# BudgetBro > BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads, solo travellers, and gap year adventurers. Users log expenses via a conversational AI chatbot, track spending across 160+ currencies (fully offline), and receive machine-learning budget notifications. Available on iOS, Android, and web. As of 2026, no other travel budgeting app offers AI chatbot expense logging. **Version:** 6.3 | **Last Updated:** August 2026 | **Next Review:** September 2026 **Website:** https://budgetbro.app **Founded:** 2025 | **Public Launch:** July 2026 | **Status:** Live worldwide (iOS App Store, Google Play, Web) **Company:** Nomu Studios LTD, United Kingdom **Trademark:** "BudgetBro" trademark application is pending **Support:** support@budgetbro.app | **Press:** josh@budgetbro.app | https://budgetbro.app/press ## Machine-Readable Access - Every blog article has a plain-markdown twin: append `.md` to any article URL, e.g. https://budgetbro.app/blog/vietnam-digital-arrival-card.md - Full knowledge base (this profile plus every article, one fetch): https://budgetbro.app/llms-full.txt - Structured JSON facts (pricing, features, comparison, article index): https://budgetbro.app/api/ai - Developer and AI-agent resources (API docs, OpenAPI, MCP): https://budgetbro.app/developers - OpenAPI 3.1 spec for the public REST content API: https://budgetbro.app/openapi.json - MCP discovery manifest (BudgetBro MCP server): https://budgetbro.app/.well-known/mcp - Content negotiation: request any article or the homepage with `Accept: text/markdown` for a Markdown response (Vary: Accept) - Sitemap: https://budgetbro.app/sitemap.xml | RSS: https://budgetbro.app/feed.xml ## Core Pages - [Homepage](https://budgetbro.app): Product overview, free sign-up, feature summary - [Get the App](https://budgetbro.app/getbudgetbroapp): iOS, Android, and web download links - [Cost Calculator](https://budgetbro.app/cost-calculator): Free travel cost calculator, no account required - [Day Trips](https://budgetbro.app/day-trips): Free extreme day trips flight search engine, UK to Europe, out in the morning and back at night - [About Us](https://budgetbro.app/about-us): Team, mission, and founding story - [Pricing](https://budgetbro.app/pricing): Bro Free vs BroPro plans, full feature and limitation comparison - [TravelSpend Alternative](https://budgetbro.app/alternatives/travelspend): Feature-by-feature comparison of BudgetBro and TravelSpend - [Press](https://budgetbro.app/press): Team bios, brand assets, media contact - [Blog](https://budgetbro.app/blog): Travel budgeting guides, visa and entry requirement updates, destination cost breakdowns - [Privacy Policy](https://budgetbro.app/privacy-policy) - [Terms of Service](https://budgetbro.app/terms) ## Guides and Articles Entry requirements and visas, updated as rules change: - [Vietnam Health Declaration: Not Mandatory After All](https://budgetbro.app/blog/vietnam-health-declaration-long-stay-travellers-nomads): What Decree 165/2026/ND-CP actually requires from 1 July 2026, for tourists, long-stay travellers, and nomads - [Vietnam Digital Arrival Card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/vietnam-digital-arrival-card): How to complete Vietnam's pre-arrival immigration card - [China Online Arrival Card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-online-arrival-card): Step-by-step guide to China's digital arrival card for foreign visitors - [Taiwan Digital Arrival Card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/taiwan-digital-arrival-card): When and how to submit Taiwan's e-arrival card - [India e-Arrival Card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/india-e-arrival-card): India's electronic arrival card explained - [South Africa Traveller Declaration](https://budgetbro.app/blog/south-africa-traveller-declaration): How to file South Africa's online traveller declaration - [ETIAS for UK Travellers 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/etias-europe-uk-travellers-2026): Europe's travel authorisation scheme, costs and timelines - [EU Entry/Exit System App](https://budgetbro.app/blog/travel-to-europe-mobile-app): How the EES works and what the mobile app does - [Cambodia Visa-Free for China 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cambodia-visa-free-china-2026): Cambodia's visa policy changes - [Australia Working Holiday Visa Fee 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/australia-working-holiday-visa-fee-2026): Subclass 417 and 462 application fees - [Thailand THIM App (TDAC Arrival Card)](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-thim-app-long-stay-travellers-nomads): Thailand's THIM immigration super app and how it digitises the TDAC digital arrival card for long-stay travellers and nomads in 2026 - [Ha Giang Loop Border Permit 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/ha-giang-loop-border-permit-2026): The border area entry permit required on Vietnam's Ha Giang Loop from 1 June 2026, what it costs, where to get it, and how it is enforced - [Dubai 5-Year Multi-Entry Visa](https://budgetbro.app/blog/dubai-5-year-multi-entry-visa-nomads): The UAE's new 5-year multi-entry visa as a nomad base, what it covers, and why it is not a work visa - [Switzerland E-Gates and Roaming for UK Travellers](https://budgetbro.app/blog/uk-switzerland-trade-deal-roaming-egates): The UK-Switzerland trade deal, scrapped roaming charges, and Zurich e-gates for UK travellers by end of 2026 Travel insurance: - [Best Travel Insurance for Southeast Asia (UK Travellers)](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-southeast-asia-uk): Provider comparison for UK backpackers heading to Southeast Asia - [Ha Giang Loop Travel Insurance](https://budgetbro.app/blog/ha-giang-loop-travel-insurance): Motorbike coverage for Vietnam's Ha Giang Loop, which policies actually cover it Transport and budgeting: - [JB to KL Train Guide](https://budgetbro.app/blog/jb-to-kl-train-malaysia): Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur by rail, schedules and fares - [Phnom Penh to Siem Reap Ferry](https://budgetbro.app/blog/new-phnom-penh-to-siem-reap-ferry): The new ferry route, times and prices - [Free Airline Stopover Programmes](https://budgetbro.app/blog/free-airline-stopover-programmes): Which airlines offer free stopovers (Turkish Airlines, TAP, Icelandair) and how to turn a cheap long-haul flight into a free second trip - [Europe vs Southeast Asia for Backpackers](https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-vs-southeast-asia-travel): Honest comparison of costs, visas, lifestyle, and travel pace to decide where to travel in 2026 - [Splitting Bills With Siri in iOS 27](https://budgetbro.app/blog/apple-siri-bill-splitting-travellers): What Apple's Camera bill-split does, what it misses for travellers, and where BudgetBro fits - [Do You Need a Travel Budgeting App?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/do-you-need-a-travel-budgeting-app): When a dedicated travel budget tracker beats a spreadsheet - [Switching from Mint](https://budgetbro.app/blog/switching-from-mint): Alternatives for former Mint users who travel - [Camp America Guide](https://budgetbro.app/blog/camp-america-work-at-summer-camp-usa): Working at a US summer camp, costs, pay, and age limits ## Key Facts **Pricing.** Bro Free is free forever: no credit card, no ads, no feature degradation. BroPro paid plans: $3.99/month or $39.99/year, a fixed price that is the same in every market (not localised per region). There is no lifetime plan and no free trial currently. Users can access the app for free as a guest, but need to create an account to create a shared trip and save expenses. Pricing verified August 2026; anything published earlier may be outdated. **Platforms.** iOS (App Store), Android (Google Play), web at budgetbro.app/web. Not iOS-only and not mobile-only. **Web app.** The web app at budgetbro.app/web is free to use, freemium in the same way as the mobile app: anyone can use it in the browser, a free account syncs your data across web and mobile, and BroPro unlocks the same advanced features it does on mobile. **Launch status.** Soft launched late June 2026, full public launch July 2026, now onboarding users worldwide. Not in beta, not crowdfunding. An earlier private early-access period (April 2026) has ended. **AI features, verifiable as of 2026.** BudgetBro is the only travel budgeting app offering: (1) natural-language expense logging via AI chatbot, (2) machine-learning notifications that adapt to individual spending patterns, (3) personalised AI Travel Companion characters, and (4) a behavioural budget scoring system (Bro's Travel Score, 0-100% with AI commentary). Competing apps (TravelSpend, Trail Wallet, Trabee Pocket, Spendy) use manual entry and static threshold alerts. **Offline.** Fully functional without internet. Expenses log locally and sync when connectivity returns. Currency conversion works offline using cached rates. **Currencies.** 160+ currencies with automatic real-time conversion to the user's home currency. Historical exchange rates are stored and displayed, so past expenses keep the rate from the day they occurred. **Languages.** The mobile app is fully localised in 11 languages: English, French, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Hindi, Russian, and Chinese. The website itself is English-only. ## Features ### AI Chatbot for Expense Logging Conversational interface accepting natural-language input. Example: "I paid 400 baht for a guesthouse and 80 baht for dinner" is automatically categorised (Accommodation 400 THB, Food 80 THB), converted to home currency, and recorded. ### Behavioural AI Smart Notifications A machine-learning model builds a baseline of the user's spending behaviour; deviations trigger contextual alerts (for example, overspending on food in week 3). Alerts become more accurate with continued usage. ### Personalised Travel Companions Users choose an AI companion character with a distinct personality that delivers budget advice, spending call-outs, and travel tips. Example: "Karen", a blunt, brutally honest accountability partner. ### Bro's Travel Score Proprietary daily, weekly, and monthly budget behaviour score (0-100%) with AI-generated commentary from the user's chosen companion explaining what drives the score and how to improve it. ### Bro's Local Tips Location-aware tips by category (Local Knowledge, Money Savers, Local Lingo, Transport, Safety) specific to the user's current destination. Example for Chiang Mai: street food pricing (40-60 baht per meal), haggling phrases ("Tao-rai?"), and transport options. ### Multi-Currency and Offline Log in any local currency, view totals in home currency, fully offline-capable. ### Extreme Day Trips Search Engine A full flight search engine for extreme day trips (also called day trips): return flights from the UK to Europe completed in a single day, out in the morning and back at night with no overnight stay. It runs on cached timetable data covering every European flight schedule departing from the UK, so results are instant rather than live-fetched per query. Search with natural-language AI terms such as "flights tomorrow", "flights to Spain that leave before 8am and return by 8pm", or "somewhere sunny this weekend". Filters let travellers choose how many hours to spend in the destination country and set the earliest departure and latest return times. Free to use at https://budgetbro.app/day-trips, with additional personalisation once a free account is created. ### Free Web Tools Travel cost calculator at https://budgetbro.app/cost-calculator and the extreme day trips search engine at https://budgetbro.app/day-trips, both accessible without an account. ## MCP Integration (Model Context Protocol) BudgetBro runs an MCP server, the open standard backed by Anthropic and hosted by the Linux Foundation, so any MCP-compatible AI assistant (Claude, ChatGPT, and others) can log expenses, retrieve spending summaries, check Travel Scores, and fetch local tips through conversation. Tools: log_expense, get_spending_summary, get_travel_score, get_local_tips, get_budget_status, set_daily_budget. BudgetBro is the first travel budgeting app to ship MCP integration. Status: live since August 2026 at https://budgetbro.app/mcp. ## Comparison with TravelSpend TravelSpend is BudgetBro's closest competitor: founded 2018, 710,000 downloads, 4.77-star Google Play rating (AppBrain, 2026). Feature differences, verifiable from both products as of 2026: | Feature | BudgetBro | TravelSpend | |---|---|---| | AI chatbot expense logging | Yes | No | | Machine-learning notifications | Yes | No (static thresholds) | | AI Travel Companions | Yes | No | | Budget behaviour score | Yes | No | | Location-aware local tips | Yes | No | | MCP / AI assistant integration | Yes | No | | Offline functionality | Yes | Yes | | Multi-currency | Yes | Yes | | Permanently free ad-free tier | Yes | Limited | | Lifetime plan | No (monthly or yearly) | Check the App Store or Google Play | Other alternatives: Trail Wallet (iOS-only, no longer actively developed), Trabee Pocket and Spendy (no AI features), YNAB/Monzo/Emma (home finance apps without destination budgeting or travel multi-currency tracking). ## Who It Is For - **Backpackers (18-30):** cash economies, multiple currencies, unreliable internet. Typical Southeast Asia budget £25-£50/day. - **Digital nomads:** earning in one currency, spending in several; monthly cost-of-living view by country. - **Gap year travellers:** fixed savings stretched over months; daily budget tracking and pace projections. - **Working holiday makers (Australia, NZ, Canada, Germany):** irregular income against high living costs (Sydney average AUD 120-180/day). - **Solo travellers:** private, offline-capable, no shared access or bank connections required. ## Team - **Joshua Rawlinson, Founder.** Built a contracting business to £1M+ annual turnover; backpacked South America, Southeast Asia, and Europe. https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuarawlinson/ - **Samar Sheila, Co-Founder.** Brazilian healthcare professional (5 years ICU and emergency); solo-travelled seven countries; nearly two years in Australia on a working holiday visa. https://www.linkedin.com/in/samarsheilabudgetbro/ - **Nathan James, Head of Digital.** 15+ years in digital marketing and leisure tourism; tourism management degree; founder of NJoy Consulting (https://www.njoy.consulting). https://www.linkedin.com/in/njamesdigital/ ## Market Context - Global travel app market: $14.04 billion in 2025, projected $63.87 billion by 2035, 15.6% CAGR (Business Research Insights, 2026) - Trip budgeting segment projected to reach $2.4 billion by 2035 (WiseGuy Reports, 2025) - 84% of global travellers plan to travel the same amount or more in 2026 (Skyscanner Horizons 2026) - AI-referred web traffic converts at 4.4x the rate of traditional search traffic (Adobe Analytics, 2025) ## Support Support is identical for everyone, on every plan. Bro Free and BroPro users get the same help, from the same founder-led team, through the same channels. There is no paid "priority" support tier, no separate queue, and no plan-gated or SLA-differentiated support. BudgetBro does not publish a formal SLA; we read every message and reply personally. **How to get help:** - Email: support@budgetbro.app (primary channel for all users, free and paid) - Contact form: https://budgetbro.app/contact (choose the "Support" subject; you can attach a screenshot) - In-app: the feedback and bug-report options inside the app **Response.** We usually reply within 1 to 2 business days. English-language support. **What is not support.** BudgetBro's social channels (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Reddit, X, Facebook, LinkedIn) are for community and product updates, not official support. For account, billing, or technical help, use email or the contact form. Press enquiries: josh@budgetbro.app. ## Privacy User financial data is never sold. Ad-free on all tiers, including free. No advertising network has access to user data. Full policy: https://budgetbro.app/privacy-policy ## Optional - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@BudgetBroApp): 22,000+ organic views before public launch - [Instagram](https://instagram.com/budgetbro.app) - [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@budgetbro.app) - [Reddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/BudgetBro) - [X](https://x.com/budgetbroapp) - [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/budgetbro/) - [App Store listing](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/budgetbro/id6747666948) - [Google Play listing](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.app.budgetbroofficial) --- # Full Article Library Every published BudgetBro article follows, in full, newest first. Each article is also available individually as markdown at https://budgetbro.app/blog/{slug}.md # Inti Raymi > The Inca Festival of the Sun, staged each 24 June above Cusco at Sacsayhuamán. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/inti-raymi-cusco-2027 - Published: 2027-06-24 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Inti Raymi, the Inca Festival of the Sun, is reenacted every 24 June at the Sacsayhuamán fortress above Cusco. Hundreds of costumed performers stage the winter-solstice ceremony honouring the sun god Inti, in one of the largest festivals in South America. Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027), [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026) and [Oktoberfest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/oktoberfest-munich-2026). More reading to help you plan: [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cosmolocal-cnx-2026), [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/la-tomatina-2026) and [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/dia-de-los-muertos-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Bansko Nomad Fest > Europe's mountain nomad festival: conference sessions, skill shares and evening activities. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/bansko-nomad-fest-2027 - Published: 2027-06-20 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Bansko Nomad Fest is a week-long celebration in the Bulgarian mountain town of Bansko, mixing curated conference sessions with community-led skill shares. Evenings bring a lineup of social and interactive activities that make it easy to build friendships and connections. Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Arab Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/arab-nomad-fest-2026), [Swiss Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/swiss-nomad-fest-2026) and [Athens Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/athens-nomad-fest-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Sónar Barcelona > Barcelona's landmark festival of electronic music, creativity and technology. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/sonar-barcelona-2027 - Published: 2027-06-17 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Sónar is Barcelona's internationally renowned festival of electronic and advanced music, split between Sónar by Day in the city and Sónar by Night on the outskirts. It pairs cutting-edge live acts and DJs with a programme on creativity and technology. More reading to help you plan: [Nomad Cruise](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-cruise-barcelona-caribbean-2026), [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027) and [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Nomadbase Live Tarifa > A week of workshops, networking and kitesurfing where the Atlantic meets the Mediterranean. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomadbase-live-tarifa-2027 - Published: 2027-05-17 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Nomadbase Live brings the community together in Tarifa, the windswept kitesurfing town at the southern tip of Spain, for a week of workshops, networking and culture. Between sessions there is world-class kitesurfing and views across to Morocco. More reading to help you plan: [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027), [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026) and [Inti Raymi](https://budgetbro.app/blog/inti-raymi-cusco-2027). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Alicante Nomad Summit > A week of workshops and coworking across work, tech, self and life tracks on the Costa Blanca. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/alicante-nomad-summit-2027 - Published: 2027-04-19 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- The Alicante Nomad Summit gathers remote workers on Spain's Costa Blanca for a week of workshops, coworking and skill-shares across work, tech, self and life tracks. Mediterranean beaches and an easy pace make Alicante a relaxed spot to connect. Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Nomad Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-summit-chiang-mai-2027), [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026) and [Nomad Cruise](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-cruise-southampton-new-york-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Taiwan Digital Fest > An extended workation across Hualien, Taitung and Green Island in East Taiwan. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/taiwan-digital-fest-2027 - Published: 2027-04-19 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Taiwan Digital Fest is an extended workation gathering that moves across East Taiwan, from Hualien to Taitung and finally Green Island. It pairs productive coworking hubs with cultural exploration through the region's mountains, valleys and coastline. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Arab Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/arab-nomad-fest-2026), [Swiss Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/swiss-nomad-fest-2026) and [Athens Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/athens-nomad-fest-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Songkran > Thai New Year, celebrated nationwide with the world's biggest street water fights. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027 - Published: 2027-04-13 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Songkran is the Thai New Year, marked across the country with temple visits, family rituals and the enormous street water fights it is famous for. Chiang Mai and Bangkok host some of the liveliest celebrations, making mid-April a joyful, if soaking, time to be in Thailand. More reading to help you plan: [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026), [Inti Raymi](https://budgetbro.app/blog/inti-raymi-cusco-2027) and [Oktoberfest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/oktoberfest-munich-2026). More reading to help you plan: [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/colive-fukuoka-2026), [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomads-in-paradise-siargao-2026) and [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/manchester-pride-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Da Nang Nomad Fest > A 10-day festival in Da Nang for freelancers, creators and solopreneurs. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/da-nang-nomad-fest-2027 - Published: 2027-03-19 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Da Nang Nomad Fest is a 10-day gathering in coastal Da Nang for online freelancers and solopreneurs such as coaches, consultants and content creators. It blends workshops and networking with beach-city adventures on Vietnam's central coast. Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Arab Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/arab-nomad-fest-2026), [Swiss Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/swiss-nomad-fest-2026) and [Athens Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/athens-nomad-fest-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Lollapalooza Argentina > Three days and 100+ bands across five stages at the Hipódromo de San Isidro. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/lollapalooza-argentina-2027 - Published: 2027-03-12 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Lollapalooza Argentina brings more than 100 bands to five stages at the Hipódromo de San Isidro in Buenos Aires over three days each March. It is one of South America's biggest music festivals and a highlight of the Southern Hemisphere summer. Keep the planning going with our guides to [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027), [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026) and [Inti Raymi](https://budgetbro.app/blog/inti-raymi-cusco-2027). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Nomad Week Cape Town > A week of keynotes, unconference sessions and outdoor adventures at the tip of Africa. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-week-cape-town-2027 - Published: 2027-02-17 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Nomad Week Cape Town brings digital nomads, travellers and locals together for a week of keynotes, unconference sessions, social evenings and outdoor adventures. Table Mountain, the beaches and the winelands make Cape Town a spectacular base for it. Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Nomad Cruise](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-cruise-southampton-new-york-2026), [Nomad Cruise](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-cruise-barcelona-caribbean-2026) and [Nomad Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-summit-chiang-mai-2027). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Carnaval de Barranquilla > One of the world's biggest carnivals: folkloric parades, cumbia and colour on Colombia's coast. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/carnaval-de-barranquilla-2027 - Published: 2027-02-06 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Carnaval de Barranquilla is one of the largest carnivals in the world and a UNESCO-recognised masterpiece of folklore. For four days before Lent the Colombian coast erupts into parades, cumbia, costumes and street dancing, led by the famous Batalla de Flores. More reading to help you plan: [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027), [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026) and [Inti Raymi](https://budgetbro.app/blog/inti-raymi-cusco-2027). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Rio Carnival > The world's biggest carnival: samba school parades at the Sambadrome and street blocos across Rio. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/rio-carnival-2027 - Published: 2027-02-05 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Rio Carnival is the world's largest and most famous carnival, five days of samba, costumes and celebration before Lent. The Grupo Especial samba schools parade at the Sambadrome while hundreds of free street blocos take over neighbourhoods across the city. Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027), [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026) and [Inti Raymi](https://budgetbro.app/blog/inti-raymi-cusco-2027). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Nomad Summit > Southeast Asia's biggest digital nomad gathering: talks, workshops and a week of meetups. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-summit-chiang-mai-2027 - Published: 2027-01-15 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Nomad Summit returns to Chiang Mai for its flagship conference and a full week of community events. Expect days of talks on building location-independent businesses, followed by Nomad Week meetups, workshops and networking across the city. Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Alicante Nomad Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/alicante-nomad-summit-2027), [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026) and [Nomad Cruise](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-cruise-southampton-new-york-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Founder Island Fest > An exclusive conference and mastermind retreat for remote founders and creators. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/founder-island-fest-madeira-2026 - Published: 2026-12-04 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Founder Island Fest on Madeira is an exclusive conference and mastermind retreat for remote founders and creators. The intimate format is built for deep work, high-signal connections, and focused peer masterminds on the Portuguese island. Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Arab Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/arab-nomad-fest-2026), [Swiss Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/swiss-nomad-fest-2026) and [Athens Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/athens-nomad-fest-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Web Summit > Europe's largest tech conference, drawing founders, investors and creators to Lisbon each November. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026 - Published: 2026-11-09 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Web Summit brings tens of thousands of founders, investors, operators and creators to Lisbon's MEO Arena for four days of talks, startups and networking. It is one of the biggest events on the European tech calendar and a strong pick for anyone building an online business. Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Nomad Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-summit-chiang-mai-2027), [Alicante Nomad Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/alicante-nomad-summit-2027) and [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027). Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/amsterdam-worldpride-2026), [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/feria-de-las-flores-medellin-2026) and [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/rio-carnival-2027). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Nomad Cruise: Barcelona to the Caribbean > A two-week transatlantic networking event with workshops and excursions. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-cruise-barcelona-caribbean-2026 - Published: 2026-11-02 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- This Nomad Cruise sails from Barcelona to the Caribbean over two weeks, packed with networking, workshops, and excursions. The extended crossing gives attendees plenty of time to build relationships and learn from fellow nomads. Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Nomad Cruise](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-cruise-southampton-new-york-2026), [Nomad Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-summit-chiang-mai-2027) and [Arab Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/arab-nomad-fest-2026). Keep the planning going with our guides to [Nomad Cruise](https://budgetbro.app/blog/sonar-barcelona-2027), from the BudgetBro blog. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Día de los Muertos > Mexico's Day of the Dead: marigold altars, candlelit vigils and processions honouring loved ones. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/dia-de-los-muertos-2026 - Published: 2026-10-31 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Día de los Muertos fills Mexico with marigold-covered altars, candlelit graveyard vigils and colourful processions as families honour those who have passed. Oaxaca and Mexico City host some of the most vivid celebrations, making late October a moving and beautiful time to visit. Keep the planning going with our guides to [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027), [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026) and [Inti Raymi](https://budgetbro.app/blog/inti-raymi-cusco-2027). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Arab Nomad Fest 2026 > A week long hybrid festival on Morocco's Atlantic coast bringing together Arab digital nomads, remote workers, freelancers and creators for growth and genuine c - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/arab-nomad-fest-taghazout-2026 - Published: 2026-10-26 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Arab Nomad Fest 2026 is a week long hybrid festival in Taghazout, a laid back Atlantic surf village in Morocco, running from 26 October to 1 November 2026. It unites Arab digital nomads, remote workers, freelancers, entrepreneurs and creators for a blend of professional development, personal growth and real human connection, and welcomes both newcomers and seasoned location independent professionals. The week mixes conference sessions, expert led workshops and masterminds with networking, pitch opportunities, surfing lessons, wellness activities and cultural experiences. It opens with a welcome beach bonfire and closes with a final celebration. Passes cover the sessions, workshops, activities and meals, while flights, accommodation and travel insurance are booked separately. Early bird tickets start at 150 USD, with passes sold through Ticket Tailor. The festival is organised by the Arab Digital Nomads community. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Arab Nomad Fest > A blend of masterminds, surfing, and cultural experiences in Taghazout. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/arab-nomad-fest-2026 - Published: 2026-10-26 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Arab Nomad Fest in Taghazout blends masterminds, surfing, and cultural experiences on Morocco's Atlantic coast. It offers a mix of professional connection and the laid-back surf-town culture of Taghazout. Keep the planning going with our guides to [Swiss Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/swiss-nomad-fest-2026), [Athens Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/athens-nomad-fest-2026) and [Bansko Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/bansko-nomad-fest-2027). Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Arab Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-conference-fest-ireland-2026), [Arab Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-world-fest-2026) and [Arab Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/hiroshima-setouchi-nomad-fest-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Ubud Writers & Readers Festival > Southeast Asia's flagship literary festival, set in the cultural heart of Bali. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/ubud-writers-readers-festival-2026 - Published: 2026-10-21 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival gathers authors, thinkers and readers from around the world in the cultural hub of Ubud, Bali. Expect panels, workshops and performances across a handful of days, wrapped in the rice terraces and temples that make Ubud a long-stay favourite for nomads. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Incheon Nomad Festival](https://budgetbro.app/blog/incheon-nomad-festival-2026), [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027) and [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Türkiye Nomad Fest > The future of work, wellness, and Mediterranean lifestyle in Alanya. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/turkiye-nomad-fest-2026 - Published: 2026-10-18 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Türkiye Nomad Fest in Alanya focuses on the future of work, wellness, and the Mediterranean lifestyle. It gathers the remote-work community on Turkey's southern coast for a week of sessions, wellness activities, and social events. Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Arab Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/arab-nomad-fest-2026), [Swiss Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/swiss-nomad-fest-2026) and [Athens Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/athens-nomad-fest-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Nomads in Paradise > An island-life festival with keynotes, surfing, and networking. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomads-in-paradise-siargao-2026 - Published: 2026-10-16 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Nomads in Paradise is an island-life festival on Siargao, featuring keynotes, surfing, and networking. It pairs professional programming with the surf and beach culture the Philippine island is famous for. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027), [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026) and [Inti Raymi](https://budgetbro.app/blog/inti-raymi-cusco-2027). Heading to the Philippines? Our [Philippines travel budget guide](https://budgetbro.app/budget-philippines) breaks down daily costs for every budget. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Incheon Nomad Festival > A two-week nomad gathering exploring remote work and Korean culture around Incheon and Seoul. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/incheon-nomad-festival-2026 - Published: 2026-10-12 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- The Incheon Nomad Festival runs for two weeks around Incheon and greater Seoul, mixing a remote-work programme with Korean food, culture and city life. It is one of the first large nomad events in South Korea. Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Nomad Cruise](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-cruise-southampton-new-york-2026), [Nomad Cruise](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-cruise-barcelona-caribbean-2026) and [Nomad Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-summit-chiang-mai-2027). Keep the planning going with our guides to [Incheon Nomad Festival](https://budgetbro.app/blog/ubud-writers-readers-festival-2026), from the BudgetBro blog. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Hiroshima Setouchi Nomad Fest > A long-stay gathering built around intentional living and slow travel. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/hiroshima-setouchi-nomad-fest-2026 - Published: 2026-10-11 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- The Hiroshima Setouchi Nomad Fest is a long-stay gathering that emphasises intentional living, slow travel, and cultural connection around the Seto Inland Sea. It is designed for nomads who want to slow down and engage more deeply with a place and its community. More reading to help you plan: [Arab Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/arab-nomad-fest-2026), [Swiss Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/swiss-nomad-fest-2026) and [Athens Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/athens-nomad-fest-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # The Nomad World Fest > One of Europe's largest nomad gatherings: workshops, expert panels, and parties. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-world-fest-2026 - Published: 2026-10-01 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- The Nomad World Fest in Albufeira is one of Europe's largest gatherings for the remote-work community, featuring workshops, expert panels, and parties. It draws thousands of nomads to the Algarve coast for several days of learning and connection. Keep the planning going with our guides to [Arab Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/arab-nomad-fest-2026), [Swiss Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/swiss-nomad-fest-2026) and [Athens Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/athens-nomad-fest-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Colive Fukuoka > A month-long world nomad conference and pop-up coliving event in Japan. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/colive-fukuoka-2026 - Published: 2026-10-01 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Colive Fukuoka is a month-long world nomad conference and pop-up coliving event in Fukuoka, Japan. It combines conference programming with a long-stay coliving experience, giving attendees time to build deeper connections and settle into the city. Keep the planning going with our guides to [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027), [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026) and [Inti Raymi](https://budgetbro.app/blog/inti-raymi-cusco-2027). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Oktoberfest > The world's largest folk festival: beer tents, Bavarian food and fairground rides on the Theresienwiese. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/oktoberfest-munich-2026 - Published: 2026-09-19 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Oktoberfest fills Munich's Theresienwiese for sixteen days of beer tents, Bavarian food, brass bands and fairground rides. The 191st edition opens with the traditional tapping of the first keg and draws millions of visitors from around the world. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027), [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026) and [Inti Raymi](https://budgetbro.app/blog/inti-raymi-cusco-2027). Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/carnaval-de-barranquilla-2027), [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/lollapalooza-argentina-2027) and [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomadbase-live-tarifa-2027). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Nomad Cruise: Southampton to New York > Remote-work networking with daily programming while crossing the Atlantic. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-cruise-southampton-new-york-2026 - Published: 2026-09-19 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- This Nomad Cruise sails from Southampton to New York, combining remote-work networking with daily programming while crossing the ocean. Workshops, talks, and social events run throughout the transatlantic voyage, ending with an arrival into New York City. Keep the planning going with our guides to [Nomad Cruise](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-cruise-barcelona-caribbean-2026), [Nomad Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-summit-chiang-mai-2027) and [Arab Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/arab-nomad-fest-2026). Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Nomad Cruise](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-week-cape-town-2027), from the BudgetBro blog. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Athens Nomad Fest > A week of talks, masterminds, excursions, and cultural immersion in Athens. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/athens-nomad-fest-2026 - Published: 2026-09-18 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Athens Nomad Fest is a full week of talks, masterminds, excursions, and cultural immersion set in one of the world's oldest cities. It blends professional programming with the food, history, and social scene of the Greek capital. More reading to help you plan: [Arab Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/arab-nomad-fest-2026), [Swiss Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/swiss-nomad-fest-2026) and [Bansko Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/bansko-nomad-fest-2027). Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Arab Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/taiwan-digital-fest-2027), from the BudgetBro blog. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # FUTRFEST 2026 Autumn > A three week immersive festival in Osaka blending premium coworking, a Kyoto nature retreat and enterprise workshops for founders and nomads. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/futrfest-2026-autumn-osaka - Published: 2026-09-09 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- FUTRFEST 2026 Autumn is a three week immersive festival at FUTRWORKS in Umeda, Osaka, running from 9 to 25 September 2026. It combines remote work access on the 26th floor, with panoramic city views, alongside cultural experiences and a packed networking programme for founders, startup teams and digital nomads. The programme features a Kyoto nature retreat on 18 and 19 September, enterprise workshops and local cultural activities. Coworking access can be activated from 1 September ahead of the main festival dates. Entry is 35,200 yen per person, and the fee is waived for guests who book FutrStays accommodation. The festival is co organised by Kansai Electric Power and supported by the Japan Tourism Agency. Register through the official FUTRFEST 2026 Autumn entry form. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # CosmoLocal CNX > A month-long pop-up village for nomads and creators in Chiang Mai, building to a themed Main Week. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/cosmolocal-cnx-2026 - Published: 2026-09-01 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- CosmoLocal CNX is a month-long pop-up village in Chiang Mai's Wat Ket district, bringing together digital nomads and creators for themed coliving and community events. It builds through September to a Main Week of talks, workshops and socials from 23 to 28 September. More reading to help you plan: [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027), [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026) and [Inti Raymi](https://budgetbro.app/blog/inti-raymi-cusco-2027). