and admired.
I think the best view of Pearl Tower you can get is from The Bund area
2 Arc De Triomphe VS Patuxai
This is one of my favorite and the reason why I came up with this European and Asian Travel Destinations comparison idea.
Arc de Triomphe and Patuxai Comparison
What the Hell is a Patuxai??? If that thought just came to your mind let me help you clear that question.
Patuxai is a monument located in Vientiane, which is a city in Laos, which is a country in South East Asia. This is a war monument dedicated to the brave men and women who fought for freedom against the French imperialism.
Laos Proclaimed independence in 1954
Do you start seeing the similarities? and is not just in structure.
Just like the Arc de Triomphe was built to commemorate all of those who fought in the French revolution and in the Napoleonic wars, Patuxai was built with a similar purpose, to commemorate those who died fighting for a cause.
One main difference among these 2 arcs is that due to Laos agitated political environment, Patuxai was never fully finished, the last construction activities concluded in 1968.
The Arc de Triomphe was inaugurated in 1836 and has a height of 50 meters, Patuxai is higher just by 5 meters.
Which one is nicer?? Well… even though both are similar in concept-an Arch- Patuxai has a rich and beautiful Laos style decoration which is totally different to the European style decoration of Arc de Triomphe.
Patuxai Decoration Details
3 Big Ben VS Makka
Makka Royal Clock Tower and Big Ben
One is one of the most popular landmarks in England and another one is a not so popular colossal structure in the Middle of Asia. Makka is currently the 3r tallest building in the world and is located in Saudi Arabia.
The Big Ben is 90 meters tall and first opened its doors in 1859, Makka is 601 meters tall and its construction was finished in 2012, is completely new in comparison to Big Ben.
Both clock towers are part of a larger structure surrounding them and tons of tourists visit them every year to admire their beauty,
A little known fact is that the designed of Makka clock tower was made by a German company, so there’s a bit of European influence in its design.
These two are not monuments like the ones I’ve shown you so far on this list, nonetheless, many tourists visit them yearly as they are both the perfect winter getaway family, couples and friends are looking for.
One is located in the Arctic circle in Finland, in Rovaniemi, and the other one in Pyeonchang in South Korea.
Both places have a similar structure and are perfect for practicing winter sports, you can book a cottage cabin in any of them and spend some nice winter holidays with your loved ones.
One thing that definitely sets them apart is that, in Santa Village, you can catch a look of the beautiful northern lights.
I guess the fact that snow covers everything in white helps the 2 places look similar too.
Can you guess which is which?
5 Pisa Tower VS Tiger Hill
Let’s start by talking a little bit about the one you most likely have heard nothing of, Tiger Hill Pagoda.
The Tiger Hill Pagoda is located in Suzhou a city to the west of Shanghai, the construction finished in 961 AD, that is some ancient monument right there, it was built of stone and cement, it has 7 floors but no stairways, people used to go from floor to floor using a ladder, it has a height of 47.5 meters and it’s part of a monastery complex.
Is it also leaning? YES!!! in 1957 archaeologists discovered that half of the pagoda was built on a ledge and the other half on softer land, because of this the pagoda started leaning.
It’s exactly the same reason why the Pisa tower is leaning, it was also built on soft ground.
The tower of Pisa was built as part of a larger church complex and has a height of 57 meters, 8 floors and its construction was finalized in 1372.
So, they are both about the same height, belong to a larger religious complex and they are both leaning, pretty much because of the same reason, aren’t those too many similarities?
6 Suzhou VS Venice
Another favorite one for me in this European and Asian Travel Destinations comparison list.
Suzhou and Venice
Suzhou is located just an hour away by bullet train from Shanghai, which makes it a perfect one day trip if you are staying in the bustling capital of China.
This city has 8 ancient water towns: Nanxun, Tongli, Xitang, Wuzhen, Zhujiajiao, Qibao, Luzhi, and -the one in the picture- Zhouzhuang.
Suzhou has so much to offer, but the main reason attracting tourists to its doors is the canals, the whole system of canals is way bigger than Venice’s, they go through farms, fields and urban landscapes. Suzhou was founded on 514 BC.
It is said that Venice was officially formed in 421 AD, and their first settlers arrived around 400 AD as they were looking for refuge from the hordes of barbarians arriving from the north of Europe.
As we all know Venice is also famous for its canals, in both places you’ll find restaurants, shopping centers, gondola/boat rides and locals living their everyday life.
Bonus
I know the topic of this post is European and Asian Travel Destinations that are similar, and one of the following places doesn’t fall in this category.
But I want to mention it
There is a place in Asia which is very similar to a place in America and some people say is even better, I’m talking about Macau, the Asian counterpart of Las Vegas.
Macau is famous for its casinos and 5 stars hotels full of luxury and eccentricities, the wealth of this place is such that Business Insider once made an article where it states that casinos in Macau make Las Vegas look like a dump.
How to get to these Destinations?
Eiffel Tower
Once you’re in Paris you can
Take the metro and get off at Champ de Mars station, other stations near Eiffel Tower include Bir Hakeim and Ecole Militaire
Pearl Tower
Once you’re in Shanghai you can
Take the metro and get off at Liujiazui station on subway line 2
Arc De Triomphe
Once you’re in Paris you can
Take the metro and get off at Charles de Gaulle Etoile
Patuxai
Once you’re in Vientiane you can
Take a Tuk Tuk, just show them a picture of the Patuxai monument
Big Ben
Once you’re in London you can
Simply use the metro to get to Westminster station
Makkah Clock Tower
Once you’re in Saudi Arabia you can
As to right now the only way to go from King Abdaluzis International Airport to Makkha clock tower is by Taxi which will cost you around 200 SAR
You’d have to do the same – take a taxi- to get from anywhere in the city to Makkah.
Good Stay Elf Spa Resort
Once you’re in Seoul you can
From Seoul or Cheongnyangni station take the KTX to Pyeongchang station, once you are there you can take a taxi to Elf spa resort which will be around 20,000 won.
For more ways to get from Incheon Airport to Elf Spa Resort please click here
Santa Claus Village
Once you’re in Rovaniemi, Finland you can
Simply take a Taxi, is 5 minutes away from the airport.
From the center of the city, you can take a bus or visit as part of a tour.
