Where to Backpack Within South East Asia

Executive summary article By Matthew Coe

Thailand

Thailand is usually the best place to start for the first time independent traveler. Bangkok is a buzzing city crisscrossed with canals & rivers. The sky line is one of high rises, shopping malls & international hotel chains but at the canal banks and side streets of the city the traditional side of Thai life is clearly visible. The business hub of the city is easily navigated using the skyrail & underground but the more touristy areas around the Koh San road are less well supplied & Tuk Tuks are the main mode of transport. Negotiate hard with your tuk tuk driver - a taxi will always be cheaper & has the advantage of air conditioning however be sure to agree that you're charged according to the metre as opposed to agreeing a fixed price. For the best food though go to the street hawkers. South Islands

Most people come to Thailand for the beaches and Diving. The main Islands in the south are:

Koh Tao

A backpacker Island where everyone comes to dive and mainly to learn how to dive. There are some great beaches here and also a good nightlife.

Koh Pan gan

This is the party island of Thailand and where the famous Full Moon party is held each month. This if you have not heard is one big crazy party on a beach which attracts at least 10,000 people each month to get as fucked up as possible. Koh Samui & Phuket

I would strongly suggest avoiding these two islands.

Koh Phi Phi

The Beach is like a postcard or you can get a boat to the lagoon where the Leo Dicapro film 'The Beach' was filmed and chill there for the day.

Vietnam

Vietnam was ravaged by war but is now a great place to visit. Hanoi

Hanoi is the capitol of Vietnam and is a great introduction into the Vietnamese way of life. The city is always bustling and careful when crossing those roads as those motorbikes don't stop.

The city center is located around Hoan Kiem lake, just of the lake is the old quarter which is the main area for budget hostels and guesthouses. Hanoi is a great place to just go out and wander. Each street has its own trade and each shop will only sell products to do with that trade so you end up having streets only selling shoes or kitchenware. If you get tired and hot whilst walking around you can always stop off for some Bia Hoi. Ha Long bay

This is north of Hanoi and is available from all travel agencies in the city as either overnight trip. Hoi An

Hoi An is located on the coast and actually has a pretty decent beach. Nha Trang

Is a beach resort just over halfway down the country. This city is very developed with a good long beach stretching the entire length of it. Ho Chi Min City (Saigon)

This is the Vietnam you see in the films. From here you do a day trip to the Cu Chi tunnels where the North had a series of small tunnels which they used to fight the south. Cambodia

Cambodia is surrounded by Vietnam, Thailand and Laos and has the Mekong go through the country into Laos.

Phnom Penh

Is a typical Asian Capitol city, will not loads to do but getting there is a great experience if you come from Vietnam. The two main places to see in and around Phnom Penh are the Killing Fields where around 200,000 people were executed during 1975-1979 when the Khmer Rouge reigned. Sihanoukville

Is a beach resort about 3 to 4 hours bus ride away from Phnom Penh and has a decent enough beach which all long has hostels/guesthouses, restaurants and bars where you can chat with new found friends and enjoy a nice cold beer. Siem Reap/Angkor Wat

Siem Reap is the city closest to the temples of Angkor Wat. Every night most people head down to the aptly named Bar Street to meet and hang out with friends.

The temples of Angkor are quite spectacular and are very worth the visit. Laos

Laos is landlocked and borders Burma, China, Vietnam, Thailand and Vietnam. Vang Vieng

The town where you leave remembering nothing. This place is just one big drunken haze. You get a tractor inner tube and float down a river and stop off at bars on route and get free shots of lao lao whiskey and then drink buckets of more lao lao whiskey and coke until 6pm then when you think you have enough you go over to an island which is just bars (smile is the best) until middnight when the curfew kicks in. Love this place :D

The first bar has the biggest whatever other bars may claim.

Luang Prabang

Very beautiful town and is very quiet compared with Vang Vieng. The night market seems to run on forever with lots of goodies.

4 Types of Singapore Accommodation to Fit in With Your Budget

Executive summary article By Patricia A. Jones

Depending on your budget and traveling style, you can choose just about any type of accommodation that suits your needs. From hostels, budget lodgings to boutique and five-star hotels, you will be spoiled for choice when selecting accommodation in Singapore.

Backpacker

Check out the centrally located, no-frills City Backpackers Hostel that is close to the city, easily accessible and have important facilities like Internet access, hot showers and toiletries. You can even choose between shared dormitories and private rooms.

On a tight budget

Budget hotels are available in abundance in Singapore. Two popular lines of budget hotels in Singapore are Hotel 81 and Fragrance Hotel, both have outlets spread out in town and suburban areas of Singapore. Give your trip a touch of style and sophistication by checking into one of the many boutique hotels in Singapore, such as The Scarlet, Berjaya Hotel Singapore, Perak hotel, Getaway Hotel Singapore, Naumi Hotel, Hotel Re! The Scarlet, for example, Singapore's first boutique hotel, located in Chinatown utilized the structure of its 1924 building to lend a touch of heritage and elegance. Luxury trip

If money is not an issue, why not splurge on accommodation in Singapore for an unforgettable stay at the top notch five star hotels? If you like heritage architectural, then check out the 6-star Fullerton Hotel located on the banks of the Singapore River?