Hostels in South East Asia and South America
South America and Asia are unexplored continents which are full of adventures and future discoveries. They are filled with hospitable people who are fun loving and are considered as great hosts by many backpackers. For people who are willing to delve deeper into the unique culture, language and people of these regions, it is important that the route is carefully planned, accommodation have been researched carefully. Backpacking to South America and Southeast Asia is no longer about visiting the most beautiful beaches and enjoying the beautiful sights, but rather, experiencing a unique way of living which is so different from what we are accustomed of.
South America is huge and you will need to allot a good amount of time to travel around the continent. Some of the most seasoned backpackers allot a minimum of four months on this route and that would mean saving enough money to finish the route you’ve planned for yourself. To save on accommodation, it is best to go to hostels. Finding a place to stay can be challenging and is a part of the excitement of a backpacker but remember that every town has its share of pousadas, hotels or hostels in South America. If you don’t mind a communal dormitory type accommodation, then there are a lot of low budget hostels you can choose from. The best thing about these hostels in South America is the fun experience you can share with fellow travelers. You can also share and pick up hints and tips just by listening to travel stories. Also, a lot of backpackers travel alone and these hostels are actually great ways to find travel companions.
A lot of backpackers usually team up for a few days and then move on to their next destination. Of course, prices vary wherever you are located and big cities like Rio generally have more expensive hostels that the smaller towns in Brazil. In Venezuela for example, a cheap and good place to stay is Posadas Hostels or you can even go for home stays.
Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and the Philippines are the destinations for backpacking in southeast Asia. If you are looking for the cheapest accommodation, some say that the cheapest can be found in Indonesia averaging $3 to $8, especially when you are in the remote islands. Of course, not all hostels in Asia have hot water, so make sure you ask the owner before booking.
In Malaysia, cheap hostels can be hard to find if you go to resort islands, but cheap bed can be found almost everywhere else. Several tourist buses come with the photo and map of the hostels in Asia they represent and can cost around $15 to $20 a night. For cheaper options, many travelers head to the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand.
Hostels in Singapore can be pretty expensive costing SG$20 a night and real hotels are even more expensive. The best thing about Singapore is that travel here is pretty safe, even for women who are traveling alone. However, you will need to do a lot of research if you are going here since there are a lot of rules in this country.
April 17th, 2009 at 2:07 pm
Central America has a lot to offer as well. Beaches, diving, volcanoes, wildlife, jungles and the culture of each country is quite different, even within the countries there are many subcultures. Also, accommodations can be very inexpensive.