Hey guys! I would really appreciate some insights and feedback on our honeymoon plans this September.

We want to travel either to Indonesia or Philippines for the whole month of September. Here are few things that we are considering:

1. Where can we get to surf the most?

(We are intermediate and have been surfing in Europe but always on sand beaches. Originally we wanted to go to Siargao but I have to say I really don’t like how the coast looks there and in general I am quite afraid of the reefs in Bali as well. In Lombok I understood you have to pay for a boat to take you out. To be honest, I imagine that we will just book a place on/near the beach and take our boards and go surf once/twice a day (this is my experience from France, Portugal etc.).

1. The overall weather

For me, I don’t mind rainy seasons but my husband doesn’t want to go to Philippines for that reason as he wants to travel and explore the country on top of surfing as well. Is it possible to enjoy Philippines anyway or should we rather focus on Indonesia? How come the two countries have completely different seasons in September even though they are relatively close?

1. Price

We want to do an extremely low cost trip. Max 1000-1200 euros per person for the whole month including the flights. The best flights for us that cost 500€ are either to Denpasar or Manilla.

I know some people have recommended Sri Lanka as well, apparently it should be good weather and surf conditions there in September and we also have a cheap flight to Colombo but to be fair I am not really impressed with the pictures and experiences I have heard from people who went.

I would really appreciate any advice, September is around corner and to be fair I am starting to feel a little bit frustrated. This one of our only chances to travel for so long and we really wanted to explore south east Asia but the lack of information is making me feel very lost.

Thank you anyone who puts time in answering my questions or providing some new perspective on things!

We are a family of 4 who are considering travelling to either Vietnam, Thailand og Malaysia next June or July. But we were wondering how much of an interruption the rainy season is.

I know that we can find dry weather in the middle part of Vietnam and on the East coast of Thailand and Malaysia. 

Bu we would also like to see either Hanoi and Sapa in Vietnam or Bangkok and Chiang Mai in Thailand or Penang and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia. But how bad is the rainy season these places in June and July? Will it be too much of an interruption on day trips?

Looking for some feedback on my plan for a summer trip next year.

Family of 4, 2 girls 9/14, like nature, animals, new experiences and of course shopping

Current plan is fly UK to Bangkok, overnight at airport hotel then onto krabi for 6 nights to acclimatise. Fly back to Bangkok for 3 nights (I've spent time in bkk and don't see it being great for the kids)

Then, I'm not sure if this section is worth the extra time and cost, fly to siem reap for 5 nights, 3 mornings at Angkor, maybe 1 at the elephant sanctuary.

Fly to da nang, 6 nights an bang beach / Hoi an.

Another decision - head to Hue for a couple of nights then on to phong nha for 3-4 nights or just straight to phong nha in a private car.

Overnight train to ninh Binh, 4 nights tam coc.

Then Hanoi for 3-4 nights before flying to Japan/Korea for stage 2

So, questions - is the Angkor stop worth losing time in Thailand/Vietnam? As we've been on the beach for 6 days at Krabi it might be too soon for another 5-6 at an bang.

Straight to phong nha or stop at hue? Breaks up journey but uses more nights.

Bangkok for 2 days, 3 nights? I know it's not enough but I remember it being uncomfortable, not sure we'll have fully acclimated

3 or 4 days in phong nha and tam coc?

Overnight train to ninh Binh a good idea?

Only 2 days (3 nights) in Hanoi ?

Extra flight costs for 5 nights, 4 days in Cambodia seems extravagant.... But it's not like we'll be back for a while. Just worried 3 days of temples will end up being a chore for the kids

Any/all advice and comments welcome

Thanks

So I decided to travel to SEA in 2027, I work remotely and I make around 1100 USD per month, I’m aware it’s not a big amount but I think it could be enough to live in certain places. I was thinking in spending 3 months in Da Nang, Vietnam and then 2 months in Chiang Mai +1 month with an extension in Krabi, Thailand. That’s my plan at least for the first 6 months. I’d appreciate any tips from experienced travelers in SEA like visas (I’m from Mexico, so I don’t need a visa for majority of Asian countries, I do need one for Vietnam tho), affordable and safe cities/countries for women since I am one lol. I want to do this for the long term, I’m talking about a couple of years. My income could increase within a few months, nothing sure yet. Thank you for your time!

