Woman Traveling Alone Through Southeast Asia

I am a 19 year old planning on backpacking through Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam in January 2011, for four months. My main concern is my safety, but I\'m also worried about meeting people and having a good time. I am doing a volunteer program for two weeks, but then I am on my own. I am thinking about flying from Seattle to Singapore and then on to Bangkok, but I really have no idea. Has anyone done a route similar that has any suggestions (the cheapest route?).
How did you feel about meeting people and the easiness of it, and is it ok to go to things like the full moon party, or is that just asking for something bad to happen?
Any suggestions from people who have done this area or have suggestions would be appreciated! Reply to this

Alright thanks. Im also confused about flights. I'm flying into Bangkok, so should I get a roundtrip ticket to Bangkok? Is it possible to make that loop around the countries and then back to Bangkok to fly out? Or would that be very expensive? Reply to this

Hey

You don't need to book that route as part of your long haul flight tickets. There are loads of budget airlines in Asia that you can use if you decide to fly some legs. Look at Air Asia, Tiger Airways, Nok Air and Jetstar Asia for a start. I'm with Bob on considering upgrading transport from long bus journeys to flights. Sometimes it doesn't make any difference in price but you get more time in a place and less uncomfortable travel.

It's really easy to meet people on this type of trip. People will be doing exactly the same route as you so you will bump into them again and again on buses and in guesthouses, hostels and bars.

As for bad things happening, just be sensible and aware. Don't trust everyone who seems friendly. Keep your head on straight and you should be fine. Reply to this

Hello Kaitlyn, I am José from Germany/Belgium. My wife and I are frequent visitors from the Asian continent, we go bach there end of october. I have beeing reading your messge here and therefore my reply... first of all, there is no danger for Young woman to travel around in Asia, not more than in Europ or USA i would say. However, if you are looking for problems you can find it everywhere, like at home too, i think. So stay away from problems or strangers wanting to become "good friends" because sommetimes their intentions arent so good. For travelling, from Bangkok, Kuala Lumphur, you can get annywhere in Asia/Indonesia, and that for a more than reasonable price. From BKK you can travel by train, bus and Airplane, and sommetimes you could wonder about prices. I would suggest you, go to airasia.com and make yourself a traveler profile, and agree they sent you the weekly/montly offers. You will receive regurarly incrdible offers, but you have to be quick to book because they are fast booked out. Some excamples from 2009.. BKK-UDON TH, UDON Th-BKK, BKK- Chiang Mai and Back, BKK to Phuket and back, these flights for 2 pax, so 12 tickets costs only 72€, little less than 90$. This Year, from BKK to Bali, from Bali tu Kuala L, and from Kuala L to Phnom penh x2 people= 147€ in total. Just to tell you, verry cheap, if you book the right moment, and if no offers, still reasonable prices available. I can assure you, we booked those flights because of the prices, we wouldnt have beeing cheaper by bus or train. And those flights you can use all over the Asian continent. BUT.... if you have time, and want to hold on on your way to visit people culture .. than Bus or train is the best alternative, and here also different price cattegories.. from deluxe Aircon bus till pigs truck. I dont know Vietnam yet... so do not want to gige comments on that Country, but Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Malaisia and Indonesia is verry easy travelling... also as a young lady on the road. Last hint...if entering one of those countrys by plane, most of the time you can stay 30 days without renewing visa(on arrival), but if entering by the road... this is reduced untill only 15 days. Please read on the Internet about Visa for the different countrys you want to visit.
I am always open to give advice where i can... Also the comment from Bob Carlsen and rat on the road about other Low Budget comp is realy a good alternative. And yes... if you can bump on with otter backpackers... can make life easyer.. but not always. Keep on travelling, enjoy te country, nature, people, food, and know, you are not alone . Reply to this

Also forgot to mention that I seriously considering the The Philippines because I have heard very good things about it. Are all these countries reasonable within a six month time frame? Reply to this

