Tales of a restless suitcase #2: Shoestring your way to Vietnam-Cambodia-Thailand Part 4 of 4

I just made a rookie mistake. In my first blog to this series, I shared that I am dividing this blog into 4 parts. Silly me, I realized that I merged part 2 and 3 (totally unintentional, genius moment, so sorry). Please check out part 2 and 3 by clicking this link. Last time, I talk about:

· Part 2: HOW MUCH DOES THE TRIP COST?
· Part 3: DETAILED BUDGET OF MEALS, ADMISSION FEES, TRANSPORTATION, TOURS AND MISCELLANEOUS FEES

For this last and final installment, I am sharing our FRIENDLY TRAVEL REMINDERS AND TIPS. Please bear in mind that these may not be applicable/true to all travelers. We collated this based on our experience and is our own personal opinion. Also, do remember that we are shoestring travelers with the intention to explore places while sticking to a budget. Here it goes, I hope you'll find this useful.

1. Hotel Room Essentials:
   a. Clean and Safe (Doors should have double lock.)
   b. Safety Deposit Box in the room (It is best to leave your passports, gadgets, and other important documents in the box when you go on day tours.)
   c. Wifi (Who can live without wifi??? It proved very helpful for booking tours, looking for restaurants and checking out the places to visit.)
   d. Hot/Cold Shower (coz I hate cold water)
   e. Cabinets and hangers (Since you’re on a backpacking trip, it is inevitable for clothes to get crumpled. It is best to hang fresh clothes to keep them crisp and clean. It also helps avoid a topsy-turvy scene on your floor.
   f. Clean and well-lit bathroom is really very important. So check the reviews and photos before booking your hotels.

2. Before booking, check the hotel reviews in Trip Advisor. This website is the Holy Grail for our travel. Read what the previous travellers have to say about the hotel and view the candid photos. PS: In Phnom Penh, it is normal for hotels to have concrete floors without floor tiles, so don’t consider this as a major turndown when booking a hotel.

3. Most hostels and guesthouses do not have lifts. This is normal because most of these establishments are operating only with few floors. So be ready with some cardio workout while climbing those stairs.

4. Before booking your hotels, location is also important. Make sure you book hotels with strategic locations.
   a. In Saigon, we recommend staying in the Backpackers area. At night, this place is like the Disneyland for backpackers. You cannot afford to miss this scene. Our hostel is right in the middle of the action!
   b. In Phnom Penh, make sure to book in the Riverfront Area, check the hotel location in Google map.
   The hotel’s address may say it’s in the Riverfront, but this area actually includes a few blocks away from the river.
   c. In Siem Reap, you may want to book a hotel that is in or walking distance to Pub Street.
   d. In Bangkok, book a hotel that is near a BTS station.
   e. In Phuket, book a hotel in Patong, Kata, or Karon.

5. Be nice to the receptionists and they will give back through quality service.

1. Arrange for airport pickup from your hotel especially if you’re arriving late in Ho Chi Minh. The airport is notorious for taxi scams. In Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, arrange in advance with your hotel for pick up since you will be arriving late and these cities tend to be quite intimidating for first timers (if not all out scary) at night. In Bangkok and Phuket, we had to catch our own taxi to the hotels since they only arrange transfers from the airport. Make sure to book your bus tickets to your next destination as soon you can. Bus tickets are on a first come, first serve basis. You don’t want to be stuck in a city and ruin your itinerary. It is best to arrange for pick up from your hotel to the terminal.
2. In Saigon, it is a good idea to have the address of your destination written down in Vietnamese. Taxi drivers are not very good in English. It is recommended to hail a taxi from the VINASUN or MAI LINH operators. These taxi operators are known for their honesty. It is said that Vietnam is known for taxi scams so avoid being fooled and take only taxis from these operators. This is also true in Bangkok; it is useful to have a GPS or an address written in Thai.
3. In Phnom Penh, it is a good idea to hire a tuktuk recommended by the hotel. Hire this tuktuk to take you on a city tour and to the killing fields.
4. In Phnom Penh, we found out that tuktuk drivers get some sort of commission when they take you to restaurants. So do not tell your tuktuk driver if you are planning to dine on a specific place. He will try to persuade you to go elsewhere to get a commission.
5. In tuktuks, always apply the golden rule, HAGGLE! Beforehand, research the approximate fare of the destination first then HAGGLE your way to a cheaper/reasonable fare.
6. Although dubbed as ‘The City of Angels’, Bangkok is infamous for taxi scams. Make sure that the taxi meter is on. In the event that the taxi driver refuses to use the meter, immediately get off the taxi.
7. The best mode of transportation in Bangkok is the BTS or MRT. Most of the tourist spots are accessible via BTS. Do your research and learn which stops to take.