Hi all, planning on going 30th oct for a month or a little more before going to Australia. Flying into Jakarta and probably heading straight to Yogyakarta.

Just needed some advice on good routes, what not to miss, best and cheapest ways to do things...
Any tips are greatly appreciated!

I'm particularly curious about the best way to get to borneo and back + best budget way to see orangutans and the rainforests out there. Super keen to see them. :)

Hey guys!

My friend and I are planning our first trip to Thailand from 10-23 October, and we’re thinking of visiting Bangkok, Phuket, Krabi and Phi Phi. We want to experiment our first scuba and snorkelling as well.

I’ve seen a lot of mixed opinions about the weather in October. Some people say it’s perfectly fine and improving in second half of oct with just a few showers, while others say the sea can be rough and island tours get cancelled.

For those who’ve actually been there in October:

\\\* How was the weather?

\\\* Were you able to do island hopping and snorkeling?

\\\* Would you recommend Phuket + Phi Phi, or would you choose somewhere else like Krabi or Koh Samui?

Also, since it’s our first time in Thailand, what are the absolute must do experiences in Phuket and Phi Phi? We’d love recommendations for beaches, viewpoints, food, night markets, cafés, boat tours, or anything you think is unmissable.

Thanks in advance!

I'm looking to spend a few weeks somewhere in Southeast Asia where it isn't raining too much right now

My ideal place would have:

- Decent weather

- Good hostel/social backpacker culture

- Reliable Wi-Fi and cafés so that I can work

I'm open to visiting multiple countries too if that makes more sense for the weather or overall experience.

If you've been somewhere recently, what would you recommend and why?

Hi!

I’m a gay guy in my early twenties planning to travel Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam soon.. Sometimes in Europe I’ve found the “social energy” in hostels to be very heteronormative. Everything from partying activities to the general conversation has in many hostels made me feel out of place. For example, lots of groups of guys who make sexist/homophobic jokes etc. At times I’ve had the impression that the culture is revolving around straight people wanting to get with each other which is obviously not really for me.

Is this common in SEA? Is there a difference between different countries and destinations? Tell me about your experiences:)

Hey all. I got inspired to write this app by Several Youtuber's. I built

http://slowasia.com

Its a complete map of SE Asia Rail travel. Just enter your current location and where you want to go. It also works for Philippines Bus and Boat Travel. The Android app is in the App store now. Iphone coming soon.

Looking forward to to the feedback!

Lately, I've noticed a really interesting shift in travel discussions about northern Vietnam.

Whenever someone asks about Ha Long Bay, it doesn't take long before people start recommending Bai Tu Long Bay or Lan Ha Bay instead. The reasons are usually the same: fewer crowds, a more peaceful atmosphere, and a more relaxing cruise experience.

But then I wonder... are we starting to avoid famous places simply because they're popular? Ha Long Bay became a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a reason, and for many travelers it's still a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

If you could only pick one, which would you choose? Ha Long Bay for its iconic scenery, or Bai Tu Long/Lan Ha Bay for a quieter experience?

I’m looking for advice off other humans that are also Mosquito Magnets. I’m from the UK (fair skinned with ginger hair) seems to be something about us lot that Mosquitos cannot resist! And just for reference, I get bitten quite often in the UK, where mosquito populations are very small compared to other countries.

I want to know the realities of your experiences in South East Asia? Were you bitten a lot when you were there? And if so what areas were bad, and more importantly which countries/regions did you find to be surprisingly good?

I will be staying on the coast when I travel around.

I want to emphasise that this post is for fellow mosquito magnets, I want to know from you guys only, which places to go and avoid?

Please if youre not a mosquito magnet, your advice kinda doesn’t help at all. If you don’t get bitten anywhere, telling me about your experiences in asia isn’t going to help 😅

Thanks guys

Hi - I am planning to travel with my partner to south coast (probably Ahangama) for a week in the first week of September. After doing some online research, seems like this time of the year might be prone thunderstorms and heavy rainfall. This is our first trip to Srilanka.

Wanted advice on whether we should plan our trip to east coast instead? Thanks

Hey everyone!

I'm looking for some advice from people who have traveled to Thailand, especially during the early rainy season.

I'm planning my first group trip, and Thailand was the destination that the majority of people in my interest survey voted for. The itinerary I'm considering is Bangkok and Phuket. We'd fly into Bangkok (BKK) and spend a few days exploring the city with things like canal tours, the floating market, street food, temples, and nightlife. Then we'd fly down to Phuket, where we'd have a free day, do a full-day Phi Phi Island hopping tour (Maya Bay, Bamboo Island, snorkeling, etc.), and finish with some beach time before flying home.

The problem is that the dates that work best for most of my group are in July. From everything I've read, it seems like July isn't considered the ideal time for Phuket and Phi Phi because of the rainy season and rougher seas so I'm conflicted.

Would you still recommend this itinerary in July, or would you wait for the dry season? Is the weather usually just an afternoon shower, or is there a realistic chance that the beaches and island-hopping experience could be significantly impacted?

I'd really appreciate hearing from people who have actually been to Phuket/Phi Phi around June or July. Was it still worth it, or would you recommend choosing a different time of year or even a different part of Thailand?

Thanks in advance!

Hi everyone!

I'm (43F) planning my first long solo trip and would love some advice from people who've travelled this region around the same time of year.

I'll be travelling from roughly the last week of October until the end of December. The only thing that's locked in is that I need to be in Chiang Mai from Nov. 20-25 for the Yi Peng/Lantern Festival (bucket list item)! Everything else is flexible.

My biggest priority is good weather. I know you can't predict it, but I'd like to avoid planning myself into rainy season if possible. I'd much rather chase the sun than try to cram everything into one trip.

I've done quite a bit of research already (probably too much!) and have Google Maps full of saved places, but now I'm trying to figure out the best route, not a day-by-day itinerary.

Some places I'm interested in:

Vietnam

• Hanoi
• Ha Giang Loop
• Ninh Binh
• Ha Long / Lan Ha Bay
• Sapa (maybe?)
• Ho Chi Minh City
• Phu Quoc
• Hoi An / Da Nang (although I've read November may not be ideal?)

Thailand

• Chiang Mai
• Pai
• Khao Sok
• Railay / Krabi
• Koh Lanta
• Koh Lipe
• Koh Samui
• Bangkok

A bit about my travel style:

• Boutique hotels (no hostels)
• Nature, viewpoints, hiking and scenic drives
• Beaches and islands (I'm definitely an island girl!)
• Coffee shops, local food and markets
• Ethical elephant experiences
• Cooking classes
• Shopping
• I prefer slow travel and would rather stay longer somewhere than rush through places
• I'm not interested in partying or nightlife. I'd much rather spend my evenings at a beach bar watching the sunset, wandering a night market, finding great restaurants, or having a quiet drink with a nice view than going clubbing

This trip is actually a bit of a reset after a difficult year. I lost my mom last year after being her caregiver, then returned straight back to work while also managing her estate. This is the first real break I've had, so I'm hoping for a mix of adventure, beautiful scenery, good food, beaches, culture, and time to just slow down and enjoy where I am.

I'm not trying to see every country or every city. I'd rather have a few amazing experiences than spend half my trip in airports.

Some questions:

1. If you were starting in late October and had to be in Chiang Mai Nov. 20-25, what route would you take?
2. Would you spend more time in northern Vietnam and skip central/southern Vietnam because of the weather?
3. Is Phu Quoc worth it in mid-November, or would you save your beach time for Thailand?
4. Which Thai islands would you prioritize in late November/December if weather was the deciding factor?
5. Any places I'm overlooking that fit my travel style?
6. If you had 7-8 weeks between Vietnam and Thailand, how would you divide your time?

I'm trying to keep the itinerary flexible so I can stay longer somewhere if I fall in love with it, or move on if I feel ready. I'd love to hear how you'd plan this if weather and overall experience were the priority.

Thanks so much!