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Once you’re in Pisa you can
If you’re going directly from the airport (Pisa International Airport) you could just take a short 10 minutes taxi ride.
You can also go by metro, get to Pacinotti 1station and from there walk for around 10 minutes.
Once you’re in Suzhou (Jiangzu Province), China you can
Take bus 32,146 or 816, they all go to the park where Huqiu tower is located, for more info click here
Suzhou-Zhouzhuang Water Town
This ancient town is reachable from Shanghai and Suzhou, for more information please click here and here
Venice
From Venice’s Marco Polo airport you can get to downtown by using public buses and taxis that will get you as far as Piazella Roma, from there take a water bus to get deeper into town
Note: Private water taxis are very expensive so try to avoid them, they’ll charge you around 100 EUROS.
So there you have it, destinations around the world that look a bit alike, if you liked this post please let me know in the comments, and also follow me on social media to get more content like this.
I will give you a full list of the best activities and places to visit. Plus some additional information you’ll find useful as well.
Things To Do
1 Visit Halong Bay
This is by far, the number one thing you can not miss while being in Hanoi.
It’s without a doubt one of the most beautiful places you’ll see in Asia
Halong means descending dragon. According to a Vietnamese Legend, the emperor Jade sent a mother dragon and its children down to earth to battle some invaders that were making their way into the Vietnamese Sea.
In order to stop the enemy ships, the dragons spat fire and jade at them.
The jade then turned into the many towering limestone islands covered by rainforests that now form Halong Bay.
After defeating the enemies, the mother dragon fell in love with the bay and decided to descend and make it its home.
Activities in Halong Bay
What makes this place even more beautiful than it already is, is the way how you can enjoy it.
You can spend 1, 2 or even 3 days in Halong Bay on board of a Cruise.
Once you’re in Hanoi, you’ll see tons of tour operators offering cruise tours to Halong bay, and in any hotel you stay, you’ll equally find information about these cruise tours.
Please note that not all cruise ships look like the one in the picture.
There will be plenty of options to choose from, the nicer the ship the more expensive the price will be.
Something that is very particular in Halong bay and adds to the whole experience, is the way how the local sellers try to make you buy whatever they’re selling
Just because you’re on a cruise ship it doesn’t mean you’ll get away from them.
Expect them to approach the windows of your room in the cruise ship and offer their merchandise.
So remember, you can either book the cruise ship once you’re in Hanoi or do it online. I recommend you to do it once you get to your hotel in Hanoi.
When I went on one of these cruise tours, it turned out that out of the 10 passengers on board I was the only one who had booked online, and the one who paid the highest price.
Everyone else got a better deal by booking through their hotels or with tour operators in Hanoi.
This is also, in my opinion, the best place to stay.
Here you’ll find many economical hotels, tons of restaurants, cafes, bars, and local shops.
In this part of town, you’ll be able to experience the everyday life of the average Vietnamese. Be prepared for a sea of motorcycles all around you. Here are some common scenes you’ll see in the Old Quarter.
Just walking around this area of Hanoi is a whole experience in and of itself.
7 Go Shopping in Hanoi
8 Visit Hoan Kiem Lake
This is a fresh water lake located right in the middle of Hanoi’s historical center (Old Quarter).
This is a place to sit, relax, have a drink and read a book or just see people walk by.
The best time to visit this place is from Friday to Sunday when the nearby traffic is closed. After 7 pm and until midnight, a cool local fair vibe takes over, you’ll find a lot of street vendors trying to make business selling food, souvenir, and other curiosities.
The lake is lit up during night time, making it a nice place to take some nice pictures to keep as memories.
9 Hit the Night Markets for Some Food
One of the most popular street foods in Hanoi is located within walkable distance from the Old Quarter, there you’ll have the chance to eat a lot of different local food.
The amount of choices is endless.
Night Market in Old Quarter, Hanoi
Going from small dishes to full set meals, soup, rice, meat, seafood, you name it and they have it.
They also have vegetarian and vegan-friendly options like salad wraps, mushrooms kebabs and more WAY more.
Here is a gallery of Night Market food in the Old Quarter of Hanoi.
In case you’re trying to lose weight or you’re on a vegan or vegetarian diet, be sure you’ll find diet, vegan and vegetarian-friendly dishes that are very tasty.
Even though this is yet more food, I decided to set it apart from the rest because it’s, without a doubt, one of the most iconic dishes of the Vietnamese Cuisine.
What is Pho exactly?
It’s a combination of broth, rice noodles, a few herbs, and some meat, the traditional one is made with beef, but you can also find some made with chicken.
Here is a list of 3 restaurants in Hanoi where you can find some of the best Pho in town.
Pho Thin
Address: 13 Lò Đúc, Ngô Thì Nhậm, Hai Bà Trưng, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours: Every day, from 5:30 am to 9:30 pm
Affluence of people by Hour
Pho Vui
Address: 25 Hàng Giầy, Hàng Buồm, Hoàn Kiếm, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours: Every day from 7 am to 10 am and then from 6 pm to 12 am
Affluence of people by Hour
Cafe Pho Nho (They have vegetarian Pho)
Address: 7 Huỳnh Thúc Kháng, Khu tập thể Nam Thành Công, Ba Đình, Hà Nội, Vietnam
Hours: Every day from 7 am to 10 pm
Affluence of people by Hour
From Hanoi International Airport to the City Center
There are 3 ways to get from Hanoi International Airport to the City center.
By Bus
City buses number 7 and 17 connect the airport with the center of the city, the bus stop is on the right side of the terminal exit of the airport, the fare is 5000 VND (0.3 USD)
The buses run from 5 am to 10 pm, every 15 to 20 minutes there will be a bus arriving and departing from the station.
Bus number 7 will drop you off at Kim Ma Bus station, from there you’ll most likely have to take a taxi to your hotel.
Bus number 17 will drop you off at Long Bien Bus Station.
From there you’ll have to take a walk for around 15 minutes to get to the Old Quarter (In case you’re staying there)
Airlines Shuttle Bus
Some Airlines like Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet might have shuttle buses from the airport to the city center, so consult with your Airline.
By Taxi
A taxi ride from Noi Bai International Airport to let’s say the Old Quarter will take around 45 minutes depending on traffic.
