Southeast Asia Accommodations
Accommodation in Southeast Asia can be as luxurious or as low-key as you like, with options in every category available in the larger cities across the region. While the more remote corners of the region offer only basic no-frills lodgings, South East Asia’s top beach resorts and cosmopolitan cities are today filled with spa resorts, ultra-modern chain establishments and colonial style sumptuous hotels.
Finding accommodation in South East Asia is almost never a problem, except during festive holiday periods such as New Year and peak seasons like the European Christmas break, when Westerners flock to the region’s beaches. Most of the time it is possible to simply arrive at your destination and find accommodation without an advance booking.
Quality of lodgings in the region varies, with upper end hotels normally offering comfortable clean rooms and excellent service. Budget options typically offer much less, and can be dirty and unsafe. Bungalows are particularly popular on South East Asian islands and can be a cheap option for groups looking for quick beach access. Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore are known for their high price tag accommodations, while cheap hotels are never hard to find in Cambodia, Indonesia or Laos.
Hostels: all major South East Asian cities have hostels primarily aimed at backpackers, with most tourist towns also having options. Prices at hostels are typically cheap and no advance booking is necessary. Quality can vary dramatically so it pays to stick to recommended digs.
Hotels: South East Asian capitals like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore offer luxury hotels to rival those of Paris and London, but with a price tag not nearly as high as their Western counterparts. Mid-range and budget hotel options are also widely available, but lesser so in small rural towns and villages. The lower you go in price, the lower quality service you will likely receive.
Camping: is popular only in the region’s national parks, with many South East Asian countries having restrictions on where you can camp. There is a threat from wild animals in some areas, making camping unsuitable. Most national parks have good camping facilities available for a nominal fee, and some sites even rent ready pitched tents.
Bungalows: beach bungalows are popular on South East Asian islands and at beaches, and make for an economic accommodation choice for those traveling in groups. Offering quick beach access, bungalows can be as luxurious or down-market as your budget allows, with places like Boracay having some palatial options. Quality of bungalows at less popular destinations can vary, with some being little more than bamboo huts.