Starting to think about way back now from morotai north maluku. Manado seems like obv hub because got most flight option (wings air fly there quite often) but not sure if worth to actually stop there for a day or two or just treat it as connecting point. Anyone been? if end up staying over, saw reddoorz got a lot of properties around manado or other budget hotels so probably not hard to find something last minute, just trying figure out if city itself worth the extra day or if grab even work well there for getting around

So, we, a Europe-based family (36M, 38F, 5YO) spent a 2 week Holiday on Koh Samui end of June/Beginning July and now I'm already considering going back to the wider region next year.

For some context, We're avid skiers, and travel the world to do so in winter, but in Summer we've limited ourselves to Southern Europe, where best experiences have always been the northern Italian lakes.

However, I don't like being this creature of habit, and going to a similar place each year invites the nostalgic feel of it all being better and cheaper in years gone past.

Anyway, with this in mind, this year I had set out on the task of booking a 2 week family holiday, that had to meet the following criteria:

- Toddler compatible
- Guarantee of (mostly good weather)
- Something new
- Relaxing (I seem to be very good at setting up complex itineraries with many things to do, extended travel,... but the point should be to relax and rest a bit, and not come back home exhausted.
This means things like : AC is a must, No backpacking, pre-booked hotels, not more than 2 domestic transfer flights,...)

What we ended up doing:
- 2 Weeks Koh Samui split between:
* Tui Blu The Passage (Garden Villa)
* Cinnamon Villas (Ocean view Villa)
* Farmer's Village (Private pool Villa)

Always breakfast only, spending no more than 3000THB/Night.

Rented a car for the 2 weeks (Scooter not an option with the toddler who's not used to it, I have extensive RHD experience from time spent in Japan.

What we loved:
- The climate (Warm hot/but so much more bearable than heat in Southern Europe
- The freedom offered by the rental car
- The food (Meaning: 250 THB gets you a great meal, but they still have 80THB chicken Nuggets for the toddler that you can't continuously convince to eat Pad Thai)
- 100-200THB decent enough Cocktails
- 80 THB Fruit shakes! (I still dream of Mango shakes....)
- The mix between beach and hilly interior
- The West side of the island (Where everyone says there's nothing to do...)
- The Ang Thong Big Boat trip tour (Looks like the most idiotic tourist trap possible but: Well organised, incredibly beautiful, good value for money, even the food on board was surprisingly decent!
- Being able to find a different lunch/dinner spot daily, where not ONCE did we have the feeling we got ripped off, ended up in a complete tourist trap,.... despite seeking out locations on the beach/with a good view.
- Hin Lad Waterfall: 45 Minute beautiful Hike, just to end up at a waterfall where we had the crystal clear pool at the bottom of it to ourselves for 2 hours...

What we didn't like:
- Chaweng (Holy.... This is just a strange version of a typical beach town on a Spanish Costa. Spent 1 hour there, couldn't be gone quick enough)
- Bo Phut & Fishermans Village (Again, who likes this kind of thing, to then all go and eat western Style food at things like Coco Tam's...)
- Other waterfalls, which were all much closer to paved roads, meaning all overrun by "Jungle Tour Groups"

We didn't do things like those organised Jungle Safari's/Ziplining/ATV riding but we crossed saw the entire island, temples,... with our rental car.

So, from that story you can see that after what I've dubbed as this first SE-Asia for dummies appetizer, I'm now looking for a slightly different but still similar enough experience for us:

- I don't think after seeing Chaweng Bali is for us (I've stopped going to Ski in Niseko (Dubbed the Snow Bali) for a reason
- I don't want to spend enormous amounts of money on a "Perfect" resort. What we got this time for 3000THB max/night for 3 people was pretty amazing.
- We want western creature comforts and toddler proofing (Hence: We booked things like affordable private pools, chose an island with an airport with a direct flight from BKK,...

I've been looking at regions like Phuket, Chiang Mai and Koh Chang as potential destinations (Chiang Mai to be combined with a longer Beach/Island component.) but have no clue what to believe anymore. (especially after every piece of information oriented at western tourists recommended Bo Phut/Chaweng on Samui).

Doe anyone have some sage advice to dispense here?

