Text 294, 70 rader
Skriven 2006-06-18 12:41:42 av Carol Shenkenberger (6:757/1)
    Kommentar till text 292 av Nancy Backus (1:323/120.0)
Ärende: Re: Seatime again
=========================
*** Quoting Nancy Backus from a message to Carol Shenkenberger ***

 CS> True!  Actually I can think of other places to visit that cost less. 
 CS> The main difference is the japanese are really and truely decent
 CS> people and the land is  safe.  No fear here if you have kids in tow.

NB> Cost and distance are probably the key factors in making it a one-time
NB> IF-ever visit.  Hubby was there once on a business trip, and I've had
NB> very good friends from Japan over the years, so I do have an idea how
NB> nice it would really be.

Well, if you have in mind visiting Asia, the first step is easy.  Passport.  It
take a little while to get one but is good for 10 years for an adult without
renewal.  Renewal is easy and requires little effort.  The hardest part of the
first time getting on, is using the internet to get a birth certificate with
the emblem pressed into it (most states do that, others have variations that
work just as well) and then writing the Social Security office for a SSN card
if you no longer can find the origional.

For cost factors, the situation is not as obvious or at least was not to me at
the start.  The plane tickets may make some places look way cheaper, but once
you check the hotel rates, you can find some countries are a lot cheaper as a
total than others.  A flight from where I am to Hong Kong is cheaper than
Thailand, but the hotel price once there makes Thailand a much better deal.
The plane ticket and hotel cost to Okinawa from where I am, makes them more
expensive than Thailand but we have more things we want to do in Okinawa so
are going there.

What interests do you have?  I'm fairly well traveled out here and can give
some tips based on what you actually want to do.  For example, if money is NOT
an issue but shopping is, Tokyo is a good spot.  If nightlife (beer drinking
and party) is the main desire, you'd want Thailand and the prices once there
are great for all sorts of shopping things other than electronics.  Not a
great place for young kids though.  Not terrible but not great.  

If you want Asia all in one, and do not insist on a 5 star hotel, Hong Kong has
that at a reasonable price.  If going too much 'Asia' on the first trip makes
you feel uncomfortable, Singapore would be a good bet.  Kid friendly if your
kids are reasonably well behaved (Asia expects more there than USA) and very
westernized with shopping malls but not very cheap.  Going to Singapore makes
me feel a bit like NY City which isnt bad, but isnt like the rest of Asia that
I traverse.  I havent been to 'Little India' there yet though and am told that
would fit my personal style better.

My own habits flavor my review.  I like open air market shopping with a bit of
dickering for prices (outside Japan, this is expected behavior), good food and
am not at all a picky eater, and an upscale hotel at a decent price.  In
Okinawa, I paid (prepaid already) 387$ a night for a really *nice* place with
lots of frills and right in the better area for tourist things Charlotte will
like.  Normally I top end pay 100$ max and tend to find 'great places for 50$
a night'.

If you want a hint, Marriot places in *Asia* are very nice.  The worst one I've
seen was a cut rate in Hong Kong because that one was being renovated but all
services were fine even if the view at the time was not very good (blocked by
scafolding).  It was reduced from 200$ a night to 50$.

NB> Never been to Australia, either, although that has also intrigued me.
NB> I've heard good things about seeing Europe with the EuroRail pass, too
NB> Oh, to be footloose, fancy-free AND independently wealthy...  <VBG>  I
NB> think I'm a bit past the age to "Join the Navy and see the world"... <
NB> To say nothing of the encumbrances of life responsibilities...  :)

Grin, folks wonder why I put up with the hours that I do.  I do it because it's
extremely interesting to live this way, but now, I am at the end point of all
this.  Time to come home soon.
                                       xxcarol

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