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SvenskaAsia – 6 important pieces of travel advice before your journey to Asia
Welcome to our U.Advice Guide for Asia. This guide has been written by members of our U.Crew who have personally been and travelled extensively throughout Asia, and have had a
Visiting Asia – Here’s What You Need to Know Before You Travel
A world away, both in the distance and cultural diversity, Asia is an enormous melting pot of distinct ethnicities and strong histories, living border to border on the largest and most populous continent on Earth! In fact, almost 3/5ths of the world population can be found on the Asian Continent!
Before you embark on your epic adventure of Asia, we’re willing to bet that you need as much information about your destination as possible. That’s why we’ve given you absolutely everything you need to know to travel safely and make the most of your trip!
Info about Asia
Asia is a travel adventurer’s heartland at an affordable price. Whether you want to encounter some of the world’s most exotic cultures in Thailand and Indonesia or find lost temples and jungle trails in Cambodia and Laos, this region has a host of unique and memorable experiences for every traveller type.
Many start their expedition to the far east in Bangkok, choosing to head down to the islands of Southern Indonesia (Bali!) before continuing their adventure north into Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia, before heading over to Japan and China – from high-density cities to golden temples and mystical lakes, the Asian nations are a collective of beautiful people and tasty cuisine!
When to Travel
With a collection of islands and mountainous regions, Southeast Asia is the ideal travel destination for a variety of beach, nature and city experiences! The region encompasses great variation in weather but its typically hot, humid and tropical year-round with the temperatures rarely dipping below 22ºC/72F in February or above 35C/95F in January.
Average rainfall on the other hand begins in April causing severe floods and doesn’t ease off until October. It’s advised to travel during the dry season from November to March when conditions are clear skies and warm days without that wet feeling like you always have during monsoons!
Travelling Asia Before or After Your U.Trip
Accommodation:
Generally the cost of travel and accommodation is relatively cheap. Safety, cost and location are always at the forefront of most backpackers decisions, and as normal, your choices will be influenced by your budget and your length of stay. Your U.Crew can help you book accommodation before and after your tours so your first stop to speak to a member of our helpful customer services team.
In Thailand, dormitories will cost between 40-140 kroner per night depending on the city you’re in whereas Japan offers dormitories with overnight stays starting from 150-300 kroner. A one night stay in Cambodia could go from 20-30 Danish kroner while 30-50 DKK will buy you a room for the night in Vietnam.
Privacy by way of a private room (with air conditioning) comes at an extra cost of approx. DKK 80-160 per night. In Japan, that cost will rise significantly as demand is high, as in the more touristy areas across South East Asia. Expect to pay between 10-20% more per night.
Transport:
U. Trips are handcrafted to balance the best adventures, experiences and sightseeing possible while on tour. If you’d like to explore before your U.Trip, then chat with a member of our fantastic U.Crew in customer services, who can help you design a bespoke route and book transport and accommodation for safety and security.
If you find you have unexpected time on your hands then here are a few transport points for you. To start with, transport within most South-East Asian nations is cost-effective, on time, efficient and reliable.
Travelling by bus is a great way to see Asia as it’s often the cheapest and most convenient option. Prices depend on how long it takes to reach your destination and at what time of day you’re travelling. Longer rides are about 50-200 DKK for day trips and 100-200 DKK for night tickets.
However, trains have become increasingly popular as many routes offer overnight transport with bunk beds, allowing you to combine a nights accommodation with your transport! The longer a train ride lasts, the higher its price becomes – this is as true for rides during the day as it is for those at night. During daytime hours, prices usually start from 100 to 200 DKK per person while after dark, the same distance can cost between 150 and 300 DKK and is dependant on what class a traveller chooses.
When exploring the island nations, ferry’s are widely used and well recommended. They can get you directly into each port, although some of the smaller islands require you to negotiate with local operators for a private transfer. We recommend being respectful of their prices as the small fees may not be a lot to us, but they make a huge impact on locals ability to earn a decent living and support their families!
City Transport:
Flights in Asia are reasonably cheap if you travel by Air Asia or Nok Air. Speak to your U.Crew customer services team member who can book these on your behalf.
Public transport in the larger cities is also affordable with an average bus ticket varying between 2-8 DKK and a train ticket from 7-12 DKK (city dependent)
We recommend that if you decide to travel by taxi, you do so with a registered and branded company for safety and comfort. Always choose a cab with a taximeter to ensure you don’t pay ‘tourist prices’!
A ride in a Tuk Tuk is an absolute must. However, make sure you negotiate the price and be confident to walk around and compare costs with other operators, before settling on a price. It is, however, a fun way to explore a city and experience street life up close. Also, in our experience, we have found Tuk Tuk drivers to be excellent city guides!
Eating in Asia
On most of our U.Trips, many of your meals are included in the cost of your tour. They have been carefully crafted by our local hosts so that you experience the very best authentic cuisine that the location has to offer.
