Travel Planning

In the digital age travellers can plan every last detail of their journey in advance, however, that doesn’t necessarily mean they should. Here’s a detailed run down of how I travel.

How to holiday

If I’m going on a short holiday, say a week or two in the Southern Thai Islands, I’d typically book flights and accommodation for the whole trip because time is scarce and chilling out will be my TOP priority. Chances are I’m also there during peak travel season because I’m after the best weather possible. The truth is, tiny tropical islands only have so many resources and since I wouldn’t want to settle for less on a precious holiday. I’d book big stuff (flights and accomodation, in that specific order) in advance. Transfers are also handy to have booked, especially ferry tickets. Start your trip in style from the minute you get to the airport with lounge access (I wrote how to get access here).

As for activities, unless I was diving in Sipidan or swimming with the whales in Tonga (where spots are extremely limited and you need to book years in advance) I wouldn’t book anything. What I love about tropical island travel is the vibe is typically super laid back, especially in South East Asia. Rather than book in advance I’d recommend booking activities on site. Get there, see how you feel and keep an eye on the weather. I also like to check out the quality of the service provider, suss out the competition, often there’s even room to negotiate on the price.

A few other last minute notes:

• Don’t forget to check your passport expiry and visa requirements.

• I like to consult my GP on vaccinations a few months ahead of travel.

• You can get an e-sim, they’re awesome, but it’s usually just cheaper to get a local SIM card.

• Have your VPN ready to go, I use SurfShark and have found it reliable.

• Lastly, in case of emergencies be sure to consider travel insurance, I use Safety Wing.

Happy holidays!

How to travel for longer?

On longer trips outside of peak holiday season I like to travel slowly from one island to the next booking things as I go. More often than not, I’ve got a few islands or beaches pinned on Google Maps in each area I visit and my plans are determined by weather, accessability, budget and safety. I usually turn up with the first few days booked, begin to explore the area and from there I see what opportunities arise. This way of travel presents many pros and cons but it’s my favourite way to island hop and the flexibility is unmatched. Regarding accomodation, I always look for the online price and then try to book directly for a better price (a direct booking is better for the owner and my pockets). However, if i’m going to a busy island during a busy period (cultural events or school holidays) I’ll book most accomodation in advance.

A note about travelling in wet/shoulder season.

Yes, it’s pretty much always cheaper and it’s more quiet. It doesn’t always rain all day. But sometimes it does. If there’s a bout of serious stormy weather you will likely have to change your travel plans as ferries that service islands often have to stop operating as a safety precaution. Sometimes places are so seasonal that travelling there in the wet season is extremely unpleasant or not even possible. If tours and transfers are not available and the only option is to charter a private boat it can end up being more expensive than travelling in peak period. Please be aware there are life threatening poisonous jellyfish in the water at some tropical islands during the wet season and they are impossible to see.

How to find and travel to remote paradise islands?

The research and planning process is more rigorous.

1. Searching for islands on Google Maps

Call me crazy but I find it fun to stalk islands on satellite mode. I zoom in, looking for tiny islands, atolls, beaches, surf breaks, or other interesting natural landscapes. Then I look at pictures of nearby locations to check if other people have uploaded pictures that might give me a reference of the water clarity. Is it’s brackish? Are there river openings close by? If so, plastic pollution in the wet season could be a problem, soil might impact the clarity of the water during or after big rains. I check the colour of the sand, I look for pictures with plastic in piles along the beach, and if so, why? Freak storm or seasonal weather? Maybe it’s just always polluted? I jump on Windy to check if it’s the leeward or windward side of the island and if that impact my stay? I look to see if there’s any infrastructure and if so, what condition is it in? Is there any construction? Is there camping available? I try to take note of any tourist photos and when the image was posted. All of this usually gives me an indication of accessibility and can help me determine if I can jump on a tourist boat or if I need to factor in extra time and money to organise a local fishing boat. These questions and a million more are usually not answered. But put simply, if the ocean looks pretty I save it in the app so I can find it again. Once I have a few pins in the same place, tah dah! I have a rough idea of what I’d like to see in the area when I first arrive.

2. General Research

After locating an area of interest on Google Maps, I begin Google searching the islands/region. My preference is blog posts from real travellers who include the good, bad and ugly. WhatsApp numbers for tour operators or trusted transportation services are always handy in South East Asia and recommended accommodation or restaurants can be a lifesaver. I take note of transportation facilities available, or that are lacking as this can make or break a trip for a budget traveller like me. I also pay attention to cultural sensitivities, customs and potential language barriers. I’m the visitor and it’s my responsibility to be respectful of the local way of life so I try to educate myself ahead of arrival. Sadly, sometimes the location is not suitable for a solo female traveller. It’s a shame but better to be safe than sorry.

I also like to check out footage of the islands/beaches on YouTube. It can be hard to find content on super remote islands but the sailing community usually have something. Sometimes I also find new places on YouTube in the same area - bonus!

Here’s some research questions:

Time - How much time do you have? Now double it or halve the itinerary. Island time is real so make sure you have flexibility and the budget to get in and out before your visa expires.

Weather - When to go? Is the shoulder season an option? On most remote paradise islands, there’s not a whole lot to do if the weather is terrible. Cabin fever runs high in hot tropical climates, especially when there’s no electricity.

Accessibility - Consider how to get there and how to leave. Are there ferries and accommodation for tourists available? Is it an inhibited island? Getting off the beaten path in Indonesia, for example, can take days in transit one way and often the way you came isn’t the way you leave.

Budget - Sometimes remote locations are totally out of the budget. Wish you had a yacht? Me too. Dammit, that’s also out of my budget.

Safety - As a solo female traveller, this question really matters to me. If it’s not safe, can I make it safe? Some of my biggest safety concerns are less about people and more about animals. Mosquitos, crocodiles and jellyfish in particular. Infection is also an issue, a small cut or bite can quickly turn nasty in the tropics. Keep in mind there’s often extremely limited medical services when you’re off the beaten path so if you have a serious medical condition then perhaps an extremely isolated island might require some outside of the box planning. This is probably a good plug for visiting your GP before you travel. Consider travel insurance.

How to find flights and accommodation?

There’s a million ways to do it but personally, I look for flights on Sky Scanner and then book directly with the airline. I pretty much always book accommodation at my arrival destination for the first night or two via booking.com, I typically go for anything with a rating of 8 or higher.

PS, I avoid booking accommodation near any mangroves or stagnate water as mosquitoes love me and these environments are perfect for breading huge populations. It’s controversial, but when I’m really off the beaten path I actually prefer a communal toilet and shower away from my room because drains on islands can really smell. Rats and ants can be a problem too. When I’m in a remote location, I don’t take any food in my room and travel with a plastic container to put any snacks inside of. It’s also good habit to pick up dirty clothes asap as the ants can swarm them, especially undergarments. Hang your wet stuff up outside your room, ants will go for water/ moisture. If you see reviews about these issues take them with a grain of salt, aside from the drain smells, this is part of travelling to tropical islands and it can’t really be avoided. BYO deet, fan and hammock and enjoy.

How to book travel insurance?

I’m using Safety Wing but haven’t needed to file a claim yet. I’m a walking hazard, it’s just a matter of time, so, once I have a claim, I’ll write a review about my experience. Please note, complementary credit card travel insurance is notoriously unreliable, do your research before you settle for this.