Maine Off the Beaten Path, 9th: A Guide to Unique Places (Off the Beaten Path Series)

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Where to stay in Bandung: I loved how luxurious this hotel was. A gorgeous lobby, multiple outdoor swimming pools and a huge breakfast buffet — this is a great pick especially if you are a Starwood member and have SPG points. Most all the rooms have a view of the pool and courtyard.

A Guide To Unique Places, Ninth Edition

Also — free wifi! Yogyakarta is one of my favorite regions in Indonesia with a wealth of natural wonders, local art and ancient cultures. Where to stay in Jogjakarta: My favorite part was the coffee option each morning, with six different types of sugar. Stay here for the atmosphere — simply incredible! Raja Ampat is one of the most beautiful, untouched ocean paradises on earth. The main islands, the Four Kings, cover 9. Time there feels unreal, surrounded by nothing but sand and sunshine.

I would recommend having an advanced certification or being very comfortable with scuba diving before making the trek out here as the waves can be a bit rough for beginners.

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Raja Ampat is on the cusp of two oceans, the Indian and Pacifc and as a result the current is strong. Where to stay in Raja Ampat: Raja Ampat Dive Lodge. The Raja Ampat Dive Lodge is simply incredible. We spent three days in paradise, snorkeling under the dock, watching each sunrise and sunset and having fresh grilled shrimp and fish on the open pit. Just be sure to pack sunscreen and mosquito repellent! Each night in early October, tropical rainstorms hit and I would wake up with 10 new mosquito bites.

Lombok is one of the more popular areas in Indonesia, known for pristine beaches and incredible surfing opportunities. I had the best time learning how to surf here and highly recommend it! Where to stay in Lombok: Novotel Lombok Resort and Villas. The Novotel Lombok is a beautiful, sprawling indoor-outdoor hotel on the beach with tons of options for daily activities and a great breakfast option.

You can choose to take an Indonesia cooking class, feed the monkeys or do yoga on the beach. This hotel is much more touristy — I think we saw the most Europeans and Australians on this property than anywhere else on the trip! If you want more 5 star luxurious accommodation in Lombok, this hotel is it. Gili is the collective name for three small islands off the coast of Lombok.

We stayed on Trawangan, known for its beach swings. Gili is known for its vibrant nightlife and felt very similar to Cancun. The entire island does not allow motorized transport so you can hop on a horse drawn cart or rent a bike. Where to stay in Gili T: We stayed at Villa Ombak , a large gorgeous property right across the dock when you get off on the island. Check often for routes and fares here. If your focus is Bali, note that flights from the USA will be slightly more expensive and typically will involve a 2nd stopover in Jakarta anyway.

Taxis and Ubers will work in some areas, but prepare to be stuck in gridlock traffic. AirBnBs are a great way to stay in luxurious Balinese resorts for discounted rates — especially if traveling with a group. Bali is also a fantastic place to splurge on a luxury resort — the options are endless, the views are unbeatable and the food is divine. Whether you get injured and need to be hospitalized, or your phone gets stolen, or an injury forces you to cancel all or part of your vacation, travel insurance will help when you need it most.

I ended up getting seriously ill and visiting the hospital while in Solo, Indonesia and being taken care of was a lifesaver. I use and recommend Allianz travel insurance. The Ultimate Indonesia Travel Guide. When is the Best Time to Visit Indonesia. An Off the Beaten Path Itinerary: A Raja Ampat Travel Guide: Follow Sher She Goes on.

I really like the 2nd itinerary you listed. I am arriving to denpasar, bali, and will like to follow this one. I have two questions and I was wondering if perhaps you could assist. One for the second itinerary, do you think it would be possible to substitute something like staying a few days extra in kanawa island and going to the Gili islands instead? Also, is it better and less expensive to rent hotels once there or to do it online?

It looks absolutely stunning there. I really like how you captured the natural beauty of it. I definitely want to visit some day. Indonesia in Two Weeks: Do you have some extra time? How about a 2 week Indonesia itinerary that hits up some more spectacular beaches and even […]. You can find the final itinerary I took here. These are such beautiful photos and awesome suggestions too, definitely adding some of these to my bucket list.

Really love how you organize your blog as well. I loved this post. Very helpful and gorgeous pics. Have you ever been to Bali?

If so, what is […]. Other Indonesian Regions of Interest: But i wish I had had time to see more of Indonesia! Hopefully i can go back soon! Thanks for sharing, ive written these things down. Taking a tent backpacking is not always practical but hammocks are lightweight, cheap, strong, sexy chicks dig hammocks and allow you to pitch up for the night pretty much anywhere. For plenty more inspiration on what to pack, check out my full backpacking packing list.

