7 Tips for traveling in SE Asia

April 14, 2024

The Philippines, where we are currently located, is a great base for exploring South-East Asia. All the countries visited so far - Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia – were within four hours flight from Manila.

While each country has its own unique flavour, language, history, culture, gastronomy, etc., they also share many similarities - the climate, infrastructure, religion, traditions, social etiquette; the rules that you can apply to one country often apply   to the others too.

For the first-time traveller, knowing certain things in advance, and not finding out the hard way like we sometimes did, may help make your trip there even more enjoyable.

Bon voyage!  

Our top 7 tips:

1. Don’t pack too much

The one big thing we would do differently. Prepare what you think you will need and then ditch at least half of it. You will not need it and your bag will be so much lighter (with more room for local souvenirs). Clothing in SE Asia is incredibly cheap and laundromats to wash your clothing equally so. That being said, prefer light materials that dry quickly and don’t forget your water shoes.

2. Don’t plan too much

 It’s ok to have a general plan but take the time to change your schedule, staying longer where you have fallen in love with a place and getting out quickly from those places you took an instant dislike to. Take recommendations from fellow travellers on board, they have been there already. Flights are really the only thing you need to plan in advance, although boats, buses and trains are  generally much cheaper and provide a lot more local colour too.

3. Always bargain

While most items in SE Asia are cheap by European standards, you should never pay the first price quoted by the vendor – they will expect you to haggle. If you do not, you will probably be overpaying. The best way to find out the correct price is to shop around. You may find a store selling the same item at a significantly lower price  just a block or two away.

4. Slow down

We tend to cram as much sightseeing as we can into a limited time period without

taking account of the distance between attractions or how long it will really take to get there. Often, a bus trip or excursion will take much longer than the published  time. SE Asia gets frustrating very quickly if you rush around while everyone else there is moving at a slow pace, so.... learn to slow down and relax. Plan rest days too, you cannot be on the go perpetually, it’s exhausting. Be patient too with fellow travelers, we are all, literally, on a journey.

5. The indispensables

Never leave your hotel room without any of the following items:

 ·         wet tissues (especially useful when faced with a squat toilet and nothing more)

·         sun cream and a sun hat (it is incredibly hot in these countries most of the time)

·         water bottle (refill only in cafes or restaurants with filtered water)

·         bug repellent (apply liberally)

·         sufficient local currency (these are still very much cash-orientated societies, especially outside of big cities)

·         your passport and mobile phone (with a cheap local SIM card)

It is always a good idea to find a shady place for a few hours during the hottest time of the day, just ask the locals…

6. Street food is mostly ok

While most of the meals from street vendors that we have eaten in SE Asia have been good, even very good, there has also been very average or just plain bad food too. Increase your odds of finding the right street food stall by asking locals or targeting those with a queue in front of them. That is always a good indication that the food is fresh and hasn’t been sitting under a heater for hours. 

7. Don’t book in advance

Whenever possible, we did not book a place to stay in advance. It is often worth exploring the town a little first and deciding which area you want to stay in - and for how long - before booking a room. Often, they will match the on-line price anyway. There are exceptions – it-s better to book in advance if you are coming off a long flight or bus ride for example, or arriving very late in town or during local holiday periods.