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A UTHO RS

TOMMO & MEGSY

Backpacking for Beginners

THANK YOU

Tommo & Megsy are bloggers, podcasters and

photographers. They’ve visited over 75 countries & have been
full time digital nomads since April 2013.

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For further T&C’s click here.
 “If you’re physically fit,
hungry to learn and be
better, I urge you to
travel – as far and as widely
as possible. Sleep on floors
if you have to. Find out how
other people live and eat and
cook. Learn from them –
wherever you go”

-Anthony Bourdain.

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I NDE P E NDEN T BUD GET travel, you discover the true nature of a place. You discover

TR AV E L
Independent budget travel is quite simply the cheapest way to
experience the world. It’s also one of the most exciting ways.
It’s about adventure and real discovery. And, yes, you may end
up sleeping on a few floors! When it comes to Asia, being fully
independent is going to present many challenges but also many
rewards - it can be very cheap. However, at every turn, someone
will be offering a way for you to part with your money.
In this book we’ll be looking at Asia specific tips that you can
use to keep your travel budget down. This will include: how to
avoid the constant scams and up-sells, how to find the cheapest
accommodation and transport and how to enjoy the best food in
Asia, for only a dollar a meal.
what it means to you. With this guide we want to help you travel
cheaper, so you can travel more.
--
The content in this book will mainly cover India & East Asia
with a particular focus on countries that are more affordable for
travelers, rather than expensive countries like Japan. However,
many of the tips are general enough to apply to anywhere you
choose to visit in Asia.
NOTE: All prices, when referred to in dollars are based around the
US dollar.

For those of you who haven’t visited Asia, you may have a
mixed understanding of what to expect. Europeans may think
of Roman history and the lush green countryside, South
Americans may think of the Latin vibe, red meat and red wine
and North Americans may think of its epic countryside and
roads stretching into forever.

But, what is Asia?

Asia encompasses the open expanses of Mongolia and Siberia, to

the modern metropolises of Tokyo and Hong Kong. It includes:
the sprawling shantytowns of India to the care free, pristine
beaches of the Philippines. Not to mention the difference
between the deserts of the Arabian peninsular and the lush
jungles of Indonesia. It’s hard to pin down a connecting element,
a stereotype, for a continent as varied as Asia. But, when you

4
TH E COS T O F A SIA
Varkala, in Kerala, India is described in guidebooks as an
ex-hippie haven. In fact, many of the hippies are still there and
many more come each year to practice yoga on the cliffs above
the crashing waves of the Arabian Ocean.
$6 a night can get you a perfectly clean double room with a
4-poster bed, and a balcony with hammock. A 3-minute walk
along the cliff and down the steps carved into the rock face and
you will find your feet in the water.
In the USA, $6 may get you a sandwich and a soda.
When it comes to value, much of Asia is a haven to budget
travelers. A delicious meal could cost you 50 cents and a beer
sitting at a beach bar under palm trees, around 75 cents.
There are ways of traveling cheaply on every continent; but Asia
certainly makes budget travel easier than many of its
competitors.
5
C H EAP E S T DESTIN A TION S NOTE: The information detailed is based on a combination
of cost of living (numbeo.com), hostel prices (hostelz.com)
When deciding where to visit in Asia, budget travelers can and personal experience. A few countries such as Iraq and
choose based on price. Afghanistan have been omitted from this list due to insufficient
and unreliable information.
There may be places you have always wanted to visit, that aren’t
cheap. The question to ask is, would you prefer to spend 2 weeks
living frugally in Japan or 2 months living it up in SE Asia for
the same money? It’s up to you. There is still plenty of history,
culture and adventure to have in the cheapest countries.

That said, even expensive countries can be experienced on a

budget. For example, a city like Hong Kong can certainly be
enjoyed for less than you may spend on an average day in
Thailand. But, the regular budget traveler may find this hard to
achieve.

In this book you’ll discover the secrets of traveling cheaply in

Asia. The simplest first step to doing this is by choosing
destinations that are easy to visit on a limited budget.

So, the list below is less about the actual cost of travel and more
about bang for your buck. It’s about how easy it is to get a lot
done without blowing all your savings in a few days.

Cheap
Bangladesh; Cambodia; India; Indonesia; Laos; Malaysia;
Myanmar; Nepal; Philippines; Sri Lanka; Syria; Thailand;
Vietnam; Yemen

Medium
Bahrain; Brunei; China; Iran; Kyrgyzstan; Mongolia; Oman;
Pakistan; Taiwan; Tajikistan; Turkey; Turkmenistan; Uzbekistan

Expensive
Bhutan; Hong Kong / Macau; Israel; Japan; Jordan; Kazakhstan;
Kuwait; Maldives; North Korea; Palestine; Qatar; Saudi Arabia;
Singapore; South Korea; United Arab Emirates

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BU D G E T O U T L I NE
Overall, Asia is cheap. Dorm beds from $2 a night. Motorbike
rental for about $60 per month. If you know all the tricks, you
can easily live off a tiny budget.
As foreigners, you can live in Cambodia for $7 per day, for
example. This includes food, accommodation, entertainment,
transport and other basic living costs. Although this experience
rd
may be limited, you will see real life in a 3 world country,
close-up. Locals may even say that for $7 per day, you are living
in luxury.
The point is that travel varies for everyone. Some people can’t
bear the idea of anything less than 5 star. For those of us with
smaller wallets, we don’t get that sort of choice. It’s up to you to
decide what level of comfort is acceptable for you. In this outline
I’m going to explain what to expect from each budget range so
you can decide which will suit you.
Remember, before running out and booking your flights with a
trip budget of $7 a day, maintaining a budget like this is not easy
to achieve, it’s not even necessarily fun. This overview can help
you get started. Take the ideas from here and progress through
this book with them in mind, in order to learn how to make
clever budget traveling a reality.
As discussed in the previous section, costs vary in different parts
of Asia. These budgets may be easily achieved in cheap countries
like Cambodia and Laos and possibly, with effort, in medium
cost countries like China. They are however, difficult to achieve
in expensive countries like Japan.
Shoestring Traveler ($7 − $20 Per person
per day)
Welcome to the underworld. You are about to experience reality
on a new level. From living everyday outside the bounds of
health and safety to counting the pennies at every turn, this level
of travel is all about immersion. Your choices are limited but you
can still have a very rewarding experience.
Accommodation
Only the cheapest or free accommodation is going to keep you
under budget. Fortunately, Asia has plenty of those options.
They may not always be clean but you’ll be surprised at what you
might find.
Transport
Hitchhiking, local busses and trains. Travel less often and stay in
each destination longer to spread out your transport budget.
Food & Drink
The cheapest local street food is sometimes the tastiest. The local
whisky however, is not as tasty.
Shopping
Shop as little as possible. If something breaks, you may need
to replace it or just live without it. Basic toiletries are the only
things on your shopping list.
Entertainment & Attractions
The best things in life are free. Beaches, waterfalls, temples.
Seeing the major, paid for attractions may mean putting money
aside each day to cover the expenditure.
Here is a personal account of living in SE-Asia for between $7
and $15 per day.
Budget Traveler ($20 - $50 Per person Per
day)
This budget will leave you relatively content. It won’t always be
luxurious, but you’ll get the real experience without having to
constantly worry about money. The secret is, rather than fighting
to keep under budget every day, you balance the budget based
on your whole trip. Some days will be over budget and some will
be way under.
Accommodation
You’ll be able to afford some pleasant budget hotels and hostels.
Private rooms and air-con are in reach. They may not be the
cleanest in Asia but some will be pretty good.
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Transport
Local buses, trains and tuk-tuks should be quite affordable
within your budget as long as you don’t overdo it.
Food & Drink
Sticking to street food when possible will keep your budget
down. The occasional restaurant meal will be possible.
Shopping
It’s still best to shop less rather than more. That said, given how
much cheaper markets can be in Asia, it may be worth stocking
up using any leftover travel money.
Entertainment & Attractions
You should be able to budget to see all the main attractions you
desperately want to see, but may have to balance this out with
free activities.
Shopping
Depending on how much you choose to spend on the other
budget considerations, you’ll probably have enough budget to
shop occasionally.
Entertainment & Attractions
All but the most expensive attractions should fit in your travel
plan easily, maybe not everyday though.
--
There are a million and one factors affecting your budget. The
above costs are a rough guideline. We accept no responsibility if
you cannot make them a reality.

