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Southeast Asia Tours transports you to exotic lands...
"We had a great time in Vietnam and Cambodia. The itinerary was organized smoothly. The tour guides spoke very good English and they were always prompt and professional. I give them all five stars. The Royal Bay Inn in Siem Reap was really beautiful and beyond our expectations for a three star hotel. Our overnight on the Bai Tho junk boat in Halong Bay was my husband's favorite part of the trip. Our room was very clean and had a nice hot shower. The on board meals were very good. The Kingston Hotel in Saigon was exactly what we expected of a three star hotel, based on western standards. They served an excellent breakfast and we loved its central location. In Phu Quoc we both loved Chen La Resort. It was on a very isolated stretch of beach with spacious rooms overlooking the ocean, a beautiful terrace in every room, with open air bathtub. The hotel has a gorgeous infinity pool and hammocks and suspension beds on the beach. The service was excellent. After Chen La we stayed at La Veranda which is smaller, and which shares a beach with other hotels. We liked that it was in the middle of town. The service at La Veranda was also excellent and they gave us evening desserts. In summary, we had a great trip. Thank you very much for putting it all together. We would definitely contact you again, next time we go to Southeast Asia."
Wanli Kuang
"We had such a lovely trip, thank you so much for your help! We were very happy with our accommodations, our guides and our itinerary. We especially loved Luang Prabang. What a quaint, quiet, charming place! Laos was a breath of fresh air. We had no idea what to expect, but we loved everything. We REALLY enjoyed Hoi An. It was a perfect respite after Saigon. Our room at the Victoria was right on the beach and we loved the outdoor shower and other facilities. We also enjoyed the bike ride, especially seeing the adorable children at the school. We loved our guide, Quin (in Hue). He is such a gentlemen. He and Mango (in Hanoi) were our favorites. The Angkor temples blew us away and the floating villages are incredible. All your restaurant suggestions were good. We especially liked the Cargo Club in Hue, the Green Tangerine in Hanoi and the Italian restaurant at the Sofitel Metropole. We were impressed by your expertise and by the fact that you personally check out the hotels and other places that you recommend. Thank you again for helping us have a wonderfully memorable trip!"
Janet Bass
"Sharon and I had a wonderful time in Cambodia and Vietnam. Everything went very smoothly. The guides were always present and prompt, rooms were always ready, the meals were good (if a bit large!) and the excursions were fun and flexible. Thank you for setting it all up for us. Our guides were all very pleasant, helpful and knowledgeable - we were very satisfied and enjoyed the company of each of them. We were especially impressed with "Mango" in Hanoi. He helped us transition smoothly at the beginning of our trip (sitting down with us after check-in to go over a map, recommend activities and places to eat in our free time and helped us get our bearings in general). He was also great company - always jovial and willing to engage with us. The second guide who stood out for us was Khuvit in Siem Reap. He was extremely friendly and went beyond just the history of the temples, giving us a better understanding of people's lives in Cambodia, enriching our experience.
Overall, we had a great time and miss it already. Thank you again for all your help with this trip. We would definitely recommend your services to friends or family."
Andrew Dai
"Wow, what a trip! Every guide was knowledgeable about his or her area in history, where to go and what to eat. I loved them all. The drivers were excellent and were conscious of potholes and bumps. Hanoi's Sofitel Metropole was gorgeous. The private boat to Halong Bay was fascinating. My daughter and I enjoyed having dresses made in Hoi An, for $25 apiece in less than three hours. The Mekong Delta was amazing. Our tour to the magnificent Angkor Wat was magical. Words cannot describe the energy and visuals I experienced there. We can't thank Diane enough for this perfect trip! She provided superior service in delivering a truly memorable travel experience. I am impressed with the thorough planning, arrangement and execution of all trip details, which is what made this trip one of the easiest and most comfortable travel excursions I have ever been on. The attention to detail afforded me the comfort and ease of just sitting back and enjoying the experience."
Katie Coleman
"The trip was wonderful. Thanks sooo very much for arranging things, including last minute changes. We had the best time. The agents in Thailand were very organized and helpful. The Sheraton was great and the Belle Villa is awesome; I would recommend it to anyone. The tours were phenomenal. Thanks again. I will definitely be recommending you to everyone interested in going to Southeast Asia."
Nooshin Parhizkar
"Got home last night from an excellent trip. Your arrangements were flawless. We were very impressed with the on-ground agents; our three guides were all excellent, very knowledgeable, intelligent and pleasant. That made a huge difference to us. The new hotel at the Bangkok airport is extremely posh and it was a very good place to spend the night. The Maison Souvannaphoum Hotel in Luang Prabang was divine, with gorgeous grounds and lovely service. In fact, the highlight of our trip was Laos, since it is untouched, as yet, by the effects of globalization - no Starbucks, no one honked a single horn the whole time we were there. It was relaxed and welcoming. The elephant trip with the waterfall swimming was really lovely, especially bonding with an elephant up close. The day on the Mekong and the visit to the caves was restful and scenically beautiful. And, the alms-giving was personal and almost religious for us. The trip at Ha Long Bay, on our very own boat, was the highlight for food, since the chef was amazing, providing us with eight-course meals. So, thank you again for your help. We would be glad to serve as a reference, should you ever be asked for one."
