Travelers' Intercom

Southeast Asia arrangements

My husband and I took a 23-day trip to Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia in October-November ’05 based on recommendations made by ITN readers.

• We started in Bangkok with the guide Tananchai Sillikasorm (e-mail tans72@hotmail.com), who was recommended by Dan Isenschmid, who answered my “Person to Person” question.

Tananchai was extremely professional, and via e-mail we planned our schedule. He arranged for a van and driver to pick us up in the airport at midnight, take us to the Peninsula Hotel, do two full days of touring and return us to the airport. Twenty days later we were picked up for another eight hours of touring, shopping and eating before being taken back to the airport for our 1:20 a.m. flight to the U.S.

The cost for two of us was $650, but it was well worth it for a private tour of Bangkok and surrounding areas.

• We then flew to Myanmar. I had read an article by Michael and Jean Sharon (June ’03, pg. 52) about a trip planned by Myanmar Travel (Pansodan Office Tower, 3rd Floor, Room 3A, 189/195 Pansodan St., Kyauktada Township, Yangon, Myanmar; fax [+951] 391-015 or visit www.myanmartravel.net), so I e-mailed the company.

After discovering our interests, they planned a trip for us. It was 20 days to Myanmar and Cambodia for $5,390 plus $1,040 for the internal plane flights as well as those from Bangkok to Yangon and back and to/from Cambodia. We used frequent-flyer miles for our international flights from/to the U.S.

We had one guide, Tun, who flew everywhere with us in Myanmar. We would then pick up a driver and sometimes a local guide when required. In Cambodia we had local guides in Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. We had deluxe accommodations most places. Breakfast was included, but we were responsible for lunch and dinner.

This was truly one of our best trips ever. Myanmar Travel did an outstanding job planning our itinerary and providing us with a wonderful guide.

Thanks to the readers of ITN. You made great suggestions.

PRELLA McBRIDE
Lafayette, IN

From the May 2006 issue.

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