So, here it is! Summer is still upon us, and for many, school is out (and time for you to use your paid holidays). There is still time to set on out to faraway lands and Southeast Asia is a wonderful region for it. But what should you do? Should you settle in one city/town, region and country or go for the complete package and embark on the dream multi-country Southeast Asian tour? Well, it all depends on who you are coming with (or if you’re traveling alone).

First, let’s look at the advantages (and disadvantages) of traveling alone and going multi-country or single country and comparing it with a group traveler going places or staying in one.

1.       Single traveler going multi-country:

Advantage:

• No hassles from other members
• Not bounded by what other people want to do
• Free to go where he/she wishes at anytime
• Can edit itinerary as he/she goes
• Airplane travel is smoother and easier by oneself
• Can create his/her own magical travel moments
• Opportunities to absorb different cultures from different countries

Disadvantage:

• Can become lonely
• Nobody to share moments with
• Visa procedures

2.       Single traveler going single-country:

Advantage:

• Can truly soak up a country’s flavor and atmosphere
• Opportunities to make new friends abroad
• Can edit itinerary as he/she goes
• Can create his/her own magical travel moments

Disadvantage:

• Can become lonely
• Nobody to share moments with

3.       Group traveler going multi-country:

Advantage:

• Tons of opportunities for magical ‘family’ or ‘friends’ moments
• Can feel more comfortable at a new country knowing that family or friends are around
• Easier to try new food, customs, etc. with friends/family around
• Opportunities to absorb different cultures from different countries

Disadvantage

• The hassles of packing, unpacking, settling into a new country, etc.
• Money exchange, learning new language, familiarizing with each country’s etiquette, etc.
• Different people wanting to do different things during a trip
• Itinerary may have to be fixed beforehand to avoid confusion, upsetting others, etc.
• Visa procedures

4.       Group traveler going single-country:

Advantage

• Familiarity with one country’s customs, foods, languages, etc.
• Traveling to other parts of the country may not feel too like a hassle
• The group may feel ‘satisfied’ knowing they made the most of their time in one country

Disadvantage

• May feel like an opportunity lost exploring other nations knowing other countries are very near by

If there’s one thing working to Southeast Asia’s advantage, it is its good and reliable air connections. You can book and jump into one of the region’s several low cost airlines and be on your way to other domestic destination or to another exotic land in as little as 40 minutes or as long as 5 hours, depending on your take off and landing destinations.

Here is a list of the region’s various low-cost airlines:

Southeast Asia:

• AirAsia – based in Malaysia but with offices and headquarters throughout the region, serving Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar as well as Singapore, the Philippines , China, India, Japan, South Korea and even flying as far as the U.K., France, New Zealand and Australia.

Indonesia:

• Batavia Air – based in Jakarta Indonesia, serving most of the country as well as China and Singapore.
• Citi Link – based in Jakarta and serves Indonesia
• Lion Air – based in Jakarta, serving the country as well as Singapore, Vietnam and as far out as Saudi Arabia

Singapore:

• Jetstar Asia – its hub is in Singapore Changi Airport but with offices throughout the region, flying to destinations in Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Macau, Hong Kong and even Australia, New Zealand and Japan.
• Tiger Airways – a Singaporean based airline with service throughout Southeast and continental Asia

Thailand:

• Nok Air – based in Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport, serving most major destinations in the country
• Orient Thai Airlines – based out of Suvarnabhumi International Airport, catering to flights within the country

So, with all these options, a flight to just about any destination in the region is quite simple and pretty cheap. So, no worries there.

The trouble for some is the personnel. If traveling in a big group, with the elderly and/or with small children, moving north, south, east and west can be a burden. Just think about it. The packing involved, the travel to the airport, the air travel and getting from the airport to your new hotel, currency exchanges, unpacking, familiarizing yourself with a new set of cultures, languages, food, etc. and you can now see the hassles involved with multiple destination travel. Just thinking about it is tiring enough.

Also, if you want to fully explore and embrace one country, a couple of weeks can be the time frame you will need. Different regions of each country may feel like a totally different country altogether. Take Thailand for example. Bangkok, in Central Thailand, is a totally distinct world form the Lao-like Northeast region, the mountainous north and the beach/island paradises of the south. You can easily spend four days in each region. The same rings true in every other country in Southeast Asia.

Another factor you have to consider is your travel preference. If it is the beach you are after, then the obvious choices are Thailand and Indonesia while the up and comers are Cambodia and Vietnam, with Myanmar providing hidden destinations. Laos is landlocked, so no beaches there. However, if you are looking to kick back, relax and let the environment completely soothe you, then there is no better place than Laos. Looking for the even more exotic? Then Myanmar is your best bet, receiving the least amount of visitors compared to other countries. Cambodia is ancient temple ruin paradise (every country has its own set, but the Khmer ruins in Angkor truly stand out). Need to stay in a modern city? Bangkok, Thailand and Jakarta, Indonesia as well as Hanoi and Saigon, Vietnam can be your headquarters. Other capitals and big cities in the region are either resort townships, burgeoning urban areas or just outright towns.  Hills and mountains dominate the landscape throughout Laos, as well as Northern Thailand, Northern Vietnam and major parts of Myanmar.

However, if you are a young and optimistic go-getter, with a taste for the new as well as the exotic and looking to add photos to your Facebook albums and adding experiences to your memory bank, this is it. The well-connected air routes and low cost of flights will work to your advantage. You will also not have to worry about jetlag as most destinations practically share the same time zone (mostly falling in the GMT +7 and GMT +8 range). As mentioned before, each country presents its own set of unique landscapes, foods, people and experiences, so you’ll be in for a varied journey, that’s for sure.

Single travelers looking to absorb various experiences, couples with a taste for the unique and exotic or small groups of friends ‘hanging out’ will find multiple country travel not a problem. In fact, there are several options at Exotissimo that purely cater to this group. If you are one of them, look no further than our multi-country tours page.

If multiple country tours are not for you, look into our individual country programs, what we otherwise call our footprint tours. By just staying in one country, you’ll already get the experience others get by traveling to various others, mainly because each country’s region is distinct. It will also save you travel time, expenses and hassles. This is great for big groups, travelers with small children or just about anybody wishing to fully embrace their holiday experience in one country. Remember, you can always combine or even tailor make our tours to fit your itinerary.

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