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Thursday, October 25 - November 11, 2007
Singapore Extension November 10 -14, 2007
Trip Cost: $4,995*/ person (extension $695*/ per person)
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This fantastic trip is the direct result of an ongoing effort to spoil you as much as possible. Just how much, you ask? Well, for openers, we’ll span the continents on Singapore Air, considered the best airline in the world. We’ll arrive in Bangkok and check into the Peninsula, which just happens to have been voted the best hotel in the world last year, and the best hotel in Asia six years running. That’s only the beginning, but it sets the tone for the entire trip, which will be about as first class as you can get. The itinerary itself is very leisurely, with no early morning departures from the beginning of the trip to the very end, with enough time to hang out by the pool, get the works in one of the world class spas at your whim, or just to shop yourself silly.
What all will I see, you ask? A lot! From the bustling streets and waterways of Bangkok to the ancient, jungle covered temples of Cambodia and the scooter infested boulevards of Hanoi to the majestic beauty of Halong Bay and the tranquility of the royal tombs in the beautiful hills of the Central Highlands, you will walk away with an experience which very few people on this planet can even dream of. And that’s more of an understatement than an exaggeration.
In Bangkok, you will see the Grand Palace with its gleaming gold domes, fanciful statues and colorful decorations, which to a lot of people seem to define
Thailand. But zooming down the narrow canals on a boat straight from the James Bond movie, bargaining at the floating market or taking in the local
flavor at the night market is just as much a part of Bangkok as the reclining Buddha or the royal barges. When done touring, just hop the Peninsula’s water taxi and explore the town on your own. You won’t be bored, I can promise you that!
After three nights at the Peninsula, we’ll fly to Chiang Mai, in the north of Thailand, for a complete change of scenery. The stylistic influences of Burma
are readily visible in the architecture of the temples, and the surrounding mountains let your imagination wonder, picturing the hill tribes, the elephant camps and the opium trade routes. But you will do more than imagine, as we’ll spend a day visiting a hill tribe village and see the training of elephants, formerly
used for logging. Then on for an elephant ride through the lush countryside, and after lunch, take a very serene ride down the river on a bamboo raft.
After two nights at our most charming accommodations in the Yaang Come Village, we’ll be off to Siam Reap, Cambodia. Guaranteed to be nothing like you expected! The Sofitel Royal Angkor will be our home for the next three nights. From here, we’ll explore the majesty of Angkor Wat (a UNESCO World Heritage site), the mystery of the jungle temple, the fortified royal city, the Terrace of Elephants and other incredible sites which seem to come to life as if from one of your childhood adventure novels. Than back to the present, touring the Great Lake and one of the floating villages, where whole communities spend their entire lives on their boats.
The next stop will take us across the border, via Saigon into Hue, Vietnam. Here, you will marvel at the royal palaces and tombs, forgotten by time and bypassed by mass tourism and glitzy “restorations”. All this in a lush, hilly countryside, making for some of the most serene and picturesque scenery. The Imperial Hotel (best in town, of course) will make for a wonderful home base for a couple of nights, before moving on to Hanoi.
The city of Hanoi is a wonderful blend of Asia and French colonial flavor, exemplified by the wide, tree lined boulevards packed with motorcycle traffic - gone are the bicycles of yesteryear. The European architecture and the dizzying commerce of Asia give the city a very unique flavor. The Sofitel Metropole, our last home-away-from-home for four nights is a prime example of the old, colonial Hanoi. Yet, you are surrounded by the fruits of the newly found and firmly embraced free-market economy. This cultural synergy is also reflected in the cuisine, which you will have an opportunity to sample in the surrounding restaurants and cafes.
We will not only tour the city, but also embark on some very memorable day trips. One of them will take us to Halong Bay (another UNESCO World Heritage site) for a cruise on a local junk, explore the caves, and to take in this incredible natural beauty. Another day, we will take a rowboat ride to the Perfume Pagoda and other Buddhist temples on the side of the mountain and in the local caves.
All these experiences are so very hard to cover in words, as they lie outside the realm of our present experiences. Perhaps you can get a better feel for
for what this trip will bring into your life by looking at some of the pictures from the very places you will be visiting. I hope that they capture not only the
places, but also your minds and your hearts. Click links for photos from the scout trip of Thaliand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Singapore .
TRIP INCLUDES:
A pre-trip party; all air and ground transportation costs, including current taxes; tips for all guides, drivers, and local services; private guides for the entire
trip, entrance fees to historical sites and museums; all lodging accommodations; daily breakfast; many lunches and dinners, including our special welcome and farewell banquets; free admission to Springfest
2008, and a guaranteed experience of a lifetime.
TRIP PRICING:
$4,995 per person, double occupancy
$3,970 double occupancy, if providing your own air
$6,655 single occupancy
$5,630 single occupancy, if providing your own air
$1,500 deposit due at time if signing up for trip
$2,500 sec. payment (w. adjustments) by June 15, 2007
$ 995 balance due before August 1, 2007
All prices quoted with a cash/check discount; if paying by credit card, 3% will be added by vendor.