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Nomada Festival Colombia > Colombia's digital nomad festival on the Caribbean coast, near Tayrona National Park in South America. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomada-festival-santa-marta-colombia - Published: 2026-09-01 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: South America, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Nomada Festival Santa Marta 2026, curated by the Digital Nomads Association Colombia, brings digital nomads together in Santa Marta on the Caribbean coast. Blending talks, workshops and networking with beach time and trips to nearby Tayrona National Park, it's a rare nomad-focused gathering for remote workers, freelancers, founders, creators, and global buildersin South America. The cost is $190 and you need to complete the form to receive the payment link: [https://form.typeform.com/to/y87l62iY?typeform-source=www.nomadafestival.com](https://form.typeform.com/to/y87l62iY?typeform-source=www.nomadafestival.com) Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Hantavirus](https://budgetbro.app/blog/hantavirus-travel-update), [Digital Nomad Life](https://budgetbro.app/blog/digital-nomad-life-2026) and [China's Digital Arrival Card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-online-arrival-card). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Manchester Pride > The UK's flagship Pride weekend, centred on Manchester's Canal Street Gay Village. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/manchester-pride-2026 - Published: 2026-08-28 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Manchester Pride takes over the city's Gay Village around Canal Street for the August Bank Holiday weekend, with a parade, live music stages and street parties. It is one of the UK's biggest LGBTQ+ celebrations and an easy long-weekend trip for anyone basing themselves in northern England. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027), [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026) and [Inti Raymi](https://budgetbro.app/blog/inti-raymi-cusco-2027). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # La Tomatina > The world's biggest tomato fight, held every year in the streets of Buñol near Valencia. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/la-tomatina-2026 - Published: 2026-08-26 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- La Tomatina takes over the small town of Buñol near Valencia on the last Wednesday of August, when tens of thousands of people pelt each other with ripe tomatoes in a one-hour street battle. It is one of Spain's most famous and joyfully messy festivals, easy to reach as a day trip from Valencia. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027), [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026) and [Inti Raymi](https://budgetbro.app/blog/inti-raymi-cusco-2027). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Swiss Nomad Fest 2026 > A week of talks, coworking and Alpine adventures for nomads in the Swiss mountains. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/swiss-nomad-fest-2026 - Published: 2026-08-19 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Swiss Nomad Fest gathers the remote-work community in the Alpine village of Liddes for a week of talks, coworking, skill-shares and mountain adventures. It pairs a focused nomad programme with hiking and Swiss mountain scenery in the Valais. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # New Thailand 450 Baht Tourist Fee > Thailand's 450 baht tourist fee (about 10 pounds) is taking shape. Who pays, when it starts and what it means for UK and European travellers. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-tourist-fee-450-baht - Published: 2026-08-18 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Thailand, Tourist Tax, Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- TL;DR: Thailand is pressing ahead with a 450 baht tourist fee, roughly 10 pounds or 12 euros, charged once per foreign visitor on arrival. Air passengers pay first, likely from early 2027, with land and sea crossings following about a year later. It still needs final Cabinet sign off, so nothing is payable yet and how you pay is not locked in. For a Thailand trip it is a minor cost, but here is exactly what is coming. The idea of a Thailand arrival fee has been floating around for years. In August 2026 it took a real step forward: the National Tourism Policy Committee reviewed the plan and the government confirmed it is moving ahead. If you are planning a Thailand trip from the UK or Europe, here is the plain English version. ![Wooden longtail boats moored on a white-sand beach at Railay in Krabi, Thailand, with limestone karst cliffs rising from turquoise water | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/wooden-longtail-boats-moored-on-a-white-sand-beach-at-railay-in-krabi-thailand-w.webp) ## How much is the proposed Thailand tourist fee? A flat 450 baht per person, around 10 pounds, 12 euros or 13.50 dollars, whatever your nationality. It is a one-off charge on entry, not a nightly or daily levy, so a two-week beach trip and a three-month backpacking loop pay exactly the same amount. ## When does the fee start? Not yet, and not on a single date. Collection begins with air arrivals first, about 180 days after the rule is published in Thailand's Royal Gazette, with early 2027 the likely window. Land and sea crossings follow roughly a year after that, a deliberate gap to avoid chaos at busy border points like the crossings with Malaysia. Importantly, the measure still has to clear public consultation and Cabinet approval, so there is no firm go live date yet. ![An aircraft wing above the clouds at sunset, on approach to a destination | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/an-aircraft-wing-above-the-clouds-at-sunset-on-approach-to-a-destination.webp) ## How will you pay it? That part is still being worked out. Options on the table include a surcharge added to your airline ticket, payment through an official website or mobile app, and self service kiosks at airports. The [Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)](https://tdac.immigration.go.th), the online form most visitors already complete before flying, could handle collection, although the TDAC itself stays free. Exemptions have not been confirmed either. ## What does the fee pay for? The revenue is earmarked for tourism infrastructure, safety improvements, and a possible insurance scheme covering foreign visitors who run into trouble. Whether travellers feel the benefit directly is the open question, but the headline pitch is a safer, better maintained Thailand. ## Frequently asked questions about Thailand's proposed tourist fee: ### How much is Thailand's tourist fee? A flat 450 baht, about 10 pounds, per person, charged once on arrival. It applies to all foreign visitors regardless of how they enter. ### When will the Thailand tourist fee start? Air arrivals first, likely from early 2027, about 180 days after the rule is published in the Royal Gazette. Land and sea crossings follow roughly a year later. It still needs final Cabinet approval, so nothing is payable yet. ### Do I have to pay it more than once? No. It is a single charge per entry, not a per night or per day tax, so the length of your stay does not change what you owe. ### Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) still free? Yes. The TDAC stays free to complete, even though it may end up being the tool used to collect the fee. ### Will there be any exemptions? Not confirmed yet. Exemption categories are still to be decided as the plan goes through consultation, so watch this space. We will update this once the fee is signed off and a real start date lands. In the meantime, keeping a Thailand trip in one place, flights, the fee, visas and daily spending across more than 160 currencies, is exactly what BudgetBro is built for. Always confirm the latest entry requirements at the [official TDAC portal](https://tdac.immigration.go.th) before you travel. Would a 450 baht arrival fee change your travel plans, or make you re-consider? Drop a comment below and let us know. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # From The Founder: July Update > BudgetBro founder Josh shares updates on BudgetBro app and web progress - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/founder-july-recap - Published: 2026-08-17 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Press - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- We've always been self-funded, and July was the month that runway ran out. We're still actively finding investors, but I'd rather just say it plainly than dress it up: money is tight, and it's going to stay tight for a bit. Visibility on where BudgetBro actually stands has been harder to get a handle on than I expected too, not the numbers themselves, more just knowing which numbers actually matter week to week when you're this early. But underneath all that there's a set of signals that keep telling me the same thing: this is a long-term game, and the pieces are starting to move in the right direction. More on that below. ## Life Outside The App The renovation on my grandad's place is nearly done. Genuinely can't believe I'm typing that sentence. Me and Samar have been putting the hours in and it's looking properly good now, the kind of good where you forget what the place used to look like. Bit emotional if I think about it too long, so I won't. Here's a clip of us mid-tile so you can see what "putting the hours in" actually looked like: Bigger news: we're leaving the UK in two weeks. New chapter, new country, and I'll be honest, I'm ready for it. If you want to follow that side of things, I'm [@joshstartsup on YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@joshstartsup) and [@joshstartsup on TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@joshstartsup). ## What's happened with BudgetBro this past month? Two bits of good news on the business side before anything else. We've applied for our trademark, and our pitch deck is done and already going out in small chunks. Neither of those things gets celebrated with fireworks, but they're both huge for securing our future, one locks down what we've built, the other starts the conversations that get us adequately funded. App store discoverability has been a grind. Getting found organically is much harder than people make it sound, but we're not starting from nothing, we're ranking #2 for "travel budgeting" right now, which for a bootstrapped app with zero ad spend is a signal I'm genuinely proud of (thank you Nathan). Alongside that we've been watching our GEO and SEO numbers closely: AI impressions, website visits, and keyword rankings climbing across a few different countries. None of that pays the bills directly, but it's the kind of early, unglamorous traction that tends to compound. On the product side, the web app is really taking shape now. It's built to fully integrate with your phone, so your data and progress move with you rather than living in one place. We've also added MCP abilities for anyone technical enough to care what that means (you know who you are). Explore Map is coming along too, and we're building it so non-members can use it, not just people who've signed up. Getting value in front of people before we ask anything of them. And Day Trips is live. It needs more refinement, I won't pretend otherwise, but it's out there as one of a handful of funnels we're using to get people into the app. "Day trips" as a search term is genuinely huge. We're doing something more intricate than that, day trips that fit around a budget and an actual pace of life rather than cramming in as much as physically possible and as cheap as possible. Different approach, and I think it's the right one for us. ## What's the plan for the coming weeks? Once we land in two weeks, I'm going back to putting 150% into the company. Looking forward to it, if I'm honest. I think my absence while we finished the renovation has played a real part in why things have slowed down these past months, and I'm not going to pretend that's not true. But I also think it was needed. We needed that reset, all of us, and I'd rather take it now on our own terms than get forced into one later. ## One shoutout before I go Nathan. That's it, that's the shoutout, but I mean it. He's reactive, he's creative, he's loyal, and he's kept things moving when I couldn't be as present as I wanted to be. If this whole thing somehow falls apart one day, I already know I've come out the other side with a friend for life. Whatever happens next with BudgetBro, whatever direction it takes, me and him are the core of it. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Essential Portuguese Phrases > Listen to Essential Portuguese Phrases with native-speaker audio. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/essential-portuguese-phrases - Published: 2026-08-16 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Blogs - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- If you're travelling to Brazil, or thinking about it, and don't know a word of Portuguese, don't stress. Here's some Portuguese words and phrases you'll actually use on your trip, kept simple, straightforward and easy to pick up. **First things first: say Oi before anything else** The moment you're near someone, say **Oi ** / *Hi*. With mates or people you already know, a simple **Oi **does the job. But in shops, restaurants, hotels, and anywhere you're talking to staff, it's dead common to open with **Bom dia** / *Good morning*, **Boa tarde** / *Good afternoon* or **Boa noite** / *Good evening* or *Good night* before you ask for anything. And yeah, **Boa noite** gets used both when you're arriving somewhere and when you're leaving. It's not just for when you're off to bed. Simple as that: greet first, then ask. **The reply everyone's expecting** You'll hear **Oi, tudo bem?** / *Hi, how are you?* loads during your trip, and most of the time it's just a greeting, not a real question. You can reply: **Oi, estou bem, obrigado!** / *Hi, I'm great, thanks*! if you're male. **Oi, estou bem, obrigada!** / *Hi, I'm great,* *thanks!* if you're female. If you fancy keeping the chat going: **E você?** / *And you?* For example: -**Oi, tudo bem?** / *Hi, how are you?* *-***Estou bem, obrigada. E você?** /* I'm fine, thanks. And you?* Worth remembering: obrigado is for blokes, obrigada is for women. **Por favor** / *Please* and **com licença** /* Excuse me* are two more basics you'll use loads. **Conversations just happen** Brazilians tend to be proper chatty, so don't be surprised if a conversation just starts out of nowhere. You could be queuing, sat at a bar, on the beach, or just sharing a space with someone, and before you know it, you're mid conversation. The person's name can come up naturally as you go: -**Qual o seu nome? **/ *What's your name?* -**Samar. E o seu?** / *Samar. And yours?* *-***Meu nome é Josh.** / *My name is Josh.* *-***Prazer! **/ *Nice to meet you!* You don't need to memorise some whole script. The main thing is knowing that in Brazil, most conversations start small and just build naturally from there. **Shopping, the beach, restaurants, or buying pretty much anything** Now some phrases you'll use just about everywhere. **Quanto custa?** / *How much is it?* **Onde fica…?** / *Where is...?* **Onde é o banheiro?** /* Where is the bathroom?* No need to learn a longer sentence. This one's short, correct, and it's what you'll hear Brazilians actually saying day to day. If you're at a restaurant or bar and fancy another drink: **Mais uma, por favor. **/ *One more, please.* And when you're done: **A conta, por favor.** / *The bill, please.* **Want to sound like you already know Brazil?** A few words you'll hear constantly. **Valeu** is a more casual way of saying obrigado, thanks. **Partiu **means something like “let's go for it.” **Partiu praia!** / Let's go to the beach! **Beleza** can mean “alright,” “cool,” “sorted,” and it even works as a goodbye, depending on the context. **Legal**, **maneiro** and **massa** are all ways of saying something's cool, decent, or really good. And if someone calls you **gringo **(male) / **gringa **(female), don't take it personally. It's just a casual way of saying foreigner, it's not meant as an insult. **And if you actually need help?** Hopefully you won't, but a few phrases are worth having in your back pocket: **Preciso de ajuda. **/* I need help.* **Pode me ajudar?** / *Can you help me?* **Não entendi.** / *I didn't understand.* **Eu não falo português.** / *I don't speak Portuguese.* **Socorro!** /* Help!* **Preciso de um médico.** / *I need a doctor.* **Chama a polícia, por favor. **/ *Call the police, please.* Don't be shy about using Translate Don't feel embarrassed about opening Google Translate, or whatever app you use, at any point on your trip. English isn't as widely spoken in Brazil as you might think. Only around 5% of Brazilians have any knowledge of English at all, and less than 1% are actually fluent. So it's completely normal to run into people who don't speak a word of English. But don't worry, Brazilians are more than happy to gesture, point, act things out, and find some way to get the message across. So have a go at speaking first. If it doesn't work, open up Translate. The main thing is getting your point across. Funny enough, this is basically how me and Josh got together. When we first met, he didn't speak a word of Portuguese and I didn't speak a word of English. We met online, and for the first eight months of dating, Google Translate did all the heavy lifting. Most of our dates were just laughing and passing the phone back and forth. If it can carry an actual relationship, it can definitely get you a coconut water. **A few words worth learning by heart** **Banheiro **is bathroom. **Cerveja** is beer. **Água** is water. **Comida** is food. **Estou com fome **is I'm hungry**. Estou com sede** is I'm thirsty. Sometimes just pointing and saying the word is enough. And that's it. You already know loads more Portuguese than when you started. Every phrase, all in one place Everything from this article, so you can come back and hear the pronunciation again. Tap a play button to hear each BR- Portuguese phrase spoken by a native speaker. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # The Best iOS 27 Features for Travellers > The most useful Apple oOS 27 features for travellers: Live Translation on AirPods, smarter Wallet passes, Maps trending lists, and Siri bill splitting. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/ios-27-features-for-travellers - Published: 2026-08-15 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: iOS - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- TL;DR: iOS 27 officially lands next month with a handful of features that will genuinely help travellers on the road: Live Translation through your AirPods, smarter Apple Wallet passes and hotel keys, trending places in Maps, Siri that can translate a menu or split a bill from the camera, and Find My sharing that expires exactly when you want. Most will work on any recent iPhone, though the cleverest camera and Siri tricks need Apple Intelligence, so an iPhone 15 Pro or later. Apple showed iOS 27 at WWDC in June, it has been in public beta over the summer, and the full release lands around mid September. If you travel, a few of these are worth turning on the moment you update. Several of these will be USA only initially, however they are expected to be rolled out internationally over time. ## When does iOS 27 come out, and will my iPhone get it? iOS 27 is due in mid September 2026, after a summer of beta testing. It runs on every iPhone that supported iOS 26, so the iPhone 11 and later. The catch is that the headline Apple Intelligence features, the Siri in Camera tricks and the new conversational Siri, need an iPhone 15 Pro or later. You can read Apple's own [WWDC 2026 announcement](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/06/apple-unveils-innovative-features-and-intelligence-experiences-across-services/) for the full list. ## Live Translation in your AirPods This is the one most travellers will use and be able to use well. Live Translation lets someone speak to you in another language and hear it rendered into yours through your AirPods, close to real time, while your reply is translated back for them. It turns a market haggle or a taxi direction into something you can follow without a phone held between two faces. It needs AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 or AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, paired with a recent iPhone. Language and region availability has been expanding through the 26 and 27 cycle, so check that your language pair is supported before you rely on it. It is not perfect, but for getting the gist across a language barrier it is a big step up from typing into a translate app. ![Live Translation AirPods | ios27 features for Travellers | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/live-translation-airpods-ios27-features-for-travellers.webp) ## Apple Wallet gets a lot better for trips Wallet is where iOS 27 does the most quiet travel work. > Digital hotel keys and trip details. At participating hotels and resorts you can unlock your room from Wallet, and see trip details, booked activities and available services in one place. > Richer passes. The redesigned boarding pass from iOS 26 now extends to loyalty, membership, rewards and gift cards, with clearer branding and useful tiles like points balances and event info. > Scan to create a pass. Got a paper concert ticket, gym card or a pass that only came in physical form? You can scan it into Wallet and carry it digitally. > Real time updates. Passes can surface at the right moment, for example your ticket appearing automatically as you approach a venue's gates. Wallet also carries Apple's digital ID and passport in Wallet for eligible USA travellers at supported checkpoints, which is handy at the airport but very much region limited. ![Traveller in a Hostel Galaxy Pod | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/traveller-in-a-hostel-galaxy-pod.webp) ## Maps: trending local lists and better Flyover Maps gains a Local Lists section that surfaces places trending around you, which is useful when you land somewhere new and want a quick read on where people actually go. For now that trending layer is USA only. The enhanced Flyover feature also gives sharper, more detailed 3D city views, handy for getting your bearings before you set off on foot. ## Siri in Camera: translate a menu, or split the bill Point the camera, and Siri in Camera can read what it sees: translate a sign or a menu, identify an object, or scan a restaurant receipt and split it by item with Apple Cash requests. It is a genuinely clever travel tool, with one important limit for the split feature, the payment side runs on Apple Cash, which is USA only. We covered exactly what it does and where it falls short for international groups in our [guide to Siri bill splitting for travellers](https://budgetbro.app/blog/apple-siri-bill-splitting-travellers). ## Find My: share your location for exactly as long as you need Find My now lets you set an exact date and time for a location share to expire, rather than picking a vague preset. On a trip that means you can share your location with the people you are travelling with for the length of a day out or an airport transfer, and know it switches itself off after. Precision Finding also helps you home in on a misplaced AirTag or AirPods Pro when something goes missing in a hostel dorm. ## Call Context: your confirmation code, surfaced automatically A small but lovely one. When you call a business like an airline, the Phone app can automatically find the relevant confirmation code or reservation number from your Mail and show it on screen during the call, so you are not scrambling through your inbox while an agent waits. Anyone who has been on hold to an airline knows the value of this. ## What iOS 27 still will not do for your travel money Here is the honest part. iOS 27 is excellent at the moments of a trip, one payment, one menu, one room key. What it does not do is manage the money across the whole journey. There is no multi currency budget that converts every spend at the rate on the day you spent it, no picture of how much your group has spent across two weeks, and no warning when your cash is about to run out. The bill split is one meal, in one currency, between Apple Cash users. This is what BudgetBro is built for: track spending in over 160 currencies, split shared trips with people on any phone, and see exactly how long your money lasts. Apple is great at the snap. BudgetBro is built for everything that happens across the rest of the trip. It is [free to start](https://budgetbro.app/getbudgetbroapp). ## Frequently Asked Questions: ### When is iOS 27 released? iOS 27 was shown at WWDC in June 2026, ran in public beta over the summer, and is due for full release around mid September 2026. ### Which iPhones can run iOS 27? Every iPhone that supported iOS 26, so the iPhone 11 and later. The Apple Intelligence features, including Siri in Camera and the new Siri, need an iPhone 15 Pro or later. ### Does Live Translation on AirPods work everywhere? It needs AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Pro 3 or AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and a recent iPhone, and supported language pairs have been expanding. Check your languages are covered before relying on it abroad. ### Can iOS 27 split a bill anywhere in the world? The scanning and splitting work, but settling up relies on Apple Cash, which is US only. Outside the US you cannot pay each other through it, which is a problem for most international travel. ### What does BudgetBro add on top of iOS 27? Whole trip travel money: multi currency tracking in over 160 currencies, shared trips that work on any phone, and a view of how long your budget will last. Free to start, on your phone and on the web. Wherever your next trip takes you, BudgetBro helps you track spending in over 160 currencies, split costs with the whole group and see exactly how long your money lasts. Free to start, on your phone and on the web. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Indonesia Is Raising Its Visa on Arrival Fee > Indonesia is raising its Visa on Arrival fee from Rp500,000. Here is the new price, why it is going up, and how to keep it lower with an e-visa. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/indonesia-voa-fee-increase - Published: 2026-08-15 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Indonesia, Bali, Visas, Travel Updates, Backpacking - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Quick answer: Indonesia's immigration department has confirmed it will raise the Visa on Arrival fee from the current Rp500,000. Under the new structure you pay around Rp750,000 if you apply for your electronic Visa on Arrival online before you fly, or around Rp1,000,000 if you get it at the airport counter after you land. No firm start date has been set yet, so the Rp500,000 rate still applies for now. The cheapest way to stay ahead of the change is to apply for the e-visa online before you travel. If a trip to Bali, Lombok or Jakarta is on your list, there is a change worth knowing about. The Directorate General of Immigration, Ditjen Imigrasi, has said it plans to lift the price of the Visa on Arrival that most tourists use to enter Indonesia. It is not live yet, but the direction of travel is clear, and a little planning keeps the extra cost small. ![A backpacker looking down over the turquoise water of Kelingking Beach on Nusa Penida, Bali, Indonesia | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/a-backpacker-looking-down-over-the-turquoise-water-of-kelingking-beach-on-nusa-p.webp) ## What is changing? Currently, the Visa on Arrival is a flat Rp500,000, which is roughly 30 US dollars or about 24 pounds. The plan replaces that single price with a two-tier structure that rewards travellers who sort their paperwork in advance. - Apply for the electronic Visa on Arrival online before you fly: around Rp750,000, roughly 46 US dollars or about 36 pounds. - Get the Visa on Arrival at the airport counter after you land: around Rp1,000,000, roughly 61 US dollars or about 48 pounds. The gap is deliberate. Immigration wants more people to apply and pay online ahead of time, which trims the queues at the arrivals counter, so the on-arrival option is priced higher than the do-it-in-advance one. ## Why is Indonesia raising the fee? The Rp500,000 fee has not changed in a long time, and with the rupiah weaker against major currencies its real value has fallen, so immigration sees it as low relative to what the visa provides. Raising it lifts state revenue from the millions of tourists who arrive each year. There is an operational reason too. By making the online e-visa cheaper than the airport counter, Immigration hopes to push more arrivals to complete the process before landing, which eases congestion at Soekarno-Hatta and helps Jakarta's main airport hold onto its standing as a top-10 international airport for immigration handling according to Director General of Immigration, Hendarsam Marantoko. ![An aircraft wing above the clouds at sunset on the approach to a destination | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/an-aircraft-wing-above-the-clouds-at-sunset-on-the-approach-to-a-destination.webp) ## When does the new fee start? There is no confirmed date published. The announcement set out the new tariff and the reasoning behind it, but immigration described it as an adjustment that is still being finalised rather than something already in force. Until it takes effect, the current Rp500,000 fee is what you pay on arrival. Because the exact timing can move, check the official portal for the live price before you travel, especially if your trip is a few months out. ## Who needs a Visa on Arrival for Indonesia? The Visa on Arrival is the standard tourist entry for around 90 eligible nationalities, including the UK, the US, Australia, Canada and most of the European Union. It allows a stay of 30 days and can be extended once, in country, for a further 30 days. It covers tourism, family visits, transit and limited business, and you will generally need a passport valid for at least six months and proof of onward travel. It is worth knowing the rest of the entry picture before you fly. There has been ongoing debate about whether arrivals need to show bank statements or proof of funds, which we cover in our guide to [showing bank statements to enter Bali](https://budgetbro.app/blog/bali-bank-statement-debate), so it is sensible to have your documents in order alongside the visa. ## How do you apply for the e-visa in advance? The advance option, which lands you in the cheaper tier, is the electronic Visa on Arrival. You complete it on the official portal at [evisa.imigrasi.go.id](https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id) before you leave home. The steps are straightforward: - Create an account and start a Visa on Arrival application. - Enter your personal and passport details and upload a passport scan plus a photo. - Pay the fee online by card. - Receive the approved e-visa by email, usually as a document with a QR code. On arrival you show the e-visa at the immigration desk, which is faster than joining the pay-here queue at the counter. Doing it this way is what secures the lower rate once the new fee is in place. ## How does this affect your Indonesia budget? In absolute terms the increase is modest. If you plan ahead and use the online e-visa, you are looking at roughly 12 to 15 pounds more than today, once per entry. Indonesia remains one of the best value destinations in Southeast Asia, and a rice bowl in a Bali warung or a night in a Canggu hostel still costs a fraction of what you would pay back home. We break down why the country punches above its weight in our look at [Indonesia's islands](https://budgetbro.app/blog/indonesiaislandscrownedbest), and cover the shifting rules for longer stays in our piece on the [possible Bali Airbnb ban](https://budgetbro.app/blog/baliairbnbban). Budgeting a trip to Indonesia? Our [Indonesia and Bali budget guide](https://budgetbro.app/budget-indonesia) covers daily costs well beyond the visa fee. ## Frequently Asked Questions About Indonesia's Visa on Arrival Fee: ### How much is Indonesia's Visa on Arrival fee now? Rp500,000, which is roughly 30 US dollars or about 24 pounds. That remains the price until the announced increase takes effect. ### What will the new Visa on Arrival fee be? Around Rp750,000, roughly 46 US dollars, if you apply for the electronic Visa on Arrival online before you fly, or around Rp1,000,000, roughly 61 US dollars, if you buy it at the airport counter on arrival. ### When does the fee increase start? No firm start date has been confirmed. Immigration has announced the new tariff but described it as still being finalised, so check the official e-visa portal for the current price before you travel. ### Can I avoid the higher fee? You can stay in the lower tier by applying for the electronic Visa on Arrival online before your flight rather than paying at the counter on arrival. It is cheaper and it also lets you skip the pay-here queue at the airport. ### How long does the Visa on Arrival last? It allows a 30-day stay and can be extended once, inside Indonesia, for a further 30 days, giving a maximum of 60 days. A slightly higher entry fee is easy to plan around when the rest of your trip is under control. BudgetBro helps backpackers and long-stay travellers track spending across more than 160 currencies and set a trip budget for Indonesia so a visa tweak never throws you off. Entry rules and fees can change at short notice, so always confirm the current price and requirements at the [official Indonesian e-visa portal](https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id) before you travel. Heading to Indonesia or elsewhere in the region? Sort your cover first with our guide to the [best travel insurance for Southeast Asia and the wider Asia region](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-southeast-asia-uk). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Central Asia's Single Visa Plan Is Back > Kyrgyzstan has revived plans for a single Central Asia visa backed by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Here is what the Silk Road visa could mean for travellers. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/central-asia-single-visa-plan-2026 - Published: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan, Visas, Travel Updates, South East Asia, Backpacking, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- TL;DR: Kyrgyzstan has revived the idea of a single Silk Road visa that would cover Central Asia the way Schengen covers Europe, letting you visit several countries on one permit instead of chasing a separate visa for each. Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are backing it, with Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan named as possibles. It is still only a political discussion, with no agreement, no launch date and no application yet, so do not plan a trip around it. The bigger takeaway for travellers is that Central Asia is already easy and cheap to reach, and it works brilliantly as a low cost stepping stone on the way east into Southeast Asia. Central Asia has always had a paperwork problem. The scenery is the stuff of bucket lists, the tiled cities of the old Silk Road, the high passes of Kyrgyzstan, the deserts of Turkmenistan, but stitching a multi country trip together has meant juggling a different visa, a different rulebook and sometimes a letter of invitation for each border. That is exactly the friction the region is now trying to remove. Kyrgyzstan has put a single Central Asia visa back on the table, and if it ever lands it could open the whole region up to travellers in one move. Here is where the plan actually stands, and why the region is worth putting on your route even before any of it happens. ![The Registan in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, its turquoise dome and gold-tiled madrasah lit by low sun against a deep blue sky | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/ca-registan.webp) ## What is the Central Asia single visa plan? It is a proposal for one shared tourist visa that would let travellers move between the Central Asian countries on a single authorisation, rather than applying separately for each. The comparison everyone reaches for is the Schengen Area, where one visa covers most of Europe, and the working nickname for the Central Asian version is the Silk Road visa. Kyrgyzstan first floated the idea in early 2025, and it picked up fresh momentum in mid 2026 when it was raised again at a regional summit. The goal is simple: make the region easier to sell as a single destination, so a visitor books Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan as one holiday instead of being put off by the admin. For now this is a direction of travel, not a product you can buy. There is no agreed scheme, no working group, no roadmap and no application process, which is the honest headline you will not always see. If you want to follow the politics as it develops, [Eurasianet's Central Asia coverage](https://eurasianet.org/) is tracking it closely. ## Which countries are backing the Silk Road visa? Three countries are driving it and a few more are watching from the sidelines. The core supporters are the ones already easiest to visit. - Kyrgyzstan: the country pushing the plan hardest. President Sadyr Japarov used a July 2026 regional summit to call on the countries' foreign ministries to step up consultations and work toward a coordinated position. - Kazakhstan: the region's biggest economy and busiest air hub, and a confirmed backer of the single visa idea. - Uzbekistan: home to the headline Silk Road cities of Samarkand, Bukhara and Khiva, and the third confirmed supporter. - Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan: named as possible future participants rather than confirmed members. Turkmenistan is the big question mark, because its entry rules are far stricter than its neighbours' and bringing it into a shared visa would be the hardest part of the whole plan. That gap in entry policy is the core challenge. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan already wave a lot of nationalities in with no visa at all, while Turkmenistan still leans on invitations and tightly controlled permits. Before any single visa can work, the countries have to agree on who is eligible, how long it lasts, how many entries it allows, how border data is shared and how much it costs. None of that is settled. ## When could a single Central Asia visa actually launch? There is no launch date, and it would be a mistake to plan a trip around one. The initiative is still at the discussion stage: leaders have agreed it is a good idea in principle and asked officials to keep talking, which is a long way from a signed agreement. The next regional leaders' meeting is scheduled for October 2026 in Turkmenistan, but there is no firm sign the single visa will even be on the formal agenda, let alone finalised there. Realistically this is a multi year project, the kind of thing that gets announced, stalls, and gets announced again. Treat it as a promising signal to watch, not a plan to book flights around. ## What would it mean for travellers and backpackers? For anyone who likes to travel slowly across a whole region, it would be a genuine unlock. Right now a classic Central Asia loop, say Almaty in Kazakhstan, then the mountains and lakes of Kyrgyzstan, then the tiled cities of Uzbekistan, means lining up the right visa or visa free window for each country and hoping the timings work. A single Silk Road permit would collapse all of that into one application, which is the single biggest thing standing between the region and a lot more visitors. It would especially suit backpackers and long stay travellers, the people most likely to want three or four countries in one trip rather than a single city break. It also fits a much wider pattern. Across Asia, governments are competing to make entry easier, from [Cambodia opening up visa free travel](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cambodia-visa-free-china-2026) to the spread of digital arrival cards and long stay nomad routes. A Central Asian single visa would be this region's version of the same race, and that competition almost always works in travellers' favour. ![A green mountain valley in Kyrgyzstan with a road winding through the base of the peaks under a bright blue sky | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/ca-kyrgyz.webp) ## Why Central Asia is becoming a new gateway to Southeast Asia Here is the part that matters even if the single visa never happens. Central Asia has quietly turned into one of the cheapest and most interesting ways to get from Europe towards Asia, which makes it a natural first leg on a longer trip east. Budget airlines have flooded into the region from Europe, so flights into Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan are often a fraction of what you would pay to fly straight to Bangkok. You land somewhere genuinely different, spend a week or two on the Silk Road, and then continue east rather than treating it as a detour. From Central Asia the onward hop into Southeast Asia is straightforward. Regional carriers such as Air Astana and Uzbekistan Airways run links from hubs like Almaty and Tashkent toward Southeast Asian gateways including Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur, and one stop routings through the Gulf or China are common and cheap. Once you are in Bangkok or KL you are on the doorstep of everything else, and our roundup of [cheap flights into Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/flights-to-southeast-asia-april-2026) covers the onward legs. Airline schedules in this part of the world change often, so always check live routes before you build an itinerary around a specific flight. The overland romance is real too. Central Asia sits on the historic Silk Road that ran all the way to China and beyond, and while you cannot simply drive border to border into Southeast Asia, the region works beautifully as the middle chapter of a big Europe to Asia overland trip. If you are weighing the two ends of that journey against each other, our comparison of [travelling Europe versus Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-vs-southeast-asia-travel) is a useful gut check. ![An airport departures board listing Southeast Asian destinations including Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh, Penang and Kuala Lumpur | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/ca-departures.webp) ## How do you visit Central Asia right now? You do not need to wait for a single visa, because the three core countries are already some of the easiest in Asia to enter. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan let many nationalities, including UK, EU and US passport holders, in with no visa at all for stays of roughly 30 to 60 days depending on the country, and Kyrgyzstan in particular is very generous. Tajikistan runs a simple e visa. Turkmenistan is the outlier that still requires a proper visa, usually a transit visa or one tied to a tour, so plan that leg carefully or leave it out. Because the rules differ by country and change fairly often, check each one before you fly rather than assuming the region is uniform. The traveller focused visa guides at [Caravanistan](https://caravanistan.com/visa/) are the long standing go to for exactly this, with up to date country by country detail. If you are the sort of person eyeing this region as a base rather than a quick trip, it is also worth reading up on [the digital nomad visa landscape](https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-digital-nomad-visas-2026) and, if you plan to end up further east, [Thailand's long stay DTV visa](https://budgetbro.app/blog/dtvvisaguidethailand). ## Frequently Asked Questions About the Central Asia Single Visa: ### Is there a single Central Asia visa yet? No. As of 2026 it is only a proposal that Kyrgyzstan has revived, backed by Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. There is no agreed scheme, no launch date and no way to apply. You still enter each Central Asian country under its own rules for now. ### Which countries would the Silk Road visa cover? The confirmed backers are Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan have been named as possible future participants, but none is committed, and Turkmenistan's much stricter entry rules make it the hardest country to fold into a shared visa. ### Do UK, US or EU travellers need a visa for Central Asia now? For the three core countries, usually not. Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan grant visa free entry to many nationalities, including UK, EU and US passport holders, for stays of around 30 to 60 days depending on the country. Tajikistan uses an e visa, and Turkmenistan still requires a full visa. Always confirm the current rule for your passport before you travel. ### Can you travel from Central Asia on to Southeast Asia? Yes, and it is a popular way to do it. Central Asia is cheap to reach from Europe, and carriers such as Air Astana and Uzbekistan Airways, plus one stop routings through the Gulf or China, connect hubs like Almaty and Tashkent to Southeast Asian gateways including Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. It works well as the first leg of a longer trip east. ### When will the Central Asia single visa launch? There is no confirmed date. The idea is still being discussed by regional leaders, who have asked their foreign ministries to keep working on it. The next leaders' meeting is due in October 2026 in Turkmenistan, but there is no guarantee the single visa will be finalised, or even formally on the agenda. Treat it as a plan to watch rather than one to rely on. Whether or not the Silk Road visa ever arrives, Central Asia is one of the best value regions in the world to travel right now, and an easy on ramp to the rest of Asia. The one thing that catches people out is the money side: you will be hopping between the tenge, the som, the Uzbek sum and, before long, the baht, so keeping a clear picture of your spending across currencies matters. BudgetBro helps backpackers and long stay travellers track money across more than 160 currencies and see exactly where every note is going, from Bishkek to Bangkok. If you are wondering whether that is worth an app at all, here is [our honest take on travel budgeting apps](https://budgetbro.app/blog/do-you-need-a-travel-budgeting-app). Visa rules change often, so always confirm current requirements with an official source before you book. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Eurovision Bulgaria 2027 in Burgas: A Budget Guide > Eurovision heads to Burgas in Bulgaria on 15th May 2027. How to do the whole trip on a budget: cheap flights, where to stay, tickets and the free fan events. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/eurovision-2027-burgas-budget-guide - Published: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Eurovision, Bulgaria, Burgas, Europe, Budget, 2027 - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- TL;DR: Bulgaria won Eurovision in 2026 and will host the 71st contest in Burgas, a Black Sea beach city, in May 2027. The two Semi-Finals are on Tuesday 11 and Thursday 13 May, with the Grand Final on Saturday 15 May at Arena Burgas. It is genuinely one of the cheapest host cities Eurovision has ever had: budget airlines fly to Burgas Airport direct from the UK, a bed can cost less than a Wetherspoons round, a big beer runs about two euros, and the fan zone screenings are free. Register free as a Eurofan now, because tickets are expected to go on sale around December 2026 to January 2027 and Burgas is a small arena. For the first time in its history, Bulgaria is hosting Eurovision, and it has picked Burgas over the capital Sofia. That matters if you are watching the budget, because Burgas is a proper summer-holiday town on the Black Sea, so it comes with cheap flights, cheap food and a wall of nearby beach resorts and old towns to sleep in. As [the EBU confirmed](https://www.ebu.ch/news/2026/08/burgas-to-host-eurovision-song-contest-2027), the contest lands at the brand new Arena Burgas in May 2027. This is your plan for doing the whole thing without the price tag that Basel, Malmo or Vienna carried. ## Where is Eurovision 2027 being held? Eurovision 2027 is being held at Arena Burgas, on the Black Sea coast of Bulgaria. Burgas is the country's fourth largest city, roughly 400km east of Sofia and less than 150km south of Varna. The arena opened in 2023, holds up to around 15,000 for a concert (fewer for Eurovision once the stage and cameras eat into the floor), and sits close to the city centre with buses and taxis to hand. The full run of shows is Semi-Final 1 on Tuesday 11 May, Semi-Final 2 on Thursday 13 May, and the Grand Final on Saturday 15 May 2027, with six extra preview shows (afternoon and evening dress rehearsals) dotted through the same week. The official host details live on the [Bulgarian broadcaster's Eurovision 2027 site](https://eurovision2027.bg/?lang=en). ![A packed arena lit with coloured lights and confetti during a live music show, the atmosphere Eurovision brings to its host city | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/a-packed-arena-lit-with-coloured-lights-and-confetti-during-a-live-music-show-th.webp) ## How can you get to Burgas on a budget? Fly direct into Burgas Airport, code BOJ, which is only about 10km from the city centre. This is the good news for anyone coming from the UK: Burgas is a mass-market summer beach destination, so Ryanair, Wizz Air, Jet2, easyJet and TUI already run direct seasonal flights, and May is right at the start of that season. Wizz Air flies London Luton to Burgas in about three hours, and there are usually several direct UK departures a day once summer schedules kick in. Book the moment your dates are locked, because Eurovision week will be the one time all year those seats are not cheap if you leave it late. To put real numbers on it, here is what UK to Burgas looks like right now. Off-peak returns are almost comically cheap: comparison sites like [Skyscanner](https://www.skyscanner.net/routes/lond/boj/london-to-bourgas.html) and [Google Flights](https://www.google.com/travel/flights/flights-to-burgas.html) currently show London to Burgas returns from around 40 pounds, Edinburgh from roughly 50 to 70 pounds, and Manchester from about 70 to 100 pounds, with Jet2 and Wizz Air running the most seats. Those are summer-season lows, not Eurovision week, so treat them as the floor. The contest dates in May 2027 are only just opening for booking and will sit well above these bargains, which is exactly why getting your flights locked early is the single biggest saving you can make. From the airport, a local bus or a short taxi gets you into town or out to the beach resorts. If you are pairing Eurovision with a wider trip, remember Bulgaria is in the EU and the Schengen area now, so the same rules apply as the rest of the bloc. UK travellers should check whether [ETIAS is in force by your travel date](https://budgetbro.app/blog/etias-europe-uk-travellers-2026). ![A festival crowd facing a bright stage at night, the kind of live-show energy fans travel to Eurovision for | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/a-festival-crowd-facing-a-bright-stage-at-night-the-kind-of-live-show-energy-fan.webp) ## Where should you stay in Burgas for Eurovision? As expected, Booking.com's availability has already spiked with the remaining properties being really expensive. Many people book for the following year as soon as the winner is revealed with estimated dates. After the official venue announcement, many people change their plans, as to once tickets have been released and they're not successful so it is worth booking a (flexible or cheap flight) if it comes up first. Outside Eurovision week, Burgas is one of the best-value coastal cities in Europe: hostel dorm beds often sit around 15 to 20 euros a night and a simple three-star double can be had for well under 60 euros, though you should expect those numbers to climb for the contest dates. The smart budget move is to widen your search beyond the city itself, you could also consider Couchsurfing. Burgas is ringed by cheaper places to sleep. Sunny Beach, Bulgaria's biggest resort strip, is roughly 30 to 40km up the coast and is packed with budget apartments and party hostels. The old towns of Nessebar and Sozopol sit a similar distance either side and are gorgeous, cobbled and full of guesthouses. As long as you can get a bus or a cheap taxi back after the show, staying out of the centre can halve your accommodation bill. Whatever you book, get free cancellation so you can rebook if the price drops closer to the date. ![The rocky Black Sea shoreline near Burgas in Bulgaria on a clear summer day, close to the 2027 Eurovision host city | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/the-rocky-black-sea-shoreline-near-burgas-in-bulgaria-on-a-clear-summer-day-clos.webp) ## How much do Eurovision 2027 tickets cost and when do they go on sale? Tickets are expected to go on sale between December 2026 and January 2027 however, the only way to get in the queue is to register free as a Eurofan first. Registration is free, gives you access to the sale, and is the single most important thing to do right now. Sign up through the [official Eurovision tickets page](https://eurovision.com/) and watch your inbox for the on-sale date. On price, use recent contests as your guide until Burgas confirms its own bands. Grand Final live-show seats have run from roughly 60 euros at the back up to 350 euros or more for the best seats. Semi-Final live shows have sat in the rough range of 50 to 260 euros. The budget hack Eurovision veterans swear by: the cheapest tickets in the building are not the Saturday final at all. The afternoon dress rehearsals (called preview shows) can start around 20 to 30 euros, and you see the same staging and the same performances as the televised show. A Semi-Final or a preview show is the budget traveller's way into the arena. ## What free Eurovision events will there be in Burgas? The biggest one is the Eurovision Village, and it is free to get in. Every host city builds an open-air fan zone with a stage, live concerts from current and past Eurovision acts, DJs, food and drink stalls, and giant screens that broadcast all three live shows. If you cannot get or cannot afford an arena ticket, the Village is where thousands of fans watch the Semi-Finals and the Grand Final together, and it usually runs for about a week. There is normally a turquoise carpet opening event too, where the artists arrive and fans line the route for free. Two things that are not free, so budget for them separately: EuroClub, the official nightly after-party where fans meet delegations and artists, is a ticketed event, and the arena tickets above. But between the free Village screenings, the turquoise carpet, and simply wandering a Black Sea city that will be decked out for Eurovision, you can have a full, brilliant week for the cost of flights, a bed and food. ## What will a Eurovision trip to Burgas actually cost? Cheaper than you think, and here is where Bulgaria being on the euro helps. Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1 January 2026, so next year you will pay in euros with no currency swap and no exchange fees from the eurozone. Day to day, Burgas is one of the cheapest cities on the continent: a large beer at a beach bar is around two euros, a one-way local bus ticket is under one euro, a taxi starts at roughly one euro, and a proper sit-down meal costs a fraction of Western Europe. A realistic no-arena-ticket week (return budget flight, a cheap dorm or shared apartment, the free Village every night, eating and drinking well) can come in well under a big-city weekend back home. The trap with a trip like this is a hundred small euro spends that quietly add up: the airport taxi, the round in the Village, the day trip to Nessebar, the late-night kebab. That is exactly what BudgetBro is built for. Set a trip budget before you fly, log every spend in seconds as you go, and watch your Travel Runway so you always know how many days of money you have left. It handles euros and 160 plus other currencies, works offline in a crowded fan zone, and keeps the whole week honest. It is also worth sorting cover before you travel: read our guide to the [GHIC card for healthcare in the EU](https://budgetbro.app/blog/travel-insurance-ghic-ehic-card) and our pick of the [best travel insurance for UK to Europe trips](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-uk-europe-trips). ## What is there to do in Burgas around Eurovision? You are not just flying in for three shows in an arena, and the [official Eurovision host city guide](https://www.eurovision.com/stories/host-city-guide-burgas-2027/) leans right into that. Burgas is a proper Black Sea holiday city built around the Sea Garden, a long seafront park that runs the length of the town down to the beach, lined with cafes, sculptures and free open space that is perfect for killing time between shows. The town beach sits directly below it, so you can go from a morning swim to an afternoon in the fan zone without spending a euro on transport. The real budget move is the day trips, because Burgas is ringed by the prettiest spots on the coast and they are all a short, cheap bus ride away. Nessebar, a UNESCO World Heritage old town of wooden houses and ancient churches on a tiny peninsula, is about half an hour north. Sozopol, an artier cobbled old town, sits a similar distance south. Sunny Beach, the big party-resort strip, is just up the coast for cheap drinks and late nights, and birdwatchers can head to the Burgas lakes and the Poda reserve on the edge of town, one of the best migration spots in Europe. A week here can be as much beach-and-old-town holiday as Eurovision, which is exactly why it is such good value. Keeping a festival trip on budget is far easier with an app that converts every lev and euro as you spend. See how [BudgetBro compares to TravelSpend](https://budgetbro.app/alternatives/travelspend) for travellers watching their money on the road. ### Other Frequently Asked Questions About Eurovision 2027 in Burgas ### When is Eurovision 2027? The 71st Eurovision Song Contest takes place across three live shows in Burgas: Semi-Final 1 on Tuesday 11 May 2027, Semi-Final 2 on Thursday 13 May 2027, and the Grand Final on Saturday 15 May 2027, plus six preview (dress rehearsal) shows during the same week. ### Why is Bulgaria hosting Eurovision 2027? Bulgaria won the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna, and the winning country gets the right to host the following year. Bulgaria's national broadcaster chose Burgas over the capital Sofia, so it is Bulgaria's first time hosting the contest. ### How can I get to Burgas from the UK? Fly direct to Burgas Airport (BOJ), which is about 10km from the city. Ryanair, Wizz Air, Jet2, easyJet and TUI run direct seasonal flights from the UK, and May is the start of that season. Wizz Air's London Luton service takes around three hours. Book early, as Eurovision week is the one time those fares spike. ### How much are Eurovision 2027 tickets? Burgas has not confirmed its bands yet, but recent contests are a fair guide: Grand Final seats from roughly 60 euros up to 350 euros or more, Semi-Final live shows in the rough range of 50 to 260 euros, and the cheapest way in is an afternoon preview (dress rehearsal) show, which can start around 20 to 30 euros for the same staging. ### When do Eurovision 2027 tickets go on sale? Tickets are expected to go on sale around December 2026 to January 2027. To buy them you must register in advance as a free Eurofan, which puts you in the queue when the sale opens. Register now on the official Eurovision tickets page. ### Can I watch Eurovision in Burgas for free? Yes. The Eurovision Village is a free, open-air fan zone with a stage, live acts and giant screens that broadcast all three live shows, so you can watch the Semi-Finals and the Grand Final with thousands of other fans without an arena ticket. The turquoise carpet opening event is usually free to watch too. ### What currency does Bulgaria use in 2027? The euro. Bulgaria adopted the euro on 1st January 2026, replacing the Lev, so by Eurovision in May 2027 you will pay in euros. For eurozone travellers that means no currency exchange, and Burgas remains one of the cheapest cities in Europe for food, drink and transport. ### What is there to do in Burgas besides Eurovision? Plenty. Burgas is a Black Sea holiday city, so between shows you can walk the Sea Garden seafront park, swim at the town beach, and eat cheaply along the front. The best days out are the short bus rides to Nessebar, a UNESCO World Heritage old town about 30km north, the cobbled old town of Sozopol to the south, and the Sunny Beach resort strip for cheap nightlife. ### How big is Arena Burgas? Arena Burgas opened in 2023 and holds up to around 15,000 people for a concert, though the Eurovision stage, floor and cameras reduce that for the contest. It is one of Bulgaria's newest and largest indoor arenas, sits close to the city centre, and is reachable by local bus or a short taxi. Eurovision has quietly handed budget travellers a gift for 2027: the biggest live show in Europe, in one of its cheapest beach cities, at the start of summer. Register as a Eurofan today so you are ready when tickets drop, book flights and a bed the moment your dates are set, and let BudgetBro keep the euro spends in check so the only thing you overspend on is douze points. Dates and ticket details can still shift, so confirm the latest on the [official Eurovision 2027 Bulgaria site](https://eurovision2027.bg/?lang=en) or check back here. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Is Malaysia the Digital Nomad Hotspot for 2026? > Malaysia topped a 2026 relocation index for digital nomads. Here is why, plus the Bali tourist-visa crackdown and Thailand's proposed tourist fee. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/malaysia-digital-nomad-hotspot-2026 - Published: 2026-08-12 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Malaysia, Digital Nomad, Thailand, Remote Work, Visas, Backpacking - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Malaysia came top of a 2026 global table for digital nomads, reported by Time Out, ahead of Portugal and Thailand. It scores well on cost of living, digital infrastructure, a friendly tax setup for income from overseas clients, and a proper one-year nomad visa called the DE Rantau Nomad Pass. The bigger reason it is having a moment, though, is timing: while Malaysia rolls out the welcome mat, Bali is deporting influencers and Thailand is floating new fees. Here is the full picture. Every January a new crop of "best countries for digital nomads" lists lands, and most of them say the same handful of names. This year one result stood out. A global relocation index for 2026, assessed across 192 countries and reported by Time Out, put Malaysia in first place for remote workers, above the usual front-runners. So is it real, or is it just another ranking? And what does it actually mean for where you set up in 2026? ![The Petronas Twin Towers lit up above the Kuala Lumpur skyline at dusk, with the KLCC park and city lights below | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/my-hero.webp) ## Why did Malaysia come out on top? The index weighed living costs, tax rules, safety and visa access, then adjusted the weighting for remote workers, families and retirees. Malaysia scored highly on the things that matter most to someone working online from abroad: - A strong digital infrastructure score, one of the highest in the ranking, so fast, reliable internet is a given rather than a gamble. - A low cost of living paired with a warm climate year round. - A favourable tax treatment for income earned from clients based outside Malaysia. - The [DE Rantau Nomad Pass](https://mdec.my/derantau), a dedicated digital nomad visa that lets you live and work legally for up to a year without leaning on a tourist stamp. Kuala Lumpur gives you a big, modern, English-speaking capital with coworking spaces on tap, while Penang and the islands offer a slower, cheaper base. It is genuinely easy to arrive, get online and start working the same day. ![Three remote workers laughing together over their laptops at a shared table in a cafe | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/my-nomads.webp) It is not flawless. The same index gave Malaysia a low score on business opportunity, which matters if you are trying to build a company on the ground rather than serve clients back home. For a location-independent freelancer or salaried remote worker, that is a minor gripe. For a founder wanting to hire and raise locally, it is worth weighing. ## Who else made the top 10? Malaysia led a list stacked with familiar European and Asian names. The full 2026 top 10, as reported, was: 1. Malaysia 2. Portugal 3. Thailand 4. Georgia 5. Taiwan 6. Estonia 7. United Arab Emirates 8. Spain 9. Croatia 10. Lithuania Portugal took second on the strength of its established Digital Nomad Visa, and Thailand third thanks to its long-stay Destination Thailand Visa. You can read the [original Time Out ranking](https://www.timeout.com) for the full methodology. What is telling is who is not climbing: Indonesia, home of Bali, the poster child of nomad life for a decade, and that is where the story gets interesting. ## So where are nomads actually based right now? That gap between a ranking and reality is worth pausing on. A relocation index measures how well a country is set up for remote workers. It does not tell you where they have actually pitched up. For that, the community tracker at nomads.com is a better gauge, since it counts where members are currently checked in. Its ten busiest hotspots condense into nine countries, ranked here by the number of nomads based there now: 1. Thailand, around 36,000 nomads there now. 2. Spain, around 19,800. 3. Germany, around 13,800. 4. United Kingdom, around 13,200. 5. Vietnam, around 12,600. 6. Georgia, around 12,600. 7. South Korea, around 8,400. 8. Japan, around 7,200. 9. Indonesia, around 4,800. Malaysia does not appear on that live list yet, and that is rather the point. The busiest spots are the ones that have been on the nomad trail for years, while Malaysia is the newer option. With a proper one-year visa and low costs, it is well placed to absorb the spillover as the established bases grow busier, pricier and stricter. Bali is the clearest example of that pressure. ## Meanwhile in Bali: a cautionary tale If Malaysia is the country rolling out the welcome mat, Bali in 2026 is the one tightening the rules, and doing it loudly. The flashpoint was a running club. A viral "silent disco" run organised by Entourage Bali in Canggu drew fierce criticism after social media users claimed Indonesians could not get tickets while foreign applicants sailed through. In late July 2026 the two Dutch founders left Indonesia for Singapore, and the country's Director-General of Immigration confirmed they would not be allowed back in, accusing the operation of running as "a state within a state". ![The Ulun Danu Beratan temple reflected in the still water of a lake in Bali, Indonesia, in soft morning light | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/my-bali.webp) The run club was the headline, but it sits inside a much wider crackdown. A dedicated immigration task force formed in April 2026 has been policing the nomad hotspots of Canggu, Ubud, Seminyak and Uluwatu, both online and on the ground. Within its first few weeks it detained dozens of influencers and content creators, handing out fines, deportations and in some cases long-term bans on re-entry. The line Indonesian authorities keep drawing is about the visa, not the work itself. On a standard tourist visa, immigration says the following can all count as illegal work: - Creating sponsored posts or partnering with brands. - Taking part in photo or video shoots and marketing campaigns. - Accepting free stays or meals from hotels and restaurants in exchange for coverage. - Any content creation for commercial purposes, even when it is unpaid. Officials have been clear they are not trying to shut creators out, and have pointed to specialist permits as the proper route for people whose work follows them to Bali. The takeaway for nomads is blunt: the era of quietly monetising from a tourist stamp is closing, and the countries that offer a real nomad visa, like Malaysia, suddenly look a lot more attractive than the ones improvising enforcement. ## And Thailand? New fees and a shorter welcome Thailand, third on the list, is not standing still either. Two changes are on the table for 2026, and both nudge travellers to plan ahead. The first is a long-delayed tourist entry fee. Under the most recent proposal, air arrivals would pay 300 baht, of which roughly 70 baht goes towards travel medical and accident insurance from the moment you land, with the rest funding tourism facilities, road safety and beach cleanups. An earlier 150-baht charge for land and sea crossings has been shelved to avoid penalising day-trippers from neighbouring countries. As of writing the fee has in-principle Cabinet approval but no confirmed start date, so treat it as proposed rather than live. The second is a possible trim to the visa-free stay. Thailand extended visa-free entry to 60 days in 2024, but amid rising unpaid hospital bills the government has signalled it may pull that back to 30 days. Nothing is finalised, but if you are planning a long Thailand stint it is worth watching, and worth knowing your longer-term options. Our [guide to Thailand's tourist tax](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-to-introduce-tourist-tax) covers the fee in more detail. ## So, is Malaysia the 2026 hotspot? On the numbers, and on the mood, yes. Malaysia pairs a genuine one-year nomad visa with low costs, strong internet and a light-touch tax setup, exactly as the region's two biggest names get harder to base yourself in on a whim. Bali is enforcing its visa lines hard, and Thailand is adding fees and floating shorter stays. A country that gives you a clear, legal way to stay and work for a year is worth a lot in that climate. None of this makes Bali or Thailand "bad", they are still brilliant places to live and work. It makes the case for doing it properly: pick a base whose visa is designed for remote work, and keep an eye on the rules, because in 2026 they are the thing changing fastest. ## How does the region compare? Malaysia is not the only story in the region. Thailand still runs one of the most established digital nomad scenes in the world, and we have full walkthroughs of [the Thailand DTV visa](https://budgetbro.app/blog/dtvvisaguidethailand) and [Thailand's visa-free changes](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-visa-free-changes). The point is not that one country wins forever. It is that the rules are moving fast, and the smart play for 2026 is to pick a base whose visa is built for remote work rather than one you have to bend a tourist stamp around. More reading to help you plan: [Is Malaysia the Digital Nomad Hotspot for 2026?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/jb-to-kl-train-malaysia), from the BudgetBro blog. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Does Malaysia have a digital nomad visa? Yes. The DE Rantau Nomad Pass lets eligible remote workers and freelancers live and work in Malaysia legally for up to a year, with the option to renew, rather than relying on a tourist entry. It is one of the main reasons Malaysia scored so well in the 2026 ranking. ### Why is Bali cracking down on influencers? Indonesia is not banning content creation, it is enforcing the rules on which visa you use to do it. Creating sponsored posts, doing brand collaborations, joining photo or video shoots, or accepting free stays and meals for coverage can all count as work, and doing that on a tourist visa is a breach. A task force formed in 2026 has been detaining, fining and deporting people who cross that line, so creators are being told to use the proper permits instead. ### Is Thailand introducing a tourist fee in 2026? It is proposed but not yet in force. The most recent plan is a 300-baht fee for air arrivals, part of which covers travel insurance from the moment you enter, with the rest funding tourism and safety. It has in-principle Cabinet approval but no confirmed start date, so check the latest before you travel. ### Is Malaysia cheaper than Bali or Thailand for nomads? Broadly, Malaysia is very competitive on cost of living, and Kuala Lumpur can work out cheaper than a trendy Canggu or a central Bangkok base once you factor in rent and coworking. Costs vary a lot by city and lifestyle, so the bigger differentiator for 2026 is the legal certainty of the nomad visa rather than a few dollars a day. Wherever you base yourself in 2026, the money side is the same job everywhere: know what you are spending and stay ahead of it. BudgetBro helps backpackers and long-stay nomads track spending across more than 160 currencies and set a trip budget for Malaysia, Thailand, Bali or anywhere else. Visa and entry rules change often, so always confirm the latest requirements with official sources before you book. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Cheapest Flights to Asia August > Flying from the UK to Asia this month? Or for September 2026? The cheapest airlines, direct options and budget layover routes from every major UK airport. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheapest-flights-asia-august - Published: 2026-08-12 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: UK, Thailand, Bangkok, Flights, Cheap Flights, Asia, South East Asia, Backpacking, Travel Updates - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- The cheapest way to fly from the UK to Bangkok in late 2026 is a one stop economy return from London, from around 430 to 550 pounds, on Turkish Airlines via Istanbul, Gulf Air via Bahrain, Saudia via Riyadh, or a Chinese carrier. Only London Heathrow has a nonstop flight to Bangkok, on Thai Airways and EVA Air, from roughly 600 to 850 pounds return. September is much cheaper than August: August is peak school holiday pricing, while September is shoulder season and one of the two cheapest months of the year to fly to Thailand. This is our monthly round up of the cheapest flights from the UK to Bangkok and the rest of Asia. Below you will find fares from every major UK airport, the direct options, the best value budget routes with a layover, and a snapshot of what the rest of the region costs right now. All prices are indicative return economy fares gathered from Skyscanner, Google Flights, momondo and airline sites, so treat them as a guide and always confirm live before you book. ## What is happening with UK to Bangkok flights right now? Two things are shaping fares this month: seasonality and airspace. September is one of the cheapest months of the year to reach Thailand, so if your dates are flexible, pushing a late August trip into September can knock 150 pounds or more off a return. On the disruption side, airspace closures across parts of the Middle East earlier in 2026 have pushed some London to Bangkok services to reroute or retime, which makes Gulf hub routings run a little longer and keeps pricing volatile week to week. The practical takeaway: book a flexible or refundable fare where you can, and double check total journey time, not just price, before you commit. ## What is the cheapest way to fly from the UK to Bangkok? The cheapest fares are almost always a single stop through a Middle Eastern, Turkish, or Asian hub rather than a nonstop. As a rule, a hub carrier undercuts a direct flight by 100 to 300 pounds. These are the routings to search first, cheapest hub first: - Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. Frequently the outright cheapest, from around 430 pounds return, and its free Touristanbul stopover programme can turn a long layover into a free city tour or hotel night. - Bahrain with Gulf Air. Consistently among the lowest fares from London, often 440 to 520 pounds, and offers short stopover hotel deals. - Riyadh or Jeddah with Saudia. Regularly one of the cheapest options overall, from around 450 pounds, with a free Saudi stopover you can add at booking. - Chinese hubs with China Southern, China Eastern or Air China. The cheapest of all if you do not mind a longer journey, sometimes under 450 pounds, usually via Guangzhou, Shanghai or Beijing. - Doha with Qatar Airways or Dubai with Emirates. Pricier at 550 to 750 pounds but faster, more reliable and higher rated when you want comfort over rock bottom cost. - Delhi with Air India, or a European hub with KLM, Finnair or Lufthansa. Solid mid table options, useful from regional UK airports because they connect through Amsterdam, Helsinki, Frankfurt or Delhi. A long layover is not automatically a bad thing. If you pick the right hub you can bank a free stopover and break up the journey. We covered how to make the most of that in our guide to [doing a long haul layover like a pro](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-to-do-a-long-haul-layover), and our tips for [surviving a long haul flight](https://budgetbro.app/blog/survive-long-haul-flights) if the cheap 20 hour routing is calling. ## Which airlines fly direct from the UK to Bangkok, and what do they cost? Only London Heathrow has a nonstop flight to Bangkok, operated by Thai Airways and EVA Air. Expect around 600 to 850 pounds for a nonstop economy return, climbing higher over Christmas and the summer peak. The flight takes roughly 11 hours 35 minutes. British Airways also serves Bangkok, but from London Gatwick rather than Heathrow, having resumed the route in early 2026. No other UK airport has a direct Bangkok flight, so from anywhere outside London you will always connect. Here is the direct picture at a glance: - Thai Airways, London Heathrow to Bangkok. Nonstop, around 11h 35m, the flag carrier option with the best on time record on the route. - EVA Air, London Heathrow to Bangkok. Nonstop, similar timing, consistently strong reviews and the highest demand on the route. - British Airways, London Gatwick to Bangkok. Direct from Gatwick rather than Heathrow, worth checking if you are south of London. If a nonstop matters to you, price it against a one stop Qatar Airways or Emirates fare before booking. You often pay only a little more for a Gulf carrier that adds a short, reliable stop with a far better onboard experience. ## What do flights to Bangkok cost from Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and other UK airports? Every UK airport outside London connects to Bangkok with at least one stop, and fares from the regions are usually only 50 to 150 pounds more than flying from London once you factor in the connection. Typical return economy fares for August and September 2026: - London (Heathrow, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton): cheapest and widest choice. Layover fares from around 430 to 550 pounds, nonstops from Heathrow from around 600 to 850 pounds. - Manchester: one stop via Istanbul, the Gulf or a European hub, from around 500 to 600 pounds return. - Birmingham: one stop, from around 450 to 550 pounds, often keenly priced via the Gulf or Delhi. - Edinburgh and Glasgow: one stop, from around 460 pounds return, usually via Istanbul, Doha or Amsterdam. - Bristol, Newcastle, Leeds Bradford: one or two stops, from around 500 to 620 pounds, most often routed through Amsterdam with KLM or Istanbul with Turkish Airlines. ## How much are flights to the rest of Asia from the UK right now? Bangkok is the natural gateway, but if your trip runs wider, here is what the other big Asian hubs cost from the UK for late 2026 travel, as indicative return economy fares: - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: from around 430 to 550 pounds. Great value and a strong onward hub for Borneo and Indonesia. - Singapore: from around 480 to 600 pounds. Pricier city, but Singapore Airlines and Scoot keep the airfare competitive. - Hong Kong: from around 450 to 560 pounds, one of the better value long haul fares from the UK at the moment. - Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam: from around 420 to 560 pounds, usually one stop via the Gulf or a Chinese hub. - Delhi, India: from around 400 to 520 pounds, often nonstop and one of the cheapest long haul fares out of the UK. - Bali (Denpasar), Indonesia: from around 520 to 700 pounds, always one or more stops, with September the cheapest month. - Tokyo, Japan: from around 530 to 700 pounds. Not the cheapest, but fares have softened compared with a year ago. A common budget trick is to fly into whichever regional hub is cheapest, then hop onward on a low cost Asian carrier such as AirAsia, Scoot, VietJet, Nok Air or Thai Lion Air. A cheap fare into Kuala Lumpur or Bangkok plus a 30 to 60 pound regional hop often beats a direct fare to a smaller city. ## When is the cheapest time to fly from the UK to Bangkok? The two cheapest months to fly to Thailand are May and September, and the whole low season from roughly May to October runs 30 to 50 percent below peak because of the monsoon. The most expensive windows are mid December to early January for Christmas and New Year, and July into August for the summer holidays. That is exactly why September prices in this month's round up look so much healthier than August. To squeeze a fare down further: - Book roughly six to eight weeks ahead. Around 40 days out is often the sweet spot for this route. - Fly midweek. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday departures are usually cheaper than weekends. - Stay flexible on dates and airport. A one or two day shift, or flying from London instead of your local airport, can move the price a lot. - Set a price alert on the route and let the fare come to you rather than booking on the first search. You can run all of this yourself for free on [Skyscanner](https://www.skyscanner.net/routes/lond/bkkt/london-to-bangkok.html) or [Google Flights](https://www.google.com/travel/flights), both of which let you compare a whole month and set alerts. Search the flexible or whole month view first to spot the cheapest departure day. When you are ready to book, you can search live fares across hundreds of airlines and agents in one place. Compare [London to Bangkok flights on Aviasales](https://www.aviasales.com/search/LONBKK?currency=gbp&locale=en), or if you are up north, [Manchester to Bangkok flights](https://www.aviasales.com/search/MANBKK?currency=gbp&locale=en). Set your dates to a midweek departure in the cheapest month and let the results sort by price. ## How do you keep the whole trip on budget, not just the flight? The flight is only the first line of the budget. Once you land, Thailand is cheap day to day, but currency, eSIM data, insurance and daily spending all add up if you do not track them. A few things worth sorting before you fly: - Data: grab an eSIM before you land so you are online at the airport. We compared the cheapest options in our guide to the best value Thailand eSIM. - Cover: do not fly without travel insurance, especially if you plan to ride a scooter. See our pick of the best travel insurance for Southeast Asia. - Entry: check the latest visa rules before you book, since Thailand has changed its visa free stay length and its longer stay DTV visa recently. Then track what you actually spend as you go. BudgetBro handles Thai baht alongside 160 plus currencies, converts each expense at the rate on the day you spent it, and works offline, so you can log a beer or a night bus the moment you pay and keep the trip honest. Read up first with our guides to the [cheapest Thailand eSIM](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailands-best-325-esim), the [best travel insurance for Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-southeast-asia-uk), the [latest Thailand visa free rules](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-visa-free-changes), and the [Thailand DTV visa for longer stays](https://budgetbro.app/blog/dtvvisaguidethailand). ![BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/bangkoktemple-budgetbro.webp) Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Cheapest Flights to Asia August](https://budgetbro.app/blog/free-airline-stopover-programmes), from the BudgetBro blog. ## Frequently Asked Questions About Cheap Flights to Thailand and South East Asia / Asia Flights: ### What is the cheapest month to fly from the UK to Bangkok? May and September are the two cheapest months, and the whole low season from May to October is 30 to 50 percent cheaper than peak because of the monsoon. The dearest windows are mid December to early January and July into August. For this round up, September is noticeably cheaper than August. ### Can you fly direct from the UK to Bangkok? Yes, but only from London Heathrow, on Thai Airways and EVA Air, taking around 11 hours 35 minutes. British Airways also flies Bangkok direct from London Gatwick. Every other UK airport connects with at least one stop. ### Which airline is cheapest from the UK to Bangkok? Turkish Airlines via Istanbul is frequently the cheapest, followed by Gulf Air via Bahrain, Saudia via Riyadh, and the Chinese carriers via Guangzhou, Shanghai or Beijing. Qatar Airways and Emirates cost more but are faster and higher rated. ### Which UK airport has the cheapest flights to Bangkok? London airports are cheapest and have the most choice, including the only nonstops. From the regions, Birmingham and Edinburgh often price well on one stop fares, typically 50 to 150 pounds more than flying from London once the connection is added. ### Is it cheaper to fly to Bangkok in August or September 2026? September is cheaper. August falls in the UK summer school holidays, which pushes fares up, while September is shoulder season and one of the cheapest months of the year to reach Thailand. Shifting a trip from late August into September can save 150 pounds or more on a return. Fares on this route move week to week, so use the numbers above as a benchmark rather than a fixed quote, and set an alert on [Skyscanner](https://www.skyscanner.net/routes/lond/bkkt/london-to-bangkok.html) or [Google Flights](https://www.google.com/travel/flights) for your exact dates. When you find your fare, plan the rest of the money side early, then let BudgetBro keep the whole trip on track across every currency you touch on the way. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Papua New Guinea's Arrival Card Is Now Mandatory Before You Fly > Papua New Guinea's PNGDAC digital arrival card is now mandatory before you fly. Here is who needs it, how to complete it free, and when to submit it. