Comments on: Southeast Asian Budget http://livesofwander.com/2008/06/10/southeast-asian-budget/ Tue, 18 Nov 2008 09:45:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.2 By: And finally, Africa | Lives of Wander http://livesofwander.com/2008/06/10/southeast-asian-budget/#comment-1006 And finally, Africa | Lives of Wander Wed, 18 Jun 2008 01:27:10 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/?p=240#comment-1006 [...] This the third in our three part budget outline.  See Part 1 - South America and Part 2 - Southeast Asia. [...] [...] This the third in our three part budget outline.  See Part 1 - South America and Part 2 - Southeast Asia. [...]

]]> By: Bhutan: Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign | Lives of Wander http://livesofwander.com/2008/06/10/southeast-asian-budget/#comment-978 Bhutan: Signs, Signs, Everywhere a Sign | Lives of Wander Fri, 13 Jun 2008 01:03:07 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/?p=240#comment-978 [...] we plan to visit, we expect to spend an average of less than $50 per day (as outlined by Jeff in our last post) the cost seems even more exorbitant. We could live for months in the Southeast Asia for what [...] [...] we plan to visit, we expect to spend an average of less than $50 per day (as outlined by Jeff in our last post) the cost seems even more exorbitant. We could live for months in the Southeast Asia for what [...]

]]> By: Jeff http://livesofwander.com/2008/06/10/southeast-asian-budget/#comment-976 Jeff Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:36:32 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/?p=240#comment-976 Thanks for all the tips, insight and advice Scott and Matt. You all make some great points. I'm also glad to hear that things are actually as inexpensive as we hear. I like the idea of the occasional upgrade though =). Thanks for all the tips, insight and advice Scott and Matt. You all make some great points. I’m also glad to hear that things are actually as inexpensive as we hear. I like the idea of the occasional upgrade though =).

]]> By: Scott http://livesofwander.com/2008/06/10/southeast-asian-budget/#comment-975 Scott Thu, 12 Jun 2008 22:06:17 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/?p=240#comment-975 Budget sounds right. Flights are really cheap there, so you might want to up the transporation budget a little and opt to take a couple flights around the region. Especially, if you plan to go to any of the Thai islands or places like that. Bus is still cheaper and train is a good alternative too, but hard to pass up the cheap airfares (especially these days). Might also want to pad your lodging budget just a smidge to account for some 'hostel burnout'. After 150+ days in hostels you might want a little break. SE Asia is the perfect place to do it since 'upgrading' is still incredibly cheap (especially Vietnam). A couple quick recommendations: a GREAT hostel in Bangkok, Suk 11 (www.suk11.com). Lots of character, clean rooms, cheap, good restaurant, wireless internet (lobby). Not near Khao San Road (not a bad thing), but in the heart of Bangkok near all kinds of transportation, parks, street food, etc. Stayed there a few times and loved it. Also, if you're in Bangkok, check out Scirocco (http://www.thedomebkk.com/web/corp_home04.html) an outdoor bar on the 60th floor of the State Tower. 360 views of Bangkok, great place to go at sunset. The restaurant is a bit pricey, but you can just grab a drink at the outdoor bar and check things out. Very cool. Angkor Wat is well worth it. Be sure to check out Ta Phrom while you're there. Budget sounds right. Flights are really cheap there, so you might want to up the transporation budget a little and opt to take a couple flights around the region. Especially, if you plan to go to any of the Thai islands or places like that. Bus is still cheaper and train is a good alternative too, but hard to pass up the cheap airfares (especially these days).

Might also want to pad your lodging budget just a smidge to account for some ‘hostel burnout’. After 150+ days in hostels you might want a little break. SE Asia is the perfect place to do it since ‘upgrading’ is still incredibly cheap (especially Vietnam).

A couple quick recommendations: a GREAT hostel in Bangkok, Suk 11 (www.suk11.com). Lots of character, clean rooms, cheap, good restaurant, wireless internet (lobby). Not near Khao San Road (not a bad thing), but in the heart of Bangkok near all kinds of transportation, parks, street food, etc. Stayed there a few times and loved it.

Also, if you’re in Bangkok, check out Scirocco (http://www.thedomebkk.com/web/corp_home04.html) an outdoor bar on the 60th floor of the State Tower. 360 views of Bangkok, great place to go at sunset. The restaurant is a bit pricey, but you can just grab a drink at the outdoor bar and check things out. Very cool.

Angkor Wat is well worth it. Be sure to check out Ta Phrom while you’re there.

]]> By: Theresa http://livesofwander.com/2008/06/10/southeast-asian-budget/#comment-972 Theresa Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:09:55 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/?p=240#comment-972 Wow, thanks for the firsthand report, Matt. Very helpful. And thanks for letting me know about the link. I updated it. It would be cool if we crossed paths in SE Asia. How long are you planning to stay in that area? Wow, thanks for the firsthand report, Matt. Very helpful. And thanks for letting me know about the link. I updated it. It would be cool if we crossed paths in SE Asia. How long are you planning to stay in that area?

]]> By: Nomadic Matt http://livesofwander.com/2008/06/10/southeast-asian-budget/#comment-971 Nomadic Matt Thu, 12 Jun 2008 18:01:02 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/?p=240#comment-971 phew....glad i got this post before you moved on... Here's how it all breaks down Thailand "hotel"- around 500 baht a night Basic guesthouses- 150-200 baht Bungalow on the beach- 400-800 depending on the island you go too street food- 40 baht or less thai resurant- about 150 baht for a meal western restuarant- 200+ baht 1 night jungle trek in chang mai- 1,000 baht sangsom bucket= 150 baht beer- 60 baht Cambodia room- 1-2 dollars meal on the street- 1 dollar or less beer- 1 dollar basically, everything is a dollar....but if u pay in local currency, it can be a lot cheaper angkor wat guied for 3 days= 10 bucks a day Park fee i think is more than that but don't go to angkor for a day...you'll see none of the good stuff Vietnam hotel- 5-7 dollars bus from top to bottom- 20 bucks beer- 12 cents bread from the street- 5 loafs at whatever you can bargain for, usually 5,000 dong (30 center) meal- 2 dollars or less in a restuarant Vietnam is cheap except for a hotel but in cambodia the opposite is true. Laos Only have limited experience there but its cheap, about half way between thailand and cambodia cheap Realistically, if you want to party a bit, then I'd say an average of 17 dollars a day would do it. If you feel like having a less alcoholic time, you could do it for 15, especially if you don't travel a lot. BTW- I'll be in Thailand as of september 1st. BTW- The url link to my site no longer works. just remove the /index.html and you'll be fine phew….glad i got this post before you moved on…

Here’s how it all breaks down

Thailand

“hotel”- around 500 baht a night

Basic guesthouses- 150-200 baht

Bungalow on the beach- 400-800 depending on the island you go too

street food- 40 baht or less

thai resurant- about 150 baht for a meal

western restuarant- 200+ baht

1 night jungle trek in chang mai- 1,000 baht

sangsom bucket= 150 baht

beer- 60 baht

Cambodia

room- 1-2 dollars

meal on the street- 1 dollar or less

beer- 1 dollar

basically, everything is a dollar….but if u pay in local currency, it can be a lot cheaper

angkor wat guied for 3 days= 10 bucks a day

Park fee i think is more than that but don’t go to angkor for a day…you’ll see none of the good stuff

Vietnam
hotel- 5-7 dollars
bus from top to bottom- 20 bucks
beer- 12 cents
bread from the street- 5 loafs at whatever you can bargain for, usually 5,000 dong (30 center)
meal- 2 dollars or less in a restuarant

Vietnam is cheap except for a hotel but in cambodia the opposite is true.

Laos
Only have limited experience there but its cheap, about half way between thailand and cambodia cheap

Realistically, if you want to party a bit, then I’d say an average of 17 dollars a day would do it. If you feel like having a less alcoholic time, you could do it for 15, especially if you don’t travel a lot.

BTW- I’ll be in Thailand as of september 1st.

BTW- The url link to my site no longer works. just remove the /index.html and you’ll be fine

]]> By: Mark http://livesofwander.com/2008/06/10/southeast-asian-budget/#comment-970 Mark Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:57:20 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/?p=240#comment-970 Budget more, and give me the leftovers. Thanks. But that is very cheap. I may go over there. My expenses would be a lot less. Budget more, and give me the leftovers. Thanks.
But that is very cheap. I may go over there. My expenses would be a lot less.

]]> By: Christine Gilbert http://livesofwander.com/2008/06/10/southeast-asian-budget/#comment-961 Christine Gilbert Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:40:21 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/?p=240#comment-961 That's crazy cheap, and from what I've heard, completely doable. You might even find it cheaper once you ge there. What's the super secret other thing you might do? That’s crazy cheap, and from what I’ve heard, completely doable. You might even find it cheaper once you ge there.

What’s the super secret other thing you might do?

]]> By: Theresa http://livesofwander.com/2008/06/10/southeast-asian-budget/#comment-954 Theresa Wed, 11 Jun 2008 12:55:33 +0000 http://livesofwander.com/?p=240#comment-954 One thing you forgot---scuba lessons. I think those may come in at about $250-$300 per person in Thailand for open water certification. One thing you forgot—scuba lessons. I think those may come in at about $250-$300 per person in Thailand for open water certification.

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