Travel tips for while you’re backpacking Southeast Asia and Australia, or some travel inspiration if you’re sat at a desk wishing you were here. Written by backpackers living or traveling around this side of the world. We’ve got travel advice for Australia, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand, and Vietnam.
TL;DR At sunrise, monks in saffron robes quietly make their way along Sakkaline Road as locals prepare offerings for Luang Prabang’s daily alms-giving ceremony. Less than an hour away by train, the Nam Song River is already coming to life as travelers prepare for a day on the water beneath towering limestone cliffs. These two destinations couldn’t feel more different, yet together they create one of Laos’ most rewarding backpacking routes. If you’re following Mad Monkey’s Laos itinerary, this is where temple mornings give way to river days. It starts among centuries-old temples and riverside cafés in Luang Prabang before shifting south to Vang Vieng, where limestone peaks, lazy afternoons on the Nam Song River, and spontaneous adventures take over. The route is planned, but the best moments rarely are. Whether it’s your first time visiting Laos or you’re returning to see more of the country, this route strikes a balance between culture, adventure, and the spontaneous moments that often become the most memorable part of backpacking. How Many Days You Need for This Laos Itinerary To experience both destinations at a comfortable pace, plan for 5 to 7 days. A typical itinerary looks like this: Day Destination Highlights 1–3 Luang Prabang Temples, Kuang Si Falls, the Night Market, cafés, and riverside walks 4 Travel Day Laos-China Railway to Vang Vieng 5–7 Vang Vieng Tipsy Tubing, Blue Lagoon, caves, viewpoints, and countryside adventures Four days is possible if you’re short on time, but adding an extra day or two gives you more flexibility to slow down, join optional activities, and enjoy each destination without constantly moving on to the next. Traveler Tip: Between November and February, activities like Kuang Si Falls excursions and Tipsy Tubing are especially popular. If you’re planning to join them, it’s worth checking availability after you arrive. Why This Route Works Planning a trip through Laos usually comes down to one question: should you choose Luang Prabang or Vang Vieng? Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng are often compared, but they offer completely different experiences. Luang Prabang is all about slowing down, with historic temples, quiet cafés, and cultural landmarks around every corner. Vang Vieng, meanwhile, is where Laos becomes more adventurous, with rivers, caves, lagoons, and dramatic limestone mountains waiting just beyond town. Because the two destinations are connected by the Laos-China Railway, you can experience both without losing an entire day to travel. The result is an itinerary that flows naturally from culture to adventure while keeping transport simple. If you’re staying with Mad Monkey, you’ll also find it’s easy to mix independent exploring with optional hostel experiences. You might spend one morning wandering Luang Prabang’s Old Town at your own pace, then join a waterfall trip in the afternoon. In Vang Vieng, you could dedicate a day to Tipsy Tubing before using the next to rent a buggy or relax by the pool. Think of it as a framework rather than a fixed schedule. Join the experiences that interest you, skip the ones that don’t, and leave enough room for Laos to surprise you. First Stop: Luang Prabang Every great Laos itinerary starts by slowing down. Set between the Mekong and Nam Khan Rivers, Luang Prabang is a city that rewards curiosity more than speed. Mornings begin with monks collecting alms beneath the first light of day, afternoons are spent exploring temple grounds and shaded cafés, and evenings bring the energy of the Night Market as locals and travelers gather along Sisavangvong Road. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it’s one of Southeast Asia’s most walkable cities, where French colonial buildings sit alongside centuries-old…