TRIP REQUIREMENTS:
Current Miami Ski Club membership Completely filled out and signed:
MSC Trip Application form and the Supplemental Terms and Conditions form
Forms will be available at the sign-up. If renewing membership at the same time, membership dues must be paid by a separate check. As always, trip insurance is strongly advised.
VISAS:
Visas will be obtained in each country on arrival, visa fees and departure taxes to be published prior to trip.
TRIP OPENING:
7 PM sharp, Friday, April 20 at our happy hour at
the Gnu Lounge (formerly the Bice Bar) in the
Grand Bay Hotel, 2669 South Bayshore Drive,
Coconut Grove, phone (305) 858-9600. No applications
or deposits will be accepted before this time.
OVERSEAS AIR:
Trip departs from and returns to Miami,via American Airlines and Singapore Airlines. Air for alternate cities can be arranged, and may carry additional costs.
Prices quoted with current taxes, which may increase by time of ticketing. Any additional taxes (if any) will be the responsibility of each traveler.
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Oct. 25
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2:55 PM: American Airlines #902 MIA to NY Arrive 5:55 PM |
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9:20 PM: Singapore Airlines # 25 to Singapore Arrive 6:30 AM |
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Oct. 27
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8:45 AM: Singapore Airlines # 970 to Bangkok Arrive 10:10 AM |
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| Oct. 30 |
10:30 AM Thai Airlines #104 to Chiang Mai Arrive 11:40 AM |
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| Nov. 1 |
7:30 AM Thai Airlines #125 to Bangkok Arrive 8:40 AM |
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11:35 AM Bangkok Airways #905 to Siem Reap Arrive 12:35 PM |
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| Nov. 4 |
1:30 PM Vietnam Airlines #826 to Saigon Arrive 2:30 PM |
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6:40 PM Vietnam Ailines #254 to Hue, Vietnam Arrive 8:00 PM |
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| Nov. 6 |
1:50 PM Vietnam Airlines #244 to Hanoi Arrive 3:00 PM |
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Nov. 10
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1:30 PM Singapore Airlines # 175 to Singapore Arrive 5:50 PM |
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11:55 PM Singapore Airlines #26 to New York Arrive 11:00 AM |
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| Nov 11 |
3:30 PM American Airlines #585 to Miami Arrive 6:45 PM |
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With Extension: |
Nov. 10
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1:30 PM Singapore Airlines #175 to Singapore Arrive 5:55 PM |
Nov. 13
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11:55 PM Singapore Airlines #26 to New York Arrive 11:00 AM |
Nov. 14
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3:35 PM American Airlines #585 to Miami Arrive 6:45 PM |
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 Print New Flight Schedule |
SINGAPORE EXTENSION:
This three day, three night extension is an incredible finish to an already fantastic trip. Singapore is an unbelievably vibrant city, with the most ethnic diversity of any place on earth. Geographically positioned as a hub to Indonesia,
Malaysia, Asia and India, it is a center of commerce and finance, as well as the
busiest shipping port in the world. All this superimposed over the quaint British
colonial past, and the combination is absolutely fascinating. Even though
many languages and dialects are spoken here, English is the common language, which gives you a certain feeling of comfort and familiarity right from the very start.
But there is a lot more to Singapore. It is an incredibly well planned city with diverse architecture, lush landscaping and more picture opportunities than you can imagine. True to its reputation, it is also an impeccably clean, safe and well maintained city, where you can easily get around and enjoy all the things it has to offer.
As soon as you arrive from Hanoi, you’ll be amazed at what I rate as the best airport in the world. From there, straight to the Intercontinental Hotel in the heart of the city, central to everything you could want - shopping, restaurants, the subway and only a few blocks to the waterfront.
Next morning, we will start with a tour to give you an excellent overview of the city
and its history, while using all possible means of transportation, from boat to
trishaws. Starting with the Raffles landing site, you will see the financial center, the river front, the Arab quarter, Little India and Chinatown. We will end our tour with a fabulous lunch at the historic Raffles Hotel. After a little rest back at the hotel, we’ll head off to the night ZOO, which is a must-see.
The second day is all on your own to explore, shop, eat and relax, and so will be the following morning. On our last day, we’ll take a ride up to the top of Mt. Faber, hop a cable car and take a ride to Sentosa Island (passing through the top floors of a high-rise on the way). Here you can explore the fort with a nice museum which gives an outstanding overview of Singapore’s history, see the Underwater World, walk through the lush parks, or just hang out at the beach. Then before finally heading home, stop off for a fabulous dinner, to top off this adventure.
The extension trip is heavily subsidized by Singapore Air, which is why the cost is higher if you are providing your own overseas air.
EXTENSION PRICING:
WITH FULL TRIP PACKAGE:
$695 per person, double occupancy
$960 per person, single occupancy
IF PROVIDING YOUR OWN AIR:
$975 per person, double occupancy
$1,195 per person, single occupancy
All prices quoted with a cash/check discount; if paying by credit card, 3% will be added by vendor.
EXTENSION INCLUDES:
Airport transfers, three nights at the Intercontinental Hotel, two days of touring with private guide(s), entrance fees and admissions to attractions, transportation costs a fabulous lunch at the Raffles Hotel and a superb dinner on your last day |
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