Ask Luzi
Issue of Traveller Magazine, October 1999
Where do I go next? How do I get there? Local travel industry guru Luzi Matzig launches a new Indochina tour company and advises us on the region's most exotic destinations.
After three decades with Diethelm Travel in Thailand, you?ve just launched your own travel and tour company. Tell us what makes it different from others that flood the market right now?
The most vaulable assets of any tour companies are its managers and staff. Asian Trails are particularly lucky in this respect in that we were able to recruit the very best managers and staff from Diethelm travel, most of them with many years of experience in the field. Asian Trails are proud to have one of the most motivated, service minded teams of employees who will go out of their way to fulfull the clients' particular needs. We are experts in working out detailed tour itineraries, tailormade to our clients needs, whether this be in the top-class hotel range involving multi-country destinations, or competitively priced seats in coach travel in Thailand.
Have you personally been to every destination that you organise tours to?
Yes. Not only have I visited the destinations several times, but I have traveled to most areas extensively not only by air, but on motorbikes, 4WD vechicles, on mountainbikes, privates planes, by boat, and on foot. Trying out new ways of travel gives me an idea of what is feasable for our clients and what is not.
What are the most exotic destinations you?ve been to in Asia?
I must have travelled to just about every corner in Asia by now, from Ladakh (northern India) to Sulawesi (Indonesia) and from Irian Jaya (New Guinea) to the Tibetan areas of Yunnan.To me, the most exotic place not only in Asia but in the world is Krabi (in southern Thailand) which is completely stunning, with its rock formations, coconut trees, fine white beaches, surrounding islands, and fantastic sunsets
What are the most popular travel destinations in this region right now and why?
Phuket and Samui. Access to Phuket has become so much easier with the many charter flights and regular carriers which are now allowed to fly directly to Phuket, and reaching Samui is now very easy with Bangkok Airways offering up to 15 flights daily from Bangkok. Also, there is additional direct access from Singapore, Krabi and U-Tapao.
Where is the most exciting new destination in Indochina right now?
It is probably Sapa, the mountain region in northwestern Vietnam, where the opening of the Victoria Hotel has made it much easier to visit the numerous hilltribes living in that area. Also, sea canoe trips involving overnights around Vietnam?s romantic Halong Bay are becoming popular.Where is the most difficult place to travel in Indochina right now? It is still difficult to visit off the beaten track places in Myanmar, for example, the ruby mines of Mogok, which is seven hours north of Mandalay. But in general it?s getting easier to visit places, with good progress being made in infrastructure development throughout the Mekong countries.
What do you think is the best way to approach travel?
Tourists should familiarize themselves with the countries they plan to visit before they arrive. This doesn?t mean that you have to read every guidebook available, but it certainly helps to have at least watched a travel video programme or documentary on the country you intend to visit.
Is there a common mistake that foreign tourists make when coming here?
No, I don?t think so. But people may find unpleasant surprises when they have the wrong expectations. If you are going to a new country, you should be open to new things done differently from where you came from, especially here in Asia.
What do you think are the best and worst way to travel?
I think the worst way must be backpacking in Asia. I can't see the pleasure in carrying all your luggage on your back all day, which makes you sweaty in this hot weather, and then you can?t find a decent shower when you find a guesthouse; the whole process is messy. It actually doesn?t cost much to travel in a better way than that here. It just takes a bit more research.
The best way to travel is following a programme that is tailor-made to your requirements. I just returned from a group tour in India, and while I had fun, I find that you get less flexibility in a big group - waiting for everyone to board the bus, leaving at specified times, eating meals when you are not hungry, etc. I?ve experienced all different types of travel by now, and I?m convinced that independant travelling is the best, because you choose your own itinerary. It doesn?t have to be luxurious either; it just needs to be well arranged so that you get what you expect. Travelling in a small group is fine too if you are with your friends and you all enjoy the same things.
What is the best advice you could give someone who wants to see the ?real? Asia?
For the first time visitor, booking a tour through any tour operator at competitive prices is definitely the wisest thing to do. Repeat visitors may want to become more adventurous and, for example, book a self-drive holiday with pre-arranged overnights. This can be easily organised through local inbound operators - like Asian Trails!
(More information on Indochina travel itineraries is available at the Asian Trails website : http://www.asiantrails.net,or call (662)6588-6080-9, email: [email protected])
More on Luzi Matzig
Back to Luzi Matzig's Home
Photos
Luzi Matzig in other news sources