Let’s be honest. Finding decent second-hand shops near Mad Monkey hostels is sometimes the difference between a fresh night-out fit and wearing the same sweaty shirt for the third day straight. Maybe your clean shirt has vanished into the dorm void. Maybe your beach shorts did not survive the last boat trip. Maybe tonight is looking like absolute scenes, and your outfit still says “14-hour bus ride.” Good news, you do not need to panic-buy some overpriced mall top or become the 400th person wearing elephant pants. There are plenty of second-hand shops near Mad Monkey hostels, from vintage gems to chaotic little rack-digging side quests. All of them are better than blowing your beer budget on fast fashion. Quick Answer: Best Thrift Finds Near Mad Monkey Hostels The best second-hand shops near Mad Monkey hostels include vintage spots around Khao San Road in Bangkok, Go2hand in Hoi An, Vinnies Coogee in Sydney, thrift finds around Kampot, and What’s Good Store in Uluwatu. If your backpack is starting to smell like bad decisions, these are the places to hunt for fresh garms without destroying the night-out fund. Destination Second-hand spot What is it good for What is it good for Bangkok, Thailand Vintage spots around Khao San Road Vintage bits before a Khao San night out The Khao San area is packed with backpackers, markets, and small vintage finds, so it is an easy place to hunt for a last-minute fit before the chaos starts. Hoi An, Vietnam Go2hand Pre-loved clothes between beach days and lantern walks A handy second-hand stop when you need a fresh fit without doing the full tailor-shop saga. Coogee Beach, Australia Vinnies Coogee Op-shop basics, books, accessories and random gold Op-shop basics, books, accessories, and random gold Kampot, Cambodia Thrift spots around Kampot Op-shop basics, books, accessories, and random gold Hidden gem rummaging and proper backpacker treasure hunting Uluwatu, Indonesia What’s Good Store Curated thrift, denim, coffee, and matcha A good stop if you want cleaner thrift pieces and a coffee before heading back into the Uluwatu madness. You are not trying to build a capsule wardrobe. You just need something clean, cheap, and decent enough for tonight. Why Thrifting Works When You’re Backpacking Backpacking is sweaty. That is not a complaint; it is just the deal. You are dragging your bag through heat, beach sand, night buses, dorm rooms, scooter dust, and the occasional bucket-fuelled disaster. At some point, your clothes will give up before you do. That is where second-hand shopping comes in. It is cheap, useful, and makes your travel wardrobe less boring. You can find a clean tee, a beach cover-up, a jacket, a party shirt, a spare pair of shorts, or something so ridiculous it becomes your personality for the next week. Bangkok, Thailand: DUM DUM Vintage Near Khao San Road If you are staying around Khao San Road, you already know the vibe. Street food, tattoo shops, buckets, backpackers making very confident decisions, and enough noise to keep your jet lag confused. DUM DUM Vintage is a handy little stop around the Khao San Road area if you want to rummage for a fresh fit before the night properly kicks off. Price Range: ฿150–฿800+ ($4–22+ USD) depending on the findLocation: Khao San Road Area, Bangkok – VIEW MAPOpening Hours: 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM Best Finds Before a Khao San Night Out Go here when you want something with more personality than a panic-bought singlet. Think denim, graphic tees, jackets, shirts, and the kind of piece someone at the hostel bar will ask about later. Do the normal backpacker…
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Mad Monkey Hostels, a leader in social and sustainable youth accommodation across Southeast Asia and Australia, has partnered with KrapMaps. KrapMaps is an innovative crowdsourced platform for waste management. This collaboration begins with pilot programs in two key destinations: Uluwatu, Indonesia, and Chiang Mai, Thailand. This initiative tackles a critical issue: waste management in popular tourist areas. It empowers travelers with a practical, community-driven solution. The KrapMaps app helps users find and map public waste disposal points, including recycling facilities. This promotes responsible waste practices and helps create cleaner local environments. “At Mad Monkey, our commitment goes beyond great social experiences. We also foster positive community and environmental impact,” stated Lexie Hadley, Head of Marketing at Mad Monkey. “Our partnership with KrapMaps aligns perfectly with our values. It turns environmental responsibility from a passive idea into an active, engaging experience for our guests. This directly helps preserve the vibrant places where we operate. Ultimately, our community becomes part of the solution, ensuring these cherished locations remain sustainable long-term.” Strategic Imperative: Empowering Responsible Travel Tourism brings economic benefits, but it