Vietnam is a country with multiple weather patterns ranging from monsoon rains, cold snaps and hot, humid sunny days. It can be hard to catch the whole country at a consistent time of year. But no fret, it is possible! If you are planning to backpack Vietnam from top to bottom, the best time of year generally is September — December Autumn and March — April Spring. These times of the year are your best weather window, where you might be lucky enough to see the whole country in sun! Let me break down by regions, the best time of year for backpacking Vietnam;.

Expect some colder temperatures in the mountains and from March onwards, a little more rain as it gets more humid. Temperatures will hit the upper 30s in June to August. If not, you have some fantastic maths skills! A great way to keep track of how much your spending and understanding the exchange rate. Download the full map of the country before you go and use it offline while you backpack Vietnam. No data used and minimal amount of time getting lost means more time for fun stuff!

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This particular VPN allows for up to five connections which is handy for keeping all your devices connected without having to purchase multiple VPN packages. Whether you are travelling the South East Asia loop and entering by land, coming down from China, or flying directly there, border crossings are relatively straight forward and the days of the tricky Vietnamese visa are now over. You can easily cross the border from Cambodia to Vietnam using local buses or, if you fancy travelling in style, there are VIP bus services available for flashpackers.

The visa situation in Vietnam has changed a lot in the last few years and it can be a little confusing. For UK citizens you can enter into Vietnam without a visa and travel for a maximum of 15 days. Which is great if you are paying Vietnam a quick visit, but if you want to stay any longer than this you will have to organise a visa before arrival.

Thankfully visas are relatively straightforward to organise before you travel to Vietnam. Just pay a visit, or call your local Vietnamese Embassy to apply and ask any questions. Comfortable long distance transport and constantly improving road quality make travelling in Vietnam pretty smooth. Most backpackers choose to explore Vietnam via bus network. Rather than just rocking up at the bus stop in the hope they will have space to fit you on, you can now book tickets in advance for most of South East Asia using 12Go.

A great way to get from one end of the country to the other fast and scenically. Ensure you book your tickets in advance, hard sleeper class offers the best value. Hop on the Reunification Express for a breathtaking journey. I did not travel via domestic flight within Vietnam. Vietnam Airlines, the national carrier and Jetstar both offer cheap and backpacker friendly prices to many destinations within Vietnam. Many adventurers backpacking Vietnam choose to explore the country by motorbike.

With a motorbike, you have a lot more freedom and will see a side of the country that is completely inaccessible if you are travelling by bus or train. Best of all, motorbiking Vietnam can work out pretty damn cheap as you can simply sell your used motorbike to another backpacker at the end of your trip. An increasingly common sight in the cities, it is not hard to find a ride. Just be sure to use a metered taxi or haggle and agree on the price before you get in. Be firm with directions and destination whilst using taxies within Vietnam.

To kick your backpacking adventure into the next gear, get a motorbike. Luckily, riding a motorbike is a lot easier than it looks and after about an hour of somewhat, hilarious practice, I was good to go. Unfortunately, accidents among travellers are common, I came off my motorbike myself in Dalat and got away with just cuts and bruises… The bike flipped and hit me in the back of the head, and my helmet almost certainly saved my life — always wear a fucking helmet.

You might think you look cool without one but, frankly, you look like a twat. There is no greater feeling than whizzing through the beautiful countryside on the back of a Motorbike. Make sure you pack your camping hammock if you want to save money on accommodation. For anyone backpacking Vietnam, I highly rate buying a Motorbike to explore this beautiful country.

If you are staying in hostel dorms, trying the local delicacies on the street, catching buses and trains rather than domestic flights and enjoying the odd day trip; you can expect to spend no more than forty dollars a day, if that. Long Distance Bus Service: Ever wanted to throw cash in the air and feel like a millionaire? Well, the Vietnamese Dong allows every broke backpacker travelling in Vietnam the opportunity to feel rich.

Plus the name is Dong… Which, when enjoying multiple dirt cheap beers, is consistently amusing. If you want to carry a fair bit of cash safely on your body, your best bet is to get hold of a backpacker belt with a hidden security pocket. So here are my top tips to keep it cheap backpacking Vietnam….

Camping is most popular within the National Parks up and down Vietnam. Check out this post for a breakdown of the best tents to take backpacking. To connect with the locals, check out Couchsurfing.

Backpacking Vietnam Travel Guide (Updated for 2018)

Cook your own Food: Knowing the value of the currency will help you avoid being ripped off or spending too much without realising. Where possible drink the local beer, eat the local delicacies and for day trips, try to use local companies. Plus supporting local businesses thrive is awesome!

Smile, motion for a car to stop and practise your Vietnamese…. Long term travel is awesome. Giving back is awesome too. Backpackers can spend long periods of time volunteering in an awesome place without spending any money. Meaningful life and travel experiences are rooted in stepping out of your comfort zone and into the world of a purposeful project. World Packers opens the doors for work opportunities in hostels, homestays, NGOs and eco-projects around the world. Are you a native English speaker looking to earn cash whilst traveling the world?

