Since the succeeding posts are about my 12-day, 3-country DIY trip, I decided to have a separate post entirely dedicated to the ‘preparation’ part of my travel.
If you are a DIY person like me, preparing is usually an easy, if not enjoyable, task. You most likely know how to use the search engine efficiently so as to filter the sites that are useful for your trip. You may also have read several books that offer relevant information and details that are more extensive than online blogs and forums. For me, the internet is my most helpful tool as I am not the kind that will digest a place’s culture or history or way of life in a couple of days’ stay. But it doesn’t mean that I am not interested in their part of the world. So long as I can taste a little bit of their culture or know a little bit of their history or experience a little bit their way of life, I am more than satisfied with that.
THE RESEARCH
As I said, I use the internet in preparing for my travels. These are some sites that I religiously visit:
1. Pinoyexchange – My go-to DIY travel forum. From budget accommodations to the latest scams, they have it.. based on the experience of the PEXers, of course. PEX is a forum and not an online guide book so don’t expect a comprehensive explanation of the history of a certain tourist spot or the evolution of a place’s culture. The travel forum in PEX is usually updated and the interaction is real-time that’s why I find it reliable. And the PEXers I had interacted with are very nice and patient and offer their insights on how to make your travel run smoothly and efficiently.
2. Google Maps – I make sure that I have a copy of the map of my destination saved on my phone so I can easily access it. I don’t mind asking for directions but it’s still wise to be equipped with a map especially if going to another country that may not have the same language as yours. It may also be a problem if you can’t pronounce the streets so it’s better to have a map so you can show what you are referring to instead. Also, google maps have landmarks that will finding a place easier.
3. Tripadvisor – I don’t use tripadvisor to book rooms but to read the reviews of my prospective guesthouse or hostel. As a DIY girl, I don’t really book hotel rooms since I will be out during the day and will only use the room at night. Though I am not sensitive when it comes to accommodations, I still would prefer a bug-free bed and thief-free room. Since hostels and guesthouses don’t usually have websites, I visit tripadvisor to read reviews and look at actual photos taken by tourists. Very helpful since most reviews are recent.
4. Oanda– or any currency converter website. It’s hard to keep track of your spending if you’re not accustomed to theircurrency, and more so if you are going to different countries with different currencies. For example, during my VCT trip, 1 USD in Vietnam is 20,800 VND; 1 USD in Cambodia is 4,000 KHR; and 1 USD in Thailand is 30 THB. There are tricks on how to estimate the worth of our Peso with respect to the other country’s currency but it may not be the most reliable conversion. However, I advise not to be totally dependent on currency converters if you are not going to exchange directly your Peso to their currency and the currency you have is USD. For example, I have exchanged 43 PHP to 1 USD in the Philippines. If I exchanged my 1 USD in Thailand, that is 30 THB. But if I exchanged 43 PHP in Thailand, that is 27.95 THB (1 PHP = .65 THB – highest exchange rate for PHP) or 21.5 THB (1 PHP = 0.5 THB – usual exchange rate for PHP). The difference may not be that big but if you are going to spend a lot, the difference is significant. I usually save two conversions: USD to foreign currency and PHP to foreign currency, to know how much was lost. I’m not this particular while buying since I usually just approximate the currency to PHP but I apply the conversions to account how much I spent for a day’s trip so I can budget whatever is left for the next day’s expenses.
5. Blogs – any blog. all blogs. Some forums offer bits and pieces of information while blogs offer sometimes an exhaustive experience of another traveler. You may pattern your itinerary from another tourist’s or tweak it a bit to conform to yours.I started preparing the day I booked online our return trip to Manila from Bangkok, or four months before our actual date of travel. If DIY-ing, it”s better to be prepared. Four months is reasonable for our long trip that involves 3 countries. If travelling for the first time at a certain country, prepare at least two months from the date of travel. By the time you are two weeks away from your trip, there will be unexpected changes that may ruin your itinerary. Changes that may be due to financial constraints or the weather, that’s why you have to be ready for a Plan B.
THE ITINERARY
THE MONEY
I was also planning to spend 200 USD per country for two. It is actually feasible, if you are only going to account for the necessary expenses, meaning no shopping/souvenirs. I finally decided for a budget of 200 USD each for Vietnam and Cambodia and 400 USD for Thailand. On my succeeding posts, I will share my daily expenses.
THE JOURNEY
ACCOMMODATION REVIEW
Accommodation in Vietnam: Hoang Linh Hotel
Accommodation in Vietnam: Tram Anh Hotel
Accommodation in Cambodia: Okay Guesthouse
Accommodation in Cambodia: Bou Savy Guesthouse
Accommodation in Thailand: Thara Guesthouse
THE DISCLAIMER
Again, I am not an expert in DIY travel. Just want to share my experience and remind myself of the trips I had.
great issues altogether, you just gained a logo new reader.
What could you recommend about your post that you just made a few days ago?
Any sure?