London to Oz Via???? - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

Chocolaty Claire · 09-20-2005, 05:02 AM

I cant go all the way to Oz and not take advantage of taking a few days out somewhere en-route. However I'm a lone female first-time traveller!

Where do you think would be a good and safe stop over for a few days on my way to Oz?

The options so far are:
Hong Kong
Singapore
Dubai

**omisan** · 09-20-2005, 10:49 AM

Sucks that those stopover points are some of the most ridiculously expensive cities in the world, huh? It really depends what you want/like. I haven't been, but a lot of my family and co-workers have given me tons of info on the places.

Dubai is one of the few cities where a westerner can walk around with no hassles in the Middle East, as it's a huge hub of trade and... SHOPPING. Of course, the shopping there is beyond high street, but the sheer opulence of the place can be fascinating. UAE is a small country, but has its sights set on having the biggest everything: Biggest hotel, biggest golf course, biggest über-upscale shopping complex, etc. Not my ideal destination, but one I've definitely chalked up as "must visit."

Hong Kong is, well, Hong Kong. It's everything you see on TV - crowded, fast-paced, and to many people overwhelming. My boss and some friends lived there for years and loved it, whereas some friends of mine were appalled by the crowding and rush-rush-rush atmosphere. I'm sure we have some TPunks who've visited there that can give you a portrayal of what it'd be like to stop over there.

Of the three, Singapore's probably my dream destination. Despite the whole anally-retentive-clean thing (i.e. spitting is illegal), every Singaporean I've ever met has been amazingly friendly, easy-going, and just plain NICE. The whole always-wearing-black-business-suits-in-99%-humidity work mentality scares me a bit, but there's something about the culture that I've always been fascinated with.

Also, you can consider flying to Oz via Singapore means you're probably on Singapore Airlines, which is supposed to be one of the best in the world. Then again, the Dubai route from Emirates is supposed to be pretty damn amazing as well. I heard the new London-Hong Kong-Sydney route on Virgin is nice, if only more cramped than the others. You might want to take those into consideration since it's such a loooooong trip!

**worldwidemike** · 09-21-2005, 04:00 AM

Having been to Hong Kong and Dubai, I'd recommend both. They are unique cities in their own right, and yet share a similar birth and growth through trade. Check out my travelogs on my trips there (website link below), for more impressions. I haven't been to Singapore, though a friend did recently.

Other ideas for stopovers:
Bangkok
KL in Malaysia

Good luck, and let us know which one you pick!

worldwidemike

Chocolaty Claire · 09-22-2005, 04:18 AM

Cheers guys your info is greatly apreciated!!

Theres a good chance I'll be going via Singapore, as a friend of mine said she felt completely at home and safe walking the streets on her own.. (not to mention how great the shopping was

!!!)

**urOZm8** · 09-23-2005, 07:57 AM

I've completed stopovers in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Travelling in Singapore is as easy as it comes! The city is crime free, there is less traffic than other Asian cities and English is the national language. The shopping is phenomenal (open until midnight every night) and it's a 'foodies' paradise! The only problem is the price of booze!

Bangkok might be a bit much for a first traveller but I think that KL is a good mix between these two cities. I definitely want to do the stopover in Dubai next, it just seems such a mysterious location plus I would love to hit up the desert!

ev

Alex · 09-23-2005, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by urOZm8@Sep 24 2005, 12:57 AM
I've completed stopovers in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.* Travelling in Singapore is as easy as it comes! The city is crime free, there is less traffic than other Asian cities and English is the national language.* The shopping is phenomenal (open until midnight every night) and it's a 'foodies' paradise!* The only problem is the price of booze!

Bangkok might be a bit much for a first traveller but I think that KL is a good mix between these two cities.* I definitely want to do the stopover in Dubai next, it just seems such a mysterious location plus I would love to hit up the desert!

ev

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I have travelled to Hong kong before and i can also vouch for it being very safe, even though i was on a family holiday i did not feel uncomfortable at all. It has great shopping for cheap perfume/cologne and clothes as well if you can get out to the markets. I would really like to go to singapore for a stopover on my trip to europe though but either KL, singapore or hong kong will be a great visit for you

you cant go wrong