Anyone for Thailand, Laos and Cambodia?

Hi Cathy

Yes, we are going too and are looking forward to it. We have booked to see the nurse re: any jabs required but have not yet researched malaria tablets, have you?

Lucy

Hi Lucy, Great! I was starting to think that I wasn't going to get any replies! I've been to see the nurse and I've already had all of the recommended jabs (apart from Japanese Encephalitis) for previous holidays. She didn't seem to think I'd need the Encephalitis jab because we're not going in the season when it gets transmitted. I'd be interested to hear what advice you get though! The nurse recommended Malarone malaria tablets because it has the fewest side effects and the mozzies out there are resistant to some of the other anti malarials. It's also the most expensive one so I think I might buy it online because it seems to be cheaper to do that! Cathy

Hi Cathy & Lucy, we are also going on this trip. We have visited Viet Nam previously so it will be interesting to see how Cambodia and Laos compare. Are you leaving getting visas until we cross the borders? Have you decided if you are taking any currency or will you rely on ATMs? We have an appointment at the travel clinic tomorrow and will let you know what advice we are given. Sue & John

Hi Sue and John, Yes I was going to get my visas at the airport / border because it seems to be easier. Just need to remember to take some passport photos with me! I think I'll probably take a fair amount of currency with me in US dollars and maybe a little bit in Thai currency to start me off. From what I've read US dollars seem to be widely accepted in Laos and Cambodia. What are you going to do? I'll be interested to hear which anti-malarial the travel clinic recommends for you and what they say about the Japanese Encephalitis jab. Cathy

Hi Cathy, Sue and John. Our nurse did not even mention Japanese Encephalitis, she gave us a typhoid jab (as expected) we knew that one was out of date. Can't remember what else was needed as she said we were OK with the rest. She said either malarone or doxycline and didn't say malarone was more effective. I asked Tesco's pharmacist and she said enough malarone (you need less of them) was £58.01 per person whereas 50 doxycline tablets (we need 44) is £4.23 - no contest as far as we are concerned! We've also been to Vietnam and took doxy then with no side effects. We are planning on getting visas at the border, haven't thought about currency yet. Are you guys on the group flight? Lucy & Chris

Hi All - We visited the Travel Clinic yesterday and the nurse advised us that we only need a jab for Japanese encephalitis for Laos and then only if we were staying for a long period or making repeated visits. So we are not bothering with this. For malaria she recommended Doxycycline or Malarone so in view of the big difference in cost we are going for the former. She did not recommend Mefloquine as the mosquitos have resistance to it in parts of Cambodia. We are planning to take some US Dollars to start us off and then rely on ATMs after that, as the Exodus trip notes state that ATMs are plentiful in the main towns. We are flying out a few days before the Group flight as we want to take an Excursion to the River Kwai area (we were disappointed that this was not included in the Exodus itinerary) so will meet the rest of the group at the hotel in Bangkok. Sue and John

This is our second attempt at the trip - we were meant to go in April but the volcano put paid to that! Anyway at least we still have the trip to look forward to! We are planning to get visa's over there and already have a supply of Malarone for the trip - prev experience tells us worth paying extra for as no nasty side effects and no need to take them for so long after we get back home. We will be on the Group Flight - See you all in 6 weeks time. Andy and Samantha

Out of interest which airline is the group flight with? Trailfinders told us back in February it was cheaper for them to book flights and Exodus had not yet announced who they were using. We are on the Eva Air around 9 pm Thursday 18th Nov.    Lucy & Chris

The group flight is with EVA air and it leaves Heathrow at 9:20pm on the 18th so it must be the same flight that you're booked onto! I'm flying down from Newcastle on the 18th to catch the group flight. Does anyone know how many people are booked onto the trip? Cathy

Hello Everyone, We are also on the trip and on the group flight. We will be driving up from Somerset on the 18th, so hope the M3/M25 keeps moving. We were told it is a full trip (notes say max of 16). We have also decided to give the Japanese and Rabies jabs a miss (although initially recommended to have them by the nurse) and are going for the Malarone. Superdrug are cheapest round here, £2.10 a tablet. I read you need to be careful buying on line, use reputable companies as some dodgy dealers use chalk. Probably take some US Dollars and Thai for starters and then ATMs to top up. Only 4 weeks now, hope the typhoons have subsided by then, Cheers Janet & Garry