Hi,
I am a 22 year old Female from the UK and am at present preparing for my travelling adventure at the end of this year/beginning of 2011!

I am looking to go from Uk-OZ(Sydney)//Overland to Melbourne and perhaps other places on the east coast//-NewZealand-Singapore//Overland through Malaysia to KL then up to Thailand, starting at Koh Tao to visit friends and perhaps some of the other islands in south Thailand, then up to Bangkok, Then from there over the border to Laos//Overland to Vietnam//Overland to Cambodia then Back to Thailand where I will fly home from.

This is obviously still quite a rough plan, and some of the points where i have said 'overland' may well be using internal cheap flights etc depending on how difficult it is to travel by other means of transport over borders etc!

I have so far been given quotes from STA, roundtheworldflights.com and am waiting for a quote from travelnation.
So far Roundtheworldflights have given me a cheaper quote of £1,150 inc taxes etc whereas STA's quote was around £1,500 inc taxes. These were both for a ticket that goes from UK-OZ-NZ-ASIA-UK.

I am going to be travelling for parts of this trip on my own and will be meeting up with friends and relatives at various points on the way!

If anyone would be so kind as to give me some advice on a few things to ensure i get the most out of this experience then please leave a post, and be honest, you guys will have experienced some of the things I am hoping to do and been to places and cultures that i havent so im counting on you

Firstly- What companies have people used to book tickets and who have they found to be the cheapest/most reliable etc?

-Can anyone give me any advice on travelling overland through SE Asia, train companies,buses. is it better to use cheap internal flights?

- Can anyone, especially females give me some advice on travelling alone, what do i need to watch out for? is it a risky thing to do? etc etc

- What do people think of the route im taking? what should i definatly go and see/avoid?

I am planning to take around £3000 with me, obviously more if i can save this (and i will/may need more on top to purchase internal flights) does this seem a reasonable amount to take with me? I am perfectly happy to do everything on the cheap, i dont need a beautiful hotel when i am on the beaches of Koh Tao!

Any advice, input, qualms, queries whatever people have please get in touch

Thanks

Hi Sheryl, you know you are absolutely fantastic traveler, why? because you know by this time people travel with an age of 30 years old and up, but there is time there are a plenty of people who travel with an age of 29 and below like you. Yes in that age many of people are still in relationship or sometimes they are single that's why they are free to do a kind of things that they will really enjoy for their forsake only, I have an additional tip for the young traveler, while traveling you should put your self in the presence of brain, why? because there is a time that many of people who suffered crisis are abusing the time of a one target people who is busy in enjoying his/her vacation,bring also a cellphone for your communication around the world,and don't forget to pray first in our helpful god to bless all of the time that you will spent in traveling in the place that you want to go.

One of the rules to keep safe, in Thailand and elsewhere in Asia, is that do not do in Cambodiawhat you don’t usually do in your own country. If you don’t walk around in dark side streets in your city, why should you do it in phuket? If you usually keep your valuables close to you when you’re in a public place, why leave it unattended in Bangkok? Another tip is to be observant, and be aware of your feelings. Do you feel that there is something not right in a situation? If you feel that way, leave immediately. Don’t try to rationalize. It is better to be safe than be thought of as rude.

I would say that those flight quotes are a little expensive. Have a word with your local travel agent (they do still exist) and ask them to quote you UK/Oz (via KL) with Air Asia. If you're only doing Oz, maybe NZ and a bit of Asia over land before coming back, then you should be able to get your flights a bit cheaper than that.

# Self Defence: Do not carry any weapons other than a can of mace, and check whether the law in your choice of destination allows even that. Always carry a mobile phone for use in case of emergency.

# Hygiene and Sanitation: Bring your own toilet paper, pads.

# Dressing Appropriately: Check out in advance what constitutes 'appropriate dress' and bear in mind that lone women are very often mistaken for prostitutes in certain places.

Thanks