The fare will be charged based on a taximeter. A ride from the airport to the city center will be around 320,000 VND (14USD)
When in the airport, make sure you follow the signs leading to the taxi area, and make sure is a taxi metered taxi.
Do not listen to any random guy in the airport offering you a taxi, as they most likely want to charge you a fixed higher than the usual rate to take you to the city center.
My choice is and will always be the Old Quarter, this is definitely the most popular place to stay for tourists, which means its gonna be very crowded but I personally don’t mind that.
If you’re the kind of tourist who wants to wander through more quiet neighborhoods and stay away from other tourists as much as possible, then I would recommend the following
Tay Ho, this is mostly an ex-pat neighborhood, the cultural shock is not as strong here as it’s full of modern stores that have a western feeling, there are many choices for dining and nightlife.
It’s close to the flower market.
Ba Dinh District, this is a district with a lot of history, some of the most visited spots in Hanoi are located here but it’s definitely not as crowded as the Old Quarter.
The war museum, the old citadel and Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum are nearby.
Hai Ba Trung, this is the most modern district in Hanoi, you’ll find nice restaurants, cafes, movie theaters, and malls.
For a more traditional feeling, you can head over to Pho Hue street.
Avoid a Scam I Fell for
See the ladies in the picture below, well this is what happened.
My first couple of hours in Hanoi, I was just walking around when all of a sudden one of those ladies approached me and offered some bread to me.
I took it, and as soon as I took it she started filling a plastic bag with pieces of bread and she said 350 thousand.
And I was like, OK….. sure why not, so I gave her the money and she disappeared.
Then, I kept on walking and then entered a coffee store, I ordered a beverage and they charged me like 90 thousand VND.
So there I thought: Shit how much did I give that woman for the bread?????
It turns out I paid like 14 USD for 4 pieces of bread.
Now, is also my fault, because I just didn’t take time to do the conversion in my head.
I just assumed it was a cheap price, but for sure these women target tourists who they know might just be getting to town and are still getting familiar with their currency.
After asking around, some other tourists told me the same thing happened to them, so be careful if someone offers you bread on the streets.
But that was nothing compared to all the good things Hanoi has to offer. I LOVE Hanoi.
So there you have it, fun activities, things to eat, where to shop and where to stay.
Vietnam Visa
There are only a few countries that can enter Vietnam visa free, the rest of us need to apply for an authorization letter.
Once they send it to your email you print it out and take it with you on the trip. Once you arrive to the airport you use the letter to get the tourist visa
In this post I’ll tell you all the basics you need to know to start organizing a crossbordering South-East Asia trip, using one backpack only.
I’ll take you from Singapore to Vietnam by plane, then by bus to Laos, after that we’ll take a Train to Bangkok.
Next we’ll catch another bus to Cambodia and finally a plane to Malaysia.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWOspTURuo8
The route I just described above is the one I did in the summer of 2016, it was the most convenient way for my needs and desires.
There are many other different routes you could follow, and you’ll equally catch a very good glimpse of all of southeast Asia.
Start Organizing a Cross Border Trip in South East Asia
The first thing you need to decide, for this cross bordering southeast Asia trip, is how much time you’ll have available to go on this crazy adventure, that for sure will give you some of the best memories of your life.
I am based in Taiwan, I decided I was gonna go to South East Asia for 1 month and 2 weeks during my summer break of 2016.
I believe this is enough time for you to get a good look at this part of the world, some might disagree and say you need more.
It all depends on how deep you want to explore each country.
These are the countries I wanted to go to
Vietnam
Singapore
Laos
Thailand
Malaysia
Cambodia
Here is a map of South East Asia
As a first time traveler to all of these countries everything was gonna be new to me, so I decided to visit only the capitals or more touristic cities.
Honestly, if you wanna go deep into the culture of one specific country you could spend months in just one of them, and see and experience a lot.
And of course you could do a cross bordering southeast Asia trip for months or years if you want to.
Find the Best Airfare Deals
First thing I did was to start checking for the cheapest airfare.
I found a Cheap Flight from Taiwan to Singapore and another one from Singapore to Vietnam, both flights one way, I bought them.
If you look at the map of South East Asia you might tell me that logistically it doesn’t make sense to do that, but hey the tickets were really cheap.
Then I thought, Okay, How will I get back Home?
I searched for cheap flights from South East Asia to Taiwan and found something that worked for me.
A flight from Cambodia to Malaysia and another one from Malaysia to Taiwan – they were cheap- I bought them.
So I was all set with my flights, I had a way out of Taiwan and one in.
Just like that I already had on the schedule 4 countries, I still needed to figure out how to include the other 2 and how to get to 3 of them.
If you’re in the USA or in Europe, I recommend you to make Singapore your gateway in and out of Asia.
Singapore has one of the biggest international hubs in the world, there are tons of flights in and out of Changi Airport every day.
At this point, this is what my trip was looking like
So I was all set to depart from Taiwan on June 1st and start my cross bordering southeast Asia Trip.
First I’d spend 5 days in Singapore and then fly to Hanoi-Vietnam.
From that moment on all I knew was that I had to be in Siem reap Cambodia on July 7th to catch my flight to Malaysia.
So now it was time to figure out how I was gonna go from Hanoi-Vietnam to the next country on my list, Laos.
If you take a look at the map, that’s the one that made more sense to go to geographically speaking.
After doing a lot of research I found that the only way to go from Hanoi in Vietnam to Vientiane in Laos –traveling cheap– was by taking the DEATH bus.
It wasn’t really that bad believe me.
From Vietnam to Laos by Bus
The name of this article is cross bordering southeast Asia and this is where the fun begins.
So why is it called the DEATH or nightmare bus? Let me tell you about it.
It’s because is a freaking long bus ride, it took us around 24 hours to be done with the whole thing.
Definitely horrible, and even though you’ll have a lot of space to sleep
Being on a bus for that long is just exhausting.
If you do a bit of research on this you’ll find some bloggers sharing really horrible stories about these buses.
I know I read them before taking this bus and I was a bit scared, but honestly, it is doable and you shouldn’t worry about this too much.
The bus I took had a bathroom, although I recommend not eating after breakfast time on the day you take the bus, those bus bathrooms might get nasty.
The bus also had wifi from the city center in Hanoi to the border with Laos.
