1 Mailbag Monday: March 29, 2010

I saw that you went to Ayer's Rock. We are currently planning our Australia trip, and aren't sure if it's worth it to travel all the way out to see that. What did you think? Any suggestions?

-Bob C., Vagabond3.com

We really do highly recommend Ayer's Rock. It was hands down the favorite thing we did in Australia. Sydney and Melbourne are cool cities, but honestly are very similar to America. Ayer's Rock is not only a beautiful area of the country, but really rich in culture and history too. We're not usually big fans of organized tours but would recommend one for this so you get the most out of your trip--learning about the aboriginal significance of the sights makes you appreciate it so much more. We did a 3 day, 2 night trip with The Rock company that was really awesome. Camped out in swag every night under the stars. You will never see as many stars anywhere as you will in the Outback.

We're headed to Thailand soon and want to head south to the beaches to relax for a few days and take in the beach scene. And also make a trip to Phi Phi Island. Do you prefer Krabi or Phuket?

-Jean R.

We definitely recommend Krabi. We stayed in Phuket, Phi Phi, and Railay (in Krabi) and the last was our favorite. It has a very unique, laid back atmosphere, feels quiet and isolated (in a good way) and is so completely gorgeous. The backdrop is these huge limestone cliffs--unbelievable. There is also a large rock climbing scene there. Phuket is a lot more built up and commercial--we felt like we could be on Myrtle Beach, USA. On the other hand, if you want a big nightlife scene, Phuket would be more your place. Whatever you choose, a day trip to Phi Phi is certainly a great idea! It is so beautiful and we loved it there, and you get more of a taste of that beach luxury than in Railay. Great snorkeling in Phi Phi. We stayed at the Bayview which we can highly recommend.

If you are combining this with sightseeing in Bangkok and northern Thailand, just keep in mind that transportation takes a while down south...when we went from Phi Phi to Railay, it was a few hours on the ferry and then we couldn't dock because of low tide, so a longtail boat came to meet the ferry, we piled in there, putted closer to shore, and then waded to the beach with our luggage. Always an adventure! But you want to have the time to enjoy that and not feel stressed out, so think about adding an extra day or two to your southern itinerary.

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