Flashpacker ($50+ Per person per day)

A flashpacker is a backpacker with money. At $50 a day you still
won’t be staying in fancy boutique hotels every night, but you’ll
be able to relax and enjoy the experiences you want, within
reason.

Accommodation
With a budget of at least $20 per person per day for
accommodation, you should never have too much of a problem
getting a clean and comfortable room in all cheap and medium
priced countries.

Transport
It’s still advisable to stick with local busses and trains to keep
prices down but you should be able to fly budget airlines for
longer trips and get around at a faster pace than someone with a
lower budget. Inner city travel by taxi will be affordable.

Food & Drink

Eating out for your whole trip should be possible, just avoid
those high priced tourist restaurants. Try the street food anyway,
it’s not just about price, it’s also about the authentic experience.

8
AC COMMO DA TIO N
The good news is accommodation in much of Asia is cheap.
Before we talk about specific types of accommodation, there are
some general tips you’ll need to be equipped with that apply to
all paid rooms. These will save you stress and help to save you
money too.
For the purpose of the sections below, we use the words hotel,
hostel, guesthouse etc. interchangeably. These methods apply to
any paid accommodation.
Peak Season
Like anywhere else in the world, peak season affects prices and
availability. We always advise traveling out of the peak season if
you are on a budget. You can save a fortune and avoid full hotels
with inflated prices. If you do have to travel during peak season,
be aware that some of the tips in this section might be harder to
achieve. For example, bartering for rooms when demand is high
is difficult.
Bartering for accommodation
You probably already know you can barter at markets in Asia.
Well, bartering exists in almost any transaction, including
budget accommodation. Advertised prices are often just
guidelines and it is possible to get some rooms for less than half
price. It is easier to do this for last minute bookings or outside of
peak season. You can also barter at any time, even on the phone
before arrival. We’ll cover the exact bartering process in more
depth later in the How to barter in Asia section. For now, here
are a few tips for getting rooms cheaper.
Phone/email bartering
Use your regular bartering method when negotiating on the
phone. Phone or email a few hotels, ask them for their best price
and play them off against quotes you have from other hotels - or
ones you have made up!
Always have another option - Be prepared to
walk away
Unlike buying a t-shirt, which you don’t really need, a
guesthouse is unlikely to believe you will walk back out in the
rain at 10 pm at night rather than taking the room. If you have
a backup option in mind, you can barter more effectively as you
will be willing to walk away.
It’s better to barter in a nice way at hotels. After all, they have
access to your room, if you take it.
Approach the situation like this: “So sorry. We are backpackers
and can only afford X dollars for one night”. If you cannot agree
on a good price, tell them you will have to try elsewhere as you
just can’t afford the price.
If they won’t budge, you can walk out to try your other option.
Because you have been polite and apologetic, if you do have
to return later, you should still get the room at the best price
previously agreed. You can also play your hotel B off against the
price from Hotel A.
Multiple night discount
If you are staying more than one night you should always ask
for a discount. If you are staying for a week or more, you have a
stronger case for a discount as you can say you’ll find somewhere
else if they can’t appease you.
Just book one night
You are arriving to a new town late at night with heavy bags.
It’s understandable to just want something sorted in advance.
With online prices often being higher than a bartered price, it’s
worth only booking your first night online. Then take an hour
the next morning to check the other local hotels. You may find
bartering easier from the angle of, “We already have a room, but
are looking for a better deal - can you give us the best price”. You
want them to woo you in selecting their hotel.
Hostels
The real bargain basement hostels are incredibly cheap.
Sometimes as low as $1 for a dorm bed. You should be prepared
9
though. Those discount prices often equal some pretty poor
standards. It may mean showering from a bucket of cold water,
filthy walls and floors, rodents and cockroaches in abundance,
bedbugs and damp & smelly dorm rooms.
Your $1 may get you a health and safety nightmare, but some
would say, this is all part of the “Asia” experience. Paying $3 a
night may yield a much more pleasant stay. Still very cheap, but
you’ll only start finding some really nice rooms once you start
paying $10 a night per person.
It’s not just dorms either. Many hostels offer private rooms as
well.
The main advantages of staying in a hostel:
- More of a social atmosphere than a hotel.
- For solo travelers, dorms are typically cheaper than a single
private room.
Ways to find hostels in Asia
With many of the cheapest Asian hostels still not properly
featured online, you have to be savvy about finding a dorm.
It may take time to find the cheapest places, all for the sake
of saving a few dollars per night. If your budget is not super-
shoestring you may just want to keep it simple by using a
booking site.
Internet
Where to look? What to search for? You’d think doing a Google
search would be the obvious choice. Actually, a basic Google
search will mainly yield the same results as a hostel booking site
would - the more expensive, well promoted places.
Wikitravel.com is a free resource that will list accommodation
options in most destinations. It’s a decent starting point but is
notoriously out of date, so double check any info you find.
Try using the lonelyplanet.com/thorntree forum. Either search
old posts for your destination or post a new thread for info.
Once you have some names and or prices, then you can head
back to Google and do a specific search on those leads for the
latest info.
Guidebooks
Some guidebooks are up to date, some aren’t. Still, the majority
of listings for hostels will probably be current; so using a
guidebook can be a simple time saver.
On the budget side, if something is in the guidebook, you won’t
be the only one looking it up. Typically anything that has been
widely recommended in a major guide will have less reason to
keep prices low, and less reason to maintain standards. They
already get customers, so why worry?
Booking sites
The very cheapest hostels rarely have online presence - other
than as traveler’s stories on blogs and forums. That doesn’t mean
you can’t find some pretty good prices on booking sites.
Hostelz.com compares prices of the 4 biggest hostel sites. This
is a great place to start your search and get some benchmark
prices.
Just turn up
We mentioned this earlier. It is surprisingly easy outside of peak
season to just turn up to any tourist destination and find a room.
Less touristy places can be trickier to even find a hotel.
Either way you should still have some options available. Tuk-
tuk drivers are notorious for taking tourists to their friend’s
hostel and giving them an inflated price so they get their share.
You must insist on where you want to go. If in doubt, just tell
them you already have a reservation, even if you don’t. If you
are desperate you can rely on drivers to get you a bed, no matter
what. You will pay the price for it though.
Guesthouses & Hotels
Asia is filled with budget hotels and guesthouses. You still see
the 4 and 5 star brands with their large ads and sponsored spots
on Expedia and other booking systems. Ignore the hype. You
don’t have to stay in a dorm to get a cheap night’s sleep in Asia.
Double hotel rooms for less than $10 a night do exist in the
cheaper countries.
10
How to find hotels & guesthouses
Firstly, use the same process as for finding hostels. As described
in the previous section, use the Internet, guidebooks or just turn
up.
Booking Sites
There are some great deals online. Though not always the
cheapest possible prices for hotels, it’s sometimes just easier to
use a booking site.
The easiest place to start is trivago.com
They compare multiple booking sites and there is a price slider
that lets you find the cheapest places. Private rooms between
$10 and $30 per night are featured in most cheap and medium
priced destinations.
Another option is momondo.com, which is a price comparison
site. It searches some of the smaller booking sites rather than just
