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[samhoso]

I am planning a 3 - 4 months SE-Asia trip this summer: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia.

How much US$ would a party animal who loves clubbing, entertainment and plenty of local beer need for such a trip?? What would be the minimum to have a really good time??

Just for the records: I am already in Vietnam (working), so i don't have to worry about an expensive air ticket to get to Asia.

Thanks!
- Sam

[rbisset]

In my 5 months in Asia last year I spent £2500. That was without any budgetting whatsoever and as much beer/spirits as I could drink. Honestly I drank for more beer than water. Out of that total £400 was spent in 10 days in Japan and another £400 in China in 6 weeks!

So in exactly 3 months in SE Asia I spent £1500 which I don't think is too bad. You could easily do it in far less but I had a great time and didn't care about money.

In Laos there weren't any ATM's so I spent $250 in the 10 days I was there. Most went on Beer and Curry and considering a large Beer Lao was 10000kips ($1) I spent a hell of a lot on beer!! It is the best in the world

I'd say I spent a similar amount in Vietnam and Cambodia and the rest in Thailand and Malaysia.

So on my budget, living in the cheapest accomodation, eating whatever I felt like, drinking myself into oblivion I spent $1000/month. Not bad I think, others would probably disagree.

[samhoso]

thanks rbisset! really appreciate your input, and good to know that laos has the best beer in the world - that alone is worth a trip! let me know of any other cool things you can recommend... ps: i am afraid, i'll like thailand too much and get stuck, lol.

[rbisset]

I think it's more likely you'll love Laos too much. It really is the nicest country I've ever been to.

[samhoso]

It really is the nicest country I've ever been to.

wow, that's a strong statement! the place must be really amazing. it's quite interesting, because you're not the first one telling me the same, and honestly laos is so unknown to me that i first didn't even consider it, but after hearing all the good stuff about it, it's definitely on the top of my list.

anyway: what's there to do, and what kind of itinerary do you recommend (hate the word "itinerary", coz it sounds so "planned out", but you know what i mean...).

peace,
sam

[rbisset]

I was only there for a few weeks but it left such an impression in that short amount of time. I followed the "tourist trail" from the north in Luang Nam Tha, through Luang Prabang, Vang Vieng and Vientianne. It was no where near long enough and I didn't want to leave!!

I found all the people in the country to be incredibly friendly and would go out of their way to make you feel welcome. When we arrived in Luang Prabang the manager of a guesthouse didn't have room for us so he moved his son out of his room for a couple of days to fit us in!!! That was something special.

The country is also astoundingly beautiful. The landscape on the bus journey between Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng will stay with me forever.

It's probably changed a lot since other people here last visited but I still love it. It's firmly on the travellers circuit now but all the people I met on the trip only made the trip better. They were all brilliant and up for a great time.

There was so much more I could have done in the country (I really did basically nothing!) but I needed a holiday after 6 weeks in China! I'm sure you'll be the same after leaving Vietnam as it's just as stressful as life in China. Next time I go I will go deeper and longer into the country. I have to see the south as well, even if people are saying it's very touristy now.

Read my Laos Entries

[wakingdream]

wow, that's a strong statement! the place must be really amazing. it's quite interesting, because you're not the first one telling me the same, and honestly laos is so unknown to me that i first didn't even consider it, but after hearing all the good stuff about it, it's definitely on the top of my list.

Do go and check it out. You'll love it for all the reasons Rich mentioned. It's a beautiful country with some of the loveliest and most hospitable people you'll ever meet.

I think Rich is pretty on with his estimate of what you'll need moneywise for your trip. You can do it on less no doubt, but if you're planning on some heavy boozing etc, it sure does add up.

BTW, Beerlao is definitely The. Best. Beer. Ever!

Have a great time! Happy trails!

[Paul]

How much would you pay for Beer Laos now?

Maybe I can make some money as a Beer Laos exporter. Does seem very popular.

[wakingdream]

How much would you pay for Beer Laos now?

Maybe I can make some money as a Beer Laos exporter. Does seem very popular.

