Busy with work but craving a vacation? Of course, you can! You can take a vacation to several ASEAN or Southeast Asian countries. Besides being not too far, the budget for traveling to ASEAN countries is also more affordable compared to vacationing in Europe. So, it’s perfect for those of you who want to travel with limited vacation time and a tight budget.
The countries you can visit include Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Brunei Darussalam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Timor-Leste, the Philippines and Myanmar. But before you go on vacation, get these things ready first to make your trip more enjoyable and worry-free. Check it out!
The first thing you need to prepare is your travel essentials. For your essentials, pack things like all your electronic devices, personal medication, toiletries, clothes suited to the country’s season, an umbrella, tissues, hand sanitizer, snacks, entertainment gadgets, and so on.
On top of that, you also need to prepare the documents usually required when traveling to ASEAN countries. Starting with a valid passport, visas—which in some cases can be obtained as Visa on Arrival (VOA)—and so on. Not only that, it’s a good idea to bring your ATM card, ID card and other important documents.
Before your trip, find out where you’ll be staying because each country offers different types of accommodations. Usually, these types of accommodations are available in ASEAN countries, including:
Hotel: accommodations that offer comprehensive facilities such as Wi-Fi, TV, bathroom, bedroom, swimming pool, lounge area, restaurant, spa, and more.
Guest house: usually a house or apartment managed directly by the owner and rented out to guests looking for a place to stay.
Homestay: a type of accommodation where local residents rent out their homes to guests staying temporarily.
Villa: renting an entire building unit complete with facilities such as a swimming pool, kitchen, garden, and more. This type of accommodation is ideal for group vacations.
Resort: accommodation that offers a complete retreat with entertainment and recreational facilities. These accommodations are usually located near tourist spots, beaches, and other attractions.
Make sure to choose accommodations that fit your budget and meet your needs.
One thing that shouldn't be missed is to plan your travel route before heading off to your ASEAN holiday. By planning your route early, you'll make your trip across ASEAN countries much easier and smoother. If you only have weekends for vacation, choose neighboring countries like Singapore and Malaysia.
But if you have a more extended vacation, say about a week, it’s recommended to visit several countries in one trip. For instance, starting from Jakarta, you could spend a day in Singapore and then continue to Malaysia the next day. From there, you might take ground transportation to Thailand, Vietnam, and other destinations.
Even if you’re exploring many countries, your travel budget will stay comfortably in check. That’s because, within ASEAN countries, you can travel between them using land transportation. So, it’s cheaper than having to fly by plane.
However, if you're starting from Indonesia, you'll still need to buy a ticket in advance. For example, you can choose a route like Jakarta-Singapore or Jakarta-Malaysia. Then, you can simply purchase bus tickets to explore each country. To make it easier, you can buy the tickets through an Online Travel Agent (OTA).
To ensure a safer journey, it's better to protect your trip in advance by Purchasing Travel Insurance from MSIG Indonesia. This travel insurance will provide various protections for you from the moment you depart until you return to Indonesia.
On top of that, it also covers personal protection for accidents, medical expenses, travel inconveniences, and more. Let’s get travel insurance to make your trip safer and more comfortable! Have an amazing trip across the ASEAN!