Suggested East Asian Destinations

East Asia

China
(1) Beijing is China's political and cultural power house. I hope you love pollution and have iron lungs. Wear a ultra grade air filter mask (3M makes some good ones I used during SARS) and check out the Forbidden Palace, Tiananmen Square, Great Wall of China, underground arts scene. To see counterfeiting in progress, visit Hong Qiao, the fake goods market (if it still exists). Don't even bother bringing back pirated DVDs since fines start at $10K per DVD if you're caught (stick w/ Netflix)! Just FYI, there are three qualities of fake goods: A, B and C "huo," (huo = stock). "A-hou" offers the best quality and may actually be the real thing. "C-hou" will obviously look fake with misspellings like "Kalvin Cline" or "Dorlex." In general, practice aggressive bargain shopping. Exercise the "walk away" where you state your bottom line price and walk away; the vendor will panic, grumble, complement your bargaining skills, and then accept your price. Note: This walk away technique does not work in Vietnam. I tried it but the vendor just let me walk away! Recommended stay: 4-5 days.

(2) Shanghai is mainland China's economic power house. Check out the Bund, China Communist Party's first office, Korea's interim government, Sun Yat Sen's house, and visit other cultural and art museums. Experience the Maglev bullet train if you're flying into Pudong Int'l Airport (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_levitation_train). Recommended stay: 3-5 days.

Hong Kong
(1) Perhaps the most beautiful skyline in the world! Take a boat ride, check out the mountain top visitor's center, and experience The Peninsula hotel! Recommended stay: 2 days.

Japan
(1) Tokyo is a must for any first time visitor! Visit Shinjuko, Shibuya (electronic city), Roppongi Hills (http://www.roppongihills.com/en/), temples, markets, and Yokohama!

(2) Hakone stop by for an amazing hot springs bath!

(3) Kyoto and her temples are inspiring. The Golden Temple is a must see. Get there: experience Japan's bullet train, the Shinkansen (http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2018.html)!

Taiwan
(1) Taipei is cheap, fun and cheerful! Check out the museums, Taipei 101, and night markets. I think they have the best night markets in all of Asia!! Try chou tofu--stinky tofu--it's like eating Dorian . . . mmmm! Recommended stay: 3-5 days.

Planning a trip to Asia? Must read tips.

AIR

• Air Passes sometimes offer a good deal.
• Cathay Pacific Air Pass: http://www.cathayusa.com/offers/AllAsiaPass/pricing.asp (Subscribe to their online news letter for an additional $200 discount)
• For a one-stop-shop for air passes visit: http://www.airtimetable.com/airpass_asia.htm. Read each offer and see if it pertains to your needs. There's a 50% discount on Air China within China if you fly on an Air China internationally.

• Frequent Flier Miles
• Book early and be flexible by choosing alternative cities.
• TIP: Get more bang out of your miles by using the free stop over option allowing you to fly to more cities for the same number of miles. For instance, I used United miles to fly from SFO-Shanghai (spent a few days there), then Shanghai-Singapore (where I spent another few days), then from Singapore-SFO. I got the extra flight from Shanghai to Singapore using the stop over option.
• You also get more bang for the buck by using miles to upgrade to business class with the purchase of a full priced economy ticket.
  
• Check airline websites for airline specific promotions:
• AirAsia: http://www.airasia.com/. Although I've never flew AirAsia, my friend flies it often and is very satisfied with their prices and service.
• Bangkok Airways: http://www.bangkokair.com/. Boutique discount airline based out of Thailand. As a safety nut, I usually fly Bangkok Airways in S.E. Asia because of their safe flying record and use of newer planes.
• Malaysian Airlines: http://www.malaysiaairlines.com/main_US.aspx. Terrific service, great safety record, and frequent on-line deals. Check out their Discover Asia pass.
• Silk Airlines: http://www.silkair.net/. Singapore Airline's discount carrier with an extensive network. Some good deals.
• Singapore Airlines: http://www.singaporeair.com/saa/en_UK/index.jsp. With service even other airlines talk about, I've seen excellent deals on their website.
• Thai Airways: http://www.thaiair.com/. Flying Thai is an experience in itself. The flights attendants change their uniforms several times in-flight and upon arrival--quite a fashion show. I'm waiting for Skytrax to rate Thai 5 stars.
• Tiger Airways: http://www.tigerairways.com/home/index.php. Never flew Tiger but it's apparently cheap and safe.

• My only other suggestion for flights is to stay away from Garuda Indonesia and RyanAir at all costs. Both are Indonesian airlines with dismal safety records.
  

HOTELS

• Bid for hotel rooms on http://www.priceline.com/. Select 5 star hotels & check the "recent winning bids" page on their website to improve your chances of bidding success. I've won some ridiculously low bids at amazing hotels. For example, I won a $55/night bid at the 5 star Intercontinetal Hotel in Bangkok.
  
• Stay in the Boddhi Tree/Del Gusto while in Phnom Penh, Cambodia: http://www.boddhitree.com/guesthouses.html. I lived in the Del Gusto, a restored 1935 French colonial mansion in Phnom Penh, for almost 3 months. The Boddhi Tree is directly across the Toul Sleng S-21 interrogation center used by Pol Pot during the Khmer Rouge. A room cost only $5/night back in 2004, but now it's nearly $12-50/night. While I was a guest, Wynonna Judd stopped by the restaurant during her world AIDS tour--not that I'm a fan or anything . . . I'm not! Both properties are owned by a Spaniard who offers his employees additional skills and language training.