Haha! Paul, you'd have us eating out of your palm!

[samhoso]

beerlao export ... hmmmm, paul that sounds like a damm good plan man!

[Paul]

Alright I will try to look into it when I have time. Remind me in a month or two i you don't hear anything.

Maybe we can sell it through this website.

See ya

Paul

By the way this is all totally off the original topic and I apologise for that

[buzzingtalk]

that budget is a lot!! i come to SE Asia every summer (free flights) and once i got by on 300 pounds for 9 weeks of travel through thailand and malaysia. that was bare budget though and staying with people and being proper cheap. if you like a good drink a tip for thailand - to save some money carry a bottle of sangsom thai whiskey around with you its about 3 quid for a big bottle and gets you smashed on the cheap. malaysia is probably the most expensive place to get pissed, if you want a drink head to langkawi its duty free but not as cheap as thailand. malaysia are better places to relax, trek through jungle and lounge around on the beach + recover from your hangovers

if you want any info or hints about travel in se asia fire away, i come here for a few months every summer (i am here in KL now and its my 7th time) and know the cheap local ways of getting about and good places to stay.

[wakingdream]

that budget is a lot!!

Yeah, it is, but it's completely possible to spend that much. I got by on quite a bit less but some years we spent more and others less. 300 pounds for 9 weeks is extremely bare bones, so let's say, somewhere in the middle outta do it! One year over 6 months we spent just over $4000- CDN total, for two of us. We stayed with friends for while and ate locally and cheaply as well. We didn't fly anywhere but preferred to go overland which is also much cheaper.

It all depends on what you're doing, where you're eating, drinking, what you're buying, if you're flying around here and there , posting big packages home, staying in nice hotels, buying all your friends drinks etc. There's loads of factors. We stayed at the Lao Plaza one year, one night for 200USD. We wanted a break and a bit of luxury for a half months travelling costs!

Bottom line, yup, you're right, SE Asia can be done much, much cheaper if that's what you're striving for. Having friends to stay with and eat with does make a difference though and so does having spent alot of time there and knowing the different areas very well.

[buzzingtalk]

the thing to learn from this is that two different people went to se asia on very contrasting budgets and both had an amazing time SE Asia is very very cheap but it can get expensive if you want it to. the main thing that will cost you is travelling to and from areas (which can be done cheap and IMO more scenically and culturally over land, and much better for the environment) but if time is a limit, or you would rather just get to a destination, flying is your next option. even flying is dirt cheap in asia - check out air asia website for examples! i know people that have come here for a few weeks and spent more in one day then i would in months but its different strokes for different folks. i cant drink too much cos i got one kidney so that reduces my costs a lot, but i still save up some money once in a while and go out and get drunk with the locals. food also can be cheap or expensive, depending on if you will eat hawker food or if you prefer nice restaraunts.

the good thng about se asia is that even someone who in a western sense is poor (me) can treat themsleves to massage, (can get a good one in thailand for like, 5 pounds or less) the occasional nice restaraunt, a taxi home instead of a walk and to travel into new coutries eaisly and cheaply. wahtever your budget youll have a wicked time and will find a way to keep yourself going.

[rbisset]

the thing to learn from this is that two different people went to se asia on very contrasting budgets and both had an amazing time

My budget was extremely tight for this trip and the example budget I suggested is in my opinion very realistic. I lived in the cheapest accomodation I could find (Almost always $5 or less, £10 for 1 night on Phi Phi excluded), ate local street food and traveled overland wherever possible. Even after doing that I was still spending around £500/month which I consider reasonable for a holiday.

You may have been able to eek out an existance on $10/day but that would be extremely hard. If you factor in bargain accomodation (less than 300baht) and an entrance fee then thats your money for the day gone already.

SE Asia isn't that cheap any more. Compare it to China where I spent £400 in 6 weeks and was living off less than £3/day in some places without any hardships and still enjoying copious beverages.

If you want to travel on a waffer thin budget in SE Asia then a minimum of $20/day should be expected, £300/$600 per month.

