Deciding best place to go in August - would love help!

[kboojd]

cruisinred wrote:

...

Here are a few suggestions for top places to stay in the countries you mentioned:



Bangkok- The Pensinsula and the Oriental

Koh Samui- Four Seasons, Evason Hideaway

Laos (Luang Prabang)- Maison Souvannaphoum or La Residence Phou Vao

Hanoi Vietnam - Sofitel Metropole

Nha Trang Vietnam- Evason Hideaway

Siem Reap (Angkor Wat) Cambodia- Hotel de la Paix, Amansara

On our trip to Thailand we stayed at the Peninsula in Bangkok and at the Evason Hideaway at Koh Samui. The Evason Hideaway was a LL package and boasted one of the most romantic restaurants I have ever visited (and the food was delicious, too). The package was amazingly cheap for what we got. I would recommend them highly. We actually used AMEX points for the Peninsula. What a deal.

[jashermd]

Hello,

So...have you decided where you're headed in August?

Cheers,
Julian

[claassenam]

Julian, cruisinred and others,

The information and insight you've given me has been incredible - please keep it coming if you think of anything else! As you all know, part of the fun of travel is the travel planning and anticipation in advance, so I'm rather savoring this array of choices for our last big trip (for a little while, at least )

South Africa/Botswana are a top choice as is a combination of Thailand/Cambodia/Laos and perhaps Myanmar. Orient Express has wonderful-sounding trips within each (I'm especially interested in their train,cruise and hotel options in Southeast Asia) and I've taken a look at CCAfrica's trips, which also look excellent. Of course, I'd most like to book through LL so keeping an eye out for special offers, I could pick and choose a few different offers for each trip.

I probably won't have a final answer until March due to schedule and budget considerations so I'll keep in touch and let everyone know what we decide! In the meantime, I am greatly enjoying the conversation and possibilities....

[jashermd]

Hi Claas,

If you haven't seen it already, take a look at SafariASAP, CCAfrica's special offers site (http://www.safariasap.com). They often have packages which are very good value, and they have auctions as well. Some of the packages are obviously aimed at locals as they're for travel within the next few weeks, but others have longer validity periods which may be helpful to you. IMO the packages which actually feature CCA properties offer the best value for money, as some of the others are not quite as luxurious and won't have CCA's top-level guides.

I've travelled extensively with CCA (in South Africa and Tanzania) and I can say from experience that they are a first-class operation. I've stayed at a large number of their camps as well so if you have questions about specific properties please let me know.

Cheers,
Julian

[claassenam]

Thanks! As I get closer to making firmer plans, booking lodges, etc. I would really like your advice on Africa. Thanks for the link.

[jashermd]

Hi Claas,

No problem -- just PM me or post to the 'Going on Safari' thread which I have 'stuck' to the top of the threads of this board in my preferences.

One thing that you might want to keep in mind is that the time-frame for booking safari camps in Botswana is quite different to the time frame for booking most trips. Many of the camps in Botswana are very small and exclusive, and tend to book up over a year in advance -- booking in March for August of this year would be considered a 'last-minute' booking. It's not impossible, but it does mean that you may not have the widest choice of camps and that your itinerary may need to be rearranged around what's available. The more flexible you can be (e.g. if you can do any time in August rather than having to travel in a particular week) the wider your selection of camps will be.

The time-frame in South Africa is not quite so bad -- booking in March for August should still give you a good selection of camps. The one exception is Singita, which does tend to book up very early.

Cheers,
Julian

[claassenam]

Thanks for the heads up Julian - I was afraid of losing out on availability, but this may make our decision in March easier if everywhere we want to go in Africa is already booked. Is August high season? What months have you travelled to So. Africa/Botswana?

[jashermd]

Hi Claas,

I've travelled in June, July, August, and September on various trips. My favourite time is mid-July to mid-August as I don't really like really hot weather, and spend time in both countries on my trips.

High season in Botswana starts around mid-June and runs through the end of October. This is the best time to go for game-viewing as it's the dry winter season; the animals gather round the permanent water sources and the bush thins out, making it easier to see the. During that time, the best period IMO is between the end of July and around mid-September (much later and the heat gets pretty unbearable, whereas June can be pretty chilly).

In South Africa, June-September is low season, especially in the Cape where it's rainy (the Cape is the only part of Southern Africa with a wet winter). You can sometimes get good deals at the lodges at this time, and availability should still be reasonable if you book in March as long as you don't insist on Singita.

If you really want Botswana, I'd definitely give it a try and see what's available -- you might be surprised. People do cancel their trips, as there have been a few times where I got into my camp of choice off the wait-list.

Cheers,
Julian

[obrienkf]

August in Africa is ideal. i was fortunate to live three years in Kenya, and spent countless hours and 'weekends' scooting off to some one in a lifetime destination. One of the most competent luxury safari companies is the Cheli & Peacock group. They have small luxury tented camps in Amboseli, in the Mara, coastal properties, and in Lakipia (in the northern range of Kenya).



They are not yet LL properties, but I'll contact the owners, old friends of mine, and try to convince them to work with the community.



The other great and highly competent group are the Interpid / Explorers, Governors,or the Lonrho group. As well, you should look at Exclusive properties, who have divine facilities in the Galana river (in Tsavo), in Zanzibar, and at Diani Beach....



google Tortilis Camp. start there. or Exclusive Properties.



this is one of the biggest 'gaps' in LL. I'll bug some of my old Kenya friends, and see whether they think this makes sense. I think it does.



Now, if you are thinking of a safari, my own silly view, you must decide first what of the big five game you really want to see. The big five are: lion, elephant, cape buffalo, leopard and rhino. There are smaller five, cheetah, giraffe, hippo, zebraand evidently1 other that I cannot recall. But decide. And then, go where you have a chance to see them. Elephants, cape buffalo, cheetah, and lion in Amboseli (plus the added bonus of Kilimanjaro). Stay in Tortilis. No place else. you will not be disappointed. There are no rhino in Amboseli, the last one was relocated decades ago to save him from a trophy hunt. You can also see ostrich, flamingo, secretary birds, zebra,eagles, hippo and hyena. Galore.



Rhino.... alittle more difficult. Rhino are still wisely shy beasts. You can see them in the Mara, along with lions everywhere, zebra and wildebeast. You can also see crocodile in the Mara, and that is something overwhelming. And if you want 'coastal white beach, and relax', head to Diani. Diani Beach is a perfect setting, 10 km south of Mombasa, and there is really nothing like it.



if the LL monitor is watching the 'postings', I am sure that you can contact me, and i'll try to convince hotelliers in Kenya to join the community. These are good properties. And they likely know nothing about the LL web......



kind regards.

[jashermd]

Hello,

Nice to see another Africaphile on the board!

If you want to see rhino (and have close encounters with leopard), one of the best places to go is the Sabi Sands in South Africa, where both are very relaxed with vehicles and you can drive off-road to track them. I've seen a 'crash' of rhino including a small calf drinking from a waterhole a stone's throw away, and been close enough to leopard cubs to reach out and touch them.

Cheers,
Julian