6 weeks before departure
- Check passport — must be valid 6+ months from arrival
- Apply for any required visas (Vietnam eVisa, Indonesia VOA notes)
- Book a travel-vaccine appointment (Hepatitis A, typhoid as standard)
- Confirm travel insurance covers your activities (scuba, scooter)
- Compare and book long-haul flights (8–12 week window is sweet spot)
- Reserve first 3 nights of accommodation
4 weeks before
- Book one or two anchor experiences (Halong Bay cruise, Petronas skybridge, cooking class)
- Order any needed travel money / set foreign-transaction-free debit card
- Notify bank of travel dates
- Buy or activate a travel eSIM (Airalo, Yesim) ready for arrival
- Make digital + paper copies of passport, visa, insurance
- Pre-book airport transfer for arrival day
2 weeks before
- Final vaccine boosters if any
- Pack medications in original packaging (bring prescriptions)
- Download offline Google Maps for destination cities
- Activate phone roaming as a backup
- Confirm hotel and tour reservations by email
1 week before
- Check airline baggage rules + online check-in window
- Confirm transit times if you have stopovers
- Set out-of-office on email
- Pack carry-on essentials (passport, meds, charger, change of clothes)
- Set up basic translate app + offline language pack
What to pack (general Asia)
- Light, breathable clothing — quick-dry fabrics
- One smart-casual outfit (rooftop bars, temples)
- Sarong/wrap (temple cover, beach)
- Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50
- Insect repellent with picaridin or DEET
- Universal travel adapter + USB-C charger
- Power bank (under 27,000 mAh allowed in cabin)
- Compact rain jacket
- Refillable water bottle with filter
- Basic first-aid (paracetamol, antihistamine, rehydration sachets, plasters, antibacterial)
- Eye mask + earplugs
Skip: heavy boots (sneakers are fine), thick jeans, anything you'd be sad to lose, a full hairdryer (all decent hotels have them).
Apps to install before you fly
- Grab (Southeast Asia ride-hailing)
- Google Translate (download offline language packs)
- Google Maps (download offline city maps)
- XE Currency (offline rate)
- Maps.me as Google Maps backup
- WhatsApp (every guide/hotel will message you on it)
- Your airline's app for boarding passes
- Country-specific train booking app (12go in Thailand, KTM in Malaysia)
What you don't need
Currency in advance (ATMs everywhere, better rates), a printed boarding pass (digital is universally accepted), heavy guidebooks, more than 1L of liquid sunscreen (refill on arrival), thick hiking shoes for non-trek trips, expensive jewellery. See also our travel mistakes to avoid in Asia.
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Frequently asked questions
When should I start preparing for an Asia trip?+
6 weeks before departure is ideal — enough time for vaccines, visa processing, flight-fare sweet-spot booking and any travel insurance comparison.
Do I need vaccinations for Asia?+
Routine vaccines plus Hepatitis A and typhoid are standard. Some routes (rural Vietnam, Borneo) recommend Japanese encephalitis. Always consult a travel clinic 6–8 weeks before departure.
Should I get a travel eSIM before flying to Asia?+
Yes — installing an eSIM before departure means you have data the moment you land, useful for airport transfers, ride-hailing and translation. Airalo, Yesim and Saily all support Asia.
What's the best travel insurance for Asia?+
Any policy that covers medical evacuation, scooter accidents and adventure activities you'll actually do. Read the small print on scooters — many policies exclude them unless you hold a relevant licence.
Do I need cash or cards in Asia?+
Bring a small amount of USD as backup, but ATMs are widely available in all major cities and tourist areas. Use a fee-free debit card (Wise, Revolut, Charles Schwab) and withdraw larger amounts less often to minimise ATM fees.
Topics & destinations
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