Tips on budget traveling within the region
Tips on budget traveling within the region
Evi Mariani, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
1. The first rule in budget traveling is to determine how the
trip can be as inexpensive as possible. This means seeing as many
places as you can and coming home happy without having to worry
about a mounting debt.
One of the perks of being an Indonesian budget traveler is that
you have an innate -- and sometimes acute, in more developed
countries -- sense of prices, which is very useful for haggling.
2. To limit expenses, travelers are advised to go during the low
season and information about timing can be easily found in guide
books or travel websites.
3. Advanced preparation is essential. Because you travel
independently without a guide or travel agent's set itinerary,
you have to obtain as much information as you can about a place.
Lonely Planet's famous Southeast Asia On A Shoe-string guide
series is very useful but you should check all the prices
included.
It's also wise to consult fellow travelers in
indobackpacker@yahoogroups.com or check their website
www.indobackpacker.com. Mailing list jalan_jalan@yahoogroups.com
can also provide plenty of information.
Advanced preparation is also important for those who want to fly
budget airlines. Fares on Air Asia and Tiger Airways websites
vary from extremely cheap (less pricey than a bus or train) to
quite expensive, depending on the available class. Advanced
booking will provide you with a wider range of options.
4. Traveling with friends will reduce expenses, particularly for
accommodation and hired transportation.
5. Pack a light backpack because budget traveling involves lots
of walking. While a few travelers are have been seen happily
hauling a wheeled case up jungle tracks, a rucksack is
recommended.
6. To avoid the hefty Rp 1 million departure tax for Indonesian
passport holders, embark from seaports on Batam to Singapore and
Malaysia or from Medan to Malaysia.
7. Budget, clean and comfortable accommodation is easy to find in
cities throughout Southeast Asian countries, except in Singapore,
where a dorm bed with three other people could cost you about
US$6 each. During the low season in Luang Prabang, Laos, for
example, comfortable accommodation for two or more people could
be as low as US$4 to US$6.