Research, research! We can’t stress this enough. Before you travel, check out the places of interest and tourist activities that your destination city has to offer. Then, decide whether you will book a package tour or do-it-yourself excursion.

1. For the city tour in Saigon, you can totally do it on your own. Get a map from your hotel then mark out the places that you want to visit. It also gives you a chance to explore and feel the city. The attractions are mostly close to each other so keeping a map on hand and walking around would make you feel the vibe of the city.
2. In booking package tours, make sure you know the approximate price beforehand. There is also no harm in haggling. Package tours need to be booked at least a day before, so make sure this is at the top of your ‘first day’ agenda. In our case, we booked the tours and bus tickets before we went on a drinking spree, on the first night of our stay.
3. Most of the tour packages include pickups from the hotel, so take advantage of this.
4. Be certain to know the inclusions/exclusions of the tour.
5. Most hotels/hostels/guesthouses have their own sets of package tours. On your arrival, they will surely offer their tours. It is best to politely refuse at first and then look for other agencies that offer tour packages. It is cheaper to book through agencies scattered along the Backpackers Area in Ho Chi Minh, Riverfront in Phnom Penh and Pub Street in Siem Reap. Compare prices and choose only the most reasonable in terms of budget, time and activities. For those Trip Advisor recommended tour companies and activities, it is best to book online at least 2 days in advance when you have strongly decided to avail of those tours.
6. Be sure to bring a list of the places you want to visit. A small piece of paper will do. Research in advance the opening/operating hours to avoid wasting time. If you wish to hire a tour guide in Angkor Wat, you can give to your tour guide the list of temples you want to visit within the complex since it consists of a vast area which makes it impossible to see all temples in a day. You can also give your list to the tuktuk driver you will hire in Phnom Penh.
7. The last and most important, if you decide to go on tours that involve wildlife, natural resources, or ethnic tribes, make sure that the tour company is observing social responsibility and sustainable practices.

1. Make it a point to try local dishes, delicacies, and street foods.
2. When portions are too big and you can’t finish all the foods that you order, don’t hesitate to ask for a doggie bag. Never waste food. Leftover foods have repeatedly proven handy in our trip. ☺
3. Always enjoy some evening fun. The Backpackers Area in Ho Chi Minh, the Riverfront in Phnom Penh and the Pub Street in Siem Reap come to life at night. Grab a few drinks on happy hours, shop around and enjoy people-watching! It is amazing to see how interestingly different each culture and persons are.

1. Safety should always be your foremost priority. If you’re in doubt, don’t risk it. Avoid situation that may compromise your safety. How can you tell your friends about your travel if you can’t make it home? Makes sense right? ☺
2. In Phnom Penh, we opted to have our evening fun in a Skybar after hearing that the city is notorious for tourist crimes.
3. Stash all your important items safely. The tuktuks are open which makes it easy for snatchers to grab your bags, cameras and other belongings.
4. The water activities and some tours in Phuket might be risky for some. Sure, it might sound “legendary” to do some outrageous things once in a while. However, you need to calculate your strength and always choose safety.

1. Don’t bring too much stuff. Only bring the things you NEED for the trip. You will regret this in times when you need to hike carrying your backpack. (We did!!!)

2. Bring basic items that you can repeat wearing like leggings, plain shirts and tank tops, denim shorts, jeggings, or other clothes of light materials.

3. Needless to mention, these countries are tropical (like really really hot!), long denim pants are not only heavy but unnecessary for the trip. We personally endorse wearing harem pants. These babies are not only comfy and ‘airy’ (for the lack of better word), they are quite fashionable too!