the majors so that you get some additional options. Momondo
includes dorms and hotels in the search results, so read the small
print.
Homestays
Homestay is one of the latest trends in local accommodation.
Staying with local people gives you an insight into the culture of
a country as well as the opportunity to get great local knowledge
and possibly some home cooked food too.
The other benefit is it can be cheaper than a hotel, sometimes it’s
even free. Some travelers may be concerned about the safety of
homestays. Travel has inherent risks, so homestay is not 100%
safe. If you stick to well reviewed hosts rather than newbies,
you’ll have little to worry about.
Major types of homestay in Asia
Asia hasn’t wasted any time with joining the homestay
revolution. Although lesser tourist destinations may not have
many hosts, there are plenty of options in major destinations.
There is also a good mix of local hosts and expats offering
up rooms. In some countries, like Myanmar, homestay is
technically illegal, so it’s harder to find any. In other countries,
like India and other parts of central Asia/middle east, you’ll find
that hosts are generally male. It is not appropriate for women
to offer strangers a bed, especially men. A lot of the homestay
options are actually small guesthouses.
Couchsurfing
Couchsurfing.org is the biggest free homestay network. Hosts
offer up a couch or spare bed to travelers for free. There are
plenty of couches to surf in Asia, although you will find there are
less than in Europe & The USA.
You need to have a complete profile, and preferably references,
to find it easy to get hosted.
Air BnB
Airbnb.com is the largest paid homestay network in the world
right now. They feature a lot of homestay rooms across Asia.
You can read reviews and house rules before applying to stay
to ensure the place will be suitable for your specific needs.
Payments are made in advance, but are not paid to the owner
until 24 hours after your arrival.
Other useful sites for finding paid homestays:
- Housetrip.com
- Homestay.com
Housesitting
Unlike the USA or Europe, housesitting opportunities in Asia
are limited. They do come up though. Typically an expat family
needs to head home to visit family and friends and offers out
their home to house sitters to look after their pets and maintain
the property.
Learn more about how to get into housesitting.
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TR ANS P ORTA TIO N
Let’s paint the picture… You see the ground move quickly
through the cracks of the wooden floor. This barely functional
machine, held together with duct tape and nails, tears along
dusty, bumpy roads. Locals hang out the door, ready to leap
from the moving bus, which will slow down, but not stop, at
each destination.
Transport in most of Asia is not quite at the same standard as
you might get back home.
What they lack in health and safety is generally made up for in
price. An overnight, 13-hour bus ride in Myanmar may cost you
less than $10.
In this section we’ll look at the best ways to keep your transport
costs down. As we are on the subject of buses, that’s a good place
to start.
Buses
Many buses in Asia are a little worse for wear. That’s an
understatement. Death trap may be a better description.
As a budget traveler, you don’t always have a choice. Some
areas are only serviced by local bus. Plus, it is almost always the
cheapest transport option for short and medium distance travel.
The main bus options in Asia
You’ll come across a variety of buses across Asia. The standards
affect the price, of course, but sometimes it’s nice to know you
have some level of safety.
Chicken Bus
Named because of their tendency to have loose poultry floating
around inside. They transport food goods, mail and of course,
people. The real bottom rung of mass transit bus standards,
these are super cheap, rust buckets and are an experience in
themselves - not one you may want to have too often.
Regular Bus
Public transport for the masses. They run them until they can
run no more. You may be in a bus from the 50s. You may get
lucky and have relatively new bus. Regular buses ply city and
inter-city routes with frequent stops at very low prices. In fact,
some routes don’t have “stops”. Especially outside of cities, they’ll
pick up anyone who flags them down, and let you off wherever.
Mini Bus
For small local routes that don’t need a full size bus.
In the Philippines you have the Jeepney. Sort of like a small, low
roof school bus that you have to bend down to climb through.
In Thailand, you will find the songthaew, which essentially is
a pickup truck with a roof and two benches to sit on. In Hong
Kong you have the “Red Coffins”, named because of their high
accident rate. They are for less travelled connecting routes.
Most of Asia seems to have its variations.
12
Sometimes you will find modern transit van style minibuses.
These are often for long distance routes that need to be covered
fast. Drivers are unlikely to observe the speed limit as you weave
at high speed between the traffic or along mountain roads.
Long Distance Coach
These have varying standards and are used to transport between
major centers. The main difference is that seats are normally
ticketed and often reserved. They will also have far fewer stops
than a regular bus. As for comfort, aside from having your own
seat, don’t assume it will be comfortable.
VIP Bus
What’s in a name? Sometimes nothing. A VIP bus might just
be a slightly newer coach with air-con. For some routes though,
you may get lucky and have a plush, luxury bus with beautiful
reclining leather seats.
As these sorts of buses are aimed at tourists or wealthier locals,
chances are there will be reviews of each company online. Search
for which bus companies are really VIP in your destination.
Sleeper Bus
There are a variety of sleeper bus options, from those designed
for flatbed sleeping to those that you simply sleep on, in
discomfort.
Some possible sleeper bus configurations:
- Flatbeds that are genuinely flat.
- Semi sleepers, with chairs that recline or are fixed at a
reclined angle.
- Cushy seats that partially recline.
- Basic seat. Essentially just a long distance coach that travels at
night.
The main advantages of a sleeper bus:
- Save on the cost of a night’s accommodation.
- Get where you are going without wasting a day of
sightseeing time.
The main disadvantages:
- You may not get much sleep as drivers burn around corners
and hit bumps.
- More dangerous than day buses because of driver fatigue.
If you choose the sleeper, there are a few things that’ll help:
- Take an eye-mask and earplugs - they often leave lights
on all night or have a noisy TV.
- Have warm clothes accessible. Even in the tropics, an
aggressive air con can cause a sleepless night.
How to find a bus
How organized is the bus system in most Asian countries? If you
guessed, “not very”, you guessed correctly. Sure, if you were a
local you may not find it as tricky, but for us foreigners, it can be
a minefield.
By far the simplest way to get started is to type the search “Bus
from X to Z” into Google. The information is not always up to
date or reliable, so check multiple answers to the query. This is
often enough for any major backpacker routes.
For trickier routes, asking a local can help, though you’ll often
get misinformation. Asking at your accommodation may also
yield positive results. Sometimes you can book buses from
agents and they’ll give you all the info for a commission fee.
Or you can just head to the local bus station and ask there.
Some long distance buses must be booked in advance. Regular
routes and short trips are normally hop-on.
The cost of buses
Don’t underestimate how cheap buses in Asia can be. Here are
some example prices:
- City bus across Bangkok (30 mins): 25 cents
- Bagan to Mandalay, Myanmar (7 hours) $7
- Chandigarh to Shimla, India (5 hours) $4
They may not be the most glamorous way to get around, or the
safest but they sure are the cheapest. A lot of companies online
want to tell you that you need private transfers costing western
prices. You don’t.
13
Trains Once again Seat61.com triumphs in having detailed info on how
to book tickets both online and at stations.
Trains in Asia are a cost effective form of travel. On the whole
they are more comfortable, less bumpy and safer than taking the
It is generally cheaper to buy tickets at the station. Though,
bus. That said, the frequent derailments and quality of trains in
clearly, it can be very inconvenient. If they are sold out already
Myanmar, for example, might challenge that assertion.
when you arrive, it can be a disaster.

