Category: Travel Costs

Travel Costs: New Zealand

Arienne
Natural attractions in New Zealand
The impressive Franz Josef Glacier wedged between the mountains.

The windows of your car are rolled down, the tunes are pumping and you’re traveling at your own pace. There’s nothing quite like a good road trip and New Zealand is one of the best countries in the world to do it. Kiwis themselves know this. If you talk to any of them, they’ll recount childhood memories of their families packing up and hitting the road for weeks at a time.

Aside from the obvious benefits of having full control of your itinerary, New Zealand seems to have been designed for road trips with stunning landscapes at every twist and turn, well maintained and signed roadways, and a wide range of accommodation styles, from free Department of Conservation (DOC) campsites to high end hotels, to fit anyone’s budget. Through our research, Tristan and I found that it would be most cost-effective to rent a campervan and travel around the country ourselves. We prefer to do things on our own and love an epic road trip, so we were extremely excited about this adventure. Read more “Travel Costs: New Zealand” →

Travel Costs: Indonesia

Arienne
How much does it cost to traveling through Indonesia?
Women work on the rice terraces in Ubud, Bali.

Stretching across 17,000+ islands, Indonesia is the fourth most populous country in the world. This archipelago spans from Sumatra in the west to Papua in the east and is home to a large variety of different ethnic and cultural groups. Each island varies from one another, from its landscape, religion, architecture, and character, providing travelers with differing experiences from one island to the next.

With so many islands and varying things to experience, we picked three islands to spend our time in: Sumatra, Java, and Bali. Read more “Travel Costs: Indonesia” →

Travel Costs: Malaysia

Arienne
How much should I budget for Malaysia?
The Sungai Melaka River runs right through the middle of Melaka, Malaysia.

Gorgeous beaches, mountainous regions, fast-paced city living, exotic jungles, highly developed infrastructure and cheap travel costs, Malaysia is unlike any other Southeast Asian country. Located south of Thailand and spanning over two landmasses (Peninsular and Borneo Malaysia), Malaysia is the melting pot of the region, made up of Chinese, Indian, and Malay cultures. Malaysia was our favourite country in Southeast Asia, and not just because it had the lowest travel costs. The people, the food, and uniqueness of the country made it an incredibly enjoyable place to explore. Read more “Travel Costs: Malaysia” →

Travel Costs: Thailand

Arienne
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” →