Kaitlyn,
In my experience having Bangkok as the end destination results in the cheapest flights. However, I usually take advantage of the one stopover permitted for such long flights, which allowed me to stop in Japan on one trip and China on another trip for no extra cost other than the in country expenses.
My recommendation for your itinerary, once you get to Bangkok and have spent a few days touring this crazy city, would be to take a flight to the southern islands for a beach vacation to recouperate (Bangkok to Krabi..the gateway to the islands on the Andaman Sea is $60 on Air Asia). There you can go to Ao Nang, Railey, Phi Phi, and Phuket. Then take the Air Asia flight from Phuket to Chiang Mai for $46. Look at other blogs for what to do in Chaing Mai (e.g., jungle treks, etc.). There are many opportunities to volunteer at "orphanages" in northern Thailand, as you mentioned you wished to do. Let me know if you need contact information.
Then look at the blogs to see if you are up for the overland route via minibus and boat, to Luang Prabang, the best place to see true Laos (most describe it as a trip to hell). Otherwise take the Lao Aviation flight for $176. I would take the shorter trips in Laos in minibuses to places like Vang Vieng...if you are into that scene...again look at travelblog for other Laos destinations. I would skip Vientiane in favor of more time in Luang Prabang. The air fares from Chiang Mai to Luang Prabang to Hanoi are pretty steep as they are not on discount airlines. To get the discounts you will have to fly back to their hubs and then out again to these destinations (into Vientiane for best prices).
Then look at the blogs to see if you are up for the overland route to Hanoi (also described as a trip to hell). Otherwise take the one hour flight from Luang Prabang to Hanoi on Vietnam Airlines for $200. In Hanoi, make sure you book the three day tour to Halong Bay, and don't pay for the cheapest tour. I'm not sure I would go to Sapa, but you can research the travelblogs related to Vietnam destinations to see what appeals to you. Some don't like Dalat, but it is a cool break, and I'm partial to that city having lived there for eight years. I would take either the sleeper buses or the train down the length of Vietnam, stopping at those places you have identified, and ending in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)/Saigon.
There are buses or bus/boat combinations from HCMC/Saigon to Phnom Phen, and from there to Siem Reap/Angkor Wat. Cambodia is also a good place to volunteer. Again, let me know if you need contact information.
I would then take the Air Asia flight from Siem Reap to Kuala Lumpur (KL) for $96, even though you didn't list Malaysia as a destination. However, you did want to go to the Philippines and Indonesia, and KL provides the cheapest flights to both countries (KL-Bali R/T for $143, and KL-Clark/Manila for $237 on Air Asia), assuming Bali as your Indonesia destination. Also, Malaysia is worth visiting...I like the Cameron Highland (another cool climate spot where I lived for 2 years), and Penang...take buses within Malaysia...all shorter distances. As for open jaw tickets, flying a discount airline from Bali to Bangkok ($99 on Air Asia) is probably cheaper than flying from Bali back to the States. However, you might check the cost of flights to Bali with a stopover enroute in Bangkok. Sorry about the length of this reply! Bob Reply to this

It looks like you are doing some good research on alternatives. Yes, going from Bangkok to Chiang Mai first and doing the southern Thailand islands last is a good alternative. My only reason for suggesting the first option is that you save the cost of a flight; which on the other hand isn't that expensive. The benefit of your alternative gives you a good rest towards the end of your trip when you need it, rather than at the beginning when you may not. Although having just come from Indonesian beaches (including possibly the Gilis near Bali), you may not need more beaches...something to think about when ordering your destinations. Of course, the Thailand beaches (especially the night life) are an entirely different experience than those of Indonesia.

An alternative to flying from Bangkok to Chiang Mai would be day train to Ayutthaya (ancient capital destroyed by the Burmese) and Lopburi (town overrun with monkeys), the overnight sleeper express train from Lopburi to Chiang Mai. You won't save that much (the cost of a night in a hostel and a bit in the fare), but these two stops on the way are worth it, and many people enjoy the experience...just don't use the toilets on the train if you don't have to.

As for searching for airfares, I usually go to kayak.com that draws from all other travel sites. If you want to go into greater depth, you can then go to the various Asian airlines own sites to see whether they offer any special deals. Cathay Pacific, Korean Airlines, and Asiana seem to offer the lowest costs from the U.S., but Kayak has access to their fares so this may not be worth the effort. Kayak also gives you fares within Asia, but I would go directly to the Air Asia site for these flights. Also, using frequent flyer miles from the U.S. to Asia gives you the best return for your miles, and a free stop over enroute which would allow you to see Japan or China. Reply to this

Thanks for all your replies! My plane ticket is for January 14th into Bangkok. Ill update on how it is going! 😊 Thanks again! Reply to this

To repeat what I said in my post above, overland from Laos to Hanoi, Vietnam is reported by many bloogers to be very difficult. You can fly Vietnam Airlines from either Luang Prabang or Vientiene to Hanoi for $200, or Lao Aviation from Vientiene to Hanoi for $161 per kayak.com (check yourself for the latest fare for the dates you want). You can fly Air Asia from Siem Reap to Kuala Lumpur for $101 and from Kuala Lumpur to many destinations in Indonesia (e.g. $75 to Bali on way). Reply to this

Hey guys- Is there a way to get around the return ticket needed to enter Thailand? Reply to this