First-Time Asia : Everything You Need to Know Before You Go

by Reader, Lesley; Ridout, Lucy

• ISBN13: 9781843530480
• ISBN10: 1843530481
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-04-28
• Publisher: DK Publishing, Inc.

Summary

Simultaneously informative and entertaining, and featuring personal accounts from seasoned travellers, this is the essential pre-departure companion for anyone planning a first trip to Asia. Making the preparations easy and the travelling fun, First-Time Asia also saves you money along the way. Features include informed advice on tickets, visas and jabs, planning an itinerary and budgeting, practical tips on culture shock, sound suggestions on getting around, finding accommodation and staying healthy, and concise profiles, with maps, of nineteen countries, including the highlights, hidden gems and what to avoid.

Table of Contents

Colour section
Preparing for the big adventure	viii
Things not to miss	xi
Where to go
Bangladesh	5	(5)
Bhutan	10	(5)
Brunei	15	(4)
Cambodia	19	(5)
China	24	(8)
India	32	(9)
Indonesia	41	(7)
Japan	48	(7)
Laos	55	(5)
Malaysia	60	(11)
Nepal	71	(6)
Pakistan	77	(5)
Philippines	82	(6)
Singapore	88	(4)
South Korea	92	(6)
Sri Lanka	98	(6)
Taiwan	104	(5)
Thailand	109	(6)
Vietnam	115	(8)
The big adventure
Planning your route	123	(30)
Visas, tickets and insurance	153	(19)
When to go	172	(15)
How much will it cost?	187	(20)
Guidebooks and other resources	207	(17)
What to take	224	(25)
Your first night	249	(18)
Culture shock	267	(12)
Getting around	279	(24)
Accommodation	303	(12)
Staying healthy	315	(20)
Keeping in touch	335	(14)
Crime, safety and sleaze	349	(14)
Coming home	363	(8)
Basics
Discount flight and courier agents	371	(2)
Specialist tour operators	373	(3)
Voluntary work and conservation projects	376	(1)
Accommodation booking agents	377	(1)
Health: travel clinics, information lines and resources	378	(2)
Official advice on international trouble spots	380	(1)
Responsible tourism	381	(1)
Travel book and map stores	381	(1)
Online travel resources	382	(1)
Travel equipment suppliers	383	(2)
Final checklist	385	(2)
Index	387