According to the U.S. Office of Travel and Tourism Industries, in 2005 19 percent of traveling Americans visited Asia. Respected for its exotic beauty, lavish cultural traditions and costumes, friendly locals and often tropical climates, certain parts of Asia also give tourists a financial break. When it comes to budgeting a cheap Asian trip, Southeast Asia (including Malaysia, the Philippines, Laos, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam) is the way to go. The cheapest countries offer an extremely low cost of living, exceptional guest services and affordable luxury accommodations. Here are some of the best deals.
Thailand
- As of April 2010, you could fly from Los Angeles to Bangkok for about $1,160 round-trip with Eva Airlines, a Taiwanese airline, and for similar prices with other airlines such as China Air. While that might not be too light on the wallet, the rest of the trip will surprise your budget. Five-star hotel rooms on Thailand's coastline start from $305 per night at luxury, well-known names such as The Mandarin Oriental Hotel and The Four Seasons ($215 per night). For those not looking to stay in a high-rise hotel, beachfront cabanas in Eastern Thailand--on Koh Chang island, for example--go for around $70 or less per night. According to Thailand's tourism board, travelers can expect to easily live on $15 to $30 per day. Along with cheap prices, Thais are welcoming to travelers because tourism is the major chunk of the nation's income.
Indonesia
- Jakarta, Indonesia--a crowded, chaotic, metropolitan city--has hotels starting from $40 per night. According to BaliGuide.com, as of April 2010, most restaurants outside of large hotels charge $2.50 to about $30 for a main course, and you can get a bottle of imported or domestic beer for around $1.50. Spending $150 per person for dinner (minus drinks) may seem like a lot, but in a luxury Bali hotel, that's much cheaper than you'd pay in Tokyo or some spots in Hong Kong.
Malaysia
- More westernized than other Southeast Asian countries, according to a 2005 MSN Money article, Malaysia is one of the best choices in Asia for traveling with children and for living on the cheap. As of April 2010, the daily price for a bamboo bungalow on the water, meals and snorkeling equipment is as little as $30 per couple. According to MyExpressBus.com, a Malaysian bus service Web site, bus prices start from $15 to $30 one way depending on the comfort class.
