Travel Recommendations for 1-2 Weeks (between October 5-18) - Budget between $1500- $2000 Incl. Flights

Fliedlice on 08/09/2024 - 16:49
Last edited 08/09/2024 - 21:26 by 1 other user

Hi fellas, I know I'm limited by time and budget. But I just wanted to know if anyone has any suggestions for my particular situation.

I've got some leave between Oct. 5-18. but I wanted to know if it's worth going anywhere on a budget for just 1-2 weeks overseas for solo travelling during those dates?

Dates: Anywhere between Oct. 5-18
Duration: Anywhere between 1-2 weeks
Budget: $1500-$2000 (Including flights)
Location: Anywhere with that budget.
Interests while travelling: I've only been to two countries while travelling solo. Singapore and Hong Kong, however those places are very solo-travellers friendly. I do enjoy sight-seeing, I enjoy eating a very simple places to try local cuisines, I don't need to stay in a luxury apartment but something basic where i can keep my belongings safely (including my laptop, camera etc.) would be great.

My thoughts:
- I would've loved to go to Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam etc. but I've been told that it's monsoon season.
- I would've loved to go to Japan, even if it's just for 1 week, but I've been told they're expecting some 'mega-quakes' to happy during that time this year.
- Hong Kong is out of my budget (and apparently there are typhoons)
- I wouldn't mind travelling locally within Australia. I do think there's a lot to see within Australia and I like to support local tourism. But I don't know if i want to spend $2000 for something locally and to spend 1-2 weeks of leave within the same country. I live in VIC, I've been to Tasmania before. But I've never been to Perth, Darwin. Sydney, Brisbane and Gold Coast several times and have only been to Adelaide once on a long weekend (I've been to Hahndorf though).
- The other option is to just not travel anywhere as my options are limited, which I'm fine with but it seems like a waste of my leave considering that I haven't travelled to many other countries.

If I would postpone the dates, I'd only want to do it by 1-2 weeks but I don't think that'll change the weather.

Does anyone have any suggestions? Should I just save the money and wait until I'm able to spend a bit more during a better time?

Travel Airfare

Comments

  • Gunnar on 08/09/2024 - 17:02
    +2

    If you’re not sold on your options I’d say wait for a better time and you can do it with a better budget.

    For what it’s worth the ‘mega earthquake’ warning for Japan wouldn’t dissuade me from going there this year (have a read of this article for more info about the warning https://www.technologyreview.com/2024/08/15/1096682/what-jap…

  • Ocker on 08/09/2024 - 17:42
    +2

    Bali or KL

  • Ghost47 on 08/09/2024 - 17:54
    +1

    I would suggest NZ.

  • GnarlyKnuckles on 08/09/2024 - 19:34
    +5

    You should go somewhere where food and accommodation are really cheap, the people are really friendly/nice, and there's plenty of 'culture'/interesting stuff to see and do. I.e. comparatively 'poor' places in Asia, like Indonesia, Vietnam, or the Philippines. You mentioned the wet season, but don't worry about that. It's overstated/not much of a problem, really. It's not like it buckets down all day every day.

    If you go somewhere where accommodation is expensive, such as Japan, KL, or Noo Zulland, you will just spend all your money on that, and not even be staying in nice places. Better to go somewhere in Asia where accommodation (and food) are dirt cheap, and you will get way more bang for your buck. If you decide to go to Bali, make sure you don't spend more than a day or two in 'Kuta', before moving on and checking out other regions. If it turns out that you love Kuta, you can always just go back there; but trust me, the best parts of Bali are not in/around Kuta. If you decide to go to the Philippines, try not to incorporate spending any time at all in Manila. Get to the other main airport in that country, Cebu, and commence your holiday there. From Cebu airport you could fly to Camiguin Island for ~$100 return, and spend 10 really awesome/relaxing days seeing some great sites, snorkelling/diving, immersing yourself in the culture, etc. If you do go to Camiguin, make sure you go out and see some giant clams. If the giant clam sanctuary has reopened (after a major stoush with the government, who tried to take it over!) go there, but if it is still closed, there is another place where they have some giant clams. The old church ruins in Camiguin are also spectacular. Maybe don't bother with 'white island' … it's pretty lame. Plenty of other good things to do in Camiguin, and you can hire a car there cheaply, and driving there is a breeze/very little traffic.

    Can you tell us a bit more about the types of things you like to do for fun? Maybe that would elicit some more informative suggestions …

    re:

    'Should I just save the money and wait until I'm able to spend a bit more during a better time?'

    No, don't do that. Life is too short, and life is also fragile. You might get hit by a bus tomozza. Get out there and live life, now, while you can.

    Happy trails!

  • Tily on 08/09/2024 - 20:57
    +4

    Will suggest Kuala Lumpur if you can get cheap flights. Accomodation can be done cheap and lots of options available.Our AUD goes a long way here as well. Wouldn’t worry too much about monsoon season there unless you are planning to go on boat rides, etc.

    We’ve just finished a trip for 10 days. Family of 2A1C and we have spent around AUD1.7k spending money. This included foot massages just about every other day, beauty treatments/haircuts, a few nice/expensive dinners, two movies, a bus trip to Malacca and some Grab rides when we travelled out. We stayed in the Bukit Bintang area and did a fair bit of walking. But if you wan to catch public transport/Grab, it’s not expensive at all.

    • Baa on 09/09/2024 - 12:27

      Going to KL in November myself mainly due to affordability.

      Didn't want to do Bali and never really considered KL an option but accomodation options are super affordable - from Perth flights are about 300 a person return with bags, and accom was 250 a night, but only because there are 4 adults and 4 kids. There were heaps of options sub $150 a night but as I am taking the inlaws wanted fairly central as they are not the most mobile.

      To add: it is a great time of year to go to Japan in terms of weather, I would say depending on flights your budget may be tight - but if you choose just Tokyo for example it is actually more budget friendly than you would imagine. Have done a few solo trips for 14 days for under $3k but that was without a strict budget. Non central business hotels <$100 a night, hostels with private room $50 a night, ramen and curries for $10 to $15 a meal and when things get really tight live on $1 onigiri from the 7/11.

      • Tily on 09/09/2024 - 15:00

        I wish we can get Melbourne to KL flights for $300 a pax so would could go more often. We go there at least once a year and have gone to KL twice this year already. It’s a great place to unwind and relax. We actually prefer KL to Bali as food is more to our taste buds.

        Hopefully you and the family enjoy KL as much as we do!

  • Hardlyworkin on 09/09/2024 - 07:47
    -4

    Are you only looking for advice from men?

  • sumyungguy on 09/09/2024 - 21:43

    These sale fares ex-MEL while not for your desired dates may give you some inspiration for a future trip

  • Elision on 09/09/2024 - 22:14

    I've been to Thailand in October several times and had no issues, when it rains it rains heavily but is over quickly. It's still warm and by no means affected how much we enjoyed our trip.

  • dinhoecotour on 15/09/2024 - 19:13

    If you pick Vietnam, do North (Hanoi) and South (HCMC) due to flood and typhoon season in the Central part.

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