There is something to be said for a train journey though. There

Metro/Subway Systems
is almost a romance to it. You can see the country from a
Many of the major cities have metro systems. Most of these
different perspective. You will often meet locals on those long
transit systems are very affordable. If traveling solo, a metro
train rides and perhaps spend less than flying. Though that
ticket may be cheaper than a taxi. If in a group of 2 to 4 people,
depends on the route, so do check flight prices too.
you might find it cheaper and easier to share a taxi. But there are
a lot of factors for each destination, so you’ll have to add up the
Major cities will generally have a railway station in a central
possible cost yourself.
location so this can be more convenient than getting to an
airport, and will save you the transfer fee too.
The good news is English is the second language for almost
every metro system in Asia. So, in general, you’ll find it easy to
There is one website that pretty much own the information
navigate.
market on international train travel: seat61.com.
Almost every major, and minor, train route in the world gets
coverage. Maps, information on the quality of each class and
Budget Airlines
even train times, prices and ways to get tickets for less.
When traveling short distances, bus or train travel is normally
the cheapest option, but for longer jumps between Asian
It’s an invaluable resource.
countries, you might find budget airlines not only more
convenient but cheaper too.
Train Classes
As a budget traveler you’ll normally travel in one of the lower
We mentioned some resources for finding cheaper flights in our
classes. Expect rickety, overcrowded conditions with open
general travel book. You can get that from our website.
windows and doors, and no air con. For not too much more
money you can normally upgrade to something a little more
Here is an Asia specific recap.
pleasant with air con and possibly a fully reserved seat.
Whichairline.com compares the price of budget airlines for
almost any route. It will build multi step itineraries with multiple
Cattle class can be quite an experience… Good-bye health and
airlines to find you the cheapest possible price.
safety once again.
Wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_low-cost_airlines#

Booking Train Tickets

Unlike buses, trains often require pre-booked tickets. For overly
strained rail systems, like those in India and China, you may
find yourself stuck in cattle class if you don’t book weeks in
advance.

Most Asian countries don’t make it too difficult to book tickets.

