Travel Costs: Thailand

How much does it cost to travel in Thailand?
Longtail boats are parked on the shores of Koh Lipe.

Thailand is the most popular destination in Southeast Asia. For decades, travelers have been flocking to this part of the region with the lure of cheap getaways and a chance to find that perfect hideaway. Thailand is an adult’s playground with something for everyone. Jungle trekking, scuba diving, zip lining, rock climbing, kayaking, cooking courses, island hopping, all night partying, incredible street-side dining, shopping, the list goes on. So it goes without saying that after years of reading and hearing about how amazing Thailand is, we came into the country with very high expectations.

Itinerary

We entered Thailand from the north, after a two-day slow boat journey from Luang Prabang, Laos. Getting our 60-day visas in advanced was imperative since we would have only received a free, 15-day visa on arrival by entering the country overland. Our first stop was Chiang Mai where we stayed for 5 nights in a fan cooled, double ensuite room. We learned to cook Thai food, meandered the old city streets, and had our laundry done. We hooked up with one of our “family members”, whom we met in Laos, rented a car, and tackled the 1864 curves of the Mae Hong Son Loop. For 4 days, we drove clockwise from Chiang Mai, stopping in Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son, and Pai. We visited the Doi Inthanon National Park, reached the highest spot in Thailand, and came face to face with the Karen Hill Tribe famous for the Long Neck Women. Read more “Travel Costs: Thailand”

Travel Costs: Laos

How much does it cost to backpack through Laos?
The Royal Palace Museum in Luang Prabang, Laos.

Often overlooked on the backpacking trail in Southeast Asia, Laos is a diamond in the rough. It is the definition of laid-back travel, where days are spent reading in a hammock, discovering richly adorned palaces, or just watching the river float by as you enjoy a drink on a patio. This landlocked country is the idyllic place to sink your feet into, soak in your surroundings, and just enjoy a slower pace of life.

Itinerary

We entered the country from the Cambodian/Laos border in the south and made our way over to Si Phan Don (the 4,000 Islands). We stayed 1 night on Don Det, 5 nights on Don Khon, and 2 nights on Don Khong. Leisurely days were spent mainly eating and drinking sitting beside the mighty Mekong River. When we did pull ourselves away from our idle lifestyles, we rented bicycles and explored the islands.

Feeling refreshed and recharged after a week of practically doing nothing, we headed north to Pakse and stayed for 4 nights in a double room with AC. Again, we didn’t get up to much except spending most days at a great little café, meeting some amazing travelers (whom we’d continue traveling with for the next two weeks and dubbed “the family”), and taking a day trip to the Bolaven Plateau. Read more “Travel Costs: Laos”

Travel Costs: Cambodia

How much does it costs to travel in Cambodia?
Getting off the beaten path in the country side of Kampot, Cambodia.

Continuing with the series of travel costs in Southeast Asia, today I’m breaking down what we spent our money on in Cambodia.

Itinerary

After spending three weeks traveling through Vietnam, we headed over to Phnom Penh, Cambodia by bus. Immigration was easy, but it was our first time experiencing the “stamping fee” which would make an appearance again in Laos. We stayed in Phnom Penh for 3 nights in an air-conditioned private room. We went to the National Museum, shopped at some of the markets, and learned about Cambodia’s dark past at the S-21 Prison and the Killing Fields. We then took a day bus down to the beach town of Sihanoukville and stayed in a fan-cooled room for 3 nights. We checked out Serendipity, Occheuteal and Otres (the best!) Beaches and enjoyed the most delicious beachside seafood dinners for a measly $5 a pop.

We wanted to check out one of the nearby islands, so we hopped on a boat and heading out to Koh Ru. We stayed for 3 nights in a very rustic beach hut with shared bathrooms, and came the closest to finding paradise on our secluded little island. We spent one more night in Sihanoukville before catching one of our worst bus ride experiences to Kampot. Read more “Travel Costs: Cambodia”

Travel Costs: Vietnam

How much does it cost to travel through Vietnam?
Wandering through the small streets of Hoi An, Vietnam.

Yesterday I kicked off a week long series into the costs of traveling through Southeast Asia. For 5 months, Tristan and I backpacked through the region to the tune of $10,702.14. This included everything accept our flights to and from Southeast Asia (as it was part of a larger trip), our travel insurance, and clothes we had made in Hoi An, Vietnam.

Now it’s time to break that number down per country and show you exactly how much and what we spent our money on. I discussed what our travel style was like yesterday and I’ll give you a quick overview of our itinerary in the country to give the numbers some context.

First up: Vietnam Read more “Travel Costs: Vietnam”

How Much Does It Cost to Travel in Southeast Asia?

How much does it cost to travel through Southeast Asia?Southeast Asia is an incredible region to explore with postcard perfect beaches, ancient temple ruins, street food to delight the taste buds, and some seriously stunning scenery. And with its amazing affordability and well-trodden route, it’s a backpacker’s dream.

So how affordable is it really? How much would it cost to backpack through Southeast Asia for say 5 or 6 months? The answer might just blow you away.

From October 2011 to February 2012, Tristan and I backpacked through the region for 5 months, visiting Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. It was part of a larger 8-month trip that had us starting off in China and wrapping up in Australia and New Zealand.

During our trip, I kept a very detailed account of how much and what we were spending our money on. At the time, it was our way of staying on budget, to know at any given time how much we had already spent and how much we had left to play with. Now, it’s become a phenomenal resource to reference. Read more “How Much Does It Cost to Travel in Southeast Asia?”