Teaching English online is a great way to earn a consistent income—from anywhere in the world with a good internet connection. Whether you are keen to teach English online or looking to take your teaching game a step further by finding a job teaching English in a foreign country, getting your TEFL certificate is absolutely a step in the right direction. The national parks will be more isolated. Buddhism is undoubtedly most common religion, but Vietnam has a rich and wide variety of religions including Catholicism, animism, theism and ancestor worship.

Vietnamese food is popular all around the world. I would be gobsmacked if you have yet to try Spring Rolls, or Bread Rolls? As well as tasting absolutely wonderful Vietnamese food is one of the healthiest foods in the world; prepared with fresh ingredients, vegetables, herbs and either rice or noodles each dish is different but delicious! This is basically a Pork Meatball Noodle Salad. They are wrapped in rice paper and served with Peanut dipping sauce.

There are many varieties of Pho, perfect for those slightly unsure about Vietnamese food. Basically, a well sized baguette stuffed with yummy treats such as ham, cheese, fish, vegetables etc. In the late 19th century, Vietnam became a French colony. The French built infrastructure in Vietnam such as the Saigon to Hanoi railway through taxation, and the Veitnamese wanted independence. Viet Minh took control of most of Vietnam and declared Vietnam independent by , but France ignored this. With no intention to give up power, fighting broke out between them and the Viet Minh.

First they were sending military advisers to South Vietnam. Financially, they supported the French and later the South Vietnamese government. As a result by December there were , US soldiers in Vietnam and by the end of there were nearly half a million. However, the Vietcong continued their guerrilla war.

Americans withdrew from Vietnam in , but the South Vietnamese continued to fight the Vietcong alone until until the North Vietnamese captured Saigon. Vietnam was reunited under Communist rule. You Sir, are a twat. I know first hand just how hard it is to be the one person in a group to say no when somebody comes up with a stupid idea that, for some reason, everybody is down for.

By no means am I telling you not to drink, smoke and party. Do it and love it. Wear a helmet when you hop on a motorbike in Asia. It was an expensive mistake. Humans are humans; treat people you meet along the way with the same respect you would show your friends and family back home. Sex workers in South East Asia are people like you and me; they may enjoy what they do, or they may be on the darker side of it.

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Regardless of your beliefs and thoughts on prostitution, remember this is another person with thoughts, feelings and a life outside of the sex industry too. Travelling the world makes you an ambassador for your country , which is awesome. We can make a positive impact on people when we travel and get rid of any ugly stereotypes that may be associated with your country….

Reduce your plastic footprint: Perhaps the best thing you can do for our planet is to make sure you do NOT add to the plastic problem all over the world. Help save the planet, pick up a water bottle here. Your support helps me keep the site going. Master of the handstand pushup. Conqueror of mountains, survivor of deserts and crusader for cheap escapades. Will has been on the road for nine years, travelling to far-flung lands on a budget.

Today, he runs a number of online ventures. He is passionate about teaching others how to ditch their desks, hit the road and achieve real freedom by earning money online. Currently, Will is on a four year journey from the UK to Papua New Guinea; travelling through truly special countries such as Iran, Pakistan and Bhutan whilst running his businesses online. Woah, also, I think that ostrich riding is not an activity that should be recommended. I saw the signs for it when I was in Mui Ne… Made me feel quite sad.

It was an interesting experience for sure and the ostriches seemed well looked after in a professionally run center. Hi again Will — I would definitely recommend reading this post: When I can see a risk to an animal I will never increase that risk — for example, I would never dream of riding horses or donkeys abroad as they are usually treated badly. In my opinion, no, not really. Hanoi is WAY nicer. Tom and I met in Vietnam so it is quite dear to us! He rode a motorbike throughout Vietnam and had the time of his life! I went on buses but joined him along some of the stops.

We will be posting a photo diary of his motorbike adventure on our blog soon. Sapa changes every year as rapidly do other great destinations in Vietnam unfortunately! Though it still is a great country to visit! Great blog Will Hatton. The trip will be anything from weeks. Not sure how much that will influence the daily spend, although in Thailand we found that we spent more on accommodation yet less on getting scammed and wasting money like we saw lots of the young backpackers do, so maybe this will balance figures.

How much time do you think we realistically need? Im planing my trip according this.! Also should i drop some of the stuff given above being a solo women traveler.? We based our trip on this article as we knew nothing of Vietnam. My understanding is that you cannot ride a motorbike in Vietnam without a proper license? You mentioned you had no prior riding experience before going there. How did you get around that? Thanks so much for this Will! Crimetown - Thrills abound in a podcast steeped in the criminal underbelly of Providence. Listeners ask the questions; VPR investigates and answers.

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