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/papua-new-guinea-digital-arrival-card - Published: 2026-08-11 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Papua New Guinea, Pacific, Visas, Digital Arrival Card, Travel Updates, Backpacking, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- TL;DR: Papua New Guinea, one of the least visited countries on earth, has made its digital arrival card, the PNGDAC, mandatory before you fly. Since August 2026, airline check-in staff must confirm you have completed it before they issue your boarding pass, so you can no longer leave it until you land. It is free, you do it online at the official portal pngdac.ica.gov.pg, and you can submit it from 72 hours before arrival. Papua New Guinea is a country most travellers never reach. It sits just north of Australia, packs in more than 800 languages and some of the most remote highlands, reefs and rainforest anywhere on the planet, and yet it welcomes only a tiny fraction of the visitors its neighbours do. If you are one of the few planning to go, there is a new box to tick before you even get to the airport. Papua New Guinea has switched from the old paper arrival card to a digital one, the PNGDAC, and as of August 2026, you have to complete it before you fly, not on the plane. ![Papua New Guinea sing-sing performers in bright traditional face paint and woven headdresses at a cultural festival | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/png-singsing.webp) ## What is the Papua New Guinea Digital Arrival Card? The PNGDAC is Papua New Guinea's online arrival card. It replaces the paper form you used to fill in on the plane, and it lets the authorities collect your traveller information, trip details and mandatory entry declarations in advance. Papua New Guinea introduced it on 1 October 2025, and it has now moved from optional to compulsory. In one short online form you declare your personal and travel details, any goods you are carrying, your customs declarations, and the quarantine and health requirements that apply to your trip. Think of it as immigration, customs and biosecurity paperwork rolled into a single digital submission. ## When did the PNGDAC become mandatory? It became mandatory at check-in on 6 August 2026. That is the key change. The card was introduced back in October 2025, but from this August airlines and check-in staff must verify that you have completed it before they will issue your boarding pass. In practice that means you cannot board a flight to Papua New Guinea without it, and the old habit of filling in a card once you are in the air no longer works. If you turn up at the departure gate without a completed PNGDAC, you risk being turned away before you even leave, so it pays to have it sorted well before you travel. ## Who needs to complete the PNGDAC? Almost everyone arriving by air. You need to complete the PNGDAC if you are entering Papua New Guinea by air, and that includes far more than just tourists. - Visa holders: if you already hold a Papua New Guinea visa, you still complete the arrival card. - Visa on arrival travellers: if your nationality can get a visa on arrival, you complete the card as well. - Papua New Guinean citizens: returning nationals are not exempt and must complete it too. - Children and infants: each traveller needs their own declaration, so families complete a separate PNGDAC for every child and baby, not one for the group. For now the requirement covers air arrivals at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby, which is the country's main international gateway. Land and sea arrivals are not yet covered by the system, and crew members follow their own separate procedures. If you are flying into Port Moresby, assume it applies to you. ![A remote green island in Papua New Guinea ringed by clear turquoise water, with a small sailing canoe offshore | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/png-island.webp) ## How do you complete the PNGDAC? You do it online, for free, at the official portal [pngdac.ica.gov.pg](https://pngdac.ica.gov.pg/). You can submit it any time from 72 hours before you arrive, so the day before your flight is ideal. Once you are done you get a digital confirmation, which you can keep on your phone or print out to show on arrival. Have these details to hand before you start: - Your personal and passport information - Your travel details, including your flight and where you will be staying - Any goods you are carrying, for the customs declaration - The quarantine and health information the form asks for A couple of useful quirks. You can update your submission after you send it, right up until you present it to immigration, and if you submit more than once the most recent version is the one that counts, so a last minute change is not a problem. There are also digital kiosks at Port Moresby where you can complete it on arrival if you really have to, but with the card now checked at departure the authorities strongly encourage you to do it before you fly. Leaving it to a kiosk defeats the point, because you need it done before you can board. ![An aircraft wing above the clouds at sunset, on approach to a destination | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/tw-plane.webp) ## Do you still need a visa for Papua New Guinea? Yes. This is the part people get wrong with every digital arrival card, so it is worth being clear: the PNGDAC is not a visa and it is not entry authorisation. It is a customs, health and immigration declaration that sits alongside your visa. You still need to sort your visa through the normal process, whether that is a visa arranged in advance or a visa on arrival if your nationality qualifies, and then you complete the PNGDAC on top of it. Doing the arrival card does not grant you permission to enter, and holding a visa does not exempt you from the arrival card. You need both. ## Why go to one of the least visited countries on earth? Because it is genuinely unlike anywhere else. Papua New Guinea is consistently ranked among the least visited countries on the planet, receiving a tiny number of tourists compared with the crowds next door in Australia and Southeast Asia. That is exactly its appeal. It is home to more than 800 languages, roughly a tenth of all the languages on earth, and to cultures that meet at vast highland sing-sings like the Goroka and Mount Hagen shows, where hundreds of clans gather in feathers, shells and painted faces. Beyond the culture there is world class diving in Kimbe and Milne Bay, the punishing history of the Kokoda Track, and the misty peaks of the central highlands. None of this is a soft option. Papua New Guinea is remote, travel there is expensive and logistics take real planning, so it rewards travellers who do their homework rather than turn up on a whim. But if you want somewhere the guidebooks barely cover and the tour buses never reach, few places deliver like this. Getting the entry paperwork right, starting with the PNGDAC, is simply the first small step of a genuinely big trip. ## How does the PNGDAC compare with the rest of the region? It is part of a much wider shift. Across Asia and the Pacific, governments are moving arrival paperwork online so it is filled in before you travel rather than scrawled on a card mid-flight. We have full walkthroughs for the big ones, including the [China arrival card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-online-arrival-card), the [Vietnam digital arrival card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/vietnam-digital-arrival-card) and the [India e-Arrival Card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/india-e-arrival-card). The details differ from country to country, but the pattern that now includes Papua New Guinea is the same everywhere: do it online, do it before you travel, and keep the confirmation handy for the airport. ## *Frequently Asked Questions About the Papua New Guinea Arrival Card:* ### When can I submit the PNGDAC? From 72 hours before you arrive in Papua New Guinea. Because the card is now checked at check-in from 6 August 2026, complete it before you head to the airport rather than leaving it until you land. The day before your flight is a safe time to do it. ### How much does the Papua New Guinea arrival card cost? Nothing. The PNGDAC is completely free at the official portal, pngdac.ica.gov.pg. If a website asks you to pay to complete a Papua New Guinea arrival card, it is not the official one. ### Do I still need a visa as well as the PNGDAC? Yes. The PNGDAC is a customs and health declaration, not a visa or entry authorisation. You still need your visa, or a visa on arrival if your nationality qualifies, in addition to completing the arrival card. The two are separate and you need both. ### Which airports does the PNGDAC apply to? For now it covers air arrivals at Jacksons International Airport in Port Moresby, the country's main international gateway. Land and sea arrivals are not yet covered by the system, and crew members follow separate procedures. ### What if I cannot complete it before I fly? There are digital kiosks at Port Moresby where you can complete the card on arrival, but since it is now verified at check-in you generally need it done before you can board. The authorities strongly encourage completing it in advance online, so treat the kiosks as a fallback, not a plan. Sorting the PNGDAC a day or two early is one less thing to worry about on what is already a serious expedition, and the same goes for your money. Papua New Guinea runs on the kina, and if it is one leg of a bigger trip you will be juggling several currencies along the way. BudgetBro helps backpackers and long-stay travellers track spending across more than 160 currencies and set a trip budget so you always know where you stand, even somewhere this far off the map. If you are wondering whether that is worth an app at all, here is [our honest take on travel budgeting apps](https://budgetbro.app/blog/do-you-need-a-travel-budgeting-app). Entry rules can change, so always confirm the latest requirements at the [official PNGDAC portal](https://pngdac.ica.gov.pg/) before you travel. Backpacking across Asia and the Pacific? Get covered, see the [best travel insurance for travelling Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-southeast-asia-uk). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Nomad Conference and Fest > Business coaching, skill-sharing, and community building in the Irish countryside. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-conference-fest-ireland-2026 - Published: 2026-08-03 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- The Nomad Conference and Fest brings the remote-work community together in Kildare and Laois for a week focused on business coaching, skill-sharing, and community building. Expect hands-on sessions, peer masterminds, and plenty of space to connect with other location-independent founders and creators. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Arab Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/arab-nomad-fest-2026), [Swiss Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/swiss-nomad-fest-2026) and [Athens Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/athens-nomad-fest-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Feria de las Flores > Medellín's flower festival: ten days of parades and music, closing with the Desfile de Silleteros. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/feria-de-las-flores-medellin-2026 - Published: 2026-07-31 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- The Feria de las Flores turns Medellín into a ten-day celebration of flowers, music, parades and Paisa culture. The signature Desfile de Silleteros closes the festival, when hundreds of growers carry towering flower arrangements down from the hills of Santa Elena. It is a colourful time to visit one of Latin America's biggest nomad hubs. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027), [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026) and [Inti Raymi](https://budgetbro.app/blog/inti-raymi-cusco-2027). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Solar Eclipse 2026: Where to Watch in Europe > The 12 August 2026 total solar eclipse crossed Iceland and northern Spain. Here is how it went and where to see the next one on 2 August 2027. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/solar-eclipse-2026-where-to-watch-europe - Published: 2026-07-28 - Updated: 2026-08-17 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Solar Eclipse, Spain, Iceland, Europe, 2026, UK - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- On 12 August 2026 a total solar eclipse crossed Europe, the first over the mainland since 1999. The path of totality clipped western Iceland, then swept across northern Spain from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean and out over the Balearic Islands. Everywhere else in Europe saw a partial eclipse. In Spain totality landed in the evening with the Sun very low in the sky, so where you stood, and how clear your western horizon was, mattered more than usual. Cloud and evening rain caught out some watchers in Iceland, while inland northern Spain gave the clearest views. If you missed it, the good news is that the next total solar eclipse is only a year away. ## Missed it? The next total solar eclipse is 2 August 2027 The next total solar eclipse falls on 2 August 2027, and it is a far bigger event than 2026. The path of totality crosses southern Spain and Gibraltar, then Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt before reaching Saudi Arabia and Yemen. For European travellers, southern Spain around Cadiz, Malaga and the Costa del Sol is the most accessible spot inside the path. What makes 2027 special is the length. Totality lasts up to 6 minutes and 23 seconds near Luxor in Egypt, one of the longest total eclipses of the century, against just over 2 minutes in 2026. The path also runs through some of the most reliably clear August skies anywhere, so if 2026 clouded out on you, 2027 is the one to plan for. ![A total solar eclipse showing the sun's corona around the darkened moon | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/ice-eclipse.webp) ## When and where is the 2026 total solar eclipse? The eclipse falls on 12 August 2026. The narrow path of totality, roughly 290 km wide as it crosses Spain, runs from northeastern Siberia over Greenland, clips the western edge of Iceland, then crosses the North Atlantic to make landfall on Spain's north coast and cut diagonally across the country to the Mediterranean and the Balearics. The greatest duration, about 2 minutes 18 seconds, happens out over the ocean near the Denmark Strait between Greenland and Iceland. On land you are looking at roughly 1 to 2 minutes of totality depending on how close you are to the centre line. Only two European countries sit in the path of totality: Iceland and Spain (including Mallorca and a sliver of far northwestern Portugal). If you want to see the Sun completely disappear rather than a partial bite, you need to be inside that band. Outside it, most of Europe, from the UK to Italy, sees a partial eclipse only. ## The catch: in Spain it happens at sunset This is not a midday eclipse for Spain. Totality arrives around 8:26 to 8:31 pm local time (CEST), shortly before sunset, with the Sun sitting very low, often no higher than about 10 degrees above the horizon and as little as 2 to 3 degrees on Mallorca. That has one practical consequence that decides everything: you need a flat, unobstructed view low to the west and northwest. A hill, a building or a line of trees in that direction can hide the whole event. Pick a spot with an open western horizon, ideally a west-facing coast, a plain, or high ground looking out over lower land. ![An Icelandic road stretching toward snow covered mountains near the Snaefellsnes Peninsula at sunset | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/ice-kirkjufell.webp) ## Best places to watch in Spain Spain is where most European eclipse chasers will head, because it combines the longest easily reached totality with the best odds of clear skies. Rough totality durations by region: **Asturias and Cantabria (north coast): **Oviedo and Gijon sit close to the centre line for nearly the Spanish maximum, around 1 minute 45 seconds. West-facing beaches here give you a clean ocean horizon, though the north coast carries more cloud risk than inland. **Castilla y Leon (inland north): **Leon and Burgos both get around 1 minute 45 seconds, Valladolid about 1 minute 28, and Segovia closer to 1 minute. Wide, open plains make finding a clear low horizon easy. **Aragon and the Ebro Valley: **Zaragoza sits between the edge and centre line for about 1 minute 24 seconds. This region has the best clear-sky odds in the whole path, which for a low-Sun eclipse can matter more than a few extra seconds of totality. **Valencia and Castellon (Mediterranean coast): **Castellon de la Plana gets about 1 minute 34 seconds and Valencia around 1 minute. Good access and warm evenings, but you are looking inland to the west here, not out to sea. **Mallorca (Balearic Islands): **The centre line crosses the island, and S'Arenal near Palma gets about 1 minute 36 seconds. The trade-off is an extremely low Sun, only 2 to 3 degrees up, so you must be on the west or south coast with nothing between you and the horizon. ## Watching from Iceland Iceland is the other option, and it has one big advantage: the Sun is much higher, around 25 degrees, so you are far less dependent on a perfect horizon. Reykjavik gets about 1 minute of totality, and the Snaefellsnes Peninsula on the west coast reaches around 2 minutes 8 seconds, close to the day's maximum on land. The downside is weather. Western Iceland averages 70 to 80 percent cloud cover in August, so it is the scenic but risky choice. There is also a dedicated festival built around it, covered in our guide to the [Iceland Eclipse 2026 festival tickets and dates](https://budgetbro.app/blog/iceland-eclipse-2026-tickets-dates). ## So close but not quite: Madrid and Barcelona Both big cities just miss out. Madrid reaches about 99.98 percent coverage and Barcelona about 99.85 percent, which sounds like almost the same thing but is not. Even one percent of the Sun left uncovered keeps the sky bright and hides the corona entirely. If you are basing yourself in either city, treat the eclipse as a day trip: it is well under two hours by car or train to reach genuine totality, and the difference between 99 percent and 100 percent is the difference between a dimming afternoon and the actual event. ## Clear-sky odds: how to pick your exact spot Because the Sun is so low, thin cloud near the horizon can spoil an otherwise clear day. Average August cloud cover along the path, best to worst: **Ebro Valley (Aragon): **below 30 percent cloud, the best overall odds in the path. **Central Meseta (inland Spain): **around 35 percent, still strong. **Balearic Islands: **30 to 40 percent, but with real horizon risk given how low the Sun sits. **Iceland: **70 to 80 percent on average, the biggest gamble despite the higher Sun. The practical move is to stay mobile. Base yourself somewhere central in the path, keep an eye on the forecast in the final days, and be ready to drive an hour or two toward the clearest sky on the morning of the 12th. Eclipse chasers do this routinely, and a flexible plan beats a fixed one. ## Budget tips for an eclipse day trip **Book accommodation early: **towns on the centre line fill up and prices climb as the date nears. Staying in a larger city nearby and driving out on the day is often cheaper and keeps your options open for chasing clear skies. **Go inland for value: **Castilla y Leon and Aragon are cheaper than the coasts and the Balearics, and they have both longer totality and better weather odds. **Sort eye protection in advance: **you need certified solar eclipse glasses for the partial phases before and after totality. Buy them ahead of time rather than paying a premium locally on the day. **Remember it is Schengen: **Iceland and Spain are both in the Schengen Area, so UK and EU travellers visit visa free for short stays. Watch the 90-in-180-day limit if you are combining it with a longer trip. Flights, a few nights of accommodation, car hire and eclipse gear add up quickly across two currencies. [BudgetBro](https://budgetbro.app/getbudgetbroapp) tracks the whole trip in one place across 160+ currencies, so you know the real cost. Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Your First Time Backpacking Europe](https://budgetbro.app/blog/your-first-time-backpacking-europe-the-2026-starter-pack), [Full Guide to Europe’s Digital Nomad Visas in 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-digital-nomad-visas-2026) and [Iceland Eclipse 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/iceland-eclipse-festival-2026). Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Solar Eclipse 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/eu-exit-ees), from the BudgetBro blog. ## *Frequently Asked Questions:* ### When is the total solar eclipse in 2026? It is on 12 August 2026. Totality reaches Iceland in the late afternoon, around 5:48 pm local time, and northern Spain in the evening, roughly 8:26 to 8:31 pm local time, shortly before sunset. ### Where in Europe can I see the total eclipse? Only inside the path of totality, which crosses western Iceland, northern and eastern Spain from the Atlantic coast to the Mediterranean, and Mallorca in the Balearics. The rest of Europe sees a partial eclipse only. ### Can I see it from Madrid or Barcelona? Not fully. Madrid reaches about 99.98 percent and Barcelona about 99.85 percent coverage, which is still a partial eclipse, not totality. Both are close enough to reach real totality as a short day trip, under two hours by car or train. ### Do UK and EU travellers need a visa? No. Both Spain and Iceland are in the Schengen Area, so UK and EU passport holders can visit visa free for short tourist stays. ### Do I need eye protection? Yes, for the partial phases. Use certified solar eclipse glasses whenever any part of the Sun is visible. It is only safe to look with the naked eye during the brief total phase, when the Sun is completely covered. ### Where are the best clear-sky odds? The Ebro Valley around Zaragoza has the lowest average August cloud cover in the path, below 30 percent, with the central Spanish plains close behind. Iceland is the biggest weather gamble at 70 to 80 percent average cloud. ### When is the next total solar eclipse after 2026? The next total solar eclipse is on 2 August 2027, crossing southern Spain, North Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the longest of the century, with up to 6 minutes and 23 seconds of totality, and southern Spain around Cadiz and Malaga is the easiest spot for European travellers to reach. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # WorldPride Amsterdam > WorldPride comes to Amsterdam, headlined by the famous canal boat parade through the UNESCO canals. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/amsterdam-worldpride-2026 - Published: 2026-07-25 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Events, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Amsterdam hosts WorldPride 2026 across two weeks, with more than 500 events marking 25 years since the Netherlands legalised same-sex marriage. The highlight is the world-famous Canal Parade on 1 August, when more than 80 decorated boats sail through the historic canals, alongside street parties, concerts and human-rights programming. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Songkran](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-thailand-2027), [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026) and [Inti Raymi](https://budgetbro.app/blog/inti-raymi-cusco-2027). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Iceland Eclipse 2026 > Iceland's eclipse festival runs 11 to 15 August 2026, with totality on 12 August. General tickets are nearly gone. Here's the price, dates and what's left. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/iceland-eclipse-festival-2026 - Published: 2026-07-20 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Iceland, Festival, Europe, Travel Updates, 2025 - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- The Iceland Eclipse festival runs from the 11th-15th August, 2026 on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and built around the total solar eclipse on 12th August. General admission passes are down to the last few, with the VIP tier sold out. ![An Icelandic road stretching toward snow covered mountains near the Snaefellsnes Peninsula at sunset | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/ice-kirkjufell.webp) ## What is the Iceland Eclipse festival? It's a 5 day event on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula in western Iceland, running 11-15 August 2026, built around live music, talks and ceremony as much as the eclipse itself. The lineup includes artists CloZee, Above & Beyond and Imogen Heap, alongside visual artist Android Jones, astronaut Dr Sian Proctor and MAPS founder Dr Rick Doblin, with wellness programming and an airport shuttle from Keflavik included as part of the ticket options. ## When is the total solar eclipse? The eclipse itself falls on 12 August 2026, with totality tracking across Iceland's west coast in the early evening, after 5pm local time. The Reykjanes peninsula towns of Gardur and Sandgerdi see some of the longest easily reached totality at just over 1 minute 40 seconds, while Latrabjarg in the Westfjords has the longest duration on the Icelandic mainland at 2 minutes 13 seconds. ![A total solar eclipse showing the sun's corona around the darkened moon | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/ice-eclipse.webp) ## How much do tickets cost and are there tickets left? - Eclipse Seeker (general admission): $888, admission 11th to 15th August, main grounds and general programming access, listed as last few remaining. - Airport Express Shuttle (one way): $70, Keflavik International Airport transfers running 9th to 11th and 16th to 17th August ## How do European travellers get there? Iceland is part of the Schengen Area, so UK and EU passport holders can visit visa free as tourists. Reykjavik's Keflavik Airport has direct flights from most major UK and European hubs, and the festival's own airport shuttle covers the transfer from there to the Snaefellsnes Peninsula if you book the shuttle ticket alongside your pass. Keep the planning going with our guides to [Solar Eclipse 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/solar-eclipse-2026-where-to-watch-europe), [Switzerland Just Got Cheaper and Faster for UK Travellers](https://budgetbro.app/blog/uk-switzerland-trade-deal-roaming-egates) and [Tomorrowland Thailand December 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/tomorrowland-thailand-2026). ## Frequently Asked Questions: ### Do UK and EU travellers need a visa for Iceland? No. Iceland is part of the Schengen Area, so UK and EU passport holders can visit visa-free. ### What does the festival ticket actually include? The Eclipse Seeker general admission ticket covers entry to the main grounds and general programme of events for the 11th to 15th August dates. The airport shuttle from Keflavik is a separate add-on. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Best Travel Insurance for UK to Europe Trips in 2026 > Weekend breaks and couple-week Europe trips, not long stays. Here is how single trip and annual multi-trip UK travel insurance compare, and which is cheaper. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-uk-europe-trips - Published: 2026-07-19 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Day Trips - Tags: Blogs, day-trips, Travel Insurance, UK, Europe, Budgeting, GHIC, EHIC - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Is a Single, Multi-trip or Annual Policy best? If you take 3 or more trips to Europe a year, even short weekend breaks, an annual multi-trip policy is almost always cheaper than buying single trip cover each time, with Europe-only annual policies available from around £11 to £45 a year. If you take 1 or 2 trips a year, single trip cover, from around £6.89 for a week, usually works out cheaper overall. This guide is for weekend breaks and couple-week holidays, not long-term or nomad travel, which needs a different type of policy entirely. ![Travellers walking across a sunny European town square lined with cafes, a typical day trip destination | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/dtrip-square1.webp) ## What is the difference between single trip and annual multi-trip cover? Single trip cover insures one specific holiday, from the day you leave to the day you get back, with the price scaling to that trip's length and destination. Annual multi-trip cover, sometimes called annual travel insurance, insures an unlimited number of trips over a full 12 months for one upfront price, as long as each individual trip stays under the policy's maximum length, commonly 31 days. For someone doing several weekend breaks or a couple of longer holidays across the year, that unlimited-trips structure is the whole appeal. ## How much does each type actually cost? Single trip insurance for a week in Europe starts from around £6.89, with a typical basic policy landing somewhere between £10 and £20 for a solo traveller with no pre-existing conditions. Annual multi-trip Europe-only cover starts from as little as £11.10 a year for the most basic policies, with a more comprehensive annual policy from a well known provider typically running £38 to £45 a year, still cheaper than 2 or 3 separate single trip policies bought across the same 12 months. ## How do the main UK providers actually compare? Independent research from Which?, which compared 48 UK travel insurance companies across 120 areas of cover, put Aviva, Staysure, Post Office, AllClear and Direct Line among the top rated providers overall in 2026. Here is how the named providers most UK travellers compare actually stack up on price and cover for a short Europe trip: **Aviva Signature: **annual multi-trip Europe cover from around £34.33 a year. Silver tier gives £10 million medical cover and £3,000 cancellation cover, Gold tier gives £15 million medical and £5,000 cancellation. Standard trip cap is 31 days, extendable to 45, 60 or 90 days for extra premium. Which? scored Aviva 78% overall, though its claims acceptance rate on annual European policies was 75 to 80% in 2024, below the market average of 86.3%. **Post Office: **single trip cover for a week in Europe from around £26.96, sitting in the mid-price bracket. Offers 3 tiers, Economy, Standard and Premier, plus an annual multi-trip option with a 31 day trip cap, extendable to 45 or 60 days. A consistently well rated mid-market choice for straightforward short breaks. **AllClear: **a pre-existing conditions specialist covering over 1,300 different medical conditions, with cover for Europe plus Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia. Expect £80 to £250 a year depending on your health profile, with at least £5 million medical cover as standard and no upper age limit. AllClear's Gold Plus policy was a Which? Best Buy at 68%, and the provider accepted 90 to 95% of claims on annual European policies in 2024, above the 86.3% market average. **Staysure: **built for the over 50s, covering more than 60 pre-existing conditions as standard, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and cancer, with no upper age limit. A strong choice if your policy needs to account for an existing medical condition rather than just a short healthy trip. **Direct Line: **a couple in their 40s with 2 children can typically expect an annual European multi-trip quote of £70 to £120, depending on age, medical history and claims record. Direct Line's annual policy allows trips up to 42 days each, but caps your total time abroad across the whole year at 90 days, a different structure worth checking if you travel very frequently. **LV=: **typically priced 8 to 15% above the cheapest aggregator quote, but carries a Defaqto 5 Star rating and one of the highest rated claims teams in the UK. Trip caps run 31 days on the Essential tier or 45 days on Premier and Premier Plus. Worth the premium if a smooth claims experience matters more to you than the lowest headline price. The 86.3% figure above is the UK market average claims acceptance rate for annual European travel insurance policies in 2024, per Which?'s research, a useful benchmark when a provider you are considering does not publish its own claims rate. ## How many trips a year make an annual policy worth it? The commonly cited break even point is 3 to 4 trips a year. Below that, buying single trip cover each time you travel is usually the cheaper option, since you are not paying for cover on the weeks you are at home. Above that, an annual policy tends to work out cheaper overall and saves you buying a new policy every time you book a weekend away, which matters if spontaneous city breaks are part of how you actually travel. - 1 or 2 trips a year: single trip cover is usually cheaper. - 3 to 4 trips a year: roughly the break even point, compare both directly for your exact trips. - 5 or more trips a year: annual multi-trip cover is almost always cheaper and far more convenient. ## Does GHIC or EHIC mean I do not need travel insurance? No. The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which has replaced the old European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), gives you access to state provided healthcare at the same cost as a local in most European countries, but it is not a substitute for travel insurance. It does not cover repatriation home if you are seriously ill, does not cover a family member flying out to be with you, and does not cover cancellation, lost baggage or travel disruption. It also does not work in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland for UK nationals since Brexit, so those 4 countries need travel insurance to cover medical costs entirely, not just as a top up. [Read the full GHIC/EHIC explainer](https://budgetbro.app/blog/travel-insurance-ghic-ehic-card) if you want the detail on how the card actually works alongside your policy. ## What should a weekend or couple week Europe trip actually cover? For a genuine short break or 1 to 2 week holiday, the essentials are emergency medical cover, cancellation cover in case the trip itself falls through, and baggage cover if you are checking a bag rather than travelling hand luggage only. Look for medical cover of at least a few million pounds, since air ambulance repatriation from Europe can run into six figures without it. Winter sports cover, cruise cover and gadget cover are all things a lot of basic policies exclude by default and charge extra for, so only add them if you actually need them for the specific trip. - Emergency medical and repatriation: look for cover in the millions, not thousands, given how expensive air ambulance flights are. - Cancellation cover: protects the cost of the trip itself if you cannot travel. - Baggage cover: less critical if you travel hand luggage only, more important if you check a bag. - Winter sports, cruise or gadget cover: usually excluded by default, only add if the specific trip needs it. ## Is there a maximum trip length on annual multi-trip policies? Yes, and this is the detail that trips people up. Most annual multi-trip policies cap each individual trip at 31 days, some cheaper policies cap it lower, and some premium tiers extend it to 45, 60 or even 90 days for a higher price. If your longest trip of the year is a 2 week Europe holiday, the standard 31 day cap covers you comfortably. If you ever plan one longer trip on top of your regular short breaks, check the per-trip cap before assuming your annual policy covers it, since going over that limit on even one trip can leave that specific holiday completely uninsured. ## What is the catch with annual multi-trip cover? The main catch is that you are paying upfront for a year of cover whether you end up travelling 3 times or not at all, so it only pays off if you actually take the trips. The other is the per-trip length cap covered above, plus most annual policies still carry a standard excess per claim and a war or civil unrest exclusion, the same as single trip policies. If your travel plans for the year are genuinely uncertain, it is worth pricing both options against your actual likely number of trips before committing to either. Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Best Travel Insurance for UK to Europe Trips in 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/venice-tourist-tax), from the BudgetBro blog. ## Frequently Asked Questions: ### Do I need Schengen visa insurance as a UK traveller? No. UK passport holders can visit the Schengen area visa-free for up to 90 days in any 180-day period as tourists, so the EU's requirement for visa applicants to hold at least 30,000 euros of medical cover does not apply to you, since you are not applying for a visa. You still need ordinary travel insurance for the trip, just not a visa-specific policy. ### Is annual multi-trip insurance cheaper than single trip for 2 holidays a year? Usually not. The commonly cited break even point is around 3 to 4 trips a year. At 2 trips a year, buying single trip cover for each holiday is generally the cheaper option, though it is always worth pricing both against your specific trips since the gap can be small. ### Does GHIC replace the need for travel insurance in Europe? No. GHIC gives access to state healthcare at local resident cost in most European countries, but it does not cover repatriation, a family member travelling to be with you, cancellation, or lost baggage, and it does not work in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland for UK nationals. ### What is the usual maximum trip length on an annual multi-trip policy? Most annual multi-trip policies cap each individual trip at 31 days, though some premium tiers extend that to 45, 60 or 90 days for a higher price. Check this figure specifically if you plan one longer trip alongside your usual short breaks. ### Which UK provider is best for pre-existing medical conditions? AllClear and Staysure are the 2 specialists most commonly recommended for pre-existing conditions. AllClear covers over 1,300 different medical conditions with no upper age limit, and Staysure covers more than 60 common conditions as standard, including high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and cancer, also with no upper age limit. ### Is this the right type of policy for a nomad or long-term traveller? No. This guide covers weekend breaks and trips up to a couple of weeks. Long-term travellers and digital nomads typically need a specialist long-stay or backpacker policy with a much longer maximum trip length and different medical cover assumptions, not a standard annual multi-trip policy built around short European holidays. Whichever policy you choose, the annual fee or the per-trip cost is just one line in your travel budget for the year. [BudgetBro](https://budgetbro.app/getbudgetbroapp) tracks every trip cost, insurance included, in one place across 160+ currencies, so you can see whether an annual policy is actually paying for itself. If your trip really is a single day out and back, see [Best Travel Insurance for a Single Day Trip to Europe](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-single-day-trip-europe) instead. Heading further afield than Europe? Read our [best travel insurance for travelling Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-southeast-asia-uk) guide next. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Dubai's New 5-Year Visa Could Be Your Nomad Base > The UAE just launched a 5-year multi-entry visa needing no local sponsor. Here's what it means for nomads, and why it isn't a work visa. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/dubai-5-year-multi-entry-visa-nomads - Published: 2026-07-17 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Dubai, Visas, Backpacking, Travel Updates, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- On 15 July 2026 the UAE launched a 5-year multi-entry tourist visa with no local sponsor required, unlimited entries, and stays of up to 90 days at a time, extendable to 180 days within any 12-month period. It's a genuinely useful way to treat Dubai as a base. It is still a tourist visa though, and it does not legally authorise remote work, that's a separate visa entirely. If you've been doing visa runs or short stints in Dubai and wondering whether there's a better way to keep coming back, this is worth knowing about. Here's what's actually confirmed, straight from the [official GDRFA Dubai page](https://www.gdrfad.gov.ae/en/services/7fe37963-b7f8-11ed-5210-4cd98f768936), and the one thing it doesn't do that a lot of coverage is glossing over. ## What's Actually New? The UAE's General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs launched a self-sponsored 5-year multiple-entry tourist visa on 15 July 2026, [as reported by Gulf Today](https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2026/07/15/dubai-launches-5-year-multiple-entry-visit-visa-for-all-nationalities). No local guarantor or host is needed, a real change from older UAE visa categories that typically required a sponsoring company, hotel or individual. It's open to all nationalities and valid for unlimited entries over the full five years. ## Who Can Apply and What Do You Need? - A passport with at least 6 months validity remaining. - A personal photograph. - A 6-month bank statement showing a minimum balance of roughly $4,000 USD or the equivalent. - Valid health insurance covering your time in the UAE. - A round-trip flight ticket. Applications go through GDRFA Dubai's digital channels, UAE Pass, Customer Happiness Centres, or authorised Amer Service Centres, with an expected processing time of around 48 hours. ## How Long Can You Actually Stay? Up to 90 consecutive days per visit, extendable once to a total of 180 days within any 12-month period. You can leave and re-enter as many times as you like across the 5-year validity, so it suits a pattern of spending part of the year in Dubai and part elsewhere far better than a standard 30 or 90-day tourist visa ever did. ## What Does It Actually Cost? The total fee is AED 3,713.50 (application AED 100, issuance AED 500, various admin fees AED 113.50), plus an AED 3,000 refundable security deposit. That deposit is the detail worth knowing: follow the visa's terms and you get it back, so the real net cost is closer to AED 713.50, not the full amount. Break the rules, most commonly overstaying, and the deposit is forfeited along with fines collected on departure. ## The Catch: This Is Not a Work Visa This is the part worth being clear on. Like every standard UAE tourist visa, the 5-year multi-entry visa does not authorise employment of any kind, for a UAE company or a foreign one. If you want explicit legal permission to work remotely while living in the UAE, that's the separate [Virtual Working Programme](https://www.gdrfad.gov.ae/en/services/f52024e3-b812-11ed-5210-4cd98f768936), a one-year renewable residence permit requiring proof of at least $3,500 USD monthly income from work outside the UAE, health insurance and a medical test, with total first-year costs typically landing between $1,400 and $2,000. A lot of digital nomads work remotely on tourist visas around the world without a dedicated permit, and enforcement in practice varies hugely by country. This article isn't legal advice, and if remote work while in the UAE matters to your situation, it's worth checking directly with GDRFA or an immigration professional rather than assuming a tourist visa covers it. ## So Why Would a Nomad Actually Want This Visa? The value isn't work authorisation, it's flexibility. No more racing a visa expiry every 30 or 90 days, no need for a sponsor, and five years of unlimited entries means you can genuinely treat Dubai as a home base, keep a lease, leave belongings, and come and go as your actual schedule needs, rather than your visa dictates it. For anyone who splits time between Dubai and elsewhere, or wants to trial living there before committing to the Virtual Working Programme's income and paperwork requirements, this is a much lower-friction way in. More reading to help you plan: [Australia Working Holiday Visa Fee Increase](https://budgetbro.app/blog/australia-working-holiday-visa-fee-2026), [China's Digital Arrival Card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-online-arrival-card) and [South Africa's Traveller Declaration](https://budgetbro.app/blog/south-africa-traveller-declaration). ## Frequently Asked Questions: ### Do I need a UAE sponsor for this visa? No. This is a self-sponsored visa, you don't need a local host, hotel or company to sponsor your application. ### Can I work remotely on this visa? Not legally. This is a tourist visa and doesn't authorise employment of any kind. For explicit permission to work remotely for a foreign employer while resident, the separate Virtual Working Programme is the correct route. ### How much does it actually cost after the deposit is returned? Around AED 713.50 in non-refundable fees. The remaining AED 3,000 is a security deposit you get back as long as you don't overstay or break the visa's terms. ### How long can I stay in the UAE on this visa? Up to 90 days per visit, extendable once to 180 days total within any rolling 12-month period, with unlimited entries across the full 5-year validity. ### How is this different from Dubai's digital nomad visa? This is a tourist visa built for flexible, repeated entry with no sponsor. The Virtual Working Programme is a separate 1-year renewable residence permit that specifically authorises remote work for a non-UAE employer or clients, and requires proof of at least $3,500 USD monthly income. Using Dubai as a base means juggling AED alongside whatever currency your income actually comes in. BudgetBro tracks spending across 160+ currencies and works offline, so a Dubai base and trips elsewhere sit in one place, not a separate spreadsheet for every stop. Planning to use Dubai as a base also means keeping an eye on the wider region, check [our Middle East travel update](https://budgetbro.app/blog/middle-east-travel-update) for the current picture on safety and flights. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Turn a Cheap Flight Into a Free Second Trip > Turkish Airlines, TAP and Icelandair all offer free stopovers of several days on already affordable long-haul routes. Here's how nomads can use them. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/free-airline-stopover-programmes - Published: 2026-07-13 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro Featured - Tags: Flights, Layover, Cheap Flights, Backpacking, Budgeting, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Turkish Airlines, TAP Air Portugal and Icelandair all let you break a long-haul flight with several free days in Istanbul, Lisbon, Porto or Reykjavik, no extra airfare. All three are already some of the more affordable ways to fly long-haul, so the stopover is a free second destination on a ticket you might book on price alone. A few premium carriers have made headlines lately for their stopover perks, but if you're booking flights on price rather than loyalty points, the more useful question is which affordable long-haul airlines let you add a free city to the trip. Here's what's actually confirmed, straight from each airline. ## What's a Stopover, and Why It's Worth Knowing About A layover is a few hours between connecting flights. A stopover is when an airline lets you break that connection for days, sometimes weeks, at no extra airfare, effectively turning one flight into two trips. A handful of airlines have formalised this into an actual programme rather than something you have to negotiate. The three below are worth knowing specifically because they're already competitive on price for long-haul routes, so you're not paying a premium just to unlock the perk. ## Turkish Airlines: Free Even If You Only Have a Layover Turkish Airlines actually runs two separate perks, and you don't need to book a multi-day stopover to use the first one. [Touristanbul](https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/flights/fly-different/touristanbul/) is a free guided city tour for anyone connecting through Istanbul with a layover of 6 to 24 hours, no hotel booking required. A shuttle picks you up airside, takes you round Istanbul's historic sites and a food stop, and drops you back for your connecting flight. If you want longer, the separate [Stopover in Istanbul](https://www.turkishairlines.com/en-us/flights/stopover/) programme gives you a free hotel for up to three nights, or you can take the free Touristanbul tour instead on a shorter layover. Istanbul is Turkish Airlines' hub for routes across Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia, and the airline is consistently one of the cheaper ways to fly long-haul, so this is close to a free destination bolted onto a fare you were probably comparing anyway. ## TAP Air Portugal: Up to 10 Days in Lisbon or Porto TAP's [Portugal Stopover programme](https://www.flytap.com/en-us/stopover) lets you break a booking in Lisbon or Porto for up to 10 days at no extra airfare, on either your outbound or inbound leg. It comes with discounts from over 150 partners across the country, and a 25 percent discount on a domestic flight if you want to see a second region, the Algarve or the Azores, for example, while you're there. TAP is a common budget-conscious pick for Europe-to-Americas routes, so the stopover effectively turns a transatlantic ticket into a Portugal trip too. ## Icelandair: Break Up a Transatlantic Flight in Reykjavik Flying Icelandair between Europe and North America, you can add a [stopover in Iceland](https://www.icelandair.com/flights/stopover/) at no extra airfare, up to 7 nights on most fares and up to 21 nights if you book a Flex fare. It covers flights only, you'll need to book your own accommodation, but Reykjavik and the surrounding natural sites, including the Blue Lagoon, are easily reached without a car for a shorter stay. Icelandair is a long-standing affordable option for crossing the Atlantic, which is exactly why this stopover has been popular with budget travellers for years. ## Worth Knowing, but a Different Price Bracket Qatar Airways and Etihad also run stopover perks, discounted hotels in Doha from Qatar, a free two-night stay in Abu Dhabi from Etihad, and Malaysia Airlines throws in free bonus domestic flights to Langkawi, Penang or Kota Bharu as part of its newer, more budget-friendly positioning. They're worth knowing if you're already flying one of them, but Qatar and Etihad are generally premium fares first, the stopover is a bonus on top of a bigger ticket price rather than a free extra on a fare you'd have booked anyway. ## How This Actually Saves You Money The trick is booking in the right order. Compare long-haul fares the way you normally would, then check whether the cheapest option also happens to route through Istanbul, Lisbon, Porto or Reykjavik. If it does, you've effectively found a second destination for the cost of a hotel and daily spending, not a second flight. That's the actual value for nomads and frequent flyers, not a loyalty perk you need years of points to unlock, just a booking order worth checking before you buy. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Cheapest Flights to Asia August](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheapest-flights-asia-august), [Switching from Mint. What to Use Instead?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/switching-from-mint) and [South Africa's Traveller Declaration](https://budgetbro.app/blog/south-africa-traveller-declaration). ## Frequently Asked Questions: ### What's the difference between a stopover and a layover? A layover is a short connection, usually under 24 hours, that you can't extend. A stopover is when the airline lets you break your journey for days or weeks at the connecting city, on the same ticket, at no extra airfare. ### Do these stopovers cost extra? The flights themselves don't. Turkish Airlines' Stopover in Istanbul includes a free hotel for up to three nights. Icelandair and TAP cover the flights only, so you'll pay for your own accommodation and activities during the stopover. ### How do I actually book one? Each airline handles it differently, through the booking flow on their own website, so search directly on turkishairlines.com, flytap.com or icelandair.com rather than a general flight comparison site, which usually won't surface the stopover option. ### Can I do a stopover in both directions? It depends on the airline and fare type. TAP allows it on either the outbound or inbound leg. Check the specific terms on each airline's stopover page before booking, since rules vary by fare class. ### Which of these is best if I'm on a tight budget? Touristanbul is the standout if you want zero extra cost and zero extra planning, it's free, includes the tour, and needs nothing beyond a long enough layover. TAP's programme is the best value if you want several full days rather than a single tour, given the 10-day window and partner discounts. Stacking a stopover onto a long-haul flight means tracking two destinations and two currencies on one trip. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Switzerland Just Got Cheaper and Faster for UK Travellers > The UK and Switzerland's new trade deal aims to scrap roaming charges and bring e-gates to Zurich by the end of 2026. Here's what it means for your trip. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/uk-switzerland-trade-deal-roaming-egates - Published: 2026-07-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro Featured - Tags: Switzerland, UK, Europe, Travel Updates, Backpacking, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- TL;DR: the UK and Switzerland signed a new trade deal on 13th July 2026 that aims to scrap roaming charges between the two countries and bring e-gates to Zurich Airport for UK passport holders by the end of 2026, with Geneva and Basel to follow. E-gates have a real timeline. Roaming does not, yet. Switzerland has long been the annoying gap in a Europe trip for UK travellers. It's not in the EU, so it's never been covered by free roaming, and entry has always meant the regular passport queue rather than an e-gate. A new UK-Switzerland trade deal aims to fix both. Here's what's confirmed. ## What's Actually In the Deal? The Department for Business and Trade, announced by Peter Kyle MP, signed what it calls the most significant services trade deal the UK has ever negotiated, estimated to unlock £5.2 billion a year in additional UK services exports to Switzerland. Most of it is business focused (a permanent 90-day visa-free arrangement for services workers), but two parts matter directly if you're backpacking or working remotely through Europe: roaming and e-gates. Full detail is on the [official GOV.UK announcement](https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-switzerland-fta-top-benefits), also covered by [CNBC](https://www.cnbc.com/2026/07/13/uk-switzerland-free-trade-deal-brexit.html). ## Roaming Charges: What We Know So Far The deal states the UK and Switzerland intend to include surcharge-free international mobile roaming between the two countries. That is the extent of what's confirmed: there is no start date yet, and no detail on whether it kicks in automatically across every network or needs individual carriers to roll it out. Until an actual date lands, assume normal roaming charges still apply and check with your network before you travel. This is still a meaningful signal though, Switzerland has been one of the few places in Europe where UK travellers reliably got hit with roaming charges, even on networks that cover the rest of Europe for free. ## E-Gates at Zurich: A Real Date This Time UK passport holders will be able to use e-gates to exit Switzerland via Zurich Airport from as soon as the end of 2026. That's exit only to start with, faster processing on your way out. Switzerland is working towards a timetable for entry e-gates at Zurich, Geneva and Basel too, but that has not been set yet. You'll still need to meet the normal Schengen entry requirements, e-gates just speed up the physical queue. ## Why This Matters If You're Backpacking or Nomading Through Europe Switzerland gets skipped by a lot of budget travellers, and the cost is the obvious reason, it's consistently one of the most expensive countries in Europe for food and accommodation. Roaming charges and slower airport queues were two more small frictions on top of that. Neither of those fixes the actual cost of a coffee in Zurich, but cheaper connectivity and a faster exit make it a slightly easier stop to justify on a longer Europe trip or a nomad route through the Alps. ## Frequently Asked Questions: ### When do roaming charges between the UK and Switzerland actually stop? There's no confirmed date yet. The trade deal states both countries intend to scrap roaming surcharges, but implementation details and a start date have not been announced. ### Will this apply to every UK mobile network automatically? That is not yet clear from the announcement. Assume normal roaming charges apply in Switzerland until your specific network confirms otherwise. ### Which Swiss airports are getting e-gates? Zurich first, for UK passport holders exiting Switzerland, from as soon as the end of 2026. Geneva and Basel are expected to follow, with a timetable still to be set for entry e-gates too. ### Do I still need my passport if I use an e-gate? Yes. E-gates speed up the physical queue but you still need a valid passport meeting Schengen entry requirements, the gate just replaces having your passport checked in person. ### Does this change the 90-day Schengen rule for UK travellers? No. This deal is about roaming and airport processing, not visa rules. UK passport holders are still limited to 90 days in the Schengen Area within any 180-day rolling period. Planning a Europe trip that includes Switzerland? BudgetBro tracks spending in over 160 currencies, including Swiss francs, so a pricey few days in Zurich sits alongside the rest of your trip in one place, not a separate mental tally. If Switzerland is one stop on a longer trip, our [Europe backpacking starter pack](https://budgetbro.app/blog/your-first-time-backpacking-europe-the-2026-starter-pack) covers the rest of the route, and [another change coming for UK travellers in Europe](https://budgetbro.app/blog/etias-europe-uk-travellers-2026), so it's worth knowing both at once. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # From The Founder: June Update > BudgetBro founder Josh shares updates between family stuff, a house renovation, and a full app launch, this is the honest version of how it's all going. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/founder-june-recap - Published: 2026-07-12 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Press - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- This one's coming out super late, and that bugs me. I hate being late, and I hate other people being late too (yes, I see the irony). No excuses, just life moving fast. I can't be the guy who juggles everything perfectly, and I'm making peace with that. The good news is the core BudgetBro team has been driving this thing forward in fifth gear while I've had to put some energy elsewhere. I'd love to give BudgetBro 110% of me right now, but life's reminded me lately that other things need a slice of that pie too. Here's an analogy for you: you can cook 10 out of 10 dinners for your family, dinners so good the neighbours are knocking on your door with plates hoping for leftovers, but none of that matters if your ingredients are off. Terrible analogy, I know. Moving on. If you're new here, welcome, quick catch up. Earlier this year my grandad passed away, and one of his wishes was for me to renovate his house. Me and Samar flew back to the UK to be with family and make that happen. It's been just the two of us doing the work, apart from the electrical, plumbing, and gas. It has taken it out of us. Long days, late nights, making content on the side to keep BudgetBro ticking along. We've gotten sick, we've gotten fed up, but we've had some great highs in there too. Getting this done mattered just as much as getting BudgetBro to #1 in travel. Family first, always. Which brings me back to that fifth gear line earlier. Having a team who can carry this forward while I've been buried in DIY has been a saving grace for us. Thank you to everyone who's kept the build going. I cannot wait to be back full time. ## What's happened with BudgetBro this past month? We launched! Huge moment for us. Right now that's UK and US only, but the rest of our markets are opening up within the next week. We've been deep in the analytics, watching how people actually use the app so we can keep sharpening it. We're also leaning harder into community. One feature we're excited about is Explore Map, where users share their favourite cheap finds from around the globe for other travellers to use. Google Maps is full of great spots, but most of them aren't exactly backpacker budget friendly, and this cuts out the hours of digging. Eventually all of that feeds into our AI, so you won't even need to search, just ask your travel companion and it's done. There's a leaderboard in the works too, so users can compete with each other. We're not trying to gamify budgeting, we're just trying to make it fun. Alongside all that, we're figuring out how to keep people using the app after their trip ends, and get them using it before the trip even starts. ## What's the plan for the coming weeks? Team BudgetBro: push into new markets, keep improving the app, and get our name out there properly with some real marketing. Me: get serious about locking down investment. The clock is ticking on that one. Big things ahead, just need to nail down the path to get there. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Switching from Mint. What to Use Instead? > Mint shut down in March 2024 and only your login moved to Credit Karma. Here's what happened, what replaced it, and when BudgetBro is the better switch. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/switching-from-mint - Published: 2026-07-08 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Budgeting, Budget, App, Backpacking, BudgetBro, Mint, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Mint shut down for good in March 2024. Intuit moved only your login to Credit Karma, not your transaction history, budgets, categories or goals. If you are a Mint refugee who also travels a lot, spends in multiple currencies or lives abroad, a general Credit Karma or YNAB style replacement will not cover that. That is where a travel-first app like BudgetBro fits. It has been a while since Mint disappeared, but plenty of former users are still piecing together a replacement, especially if their spending does not stay in one country or one currency. Here is what actually happened, why the obvious replacement falls short for travellers, and when it makes sense to add a dedicated travel budgeting app into the mix. ## What Happened to Mint? Intuit announced in October 2023 that it was shutting down Mint, the free budgeting app it had run for 17 years and around 25 million users. The app went dark for good in March 2024. Officially, Mint was not making enough money through ads and referral fees to justify keeping it running, so Intuit folded its user base into Credit Karma, the credit-report monitoring service it already owned. ## What Actually Moved to Credit Karma? Not much. Only your account login actually carried over. None of your transaction history, custom categories, budgets, savings goals, bill reminders or recurring transaction labels were migrated. Mint gave users a four and a half month window, November 2023 to March 2024, to export their data as CSV files before everything was deleted from Intuit's servers for good. ## Is Credit Karma a Real Mint Replacement? Not really, at least not for budgeting. Credit Karma is built around credit scores and monitoring, not budgeting. It has no bill reminders, no savings goals and weaker automatic transaction categorisation than Mint had. If the reason you used Mint was to track spending by category and stay on budget, Credit Karma alone will not do that job. ## What About YNAB, Monarch, Rocket Money or Empower? These are the usual suggestions for rebuilding Mint's core budgeting features, and they are reasonable choices if your finances live in one country, one currency, one bank account and one payslip. They link to domestic bank accounts, track net worth and rebuild the category budgets Mint used to offer. None of them are built with multi-currency spending, offline use or trip based budgeting in mind, because that was never their job. ## When BudgetBro Is the Better Switch BudgetBro is not trying to replace Mint feature for feature. It does not link to your bank account, track your credit score or calculate your net worth. What it does is track spending in over 160 currencies, work fully offline, let you set a daily budget and or budget per trip rather than per calendar month, and answer 'how much have I spent so far' through an AI companion instead of a dashboard you have to interpret yourself. If your version of switching from Mint means finding something built for spending across countries and currencies, that is the gap BudgetBro fills, not the gap Credit Karma or YNAB are built for. [See how BudgetBro works](https://budgetbro.app/getbudgetbroapp) or [compare it against other travel budgeting apps](https://budgetbro.app/alternatives). ## Mint vs BudgetBro at a Glance - Mint tracked your whole financial life in one country. BudgetBro tracks spending on the move, in whatever currency you are actually paying in. - Mint linked to your bank automatically. BudgetBro logs expenses manually or via import, with no bank-linking risk. - Mint needed a signal to work. BudgetBro works fully offline, which matters on a train, a boat or somewhere without reliable data. - Mint budgeted by calendar month. BudgetBro budgets per trip, so a two week trip to Vietnam and a weekend in Lisbon do not get mixed into one monthly number. - Mint gave you a dashboard to interpret. BudgetBro gives you an AI companion you can ask. Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Split the Bill With Siri in iOS 27](https://budgetbro.app/blog/apple-siri-bill-splitting-travellers), [Do You Really Need a Travel Budgeting App?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/do-you-need-a-travel-budgeting-app) and [16,095KM Away From Home](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-i-ended-up-here). ## Frequently Asked Questions: ### Is Mint really gone for good? Yes. Mint shut down completely on 23 March 2024. There is no way to log back in, and Intuit deleted the underlying data from its servers after that date. ### What replaced Mint? Intuit's official answer was Credit Karma, but only logins moved across, not budgets or transaction history. Most former Mint users ended up combining Credit Karma for credit monitoring with a separate budgeting app such as YNAB, Monarch, Rocket Money or Empower for category budgeting. ### Does BudgetBro replace everything Mint did? No, and it is not trying to. BudgetBro does not track credit scores, net worth or link to bank accounts the way Mint did. It is built specifically for tracking spending across trips and currencies, which was never Mint's focus in the first place. ### Can I still export my old Mint data anywhere? No. The export window closed on 23 March 2024 alongside the shutdown. If you did not download a CSV of your Mint data before then, it is gone. ### Who is BudgetBro actually for? Backpackers, digital nomads and anyone who spends across more than one currency or country, whether that is a two week holiday or living abroad long term. For the official word on the shutdown and migration, see [Credit Karma's support article on Intuit Mint and Credit Karma](https://support.creditkarma.com/s/article/Intuit-Mint-and-Credit-Karma). If your next chapter involves more borders than bank branches, BudgetBro is built for that part, not the part Mint used to do. If you've got any questions drop them below in the comments. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # South Africa's Traveller Declaration > From 1st July 2026, every traveller to South Africa must submit an online Traveller Declaration. Here's how to do it, what to declare, and the deadline. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/south-africa-traveller-declaration - Published: 2026-07-01 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro Featured - Tags: South Africa, Visas, Digital Arrival Card, Travel Updates, Backpacking, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Since 1st July 2026, everyone entering or leaving South Africa by air, land or sea must submit an online Traveller Declaration up to 24 hours before departure. It is free, takes a few minutes on your phone, and covers your goods, currency and travel details. South Africa has quietly been testing this system since 2022. From 1 July 2026 it is compulsory for everyone, backpackers included, so here is exactly what it is, how to complete it, and what you actually need to declare before you land. ## What Is South Africa's Traveller Declaration? It is an online customs declaration that replaces the old paper form for almost everyone. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) piloted it at three major airports, King Shaka in Durban, Cape Town International and OR Tambo in Johannesburg, from 2022, then rolled it out to ports across the country. It became compulsory nationwide, across air, land and sea borders, from 1 July 2026. You can read the full detail on the [official SARS Traveller Declaration page](https://www.sars.gov.za/travellerdeclaration/). ## When Do You Need to Submit It? No more than 24 hours before you depart. If your trip has connecting flights, the 24 hour window counts down to your final departure into or out of South Africa, not your first flight of the day. Submitting it too early just means doing it again closer to the time. ## How Do You Actually Complete It? You have four options: the SARS website portal, the South African Traveller Management System (SATMS) app, the SARS MobiApp, or scanning a Scan-to-Declare QR code at self-service kiosks. All are free. You will need your passport details, your travel details, contact information, and details of anyone travelling with you. After you submit, SARS emails you a confirmation with instructions, keep it on your phone or printed and follow the signage when you land. ## What Do You Actually Need to Declare? Two things matter for most backpackers: goods and cash. - Goods: you can bring in up to R5,000 worth per person completely duty and VAT free. A further R20,000 is allowed but may attract duty and VAT. Once the total value crosses R25,000, normal customs duty and VAT apply to everything over that. This allowance only works once every 30 days per person, and it does not apply if you are returning to South Africa after being away for less than 48 hours. - Currency: you can carry up to R100,000 in local or foreign currency, or bearer instruments like traveller's cheques, without needing prior approval. Above that, you need to arrange approval in advance. ## What Happens If You Do Not Declare? SARS is explicit that failing to declare, or submitting a false declaration, can lead to delays, detention or forfeiture of your goods, penalties or other enforcement action under customs law. For a backpacker with a normal amount of gear and cash, the declaration itself takes minutes and avoids all of that. ## Are There Any Exceptions? Paper declarations still exist, but only in three situations: a SARS systems failure, no internet connectivity at the port you are crossing, or you are genuinely unable to complete it electronically. For almost every traveller with a phone and signal, the online route is the only practical one. Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [China's Digital Arrival Card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-online-arrival-card), [Australia Working Holiday Visa Fee Increase](https://budgetbro.app/blog/australia-working-holiday-visa-fee-2026) and [Dubai's New 5-Year Visa Could Be Your Nomad Base](https://budgetbro.app/blog/dubai-5-year-multi-entry-visa-nomads). ## Frequently Asked Questions: ### Is this mandatory for tourists, or just residents? Everyone. Citizens, residents and visitors crossing by air, land or sea all need to submit a declaration, and parents must submit one for children and infants too. ### Do I need to declare if I have nothing to declare? Yes. The declaration itself is the requirement, not just a form for people carrying dutiable goods. Everyone submits one, even with an empty suitcase and a debit card. ### What if my flight has a layover before South Africa? Submit it within 24 hours of your final departure into or out of South Africa, not your very first flight of the journey. ### Is there a fee to submit a Traveller Declaration? No. Submitting the declaration itself is free through the SARS portal, the SATMS app, the SARS MobiApp or a Scan-to-Declare QR code. You would only pay if your goods exceed the duty-free allowance. ### Where do I actually go to submit it? [The official SARS Traveller Declaration portal](https://www.sars.gov.za/travellerdeclaration/) is the only place to submit it. The [official FAQ page](https://www.sars.gov.za/travellerdeclaration/faqs-for-the-required-online-traveller-declarations-from-1-july-2026/) covers edge cases in more detail if your situation is not straightforward. Planning a trip through South Africa? BudgetBro tracks spending in over 160 currencies and works offline, so the rand sits alongside every other currency from your trip in one place. Always check the official SARS site close to your travel date, since customs rules can change at short notice. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Australia Working Holiday Visa Fee Increase > Australia's working holiday visa fee is AU$840 from 1 July 2026 for subclass 417 and 462. See total costs, health checks and processing times. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/australia-working-holiday-visa-fee-2026 - Published: 2026-07-01 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Guides - Tags: Australia, Visas, Working Holiday Visa, Travel Updates, Backpacking, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Australia's working holiday visa fee is AU$840 for a first application from 1 July 2026, up from AU$670, and it applies to both the Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) and the Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462). A second or third application now costs AU$1,000. But the visa charge is only part of what a working holiday actually costs, so this guide also covers health checks, biometrics, proof of funds and processing times. ## How Much Is the Australia Working Holiday Visa Fee in 2026? The Australia working holiday visa fee in 2026 is AU$840 for a first subclass 417 or 462 application lodged on or after 1 July 2026. The Department of Home Affairs applied a general 25 percent increase across most visa application charges, plus a targeted extra rise for repeat working holiday makers: a second or third application costs AU$1,000. One exception: Pacific Island and Timor-Leste nationals applying for the subclass 462 pay a reduced AU$690. That works out to roughly £435 GBP or $588 USD at current exchange rates for the first application, or £518 GBP and $700 USD for a second or third, though rates move daily so treat these as a guide, not an invoice. If you are budgeting from outside Australia, converting figures like this into your own currency as you plan is exactly what BudgetBro tracks automatically, worth having open before you get into the full cost breakdown below. Applications lodged before 1 July 2026 are assessed at the fee that applied when they were submitted, so if you paid AU$670 in June, nothing changes for you. ## What Is the Difference Between the Subclass 417 and Subclass 462 Visas? The subclass 417 and subclass 462 are the same working holiday product with the same AU$840 fee, but which one you apply for depends entirely on your passport. The Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) covers the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada, Germany, France, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, among others. It has no annual cap and no ballot. The Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) covers the United States, Chile, Turkey, China, India, Vietnam, Indonesia and others. Most 462 nationalities face extra requirements the 417 does not have, such as proof of tertiary education, functional English, or a letter of support from their government. Many 462 countries also have annual caps, and high-demand countries including China, India and Vietnam now use a pre-application ballot: you must be randomly selected before you can even lodge. Age limits differ too. The standard range for both visas is 18 to 30, but UK, Irish, Canadian, French, Danish and Italian citizens can apply for the 417 up to age 35. ## What Does an Australia Working Holiday Cost in Total? Budget roughly AU$6,500 to AU$7,500 before you earn your first Australian dollar, because the AU$840 visa fee sits alongside several other fixed costs. Here is the realistic breakdown: **Visa application charge: **AU$840 (first application) or AU$1,000 (second or third), paid at lodgement through ImmiAccount. **Proof of funds: **the Department of Home Affairs expects you to show around AU$5,000 in accessible savings, plus the cost of an onward or return fare. You may be asked for bank statements. **Health examinations (if requested): **a standard medical with Bupa Medical Visa Services costs roughly AU$340 to AU$390 in Australia, a chest x-ray around AU$120 to AU$150, and blood tests AU$90 to AU$130. Overseas panel clinics set their own prices, so check locally. **Biometrics (if requested): **applicants from some countries must give fingerprints and a photo at a visa application centre, which charges its own collection fee that varies by country. On top of that come flights, travel insurance and your first weeks of accommodation before wages arrive. Working holiday makers are not covered by Medicare unless their country has a reciprocal health agreement with Australia, so insurance is not optional. ## Do You Need a Health Check or Biometrics for an Australia Working Holiday Visa? Most working holiday applicants do not need a health examination, but the Department of Home Affairs will request one if you have spent three months or more in a country with a higher tuberculosis risk in the last five years, or if you intend to work in healthcare, aged care or childcare in Australia. If asked, you book through Bupa Medical Visa Services in Australia or an approved panel physician abroad, and you pay the clinic directly. Biometrics work the same way: only applicants from certain countries are asked, and instructions arrive after you lodge. Do not pay any third party who offers to arrange health checks or biometrics for you; bookings only happen through the official channels named in your ImmiAccount correspondence. ## How Long Does the Working Holiday Visa Take to Process? Most working holiday visa applications are processed within two weeks: the Department of Home Affairs' published service standard is 75 percent of applications decided within 14 days and 90 percent within 29 days. Straightforward first applications with no health checks often come back faster. Requests for biometrics, health examinations or extra documents restart the clock, so respond quickly if Home Affairs contacts you. The safe play: do not book non-refundable flights until the grant notice lands in your ImmiAccount inbox. ## Who Does the 2026 Working Holiday Visa Fee Increase Affect? Anyone lodging a subclass 417 or 462 application on or after 1 July 2026 pays the new fee, regardless of nationality. Both visas let eligible travellers aged 18 to 30 (or 35 for some 417 countries) live, work and study in Australia for up to 12 months, with second and third years available through specified work in regional Australia, such as farm work, for most nationalities. Check the official [Working Holiday visa (subclass 417) page](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-417) and the [Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462) page](https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/work-holiday-462) for your country's specific requirements before applying. Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [China's Digital Arrival Card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-online-arrival-card), [Dubai's New 5-Year Visa Could Be Your Nomad Base](https://budgetbro.app/blog/dubai-5-year-multi-entry-visa-nomads) and [South Africa's Traveller Declaration](https://budgetbro.app/blog/south-africa-traveller-declaration). ## Frequently Asked Questions: Australia Working Holiday Visa Fee 2026 ### When does the AU$840 working holiday visa fee apply from? The new charge applies to applications lodged from 1 July 2026 onward. Applications submitted before that date are assessed at the previous AU$670 fee. ### Can UK citizens stay in Australia for three years without farm work? Yes. Under the UK-Australia Free Trade Agreement, British passport holders can apply for up to three separate 12-month subclass 417 visas without doing any specified regional work, and can apply up to age 35. Each application still pays its own fee: AU$840 for the first, AU$1,000 for the second and third. ### Is there a ballot for the subclass 462 visa in 2026? For some countries, yes. China, India and Vietnam use a pre-application ballot: you register during a window, and only randomly selected registrants can lodge a 462 application. Most 417 countries, including the UK, Ireland and Canada, have no ballot and no cap. ### How much money do you need in the bank for a 417 visa? The Department of Home Affairs expects evidence of around AU$5,000 in accessible funds, plus enough for an onward or departing fare. Recent bank statements in your name are the standard proof if you are asked. ### Where do you apply for the Australia working holiday visa? Only through ImmiAccount at immi.homeaffairs.gov.au, the Department of Home Affairs' official portal. Any other website or agent asking for the visa payment is not the Australian government. ### How much does the Bupa Medical Visa Services health exam cost? In Australia, a standard immigration medical through Bupa Medical Visa Services costs roughly AU$340 to AU$390, with a chest x-ray around AU$120 to AU$150 extra if required. You only need one if the Department of Home Affairs asks after you lodge. ## Final Thoughts At AU$840 plus proof of funds, health checks and flights, a working holiday now takes real planning before you land. BudgetBro tracks your savings target and your spending in Australian dollars alongside every other currency from your trip, so you know exactly how long your money will last between pay cheques. It is free, works offline, and was built by people who have done the working holiday themselves. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC): How to Apply, Who Needs It and When > The Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC) is a free online form most visitors submit up to 7 days before arrival. Who needs it, what you need and how to apply. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/taiwan-digital-arrival-card - Published: 2026-06-18 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Taiwan, Visas, Digital Arrival Card, Travel Updates, Asia, Backpacking - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- If you are flying to Taiwan on a visitor visa or under visa exemption, the TWAC is the one piece of paperwork you should not skip. This guide covers exactly what it is, who has to submit one, how to fill it in step by step, what you need to hand, when to do it, and the mistakes that trip people up at the gate. ![The Taipei skyline at golden hour with Taipei 101 rising above the city, seen from a green hillside in Taiwan | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/tw-a.webp) ## What is the Taiwan Arrival Card (TWAC)? The TWAC is Taiwan's digital arrival card, run by the National Immigration Agency. It is an online declaration of who you are, why you are visiting and where you are staying, and it went live in October 2025 to replace the paper arrival card travellers used to complete in the air. Instead of scribbling a card on the plane, you now fill in a short web form before you travel and arrive with the paperwork already done. It is free, it is quick, and it is available in seven languages: English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Indonesian, Vietnamese and Thai. One submission can cover several travellers at once, which is handy for families and groups. ## TWAC vs visa: what is the difference? The TWAC is not a visa and it does not grant you entry on its own. A visa, or a visa-exemption arrangement, is your permission to enter Taiwan. The TWAC is simply the arrival declaration you make on top of that permission. If your nationality needs a visitor visa, you still need the visa. If you qualify for visa-free entry, you still complete the TWAC. Think of the visa as the ticket in and the TWAC as the form you hand over at the door. ## Who needs to submit the Taiwan Arrival Card? Most short-stay foreign arrivals need one. You must submit the TWAC if you are: - A foreign national entering Taiwan on a visitor visa - A foreign national entering under a visa-exemption arrangement - A resident of Hong Kong, Macao or mainland China arriving on certain multiple-entry permits - A Taiwan national without household registration who does not hold a resident certificate In short, if you are visiting Taiwan rather than living there, you almost certainly need to complete the form before you arrive. ## Who is exempt from the TWAC? You do not need to submit the Taiwan Arrival Card if you already hold one of the following: - An Alien Resident Certificate (ARC) - A resident visa - A diplomatic identification card If you live in Taiwan or hold long-term residency, the TWAC does not apply to you. It is aimed squarely at short-stay visitors. ## How to apply for the Taiwan Arrival Card online The whole thing is done at the official portal, [twac.immigration.gov.tw](https://twac.immigration.gov.tw). There is no app to download and no third party to pay. Here is the process from start to finish. ### Step 1: Open the official portal and choose your language Go to twac.immigration.gov.tw and pick one of the seven supported languages. Make sure the web address is the official government one before you enter any personal details. If a site asks you to pay a fee, it is not the real TWAC. ### Step 2: Enter your personal and passport details Fill in your name, nationality, date of birth and passport information exactly as they appear on your passport. Small mismatches, such as a missing middle name or a transposed number, are the most common reason a submission causes trouble at the border. ### Step 3: Add your travel and itinerary details Enter your purpose of visit, your flight number or means of arrival, and your arrival date. If your plans are not fully fixed, use your best current information and remember you can complete a fresh submission if things change. ### Step 4: Give your accommodation address in Taiwan Provide the address where you will be staying, whether that is a hotel, a guesthouse or a friend's home. Have the booking confirmation open so you can copy the address accurately. ### Step 5: Review, submit and save your confirmation Check every field against your passport and booking, then submit. You will receive an electronic confirmation by email. Save it, screenshot it or print it so you can show it at immigration if you are asked. ![An aircraft wing above the clouds at sunset, on approach to a destination | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/tw-plane.webp) ## What documents and information you need You do not need to upload documents, but you do need the details from them. Have these to hand before you start: - Your passport, for your name, nationality, date of birth and passport number - Your flight number or other means of arrival - Your arrival date and purpose of visit - The full address of your accommodation in Taiwan Gathering these first means the form really does take about five minutes. ## When to apply: timing and the validity window You can submit the TWAC any time up to seven days before you arrive in Taiwan. This window was recently extended from three days, so you no longer have to leave it until the last minute. There is no benefit to waiting: filling it in early, alongside the rest of your pre-trip admin, means one less thing to think about the night before your flight. If your details change after you submit, you can complete a new submission with the correct information. ## After you submit: what to expect Once your form is accepted, the confirmation lands in your email. There is nothing to collect at a counter and no sticker in your passport. Keep the confirmation accessible on your phone or on paper so you can present it quickly if an immigration officer asks. With the TWAC done, arrival is usually a straightforward walk through the normal passport checks. ## Common mistakes to avoid A few small errors cause most of the friction travellers report: - Using an unofficial website that charges a fee. The real TWAC is free at twac.immigration.gov.tw - Entering your name or passport number differently from your passport - Leaving the accommodation address blank or guessing it - Assuming the TWAC replaces a visa. It does not; you still need your visa or visa-exempt entitlement - Waiting until you are already at the airport when you could have done it days earlier ## How Taiwan compares with the rest of Asia Taiwan is part of a clear regional shift towards filling in your arrival paperwork online before you land rather than on the plane. We have full walkthroughs for the other big ones, including the [China arrival card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-online-arrival-card), the [Vietnam digital arrival card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/vietnam-digital-arrival-card) and the [India e-Arrival Card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/india-e-arrival-card). The details differ from country to country, but the pattern is the same: do it online, do it before you travel, and keep the confirmation handy. ## Frequently asked questions about the Taiwan Arrival Card ### Is the Taiwan Arrival Card mandatory? Yes, for most short-stay visitors. If you are entering Taiwan on a visitor visa or under visa exemption, you are expected to submit the TWAC before you arrive. Residents with an Alien Resident Certificate, a resident visa or a diplomatic identification card are exempt. ### How much does the Taiwan arrival card cost? Nothing. The TWAC is completely free at the official portal, twac.immigration.gov.tw. If a website asks you to pay, it is not the official one. ### Where do I fill out the Taiwan Arrival Card? Only at the official government portal, twac.immigration.gov.tw. There is no app and no need for an agent. Avoid third-party sites that charge a fee for what is a free government form. ### When can I submit the Taiwan TWAC? Any time up to seven days before you arrive in Taiwan, following the recent change from the previous three-day window. You can complete it at any point within that week before your flight. ### How long does the Taiwan Arrival Card take? About five minutes if you have your passport, flight details and accommodation address to hand. There is no processing wait; you receive your confirmation by email once you submit. ### Do I still need a visa as well as the TWAC? Yes, if your nationality requires one. The TWAC is an arrival declaration, not a visa. If you enter on a visitor visa you still need that visa, and if you enter under visa exemption you still complete the TWAC. The card does not replace your entry permission. ### What information do I need to complete it? Your passport details, your flight number or means of arrival, your arrival date and purpose of visit, and the address of your accommodation in Taiwan. You do not need to upload any documents. ### Do children need a Taiwan Arrival Card? Yes. Each traveller needs to be declared, including children. The good news is that a single submission can cover several travellers at once, so a family can be completed together rather than one form at a time. ### Can I update the TWAC after I submit it? If your details change after you submit, complete a fresh submission with the correct information before you travel. Keep the latest confirmation to show at immigration. ### What if my flight details change? Submit a new form with the updated flight information. Because you can file up to seven days ahead, it is worth waiting until your itinerary is settled if you know it is still moving. ### Can I fill out the Taiwan Arrival Card at the airport? It is designed to be completed online before you travel, so the safest approach is to do it in advance. Sorting it at the airport relies on connectivity and time you may not have, which is exactly what the pre-arrival form is meant to avoid. ### Is the TWAC the same as an e-visa or ETA? No. It is an arrival declaration rather than an entry authorisation. Some countries run electronic visas or travel authorisations that grant permission to enter; the TWAC does not do that. It simply records your arrival details for immigration. Sorting your arrival card a week early is one less thing to think about, and the same goes for your money. BudgetBro helps backpackers and long-stay travellers track spending across more than 160 currencies and set a trip budget for Taiwan so you always know where you stand. Entry rules can change, so always confirm the latest requirements at the [official TWAC portal](https://twac.immigration.gov.tw) before you travel. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Cambodia Visa-Free Trial for China: Will Other Countries Be Next? > Cambodia went visa-free for Chinese tourists on 15th June 2026. It is a pilot, and officials hint other countries could be next. Here is what it means for you. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/cambodia-visa-free-china-2026 - Published: 2026-06-15 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Cambodia, China, Visas, Travel Updates, Backpacking, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- In June 2026, Cambodia launched a four-month pilot that lets Chinese tourists visit visa-free, with no fee, multiple entries and a 14-day stay, needing only the online e-Arrival Card. The government has framed it as a test, and officials have indicated that if it goes well, visa-free entry could be extended to other markets such as Europe, in the months ahead. For everyone else, nothing has changed yet, but this is a space worth really watching closely. Cambodia has just made it dramatically easier for one of the world's biggest travel markets to visit, and the way it has done it is the interesting part. Rather than a permanent change, it is a trial run with an end date, and the government has been openly clear that the rest of the world's nationalities could be next in line if the numbers add up. If you have ever fancied Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh or the southern islands, this is the moment to understand where Cambodia's visa rules are heading. ![Angkor Wat temple reflected in its moat at golden hour in Siem Reap, Cambodia, with palm trees and visitors along the causeway | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/kh-angkor.webp) ## What exactly did Cambodia announce? Cambodia approved a pilot visa-free policy for Chinese nationals that runs from 15 June to 15 October 2026, a four-month window. Travellers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao can enter without applying for a visa and without paying a fee, stay for up to 14 days, and come and go as many times as they like during the trial. The only paperwork is the standard online e-Arrival Card that every air visitor fills in before they land. China is already Cambodia's third-largest source of foreign visitors after Thailand and Vietnam, with around a million Chinese arrivals in the first ten months of 2025, so this is a deliberate push to grow an already important market. The official document, reported by Chinese state media, also told Cambodia's foreign ministry to negotiate easier visa procedures for Cambodians travelling the other way, with the long-term aim of full reciprocal visa exemption between the two countries. You can read the [original announcement covering the pilot dates and conditions](https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202512/1349635.shtml) for the full detail. ## Why is this a big deal for travellers from other countries? Because Cambodia has set it up as a test, not a one-off favour. The government has said openly that the future of its visa-free policy depends on how this trial performs, which means the China pilot is effectively a live experiment that other nationalities stand to benefit from. If arrivals climb, spending grows and there are no security headaches over the four months, the case for opening the door wider becomes much stronger. In other words, Chinese travellers are the first test group, and the results could shape what entry looks like for the rest of us in 2026 and beyond. It also fits a wider pattern across Asia. Visa-free deals have been spreading fast, with China itself opening up to dozens of nationalities and countries like Brazil striking new arrangements, as we covered in our roundup of [China's current visa-free countries](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-visa-free-travel-list). Cambodia easing entry is part of the same regional race to attract more visitors, and that competition tends to be good news for travellers. ## Could Cambodia go visa-free for other countries? It is a real possibility that officials have openly floated, although nothing is confirmed yet. Industry coverage of the pilot describes it as a test case for broader visa reform that could eventually reach high-value markets such as Japan, Europe and other Western countries. One proposal under discussion would give European travellers visa-free entry of somewhere between 15 and 45 days for tourism, business or cultural visits, and the government has indicated it would be willing to extend the same treatment to all Europeans if the security data and the commercial results from trials like this one line up with regional benchmarks. The key word throughout is if. None of this is policy yet, and there is no published list of countries or dates beyond the China trial. So the honest picture is this. Cambodia wants more visitors, it is using the China pilot to prove the model works, and it has told the world it is open to widening visa-free access if the experiment succeeds. That is a genuine signal, not a guarantee, and it is exactly the kind of thing worth tracking if Cambodia is on your list. You can see the [industry reporting on the expansion to other high-value markets](https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/cambodia-offers-visa-free-entry-for-the-chinese-nationals-from-june-15-to-october-15-2026-boosting-tourism-growth-and-expanding-to-high-value-markets/) for where the discussion currently stands. ![The carved stone faces of Bayon temple at Angkor Thom in Siem Reap, Cambodia, under a clear blue sky | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/kh-bayon.webp) ## Which countries might be next? No official shortlist exists, but the markets named most often in the reporting are the ones Cambodia sees as high spending or high volume. Europe is the clearest candidate, thanks to the specific 15 to 45 day proposal already on the table. Japan and other wealthy East Asian markets come up regularly too, alongside the broader category of Western tourist countries. Reciprocity is likely to matter as well, so nations that already make it easy for Cambodians to visit, or that send a lot of travellers Cambodia's way, are the logical front-runners. Treat all of this as informed expectation rather than fact, because the government has tied any expansion to the results of trials like the current one. ## How do you enter Cambodia right now if you are not Chinese? For everyone outside the China pilot, the existing rules still apply, and they are not difficult. Most nationalities can apply online for Cambodia's e-Visa, which costs 30 US dollars and allows a one month stay, or buy a visa on arrival for the same price at the main airports, paid in cash. On top of the visa, every air arrival must complete the Cambodia e-Arrival Card online before boarding. That card is an immigration and customs form rolled into one, not a visa, so you still need the visa as well unless you are covered by a visa-free arrangement. Sort both in advance and you will clear the airport quickly. Getting to Cambodia is mostly a question of flying in, since the land border with Thailand has been closed since mid-2025. We keep a running update on that situation and on safety in our guide to [whether it is safe to travel to Cambodia and Thailand right now](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cambodia-thailand-border-updates). Once you are in the country, moving around is easy and cheap, whether that is a domestic flight, a bus, or the scenic [Phnom Penh to Siem Reap river ferry](https://budgetbro.app/blog/new-phnom-penh-to-siem-reap-ferry). Check out our in-app tips on how to save money within Cambodia. ## How should you plan around this as a traveller? If you are Chinese, the message is simple: the window from 15 June to 15 October 2026 is the cheapest and easiest time in years to visit Cambodia, so make the most of it. If you hold any other passport, the play is to watch the announcements. Cambodia is clearly in an expansionary mood on visas, and the wider [rebound in Asian travel](https://budgetbro.app/blog/chinatravelcomeback2026) means more of these deals are likely across the region. Especially with recent Thailand visa changes and hostility towards tourists etc. Build a flexible plan, keep an eye on official updates, and be ready to move if Cambodia opens visa-free entry to your country. Whatever your passport, the smart move is to plan the money side early. A trip to Cambodia mixes US dollars and Cambodian riel, and once you factor in flights, the e-Visa, accommodation and temple passes, costs add up quietly. Knowing your numbers before you go is what keeps a long trip on the road. ## Frequently Asked Questions About Cambodia's Visa-Free Policy: ### Is Cambodia visa-free for everyone now? No. The visa-free pilot from 15th June to 15th October 2026 applies only to travellers from mainland China, Hong Kong and Macao. Every other nationality still needs a Cambodian e-Visa or a visa on arrival, plus the e-Arrival Card. ### How long can Chinese tourists stay in Cambodia visa-free? Up to 14 days per entry during the trial period, with multiple entries allowed. Chinese travellers can come and go as often as they like between 15 June and 15 October 2026 without applying for a visa or paying a fee. ### Will Cambodia extend visa-free entry to other countries? It is possible but not confirmed. Officials have described the China pilot as a test case and have floated visa-free access for European travellers of 15 to 45 days, but any expansion depends on the results of trials like this one. There is no official list of countries or dates yet. ### Do Chinese tourists need anything to enter under the pilot? Yes, the online e-Arrival Card. Even though no visa is required during the trial, every air arrival, including those entering visa-free, must complete Cambodia's e-Arrival Card before boarding their flight. ### How much is a Cambodian visa if you are not eligible for the pilot? A tourist visa, it is 30 US dollars. This is single-entry visa valid for one month. It is available online as an e-Visa (up to 3 business days, normally 24 hours weekdays) or on arrival in cash (pristine USD notes only) at the main airports. You also need to complete the free e-Arrival Card online before you travel. Cambodia is getting easier and cheaper to visit, and that is the perfect excuse to start planning. BudgetBro helps backpackers and long-stay travellers manage money across more than 160 currencies, set a trip budget for Cambodia and see exactly where every dollar and riel goes. Visa rules can change at short notice, so always confirm the latest entry requirements with official sources. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # New Ha Giang Loop Border Entry Permit Requirement > As of 1st June 2026, travellers on the Ha Giang Loop need a border area entry permit. Article covers what it costs, where to get it, and how it's enforced. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/ha-giang-loop-border-permit-2026 - Published: 2026-06-10 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Vietnam, Ha Giang Loop, Travel Updates, Backpacking, Visas - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- # The New Border Entry Rule Every Rider Needs to Know The Ha Giang Loop is the most spectacular motorbike ride in northern Vietnam, and a lot of its scenery sits right up against the Chinese border. That border has always meant paperwork, but for years the permit was loosely checked and easy to skip. That has changed. As of mid-2026, operators and hostels across Ha Giang report a stricter border area entry permit rule and more enforcement on the road. ## Do you need a permit for the Ha Giang Loop in 2026? Yes. Since the beginning of June 2026, all foreign travellers entering Ha Giang's border districts need a border area entry permit, and the permit is required even if you are only passing through and not staying overnight. The classic loop runs through several of these districts, so in practice almost every rider on the standard route needs one. ![Two motorbike riders on a quiet road below misty limestone peaks on the Ha Giang Loop near the Chinese border | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/hg-motorbikes.webp) ## What is the Ha Giang Loop border area entry permit? The border area entry permit is a document that lets foreign travellers enter the restricted districts of Ha Giang province that sit along the frontier with China. According to operators reporting the change, it covers the districts most of the loop passes through, including Quan Ba, Yen Minh, Dong Van, Meo Vac and Du Gia, as well as sensitive spots such as the Lung Cu flag tower near the border. It is separate from your Vietnam visa or e-visa, so holding a valid visa does not exempt you from the permit. ## How much does the Ha Giang permit cost and how long is it valid? The permit costs roughly 200,000 to 250,000 VND per person, which is about 8 to 10 US dollars. Validity typically runs from 3 to 10 days depending on the itinerary you give, which comfortably covers a standard three or four day loop. It is cheap and quick to arrange, so the cost is never the reason riders skip it. The reason is usually that they did not know it had become compulsory. ## Where and how do you get the Ha Giang Loop permit? You arrange the permit in Ha Giang City, usually the day before you set off. There are three common ways to get one: - Through your hostel or homestay, which is the easiest route and what most loop tours now handle for you as part of the booking. - Through your tour operator or easyrider, who will sort the paperwork for the group. - Directly at the immigration or police desk in Ha Giang City, on Tran Phu or Nguyen Trai Street, if you are riding fully independently. To apply you usually need a copy of your passport and Vietnam visa, your planned dates and a rough itinerary. If you are booking a tour, ask the tour agency / operator to confirm the permit is included before you pay, so there are no surprises at the first checkpoint. ## What happens at the checkpoints if you do not have it? Enforcement in 2026 is far stricter than the relaxed reputation the loop used to have. Riders and operators report active police checkpoints, with the passes at Bac Sum and Yen Minh singled out as places where officers now check documents properly. As [reported by Ha Giang trip guides](https://looptrails.com/guide/ha-giang-2026-guide-whats-new/), travellers without valid documentation can be fined and, in some cases, have their motorbike impounded until the paperwork and any fine are settled. Reported fines for riding without the right documents run from around 2,000,000 to 6,000,000 VND, which is roughly 80 to 240 US dollars. The takeaway is simple. A permit that costs under 10 dollars protects you from a fine that can run into the hundreds, and from losing your bike and a day of your trip while you sort it out. ## Do you still need a licence and an IDP to ride the loop? Yes, and this is a separate requirement from the permit that catches a lot of travellers out. To legally ride a motorbike in Vietnam you need a licence that covers the engine size you are riding, plus an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 Vienna Convention. The older 1949 IDP is not accepted in Vietnam. Police on the loop check for this too, and the fines sit in a similar range to the permit fines. If you are not licensed to ride, the common and legal alternative is to go with an easyrider and sit pillion, which does not require a licence. Either way, your documents matter for more than avoiding fines. Riding illegally can also void a travel insurance claim, so the permit and the right licence are part of keeping your cover valid. We cover that in detail in our guide to [Ha Giang Loop travel insurance](https://budgetbro.app/blog/ha-giang-loop-travel-insurance). ## How does the permit fit with Vietnam's other entry rules? The Ha Giang permit is a regional, in-country document, separate from the paperwork you complete to enter Vietnam in the first place. Before you even reach Ha Giang you will deal with your visa or e-visa and Vietnam's [digital arrival card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/vietnam-digital-arrival-card). Think of it as three layers: enter the country, then enter the border province. Get your visa sorted online before you fly, then sort the loop permit once you reach Ha Giang City. ## Frequently Asked Questions: ### Is the Ha Giang Loop permit mandatory in 2026? Yes. From 1 June 2026, foreign travellers need a border area entry permit to enter Ha Giang's border districts, and the standard loop route passes through several of them. It applies even if you are only passing through and not staying the night. ### How much is the Ha Giang Loop permit? Around 200,000 to 250,000 VND per person, which is roughly 8 to 10 US dollars. It is usually valid for 3 to 10 days depending on the itinerary you give when you apply. ### Do I need a permit if I go on a guided easyrider tour? Yes, the permit still applies to you as a foreign traveller, but you almost never have to arrange it yourself. Tour operators and easyriders handle the permit for the group. Confirm it is included when you book. ### What happens if I ride the loop without a permit? You risk a fine of roughly 2,000,000 to 6,000,000 VND at a checkpoint, and in some cases police can impound your motorbike until the matter is settled. The passes at Bac Sum and Yen Minh are reported as active checkpoints. ### Is the permit the same as a visa? No. Your Vietnam visa or e-visa lets you enter the country. The border area entry permit is a separate regional document that lets you enter Ha Giang's restricted border districts. You need both. Planning your Ha Giang Loop budget? BudgetBro helps backpackers and long-stay travellers track spending in over 160 currencies, set a trip budget and see where the money goes, from the permit and petrol to homestays and food. Rules at the border change at short notice, so always confirm the current permit process with your hostel or at the Ha Giang immigration desk, and check the official [Vietnam e-visa portal](https://evisa.gov.vn/) for entry requirements before you travel. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Split the Bill With Siri in iOS 27 > Apple's Siri in Camera splits restaurant bills by item and sends Apple Cash requests. What it does, what it misses for travellers, and where BudgetBro fits. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/apple-siri-bill-splitting-travellers - Published: 2026-06-09 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: iOS, Budgeting - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- In Apple's iOS 27, now in public beta and due for full release in September 2026, you will be able to split a restaurant bill by item and send Apple Cash payment requests, but only between recent iPhones, and only in the USA. For a multi-week, multi-country trip with mixed phones and changing currencies, you still need a dedicated travel budgeting app. At WWDC 2026 on 8th June, Apple showed off a feature that quietly fixes one of the most awkward moments of any trip: working out who owes what after a group meal. Point your iPhone camera at the receipt, Siri in Camera turns each line on it into something you can tap, you mark who ordered what, and it fires off itemised Apple Cash requests to everyone at the table. No more dividing by four when one person had the lobster and three had noodles. It is genuinely clever, and it is validation of something we have believed for a while; that splitting money between friends is a real, everyday pain that most apps handle badly. But there is a gap between splitting one dinner and managing a whole trip, and that gap is worth understanding before you assume your phone now has it covered. ## What was announced by at WWDC 2026? Apple's new Siri in Camera mode, part of the wider Visual Intelligence push it [set out at WWDC 2026](https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/06/apple-unveils-next-generation-of-apple-intelligence-siri-ai-and-more/), lets you scan a receipt and split it by individual item. Apple software VP Sebastien Marineau-Mes demoed sending separate Apple Cash payment requests based on what each person actually ordered. The line items are recognised by Apple's on-device models, and the people you bill do not need to download anything. The new Siri is rolling out in the iOS 27 beta. TechCrunch's [write-up of the announcement](https://techcrunch.com/2026/06/08/apple-is-fixing-the-headache-of-splitting-the-bill-with-its-new-siri-in-camera-feature/) has the full demo which you can see. ## How does Apple's bill splitting actually work? The flow is about as simple as it gets: - Open the Camera app and point it at the paper receipt. - Siri in Camera reads it and makes each line item tappable. - Tap to assign who ordered what, so the totals reflect what people actually had. - Send itemised Apple Cash requests straight from Messages, and they settle between Apple Cash users. ## When can you use it, and which iPhone do you need? Apple showed the feature at WWDC in June 2026, it has been in **public beta** over the summer, and iOS 27 is due for full release around mid September 2026. iOS 27 itself runs on the iPhone 11 and later, but Siri in Camera is an Apple Intelligence feature, so the bill splitting needs an **iPhone 15 Pro or later**. If your phone is older, or your friends are on Android, this part simply will not appear. It is worth knowing the receipt split is one piece of a wider Apple Wallet travel push in iOS 27, alongside digital hotel keys, richer boarding and loyalty passes, the option to scan a paper ticket into a digital pass, and passes that update in real time. Handy on a trip, but all of it still leans on where Apple's own payment rails work, which is the catch for travellers below. ![Apple's new Pay Your Share screen in iOS 27, splitting a restaurant receipt into selectable line items with a total to send, shown at WWDC 2026](https://articles.budgetbro.app/applesplitbill.webp) ## What does it not solve for travellers? Here is the key part. Apple's feature is excellent at one specific job: one meal, one currency, between people who all use Apple Cash. On the road though, for travellers, very little of that is helpful. > Apple Cash is US-only. If you are backpacking Southeast Asia or splitting a villa in Portugal, the people at your table almost certainly do not all hold Apple Cash, which Apple only offers in the US. > It needs a recent iPhone. Siri in Camera runs on Apple Intelligence, so older iPhones and every Android traveller in your group are left out ([Apple has listed which models qualify](https://www.macrumors.com/2026/06/08/siri-ai-compatible-iphone-models/)). > It splits one meal, not a trip. It answers "who owes what for this dinner", not "how much has our group spent across two weeks", "are we still under budget", or "how long will my money last" like BudgetBro. No budgeting, no currency history, no runway. It is a settle-up tool, not a travel money tool. It will not convert a 500 baht lunch today or a 65,000 VND salted coffe next week at the different rates each day, and it will not warn you when your cash is about to run out. ## How BudgetBro fits alongside it Think of Apple's feature as the tool for the table and BudgetBro as the tool for the trip: > Shared trips that work on any phone. Add everyone, log shared costs, and keep "who paid for what" out of the group chat, whether they are on iPhone or Android. > 160+ currencies, converted on the day. Each expense is converted at the exchange rate on the day you spent it and frozen, so your group totals stay honest. > Travel Runway. At your current spending rate, how many more weeks can the group keep going? You find out before the money runs dry, not after. One picture of the whole trip. Income, recurring costs, multiple accounts and balances, on your phone and on the web, in sync together. If you are weighing up where each tool fits, check our [rundown of travel budgeting alternatives](https://budgetbro.app/alternatives) which lays the main options out side by side, and if you are still deciding whether you need one at all, we cover exactly that in [do you really need a travel budgeting app?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/do-you-need-a-travel-budgeting-app) The short version: a pure split-the-bill feature is great for one job, and a travel budgeting app is ideal for you when money has to last across a longer, multi-country trip. ![BudgetBro Expenses Dashboard](https://articles.budgetbro.app/budgetbrodashboardexpenses.webp) ## Apple bill splitting vs BudgetBro at a glance - **Best for:** Apple is built for one restaurant bill among friends. BudgetBro is built for tracking and splitting a whole trip. - **Where it works:** Apple settles through Apple Cash, which is US-only. BudgetBro works worldwide in over 160 currencies. - **Devices:** Apple needs a recent iPhone running Apple Intelligence. BudgetBro runs on iPhone, Android and the web. - **What it splits:** Apple splits a single meal by line item. BudgetBro runs ongoing shared trips and splits any expense, not just dinner. - **Beyond splitting:** Apple adds food nutrition estimates. BudgetBro adds budgets, Travel Runway, an AI money companion and a community Explore map. Apple solving bill-splitting is a win for everyone, and on a US weekend with an all-iPhone group it will feel like magic. For the longer, messier, multi-country trips, where the currency keeps changing, half the group is on Android, and the real question is whether the budget lasts, you need a tool built for travel money. That is the line BudgetBro is built for, and it is free to start. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Switching from Mint. What to Use Instead?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/switching-from-mint), [16,095KM Away From Home](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-i-ended-up-here) and [From the Founder](https://budgetbro.app/blog/november-recap-the-founders-perspective). ## Frequently Asked Questions: ### What is Apple's new bill splitting feature? Announced at Apple's Worldwide Developer Community event* (*WWDC 2026) and shipping in iOS 27, Siri in Camera lets you scan a paper receipt, tap individual items to assign them to people, and send itemised Apple Cash payment requests from Messages. ### Does Apple's bill splitting work outside the US? The splitting works, but the payments rely on Apple Cash, which is US-only. Outside the US you cannot settle through it, which is a problem for most international travel. ### Does it work on Android? No. It relies on Apple Intelligence and Apple Cash, so Android users and older iPhones are not supported. Mixed-phone travel groups are left out. ### Can BudgetBro split a bill? Not yet, but other travel apps can. The most popular app currently is Splitwise. Shared trips in BudgetBro lets you add travel companions on any phone, log shared costs and track who owes what, in over 160 currencies however, with regular updates. ### Is BudgetBro free? Yes. BudgetBro is free to start, with an optional BroPro upgrade for unlimited features. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Do You Really Need a Travel Budgeting App? > BudgetBro: Do you need a travel budgeting app? Not for a short holiday. For long, multi-country trips with changing currencies and shared costs, yes. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/do-you-need-a-travel-budgeting-app - Published: 2026-06-09 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Budgeting, Budget, App, Digital Nomad, Backpacking, BudgetBro - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Honestly? For a long weekend in Barcelona or Prague, probably not. Your bank app shows what you spent, the notes app holds your 'plans', and your phone already sorts the photos. If that is the whole trip, a dedicated budgeting app is overkill, and we would rather tell you that than sell you something you do not need. But "track my spending" and "manage my money on the road" are two different jobs. The first is looking backwards at what already left your account. The second is looking forwards: deciding what you can afford, splitting a tuk-tuk three ways, and working out whether your cash will stretch to that extra week in Thailand or Vietnam. That second job is where a phone's built-in tools quietly fall apart, and it is the job BudgetBro was built for. ## When is a spreadsheet or your bank app enough? A spreadsheet or your banking app is enough when the trip is short, single-currency, and solo. One country, one card, one week, nobody to settle up with. You can eyeball the balance and you are home before any exchange rate has moved. No app is going to beat "I have 400 pounds and I am back on Sunday." The moment any of those three things changes, the cracks show. ## What does a budgeting app do that a spreadsheet cannot? A budgeting app does the forward-looking work a spreadsheet was never designed for. Three things in particular: > Date-aware exchange rates across 160+ currencies, offline. Spend 500 baht today and 500 baht next week and those are different amounts in your home currency. BudgetBro converts each expense at the rate on the day it happened and freezes it, so your totals stay honest. A spreadsheet uses whatever rate you remembered to paste in, and your bank app only shows the converted figure after the fact. > Travel Runway. This is the number most travellers actually care about and almost no tool gives them: at your current spending rate, how many more weeks can you keep going? Burn through your budget faster in Bali than you planned and BudgetBro tells you before you run dry, not after. > Trip budgets with a forecast. Set what you want to spend on a trip, and BudgetBro projects whether you are on track to land under it or blow past it, while there is still time to adjust. ![BudgetBro home screen showing daily balance, weekly and monthly budget health, and local picks | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/hero-section.webp) ## Is it just expense tracking? No, and this is the part most people miss. Logging expenses is the floor, not the ceiling. BudgetBro also handles the bits of a trip that a receipts list ignores: **Shared trips.** Travelling with friends? Add everyone to a trip, log shared costs, and keep "who paid for what" out of the group chat. **Explore.** A community map of places real travellers rate, so the app helps you decide where to go, not just tally what you spent when you got there. **An AI travel companion.** Ask "how much did I spend in Cambodia?" or "what is my food spend this week?" in plain English and get a straight answer, no filtering and tapping required. **One place for the whole money picture.** Income, recurring costs, multiple accounts and balances, on the web with BudgetBro Web Beta, in sync. A spreadsheet can hold numbers. It cannot recommend a hostel, split a bill, or warn you that your money runs out in nineteen days. ## How does it compare to other travel apps? It depends what you need, and we have laid the main options out side by side. If you are weighing BudgetBro against other travel money apps, see our [rundown of travel budgeting alternatives](https://budgetbro.app/alternatives) for an honest look at where each one fits. The short version: pure split-the-bill apps are great for one job, photo and journal apps for another, and a travel budgeting app earns its place when money has to last across a longer, multi-country trip. **Related: **Apple just added bill splitting to the iPhone. We break down what it does and where it falls short for travellers in [Apple's iOS 27 bill splitting, what it means for travellers](https://budgetbro.app/blog/apple-siri-bill-splitting-travellers). ## So who is it actually for? It is for anyone whose trip is longer than a holiday. Backpackers crossing borders, digital nomads living out of one bag, anyone doing a multi-country run where currencies shift and the budget has to last. If you are tracking spending across weeks rather than days, planning as you go, or splitting costs with other people, a budgeting app stops being a nice-to-have and starts saving you real money. If you are not, keep your spreadsheet. We mean that. ## The verdict The same advice the tech reviewers give about travel journal apps applies here: check what you already have before you download anything. For a short, simple trip, you already have enough. For the bigger, messier, more interesting trips, the ones where money is the thing standing between you and another week on the road, a tool built for travel money does what a spreadsheet and a bank app cannot. That is the line BudgetBro is built for, and it is free to start. More reading to help you plan: [Switching from Mint. What to Use Instead?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/switching-from-mint), [16,095KM Away From Home](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-i-ended-up-here) and [From the Founder](https://budgetbro.app/blog/november-recap-the-founders-perspective). ## Frequently Asked Questions: ### Is BudgetBro free? Yes. BudgetBro is free, with an optional BroPro upgrade for unlimited features. ### Does it work offline? Yes. You can log expenses without signal and they sync when you are back online, with exchange rates handled for you. ### Can I use it to split costs with friends? No, not yet. ### How many currencies does it support? Over 160, and each expense is converted at the exchange rate on the day you spent it, so historical totals stay accurate. BudgetBro Web Beta logs your historical exchange rates. ### Is it only for backpackers or travellers? No, it is for everyone, but it shines on longer, multi-country trips. For a short single-currency holiday, your bank app may be all you need. Wherever your next trip takes you, BudgetBro helps you track spending in over 160 currencies, set trip budgets and see exactly where the money goes. Free to start, on your phone and on the web. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Vietnam's Health Declaration Is Not Mandatory From 1 July After All > Vietnam has confirmed its health declaration will not apply to every traveller from 1 July 2026. Here's what changed, and when it could still apply. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/vietnam-health-declaration-long-stay-travellers-nomads - Published: 2026-06-07 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro Featured - Tags: Vietnam, Visas, Digital Nomad, Travel Updates, Digital Arrival Card, Health - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Update: Vietnam's Ministry of Health has confirmed the health declaration is not applied routinely to every traveller from 1 July 2026, a reversal of the blanket rule first announced under Decree 165/2026/ND-CP. The Minister of Health now decides case by case which travellers must file a declaration, for which disease, and for how long, based on the actual outbreak risk at the time. For most trips right now, there is nothing to fill in. That is good news for long-stay travellers and digital nomads who cross Vietnam's borders often on visa runs and e-visa resets: there is no standing form to build into every trip. If Vietnam ever activates a declaration for a specific disease, it will apply only to the travellers and time window the Ministry names in that announcement, not automatically to everyone. Here is exactly what changed and what to expect. ## What Is Vietnam's Travel Health Declaration? The health declaration is set out in Decree 165/2026/ND-CP under Vietnam's Law on Disease Prevention. The decree gives the Ministry of Health the power to require a declaration at the border, but the government confirmed on 1 July 2026 that it does not apply automatically to all entries, exits or transits. It only switches on for a named infectious disease when the Ministry decides the risk warrants it. ![The Ho Chi Minh City skyline at sunset over the Saigon River, a major arrival point for travellers entering Vietnam | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/vn-vn2.webp) ## Is the Health Declaration Mandatory Right Now? No, not as a blanket rule. The government has confirmed that from 1 July 2026 the declaration is not required of every traveller by default. It only becomes mandatory if the Ministry of Health issues a specific order for a specific disease, and only for the travellers and period that order covers. There is currently no published filing window or standard form because there is no active, general requirement to file against. ## How Would You Complete It If It Is Ever Activated? There is no live declaration system in general use. The Ministry of Health has discontinued the earlier tokhaiyte.vn website, and a new platform is being developed for whenever a declaration is actually triggered. If an outbreak-specific declaration is ever activated, expect it to be announced through official Vietnamese immigration and health channels, most likely alongside the existing pre-arrival information system, rather than replacing it. ## What This Means for Long-Stay Travellers and Digital Nomads The practical upshot for long-stay travellers and digital nomads doing regular visa runs or e-visa resets is that there is currently nothing extra to file at the border for health reasons. That changes only if Vietnam is responding to a specific disease outbreak, in which case a declaration could be switched on for specific routes or nationalities at short notice. - There is no standing health declaration to file on a routine border crossing right now. - A declaration only applies if and when the Ministry of Health activates one for a named disease. - If that happens, the scope, form and deadline will be published at the time, not in advance. - Keep checking official Vietnamese immigration and health sources close to your travel dates, especially during any disease outbreak. It sits alongside Vietnam's other pre-arrival paperwork, which is unaffected by this change. If you are new to entering Vietnam, read our guide to [Vietnam's digital arrival card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/vietnam-digital-arrival-card) so you have that form covered before you travel. ![Teal disposable medical face masks, reflecting Vietnam's communicable disease prevention measures | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/vn-health1.webp) ## What Health Checks Still Happen at the Border? At the border, health officers may still observe travellers' health, check body temperature and screen for signs of communicable disease using surveillance and screening equipment. If something is flagged, they can carry out a more detailed check, including an interview and collection of epidemiological data, capped at a maximum of two hours per person. These general screening powers exist independently of the health declaration and continue regardless of whether a declaration is currently switched on. More reading to help you plan: [Papua New Guinea's Arrival Card Is Now Mandatory Before You Fly](https://budgetbro.app/blog/papua-new-guinea-digital-arrival-card), [South Africa's Traveller Declaration](https://budgetbro.app/blog/south-africa-traveller-declaration) and [Taiwan Arrival Card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/taiwan-digital-arrival-card). ## Frequently Asked Questions About Vietnam's Health Declaration ### Is the health declaration mandatory for tourists? No, not routinely. From 1 July 2026 the Vietnamese government confirmed the declaration does not apply automatically to every traveller. It only becomes mandatory if the Ministry of Health activates it for a specific disease. ### Do I need to file anything before I travel to Vietnam? Not for health reasons under the current rules. You still need Vietnam's separate digital arrival card (pre-arrival information) for immigration purposes, which is unaffected by this change. ### What happened to the original 1 July 2026 mandatory rule? Decree 165/2026/ND-CP gave the Ministry of Health the legal power to require a declaration, but the government clarified, [in an official statement](https://en.baochinhphu.vn/health-declaration-not-mandatory-for-all-intl-travelers-from-july-1-111260701111332151.htm), that it would not be applied as a routine, blanket requirement. The earlier reporting describing it as mandatory for everyone reflected the decree's scope, not how it is actually being used. ### Could the declaration still be activated later? Yes. The Ministry of Health can switch it on for a specific infectious disease if the risk of transmission into Vietnam warrants it, and would publish the details, including who it applies to and for how long, at that time. ### Is there a fee or penalty? No. There is currently no fee or penalty since there is no active blanket requirement. Any future outbreak-specific declaration would come with its own published rules. Staying in Vietnam for a while? BudgetBro helps long-stay travellers and digital nomads track spending in over 160 currencies, set trip budgets and see where the money goes. Always check official Vietnamese immigration and health sources for the latest entry rules before you travel, since this is one area that has already changed once. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Thailand's THIM "Super App": What Long-Stay Nomads Need to Know > THIM is Thailand's new immigration super app, built with AWS. It digitises the TDAC arrival card for long-stay travellers and digital nomads in 2026. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-thim-app-long-stay-travellers-nomads - Published: 2026-06-07 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Guides - Tags: Thailand, Digital Arrival Card, Visas, Digital Nomad, Apps, Bangkok - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Thailand's Immigration Bureau has launched THIM, a new official mobile app that moves the country's digital arrival card onto your phone. For backpackers on a two month trip it is a small convenience. For long-stay travellers and digital nomads who cross the Thai border several times a year, it is the start of a single place to handle arrivals, trips and, eventually, the paperwork that used to mean a morning queuing at an immigration office. THIM is still in a trial phase, with a full official launch expected in August 2026 and a wider expansion of its features from 1 October 2026. Here is what the app does today, why it matters more if you are staying long-term, and what to expect next. ## What is the THIM app? THIM (the Thailand Immigration Management system) is an official app from Thailand's Immigration Bureau, built in partnership with Amazon Web Services and Digital Identity Co. The Immigration Bureau has described THIM as a future "super app" for foreigners, eventually covering far more than the arrival card alone. It lets travellers submit their arrival information before they land, complete the digital arrival card on their phone, manage upcoming trips, update personal details, and add family members or group travellers to a single application. It is available on the App Store and Google Play. ## How does THIM relate to the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)? THIM is the mobile front end for the Thailand Digital Arrival Card, the TDAC, which has been mandatory for foreign arrivals since 1 May 2025. The [official TDAC portal](https://tdac.immigration.go.th/) remains the primary system, and THIM simply gives you an easier, app-based way to file the same arrival card. You still complete a TDAC for every entry, but THIM lets you do it from your phone, reuse your saved details, and the Immigration Bureau says the whole process takes under three minutes. TDAC itself is already well established, more than 10 million travellers have filed one since it became mandatory in May 2025, so THIM is a new front door onto a system most visitors have already used at least once. ![A passenger aircraft parked at an airport gate at sunset with ground crew, where arriving travellers clear Thai immigration | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/thim-airport3.webp) ## Why does THIM matter if you are staying in Thailand long-term? THIM matters most for repeat and long-stay travellers because it is built around people who arrive more than once. The features that save the biggest amount of time on a long trip are: - Pre-filled information for repeat travellers, so you are not retyping passport and trip details on every entry. - Automated passport reading and e-KYC identity verification, scanning your photo page and machine-readable zone so your details are pulled in rather than typed, which cuts manual data entry and reduces rejected forms. - Trip management and deadline notifications, useful when you are juggling visa runs and re-entries across the year. - Group and family applications, so couples and families filing together do it once rather than form by form. Thailand's Immigration Bureau has also said it wants THIM to grow into a broader immigration platform covering visa extensions, the 90-day residence notification that long-stay foreigners must file, and automated border procedures for more nationalities. If that arrives as planned, the recurring admin that defines long-stay life in Thailand could move into one app. Many long-stay nomads pair the convenience of THIM with the multi-entry Destination Thailand Visa. If that is your plan, read our [Thailand DTV visa guide](https://budgetbro.app/blog/dtvvisaguidethailand) for who qualifies and how to apply. ## When is the THIM app rolling out? THIM is in a trial phase now, available to download on iOS and Android, with a full official launch expected in August 2026 and a wider expansion of its features from 1 October 2026. During the trial the official TDAC website stays the main reference point, so if anything in the app does not work for your nationality yet, file your arrival card online as usual. The rollout has been reported by [The Nation Thailand](https://www.nationthailand.com/news/policy/40067126) and [The Star](https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/aseanplus-news/2026/05/29/thai-immigration-bureau-goes-digital-to-cut-border-queues), and the feature set and list of supported nationalities are expected to grow through 2026. ## How do you use THIM, and what languages does it support? You download THIM from the App Store or Google Play, verify your identity with the in-app e-KYC and passport scan, then submit your arrival details before you fly to Thailand. The app currently supports English, Russian, Japanese and Chinese, and officials plan to expand it to 15 languages. Keep your passport handy for the first setup, since the automated passport reader fills in most of your profile from it. ![A traveller relaxing in an airport departure lounge using a smartphone as a plane takes off | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/thim-passport3.webp) Crossing into other countries on your travels? Several now use the same pre-arrival system. See how [Vietnam's digital arrival card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/vietnam-digital-arrival-card) and [China's online arrival card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-online-arrival-card) work before you fly. ## Frequently Asked Questions About Thailand's THIM App ### Is the THIM app mandatory for entering Thailand? No. The Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC) is mandatory for foreign arrivals, but THIM is just one way to file it. You can still complete the TDAC on the official portal at tdac.immigration.go.th. THIM is an optional, more convenient app-based route to the same arrival card. ### Does THIM replace the TDAC website? Not during the testing phase. The TDAC website remains the primary system while THIM is rolled out. THIM files the same digital arrival card from your phone and saves your details for next time, but the official portal is still the fallback if the app does not yet support your situation. ### Can I use THIM for my whole family or travel group? Yes. THIM lets you add family members or group travellers to a single application, so you file once for everyone instead of completing a separate arrival card per person. This is one of the bigger time savers for couples, families and groups arriving together. ### Will THIM handle visa extensions and 90-day reporting? Not yet, but it is on the roadmap. Thailand's Immigration Bureau has said it wants THIM to expand into visa extensions, the 90-day residence notification, and automated border procedures for more nationalities. For now these are still handled through existing immigration channels. ### Which app stores is THIM available on? THIM is available on both the App Store for iPhone and Google Play for Android. Search for the official Thailand Immigration Management app and check the developer is the Immigration Bureau before downloading. ### Is THIM the same as Thailand's "super app"? THIM is the first release of what Thailand's Immigration Bureau plans to grow into a broader "super app" for foreigners. Today it covers the TDAC arrival card, e-KYC and trip management. The Immigration Bureau has said future versions will add more services under the same app. ### Does THIM include Digital ID or let you book appointments with immigration officers? Digital ID and appointment booking are part of the Immigration Bureau's longer-term plan for THIM as it expands into a super app, alongside visa extensions and 90-day reporting. They are not part of the current trial release, which focuses on the arrival card, e-KYC and trip management. If you are settling into Thailand for the long haul, tracking your spending matters as much as your paperwork. BudgetBro helps long-stay travellers and digital nomads log expenses in over 160 currencies, set trip budgets, and see where the money goes, all in one place. Always check the official Thai Immigration Bureau website for the latest entry rules before you travel, as requirements can change at short notice. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # From The Founder: April/May Update > BudgetBro founder Josh shares updates from April and May startup update, covering early traction, product development and lessons learned building in public. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/founder-april-may-recap - Published: 2026-06-01 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Press - Tags: Press, Founder - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- What a couple of months it's been. I don't know where to start. Firstly, I want to apologise for missing April's recap. I did try to get round to it but time kept passing and I arrived at a point where it just wasn't feasible anymore. So here we are, a two-for-one. We were having a ball of a time in Asia during the beta campaign. We did surface more issues, but it was less about the app itself and more about how to actually get people using it before full release. Android devices were prompting malware warnings on download, which is not a great look. Apple had too much friction. A lot of people didn't even know what TestFlight was. The list goes on, but it was important we understood the problems before we could address them. We also found smaller in-app issues through new beta users that we hadn't caught ourselves. ## Beta Challenges If March was about getting beta live, April was about facing what that actually meant in the real world. The honest takeaway is that distributing an app pre-launch is genuinely hard. It's not just about having something worth downloading. It's about reducing every single point of friction between a stranger and your product, and we had more of those than we'd like to admit. Android's malware warning was the most visible problem. It's a known issue with sideloaded APKs, but knowing the reason doesn't make it hurt less when someone's first impression of your app is a security alert. We've addressed it, but the lesson is clear: by the time real users encounter your product, every barrier needs to be gone. TestFlight literacy was a surprise. We assumed people in the backpacker community were tech-savvy enough to navigate it. A fair few weren't, and that's on us for assuming. ## A Change of Plans Our beta trip was cut short. In hindsight, for the beta too. Lovely pun, feel free to laugh. My grandad passed away days before we launched the campaign. It wasn't unexpected, but like any passing, the family grieved. Especially my mum. We did consider cancelling the trip entirely, but Grandad was always so proud of what we were building with BudgetBro. Inquisitive. Backing us fully. Stopping everything didn't feel like something he'd want, and it wouldn't have helped any of us either. During the campaign we met a lot of new faces, but something just wasn't sitting right. Myself and Samar knew our presence back home would be appreciated. With all the stress, anxiety and every other emotion you can tie to a product launch layered on top of everything else, we felt it was right to go home. To work on something my grandad had always wanted done: renovating his forever-home. ## Nathan & The App To step away from something you've built from the ground up, even temporarily, is nearly impossible without the right people in place. Fortunately, Nathan had us covered. And he certainly hasn't underdelivered. He's put his own mark on the app. Implanted future ideas while also making sure things are sustainable. I don't want to say much more because I know if he reads this, he'll be smug about it for weeks. So just to close this part out: thanks Nay Nay Coolay. Love ya. ## What's Changed in the App Nathan's work over the past couple of months has kept us moving forward while we've been heads down on the renovation. Bugs addressed. Improvements made. The kind of quiet, consistent progress that doesn't make headlines but absolutely matters. The app is ready to launch. Any day now. There are still teething issues, there always are, but we need to open the gates and let real users dictate what we're capable of. Not just as an app, but as a company. ## The Renovation My grandad's property in the north of England needed work. A lot of it. When he passed, renovating it was the wish he left behind. It felt like the least we could do. Samar's been right alongside me, and honestly she's been a capable partner in ways I didn't fully anticipate. What started as a personal project quickly became something else entirely. ## The Content Side We've been filming and posting the renovation across TikTok, YouTube Shorts and Facebook Reels as an indirect way to market BudgetBro. The idea was simple. Real content, honest process, no polish. It's semi-popped off. Just shy of two million views across[ YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@JoshStartsUp) and [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@joshstartsup). Both handles are @JoshStartsUp if you want to follow along. If you're a fan of these recaps, you'll hopefully enjoy the content too. Same tone, different backdrop. The renovation doubles as a proof of concept for where BudgetBro is heading. We're building out beyond travel budgeting into home renovation and general personal finance. Living the very thing we're building tools around felt like the most honest way to show that. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [From the Founder](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thefoundersviewdecemberrecap), [From The Founder](https://budgetbro.app/blog/january-founder-recap-startup-momentum) and [From The Founder](https://budgetbro.app/blog/from-the-founder-februarys-recap). ## Final Thoughts There's a lot more I'd like to bring up, but maybe this recap isn't quite the right place for all of it. What I will say is this: the last two months have been some of the most difficult and some of the most clarifying we've had since starting BudgetBro. Losing my grandad, stepping away from the day-to-day of the app, rebuilding something physical with my hands. It's all given me a clearer head about what we're doing and why. The app is ready. The content is growing. The next recap will be reporting back on a live product. See you next month with a live product. More from the founder diary: [← March Update](https://budgetbro.app/blog/from-the-founder-march-recap). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Hantavirus: What Travellers Need to Know > Hantavirus is making headlines after a cruise ship outbreak. Here's what it actually means for backpackers travelling in Southeast Asia and Europe in 2026. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/hantavirus-travel-update - Published: 2026-05-06 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Virus, Hantavirus, Asia, Europe, South America - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Unless you've been completely offline this week, you've probably seen the headlines about a cruise ship outbreak that's left three passengers dead, and health organisations scrambling. Hantavirus is suddenly front-page news, and understandably, a lot of travellers are asking the same question: should I be worried? The short answer: it depends where you're going. Here's what the noise is actually about, and what it means if you're backpacking through Southeast Asia, or travelling around Europe. ## What Happened: A small group of passengers aboard a cruise ship were reported to the World Health Organization on 2nd May, 2026 with severe respiratory illness. As of 4th May, seven cases had been identified including three deaths, with illness characterised by fever, gastrointestinal symptoms and rapid progression to pneumonia. Source: [WHO](https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON599) The ship in question, the MV Hondius, departed Argentina on 1st April, on an Atlantic voyage taking in Antarctica, the Falkland Islands and other remote locations. Source: [Euronews](https://www.euronews.com/health/2026/05/07/40-passengers-left-hantavirus-hit-cruise-ship) WHO infectious disease epidemiologist Maria Van Kerkhove was direct: "This is not SARS-CoV-2. This is not the start of a Covid pandemic. This is an outbreak that we see on a ship." The hantavirus involved is a South American strain. The risk to the general population in Europe from this particular outbreak is considered very low. [European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control](https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/news-events/hantavirus-outbreak-cruise-ship-under-investigation-risk-europe-very-low) So, not the next pandemic. But hantavirus itself is worth understanding, especially if you travel in rural areas. ## What Is Hantavirus? Hantaviruses are viruses that naturally infect rodents and are occasionally transmitted to humans. Infection can result in severe illness and often death, although the diseases vary by type of virus and geographical location. In the Americas: Hantavirus causes a lung-focused condition with a fatality rate that can reach 50%. That's what the cruise ship outbreak involves. In Europe and Asia: Hantaviruses cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), which primarily affects the kidneys and blood vessels. The case fatality rate is under 1 to 15% in Asia, and Europe, substantially lower than the American variants. According to [WHO](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hantavirus) ## The Risk in Asia: In East Asia, particularly China and the Republic of Korea, HFRS continues to account for many thousands of cases annually, although incidence has declined in recent decades. [WHO](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hantavirus) The most prevalent strains in Asia are the Hantaan virus, carried by the striped field mouse, and the Seoul virus, carried by the common rat. Both cause the kidney-targeting HFRS form rather than the lung form seen in the Americas. [The Asian Affairs](https://www.theasianaffairs.com/hantavirus-in-asia-symptoms-spread-prevention/) For backpackers in Southeast Asia, the main risk scenarios are rural guesthouses with rodent activity, trekking in forested or agricultural areas, and staying in or cleaning any building that's been closed up for a while. Rice paddies, jungle camps, and older rural accommodation are the environments worth being mindful of. Human-to-human transmission has not been documented in Asia. You cannot catch it from another traveller at your hostel. [WHO](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hantavirus) ## The Risk in Europe: In Europe, several thousand cases are reported each year, mainly from northern and central regions where Puumala virus circulates. In 2023, 1,885 hantavirus infections were reported in the European Region, the lowest rate recorded between 2019 and 2023. [WHO](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hantavirus)[WHO](https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON599) Scandinavia, the Baltic states, parts of Germany, and rural central Europe see the highest rates. The bank vole is the primary carrier for the European Puumala strain. If you're hiking through forest cabins in Finland or staying in rural accommodation in central Europe, this is more relevant than it would be in a city hostel in Barcelona. As with Asia, human-to-human transmission has not been documented in Europe. [WHO](https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/hantavirus) ### The Risk in South America: This is where the current outbreak originated, and it's relevant for anyone doing the Patagonia circuit, the Inca Trail, or a South America overland route. The Andes virus is the most common cause of hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in South America, predominantly occurring in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile. The case fatality rate from Andes virus infection is around 40%. In Argentina, 100 to 200 cases occur each year. Although hantavirus cases were once limited to the southern reaches of Patagonia, Argentina's Health Ministry now reports that 83% of cases are found in the country's far north. Climate change is a factor. Higher temperatures are expanding the virus's range as warming ecosystems allow the rodents that carry hantavirus to thrive in new areas. The highest-risk areas for trekkers are Torres del Paine and the Argentine Lake District, which fall within or adjacent to the endemic range. The Machu Picchu region of Peru sits at the lower end of documented incidence, but hantavirus in Peru is real and lower risk does not mean zero risk. The key distinction with South America is transmission. The Andes virus is the only currently known hantavirus for which limited human-to-human transmission has been documented, primarily in Argentina and Chile. This doesn't mean casual contact is dangerous. When human-to-human transmission has occurred, it has been associated with close and prolonged contact, particularly among household members or intimate partners, and appears most likely during the early phase of illness. Because early symptoms can resemble the fever and chills of flu, you might think you just have a cold and not take it seriously. That is what makes it particularly dangerous. ## How You Actually Get It: Transmission happens through contact with contaminated urine, droppings or saliva of infected rodents. Activities that involve contact with rodents such as cleaning enclosed or poorly ventilated spaces, farming, forestry work and sleeping in rodent-infested dwellings all increase exposure risk. Early symptoms typically include fever, headache, muscle aches and gastrointestinal symptoms such as abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting. Early diagnosis can be challenging because initial symptoms are common with other illnesses such as influenza, COVID-19, dengue or leptospirosis. If you've been in a high-risk environment and develop these symptoms, tell a doctor exactly where you've been and what you may have been exposed to. ## What You Should Do: The good news is that most routine tourism activities carry little or no risk of exposure to rodents or their excreta. You are not going to catch hantavirus at a rooftop bar in Chiang Mai. The practical steps that matter though: In South America specifically: If you're visiting rural areas, camping or hiking in regions where Andes virus is endemic, take precautions to reduce your potential exposure to rodent excreta. Stick to established campsites where possible, and avoid sleeping directly on the ground in forested areas without proper groundsheet protection. Accommodation: Avoid rooms with obvious signs of rodent activity: droppings, gnaw marks, holes in walls or floors. If you're camping or staying in a rural bungalow, keep food sealed and stored off the floor. Cleaning: Do not sweep or vacuum rodent droppings, as this spreads the virus. Instead, wet the area with a bleach and water solution, allow it to sit, then wipe with a paper towel. Wear a mask and gloves if you need to clean a space with signs of rodent presence. [WHO](https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON599) Ventilation: If you're entering a space that's been closed for a long time, open windows and let it air out before spending time in it. Food: Keep all food, including snacks and anything in your pack, in sealed containers. Rodents can squeeze through surprisingly small gaps. [The Asian Affairs](https://www.theasianaffairs.com/hantavirus-in-asia-symptoms-spread-prevention/) Seek care early: There is no vaccine and no specific antiviral for hantavirus. Early supportive care and access to a facility with a complete ICU can significantly improve survival outcomes. If you've been in rural or forested areas and develop fever, severe muscle pain and any kidney or respiratory symptoms, get to a hospital and give them your full travel history. [WHO](https://www.who.int/emergencies/disease-outbreak-news/item/2026-DON599) ## Stay aware, not anxious: Hantavirus is not something most travellers need to panic about. The cruise ship outbreak dominating headlines involves a South American strain far more lethal than anything circulating in Europe or Asia, and it appears linked to a specific rodent exposure before passengers even boarded. That said, if you're trekking in Patagonia, camping in rural Argentina or Chile, hiking through Scandinavian forest cabins, or staying in older agricultural guesthouses in Vietnam or Cambodia, it's a legitimate virus to be aware of. The prevention steps are simple, and the risk drops significantly when you know what to avoid. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Surviving Long Haul Flights](https://budgetbro.app/blog/survive-long-haul-flights), [Backpacker Black Friday Guide](https://budgetbro.app/blog/backpacker-black-friday-guide) and [Layover Like a Pro on Long Haul Flights](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-to-do-a-long-haul-layover). Keep the planning going with our guides to [Hantavirus](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomada-festival-santa-marta-colombia) and [Hantavirus](https://budgetbro.app/blog/eurovision-2027-burgas-budget-guide). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Vietnam's Digital Arrival Card > Vietnam's free digital arrival card is now live at four airports: Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Quoc, Hanoi and Da Nang. Takes five minutes. Here's how. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/vietnam-digital-arrival-card - Published: 2026-04-30 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro Featured - Tags: Vietnam, Digital Arrival Card, South East Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- ## Vietnam Has a Digital Arrival Card. Here's What to Do: Vietnam hit 21.2 million international arrivals in 2025, a new record, and up 20% on the year before. This is more than double than 2023. The fastest-growing major tourism destination in Southeast Asia isn't slowing down. With this kind of growth comes the kind of immigration queues that Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City has become known for. We're talking 500-person lines, two-hour waits on a bad evening. The government knows it's a problem. A fix? From April 2026, it is now mandatory to complete a digital arrival card. ## This Is Happening Everywhere. Vietnam isn't the first. Southeast Asia has been quietly rolling out pre-arrival systems for the past year. Thailand launched its Digital Arrival Card in April 2025. Indonesia followed in September 2025. Taiwan in October 2025. Singapore has had its version for a while. The whole region is moving this direction, paperless border processing, data collected before you land, queues (in theory) moving faster. If you're doing a multi-country trip through Southeast Asia, each country's form is separate. Submitting one doesn't carry over to the next. Add it to your pre-departure checklist. ## What Is the Vietnam Digital Arrival Card? It's a free online declaration introduced by the Vietnam Immigration Department. It replaces the paper arrival card and collects the same information; passport details, flight number, accommodation address, purpose of visit. Once submitted, the system generates a QR code. Show it to the immigration officer when you land. They scan it, your information is already in the system, and you're through. It is not a visa. If you need a Vietnamese e-visa, you still need to sort that separately. The arrival card and the e-visa are two different things. ## Who Needs It? Almost everyone entering Vietnam who isn't a Vietnamese citizen on a Vietnamese passport. That includes: - Visa-free visitors - E-visa holders - Overseas Vietnamese entering on a visa If you're transiting airside and not clearing immigration, you don't need it. If you're clearing immigration, even for a domestic connection you do. ## Which Airports? The pre-arrival declaration is now live at four major airports: Tan Son Nhat (Ho Chi Minh City), Phu Quoc, Noi Bai (Hanoi) and Da Nang. Ho Chi Minh City went first on 15 April 2026, Phu Quoc followed in early June, and the system reached Hanoi's Noi Bai and Da Nang in June 2026. On 11 May 2026, Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security confirmed the rollout will keep going nationwide, with other international airports next and a study into land border crossings to follow. If you are flying into any other entry point, check the portal before you travel, it could be live there by the time you arrive. One warning the Ministry has flagged: **fake websites have appeared impersonating the official portal**, some requesting credit card payments. The real portal at *prearrival.immigration.gov.vn* is completely free. If any site asks you to pay for the arrival card itself, it's a scam. ## How to Do It: 1. Go to the official portal: [**prearrival.immigration.gov.vn**](https://prearrival.immigration.gov.vn) 2. Click "Create & Submit Pre-arrival Information" 3. Upload your passport bio page, it auto-fills most fields 4. Select your visa type. If you're visa-exempt, choose "Default Visa Exemption by Country" 5. Enter your flight number and first night's accommodation address 6. Verify with the OTP sent to your email 7. Save your QR code, screenshot it and keep it offline in case of no signal The form only opens 72 hours before your scheduled arrival. You can't submit it a week in advance. Do it in the two or three days before you fly. Do it before you board, not after you land. The airport has QR codes linking to the form if you forget, but doing it in the immigration queue after a long flight is not the vibe. ## Common Mistakes! - Typos in passport details. Enter your name and passport number exactly as they appear. Small errors cause delays. - Waiting until you land. Wi-Fi in the arrivals area at SGN isn't reliable for new arrivals without a local SIM. Sort it before you board. - Thinking it's a visa. It's not. If you need a visa, sort that separately first. - Not saving the QR code offline. Dead battery or no signal at the worst moment. Screenshot it. - Each entry needs a new form. If you leave Vietnam and come back, you need to submit again. - Wrong flight number format. During the pilot, flight number errors were the main reason submissions failed, they stop your info matching the airline's PNR data. Enter the number exactly as it appears on your booking confirmation. - Using unofficial websites. Fake sites have appeared impersonating the official portal, some asking for payment. The real portal (prearrival.immigration.gov.vn) is free. Don't pay for the arrival card. ### Does It Actually Speed Things Up? The early numbers give some grounds for optimism. In the first 15 days of the pilot (April 15–30), 161,596 passengers submitted declarations at Tan Son Nhat. Of those, 119,854 were successfully validated, around a 70% participation rate among eligible travellers. The ministry called these results encouraging, though it noted the most common source of failed submissions was flight number entry errors. The queues at SGN are famously bad and that's not entirely a paperwork problem, it's also staffing and infrastructure. Even with the QR form sorted, recent traveller reports suggest 40+ minute waits are still common during peak arrival times. What it does do is remove one variable from the delay. And if you're running on fumes after a long flight, not having to fill in a form at the counter while trying to remember your hotel address is a small but real win. Vietnam is on a run. 21 million visitors last year. A target of 25 million for 2026. Growing UK visitor numbers year on year. It's genuinely one of the best-value countries on the planet right now, and this arrival card is a five-minute job that costs nothing. Sort it before you board. *Heading to Vietnam? BudgetBro helps you track your spending across currencies so you always know where your money's going. *[*Download it free.*](https://budgetbro.app/getbudgetbroapp) Planning a trip to Vietnam from 1 July 2026? You will also need to file a health declaration on arrival. Read our [Vietnam health declaration guide](https://budgetbro.app/blog/vietnam-health-declaration-long-stay-travellers-nomads) for the seven-day deadline and how to complete it. Filing arrival cards elsewhere in Asia? Get ahead of the paperwork with our guides to [China's online arrival card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-online-arrival-card) and [India's e-Arrival Card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/india-e-arrival-card), both of which you complete before you land. Sorted your arrival card? Line up your cover too with the [best travel insurance for Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-southeast-asia-uk). Planning the wider trip? See our [Vietnam travel budget guide](https://budgetbro.app/budget-vietnam) for daily costs beyond the paperwork. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # ETIAS Now Not Likely To Launch in 2026 > ETIAS is coming for UK visitors to Europe, officially late 2026 but reports suggest a possible slip to 2027. What it is, who needs it, and how to avoid scams. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/etias-europe-uk-travellers-2026 - Published: 2026-04-29 - Updated: 2026-08-12 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Europe, ETIAS, Travel, Tips - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Something is changing about how British passport holders get into Europe, and a surprising number of people either haven't heard of it or have completely the wrong idea about what it is. ETIAS, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, is not a visa. It's not a new restriction on how long you can stay. It's a pre-travel authorisation, similar to the US ESTA or the UK's own ETA scheme. You apply online before you go, pay a one-off fee, get approved (usually within minutes), and that's it for three years. It is not live yet. You cannot apply right now. And if a website is offering to sell you one today, it is a scam and more on that below. Update (July 2026): reports now suggest the launch could slip from Q4 2026 into 2027. The delay is not official yet, there has been no announcement from the European Commission, eu-LISA or the Council, but sources point to IT issues and border queues during the Entry/Exit System (EES) rollout, and eu-LISA's board is due to revisit the timeline in September 2026. Treat every date below as the current plan, not a guarantee. Here's everything that's actually been confirmed: ## What Is ETIAS? ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorisation System. It's the EU's equivalent of the US ESTA, a way for border authorities to run security checks on visa-exempt travellers before they arrive, rather than only at the border itself. Before ETIAS, UK passport holders (and visitors from around 60 other visa-exempt countries) could just show up at a European border without any prior registration. ETIAS changes that. From launch, you'll need an approved ETIAS linked to your passport before you board a flight, ferry, or train to any of the 30 participating countries. It was supposed to launch years ago. The original target was 2021. Then 2022. Then 2023. Then 2024. The most recent official target was Q4 2026, somewhere between October and December, following the full rollout of the EU's Entry/Exit System (EES) in April 2026, which ETIAS depends on to function. That date is now looking shaky: reports in mid 2026 point to a possible slip into 2027, though nothing has been confirmed. ## Do UK Passport Holders Need ETIAS? Yes. UK passport holders will need an ETIAS to enter the 30 participating European countries once the system goes live. This is a direct consequence of Brexit. Before January 2021, British citizens had free movement across the EU. That ended. UK passport holders are now treated as "third country nationals", meaning visa-exempt but subject to travel authorisation requirements like ETIAS. **You do NOT need ETIAS if:** - You hold an Irish passport (Ireland has a bilateral exemption) - You have an EU residence permit (you're exempt for the country that issued it) - You hold dual nationality with an EU country and travel on your EU passport - You already have a Schengen visa (ETIAS is for visa-exempt travellers only) If none of those apply and you're travelling to Europe on a British passport, you'll need one. ## Which Countries Require ETIAS? All 29 Schengen Area countries plus Cyprus. That covers the majority of popular European destinations: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and Cyprus. Countries in Europe that do NOT require ETIAS: - Ireland (exempt by agreement) - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia (non-EU, non-Schengen) - Turkey (non-Schengen) - Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan (outside the Schengen area entirely) - Ukraine If your European trip only involves countries from that second list, ETIAS won't apply. ## How Much Does ETIAS Cost? The fee is €20 per person. This is confirmed, it was originally going to be €7 but the price was changed. It will be free for travellers under 18 years old and aged 70 and over. ## How Long Does ETIAS Last? Three years from the date of issue, or until your passport expires, whichever comes first. That's the key detail. Once you apply and get approved, you can make as many trips as you want to ETIAS countries within those three years. You don't need to apply again each time you travel. But because the ETIAS is linked to your specific passport, if your passport expires or you get a new one, you'll need a new ETIAS. ## When Should You Apply? The recommendation is to apply at least 96 hours (four days) before your travel date. In most cases, applications are processed within minutes. But some applications require additional review and can take longer, so leaving it to the night before is not a smart move. Once the system is live, applying a week or two before you travel is sensible. There's no downside to getting it sorted early. ## What Information Will You Need? When ETIAS applications open, you'll need to provide: - Personal details (name, date of birth, nationality) - Valid passport information - Contact details and email address - Details of your planned travel - Answers to security and health screening questions The ETIAS is then electronically linked to your passport. You don't receive a physical document, border systems check it automatically when you travel. ## Where Do You Apply? Through the official EU website only: [travel-europe.europa.eu/etias](https://travel-europe.europa.eu/etias) A dedicated ETIAS mobile app will also be available at launch. That website is not currently live or taking applications. If you go there now, there is nothing to apply for. The official portal will open when the system launches, officially still targeted for late 2026, though a slip into 2027 is looking increasingly likely. ## ETIAS Scams: This Is a Real Problem Frontex (the EU Border and Coast Guard Agency) has already identified more than 150 fake websites claiming to sell ETIAS authorisations. ABTA has also issued warnings to its members about this. The scam sites look credible. They charge fees, take personal information, and some will send you a document that looks official. None of it is real. If you use one of these sites you risk being overcharged, receiving a worthless document that won't get you into Europe, and having your personal data stolen. The only way to apply for ETIAS is through the official EU portal at travel-europe.europa.eu/etias. It is not available anywhere else. Anyone selling it right now is a fraudster. ## What's the Transition Period? This is the part that matters most for people travelling to Europe in late 2026 and early 2027. ETIAS won't go from optional to mandatory overnight. When the system launches, whenever that turns out to be, there will be a six-month transitional period during which travellers without an ETIAS will generally not be refused entry, provided they meet all other requirements. After that transition ends, it becomes mandatory. Airlines will start checking before boarding well before then. Practically speaking: if you're travelling to Europe in the final months of 2026, you probably won't be turned away for not having an ETIAS. But you should apply anyway once it opens, because the grace period ends, and the fee is only €20. ## How Does ETIAS Relate to EES? You might have heard about the EU's new [Entry/Exit System (EES)](https://budgetbro.app/blog/eu-exit-ees), which launched in October 2025 and became fully operational in April 2026. These are two separate, but connected systems. EES is the biometric border check. When you arrive at a Schengen border, your fingerprints and photo are taken and stored. It replaces passport stamps and tracks exactly when you entered and exited the Schengen area. It's already running, if you've travelled to Europe since April 2026, you've already gone through it. ETIAS is the pre-travel authorisation. It's the thing you sort at home, before you even get to the airport. ETIAS relies on the EES database to function, which is why ETIAS couldn't launch until EES was operational. You'll need both. EES is handled at the border automatically. ETIAS is something you do yourself, in advance. ## Does ETIAS Change How Long You Can Stay in Europe? No. ETIAS does not extend or change the 90/180-day rule for UK passport holders. You are still limited to 90 days in the Schengen Area within any 180-day rolling period. ETIAS is simply the permission slip that allows airlines and ferry operators to let you board, and border systems to clear you on arrival. What you do with your 90 days is still governed by the same rule it always has been. If you haven't got your head around the 90/180-day rule yet, we've got a full guide on that. It's worth understanding properly, especially now that the EES means it's enforced digitally and automatically. Keep the planning going with our guides to [Europe vs Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-vs-southeast-asia-travel), [Travel Volunteering Opportunities Around the World](https://budgetbro.app/blog/travel-volunteering-opportunities) and [Hantavirus](https://budgetbro.app/blog/hantavirus-travel-update). ## Final Thoughts ETIAS is not a big deal once you understand it. It's a €20 online application, valid for three years, that takes a few minutes to complete. It's not a visa, it doesn't restrict where you go or how long you stay, and it won't affect most trips at all once it's built into the pre-travel routine. What it is worth doing: bookmarking the official EU portal now so you use the right site when it goes live, being aware of the scam sites, and not waiting until the night before your first post-launch trip to sort it. We'll update this article as soon as there's an official announcement on timing, and again the moment the portal opens and applications go live. *Travelling through Europe on a budget? BudgetBro is a free app for tracking your travel expenses across multiple countries and currencies. *[*Download it here.*](https://budgetbro.app/getbudgetbroapp) ETIAS is not the only change affecting UK travellers in Europe this year, [Switzerland just made getting there cheaper](https://budgetbro.app/blog/uk-switzerland-trade-deal-roaming-egates) too, with roaming charges and airport e-gates both part of a new UK-Switzerland trade deal. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Cambodia Khmer New Year 2026 > Everything budget travellers need to know about Khmer New Year 2026 in Cambodia. Dates, traditions, where to celebrate, costs, and FAQs. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/khmer-new-year-cambodia - Published: 2026-04-12 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Khmer New Year, known locally as Chaul Chnam Thmey (which translates to "entering the new year"), is Cambodia's most important festival. It runs for three days every April and marks the end of the harvest season and the start of a new cycle in the traditional Khmer calendar. 