This is also the first leg of the trip, I remember it took us around 9 hours to get to the border with Laos.
We departed at around 8:00 pm, the border opens at 7:00 AM so when we got there we still had to wait a couple of hours for them to open.
Once it was open we had to get out of the bus, go to the Vietnamese checking point for departure, pay US$1 for stamping fee or its equivalent in Vietnamese Dong.
While you are doing this the bus will move forward as it has to be checked before entering Laos.
All your luggage will remain on the bus, so remember to keep essential things in a hand-carry bag with you.
After you’re done with the process on the Vietnamese side, you have to walk for about 1 km to reach the Laos checking point, where you’ll pay for your visa.
Don’t forget to take passport-size pictures with you.
Don’t worry if all you see around you while walking is mountains and bushes, that’s what crossing the border between these two countries looks like.
Just follow the paved road and you’ll reach the Laos immigration point, follow the crowd you won’t be the only one there.
Crossing the border between Laos and Vietnam
What Does Laos Immigration look like?
Going through the Laos immigration point might take a while.
Once you are done with this, the bus will already be on the other side waiting for all its passengers.
In the Laos checking point, you’ll find little bazaars selling snacks and you’ll get a chance to go to the bathroom if you need it.
But beware, if you need to go to the toilet to do number 2, you will likely run into one of this.
And voila! You are standing now in Laos territory. After that is gonna be another 6 or 7 hours to reach Vientiane, the bus I took made a stop at a big sideroad eatery station, it was a good chance to have a proper local meal.
Once we reached Vientiane, I took a TUK TUK to my hotel
Arriving at Laos Immigration
How to book the Bus? Where is the bus station in Hanoi? How much?
I paid US$25 for the bus from Hanoi to Vientiane.
I was staying in a nice little hotel in the old quarter of Hanoi, one day before I had scheduled myself to depart I asked the receptionist to help me book the bus.
She made one phone call and got me on a sleeper bus, I paid her the US$25 and she told me to be ready the next day at 5:00 pm, they’ll come here and pick you up she said.
Check out was at 2:00 pm, so I left my bag in the lobby, they took care of it, I went for a walk and got back to the hotel lobby to wait for the “Pick Up”
A crazy tourist in Hanoi Story
A guy shows up and the receptionist tells me: That’s him, go with him, and I’m like ok, I stepped out and I see the guy is riding a motorcycle, the receptionist tells me, you have to follow him.
The bus can not come in here because the lanes are too narrow, and indeed they were.
My reaction was: WTF!!!!!
There were 2 Korean girls next to me who were taking the same bus as me, the guy asked them to hand him their luggage to carry it for them and they agreed, I held onto mine.
The guy starts riding away and there we go doing some fast walking trying to stay behind the guy.
We followed him for around 7 blocks until we reached a minivan, he told us to get in, my reaction was: WTF!!!
This guy is telling me to get in a random van, this doesn’t look good, but then I saw that there were other tourists sitting in the van so I said ok this looks legit.
Then the guy went to find and guide other tourists to the van, after it was full they took us to the bus station.
I must say things got a bit chaotic here, they just dropped us there and we didn’t know exactly on which bus we had to get in.
After asking around we got to the right bus and started our trip.
There are two major cities in Laos, Vientiane and Luang Pra bang, so make sure you get on the right bus. I was heading towards Vientiane
Bus from Hanoi to Vientiane
From Vientiane, Laos to Bangkok, Thailand, by Train
Let’s keep cross-bordering Southeast Asia
After enjoying some days in Laos I was ready to move toward my next destination, Thailand, more specifically Bangkok.
It’s very simple to go from Vientiane to Bangkok, all you gotta do is take 2 trains, and the first one is a very short ride. Here’s how it works.
From Vientiane, you can take a taxi or tuk-tuk to Thanaleng Railway Station, also known as Dongphosy station.
This station is already super close to the border with the north part of Thailand.
There, you’ll go through a little immigration process, you’ll fill out your departure card and pay a small amount –500 kip– to stamp out of Laos.
You’ll also have to buy a ticket towards Nongkhai in Thailand which is around 500 kip too.
Train from Thanaleng station to Nongkhai
The ride from Thanaleng/Dongphosy station to Nongkhai in Thailand only takes around 15 minutes, very quick and comfortable.
Once you arrive at NongKhai station you have to go through a little immigration process and just like that you’re now in Thailand.
I had already processed my Thailand Visa so all I did was show it, you can read more about visas further down in this post.
Buying a Train Ticket from Nongkhai to Bangkok on the Same Day
You’ll be exactly on the same platform where the train from Nongkhai to Bangkok departs, you’ll see a ticket office where you can buy your train ticket.
I didn’t book my ticket in advance.
So when I got to the ticket office they told me that all they had available on that day was 3rd class seats, in a train departing at 7:10 pm, it was just 11:00 AM when I arrived there-.
What could I do right?? I bought the ticket and decided to wait for the train.
What to do in Nongkhai?
Nong Khai Town
I did a little tour of Nongkhai and also spent a lot of time just chilling in a hotel right in front of the train station, the name of the hotel is Nongkhai Resort.
They allowed me to stay by the pool as long as I was buying from the restaurant.
This is me doing what they told me
Now, it was 7:00 pm and it was almost time to get on that 10 hours overnight train to Bangkok- in 3rd class.
My advice DON’T GET THIRD CLASS.
It was the most uncomfortable ride ever, the bus from Hanoi to Vientiane was a luxury compared to the 3rd class seat on that train.
The train was very dirty, the seats were very uncomfortable to sit on.
Weather was hot, so I pulled down the rusty windows to get some air, next thing I know there are bugs hitting my face as they get suctioned into the train as it moves.
If you are lucky, when you arrive at Nongkhai station you’ll still be able to buy second or first class tickets, which I heard have sleeper berths and AC, if you wanna play it safe you should book your ticket online
Timetable for Trains from Nongkhai to Bangkok
In the infographic below you can find the timetable and ticket prices for different train class.
Timetable and prices
I took train 26, 3rd class. I paid around 300 THB
So, after a long overnight train ride, I finally arrived at Hua Lamphong train station in Bangkok, and then I took the metro to my hotel.