Susan Kerman
"Thank you for the most incredible trip of our lives. I cannot express how much we enjoyed our time in Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. All in all, this trip would not have happened without you and I've been recommending you to everyone. Our tour guide in Hanoi, Yang, was phenomenal. He was, by far, the most pleasant and informative tour guide any of us had ever had. We loved the Galaxy Hotel and the day trip to Ha Long Bay was fantastic. We really enjoyed the hotel in Hue, as well as our tours there. The Cu Chi Tunnels tour was incredible. All in all, Vietnam was a remarkable experience and it was so well organized and easy. Our hotel in Cambodia was absolutely gorgeous. In addition, the staff was remarkable. One of us got sick and the entire staff took care of her. Our tour guide, Ket, was also fantastic. We loved our experience in Chiang Mai, but in general I think Phuket may have been too touristy for us.
I know it wasn't easy to meet all our constraints and to arrange seven people. You did a phenomenal job and we are all still reveling in what an amazing experience it was. I look forward to planning another trip with you in the near future."
Melody Ahdout
"We had a wonderful time in Myanmar thanks to your flawless arrangements. We enjoyed our hotels, tour guides and the overall experience of seeing for ourselves a society that doesn't hear much about the western world. A favorite was Inle Lake and the accommodations - we could have easily stayed there another couple of nights. We found Bagan exotic and mystical with the ancient stupas, et al. Thank you again for making this a smooth, seamless and memorable trip. All the best to you and we plan to stay in touch for future travel to Southeast Asia."
John Daly
"Just wanted to say thank you so much for organizing such a wonderful trip! Matt and I had a fantastic time in Vietnam and Phnom Penh and I, of course, had an amazing time in Siem Reap. Everything went so perfectly. It gave us the chance to really relax and enjoy ourselves"
Allison Putnam
"It was a perfect trip! Not a single problem, hotels were amazing, tour guides very nice, always on time... GREAT!!!
Augusto Restrepo
"Wow. That is our impression. We had such a wonderful time and the trip exceeded our expectations. I want to compliment the great guides we had throughout our trip. All of them were very nice, knowledgeable and flexible. The accommodations were perfect. Every hotel had a great staff and the rooms were beautiful. The food was really good, although we all agreed not to have rice for at least a month! My favorite meal was the one on the boat in Ha Long Bay. That day was one of my favorites and a perfect way to end the trip. We have been asked many times which part was our favorite and it is is impossible to decide. The part that had the most impact was Cambodia. I will never forget the Killing Fields and yet the beauty of Angkor Wat was impressive. It is hard to fathom the spectrum of magnificence and atrocity within a one hour plane ride. I want to thank you for a perfect trip."
Linda O'Connell
"The trip was flawless; every connection went smoothly and I was promptly met everywhere I went! One flight had a 15 minute delay to Mandalay, but that's nothing. I am still amazed at the nice treatment and food on the airlines beyond 'the west.' Lennie was a great guide and went out of his way on numerous occasions, such as arranging for me to meet a historian from Yangon University. The trip to Mrauk U was really wild with planes, car, a rickshaw, boats and a four-wheel jeep, but very much worth it. I was leery when we bought food at the markets and then ate it (cooked onboard the boat), but it was simple and delicious - no health problems. Where else can you buy 50+ tiger shrimp (the size of bananas) for about four dollars? The drivers, too, were terrific. My guide Ngyuen, in Mandalay, who I requested from my previous trip to Myanmar, was just as wonderful as before. I greated enjoyed that segment of the trip. I would have liked another day at the giant Buddha (400+ feet) between Monywa and Mandalay, as there was a lot to explore. In many places that we went, it seemed that cars were a rarity and I was of considerable interest to the locals!"
Morris Petty Jr.
"I was browsing the September issue of Travel + Leisure magazine and was very happy to see your name on their Travel Experts A-List. It is a well-deserved recognition. My family and I can give testimony as to how good a travel agent you are. I have to confess that when I found you over the internet, I was a little bit skeptical at the beginning. Our first trip with you, to Bali, turned out to be one of the most wonderful experiences of our lives. The several trips you've prepared for us exceeded our expectations and made us change our perception of the Southeast Asia region. Thanks again, and I will definitely recommend you to other people."
