Travel Review: Family Tour of Thailand, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia & Myanmar, Yangon, Bangkok, Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, Halong Bay

Our search began, as with most, jumping around on various internet sites looking to establish travel on a unique tour of Southeast Asia.  Our goal, for a two week trip (14 days) for our family of three, was to experience Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and Myanmar.

Currently living in Singapore, we have friends and coworkers who suggested some "areas" of the region and specific locations and sites that were defined as a "must see".  Along with those suggestions very often they included the comments on how beautiful, peaceful, and friendly this area of the world truly is.  In a word, "GO", and experience all that Southeast Asia has to offer and you will not be disappointed.

Our online research brought us to Zicasso, where we outlined at a very high level our goals of selected countries, types of experiences, hotel grade, type of room, and special accommodations related to allergies.  It was at this point and time that we were connected with our travel agency to begin constructing our tailor made tour. 

Almost immediately, our agent was at our tailored need in guiding us and helping us craft our itinerary.  We found this travel agency to be extremely responsive and flexible, as well as, offering counsel and input.  At first glance, our travel goals for the two weeks appeared a bit aggressive, and as our travel agency began constructing a sample itinerary they asked us to review it closely to be sure we were going to be comfortable with the pace and travel that was to be required.

The process actually began with a phone call, basically an interview to understand our families' goals, needs, and desires for our hopeful experiences.  Ongoing communication took place via email, with extremely quick responses to our questions or requests for additional understanding as we continued to do our online research of the region and awaited our proposed itinerary and cost.

We remember receiving the itinerary, and the excitement for the potential of what we were about to embark on immediately jumped out of the pages.  The itinerary was very detailed indicating what would be taking place Day 1 thru Day 14.  Our private tour included a personal guide for each location and a personal driver and van at each location as well.  It listed their recommendation for the 4 - 5 star hotel at each destination and how and where we would be greeted upon arrival. 

This last little component is one, as we actually traveled, we really came to appreciate.  Our trip essentially included 8 flights over the 14 days.  We arranged our travel to/from Singapore, our travel agency arranged all the other remaining transportation and flights.  The travel agency had a representative meeting us as we got off the plane.  In Vietnam for example, we just sat back as they managed and processed the express visa service, guided us through immigration and customs, assisted us in our bag collection, and then introduced us to our guide and driver as we headed to the hotel.

This experience was repeated as we arrived in Laos from Vietnam, in Cambodia from Laos, in Thailand from Cambodia, in Myanmar from Cambodia, and within Myanmar as we flew from Mandalay to Bagan, then flew from Bagan to Yangon.  In part, this part of the travel arrangements constructed by this travel agency removed what could have been a very stressful component of the trip and had us relaxed, as we watched other travelers standing in long lines or trying to understand what was required to pass into country.

Speaking of potential stress, in the past, we would manage all the travel arrangements ourselves.  We would construct the itinerary, including locations and sites, schedule in meals, manage local transportation, and try to take it all in at the same time.  Managing all of that takes away from the experience, adds stress, and if you need flexibility you are not prepared to adjust or understand how.  Our travel agency made all of that disappear and we simply got to sit back (ok, lots of walking and climbing, not exactly sitting back at a beach) and enjoy our trip.  Here is where we became impressed.  Our guides and drivers at each location were simply amazing.  How friendly and gracious they were, they became part of the experience.  We just didn't walk up a temple, we didn't simply see the sunrise at Angkor Watt, we heard and understood the history of what we were witnessing at each location.  The guides were incredibly knowledgeable.................and observant.  Without them, the trip's experience would have simply been reduced by 50% in appreciation and understanding. 

We happened to travel from the end of June through the beginning of July.  This isn't exactly prime tour season for these destinations (usually Oct - Mar).  However, our family believes this made the experience that much more enjoyable.  The guides and drivers were thanking us for our patronage and for visiting and everyone we engaged was so polite.  This leads us right into the staff at each of the hotels.  As we came and went on our daily tours and returned in the late afternoon or early evening, we felt as though we were being welcomed home.  Often a cool drink, cool towel to refresh ourselves, and assistance greeted us each and every time.  Always this came with a smile and a thank you.  The people made our experience memorable and our travel agency put all of this together for our family.

Just when you think that the travel agency's personal touch couldn't get any better, our agent took the opportunity during our trip to actually meet us at the hotel while we were in Vietnam.  Ensured we had all the personal contact information necessary for each contact at each location, as well as, his own personal contact information.  He then presented out family with a small gift of appreciation.  Nice job and well done.  This was our first experience using both Zicasso and this travel agency and we were incredibly impressed.