The last part that actually counts as cross bordering southeast Asia
This bus ride is not as intense as the one from Hanoi to Vientiane, and it will only take around 8 hours and is a direct bus ride.
There are many bus services that will take you to Siem Reap
But some of them make you switch buses once you go through immigration at the border.
The one I took was the one managed by Natakkan Transport
Inside of The Bus from Bangkok to Siem Reap
When you take a direct bus, yes you’ll still have to get out of the bus and go through immigration and then the bus will be waiting for you on the other side, but you can leave your luggage inside the bus.
The process is very similar to the one crossing from Vietnam to Laos.
Border Thailand and Cambodia, Poipet
You will first go through a departure process from Thailand, right after that, you’ll have to walk for a bit and enter a little building where you apply for your Cambodia visa.
After that, you walk some more and go through an immigration process in another building where they check your passport and visa.
The bus takes around 3 hours from Bangkok to the border and then another 3 from the border to the center of Siem Reap.
Once I got there I took a tuk-tuk and was on my way to my hotel.
Where do you buy the bus ticket? How much?
The ticket price for this bus is around US$35
To go from Bangkok to Siem reap you have to go to Mochit Bus Terminal.
Also referred to as Chatuchak bus station
One day before I wanted to leave Bangkok I went there morning time and purchased my ticket to depart the next morning. They asked me to show them my passport to buy the ticket so remember to take it with you.
After visiting the amazing ruins of Siem Reap I was all set to go to my last destination on the list.
From Cambodia to Kuala Lumpur by Plane
This was very straightforward.
I just took a tuk-tuk from my hotel in Siem Reap to the Siem Reap International Airport and took my flight to Kuala Lumpur.
The process at the airport was just as common as in any other one.
Siem Reap International Airport is pretty decent, you can find places to eat and different retail stores where you can get some last minute souvenirs.
Siem Reap International Airport
After being done with my visit to Kuala Lumpur I just took my flight back home and that was the end of my South-East Asia trip adventure and god I wanna do it again.
In the end, this is how the whole trip turned out to be
VISAS
Okay so in this cross bordering southeast Asia trip you’ll visit quite a few countries, so will you need a visa? It depends.
Singapore
All I have to say about his is that most nationalities do NOT require a visa to enter Singapore, so you shouldn’t worry too much about this.
If your country is not on that list (The link) then you do NOT need a visa to enter Singapore.
Vietnam
There are only 24 nationalities in the world who can enter Vietnam Visa-free, the rest of us have to apply for one
For the full list of countries that can visit Vietnam visa-free click here
Applying for a Vietnam visa is really simple,first, you have to make an online application prior to arriving at Vietnam, once the Vietnamese Government approves it you’ll receive a PDF file that will look like this
Approval letter
They call it the approval letter, you have to make an online payment to process and receive this.
You have to print that out and take it with you.
Once you arrive at Vietnam you show that printout and fill out a form, provide passport size pictures and US$25 for visa fee and that’s it.
I must tell you I did not use the link above to get my approval letter, I used this one , it’s NOT a government website, and for whatever reason it is, they only charge US$8 and it worked for me, I got my approval letter and I had no problem at the airport in Hanoi.
Laos
Most nationalities can obtain Visa on arrival at Laos, so there is no need to worry about any online procedure.
To check the list of travelers from Nationalities that can NOT apply for a visa on arrival please check here
All you need to get a visa on arrival is, your passport, fill out a form, passport size photos and pay the fee, is around US$30.
Thailand
There are only some nationalities that can enter Thailand Visa-free or that can apply for a visa on arrival, for a full detailed list please go here
If your country is not on that list and you need to apply for a tourist visa. You have to head to the nearest Thai embassy and apply for one.
Pretty much all you need to apply is
Fill out a form
Show flight tickets to prove you’ll get out of Thailand
One passport size picture
Pay for the visa fee which is around US$40
Since I was entering Thailand through Laos by Train and leaving by bus to Cambodia.
I had no flights arriving to and departing from Thailand to show.
So, I explained my situation to the embassy personnel, they told me it was okay.
They asked me to show that I had a flight from Cambodia to Malaysia and another one to Taiwan.
It usually only takes 1 business day to get the visa. More info here
Cambodia
Pretty much everyone can apply for a Visa on arrival, so there is no need to worry about any online process, the fee is U$30 and all you have to provide are passport size photos and fill out a form.
All countries on a yellow and greenish color can apply for a visa on arrival
Most nationalities can enter Malaysia Visa Free or can apply for an e visa
Countries in red require a pre approved Visa to enter Malaysia
Please remember it doesn’t matter where you travel, your passport must have at least 6 months of validity left.
CURRENCIES
In this crossbordering south east Asia trip you’ll also need to think about different currencies.
Singapore
Official currency: The Singapore Dollar
US$1 is S$1.38
You can exchange money at the airport
Vietnam
Official currency: Vietnamese Dong
US$1 is 23,411 VND
You’ll be a millionaire in Vietnam, don’t be surprised if after taking a taxi from the airport to the city center the charge is 500,000 VND !!!! that’s only U$20
You can exchange at the airport
Laos
Official currency: Lao Kip
US$1 is 8,572 LAK
This is another currency with big numbers
There are banks and other spots in the city center where you can exchange your money.
Thailand
Official currency: Thai Baht
US$1 is 33.05 THB
You can exchange your money in banks or other exchange spots in the city
Cambodia
Official currency: Cambodian Riel
US$1 is 4,071 KHR
You can exchange your money in banks in the city center, but if you’re carrying USD you don’t have to, all retail stores and restaurants take USD.
Malaysia
Official currency: Malaysian Ringgit
US$1 is 4.18 MYR
You can exchange money at the airport or banks.
YOUR BACKPACK
This is a very long trip you wanna make, and you might be thinking about what to pack? you might be even making a list of all the different things you want to put in your backpack, but hey remember something, keep it simple.
I took one and only one backpack only. It’s great to travel like this as you only have to care about one piece of luggage, easier to move around on the streets, and easier to get out of an airport.
My backpack was small enough to fit in the cabin of the planes, I took it as a carry on in every flight I took, what did I pack?