Vanessa Irlanda
"I just wanted to say thank you so much for putting together a wonderful trip on such short notice. It was my first time to Asia and I know that I will definitely be going back. The accommodations were great. The hotels were clean, personnel were great, especially in Cambodia where the staff at the Victoria Hotel were especially welcoming and thoughtful. The Sofitel in Chiang Mai was really luxurious. The locations were also great. Thank you for your selections. I appreciated the fact that we had a tour guide to ourselves and were not part of a tour group. It gave us some flexibility in deciding what we wanted to do. The Cambodian guide, Bunritt, was the most knowledgeable of them all. I also liked the little details such as the cool towels when we got back into the cars, the cold water, etc. The drivers should also be thanked because we felt safe with their driving. Overall, I had a fantastic time! It was great seeing all those temples, getting an insight into Buddhism, seeing all those ancient civilizations and being humbled about waht we take for granted. It is amazing what similarities people all over the world have, despite the distances. Thank you very much for all your help and conscientiousness!!"
Vivian Kigozi
"As to Vietnam and Cambodia, I love both of them, especially Vietnam. It's hard to describe what I like about it, because I like everything! One of the things I like best about travel is being somewhere that is uniquely itself, so that you know you're not in some familiar place, but in a place that is a wholly new experience. Vietnam definitely fits that description for me. It has a very old culture that, although influenced by other cultures, is very much its own. Many parts of the country are really beautiful, and I love the temples, tombs and other monuments. The best thing may be the people and the cost. The people are very welcoming and friendly. I like really nice hotels and there are very nice luxury hotels in Vietnam with prices that are way less than you pay in Europe and even in much of South America. I could spend days in Hanoi. Ha Long Bay is well worth the trip. Sapa is really fascinating with the minority tribes. The Victoria Sapa Hotel was lovely and it had the best pastry chef I've every encountered. I loved Hue on both my trips to Vietnam. I think Hue is a must. Hoi An town is completely charming and the Cham Museum in Danang, on the way to Hoi An, is definitely a highlight. We spent three nights and three plus days in the Mekong Delta and I could definitely have spent more time. The floating markets are not to be missed. You can probably tell that I love Vietnam."
Susan Henrichsen
"I cannot thank you enought for all you did in making our arrangements for Vietnam. Everything was terrific! Barry and I think it was one of our best trips and we look forward to returning to Asia (and call you for help when we go). Vietnam is beautiful and the people are so warm and friendly."
Rhonda Ladendor
"Thailand and Cambodia were wonderful. Your representatives are organized and efficient. The guides and drivers were terrific. Dum, our Bangkok guide, was particularly outstanding. He picked up on our special interests and went out of his way to see that they were addressed. My favorite hotel was probably the Belle Villa in Pai. Marion and I were constantly amazed at the quality of the trip. Each day seemed to be better than the last. It is impossible to name a highlight. Both of the cooking classes were outstanding. Those ice cold towels and ice cold bottles of water are inspired! You thought of everything. I couldn't have been more impressed or pleased. Thank you so much for making my first Asian experience such a pleasurable one."
Suzanne Smith
"We had a wonderful time on the trip. Everything went smoothly. Special kudos to the following guides: Sky in Bangkok, Vong in Luang Prabang and Savy in Siem Reap. They were great. The food in the Hotel De La Paix is fabulous. The view from the Sheraton in Bangkok was terrific. All the hotels were very nice with good locations and each had a special feature. The water trips, rafting in Chiang Mai, the boat trip back to Bangkok from Ayutthaya, the boat trip to Pak Ou caves in Luang Prabang and the boat trip to the nature preserve on Ton Le Sap Lake were really nice breaks from the temple visits. At the elephant camp in Chiang Mai, there was a one year old baby that we got to feed. That was loads of fun. And, of course, Angkor Wat and the other ruins were jaw-droppingly splendid. Thanks again for your special attention to the finer details."
Casey Dowell
"I'm writing to let you know how much I enjoyed the trip to Vietnam and Cambodia. I also enjoyed the Singapore stopover, and achieved my goal of being well-rested when I reached Hanoi. All of the hotels were pleasant, with special kudos to the Victoria Hoi An and Sofitel in Siem Reap. The guides and drivers were prompt and very professional. I especially appreciated Kien in Hanoi, Sang in Siem Reap and Paul in Phnom Penh. Shirley and I both were really glad we decided to include Phnom Penh in our trip. Bottom line: Thank you very much for your work in making this a really memorable trip. It was wonderful to know everything was pre-arranged and everything would go according to plan. One more comment on the capitol of Cambodia; the National Museum is a do-not-miss."