14

Asia Features a list of all budget airlines based in various
Asian countries. There is also a list for middle-eastern airlines:
Wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_low-cost_airlines#Middle_East
Typically an airline will have one or more hubs. Flights operate
out of the hubs connecting to other airports, either domestic or
international. The more hubs, the larger the network is likely to
be. For this reason, there are two airlines that are particularly
useful for getting around Asia (excluding Middle-East).
Air Asia
Air Asia is one of the cheapest airlines in the world. With hubs
in Malaysia, India, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines and Japan
(pending), they have well over 100 destinations.
Airasia.com Flying from Singapore to Bangkok, for example, is
significantly cheaper than traveling overland, as are many of the
other Air Asia routes. They have won the award for world’s best
low-cost airline at least 5 times.
With prices so low, common questions include: Is it safe to fly
with them? Is it Comfortable?
Comfort is comparable to most budget airlines. For short flights
it’s really not a problem. As for safety, their scores are below
many major airlines. You can compare scores for yourself:
Airlineratings.com/safety_rating_per_airline.php
Tiger Air
Tiger is similar in standard to Air Asia, but has multiple hubs
and many routes that Air Asia does not cover. In general they
are slightly more expensive but it really depends on the deals
you find. Tigerair.com
Other Airlines & Finding Cheaper Flights
There are a lot. Once you know your destinations you can
choose which airlines will service them. We recommend signing
up to their Facebook / Twitter accounts to get notifications of
sales. Joining their email newsletters will also ensure you are
notified of deals.
Once you are receiving updates you’ll get a sense of just how
cheap certain routes are. When you see a good deal come up,
that is the time to book it. Or, at least, the time to jump on
whichairline.com and see if the other parts of your route are also
cheap.
Private transport (Taxi, Tuk-Tuk, Rickshaw,
Moto taxi)
Unlike in western countries, where taxis are simply too
expensive for the average budget traveler, in Asia they can be
quite affordable. For short distance travel they are convenient,
plentiful and cheap. You may be used to a regular car or mini-
van when taking a taxi.
From jumping on the back of a motorbike-taxi to riding in
a dilapidated horse and carriage, the sheer variety of private
transport in Asia boggles the mind.
If you are looking to travel long distances, private transport is
rarely affordable for the budget traveler. If you cannot or do not
want to take a bus or train, finding other travelers to share the
cost of a private taxi is often the solution.
15
Sometimes this can be done by going to an agency that will put
you in a group taxi. The other option is to be sociable and find
other foreigners at your accommodation who are heading in the
same direction.
The price of a taxi
Prices vary, of course. What doesn’t vary is the amount of tricks
drivers use to inflate the price of your trip. Unlike at home, don’t
expect taxis to run the meter, even if you ask them to.
When you first hail a taxi and tell them where you are going,
before you get in, ask “meter?” Many will say no. At that point
you can either suggest a price - if you know a rough price - or
ask the driver for a price. Normally they’ll overcharge, so barter
them down.
Even if they do use the meter, some are “dodgy” and will jump
after a certain interval. If that happens, scream blue murder at
the driver.
Although some taxi drivers are scammers or even rude, they are
also poorly paid in almost all Asian countries. The meter rates
are often way below what they should be, given the cost of fuel.
So, although it’s ok to argue over an outrageously high price, it
may not be worth arguing over 50 cents.
Common Scams
Of all the scammers in Asia, taxi drivers are the kings.
One of the best ways to save money in Asia is to avoid the many,
many scams and tricks that taxis use to extort foreigners.
A really comprehensive list is: 16 Asian taxi scams (and how to
beat them)
Hitchhiking
It is certainly possible to hitchhike in most of Asia. Information
about safety and legality is available at hitchwiki.org
Your major challenge may be the language barrier. Travelers
have ended up in completely the wrong destination simply
because of communication errors. When your surroundings are
unfamiliar and road signs may only be in the local language,
it’s easy to end up in the wrong place. Some would say, that is
all part of the adventure. The second factor to consider is that
hitchhiking is not always free. It may be cheaper than other
transport options, but if you don’t negotiate a fee in advance, it
may end up costing a lot more than public transport.
Motorbike Rental
With buses and trains restricting your travel destination and
often failing to run on schedule, having your own transport can
make travel really convenient, and sometimes cheaper too. A
motorbike (scooter) is the best value for money rental option.
How to rent a motorbike or scooter
Although the process will vary, here are some basics to help you
get orientated with motorbike rental in Asia.
How much will it cost?
Of course, prices vary between countries. Look back at the
cheapest destinations section. For the cheapest countries, you
can rent a scooter (about 100cc) from as little as $2 per day and
fuel may be cheaper than at home.
This doesn’t mean you will be sure to get a price that good. It’s
best to assume that $4 - $10 per day is more realistic. If you want
more than a scooter, or to rent in one of the more expensive
countries, you’ll have to budget more.
Driving license and insurance
Some countries require you to have both a driver’s license and an
international driver permit. You must apply for these before you
leave home. I would suggest using Google for more information
on this.
Conversely, some countries will rent a scooter to anyone -
without a license. You will not necessarily get offered insurance,
and if you are driving without the official documents that your
own insurance company would expect you to have, it is unlikely
they will pay out if you have an accident. So, consider this at
your own risk.
16
Common Scams
Being scammed can be very costly to your budget. Here are
some of the primary scams you’ll encounter when dealing with
motorbikes in Asia.
Police Scams
Police in many Asian countries are corrupt. This means they
often accept money as a bribe. Foreigners are often a prime
target for these scams, as they don’t know the laws or how much
fines should cost.
The way you handle yourself with the police will depend on
the country you are in. For example, in Cambodia, a typical
response is to accelerate to get away. The police don’t want to
waste fuel chasing you. They are there for profit and instead will
just pull over the next foreigner.
In India it’s more normal to just hand them 100 rupees and
chalk it down to experience. Whatever you decide to do, they are
still police, even if they are corrupt. If they want to make your
life very difficult, they can. So use this advice to save money on
fines. Remember though, this is at your own risk. Here are a few
typical scams to look out for:
- Asking for an unreasonable fine. Because they know
foreigners may pay $50+ for various traffic offences at home,
they ask for the same. If you are in a developing country,
running a red light is not going to be fined at over $5. Always
challenge fine prices and suggest they take you to the police
station to pay - they won’t want to.
- Claiming you have the wrong documents - Then asking for
money. Always make sure you know exactly what documents
you need in that country so you can argue effectively.
- Pulling you over, because they can. They will pretty much use
any excuse they can come up with and then ask for money. If
the fine is a couple of dollars it’s often easier just to pay up. If it’s
more, just make sure you have a basic understanding of the road
rules so you can argue.
Importantly, no matter how much of a douche the cop is, stay
polite. If you become aggressive you could get in a lot more
trouble than what a $2 fine is worth.
Rental Scams
If you get caught out with a rental scam you could be down
hundreds or even thousands of dollars. Not good for the travel
budget.
Here are a few of the common ones:
- Bike theft scam. Someone follows you after you rent a bike.
They steal it back at the first opportunity and then get a cut from
the money you have to pay the rental agency for the stolen bike.
They then give the bike back to the rental agency once you have
gone. Best solution: Get your own lock, not the one provided.
- Damaged bike scam: This one is all around the world. The
agency claims that you did damage to the bike, even though it
was already there previously. Best Solution: Take photos on day
one and make sure the agent sees you doing so.
- Passport Scam: The agency holds your passport as “insurance”.
When you return the bike they claim there is a problem with
it and you must pay. Because you have a flight / train to catch
and need your passport immediately, you don’t have time to get
the police involved and have to pay up. Best Solution: Never
give over your passport. Insist on giving a copy only, or go rent
somewhere else.
17
FOOD
I hope your taste buds are ready.
Asian food is popular all around the world. From Thai
curry to Chinese sweet and sour to falafel, Asia has so much
deliciousness to offer.
This section is going to cover how to get the best and most
authentic Asian food whilst traveling , without breaking the
bank.
Eating Street food
Could you get amazing local cuisine starting at 50 cents per
meal? Yes, Asia is able to provide you with a happy belly for
a very low price. You may have seen the travel shows where
hosts taste a fascinating array of Asian street cuisine. Some
tantalizing  - some terrifying. From BBQ sticks, to hearty noodle
soups and curries, the street food options in Asia are endless and
shouldn’t be missed. Street food is ready to eat and is sold on
the street side or in markets by food vendors and hawkers. They
usually set up on easily transportable trolleys. For centuries it
has been a cheap, fast food, option for the masses. We are even
seeing a resurgence of street food in western culture today. 
If you are a backpacker on a budget, you will find that this is the
cheapest form of food during your travels in Asia.
The ingredients will be locally bought every day. Many carts
specialize in just a few dishes, so they are experts in them. You’ll
get authentic, delicious food, often for less than a dollar per
meal.
But, will you get Sick?
Everyone has heard the horror stories of Delhi Belly, Bali Belly
and the rest. Many people unfairly lay the blame on street food,
mostly because of the ‘weird food’ that they consumed that day.
But we have heard plenty of stories from hotel food being the
18
cause of sickness, more often than street food. There are more
factors to getting sick in Asia than just where you get your meal.
We can’t prevent you getting sick, but the following tips will help
you reduce the risks.
1. Clean your hands with anti bacterial before
you touch any food.  don’t drink the water. So, we all buy our mineral waters and ask
Think back on all the things you’ve touched throughout the day.
How many things have you come into contact with that wouldn’t
be considered sanitary?  What do you think that salad you ordered was washed in? What
You can eat at your hotel restaurant or the stall down the road,
but if you have dirty hands, you’re bound to get sick. The tap
water is unsafe to drink, so washing your hands in it will not
result in sanitary hands. Us an alcohol based hand sanitizer.
2. How clean is the street food stall?
Are they keeping their food covered and away from flies? Do
they have any way of keeping meat refrigerated or on ice? Has it
been sitting out in the sun or is it covered?
Street stalls have a high turn over - so the need for serious
refrigeration is not always considered. However, if you are
turning up to a stall for a late lunch, and that stall has been there
all morning, in the sun, I’d reconsider eating their meat. The
same applies if they have no way of keeping the flies away.
The one benefit of a street stall is the fact that you can see with
your own eyes how clean their equipment is. You don’t have this
benefit often with restaurants and hotels in Asia. Trust us, you
don’t want to see what is going on behind the scenes in some of
those places. Street stalls have no way of hiding their hygiene
practices.  really amaze.
3. Eat where the locals eat
Street stalls are everywhere in Asia and it is typical for locals
to eat that way every day. In many areas locals are the primary
customers, while tourists head to fancy restaurants.
A hawker won’t last very long in the game if the locals don’t like
his food or get sick. It’s a good idea to be weary of a stall that is
being avoided by the locals, even if it means you have to wait
a little longer for your meal, because you chose a popular stall.
It’ll be worth it for staying healthy and the food may be better
anyway.
4. Avoid the water
It’s the number one thing you are told prior to visiting Asia -
for no ice in our drinks - covered right? Wrong. 
about the plates? Did you know they sometimes add tap water to
the fresh orange juice? And those fresh fruit stalls? They look so
tasty because they regularly spray the fruit with water to make it
appear fresh.
These days some places use mineral water in their cooking;
always ask them before you order. Also with the fruit vendors,
ask them if you can have a fresh cut piece of fruit, not pre-cut.
For more ideas and detail take a look at how to eat Asian street
food and not get sick.
Asian street food is amazing, and an essential part of visiting
Asia. Don’t be put off, think before you order, and you’ll enjoy
street food that will rock your world - not your toilet! 
Eating With Locals
Getting the opportunity to eat with locals is a fantastic way to
find out about foods that are not in the ‘tourist guide books’.
Everyone knows about Pad Thai in Thailand, and Pho in
Vietnam - but it’s the one-of-a-kind home cooked meals that
Many people reminisce on food and say, “oh, my mum cooks the
best ____” or “my gran made an awesome____”. Home comfort
foods aren’t found in restaurants, they are found in the home.
Asia is no exception, and scoring a home cooked meal is a
must-do experience. Even better, it’s often cheaper than a
restaurant.
So how do you get yourself invited in for a home cooked meal?
19
Here are 3 ways that could give you a personal invite to taste
town.
1. Couchsurfing
We mentioned couchsurfing.org in the accommodation section.
Some hosts are excited to share their cuisine with guests and are
proud to cook a traditional home recipe. You could also offer
to cook for your host and perhaps they will return the favor by
creating some local flavors for you. You might even get a free
cooking lesson.
4. Get Invited
The hardest option can also be the most rewarding. If you can
make friends with locals whilst traveling , you can occasionally
be invited to join them at home for a meal.
How do you do this? You just have to talk to people. We don’t
suggest going in with the attitude of “I want a free meal”. Form
a genuine connection and enjoy learning about that person and
their culture and talk about your love of food.

