Getting ready to head back to SE Asia. In a few weeks I'll be flying Cathay Pacific to Bangkok via Hong Kong and on ward to Saigon. Seems I hear a lot about air travel prices increasing but in shopping air fares for this trip it wasn't the case. Probably cheaper guys than Cathay but they are a good airline and allow stop overs in Hong Kong and open returns.

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I use Sandra, a native Philipa, at Kinney travel in Sacramento as she normally can come up with good fares, especially on Cathay. Sandra is efficient and dependable - so if your planning a SE Asia visit check her out at - 1916-928-0434 /1-800-783-9634 Mention my name if you call - thanks!

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Hong Kong has always been an expensive place to stay but as I work through my trip planning it doesn't seem any more expensive than before. The exchange rate has pretty much stayed the same - 7.75 Hk$ = 1 US dollar, which must be a big part of it.

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On this visit as my last I used Hotel Club to find a room , I used them again and picked the Charter House in the Wan Chai distinct on Hong Kong Island. Looks like a pretty good deal, Charter House's web site lists a rate of $180.00 (US) a night, which I reserved through Hotel Club for $ 85.30 (US).

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Now Bangkok is a surprise, normally super cheap but the dollar was worth more then. My stand by in Bangkok Jim's lodge room rate has increased from the low to mid thirty's US a night to the mid forty's. The exchange rate is mostly to blame, the room increased a couple hundred baht's present exchange rate of 31 baht to a US dollar, from the high 30's, yikes that hurts. Thank you George Bush!