Karen Walter
"Thank you for the wonderful trip you planned. We all had a great time visiting all the interesting sights. I think Cambodia had to be the highlight for Bob and me. the way the people live down near the lake, and the temples, were spectacular sights. We had been to Bangkok 25 years ago, but the changes were quite interesting. We still enjoyed the temples and palaces as much as the first time. The floating market was more of a tourist trap than any of us expected, but still enjoyable. The Tiger Temple was not what any of us expected, but we thought it was a great experience. The dinner and show at the Oriental Hotel was excellent. Hanoi was so different from Saigon. There were interesting things to see everywhere we went. The Citadel and Royal Tombs in Hue were very nice. The ride to Ha Long Bay was very long, but I wouldn't have wanted to miss the formations and the caves. Hoi An was a cute little city and we enjoyed the hotel, spa and beach very much. We enjoyed our visit to the Cu Chi Tunnels and the Mekong Delta a lot. All in all, it was a wonderful time. The hotels were excellent, the days were exciting and the time flew by. The guides were all very knowledgeable and eager to please. In fact, all the people we ran into, on the streets, in the hotels, in the spas or at the sites and stores were all very caring and helpful. Thank you for all your hard work!"
Carla Garfield
"It was a grand adventure. Ha, our guide in Hanoi, was incredible. Thoa, our guide in Saigon, was also great. Thank you so much for working with us to get this done. This trip way exceeded my expectations."
Doug Johnson
"Amazing. Absolutely amazing. The trip was everything we hoped it would be; the perfect mix of culture, urban adventure, rural exploration and sun-drenched beaches. Thanks so much for all of your work on our behalf. Here are a few thoughts that might help future travelers on their Thailand excursion: The Tiger Temple was truly spectacular and should be a "must on any traveler's to-do list. The Belle Villas in Pai were similarly grand, with unmatched service. Kata Country House in Phuket was superb, but visitors MUST upgrade their rooms to deluxe or superior. The tour guides were, by and large, excellent - especially Ae out of Bangkok. The River Kwai Jungle Rafts were an epic experience - no electricity and in the middle of nowhere, they were exotic and authentic. CH Hotel in Chiang Mai was great. Imperial Tara in Mae Hong Son was also good. Overall we had the trip of a lifetime. Thanks so much!
Josh J.
"We had a great time in Cambodia. A little hotter than I was used to, but the temples were pretty amazing. Everything went smoothly from the pick-up to the drop-off. The hotel was quite nice - a lot better than what I've been used to. It was weird having the doors opened and the luggage carried for me. The provided meals were great - again, better than what I would normally eat (lol). All in all, I thought the package was a great value."
Dennis Lee
"As you could probably tell from our blog, we had an amazing time. One thing that we can't praise enough is the Borei Angkor Hotel in Siem Reap. It was beautiful, the food was delicious, the staff was wonderful and we wish that we could fly there for long weekend getaways. We still can't believe that it is over. Thanks again for all your help. We'll be in touch soon."
Steve & Ginger Tessier
"Debra and I truly enjoyed the trip. The Metropole was outstanding. Our guide, Soai, was a great guy and very helpful. A nice surprise was the Novotel in Ha Long. I did not expect much, but it was so good that we did not leave the hotel, and ate a great meal there for dinner. The Perfume Pagoda was my favorite for exotic scenery and a peaceful boat ride. We were glad not to have overextended ourselves by going too far from Hanoi. Our itinerary was perfect for seven days. Thanks for setting us up. It would have been way too hard to do this without your help."
Bernard Shell
"The trip was fabulous! Have many stories to share, but the bottom line is that it exceeded our expectations. I treasure that trip. I found you and your staff to be very professional and most of the guides were outstanding."
Sheila Antrum
"We had a wonderful time. The trip was great and all thanks to you. Brooke and I love Thailand. My father, shockingly, loved Cambodia! He had a fantastic time there. Thank you so much."
Nilofar Firooznia
"The trip went really smoothly and all went according to plan. All of our guides were waiting for us when we arrived, the hotels were all nice and, to put it in a few words, we had a fantastic time. My personal favorite was Ha Long Bay. The was really a special part of the trip. Thank you for putting together a nice package for us, as always."
Ed Segall
"Meals, hotels, tours, Perfume Pagoda, old quarter Hanoi, history, people, food and so much more...all really fabulous. Ended with a late drink at the Metropole last night, after rambling through the Old Quarter for hours. So glad we made the trip. Exciting. Insane. Inspiring. Enlightening."
Debra Balamos
"I had the best experience in Cambodia. The hotel staff made all the difference. Friendly, hospitable, always had smiles on their faces and very personable. It's been the best hotel staff I've ever had the pleasure to experience in all my stays abroad. The guide, Bunrith, was also very knowledgeable, made sure we were taken care of with water, umbrellas and cool towels. The hotel in Chiang Mai was very beautifully decorated all around. It has a Balinese feel to it, very relaxing. We are looking forward to going back on many more trips!"
Adriana Paez
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