Your trip Plan

Your trip Plan

Tips for a great trip

It's easy to get bogged down in the nitty gritty of planning a trip. Here's some general advice to keep in mind as the shape of your Southeast Asian trip comes together, and to remember while you're on the road. Some of the following will sound obvious, but you'll be astonished at just how many trav

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What gear should you consider?

So you're so excited about going travelling you figure a bit of a buying spree will bring the trip around faster right? Hold your horses! Here are some pointers on what perhaps you do--and don't--need. Daypacks A daypack is a small mini-backpack which often attaches to a main pack and can be useful

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Meet southeast Asia

Meet Southeast Asia Southeast Asia offers as many wonderful travel plans as there are travellers. For some people, the perfect plan need not be anything more than "I'm going to Southeast Asia for four months". For others, especially those with limited time and a desire to see a lot, careful planning

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Cities

Cities It's easy to make the mistake of thinking Southeast Asia is all jungle (or palm oil plantations!), islands and beaches, but it is also home to some of the greatest and most intriguing cities in Asia. Those who enjoy time in the big smoke won't be disappointed.

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Diving

Southeast Asia offers some of the most spectacular diving in the world. The region traverses where the Indian and Pacific oceans meet, with much of its eastern reaches encapsulated by the stunning and largely pristine Coral Triangle. Divers can undertake a wide variety of dives and there are sites t

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Arts and culture

All the countries in Southeast Asia have established art scenes, but each have a few destinations that really stand out, and they can form a highlight for culture-vultures.

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Beaches & Islands

Beaches and islands One of the top appeals of Southeast Asia are its excellent array of islands and beaches. Where should a beach bum head?

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Ancient Ruins

Ancient ruins While today the borders of Southeast Asia are relatively clear-cut, historically they were somewhat more flowing, as power shifted from one empire to another. These shifts can be explored by incorporating visits to some of the stunning historical monuments that dot the region while on

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Kid-friendly destinations

South East Asia has plenty of kid-friendly destinations, with loads of pretty and safe beaches, fun activities and lovely natural attractions. We've selected a few of our favourites below, but plenty more are around. Almost anywhere you head in the region will be adaptable for kids, particularly if

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Food & drink

Food and drink Southeast Asia is home to some of the most delicious food in the world. While every country offers various wonderful dishes, in our opinion, Thailand and Vietnam, with Malaysia coming a close third, are the standouts in the region. Of course, what makes for good food is a very persona

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Malaria: Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Vietnam

One of the most commonly asked questions by first-time travellers to Southeast Asia is "Should I take malarials?". It's a simple question, with a complicated answer, best summed up as "it depends". Here's ten pointers that we hope will help you make a more informed decision regarding malarials and t

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Learning some local language

Even if you're just on a short short trip, learning the super basics of a foreign language can be an easy step to get a little more out of your trip--even if it's just a polite smile as you stumble your way through "thank you" in Khmer.

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Be sensible

If you're travelling every other day, you're travelling too much. Less is more. Stick this mantra on the top of your computer screen. Less is more This is often a difficult concept to impress upon first-time travellers to the region, but you really are far better off seeing fewer places for a longer

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Police and authorities

While there is no denying Southeast Asia's reputation for corruption is well-earned, it would be a mistake to assume all police are corrupt and not interested in helping you. Generally speaking, we try to keep our interactions with police and immigration officers to an absolute minimum, but when we

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Regional itineraries

Where to go? That is the question. Our general advice is always that less is more. Open an atlas and Southeast Asia looks kind of small, so it can be very tempting to try and see a lot, but distances can be deceiving. With than in mind, here's some advice on designing an itinerary. If you want to se

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What to do in an emergency

In the event of an emergency, be it an accident, a natural disaster, or a crime of some sort, it pays to keep a few things in mind as you work to get everything back in order.

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Travel insurance and riding motorcycles

Riding motorbikes and scooters can be a great way of travelling around Southeast Asia. They're affordable, fun and they give travellers a tremendous degree of flexibility.

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Things to watch out for

We're big believers in the need for having adequate travel insurance and nothing bites worse than you being in a bind and the insurer refusing to pay. Here are some of the most common gotchas you need to watch out for in travel insurance policies.

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Health, safety & scams

In all likelihood you will have a holiday with no more of a health or safety drama than a spot of Bali Belly, but that's not to say nothing can go wrong. It can. Here is a roundup on medical in the region along with some of the most common dangers you might face.

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How long to go for

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How should you travel?

There is no one "right" way to travel and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Some like to travel in a group, others like to tackle the road solo. Some like to plan everything down to the finest detail, others prefer to make it up as they go. Some fly when they can; others take the cheapest bus.