4. Travel essentials:
   •Sachets of shampoos and conditioners (something that you can easily dispose after using) . Small bottles of lotions, facial wash, lady wash, moisturizers, – you don’t want to buy sachets for these to avoid liquid spilling around your backpack
   •Pantyliners for the ladies! ☺Yeah, we don’t need to discuss why you need this.
   •Bikinis (especially in Phuket and if you’ll stay in a hotel with a pool)….. or like Graziella, you can do some bikini shopping during your travel
   •Rashguard… yes! I know! This is pricey and totally out of the budget. But! We swear of our fat tummies, investing in a good quality rashguard is one of the wisest decisions we ever did for our trip. It proved useful in protecting our skin from the hot weather.
   •Cameras (duh?!)
   •A good effective brand of Sunblock. The sun is tremendously unforgiving in Cambodia, so shell out a few bucks for a Sunblock with high SPF. If you don’t want the super sticky feel of a lotion, try the spray on sunblock. We loved Banana Boat’s Sport Sunscreen SPF 110.
   •Good quality walking shoes. Protect your feet, they are irreplaceable! This trip involves a good amount of walking, so buying a good pair of shoes for your lovely soles is a must! Check out Skecher’s Go Walk line. These are super light and comfortable to wear. Sturdy shoes are important since the trip includes lots of uneven and dusty pathways.
   PS: You are probably thinking how you can match harem pants with a pair of sneakers?
   Oh we did too! Throw your fashionista self out the window for a sec. Feet before fashion, as we always say.
   •Small body bag or backpack for your daily excursion. Big enough to fit your digital camera, money, tissues, and water but small enough not to weigh you down when walking. Make sure it has a good zipper or a drawstring.
   PS: you can leave your passports in your hotel room safe
   •Small pouch or purse for daily budget. It is helpful to have separate wallet for your wads of cash and another purse for daily budget. This helps you monitor your budget and avoid losing them while you are walking around.
   •Locks for your bags
   •It is best to dress properly since some tourist attractions like the temples, the Royal Palace and even the Angkor Wat require shirts with sleeves and long pants. It is best to skip those skirts for this tour since this requires a lot of walking and climbing stairs.
   •Sunnies and scarves are important to protect you from the scorching heat. They also add a touch of fashion and give comfort.
   •Stash properly in a thin bag travel documents and keep them safe.

5. Things you do NOT need:
   •A shoulder bag or a hand bag, seriously, you’ll abandon this within a day or two.
   •Loads of make-up (mascara, foundation, eyeliner, etc). You just need the basics like: moisturizer with SPF, powder, lip balm, lipstick, and a cheek tint or blusher.
   PS: You’ll have so much fun that you won’t even think about retouching during your excursions.
   •Your big ass purse with all your IDs and Cards. Based on personal experience, you do not need this. You only need your passport for identification; other IDs will be irrelevant in other countries. For cards, you can bring 1-2 atm cards and 1-2 credit cards. The rest can stay at home.
   •Too much accessories. If you really can’t live without these, chose accessories that are light and easy to pack.
   • Jacket. Choose a jacket that is light and easy to fold. This is quite useful during sleeper buses or evening trips.

6. Always consider your itinerary when packing. Always remember that some places have dress
   codes (like temples, palaces). So, pack wisely.

1. Seriously, do not bring your family heirloom in this trip! LOL.
2. You will not need your diamond earrings, your gold necklace, your expensive watch, or your power ring. Leave these at home.
3. Don’t bring too much valuables; otherwise, you will have too much to worry about. You need to focus on what counts: money, passport, camera, cell phones/Ipads, documents (like tickets, hotel vouchers, etc).

1. Don’t forget the Golden Rule: Always haggle. Vendors will always give you a high price. So haggle to death, but be nice when doing this. Charm your way to a cheap price! If the vendor won’t budge, try walking away, something like this does the trick! LOL
2. When you do plan to splurge, make sure you have a good bag to keep all your shopping haul.
3. Keep your valuables at the hotel. Bring only the essentials…errr MONEY!

1. Every culture is unique and different. Follow rules and guidelines in entering tourist attractions.
2. Be polite to other foreigners and to the locals as well.
3. Avoid some noise when entering solemn places.
4. Always observe good manners in interacting with other people. Be careful of what you say
   about other people or to other people to avoid unnecessary shame and trouble. ☺