[buzzingtalk]

oh yeah not saying your budget wasnt valid. i woldnt recommend anyone to expect to live on the budget i live on, im just very lucky in that im very experienced in living cheap out here having been here 7 times now. plus as ive been here a lot my budget does not really refvect that of osmeone who comes to SE Asia for the first time and tries to cram everything in. if i cant afford something one year, i dont mind cos ill save up and do it next year

im off on a trip next week from KL-Singapore then up the west coast of malaysia into thailand then possibly into cambodia (time allowing) i have 300 pounds to do it, its gonna be my tightest trip yet but its do-able.literally though that money will pay for bare minimum food (rice and lentils and roti) cheap accomedation and 3rd class travel. but ill love it.

for someone coming over here for the first time budget way more than me - if it takes you an extra 6 months to save more cash to keep you comfortable then so be it, the trip will turn to S*$# if you run out of cash suddenly. id say the budget the person above me said is sensible - 500pounds a month (this keyboard has no pound sign) is good comfortable money -

100 a week can be spent many ways, you can cheap it out for a few weeks, crash somewhere for a few pounds a night and eat cheap food then stay in a nice resort for 3nights for 50 quid as a treat. remember to save enough money so that if at any time theres an emergency and you want to go home, theres enough to get you back to the airport and change your ticket. i always have 100 pounds on standby for emergencys and although ive never had to use it its comforting to have it in a different bank account locked away safely in case the S*$# hits the fan.

[lisartw]

I've just finished an amazing trip in SE Asia, head home friday

Countries in order or cheapness are as follows:

Laos (averaged $18 per day)
Cambodia (averaged $30 per day)
Thailand (average $40 per day)

Singapore is the most expensive but we were only there for 3 days so not fair to compare really.

Can't comment on <Malaysia or Indonesia as haven't been there but others i've spoken to along the way have said malaysia expensive.

Obviously, it depends on where you go and what you do.

Laos was cheap because there's lots of things you can do yourself - hire a bike to see the sights, or a motorbike to visit some other villages, tubing, visiting the temples and palaces.

Cambodia was more expensive because there's much more to see and do.

Whereas in Thailand some places are more expensive than others, (eg Kanchanaburi is dead cheap, Koh Tao really expensive in comparison).

For our budget we stayed in average accomodation, always had our own room with bathroom (more often than not) and 50% of the time with air con. We've done lots of activities like diving, been on a few organised tours, been out partying a few times, ate out at restaurants mostly, travel has been mostly on trains or buses but we did fly a few times on budget airlines (SING-BKK, Luang Prabang-Hanoi, Siem Reap-BKK), had a few massages, includes some shopping and we've not been shy with the booze either (some of it has come from 7-11 though!).

We've been very lucky and had a great time.

At the end of the day however much money you have you'll probably spend it, it's just lucky that you can economise a lot better if you need to in Asia than anywhere else in the world.

Hope this helps with your budget/planning.

[ScottWoz]

That's great info Lisa, glad you had a good time out there. Happy birthday to Lee..

[jloon]

Hi there,
This is my first time on here...and I just ahd a quick question for anyone. Me and my boyfriend are heading to Southeast Asia in AUgust of this year (starting in Japan and working our way all the way down to Singapore). We have already bought our plane tickets and put a deposit down on one tour through China. How much money would you suggest I bring? I would like to stay in fairly inexpensive hostels (but clean and security are definetly a big factor!). I noticed that it depends on what you do and where you go but for a rough guide?? I've heard Thailand and that region is dirt cheap but I don't want to underestimate just how cheap/not cheao it really is.
Thanks in advance!!!
Jenny

[wakingdream]

Hey Jenny, welcome to Travelpod!

I'd go with the previous suggestion by Lisa for $30-$40 or more per day depending of course on what you're going to be doing. As Rich wrote, no less than $20/day and that's pretty bare bones.

I wouldn't say SEA is dirt cheap necessarily. It is less expensive than many places for sure though but not as cheap as it used to be years back.

Have fun!