Sharing food is not only great for the taste buds, but also for
getting to know people better. It’s a real cultural exchange.
Cooking may not be every host’s forte, so a home cooked meal
isn’t guaranteed, but locals do tend to know the best places in
town to get a great meal. Head out with your host and see what
hidden delicacies you might discover.
2. Airbnb.com and Homestays
The latest accommodation revolution to hit the travel industry is
homestays. We talked about these in the accommodation section
too. Sometimes a homestay will include breakfast and / or other
meals. Or they may be happy to provide them for a fee. The host
will state on their profile what meal options are included. Ask
when you book.
If you’re lucky you may even be able to do a cooking class with
them or a relative. It depends on the host.
Foodie scams 
While there are many genuine people in Asia who will honestly
welcome you into their homes. There are also plenty out there
trying to make a buck on tourist naivety. 
- If someone invites you to his or her home for food, or for a cup
of tea, make sure you ask, politely, if it will cost you money. If
they act overly insulted and don’t actually answer the question, it
may be a scam.
- The “Chinese Tea scam” is a real problem and it’s not only
in China. If a stranger invites you to a restaurant to practice
English, be wary that you may be left with a large restaurant bill.
 
- Go with your gut instincts - if they seem a little dodgy, politely
decline. It’s often better not to go to a private home alone, just to
be safe.

3. Foodie Tours
Food is a big part of visiting Asia. There are more and more
foodie tours popping up every day. Check out withlocals.com to
find some fantastic home cooked meal options available that you
can book.

Prices range depending on size of meals and ingredients used.

The benefit of this site is it promotes direct tours, not people
who are employed by a tour company. This helps keep prices
lower and insures a more authentic experience with a real family,
rather than a company that caters exclusively to tourists.

20
Food Porn top 10 Paneer Curry

Not surprisingly, there is some fantastic food in Asia.

The best thing is, you’ll find flavor on a budget wherever you
turn. A top 10 list will never do Asia justice, but to tease the taste
buds just a little, here are 10 of our favorites to look out for, most
coming in under 2 dollars per serve.

So, in no particular order...

Yum Cha

There are a lot of vegetarians in India. One way to get around the
low protein vegetable diet is cheese. And Indians put cheese in
curry. This may seem like a strange concept, but chunks of this
“paneer” cheese actually stay solid, and they blend perfectly with
the spicy sauces.

Xiaolongbao

Yum cha is available at Chinese restaurants all over the world.

It’s at its best in China and Malaysia. Think about it as Chinese
tapas. Dumplings and other small dishes come in multitude,
either ordered from the menu or brought around on a cart from
which you can pluck the tastiest looking ones.

Pilaf / Biryani / Nasi

Dumplings are available all over China. Xiaolongbao is a

special type of dumpling that originates in the Shanghai region
of China. At room temperature the filling is solid. As the
dumplings are steamed, the fat and juice inside melts. When
you bite into one of these, an almost volcanic explosion of flavor
happens in your mouth.

Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ruocaled/5374748626/

Pilaf, in one form or another, is present in almost every Asian

country. Cooking methods and style vary everywhere. It’s a
filling budget meal, often for less than a dollar.

21
Hummus This is one of Thailand’s most famous dishes. It’s easy to find, in
fact, sometimes too easy to find. Street sellers tout portions on
Bangkok’s Khao San Road for about a dollar. These are poorly
prepared with inferior ingredients for drunken tourists who
don’t know any better. The real thing should be prepared with
tamarind and fish sauce. You should head to less touristy areas
for the good stuff.

Street BBQ (Chinese Style)

Photo Credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/stuart_spivack/5971795215/

If you are heading to the middle-eastern region, you’ll want

to try the local hummus. This smooth chickpea dip is world
famous, but don’t miss out trying it from the region where it was
first created.

Korean BBQ

If you make it to China during the summer months, you’ll find

street side dining everywhere. 1.35 Billion+ people seem to
come out for the hot weather. That’s a lot of hungry bellies to
fill. The variety of interesting BBQ options is endless. The above
picture is cilantro wrapped in tofu. Prices for BBQ are normally
per stick and start from around 15 cents.

It’s impossible to travel through South Korea without stumbling Lechon

across a Korean BBQ restaurant. This is one of the only

expensive meals from this list, coming in at about $10 per
person at a budget restaurant. The good news is Korean BBQ
always comes with unlimited side dishes. You will not walk away
hungry from this investment.

Pad Thai

One for the meat lovers. The Philippines is not well known for
its cuisine. But, if there is one thing they do better than most,
it’s BBQ roasted pig. Lechon has a super crispy skin and delicate
pork flesh inside. Also try the lechon manok – which is roast
chicken.
22
Pho

Photo credit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jonolist/726927729/

Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup. The broth is normally made

from pork bones and pork is also the typical meat in the soup,
although duck and chicken are also common options.