10 T-shirts
5 shorts
1 jeans
10 pairs of socks and underwear
Deodorant
Toothpaste and toothbrush
Cellphone Charger
Small camera
An envelope with some documents and passport size photos
A little flashlight
Flip flops
Sunglasses
Tanktops
Basic toiletries like shampoo, in small bottles of course.
Hat
You’ll have the chance to do some laundry from time to time. If you’re staying at a small hotel they might have a laundry service, or there might be one nearby, and they’re not that expensive so don’t worry too much about clothes.
Here is a picture of the backpack I used
If you are into activities like camping or diving then definitely you’ll need a bigger backpack and you’ll have to check it in at the airport.
I would recommend you to look for posts about this topic.
So there you have it, a basic guide about how to do a crossbordering south east Asia trip.
To finish this post I just wanna say, THANK YOU for reading and whatever route you decide to take through South East Asia always do it with a good attitude and you’ll have an amazing time.
If you have a 10-hour layover in Singapore’s Changi Airport, there are plenty of ways to make the most of your time. First, head to the Butterfly Garden, which is located in Terminal 3 of the airport. This beautiful garden is home to over 1,000 butterflies and offers a serene escape from the hustle and bustle of the airport. After spending some time in the Butterfly Garden, head to the Airport Wellness Oasis, which is a tranquil space where you can relax and rejuvenate before your next flight.
If you’re looking to explore Singapore during your layover, there are several options available. Singapore Airlines offers a free heritage tour for passengers with layovers of at least 5.5 hours, which takes you on a tour of the city’s cultural and historical landmarks.
Alternatively, you can take a trip to the Singapore Botanic Gardens, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the city’s top attractions. With over 160 years of history, the gardens offer a peaceful respite from the hustle and bustle of the city and are home to over 10,000 species of plants. So whether you want to explore the city or simply relax during your layover, there are plenty of options available in Singapore.
Alright so you have a long overnight layover of more than 6 hours in Singapore, and you landed in Changi Airport after 6:30 pm and you can no longer join the free tours offered by Changi airport.
No worries, I’ll tell you exactly how to go out and tour the city for a little bit on your own.
Singapore is a small island nation, it is only 721.5 km².
This means that most of the landmarks are close to each other and you don’t have to pay money for cabs to take you around, or spend a lot of time using buses or metro.
All you have to do is get to the city center and then start walking.
It was during 2016 when I was on my way to Indonesia and I had a 12 hour layover in Singapore at Singapore Changi Airport.
I landed in Singapore around 7:00 pm and my next flight was at 6:00 am the next morning.
I had 2 choices, spend the night at the airport scrolling through Facebook, or venture myself into the city and make memories, the latter is what I did.
Is Singapore a Safe City to Explore at Night on your Own?
Singapore is one of the safest cities in Asia so don’t worry about being robbed or somehow attacked for walking into the wrong neighborhood, that won’t happen.
They made extensive research to rate the crime level of cities in Asia within a scale from 1 to 100 – 1 being the lowest crime rate and 100 being highest.
Singapore was ranked the third lowest crime rate city in the region
Top Five cities in Asia with the lowest crime rate
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 13.63
Doha, Qatar 14.48
Singapore, Singapore 16.23
Osaka, Japan 16.77
Tokyo, Japan 16.86
So now that you know Singapore is super safe, let’s continue with your long overnight layover in Singapore
I was traveling with one backpack so I didn’t have to worry about carrying many suitcases or bags.
If you are traveling with a big suitcase you can store it at the airport for a while, click here for more info.
Your Long Overnight Singapore Layover Itinerary
Think of this as your Singapore Layover Guide
So, the first thing is, getting out of the airport, this is very simple as the subway line connects the airport directly to the city center.
You’ll only have to transfer once at Expo station, the ride altogether takes around 45 minutes by metro.
Route from Singapore Airport to City Center
That’s gonna cost you around 4 SG dollars.
When at the airport, once you’re out of immigration just follow the signs and you’ll get to the subway station inside the airport.
You’ll see some vending machines where you can get your ticket.
There will be some personnel around to assist you in case you have doubts about what kind of subway pass you wanna buy.
You have to get off at Bayfront Subway station.
Getting from the airport to the city center is way faster by car -around 20 minutes- but it’s gonna cost you way more too -around 20SG dollars-
If you have a layover of more than 6 hours and feel adventurous better take the metro.
From Changi Airport to City centre
After getting out of the MRT station all you gotta do is walk a bit and you’ll find yourself surrounded by the beautiful buildings of
Marina Bay and Gardens by The Bay
You’ll be close enough to go and stroll around the Gardens by The Bay and get a really good look of Marina Bay Sands.
Once you arrive at Bayfront station take exit B and follow the underground pass and cross the bridge to arrive at the Gardens by The Bay in all of its splendor.
Gardens by The Bay
Take your time to walk around, take some pictures, rest and grab a bite if you’re hungry, there will be some restaurants around.
Sculptures in Gardens By The Bay
A very important aspect of Gardens by the Bay is the number of beautiful art sculptures you will run into as you walk around, my favorite one is “Planet”
“Planet” Gardens by The Bay
It looks as if it’s floating right? And the background of the city makes the whole view in front of you more interesting.
If you look carefully, you’ll see that the whole weight of the baby is incredibly balanced on his right hand.
Another favorite of mine is
“The DragonFly Riders”, definitely a stunning piece of art, and an even more incredible background from that angle.
They are located in the dragonfly lake, the sculptures are supposed to remind us all of the joy of childhood.
If you take a closer look at the picture you’ll see that there is a child riding the dragonfly.
For an entire list of the sculptures, you can click here
At the Gardens by The Bay, you’ll also have the chance to see the amazing
Marina Bay Sands
It’ll be just right behind you.
After you’re done strolling around The Gardens by The Bay, I would suggest you head over to
Marina Bay Financial Centre,
It’s gonna take from 15 to 20 minutes to get there on foot.
If you’re carrying a backpack it might be a bit exhausting depending on your physical condition.
Remember that Singapore’s weather is hot most of the time so don’t forget to bring your water bottle as it’s important to stay hydrated.
If you are interested in my tips on how to live a healthy life please click here, traveling is more fun when we are feeling and looking our best.
Walking from Gardens by The Bay to Marina Bay Financial Center
Once you get to MBFC (Marina Bay Financial Center) you’ll see views like these
Singapore Skyline
Marina Bay Sands
Singapore Skyline
You could just sit somewhere there, maybe get a beer from a 7-11 and enjoy the view.
