11 Ways to Save Money whilst Travelling South East Asia
- Sarah Outside
- Apr 2, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: May 13, 2024
South East Asia has long since been a popular destination for those looking for an adventure with travellers arriving from all over the globe since the 1960s! Popular destinations today include Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and others.
The region is great for new and seasoned travellers alike as it is safe and populated by other travelling, but also offers tons of off the beaten track options. Moreover, it is a region that suits any budget whether you'll be travelling on a shoestring or able to splash the cash. The many many destination, route and activity options make South East Asia a perfect destination for everyone.
However, regardless of your budget or experiences, who doesn't want to save some cash so they can continue travelling that little bit longer!
This guide will run through a few of the things I've learnt whilst travelling that have helped me to save myself some cash and ensured I've been able to make the most of my time in the beautiful, lively and unique region of the world.
Accommodation Tips
Book your Accommodation through Booking.com
This might sound like a strange one but Booking.com is a great place to get discounts and free breakfast, as they have a so-called Genius Loyalty Program. After a few bookings you can get a 15% discount, free breakfast and free room upgrades for selected properties. It is also just a good website to be able to compare the prices of lots of different accommodation options in one area.
However, don't book too ‘loyal’ there are other websites out there that might offer lower prices, such as Hostelworld, and even if these booking sites show places are sold out if you contact places directly - via WhatsApp for example - you might find they got some space.
Choose to stay in dorms and at hostels or home stays
Dorms in hostels and homestays are more often than not the cheapest option for the budget traveller. I used to turn my nose up at dorms but after many positive experiences I'm truly a convert. You might need your earplugs once in a while but I've found this to be an exception not the rule.
However, if you're travelling as a couple or pair I've found that hotels often offer private rooms at cheaper rates than hostels and homestays do. So, don't forget to do your cross shopping.
Choose Breakfast Included
Many accommodation options will offer you breakfast as part of your room fee and utilising this is a great way to save some cash. Getting grab and go breakfast can soon add up with a coffee here and a breakfast bread there.
Food and Drink Tips
Eat the Local Street Foods
Local street foods are the G.O.A.T of budget eating in South East Asia. It offers a great way to try out new food, chat with local people and get a great insight into local culture. Always be on the look out for where locals are eating as this can be a good signal of whether somewhere is safe to eat.
If you've got a dietary requirement like me (I'm vegan) this can be a little more difficult but you can often still find choices. Sometimes you might have more success if you opt to broaden your search to local restaurants too; these are often just as affordable and way more affordable than eating at places offering burgers, pizza and chips.
Pack a Water Bottle
This might sound like a strange one given that it is not a good idea to drink the tap water in most of South East Asia, but trust me for a minute!
Lots of hostels or restaurants will offer safe drinking options for free that are not just plastic bottled water. So having a bottle with you means you can always fill up if there's the opportunity to and if you're staying a good few weeks or months that couple of quid a day will soon add up.
Some also recommend buying a water bottle, such as the LifeStraw, with a built-in purifier which makes all water safe and clean. But these can be expensive to initially invest in.
Drink the Local Tipple
Drinks can really add up! The odd beer, cocktail, coffee or whatever you favour can lead you to spend more on drink than food.
Choosing to drink what the locals drink, such as local beers like Hanoi Beer, can make drinking much more affordable. In one of my hostels they were selling Strongbow for about 60,000VND (approx. £2) whilst the local beer was 20,000 (less than £1) for the same sized bottle.
It's also important not to feel pressured or forced to drink. Some might come to South East Asia with intentions of partying but this doesn't mean you have to.
Buying, Booking and Activity Tips
Don't be afraid to haggle
At many street stalls nothing sells for its face value. There's a haggling culture across many parts of South East Asia so don't be afraid to play the game and save some cash. It can be as easy as just walking away after they've offered you a price and hearing them call you back with a price a step cheaper.
However, remember not to insult. We are tourists in their region who are privileged so should be prepared to help locals out by parting with our money. Also, stick to haggling at street stalls - in many stores the price is the price.
Don't Book Tours in Advance
Book all your tours or activities when you get to your destination. They'll likely be much cheaper as you'll have the ability to do some negotiation and cross shopping to find the best prices.
You could also consider bundling tours together. If you're doing two things that are close together there could well be a tour that combined them together allowing you to do both for cheaper than booking each individually.
Look for Free Activities
Cities will have any number of free activities you can make use of such as visiting local temples or sights of interest, or joining walking tours offered by hostels. Be sure to check these out instead of more expensive options such as costly organised tours or expensive attractions.
Transport Tips
Utilise Sleeper Buses
These can be a good way to travel long distances for affordable prices and to save on a night's accommodation cost. Another tip is that sleeper buses also run during the day and offer excellent value compared to the standard coaches.
However, if you're doing a big overnight journey don't be afraid to spend that extra couple for a more comfortable option as your neck, back and energy levels will thank you at the end of the journey.
Utilise Walking and Cycling
Getting a taxi or a motorbike is always tempting, especially when you've arrived somewhere late at night or early in the morning, but doing this frequently can add up! Don't be afraid to whack out Google Maps and find the walking route. I have a bit of a rule that anything under 30 minutes is definitely walkable for me; but you've got to find a timeframe or distance that works for you.
Moreover, if cycling is popular and safe in an area you'll often find hostels offering bicycle hire for free or very affordable rates.
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