often creates significant waste challenges. KrapMaps offers a scalable, tech-driven solution. It uses collective action. By gamifying the process of finding waste disposal locations, the platform encourages active participation from backpackers. This turns a common frustration into a constructive contribution. Pilot Program: Uluwatu, Indonesia and Chiang Mai, Thailand The pilot programs are currently operational at Mad Monkey Uluwatu and Mad Monkey Chiang Mai. Guests are actively encouraged to download the KrapMaps application and contribute to the mapping efforts within their local surroundings. This engagement is incentivized through a gamified system where top contributors at Mad Monkey properties can earn exclusive rewards, including complimentary stays and recognition on the global KrapMaps leaderboard. “We are immensely pleased to collaborate with Mad Monkey, a brand that deeply understands and champions community engagement,” commented Harley Treagust, Founder & CEO at KrapMaps. “Our shared vision is to cultivate a global network of environmentally conscious travelers who are proactive in preserving the beauty of their visited destinations. Launching this initiative in Uluwatu and Chiang Mai with Mad Monkey provides an ideal foundation for broader adoption and impact.” About Mad Monkey Hostels Mad Monkey is a leading hostel operator in Southeast Asia, known for experience-driven stays that blend affordable accommodation with community, adventure, and unforgettable social energy. With locations across Cambodia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, and Australia, Mad Monkey is more than a place to stay – it’s a place to belong. About KrapMaps KrapMaps is a pioneering sustainable travel application developed by and for backpackers. As the world’s first crowdsourced platform for locating waste disposal points, KrapMaps leverages gamification and community participation to empower travelers in reducing their environmental footprint and promoting cleaner travel habits.
Know What You Can Spend Each Day Before you even leave, figure out roughly how much you can spend daily. Include food, rooms, transport, and some fun money for nights out or tours. You don’t need to track every cent, but having a loose number keeps you from blowing your budget on day three. There are great apps for this stuff, but honestly? Notes on your phone works fine if you actually check it. Stay in Hostels That Save You Money The right hostel can save you way more than a “cheap hotel.” Look for free breakfast, group dinners, or social nights that don’t cost much. Find a social hostel that fits your vibe — you get cheap meals, happy hour deals, and free events. You’ll spend less and still meet people every night. Check out more hostel hacks every traveler needs to know. Eat Like a Local Street food is your wallet’s best friend. Markets and local joints are where you’ll find the best meals anyway. In Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia, you can eat well for just a few dollars. Pro tip: follow the locals or the longest queue, it usually means the food’s legit. Walk More, Ride Smart You don’t have to pay for a Grab every time. Walk when you can — it’s free and the best way to actually see a city. For longer trips, use buses or trains. They’re slower, sure, but they keep your budget happy. Mix Paid Tours with Free Adventures You don’t need to spend every day doing something big. Do the paid tour you’ve been eyeing, then balance it with a chill beach day or local market wander. Some hostels post free or cheap activities on their boards. Just ask the staff what’s happening. They usually know the best deals in town. Keep a Backup Fund Stuff happens. Flights get canceled, cards stop working, phones fall in pools. Have a little money set aside that you don’t touch unless it’s a real emergency. Keep a small bit of cash hidden too, just in case. Stay Smart About ATMs and Fees Watch the ATM fees. Try to take out more money less often instead of a bunch of small withdrawals. Look for some travel cards that can save you a few bucks each time. And always use ATMs at banks, not random street corners. Final Thoughts Traveling solo on a budget doesn’t mean saying no to fun. It’s just about being smart with where your money goes. Save on the boring stuff so you can splurge on the memories that matter — the island tours, the night markets, the sunsets that turn into stories. Because traveling alone isn’t about how much you spend — it’s about how well you spend it. Pin Now. Read Later.
