Posted 05 Dec 2008

South East Asia is an excellent destination for those looking to take a gap year break in the future, it has been claimed.

Writing recently in the Times, backpackers Dara Flynn and Andy Isaacs said that travellers can make their time away even better by following their top five travel tips.

First and foremost, the pair claim that is it "perfectly feasible" to leave the UK with an empty rucksack. Clothes, guidebooks and items such as sunscreen are a fraction of the price in Asia and are readily available.

Referring to Bangkok, Mr Flynn said there are several branches of Boots, adding that he "kicked himself" for wasting money unnecessarily in the UK.

Anyone travelling by bus in countries such as Thailand are advised to book with reputable companies and place all valuables in hand luggage, which should be kept in full view throughout the journey.

When travelling in Vietnam, Mr Flynn recommends that travellers are "conservative" about the amount of money they change.

"If you don’t manage to spend it all before you leave, you’ll find yourself stuck with a substantial sum that no foreign exchange agent anywhere outside of Vietnam will buy from you," he commented.

In related news, the BBC reported earlier today that operations have officially resumed at Bangkok.

Category: General Travel, Asia