Job Discussion Forums

[bardolf]

Hello Old Asia Hands,

I would like to take a few months off and just rent a place to live in somewhere in Asia. I can't afford to live like a rock star with a beachfront house rental, but I don't have to live on the sidewalk either. Right now I'm in Korea. Are there ANY countries left where one can rent a nice, safe, clean, secure accomodation for very little money compared to typical developed-nation-city prices? Or is that no longer possible in the modern world?

A one-bedroom apartment is all I need, or even a good-sized studio (or "bachelor") apartment; I'd need access to the Internet, but if cyber-cafes are as cheap as they are in Korea, I'd be happy to do without the Internet in my own place. And I won't complain if Internet speed is much slower than that of Korea, either, I'm prepared for that.

How about the Phillipines? Or Thailand? Or is Thailand so popular now that accomodation prices have risen accordingly?

Another thing: I can't stand big cities. I'd like to live in a town, even quite a small one.

Oh and one more thing: I'm not young, and I'm not looking for wild times, or party places, or affairs, or anything like that. Basically I just want to read books, walk around, and lead a quiet boring life.

[Jati]

Cherating, Malaysia. Forty-five minutes (45) north of Kuantan along the beach road. It has everything and is cheap. You can fly into Kuantan on Malaysian airlines.

[donb2222]

Check out Dumaguete Philippines.
For less than US$1000 a month total you can live on or near the
beach, and eat western food in town and have many nice places to
go walking or hiking

For about US$500 a month, you would need to live more like a local,
but if you cook your own food or eat the local food, and live simply you will be fine

[MrMrLuckyKhan]

I would assume MANY places in SEAsia would be perfect for you. I was in Bali and even found a nice, clean, quiet, cheap, guesthouse to stay in for about $100 a month that INCLUDED breakfast everyday prepared by the maids whenever I finally got up. No wifi or anything, but many internet cafes near by. Also, one guy that was staying there for an extended time had no problem getting internet hooked up in his room. This was in Sanur Beach and about a 10 min walk to the beach...

You should tell us the price you are willing to pay and you may have more people come on here and tell you about places they have been.. Ive stayed in many nice places all over Indonesia and Cambodia and never paid more than about $5 a night, so depending on your budget, and paying for several weeks/months upfront Im sure you could find exactly what your looking for and pay muuuuuuch less than you planned. Food and internet cafes are so cheap most places. The only budget breaker I've ever had while traveling over the past 2 years in SEAsia is alcohol. But, I havent been drinking at all, so that hasnt been a prob!!!

[lensman]

I second Bali, but I would avoid Kuta.

Lovina on the north coast would be perfect for you.

[parrothead]

Hi Bardolf,

I'm not sure what your budget is, but I recently visited Sri Lanka and think it would be a very inexpensive place to do what you are suggesting. Think spending your money in nickel and dime increments. Some towns are used to catering to tourists, but haven't seen many since the tsunami a few years back. You can rent a room at a guesthouse (on the beach if you want) for $5 usd per day, maybe cheaper for long-term stays. High speed internet may be the only problem, but there are internet cafes. You could buy a cheap bicycle to avoid tuk-tuks and touts. Trains across the country entire country are $6. I really enjoyed my time there and would go back in a heartbeat to do just what you are thinking. PM me if you want extra specifics.

[bardolf]

Thank you all for your helpful responses, this is exactly the sort of information I was hoping to get.

My budget; well, I'm not sure, other than to say, the smaller the better... the future's uncertain and the end is always near, as Jim Morrison said, and the more money I can hang onto, the more secure I feel.

Another consideration is the length of my "vacation." If it's just a couple of months, up to $1000 per month is fine. But if I decide to spend many months on this getaway, then naturally I'd like to get the costs down as much as possible.

So how about: $500/month MAX, including everything: accomodation, food & drink, etc. etc. and preferably less!

(Alcohol a budget breaker? It's cheap here in Korea... provided you're willing to drink the local hooch)

[Jati]

If you really want to get away from normal life, go out to Tioman Island (Malaysia) and negotiate a 2-month stay at some backpacker hostel. The best place to hang out there is either Salang (on the northwest coast) or Juara (only one on the east coast). Salang has the better selection of food stalls and beach pubs. You can certainly stay there for $500 per month, probably less.

Activities? Snorkeling (cheap, easy), scuba-diving (more expensive, not really necessary since there are great snorkeling spots close to the beach), jungle-trekking, and just plain lazing about, reading books, talking to other travelers. No cars; no motorcycles; little noise; great places to kick back for an extended period.

But I would negotiate with the hostel owner/manager. I wouldn't pay the off-the-rack price. They like to have a steady source of income, so would be open to nego.

[gajackson1]

Dear Bardolf -

Southeast Asia is your oyster, and one with multiple pearls. Almost anyplace you could choose - Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia - will have places where you can live for $300/month for accommodations, and cheap food, access to book exchanges, beaches, etc.

Take away the beach part, and even more opens up.

People here are very useful/helpful; I highly recc going onto LP & registering there, and post up on the Thorn Tree forums/boards.

When I first came to Asia, it was fairly common for people to take a job, work hard for 1-2 years, and then just take a few years off. If they felt like it, repeat the process. I wish I had done that during my 20s!

Cheers!

Glen

[bardolf]

$300 per month? Now you're talkin'! That's exactly the sort of price I wanted to hear! Can you suggest anything specific?

In the meantime, by LP do you mean "Lonely Planet"? I will do as you recommend.

[gajackson1]

Jati is dead on about Tioman. There are LOTS of places still where $500/month for everything is doable, based on 250-300 for housing.

Again, if you didn't want/need the beach, I would suggest Laos. But for beachy stuff, Malaysia, Indonesia (If you could manage something in the Gilis, Lombok, Ubud, etc. you'd probably be happy), Philippines are FULL of places 'off the path.' Thailand probably still is too, up & down the coast. I don't know how much Ko Samet has developed in recent years, but I am sure that some of the more distant coves, or else the 'Thai side' - the places on the south side - would do.

As funny as it sounds, your religion (or religious leanings) may also affect not just where you will be happy, but also your rates.

In any case, find some place that you like, and start by asking first the nightly rate, and then how much for 3 nights, 1 week, 2 weeks, 1 month. Breakfast being included may be possible, but realistically food is so cheap everywhere.

Alcohol? Really hard to beat Thai 'whiskey' in this department, for drinkability & nice buzz & price.

And yes, LP is Lonely Planet.

[bardolf]

What religion is most likely to get me the best rates? I hope I'm lucky.

[Jati]

[MrMrLuckyKhan]

[malu]