BIG DECISIONS

The day I booked up my first solo travel experience a plane crashed. As I drove (passenger side) to meet with a travel agent, it was announced on the radio. A little discouraging, but after putting my irrational and retrospectively minor fear of flying aside I went ahead and booked up for 5 weeks in SE Asia. I've lived in England all my life and although it will always be home I know I belong somewhere else. Booking a backpacking trip was the first step towards experiencing the world and its a decision I have never once regretted. 

After some hefty research, I decided to go through STA Travel who work alongside G Adventures. They sorted out my holiday insurance, flights, tours, airport transfers and currency. Most importantly they made the whole experience seem very safe, which was very reassuring as a solo traveller.

My parents thought I was too young to take on a continent alone (/with strangers), but I felt like I'd waited my entire life. I visited Asia when I was much younger including Hong Kong, Singapore and Ko Samui and pretty much from that point on became obsessed with going back. For me Asia offers a completely different culture which I continue to be in awe of. I booked the Indochina Discovery tour which includes Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. 4 countries in 4 weeks and then a week in Bangkok, which I organised separately.  

Tips: 

• STA offer recommendations for how much spending money to take. Add at least 1/3 of the price. Despite booking a tour, a lot of the activities are considered optional and therefore not included in the price. Activities can range from $8 to $40 and will be the biggest expense on your trip. 
• If theres a chance you might want to stay abroad longer than your tour, purchase a Multiflex Flight Pass which allows you to change your flights without the extortionate charges. 
• Check what visas you need before you set off on your adventure. If you forget you'll have to pay substantial fees at the border. 
• Get yourself a cashcard. Parts of the world you may be travelling in are not safe, avoid carrying around a lot of cash. 
• Do not overpack. Remember you have to carry all of your belongings. Plus I recommend buying most of your clothes out there. Bangkok is a haven for cheap backpacker clothing. 
• If you book up through STA Travel, sign up to the Watering Hole. A forum which allows you to meet the people you'll be going on tour with. I met two girls online before the tour date which definitely helped my nerves. 

Cost Breakdown: 

• Return Flights: £420 
• Gold Travel Insurance: £159
• Tour: £1650
• Spending Money: £800
• Vietnamese Visa: £59
• Vaccinations/Medication: £320 

Packing List: 

• Bug Spray- Needs to be 50% Deet especially for malarious zones. 
• Portable Charger- You'll find yourself without a plug socket often, theres definitely nowhere to recharge in a Laos hill tribe village.
• Waterproof pouch- A total lifesaver for water activities. 
• Long Trousers/T-Shirt- Temples restrict tourists from entering if they have their shoulders or knees exposed, especially women. 
• Sports Bikini- Prevent unwanted nip slips in conservative countries. 
• First Aid Kit- I practically had to take a second backpack to fit all my meds in. Think of every possible scenario and take all the precautions: Rehydration sachets, Malaria tablets, Painkillers, Plasters, Imodium,Vitamin C Tablets, Antiseptic Wipes, Vaseline, Suncream, Aftersun.
• Itinerary
• Trainers- For more adventurous activities
• Plastic Bags- I kept my underwear in a see-through bag so every morning I could pull out the whole lot and save a lot of searching. 
• Torch
• Bumbag- A lifesaver (I recommend highly)
• Toiletries
• Tampons- It appears in many countries around the world, this sanitary product is a myth.
• Notebook
• Birkenstocks- I cannot stress enough how much these sandals are the holy grail of comfortable footwear. 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin