Hi there!
I'm a total newbie to all of this not really given it much thought until recently, really wanting to go travelling after finishing uni in June (feel like it may be slightly last minute to start planning a big trip)
Don't come to NZ or OZ. Go to Asia, trust yourself man. I'm about to fly out of NZ to Asia myself and i am going because NZ is dull, unless you like Green grass and getting seriously drunk. Which is fine, but that gets old. Go to Asia, stay away from places like Phuket which are tourist soaked and false. You need to get off the main road to see what it's really all about.
First off, nvoid really? "green grass and getting seriously drunk"? New Zealand is a stunning country with a hell of a lot more to do then getting drunk. But anyway, different strokes I guess.
Second, don't be fooled into thinking that Asia is not the "popular" destination. Far from it. If you land in Thailand, you will instantly realize that it is overrun with tourists, and it actually receives more foreign visitors every year than NZ or Aus. You'll run into fellow Brits literally every 30 seconds of your day.
I would choose Asia, especially if your goal is to get the most bang for your buck. Asia is much much cheaper than Australia and New Zealand. In NZ and Oz, you will last a few weeks on 2000 pounds. In Asia you can last a few months if you watch your budget. If that budget also includes flights, then you really need to consider the best way to fly.
It might sound like a good deal to stop in all those places, but once you pay for the flights, you won't be able to afford very long in each place and you'll end up with a short whirlwind trip. However, if you focus on one area, say Thailand, you can get a cheaper flight to Bangkok, and have more money left over for an extended trip in the region. It may seem disappointing to limit your trip to one area, but from there you can go overland to Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Malaysia, even Indonesia if you have the time. Many travelers spend several months just trying to see this region, and you won't even have that much time with your budget.
I also choose south East Asia because it's a great place for a first time traveler - even a solo female. You will meet countless fellow travelers who are looking for people to hang out with, and you will never be alone. It's also very easy to get around, and compared to to other regions of the world, it's relatively safe for a solo traveler. Not to mention of course that the food, culture, beaches, and historical sites make it one of the most fascinating destinations in the world.
Degolasse - Thank you, you really have helped me think about it all a bit more - I still have a lot to do though I guess,
Definitely going to look into the flying etc. - although for Vietnam you need your Visa in advance right? so if I were to fly into Thailand and do them all by land then I'd need to have planned it all in advance am I correct?
But it's reassuring about being a solo female in SE Asia, and I am definitely looking at it because I can get a lot more for my money - hoping I can perhaps stretch/save another £1000 so I would have a bit more and can spend longer but will have to see what happens, and plan for just having 2000 I guess...
When I meant not popular I guess I meant most friends and people I know when talking about travelling NZ and AUS are the main ones - where my brother went for 4 months when he finished uni too, only he had a lot more money than me!
Seeing all the posts on these forums has really helped me in being slightly less apprehensive about solo travelling, but I definitely have a lot to plan and think about,
Thanks guys
Hi there!
I'm a total newbie to all of this not really given it much thought until recently, really wanting to go travelling after finishing uni in June (feel like it may be slightly last minute to start planning a big trip)Have been looking and STA's Empire multi stop flight looks pretty good to go to Istanbul, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Mumbai,
I'm just a bit worried about being only 21 and female alone,I have a budget of around £2000 all in,
Do you think I could probably get more for my money than these 4 places or theres somewhere better I should go first for my money?I have a friend who really wants to go to AUS and NZ but I kind of feel i'd rather do Asia first as it's not the 'popular' ones I guess,
Just looking for a bit of help/guidance and ideas I guess,
Thanks
Kristina
Hi Kristina,
I'm also trying to plan a big trip later this year. I'm thinking definitely Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Loas, Vietnam) and possibly then go on to Australia and New Zealand. I have the money saved up, just trying to build the confidence to book a flight and go alone! Have you thought any more about travelling and when/where you'd like to go?
Laura
You can get your vietnamese visa handled quite easily at any embassy or travel agency in Thailand or Laos. Probably Cambodia as well. I got mine the day before I went to Vietnam at my hostel in Laos.
And you'll love SE Asia, it's perfect for first time solo travel. There are loads of other travelers and tourists, shouldn't have any trouble meeting companions or just drinking buddy's, pretty much everyday
NZ is dull, unless you like Green grass and getting seriously drunk.
I think that is the single most ridiculous thing I have read on these forums – New Zealand is a fantastic country with so much to offer!
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