Whether your dream is attending a surf camp in Bali, scuba diving a shipwreck, watching the sun rise on a beach after a Full Moon Party, or taking a hot air balloon ride over Bagan, there’s something on the menu for everyone in Southeast Asia.
There are some places you go to see things, and some you go to do things. If you’re a doer, book your flight now and read on, because it’s bad manners to keep a vacation waiting.
1. Get your vaccinations
Everyone who’s been to Southeast Asia agrees it’s full of surprises – often it’s not a matter of whether you’ll get something so much as what you’ll get. While the Zika virus is making headlines in the Americas, across the Pacific there’s a little thing called Dengue virus that’s not exactly a walk in the park, either.
Be sure to let your doctor know every country you plan to travel in so they can cover you with the right vaccines. They may also give you malaria tablets, but they can lead to wonky dreams – just a cheerful FYI.
2. Make sure your visa situation is sorted
An exciting thing about traveling in Southeast Asia today is that you have the option to visit countries that have only opened up to tourism recently, like Laos and Myanmar (formerly Burma). Many countries in Southeast Asia issue visas on arrival, but some countries, like Vietnam, require that you have your visa situation handled before you leave home. You may be able to settle this with a bribe, but your money is better spent eating the best pho and banh mi on earth.
3. Bring some cash
For countries like Laos and Cambodia, you may need to purchase your visa on arrival with American dollars. It’s also helpful to have some local currency onhand, for both convenience and mishaps.
I managed to lose my debit card on my last day in Bali, so having Thai baht packed away for when I made it to Bangkok was a huge relief. Because I was changing destinations so often, getting a new debit card before the end of my trip wasn’t an option.
In general, cash is more commonly used in Southeast Asia than card. But as you would traveling anywhere else, make sure you put travel notices on your credit and debit cards in case you do end up using them.
4. Ask friends for advice
TripAdvisor is a great resource, but so are people who’ve been there. If you can think of friends who’ve gone to the places you’re planning to visit, talk them about their experience. They’re an information goldmine!
In speaking to them, you’ll get a better sense of what their trip highlights were so you can be sure to hit those when forming your trip plans. You’ll also get a sense of what kind of traveler they are so you can further factor in what to see and what to skip – if you’re raring to get out there and see the sights but they’re more of a R&R type of traveler, you’ll know which of their tips suit you best.
One of my friends rented a scooter that they could take one way from Chiang Mai to Pai, Thailand, which is a great thing to know ahead when planning your itinerary. A girl I met on a ferry told me about a travel agency I could contact if I wanted to jet ski from Koh Samui to Koh Phangan – pricey, but worth it! It’s one of those low-key nuggets you won’t find on Google, but how many people can say they’ve jet skied between islands?
5. Don’t overdo it on the clothes
We’ve all been guilty of being the girl who brings two huge roller bags on a weekend getaway, but less is definitely more when Southeast Asia is your destination. It’s generally hot and humid AF, so you really, really won’t be needing that many clothes.
Laundry service is cheap in Southeast Asia. The clothes you do forget can easily be purchased locally. And you’ll probably have a blast haggling prices for them.
So don’t sweat it (you will anyway, literally) and pack light.
6. Be really, really careful about attractions with animals
People seem to want two cool pictures when they go to Southeast Asia: the elephant riding pic and the tiger hugging pic.
Don’t do it. All signs point to animal abuse on both counts. Here’s a great rundown on the topic.
The tigers are drugged with ketamine, confined, and trafficked to neighboring countries, among other sketchy things.
Thailand’s tourism is known to be highly under regulated. It’s your responsibility as a tourist to do your homework and make informed decisions. When I was in Laos, there were fliers for “elephant sanctuaries” everywhere that advertised elephant riding. Any place that will let you ride an elephant is no friend to the animals.
But, note that elephants are awesome, gentle creatures and you’re totally welcome to pet them, feed them, and bathe them.
7. Research ways to get around
Motorbikes are the transportation mode of choice in Southeast Asia, so learn to ride one. If that’s not an option for you (I can’t do it) do some research just so you’ll have an idea of what you’re in for. Taxis are more common in some countries than others. Sometimes they’re just hard to come by, depending on where you are.
Different places also have different rules and systems in place. You may or may not be able to use a rideshare app depending on where you are. You may want to learn what your options are and download local rideshare apps before you go somewhere, just in case the WiFi isn’t so hot.
For example, in Bali you can use a the Bluebird taxi app or a motorbike taxi service called Go-JEK – but don’t expect to use it to get to and from the airport unless you’ve packed super light!
It’s also good to know how far away airports, train stations and bus stations tend to be from where you’re staying. When you stay in hostels, you meet a lot of people who are traveling on a budget. I met one backpacker who really, really took budgeting to a new level – she walked from the Denpasar airport to our hostel in Seminyak! She said it took a few hours, but hey, at least it’s an adventure.
8. Know that you can’t prepare entirely
Like I stated above, in Southeast Asia often it’s not a matter of whether you’ll get something so much as what you’ll get. Food poisoning might happen, but you’ll survive. Sunburn is likely. Dehydration is probable. Stick to bottled water, and drink lots of it.
You could stay in a 5-star resort and never leave your air-conditioned hotel room, but there’s no fun in that. Saddle up and experience the things you traveled around the world hoping to do. They lead to great stories.
That said, it never hurts to research things you know you’ll participate in. If you’re planning to hit a Full Moon Party (and you should) read up on it a little first to make sure you stay out of trouble.
9. Give yourself buffer time on the return
The first time I traveled internationally, I thought I could roll off a 7 AM flight across the North American continent and the Atlantic and walk right into work. That was not a great idea.
Your jet lag drag depends on a number of things, including how used to international travel you are and the number of time zones between your starting point and your final destination.
Don’t underestimate this! It’s natural for your body to need to catch up to all the time zones it’s crossed on a flight. According to the American Sleep Association, the body will take one day per time zone crossed to fully recover and adjust to the changes.
Here are some great tips for avoiding and recovering from jet lag from The Everygirl.
Leave a Reply