Asia Travel Tips – (Ultimate Guide) to Traveling in Asia

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ASIA TRAVEL TIPS

After more than 15 years of traveling and living in Asia, I am definitely an expert in travelling in Asia. I have travelled extensively in Asia, mainly in India and is fully qualified to give you some Asia travel tips.

But I have been to only 5 Asian countries. I have had countless trips to Indonesia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Philippines cancelled due to various reasons. I used to call it my Asian jinx and I definitely plan to travel to Asia more in the coming years. 

These Asia travel tips are great for anyone planning their first trip to Asia and you can find all my Asia travel blogs here.

A temple with a red roof in Kerala: Human by Nature in Kerala

ASIA TRAVEL GUIDE

Even though my posts about India are few, these are some of my favourite posts when it comes to traveling in Asia. I have written many posts about Bangalore which is where I live. This personal one about the Bangalore itinerary has been a favorite of everyone. Also, my Malaysia visa for Indians is one of the most-read pieces on my blog and is a must as being a part of your Asia travel advice. Another post about how Indian travel is different has also been a really popular post. Hopefully, this travel guide for Asia will make your first time visiting Asia a  breeze. You can find a ton of travel tips for Asia below.

SOME COOL TRAVEL TIPS FOR ASIA

Asia Is Huge And It Is Difficult To See Everything In A Few Days

After spending almost half my lifetime traveling all over India, I have still not managed to scratch even a surface. So multiply that by 50 and you can try to understand how big Asia is. Instead I have been to the same places in India /Asia multiple times and I still love to include that in my Asia itinerary

Visa Rules Differ For Different Asian Countries

Unfortunately, different countries have different visa rules for Indians. Some like Thailand give visa on arrival for Indians while some like Malaysia have eNtri visa while some like Nepal don’t require visas while some like UAE give you visa on arrival if you have a valid US visa or Schengen visa. There are some countries who have complicated procedures like Israel visa for Indians.

Which Part Of Asia Should You Visit?

South-East Asia and India are two popular choices when it comes to both western tourists as well as local tourists. But Asia is so much more than that. For e.g, for me Israel quickly became a favorite after one visit.

What To Pack For Asia

Again, it varies from country to country. Many countries in South Asia have a tropical climate throughout the year. But there are many countries including India where some parts receive a good amount of snow every year. Choose appropriate luggage based on where you want to visit in Asia.

How Much To Budget For A Trip To Asia?

That is the beauty of Asia. There are so many places in Asia where you can spend less than 10$ a day and still have a comfortable travel time. On the other end, there are many luxury experiences in Asia which can cost a bomb. But backpacking in Asia for a gap year after college has been popular with many students from Western countries.

Is It Safe To Travel In Asia?

It is definitely a touchy subject. Many parts of Asia are extremely safe. But even in India, there are many places I don’t travel solo to. But for example, Kerala , my home state is extremely safe compared to other states in India.

Plan Your Own Asian Itinerary

Lots of people do the mistake of enlisting the help of travel agencies to do their Asian trip planning. Even though there are advantages to this, it can get expensive. But if you don’t like planning your own Asia trip, this is a comfortable option.

How Is Public Transportation In Asia?

This is different in different countries. Again most cities in Asia are well connected by public transportation. However, if you are visiting some remote parts of India or in Asia, public transportation may be negligible.

How To Get To Asia?

Most international operators fly daily to Asia from major US and European cities. I prefer Emirates and Lufthansa. Cathay Pacific and Singapore airlines are also a favorite when it comes to traveling to Asia.

Is It Easy To Find Vegetarian Food In Asia?

Again India has a good number of vegetarian options. But even in India, vegans can have a hard time because we use a lot of dairy products in Indian cuisine. Israel was definitely a favorite when it came to finding authentic vegan food in Asia.


What Is The Best Time To Visit Asia?

If you take the example of tropical places like South East Asia or India, summer is not a good time to visit. Monsoon in some parts of India like Kerala are a delight but you may find it difficult to visit some parts of Asia during Monsoon time. Anytime between October and March is ideal for most parts of Asia if you are a beach baby like me.

Do I Need An International Driving License To Drive In Asia?

Most visitors to India do not require an additional driving license but it can be chaotic to drive in India for most first-timers to Asia. In Thailand, Malaysia and Israel, I did not require an IDP to drive. However, UAE is very strict when it comes to driving and you may find it difficult to drive there without an IDP. I have been there at least 50+ times (my sister lives there) and I haven’t driven till date even once.


Do I Have To Pay A Tourist Tax In Asia?

Some countries do have this rule. But thankfully many do not have this issue.

Which City Should I Visit If I Am Traveling To Asia For The First Time?

Most people stick to popular cities during their first time in Asia. Dubai, Bangkok , Hong Kong, Singapore, Mumbai to name a few.

Which Type Of Accommodation Do You Prefer?

You can choose different types of accommodation styles. I have done it all from staying in a 10-bed hostel dorm room to some of the most luxurious stays in Asia. I also stay in a lot of luxury hotels when I am traveling within Asia.

How Do I Go From One City In Asia To Another?

You can travel between various places in South East Asia by bus. But you need to catch a flight f you want to travel between most cities in Asia.

Is Asia Eco Friendly?

There are so many eco-friendly destinations in Asia and that is an added advantage.

Do You Love Day Trips In Asia?

Many of the South-East Asian countries have some really good day trips.

MORE TRAVEL TIPS TO ASIA

VISA GUIDES

Some easy guides for reference if you are traveling to Malaysia, Israel or UAE within Asia. The Indian visa for other passport holders can get quite complicated sometimes and you need to do a lot of paper work.

DRIVING IN ASIA

I have done multiple road trips in India and they have all ranged from the timid to the adventurous. I have extensively road tripped all over South India and we also did a road trip in Thailand.

CULTURAL GUIDES

There are so many cultural things to do in Asia. I love visiting the many temples in India and Asia. Additionally, I fell in love with the holy city of Jerusalem during our time in Israel.

UNESCO SITES

There are plenty of UNESCO world heritage sites all over India and Asia and you can find guides on some in MahabalipuramTel Aviv etc on this travel blog on Asia.

ITINERARIES

Find more itineraries for traveling in Asia and Traveling to Asia checklist. Some examples include 7 days in Dubai, (with kids)A weekend trip to Ooty, Things to do in Bangalore, A day in Pondicherry.

BROWSE BY COUNTRY FOR MORE ASIA TRIPS TIPS

Looking for country wise posts? Find all of them here and find more tips for traveling in Asia country wise.

BOOKING RESOURCES

Looking to book your trip now? Find some of my favorite resources I use while booking my trip. You can also find my travel gear here.

Book Your Flight

I am a Skyscanner fan when it comes to booking international flights. I use Makemytrip and Yatra for domestic flights.

Book Accommodation

Booking is my go to resource for booking hotel accommodation and I use Airbnb for booking my homestays. I also compare prices on Tripadvisor always. Another one I always use is Expedia.

Travel Insurance

As an Indian, I prefer ICICILombard and I am always insured when I am traveling outside India. In addition, I have used World Nomads and SafetyWing for some of my trips.

Book Tours

I do go on a lot of day tours especially when I am traveling solo and love going on road trips with my husband.. Depending on convenience, my choices are Viator or Getyourguide.

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