However, the street food stalls available in Asian countries are often the best place to save money on a meal, should you need to buy one, and also get a unique experience into the individual spice culture of each region. For not much more than 30 – 100 Thai Baht you can eat a stomach-filling meal made with fresh ingredients directly from the cook to you in a matter of minutes.
Remember that if you’re planning to stay in the more tourist dense locations like Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, you will find yourself paying more for a typical restaurant meal, priced for tourists – expect to pay around 90 – 150 Thai Baht.
Global fast-food chains are not much cheaper than they are in Denmark, and you may end up spending more money than you expected on foods like McDonald’s.
Religion (& Respectful Clothing at Religious Sites)
Almost all major religions are practised in Asia – Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Confucianism, Islam, Jainism, Judaism, Shinto, Sikhism, Taoism, and Zoroastrianism —and many minor ones.
Please note that when you’re in Asia and exploring its many temples and holy places it is important to be aware that the traditional clothing for Asian people usually consists of loose-fitting clothing that is often made from lightweight cotton.
However, if you would like to enter the sacred area of a temple or holy place, it’s important to remember that you must cover your shoulders and knees entirely before entering. The easiest way to do this while visiting Asia is by carrying a shawl with you that can be easily wrapped around your top half as well as some loose trousers with elasticated waists enabling them to be quickly removed without any fuss so that they can be quickly replaced with either more appropriate clothing or simply returned to your bag!
Daily Budget
Most of your daily costs are included within your U.Trip price.
For days before and after your U.trip, you can maintain a hostel based stay for below 300 DKK per day if you are sensible and eat at street markets and stay in dormitories.
Japan is more expensive and we recommend you allow a higher budget for extra time here.
U.Trip Asian Locations – When to Travel
Thailand Travel
In Thailand, the best time to travel is between November and February, as this is the (relatively) coolest time of year. Temperatures are around 30 degrees and rainfall is scarce. During this period, it is also high season and therefore the prices reflect demand and may be higher than at other times of the year. The warmest months in Thailand are April and May.
The rainy season runs from June to October, but some travellers find that it’s actually not that bad. Though an extreme amount of rain does fall for certain parts of the day, usually it’s limited to a certain few hours and requires only light coverings such as umbrellas, use of hoodies or waterproof clothing. So those who don’t mind a bit of a wetter climate can experience Thailand during the rainy season and have just as much fun as they would have if they travelled there in dry weather!
Indonesia Travel
There are many places to visit in Indonesia, but certain months are better for you than others. The best time of year to visit the country is between April and October as the weather is predictably warm at 25-30 degrees and it’s not raining. Understandably, this is when there are more people around to enjoy its glorious beaches and sights, so your vacation might cost a little bit more.
Vietnam Travel
In Vietnam, the weather around Nha Trang and Hoi An is generally quite pleasant between January and May, when it’s out of the rainy season and the temperature ranges between 23-30C (73.4-86F). When travelling in Vietnam in June to August, you’re best off visiting Hanoi, where it’s also nice recorded temperatures for this time of year: between 24-29C (75.2-84.2F). The best time of year to visit Vietnam however is from March to April and October to December: Average temperature is 28C (82F) – warm enough for swimming!
Cambodia Travel
Cambodia is located on the southern coast of Southeast Asia and offers many warm and sunny days throughout the year. The best time to visit Cambodia, and the region for that matter are between October and May as you’ll find fewer crowds, less humidity, and lesser-than-usual rainfall in most places. With pretty constant temperatures of around 28 degrees celsius, think of packing lite layers that can be combined for warmth when needed.
Japan Travel
When travelling to Japan, it’s difficult to say which season is best as it depends on what your individual preferences are! During the summer months, the average temperature is around 25-30 degrees, so if you want warm weather this is a great time to travel!
From June until August at the end of summer when the sun sets there is an incredible light reflection on Yozakura beach which we highly recommend experiencing.
Between July and September, the sky at night looks redder because of cherry blossoms in bloom. Enjoy this beautiful sight by rickshaw, out in the open with the possibility to breathe in the rich blossom scents
Philippines Travel
During November to May rainfall is at its lowest which gives you more time to enjoy the islands and beaches while on your U.Trip. Between November and February, the average temperature is around 25 degrees celsius while March to May sees an increase to contact temperatures over 30 degrees celsius.
Enjoy Your U.Trip!
We are pleased to share these U.Tips. of Asia. As a continent, it’s an enormous travel destination, but you will find that our U.Trips are designed to explore the very best sites, experience the unusual and create ‘Better Human Beings’ through travel. Learn, Love, Experience and Share!
Trips to get you here
Tropical beaches, lush rainforests, dense jungles, vibrant cities, spectacular cuisine and some of the most lovely people on the planet – this is Thailand!!!
$1,590
Sun, sand, surf, sunrises and sunsets – authentic Bali and the tropical Gili Islands
$975