Right after this head to
Lau Pa Sat
This is one of the most popular night markets in town, its location – right in the center of the city- makes it super convenient to get to.
What better way to work out than doing it while you explore a beautiful city like Singapore.
Now, I know that the screenshots I provided do not say where to turn and where to go exactly to reach all the city spots I just mentioned, but do not worry.
All you need to get to those spots are your eyes and your mouth, once you are in the city center (Bayfront Sation) everything will be nearby and reachable to the eye.
And if you feel a little bit lost just ask for directions, Singaporeans speak English.
There is no need to worry about getting a sim card or portable wifi to have internet on the go.
If you’ll only be in Singapore for some hours it doesn’t make sense to pay for it.
If you feel like keep on walking some more then go ahead and do it, for sure there are many more spots in the city that are worth seeing.
It all depends on how much time and energy you have left.
How did I get back to the Airport?
Well since I walked around and did sightseeing for around 4 hours, it was already past midnight when I decided to go back to the Airport.
I just took the first cab I saw, I paid around SG$24; if you are accompanied by one or more friends you can share the cost.
Going from Merlion Park to Changi Airport by Taxi
Long Layover on Your Own During the Day
If your layover is during day time and for some reason, you don’t want to join the free tours provided by the airport.
Maybe because being on a tour means you have to follow the itinerary and you are not the kind of person who likes to be rushed.
Just go out on your own and follow the route I provided you above, you can also add other spots like
The Esplanades theater, only 2 minutes away from merlion park.
Singapore Flyer, 15 minutes away from The Esplanades, by foot.
China Town, 26 minutes away from Singapore Flyer, by metro. Go to Promenade station and get off at Chinatown Station
Little India, 22 minutes away from Chinatown, by metro. Go to china town station and get off at Little India Station.
From Little India station you can go back to Changi Airport, just transfer at Expo station, get on the green line and go to Changi Airport station.
Hope you find this post useful, ultimately, if you have a layover of at least 5.5 hours, just go out and explore the city for a bit in any way you want, I promise is worth it.
But you have to wait 6 hours or even more at Changi airport, and you’re just wondering what the hell you’ll do during all that time.
In this post I’ll tell you what you can do on a long layover in Singapore for free.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HbgEY8jp-c&t=15s
No need to worry, there is only a very small amount of countries whose citizens require a visa to enter Singapore, you can check the full list here.
So chances are you will have no problem walking out of the airport and go explore the city for a bit, grab a bite, visit the touristic landmarks and add more memories to your trip.
And if you get lucky you’ll do all of that without having to worry about transportation.
That’s right someone else will arrange all of that for you, who? The answer is Changi Airport.
Changi Airport is always ranking as one of the best or the best airport in the whole world.
One of the reasons must be because they offer free tours for passengers with layovers of at least 5.5 hours.
Changi airport has held the number 1 title for the sixth year in a row.
The airport offers two tours
The Heritage Tour
Which runs between 9:00 am to 6:30 pm, this tour takes you around
The Colonial District
Singapore used to be a British colony, it was from 1946 to 1963 that Singapore was under the rule of the British Crown.
Singapore was a strategic port to make trading along the spice route easier for the British Crown.
Singapore’s location was privileged, located halfway between the ports of China and India.
And also positioned on the Malaca strait.
It was certain that all ships going between China and India and going from Europe to the East would pass near Singapore, making it an important commercial hub.
Other movie directors might decide to use the city skyline and destroy it (with computer effects) as it happened in “Independence Day: Resurgence” where the city’s skyline gets completely shattered by some mean aliens.
Regardless of the final purpose, directors like to include it in movies because is just a stunning skyline and it’s worth checking it out.
Central Business District
Merlion Park
This is one of the most iconic spots of the city, so expect it to be a little crowded, but the views are fantastic.
The merlion is a Singaporean mythical beast, which has the body of a fish and head of a lion.
The story of how this statue or symbol of Singapore came to be is very simple.
The fish body represents the origins of Singapore as a fishing village and the lion head represents the original name of the city -Singapura- which means lion city.
Mer means sea in Javanese language, and lion, well, it means lion, this equals to Merlion= Sealion.
The design was made by Alec-Fraser Bruner in 1964.
Merlion Park
China Town
Just like many other China Towns around the world, you’ll find many stalls selling all kinds of products and also restaurants serving Chinese food.
The story of Chinese people in Singapore goes way back in time.
It was around 1330 when Wang Dayuan – a Chinese traveler- visited Singapore, back then called Temasek, and recorded the presence of a small Chinese community.
As Singapore flourished more and more, Chinese settled in the area to take advantage of the job opportunities.
At first, it was just a population mainly composed of young men looking for jobs, but as time went by it became a more balanced community of both genders and different age groups.
Little India in Singapore
We have one more activity to do in the first tour, in your long Singapore layover for free
Kampong Glam and Malay Heritage Center
This is the last stop. This neighborhood and museum remain as a memory of the High Malay Aristocracy that was settled here before the colonization.
Malay Heritage Center
How crazy is it that in your Singapore layover you’ll be able to experience a bit of China, India, and Malaysia.
The second tour is
The City Sights tours
This tour runs between 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm, this tour takes you around
The Singapore Flyer
A big ferry wheel that serves as an observation point to catch a view of all the city.
It first opened in April of 2008 after 2 years and a half of construction.
Opening time is from 8:30 am to 10:30 pm daily. If you wanna ride it, the ticket cost is SG$33 for adults and SG$22 for children.
Singapore Flyer
The Esplanades Theaters on The Bay
This is a home for the performing arts, they constantly have different plays and music shows that cater to all tastes.
The design of the theater is very peculiar and is often compared to the shape of a fruit called durian or the eyes of a fly.
It’s common for locals to refer to the structure as the big durians.
Esplanade Theater
Marina Bay Financial Center
This place consists of 3 office towers, 2 residential towers, and a retail shopping mall.
Visitors to this area can expect to have a pleasant stroll around the 3.5km of a paved public walk near the bay.
Here you can catch a very beautiful view of the city and rest at a nearby park.
