Travel Tips

Bali is just the start — here's how to island-hop through Indonesia like a pro.

• Visa: visa on arrival for most nationalities, valid for 30 days and extendable once.
• Best time to go: April to October, the dry season across most of the archipelago.
• Getting around: scooters are the easiest way to get around Bali and the Gili Islands — bring your international driving permit, as police checks do happen.
• Beyond Bali: the Gili Islands for diving, Lombok for quieter beaches, and Flores for Komodo dragons and pink-sand beaches.
• Money: roughly €25–35 per day, less on the smaller islands where options are simpler.
• Etiquette: dress modestly at temples — sarongs are often provided or rentable at the entrance.

Ancient temples, a tragic history, and some of the friendliest people in the region.

• Visa: an e-visa is available online, or get a visa on arrival at major border crossings and the airport.
• Best time to go: November to April, the dry season — Angkor Wat at sunrise is worth the early alarm.
• Getting around: tuk-tuks for short hops (agree the price first), buses between cities.
• Money: US dollars are used everywhere alongside the Cambodian riel — carry small bills.
• Budget: around €20–25 per day, one of the most affordable countries in the region.
• Don't miss: a multi-day Angkor Wat pass (the 3-day option gives you room to explore beyond the main temple), and the Killing Fields and S-21 in Phnom Penh for historical context.

Over 7,000 islands — here's how to pick a route and actually make it work.

• Visa: visa-free entry for up to 30 days for most nationalities.
• Getting around: domestic flights are the quickest way to cover big distances; ferries connect neighbouring islands.
• Popular route: Manila → Palawan (El Nido & Coron) → Cebu → Bohol → Siargao for surfing.
• Best time to go: December to May, the dry season. Avoid typhoon season (June to November) in the east.
• Money: around €25–35 per day. Cash is king outside major cities — ATMs can be scarce on smaller islands.
• Don't miss: an island-hopping boat tour in El Nido, and the Chocolate Hills in Bohol.

Two very different road trips — here's how to choose, and where to go.

• East Coast route: Cairns → Airlie Beach (Whitsundays) → Fraser Island → Byron Bay → Sydney → Great Ocean Road → Melbourne. Around 3,000km, well set up for backpackers with hostels and short hops between stops. Best April to October, avoiding cyclone season up north.
• West Coast route: Perth → Pinnacles Desert → Ningaloo Reef (Exmouth) → Karijini National Park → Broome. Around 2,500km and far more remote — fuel stops can be 200km+ apart, so plan ahead and carry extra water. Best April to September, before the extreme summer heat sets in.
• Campervan tips: look into relocation deals — one-way rentals that need to be moved between cities, often available for very cheap or even free. The WikiCamps app is essential for finding free and paid campsites along the way.
• Which coast: pick the East Coast if it's your first trip and you want an easier, social route. Pick the West Coast if you've road-tripped before and want fewer crowds and bigger landscapes.