23
S H O P P I NG
Asian markets are wild. Hectic. Fascinating. Best of all, in most
countries, they are cheap. From clothes to food to electronics,
everything is available, and almost everything is open for
negotiation. They are very different from western markets. It’s
easy to get ripped off. So in this section we’ll be looking at how
to get the best value out of Asian markets.
Genuine Fakes (Black market goods)
The sign sits proudly above the central bazaar in Kusadasi,
Turkey. “Genuine Fakes” marked boldly in yellow. The country
where Europe meets Asia represents much of what you’ll come
to expect as you head further east. Armani, Calvin Klein, Prada.
As you travel through Asia you’ll see many name brands. Many
are copies, some may be original but are factory rejects. In
Turkey they are surprisingly open about these fakes. In other
countries, street sellers prey on stupid foreigners by asking
premium western prices for fake goods. Stupidity is not an
understatement; people are paying hundreds of dollars for fake
products that cost a few dollars to make. They think saving $50
compared to back home is a good deal. It’s not. The upside of
this racket is that you can get some great designer stuff for a
fraction of the price. The downside is that it’s illegal. You cannot
guarantee the quality and there is certainly no return policy.
We cannot advise you to buy genuine fakes, as previously
mentioned, it’s illegal. What we are saying is that if you are a
budget traveler and someone offers you a Prada bag for $300,
you should be able to get the price down to $30 or less.
NOTE: If you are purchasing jewelry and are not an expert
in this area, be very careful. Just because the label says silver,
doesn’t mean it is. It could very well be stainless steal. There is
plenty of fake jewelry in Asia. Don’t expect honesty from the
vendors.
Buy when you arrive
Not everything you see at Asian markets is a fake brand. There
are plenty of local clothes and unbranded goods. These are
generally available at bargain prices.
When it comes to clothes, shoes, bags, electronics and many
other things, why pay western prices, when you can rather stock
up on these items when you arrive?
Sure, some things, like a backpack, you might need in advance.
But, if you come from a cold climate, for example, don’t buy up
all your hot weather clothes at home. Buy when you arrive for a
fraction of the price. Use the money you’ve saved to enjoy your
travels instead.
We are talking about a few hundred dollars worth of clothes
that you can pick up in Asia for maybe $50. That’s some serious
savings.
24
What is your first destination?
Some destinations have better western fashion markets. Bangkok
is fantastic, for example. South Korea is a little more expensive
and has a lot of Korean fashion that may not be ideal, depending
on your taste.
Do some quick Google research before leaving home. What big
markets are in your destination? What sort of products will be
available? How cheap will the prices be?
How to barter in Asia
If you’ve come from a country where things are pre-priced, you
may feel a little uncomfortable bartering.
The fact is, once you get to Asia, you have to barter for almost
everything, or you are going to get seriously extorted. In fact,
the reason prices are often massively marked up for foreigners
are because the marketers are aware just how unwilling some
foreigners are to barter. They will take advantage of you. So you’d
better be ready.
In the Philippines and Cambodia bartering is quite a friendly,
lighthearted affair. In India bartering can be very aggressive. It’s
actually common for shop owners to either follow you down the
street or simply swear and curse at you if you refuse to pay their
price. Whether it’s friendliness, intimidation or guilt, everyone
has his or her tactic for getting you to overpay.
The simple rule is, if you don’t like the price, walk away.
Sometimes, even if you do like the price, walk away… more on
that shortly.
One of the most important things to remember is, not all these
stall keepers are evil. They just want to make money, they may
not be that well off and they have families to feed.
There comes a point where you either pay up or walk away.
Don’t barter forever.
Rules for getting your purchases in Asia
To ask or not to ask
One common question is, “should I just suggest a price, or
ask the price”? The best answer probably comes down to how
familiar you are with Asian prices. If it’s your first time, you
will almost always pitch a high price, and once pitched, that is
what you will pay. We suggest, whilst you are getting used to the
barter system, to always ask for the “best price” first and then
apply some of the tactics below to get a better price.
Barter for a low price - lower than you think.
There are regional differences with this and it will depend on the
sort of product you are buying and how outrageous the initial
asking price is. Choosing what to bid does come down to
experience, we have a simple process that will get you started:
No matter how high quality a product seems, think about how
much the generic version of it might cost in a budget store like
Walmart, K-mart, or Primark. Look to pay less, possibly half the
k-mart price. Keep that price in mind as a target BUT bid lower
to start with. It’s not a hard and fast rule. The point is, be ready
to bid down really low, even for branded products, as mentioned
earlier, most are fakes.
Act Disinterested
When you ask the price of something, do so disinterestedly. Do
not sound excited about finding that “perfect dress”. When they
give you a price sound disappointed. “Oh. That’s too much. Oh
well, I’m not that bothered anyway.” Almost every seller will
offer you a discount, unless the price is already set low. Continue
to act disinterested. Umm and arr. Wait for another price offer
or suggest something you’d be willing to pay. If you don’t get the
price you want then say, “ok, never mind”. Put the dress back and
expect to hear another lower offer.
Walk away
Now it’s time to walk away. After hearing the lower offer. Start
to walk away slowly. Sometimes you will have the seller shout
after you or follow you with a better offer, sometimes not. At that
point you can estimate how close you were to getting the best
price. If the final offer is good enough, head back, or...
25
The same Item is available 30 seconds away
Asian markets are big. It’s pretty rare to get lone stalls. The same
products will be available at multiple stores. Once you have a
best price from acting disinterested and walking away, you can
take that price to the next stall, shrink that price a bit and say
“the last stall offered this to me at X price. Can you do better?”

Either you get it, or you go back to the previous stall or keep
walking to another stall. Tell them the new best price and ask
them to beat it too.

Whamo!

The shops near the entrance are more

expensive
Another tip: The stores near entrances of large markets are
easier to find and normally get more tourist trade. Their location
means they can charge more to tourists, and get away with it.

You can apply the rules above, or just skip the initial stores,
remembering what products you have seen and come back to
them last - prices for arriving customers are always higher than
for those leaving.

NOTE: Street markets are a prime location for bartering. Fancy,

upper class boutique stores or 7eleven? Not so much. Anywhere
in between you should use your judgment as to whether it is a
good time to barter. If in doubt, ask a local or just try your luck
in a polite, lighthearted way. You never know.

26
W E S TE R N PRO D UC TS IN be surprisingly affordable, it’s best to bring your favorite sanitary

AS I A ( WH AT TO BUY product from home.

B EF OR E Y OU A RRIVE )
Have you considered traveling with a menstrual cup? Although
Asia is known as a budget shopper’s paradise. a little weird at first, these are a reusable eco-friendly option that
can actually be used for a longer amount of time compared to a
There are some products however that you can’t find easily. If regular tampon.
you do find them, they cost more than they do at home. More
specifically, you won’t find generic brands, so you’ll be paying for
big name brands.
Moisturizer
Hand, face and body - these generally contain whitening
Here are some of the most important things you might want to products in Asia, even the name brands. Just as you are trying
stock up on before you leave home. to get a holiday tan, the locals are trying to have whiter skin.
They also have some very interesting ingredients to achieve this,
including placenta, dove poop and even whale sperm. 
Sunscreen
Asian people have much darker skin than most of the tourists
turning up on their shores. Thus, products like sunscreen are
Hand Sanitizer
difficult to find, especially outside of main tourist hubs. You should carry hand sanitizer while traveling in Asia. Using
hand sanitizer before eating is a great way to avoid getting sick.
Local people are used to the bacteria that often have us head first
Bug Spray to the nearest toilet, so shops won’t generally stock this product.
Mosquito spray is another one to remember to pack. Many
locals don’t use repellants like we do. Be sure that the repellant
you buy contains DEET as this helps keeps the nasty malaria
carrying mosquitos away and is less soluble in water. 

Toothpaste
Locals seem to have very different ideas on what flavor
toothpaste should be. Green tea, salt, eggplant (aubergine) and
charcoal, are just some of the toothpaste flavors you’ll come
across. Good news is that Colgate is pretty much on every shelf
but will often be more expensive than a generic brand.

Tampons
For the ladies, if you do happen to get your monthly visitor
while away, it’s best to be prepared before leaving. Tampons are
not something widely used in Asia and you will normally only
find sanitary pads the size of surfboards. While they do tend to

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ATTR ACTIO N S
Welcome to Asia. You are going to find the history and culture
very different from anywhere else in the world.
From the Taj Mahal to ancient giant Buddha cave complexes
(like The Yungang Grottoes - pictured) to hidden jungle temples
(Like Angkor Wat). Your mind will be blown. But will your
wallet too?
Lets take a look at some ways to avoid paying too much for
attractions in Asia.
Independent Visits
Only major attractions in Asia have a solid price tag. Expect
anything with the word “UNESCO” attached to it to be $20 to
$40 for entrance. As for minor attractions, a few dollars here
and there, most are inexpensive. National parks and beaches are
generally free, though not always.
The most cost effective way to see these is independently,
without a guide and without a tour company. We’ll talk a little
more about guides and tours later. Right now it’s enough to
point out that you can have great experiences without them,
saving you a packet.
A local guide can be a great way to learn about an attraction and
they can also help you navigate or negotiate unfamiliar territory.
If you don’t have the budget, just download the Wikipedia info
or a guide app for free and have that on your smartphone whilst
visiting an attraction.
Discount Entry
Many attractions have discounts for students and veterans,
sometimes half price. If you qualify, make sure you bring the
correct ID with you on your trip.
If you don’t qualify, it is possible to get a fake student card for
about $10 in many places in Asia. They are openly available on
the famous Khao San Road, in Bangkok. Otherwise you can get
them online.
Fake IDs are illegal in all countries. Breaking the law is at your
own risk and we don’t condone it.
Common Attraction Scams
There are a few common “attraction” scams in Asia. Some can
cost you a lot of cash, so it’s important to be aware of how they
work. The smaller scams, that chip away at your budget a few
dollars at a time, are surprisingly frequent. So much so, you
might not even notice them at first. Over the course of your
whole trip though, they add up.
Unofficial Guides.
This scam happens all over Asia, but here is one example. At
the Forbidden City in Beijing, “guides” hang around outside
the complex offering their services. They may even have a fake
identity badge. These people are not employed by the attraction.
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Once they convince you to hire them, you have to pay their
guide fee as well as the entrance fee! The quality of an untrained
guide will be hit and miss.
The Helpful Stranger.
Someone, who seems like a local tourist, will start talking to you
and telling you about the attraction. They seem really friendly.
The information is interesting. After a short while they ask for
money.
If a stranger starts telling you about an attraction, tell them
immediately and politely that you don’t want a guide, and / or
ask them how much they will want as a fee.
The “Pay what you want” guide.
This happens a lot in India but also elsewhere. When you do
ask a guide for his price, he says you can pay what you want
depending on how you enjoyed his service.
This can lead to a very awkward situation if you pay them less
than what they were expecting. Try to get them to confirm a
price up-front.
The “Free Gift” or “Blessing” scam.
Generally this will happen at religious sites but could happen
at any major attraction. Someone will approach you and
confidently hand you something like an incense stick. Or they
may take your hand and start to paint a symbol on it. Or they
may start saying a blessing to you or leading you to somewhere
to pray. They will then ask for money.
There are many tricks. Sadly, no matter how genuine people
may seem, if you are on a budget you just have to assume they
want money. Either politely decline and walk away or ask “how
much?”
We are hard wired to react positively to someone who is
seemingly acting with kindness towards us. This emotion is
played upon in many scams. Don’t feel bad about being skeptical
in Asia.
Fake tickets and ticket booths.
Only buy entry tickets from the official booth. Anyone offering
tickets whilst walking around is probably a tout and you may
pay way over the official price or even get a fake ticket.
If a ticket booth is a long way from the entrance to an attraction,
doesn’t look legit and has no lineup, it could be a fake ticket
booth. Take a look around first or ask someone like a policeman
who looks honest, where the official ticket booth is.
Advanced Bookings
Tours work differently in most of Asia.
In Europe and the USA, when a tour is full, that’s it. The
company has a certain amount of staff; they cannot oversell
tours due to various health and safety restrictions.
In Asia, you’ve probably guessed by now, overfilling the bus or
finding another tour guide at a moments notice is easy.
Lets talk about a specific example, the precedent of which
applies to almost every major tourist destination in Asia.
Arriving at Ha Long Bay, Vietnam, get ready for the onslaught.
Tout after tout will accost you to join their boat tour.
One of the most famous bays in the world, Ha Long Bay is now
a massive tourist trap. This doesn’t detract from its beauty and
certainly doesn’t mean you should avoid it.
What it does mean though, is that prices are artificially high.
Furthermore, the well-organized tours with websites in English
can charge the highest rates of all.
The point is if you just turn up to Ha Long Bay, you’ll get a tour.
You don’t need to be concerned about missing out. You can also
barter for a much lower price than you’d pay online.
Will it be the highest quality tour? Who knows? You don’t get
the advantage of online reviews if you just turn up. It may be
amazing. It may be sub-standard, but all experiences have some
value, even the bad ones.
If you only get 2 weeks vacation per year and are spending
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thousands of dollars, it’s understandable to want everything
to be “perfect”. If you are traveling in the non-perfect, budget
world, taking the rough with the smooth is what will color your
memories.
The take-away from this section is: Don’t let fancy web advertising
fool you. You don’t have to book Asian experiences in advance
from expensive agents.
around until you find the best deal. Just because an agent has a
shop front, doesn’t mean they won’t try to bump up the prices if
they can.
Guide Scams.
There are a few common scams where a guide or tuk-tuk driver
offers to take you around for a price that seems ‘to good to be
true’. It is!

There are some tour booking sites that connect you directly with You will often find yourself taken to suit makers or jewelry and

locals. More on that in the next section. souvenir stores for the “hard sell” so that 
- The driver gets a commission out of whatever you buy 
- OR the driver gets fuel vouchers for taking you to particular
Local Guides and Tour websites stores. 

While traveling throughout Asia, you’ll likely to want to mix

Not all guides that approach you on the street are rip offs, but
up your independent travel with locally guided travel. This is a
if you want to avoid this kind of scam it’s best to stick with
great way to find out more about the history of an attraction or
booking your tours with your hostel or hotel - though you might
region. You can often gain insight that you just won’t get from a
end up paying a higher booking price.
guidebook. 

Tour websites to check out

There are plenty of different ways to get a local guide for some of
Finally, you can pre book specific tours. Depending on how far
the major and not so major tourist attractions, but you need to
in advance you book, this option gives you less flexibility and
make sure you are getting a good deal and not getting ripped off.
you may also end up paying a higher rate as there is no bartering
with the price. But, you will have someone to guide you around
Local Guides are people who might possibly approach you on
whom, hopefully, will not try and scam you throughout the day.
the street and offer their services or they could be recommended
So it provides peace of mind.
to you by the hotel / hostel you are staying at. EVERYONE in
Asia seems to know someone who owns a tuk-tuk or is a tour
With that said, there are some great tour companies on the scene
guide. You will certainly be offered a trip or two. 
that are offering authentic, local experiences, for a reasonable
price. Once again, check out blogs to see who others have
Generally, for local guides, you can barter on exactly where you
travelled with. You may be able to get in touch with a local guide
want to go, what you want to do, and how much you want to pay.
this way. These two sites connect you directly to local guides:

It’s a good idea to do some research prior to booking a local

- Withlocals.com
guide. Find out what other travelers have paid for the same trip.
- Toursbylocals.com
You can find this out by reading up to date blog posts online.
Looking at Trip Advisor will normally only tell you about the
Viator is quite a major tour company and their prices are
expensive pre-booked tours. So, not as much use, but may yield
generally beyond the average budget traveler. Their focus is less
benchmark maximum prices that those tourists have paid.
generic than other major tour companies, so might be of interest
There are also tour agencies in popular tourist spots that act as
to some travelers: Viator.com
a middleman for your tours. In that case it’s a good idea to shop

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EPILO GU E

At the start of this book we asked, “What is Asia”?

If this book is anything to go by, Asia is a hectic world of color,

beeping horns, endless scams, delicious street food and budget
accommodation and transport.

At its core, it is the ambience and the people of Asia that will leave
the most lasting impression on you. So travel cheap and enjoy
soaking up reality. It’s crazy. It’s often challenging. But, it’s also
unforgettable.

For more travel advice and budget tips on Asia, follow Tommo
and Megsy at Backpacking4beginners.com

To start your next adventure, put the travel tips into action and
become part of a global community of passionate travelers,
visit Trevolta.com.

- - THE END - -

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