Marina Bay Financial Center
Merlion Park
Just like the first tour, this one also makes a stop at this special Singapore landmark.
One of the most beautiful buildings there is, this is another iconic landmark in Singapore.
Also known as the building with the pool on top.
The design was made by Moshe Safdie who claims took as inspiration the shape of decks of cards.
The building is owned by Las Vegas Sands Corporation and has a casino as one of the attractions.
It also has 2,500 hotel rooms and the always amazing Skypark.
A park on top of the three towers with restaurants, bars, an infinity pool for hotel guests, gardens and jogging tracks.
Marina Bay Sands
Gardens by The Bay
This tour closes your long Singapore layover with, according to me, the best spot of the city.
The magical gardens by the bay, for some reason it reminds me of Avatar (The movie of James Cameron),
You could walk around here for hours and never get bored.
It spans along 101 hectares of land in the central region of Singapore.
The gardens by the bay are divided into 3 sections, the largest one being Bay South Garden with a total of 54 hectares, the flower dome within is the largest glass greenhouse in the world.
Gardens by The Bay
If you ask me, the best tour you could join is the second one as you’ll have the chance to visit the Gardens by The Bay and believe me, you WANT to go to the Gardens by the Bay.
Plus you get to see the city shining during night time.
Please have in mind that the latest you can register for any of these tours is 6:30 pm.
Here is the link to the airport website so you can take a look at all the details.
So what happens if you have a long layover during the night and you landed after 6:30 pm?
Don’t worry you can still go out and tour the city on your own,
By best deals I mean how much you’ll pay for the flight ticket and how long it’ll take you to get to your final destination after 1 or 2 layovers.
Now, this is what I do to find the most convenient flight for the dates I wanna travel on.
It’s a very simple guide to follow.
1- Find some free time for research
Grab a couple of hours of your weekend, maybe on a Saturday afternoon, get a cup of coffee or tea and open your laptop or use your phone.
2- Open any flight search engine of your preference
As a first-time or still novice traveler like me, this is a very important step so you know which airlines operate the route for your flight, average price, and other important travel details.
It will give you a good understanding of all the things you have to consider before and during your flight.
You can also see the breakdown of the connections.
In New York, you have to go from La Guardia to JFK for your flight to Helsinki.
From La Guardia to JFK is around a 20 minutes car ride, and the time allotted for the layover is 3 hours and 47 minutes so you’d have no problems making it on time.
The return flight is different
It takes 27 hours and 50 minutes, but hey you have 12 hours and 35 minutes in Helsinki.
This would be a great opportunity to go out and see a bit of the capital of Finland.
You’d be getting the chance to explore more of the world, that doesn’t sound bad to me at all (If you’re not short on vacation time of course).
In summary, this is the Important information you need to know
How much is the average cost?
What is the average flight time?
Which airlines handle the flight?
How many layovers are there?
Do you have to change airports for a connecting flight?
Does one of my layovers give me enough time to tour the city for a bit?
After checking all of that, now you have a pretty good knowledge of what the flight to your desired travel destination requires.
Now, you can start budgeting and decide how much vacation time you need to enjoy where you’re going while considering how much time you’d be spending just flying.
If you ask me the main deciding factor will always be the price, but the rest of the information is also important.
And depending on how many days you have available for your trip you can play around with that.
If your time is limited, of course, you’d want to find the most direct flight possible.
But if you have plenty of free days you might even opt for a cheap flight with two long layovers and stroll around those cities for a while.
Now comes the final and most exciting step of them all, BUY THAT TICKET
4- Choose where to buy the ticket
To finally make the purchase you have 2 options.
I truly believe one is the best to accomplish the purpose of finding the best deal for international flights.
Just read a little bit.
A) Buy it with a third party vendor.
This is the option most flight search engines provide, for this example, Skyscanner will redirect you to Opodo or eDreams to buy the ticket.
After clicking select, you’ll be redirected to their sites and there you’ll have to input all your personal info and credit card details to purchase the ticket.
After a successful purchase, you should receive, in the inbox of the email address you would provide, a receipt for your purchase and an itinerary of your flight.
Most likely they’ll send them in the form of PDF files.
Third-party companies
B) Go directly to the website of one of the airlines that operates the flight
In the example above, Miami to Rovaniemi, we can see that the flight is operated by Finnair and British Airways.
So I would go to either one of these airlines’ websites and input the same departing and arriving city, also the same dates.
I’d make sure the rest of the information like layovers, and the price is the same or at least similar, all you have to do is follow the steps of the Airline website’s form.
Just like in a third party vendor, after a successful purchase, you will receive an email with the receipts and itinerary of the flight.
Expect the final prices shown on a third party vendor or an airline website to vary from what you see on a flight search engine.
The flight search engines, sometimes, might not take into account tax fees and luggage fees.
So, you have two choices, but the one I recommend is option B.
The reason why I believe this is the best options is that, in the case of an eventuality like missing your flight or having to cancel it.
You’ll get full support from an airlines’ customer service team or any staff at a boarding gate.
You can also sign up for a member’s club program which is never a bad idea.
Why buy it directly from the Airline?
If you buy your ticket through a third party vendor, in the case of an eventuality, airlines will simply tell you to contact that third party vendor and solve your issue with them.
And third-party vendors customer support, most of the time, is no good believe me.
Even if you call an airline’s customer service phone number.
Before you actually get to talk to anyone, there’ll be a recording asking you if you bought your ticket with the airline (press 1) or a third party vendor (press 2).
If you did the latter, you’ll get a recording telling you to contact that third party vendor and treat your issue with them.
So remember, find time for research, open a flight search engine, find all the important details of the flight.
And -I recommend- buy the ticket directly with an airline
Here is a very helpful info-graphic summary I made for you guys, hope you like it
Other important information to have in mind.
-When you have a flight operated by more than one airline, the baggage policy of the airline that covers the longest part of your trip, in the example above that’s Finnair, will prevail above the one of the other airlines.
If in your flight Finnair states that you are allowed to have 1 carry on suitcase plus 2, 30kg check-in suitcases, then that’s what you’ll be allowed to carry in all the legs of your trip.
-Most people don’t need to apply for visas while transiting a country, this depends on your nationality, but in order to be sure please refer to a government immigration site of the country you are transiting through to confirm this.