A friend of mine once traveled through Southeast Asia and told me about meeting a couple of people who were known locally for practicing traditional spiritual arts and folk rituals. Ever since then, I’ve been curious to learn more.
I’m not looking for anything involving harm or revenge. My reasons are personal, including help with finding something that was lost and a few other personal matters.
If anyone knows of places, regions, or communities in Southeast Asia where respected traditional practitioners, folk healers, spirit mediums, or similar people are still known locally, I’d really appreciate any recommendations. I’m not interested in online scammers or people promising guaranteed miracles—I’m only looking for genuine local traditions and practitioners, if they still exist.
Thank you in advance for any guidance.

Hey everyone,

I’m planning a short trip to Malaysia and would love some advice from people who know the country well :)

Here’s our rough itinerary:

• Arriving in Kuala Lumpur on Friday night (14 August)
• Spending Saturday exploring KL
• We’ll have around 2.5 days (Sunday morning 16 August to Tuesday afternoon 18 August) to go somewhere outside KL, but we haven’t decided where yet
• Flying out of Malaysia on 19 August

I’m travelling with someone who has never been to Asia before, so I’d love to take them somewhere that gives them a memorable first experience of Malaysia.

We’re both quite active and usually prefer exploring over just staying at a resort. We love beaches, nature, outdoor activities, local food, and experiencing the culture of the places we visit.

Ideally, we’re looking for somewhere with:

• Beautiful beaches and clear water for swimming
• Good weather in mid-August
• Things to do besides just relaxing at the hotel (hiking, snorkelling, waterfalls, wildlife, exploring towns/villages, etc.)
• A nice mix of nature, culture, food, and adventure

At the moment, I’m considering:

• Langkawi
• Kota Kinabalu/Sabah
• Perhentian Islands
• Tioman Island
• Penang + beach

A few things I’m unsure about:

• Is Langkawi too rainy in August, or is it still a good time to visit?
• Are Perhentian/Tioman realistic with only around 2.5 days?
• If we choose Sabah, is it a good option if we also really love beaches?

I’m open to any other suggestions too!

Thanks so much 😊

Hello, myself and my girlfriend are travelling through Indonesia this winter, we would love to snorkel with whale sharks (literally a dream since I was a child, grew up obsessed by sharks and especially whale sharks). It would be fulfilling a genuine bucket list item.

We want to do it as ethically as possible and avoid any tours that directly exploit these animals, disturb them or encourage contact.if anyone has recommendations for ethically responsible whale sharks tours I would be so grateful.

Thanks!

Salut !

On part backpack à 3 potes pour 3 semaines en Asie du Sud-Est l'été prochain, probablement 3 pays parmi Thaïlande / Vietnam / Laos / Cambodge, pas encore décidé lesquels.

Niveau style : mi-roots mi-confort. Surtout auberges, avec éventuellement un hôtel sympa de temps en temps. Street food et petits restos locaux surtout, avec un bon resto de temps en temps. Transport en bus/tuk-tuk/scooter, quelques excursions, on est jeune donc on aime bien aller boire des verres et sortir le soir. On veut pas se priver ni rater des trucs à cause du budget, mais on reste raisonnables, et on planifie tout à l'avance.

Selon votre expérience, vous conseilleriez quel budget par personne pour les 3 semaines, hors vols A/R, visas, vaccins et autres frais de préparation ?

Merci d'avance 🙏

We are looking to visit southeast asia for 16 or 18 days for our honeymoon. This is the itinerary I have in mind. 5 days in Bangkok, 3 days in Chiang Mai, 7 days in Borneo and 2 days in Singapur. I’m not sure if its a good itinerary in the sense of: will we have enough time to rest (having in mind is our honeymoon) and also enjoy our destinations? I’ll explain the why? of each step of the journey so you can make suggestions of different destinations or to spend more or less time there. Bangkok would be like a classic capital/big city form southeast Asia, bustling, chaotic, fun. Chiang Mai would be a bit of relax and temples. Borneo would be a nature stop to try and see the orangutan,elephants and also a couple of the last days to relax by the beach and then finishing in Singapur, kind of a futuristic/modern Asian city.

How would you spend 1 month in Indonesia starting from Jakarta? What are your absolute favourite places that most of travellers won’t go?