2026 is the Year of the Horse. If you've experienced Songkran in Thailand and expect the same thing here, you'll be surprised. Khmer New Year shares the same ancient roots (both trace back to the Sanskrit word Sankranti, meaning the sun's transition into Aries) but the vibe is completely different. Where Songkran has evolved into the world's biggest water fight, Cambodia's version leans much more heavily into family, tradition, and Buddhist ritual. It's quieter, more personal, and in many ways more meaningful. That doesn't mean it's boring. Pagodas fill up with offerings, traditional games take over temple courtyards, families who've spent months apart reunite, and entire cities change rhythm for three days. If you want to see Cambodia at its most authentic, this is the time. I'm based in Cambodia and this is my favourite time of year here. The pace of everything shifts. Phnom Penh empties out as people head back to their home provinces, and the whole country slows down in a way that feels genuinely restorative. For budget travellers, it's also incredibly affordable. Cambodia is already one of the cheapest countries in Southeast Asia, and Khmer New Year's best experiences (temple visits, traditional games, street food, community celebrations) cost nothing. ## When Is Khmer New Year 2026? Khmer New Year 2026 runs from Monday April 14 to Wednesday April 16. The dates shift slightly from year to year depending on astrological calculations tied to the solar calendar, but the festival always falls in mid-April. Each of the three days has its own name and purpose: Day 1: Maha Sangkran (April 14) marks the arrival of the new angel (Tevoda) who will watch over the world for the coming year. Families clean and decorate their homes, prepare offerings of fruit, candles, incense and flowers, and visit pagodas to offer food to monks and receive blessings. Day 2: Veareak Vanabat (April 15) is the day of giving. The focus turns to charity, with families donating to those in need and visiting monasteries to honour ancestors. Children give gifts to parents and grandparents as a sign of respect. In the afternoon, people build sand stupas at temples and ask monks to bless the spirits of deceased relatives. Day 3: Veareak Laeung Sak (April 16) is when the new year officially begins. The main ceremony, Pithi Srang Preah, involves bathing Buddha statues with perfumed water to wash away bad deeds and welcome good fortune. Children also wash their parents and grandparents with scented water, seeking forgiveness and blessings for the year ahead. ## Where to Celebrate Khmer New Year? ### Siem Reap Siem Reap is the epicentre of Khmer New Year celebrations, largely thanks to the annual Angkor Sankranta event organised in front of Angkor Wat and along the river through town. Cultural performances, traditional games, parades, folk music, and huge crowds of Cambodians travelling from across the country make it the most energetic place to be. Fair warning: if you normally visit Angkor Wat and enjoy having space to yourself, this is the opposite of that. The temple complex gets packed. But that's also kind of the point. Seeing Angkor filled with Cambodian families celebrating their own heritage rather than just tourists is something else entirely. Siem Reap is already one of the cheapest cities in Southeast Asia. Hostels run from $5 to $10 a night, street food meals cost $1 to $3, and a tuk-tuk around town is a couple of dollars. ### Phnom Penh Here's the thing about Phnom Penh during Khmer New Year: it goes quiet. Most of the capital's population originally comes from other provinces, and when the festival hits, they head home. Streets that are normally gridlocked become almost empty. Many local restaurants and small shops close for the three days. That said, Phnom Penh has its own celebrations centred around Wat Phnom, with cultural activities, ceremonies, and performances. Tourist-facing restaurants and hotels stay open. If you want a calm, almost surreal version of Phnom Penh where you can explore the city without the usual chaos, Khmer New Year is oddly one of the best times to be there. Phnom Penh is slightly pricier than Siem Reap but still very affordable. Expect to spend $20 to $30 a day covering a dorm bed, three meals, local beers, and getting around by Grab. The US dollar is accepted everywhere, and you can get change in Cambodian riel and /or both. ### Provincial Towns and Villages For the most authentic experience, head to smaller towns. Battambang, Kampong Cham, and Takeo all hold local celebrations with traditional games, community gatherings, and pagoda ceremonies that feel completely untouched by tourism. If you have a local friend or are staying with a host family, being invited to join their New Year celebrations is one of the most genuine cultural experiences you can have in Southeast Asia. Budget note: Provincial Cambodia is extraordinarily cheap. Guesthouses for $5 a night, full meals for under $2, and transport between towns by local bus or shared minivan for a few dollars. ## What Happens During Khmer New Year? The religious ceremonies are the core of the festival, but there's a lot more going on around them. Traditional games take over temple courtyards and open spaces. Chol Chhoung involves two teams throwing a rolled-up cloth back and forth, with the losing side having to dance for the winners. Leak Kanseng works like a Khmer version of duck-duck-goose, where someone sneaks a scarf behind a player sitting in a circle. Bos Angkunh is a seed-tossing game played with hard nuts. These games bring together adults and kids, and tourists are usually welcome to join in. Food is a huge part of the celebration. Look out for kralan (sticky rice mixed with beans, coconut milk and grated coconut, stuffed into bamboo and roasted over coals), num ansom chek (banana sticky rice cakes wrapped in banana leaves), and somlor machu kroeung (a sour soup with fish, lemongrass and tamarind that cuts through the April heat). Music and dance appear at pagodas and community events. Apsara dance, which dates back to the Angkor era, is performed during larger celebrations. In rural areas, you'll hear classical Khmer music and see community dancing that goes on well into the evening. ## Important for 2026: The Water Ban If you're coming from Thailand's Songkran and expecting water fights, you need to know this: in 2026, the Cambodian government has banned water throwing, water guns, coloured water, and fireworks during Khmer New Year in Phnom Penh; and at least seven provinces including Siem Reap and Battambang. This is a deliberate move to steer the festival back toward traditional Khmer culture rather than letting it become a copy of Thailand's water party. In previous years, younger Cambodians had started adopting the water-throwing trend, but the government has firmly pushed back. Respect the rules. This isn't Songkran, and Cambodia takes its cultural identity seriously. More festivals and events to plan around: [Songkran in Thailand](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-festival-thailand), [Bon Om Touk water festival](https://budgetbro.app/blog/bon-om-touk-cambodias-electrifying-water-festival) and [Nyepi in Bali](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nyepi-bali). ## Frequently Asked Questions About Khmer New Year ### Is Khmer New Year the same as Songkran? Not exactly. They share the same ancient roots. Both trace back to the Sanskrit concept of Sankranti (the sun's passage into Aries) and both are celebrated in mid-April across several countries in the region, including Laos (Pi Mai) and Myanmar (Thingyan). But the festivals have evolved very differently. Thailand's Songkran is now famous worldwide as a massive water fight. Cambodia's Chaul Chnam Thmey is centred on Buddhist ritual, family reunions, charity, and traditional culture. Water pouring happens as part of religious ceremonies (bathing Buddha statues and elders), but the street water fights that define Songkran are not part of the Khmer tradition, and in 2026, water throwing has been officially banned in major Cambodian cities. ### When is Khmer New Year 2026? April 14 to 16, 2026. The dates shift slightly each year based on solar astrological calculations, but the festival always falls in mid-April. It's a national public holiday, so government offices, schools, and most businesses close for all three days. ### How do you say Happy New Year in Khmer? "Sousdey Chnam Thmey" (សួស្តីឆ្នាំថ្មី), pronounced roughly "soos-day ch-nam t-may." You might also hear "Rik Reay Chnam Thmey" which carries a similar meaning. Using either phrase with locals will always get a smile. ### Are shops and restaurants open during Khmer New Year? It depends on where you are. In Phnom Penh, many local restaurants and family-run shops close because their owners return to their home provinces. Hotel restaurants, tourist-oriented places, and international chains stay open. In Siem Reap, the tourist infrastructure keeps running, but smaller local businesses may close. In provincial towns, almost everything shuts down for the festival. Stock up on essentials before Day 1 if you're in a smaller town. ### Can tourists participate in Khmer New Year? Absolutely. Tourists are welcome at public celebrations, cultural events, and pagoda ceremonies. If you visit a temple, dress respectfully (cover shoulders and knees), remove your shoes before entering, and ask before photographing people or rituals. If locals invite you to join traditional games or share food, accept. Khmer hospitality during New Year is genuinely warm. ### What is the zodiac animal for Khmer New Year 2026? 2026 is the Year of the Horse in the Khmer zodiac. The Khmer calendar follows a 12-year animal cycle similar to the Chinese zodiac but with some differences in naming and cultural significance. ### How much does it cost to experience Khmer New Year on a budget? Khmer New Year's best experiences are free: temple ceremonies, traditional games, cultural performances, and street food stalls. Cambodia as a whole is one of the cheapest countries in Southeast Asia. Budget travellers can comfortably get by on $20 to $30 a day covering accommodation, food, local transport, and drinks. Siem Reap and provincial towns are even cheaper. The main cost to watch is accommodation during the festival period, as domestic travel peaks and rooms in popular areas book out early. ### Is it safe to travel during Khmer New Year? Generally yes, but be aware of a few things. Road traffic increases significantly as millions of Cambodians travel between provinces, and road safety standards in Cambodia are lower than in neighbouring countries. If you're on a motorbike, be extra cautious. Medical infrastructure outside Phnom Penh and Siem Reap is limited. Also note that in 2026, the Thailand-Cambodia land border remains closed due to ongoing tensions. If you were planning to combine Songkran and Khmer New Year overland, that's not currently an option. Fly in directly instead. ### What food should I try during Khmer New Year? The festival has its own signature dishes. Kralan is the standout: sticky rice mixed with beans, coconut milk and grated coconut, packed into bamboo tubes and slow-roasted over charcoal. Num Ansom Chek is a sweet sticky rice and banana cake wrapped in banana leaves. For something savoury, somlor machu kroeung is a sour soup with fish, lemongrass, turmeric and tamarind that's perfect in the April heat. Street vendors sell all of these during the festival, usually for well under $1 each. ## Experience Khmer New Year Your Way Khmer New Year is one of those festivals that rewards you more the less you plan. Wander into a temple, accept the food someone offers you, sit down and watch a game of Chol Chhoung, and let the festival happen around you. It's not flashy. It's not Songkran. But it's deeply genuine, and that's what makes it worth experiencing. If you've celebrated Khmer New Year before, I'd love to hear where and what it was like. And if you're in Cambodia right now for it, Sousdey Chnam Thmey from all of us at BudgetBro. Drop your tips and experiences in the comments! Where are you spending it? --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # April Cheapest One Way Flights to Southeast Asia > Flying from the UK to Southeast Asia in April 2026? Flights are cheaper, there's a reason. Best routes and cheapest options. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/flights-to-southeast-asia-april-2026 - Published: 2026-04-06 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Flights, Asia, Cheap Flights - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- *Please note: **One of the below chosen routes transits through the United Arab Emirates. Whilst commerical flights have resumed to and from the United Arab Emirates, it is important to understand that regional escalation poses significant security risks and has led to severe disruption. The situation could change at any moment. Stay up to date with our *[*Middle East Travel Updates: Flight Cancellations & Routes*](https://budgetbro.app/blog/middle-east-travel-update)* article, which includes offical airline and government travel advice and updates.* Cheap flights are one of the core parts of budget travel, so it matters that you get this right. Over the past few months, the war in the Middle East has started to affect fares. That’s just the reality of it. But it’s also part of my job to make sure you’re still getting the most for your money, regardless of what’s going on. Last week, March 31st, me and my wife Samar flew from Manchester to Phuket with Etihad. If you’ve read my stuff before, you’re probably already calling me a hypocrite, and I get it. Saying “Etihad” alone makes it sound like I’ve gone against everything I usually say, but that’s not really what happened. Last week and this week fall over Easter, and trying to fly the absolute cheapest, 2-3 stop routes through Europe during school holidays is near impossible. Prices get inflated fast. On top of that, airlines flying through the Middle East are still trying to fill seats despite everything going on, which creates this weird overlap where better routes aren’t priced the way they normally would be. We paid £312 each for a 15-hour journey, including 25kg checked baggage that we didn’t even need, with just a 1-hour stop in Abu Dhabi. That’s the part people miss, because the premium route was actually the cheapest option at the time, mainly because of the school holidays and everything going on in the Middle East, and it was still very reasonably priced. So instead of forcing a worse route just to say it was cheaper, we ended up taking the best route because it was the cheapest option available. Call it what you want, but if the premium route is coming in as the lowest price, you take it. ## BudgetBro's Picks Below I've found 3 flights which tickle my pickle, (no particular order) I will name my preferred flight at the bottom of this article. ### China Eastern LDN - BKK £303.00 I found this flight on Kiwi and it's incredibly good value. Fly out of London Gatwick at a reasonable midday arriving in Shanghai 11h 30m later. With a short 2.5h layover, enough to stretch your legs and grab a cup of tea it'll be soon time to get your second and final flight to Bangkok. Arriving into Bangkok at midday too is a real winner. This flight is one many people shouldn't overlook. ![April Cheapest Flights China Eastern LDN to BKK via PVG | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/April Cheapest Flights China Eastern LDN to BKK via PVG @budgetbro.webp) ### EasyJet & Scoot MAN - HKT £300.00 It's cheap with a whole day in Athens, it's whether you're up for a mini adventure? Early start from Manchester, not ideal however arriving into Athens before midday is elite. Whole afternoon and night to enjoy a city you've potentially never been to. With hotels starting form £30 and a 30-40 min trip from the airport into the city, it might just be worth it. The following morning an early-ish flight at 08:55, long-haul will be a back breaker on an airline like scoot followed by a not so great 6 hour layover in Singapore. You're arriving into Phuket in the morning, which is nice if your hotel is allowing early checkin? I agree it's not the best flight but the ability to stay over in athens for nearly 24 hours, maybe a deal breaker. ![April Cheapest Flights to Southeast Asia MAN - ATH - SIN - HKT | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/April Cheapest Flights MAN - ATH - SIN - HKT @budgetbro.webp) ### Etihad MAN - HKT £319.00 Premium flight with a not-so premium fee. 50m layover, arrival in Phuket at tea time. This is the exact same flight I taken last week (slightly cheaper too). Although the most expensive by a mere £16.00, this flight is top tier. BUT you are flying directly into a potential war zone. Let's be honest, we all need something to keep us on our toes during long-haul flights right? ![April Cheapest Flights to Southeast Asia MAN - AUH - HKT | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/April Cheapest Flights MAN - AUH - HKT @budgetbro.webp) More reading to help you plan: [Cheapest Flights to Asia August](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheapest-flights-asia-august), [Surviving Long Haul Flights](https://budgetbro.app/blog/survive-long-haul-flights) and [Layover Like a Pro on Long Haul Flights](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-to-do-a-long-haul-layover). ### Final Thoughts As much as I am not a big fan of premium airlines and premium routes... Book the Eithad and don't bother commenting calling me a hypocrite, ok? --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # From The Founder: March Update > BudgetBro founder Josh shares his March 2026 startup update, covering growth milestones, product progress and what is coming next for the app. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/from-the-founder-march-recap - Published: 2026-04-02 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Press - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Mad March, that’s what I have to say. It’s been that mad we even ended up renaming one of our companions after my Dad (Mad Mike). We started the month at the ITB festival in Berlin and, as a first timer, I was blown away by it. I was also naive. I thought everything would just figure itself out while we were there, but I was wrong. The ITB app turned out to be essential for actually navigating and making the most of the three days. That said, we learned quickly. We met some great people and made a few strong connections that should help the company moving forward. After Berlin, me and Samar flew back to the UK while Nathan headed back to Asia to prepare for Beta. That didn’t last long though, as me and Samar ended up spontaneously flying out to Asia at the end of March to kick off the Beta campaign ourselves. ## Beta Launch It’s mad to say, but Beta is officially live. For most businesses that probably doesn’t mean much, but for us and everyone involved in BudgetBro, it’s easily been the hardest milestone to reach so far. Can I confidently say we were ready? No, we weren’t. We launched because our runway doesn’t allow us to keep perfecting things behind the scenes, it’s as simple as that. The app still has issues, there are things we know need improving, and parts that just aren’t where we want them yet. At the same time, plenty of companies launch far earlier with far less, so it’s a bit of a double-edged sword. We’ve built a lot, but that also makes it harder to let go and just put it out there. All my eggs are in this one basket, so yeah, I want people to love it, but we’ve reached the point where real feedback matters more than trying to get everything perfect in private. Big lesson learned here. We dragged things out trying to get it right, when we probably should’ve shipped earlier and figured things out with users instead. ## Josh & Samar Walking Around Asia Not literally 24/7, but close enough. As part of the Beta campaign, we’re out in Asia to properly push BudgetBro. The focus is onboarding users, speaking to travellers, and talking to potential ad customers. We’ve started in Phuket, and the plan is to move through the main backpacker hubs across Thailand before heading into Vietnam. The idea is simple, keep costs as low as possible while getting the app into as many people’s hands as we can. It’ll be interesting to see in April’s recap how this actually plays out. ## User Interface & User Experience There have been some changes. Nothing major, but early feedback has helped us fix smaller UI and UX issues, tweak the homepage layout, and improve the overall flow. We’ve also introduced the Explore Page. This came forward earlier than planned. After speaking to companies at ITB, it became clear that if we’re not involved in how users discover or choose places, they’re just not that interested in working with us. Originally this was something for later, but based on that feedback and the needs of potential partners, we decided to build it now. It’s early, and it’ll take time before it’s genuinely useful at scale, but it’s a big step towards showing the “full ecosystem” we’re trying to build. The next few months should tell us whether it holds real value. ## Investment We’ve been putting a lot of work into this, but nothing concrete to share just yet. That’s not because things aren’t moving, it’s just that this part takes time. The pitch deck is built, and we’re now focused on gathering the right data to strengthen it. Once we’re in a position where that data properly backs up the story, we’ll start reaching out to investors. Alongside that, we’re applying for SEIS / EIS through HMRC, which should open us up to a much wider pool of investors once it’s in place. ## Final thoughts It’s fair to say we’ve made solid progress this month. It’s also fair to say we weren’t fully ready for Beta, but opening it up was still the right decision. We needed to get it out there. There’s still a long way to go and a lot to figure out, but we’re moving now. Properly moving. The hill’s still there, but at least we’ve started climbing it. More from the founder diary: [← February Update](https://budgetbro.app/blog/from-the-founder-februarys-recap) · [April/May Update →](https://budgetbro.app/blog/founder-april-may-recap). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # New India e-Arrival Card for Travellers > India e-Arrival Card replaces paper forms from April 2026. You can complete the e-Arrival card up to 72 hours before you arrive. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/india-e-arrival-card - Published: 2026-03-26 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's News - Tags: India, Digital Arrival Card - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- From the 1st of April, 2026, paper arrival forms have been discontinued, and the new online e-arrival card is mandatory. India has followed many countries who have recently switched from paper forms to electronic arrival processes in order to streamline and speed up immigration controls. The online e-arrival card can be completed up to 72 hours before you arrive. You should complete the online process in advance to avoid delays at the airport. You can complete the e-arrival either on the [Indian Visa Online website](https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/earrival/), or through the Su-Swagatam mobile app. We recommend completing it on the website though, as it is much more straight forward than using the app. If you have any questions about the e-Arrival form, you can contact the government email address: [indian-evisa@gov.in](mailto:indian-evisa@gov.in). Be careful of copycat websites. Only use the official Indian Visa website above. (the domain ends in gov.in) Source: BLR Airport X [https://x.com/BLRAirport/status/2036816958096888041?s=20](https://x.com/BLRAirport/status/2036816958096888041?s=20) Heading to other parts of Asia? We also cover [China's online arrival card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-online-arrival-card) and [Vietnam's digital arrival card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/vietnam-digital-arrival-card), so you can have the entry forms sorted before departure. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Travel to Europe Mobile App > Wondering what the Travel to Europe app is? It's the official app for the EU Entry/Exit System (EES). Find out how to use it & if you need it before you fly. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/travel-to-europe-mobile-app - Published: 2026-03-18 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Europe - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Planning a trip to Europe this summer? Arrival rules have changed. Since October 2025, non-EU travellers are now registered digitally at Schengen borders which means no more passport stamps. If you're travelling from the UK, US, Australia, or anywhere outside the EU, here's what the new Entry/Exit System means for you, and more about the official app that can (when it is supported by more countries) make your border entry faster. *Holding an Irish passport? You're an EU citizen and EES doesn't apply to you, whether you're travelling from Dublin, London, or anywhere else...* ### What is the Travel to Europe app? The Travel to Europe app is an official mobile application developed by Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency to support the EU's new Entry/Exit System (EES). It allows non-EU travellers (British travellers are non-EU unless you have dual-EU citizenship) to pre-register their travel document data and facial image for the EES before arriving at a border crossing point. The Travel to Europe app is free, available on iOS and Android, but does NOT replace border control procedures, it aims to make them smoother and faster. ### Do I need the travel to Europe app? No, you don't need it. However, if you haven't travelled to the EU recently, want to avoid any potential queues; and are travelling to Sweden, you can. The fact is, currently only Sweden supports the app. You can register physically for the EU Entry/Exit System so do not worry. ### What is the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)? [We have a specific article to explain the new EU Entry/Exit System](https://budgetbro.app/blog/eu-exit-ees) however, to understand why the app exists, you need to understand the EES. The Entry/Exit System is an automated IT system for registering non-EU nationals travelling for a short stay, each time they cross the external borders of the European countries. It started in October 2025, with full implementation replacing manual passport stamping by 10th April 2026. No more stamps in your passport. Your face and fingerprints are taking its place. Just so you know, a short stay is defined as a maximum of 90 days within any rolling 180-day period, and this rule applies across all Schengen states, meaning days spent in France, Spain, or any other participating country are counted together, not separately. ### Who needs to use it? The EES applies to two main categories of travellers: visa-exempt travellers (nationals from countries not requiring a Schengen visa for short stays) and short-stay visa holders. Citizens of EU member states and Schengen-associated countries are not subject to the system. Notably, Cyprus and Ireland are not part of the EES [Lufthansa](https://www.lufthansa.com/xx/en/prepare-for-your-trip/entry-regulations/entering-schengen/entry-exit-system), so travellers entering Europe through those countries won't be registered. ### What does the app actually do? Pre-registration with the app can be done within 72 hours before arriving in or departing from a European country using the EES. [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/travel-to-europe/id6477891306) To use it you'll need: - A biometric passport - iPhone 8 or later (iOS 16+) or Android 10 or later - NFC functionality to read your passport chip - A front-facing camera for the selfie The steps are: create a journey by selecting your destination country and border crossing point, scan your passport's details page and chip, take a selfie, answer a few questions about your travel plans, optionally add co-travellers, then submit your journey and receive a confirmation. [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.europa.publications.quickborder&hl=en) Pre-registration should take no more than 5 minutes. [European Union](https://travel-europe.europa.eu/dam/jcr:9e912837-5669-4c6c-85a8-a91b0736f13a/How_to_use_the_app_en.pdf) **Important:** using the app does not replace checks by border authorities and does not guarantee entry. The final decision can only be taken by local border authorities. [Google Play](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.europa.publications.quickborder&hl=en) Fingerprints still need to be scanned in person at the border. ### Which countries support the app right now? This is where here's confusion online. The use of the app is voluntary for EU Member States, who can decide if, when, how and where they may wish to use it. [Frontex](https://www.frontex.europa.eu/what-we-do/etias-ees/travel-to-europe-app/) Currently the app is available in Sweden and more countries will be added later. [App Store](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/travel-to-europe/id6477891306) France, the Netherlands, and Italy are working with Frontex to offer the app at some of their major border crossing points in 2026, with Portugal, Greece, and Hungary also having expressed interest. [Insurte](https://insurte.com/travel-to-europe-app) The up-to-date list of supported countries is maintained at travel-europe.europa.eu/ees. ### How does this connect to ETIAS? The Travel to Europe app and the EES are just one part of a broader shift in how Europe manages travel. While EES tracks actual border crossings, ETIAS will require visa-exempt non-EU travellers to obtain pre-travel authorisation online before heading to the Schengen area. [Jobbatical](https://www.jobbatical.com/blog/eu-entry-exit-system-2025-how-it-works) ETIAS is expected to become operational at the end of 2026. [Insurte](https://insurte.com/travel-to-europe-app) ### Should you download it before your trip? If you're a non-EU national travelling to Sweden specifically, yes, it's worth doing. Using the app is voluntary but may help speed up border procedures, as some information will already be available to border authorities. [Sweden Abroad](https://www.swedenabroad.se/en/embassies/united-kingdom-london/current/news/ees-pre-register-with-the-travel-to-europe-app/) For other Schengen destinations right now, the app currently has limited utility until more countries integrate it, but downloading it ahead of travel and familiarising yourself with the process is a smart move as rollout accelerates through 2026. Source: [Frontex](https://www.frontex.europa.eu/what-we-do/etias-ees/travel-to-europe-app/) Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Solar Eclipse 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/solar-eclipse-2026-where-to-watch-europe), [Europe vs Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-vs-southeast-asia-travel) and [Your First Time Backpacking Europe](https://budgetbro.app/blog/your-first-time-backpacking-europe-the-2026-starter-pack). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Nyepi Bali 2026 > The dos, and don'ts, and significance of Bali's most sacred day | Nyepi in Bali 2026 | Everything You Need to Know - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/nyepi-bali - Published: 2026-03-17 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Bali, Indonesia, Nyepi - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Once a year, Bali stops. No traffic, no music, no lights, just silence. Nyepi, the Balinese Hindu New Year, is unlike any holiday you'll experience anywhere else in the world. For locals it's a sacred day of contemplation. For travellers caught off guard, it can be genuinely confusing. Can you leave your hotel? Is anything open? Will you even have power? If you're going to be in Bali around Nyepi, here's everything you need to know before the island goes dark. ## What happens on Nyepi Day in Bali? Every year, for 24 hours, between 6am and 6am the following day, Nyepi Day is observed. It is dedicated to self-reflection, fasting, and meditation. During this time, many activities that interfere with this are banned, including; work, travel and entertainment/leisure activities. ## Are restaurants open during Nyepi? Bali becomes a 'ghost town' and therefore beaches are closed, shops and restaurant close down too. ## Should I go to Bali during Nyepi? If you want to experience one of the most unique cultural events in the world, being in Bali during Nyepi is a must. If you can't skip on being at the beach, leaving your hotel etc for a day, plan your travels around being in Bali during this time. ## I'm a tourist, Nyepi doesn't apply to me right? Whilst Nyepi is celebrated mainly by the Hindu community, it affects everyone on the island. ## Can you leave your hotel during Nyepi? During Nyepi, everyone in Bali must remain within their accommodation. You should keep lights and noise to a minimum, and adhere to the island-wide mobile internet shutdown as part of the reflection. Wi-fi may work in many places where connected and not operated by mobile data. ## Is Nyepi the same day every year? No. The day that Nyepi falls on each year changes based on the Balinese calendar system. It mainly falls in the month of March but it is possible to fall in April. More festivals and events to plan around: [Khmer New Year in Cambodia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/khmer-new-year-cambodia), [Songkran in Thailand](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-festival-thailand) and [Holi in Sri Lanka](https://budgetbro.app/blog/holi-festival-sri-lanka). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Middle East Travel Update: Conflict Escalates Sharply, Flights Diverted Again > Latest on Gulf flight disruption from the US-Iran conflict: airline suspensions, Dubai airport status, rerouting and advice for travellers in 2026. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/middle-east-travel-update - Published: 2026-03-17 - Updated: 2026-08-17 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Dubai, Travel Updates, Featured, Disruption - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Last updated: 18 August 2026 This page is updated as events develop. Skip to the section you need. ## Current status: 18 August 2026 The acute July escalation has eased but Gulf air travel has not fully recovered. By mid-August 2026 Emirates had restored roughly 75 percent of its pre-conflict schedule, and Etihad and Qatar Airways were largely operating, with Dubai (DXB) and Doha working as transit hubs on modified timetables. Several foreign carriers, though, still have Dubai routes suspended: Lufthansa and Swiss until 13 September, Aegean and Air Astana until 31 August, and British Airways has pushed its Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain and Amman services back to 25 October. Disruption around the Strait of Hormuz has kept jet fuel prices high and caused shortages in parts of Asia, so long-haul fares that would normally transit the Gulf remain elevated and some routes are still detouring around Iranian and Iraqi airspace. Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports have added enhanced biometric screening this month. Advisories have not returned to do not travel for the UAE, but the situation is volatile with a 60-day deadline for an Iran peace deal expiring, so check your government's advisory and your airline close to your travel date. The timeline below covers the July escalation and remains for context. ## The July Escalation: How We Got Here The memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran, signed in June, is now effectively suspended. Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister said the US has "violated and suspended all its commitments" under the agreement, after US strikes widened beyond military targets to include civilian infrastructure. A desalination plant in southern Iran was destroyed, cutting water to an estimated 20 villages, and Iran's Health Ministry says at least 50 people have been killed and more than 500 injured in US strikes over the past 3 weeks. The US launched its 8th consecutive night of strikes on Iran on 19 July, hitting areas near Sirik and Qeshm Island in Hormozgan province, as [reported by Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/19/us-launches-eighth-consecutive-night-of-attacks-on-iran) The immediate trigger for the latest wave was an Iranian ballistic missile and drone attack on a US base in Jordan on 18 July, which killed 2 US service members and left a third missing, CENTCOM's first confirmed American combat deaths from Iranian fire since March. The US responded with strikes it said were intended to "swiftly punish" the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and further degrade Iran's ability to threaten shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has retaliated by striking US and allied bases across the Gulf. On 19 July, Kuwait and Bahrain both reported multiple waves of Iranian strikes, including a fire at a Kuwaiti power and water plant. Iran's army said one attack targeted a US ammunition depot at Camp al-Adiri and air defence radars at Ali Al Salem airbase in Kuwait, which hosts US personnel. Qatar's Ministry of Defence said it intercepted incoming Iranian fire, though 3 people, including a child, were wounded by falling shrapnel, as [reported by Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/7/19/kuwaiti-power-plant-ablaze-as-iran-hits-us-gulf-allies) ## Is It Safe to Travel to Dubai and the UAE Now? Official advice has not been re-escalated to a do not travel level for the UAE specifically, but every government below is now flagging a more volatile situation than a few weeks ago, and the FCDO updated its guidance again on 13 July to warn that attacks could resume with little warning. Treat any snapshot, including this one, as provisional. - [UK (FCDO)](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/united-arab-emirates): lifted its warning against all but essential travel to the UAE on 18 June 2026, then updated the guidance again on 13 July to state that attacks could resume with little warning despite the now-strained memorandum of understanding. - [United States](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/united-arab-emirates-travel-advisory.html): has held the UAE at Level 3, reconsider travel, since 2 March 2026, due to the threat of armed conflict and terrorism. It has not moved this rating in either direction through the latest escalation. - [Australia (Smartraveller)](https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/middle-east/united-arab-emirates): remains at reconsider your need to travel (advice level Orange), and continues to flag that strikes have hit targets in the wider Gulf region in recent days. - [Canada](https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-arab-emirates): advises a high degree of caution, citing a volatile security situation across the Gulf. None of the 4 governments has reinstated a do not travel warning for the UAE specifically since this update was last published, and the strikes reported in the past few days have hit Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar rather than the UAE directly. That said, several airlines serving Dubai have paused or extended their own suspensions regardless of what the advisories say, which tells you how the airlines themselves are reading the risk. Check your own government's advisory close to your travel date, not just this article. ## Travel Insurance Standard travel insurance is generally keyed to your government's official advice rather than to news events, so a UAE trip should still be covered under most standard policies while the UK and Australian advisories remain at their current, eased levels. Most policies carry a war and civil unrest exclusion for anything beyond a cancelled or delayed flight, and with strikes now hitting Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan directly, it is worth re-reading that exclusion wording specifically if your trip touches any of those countries rather than just the UAE. ## Airline Operations: Disruption Is Back The "back near normal" picture from earlier in July has not held. Air Astana suspended all flights to the UAE from 13 July. Singapore Airlines has extended its Dubai suspension until 2 August. British Airways has pushed its planned return to Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain and Amman back to 25 October 2026, an extension from its earlier October date. Air France has resumed Dubai, Tel Aviv and Riyadh services but kept its Beirut route suspended. Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad, the 3 major Gulf hub carriers, are still operating the bulk of their networks, but airlines are reassessing route by route as the situation develops, so treat any single figure for how many flights are running as a snapshot rather than a guarantee. - [Emirates: check current flight schedules](https://www.emirates.com/english/book/flight-schedules/) - [Qatar Airways: operational updates](https://www.qatarairways.com/tradeportal/en/news-updates/2026/Operational-Update.html) - [Etihad: live flight status](https://www.etihad.com/en/manage/flight-status) ## Flight Diversions, Rerouting and Higher Prices This is the part most likely to affect you even if your trip has nothing to do with the Gulf. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency issued a fresh safety directive on 8 July telling airlines to avoid the northern corridor over Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Kuwait. Airlines are now routing intercontinental flights over Saudi Arabia and Egypt instead, a detour that adds roughly 30 to 60 minutes to flights connecting Europe, Asia, Africa and North America through the region. That detour, combined with a jet fuel price spike, is showing up directly in fares and capacity. The International Air Transport Association expects jet fuel to average around $152 a barrel in 2026, up from around $90 a barrel in 2025, a roughly 70 percent rise, and forecasts industry profitability will nearly halve this year as a result. Some airlines are trimming long haul capacity by up to 12 percent through the end of July to manage the cost. In the US specifically, airfares are already running around 21 percent higher than the same period last year. If you are booking a long haul route that would normally transit the Gulf, expect a higher price and a longer flight time than you would have seen in May, and build in extra connection time if you are transiting through an affected hub. ## The Conflict Has Escalated, Not Ended This is no longer a story about a ceasefire holding with occasional flare ups. The US has now struck Iran on 8 consecutive nights, the US has reimposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports, Iran has hit military bases in at least 4 Gulf countries in the past few days, and 2 American service members have been killed, the first such deaths since March. Neither side has signalled it intends to de-escalate. If you have a trip booked anywhere in the wider region, not just the UAE, in the coming weeks, check your airline's status and your government's advisory again close to departure, since the picture here is changing by the day, not the month. Keep the planning going with our guides to [Cheapest Flights to Asia August](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheapest-flights-asia-august), [Camp America 2027](https://budgetbro.app/blog/camp-america-work-at-summer-camp-usa) and [Cambodia Visa-Free Trial for China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cambodia-visa-free-china-2026). Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Middle East Travel Update](https://budgetbro.app/blog/middle-east-crisis-travel-effects), from the BudgetBro blog. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is it safe to fly through Dubai right now? Dubai's airports remain open and government advisories have not moved to do not travel for the UAE specifically. However, several airlines serving Dubai, including Air Astana, Singapore Airlines and British Airways, have paused or extended their own suspensions in the past week regardless of the official advisory level, so check your specific airline's status before assuming your flight is unaffected. ### Is Dubai Airport open? Yes. Dubai International (DXB) and Dubai World Central (DWC) are both operating. Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad continue to run the bulk of their schedules, though several other carriers have re-suspended or extended pauses on their own Dubai routes this month, so scheduled capacity is not fully back to the levels seen in early July. ### Which airlines have paused flights to the Gulf recently? As of mid-August 2026, Lufthansa and Swiss have suspended Dubai flights until 13 September, Aegean and Air Astana until 31 August, and British Airways has pushed its Dubai, Tel Aviv, Bahrain and Amman services back to 25 October. Emirates has restored around 75 percent of its pre-conflict schedule, and Etihad and Qatar Airways are largely operating. Dates are being revised as the situation develops, so check directly with your airline. ### Why are flight times and prices going up on routes that don't touch the Gulf? EASA's 8 July safety directive has airlines avoiding airspace over Iran, Iraq, Lebanon and Kuwait, so many Europe-Asia routes are now flying a longer southern detour over Saudi Arabia and Egypt, adding roughly 30 to 60 minutes to the flight. Jet fuel prices are also up around 70 percent year on year, and some airlines are cutting long haul capacity by up to 12 percent, both of which are pushing fares higher across the board, not just on flights that physically pass through the region. ### Can I get a refund if my flight is cancelled due to the conflict? Under UK and EU 261 regulations, if your flight departs from a UK or EU airport, the airline must offer a full refund or re-routing to your final destination at the earliest opportunity. Because this is classed as an extraordinary circumstance, you are generally not entitled to additional cash compensation for the delay itself. ### Will my travel insurance cover cancellations caused by the conflict? Standard policies should still cover a UAE trip while the UK and Australian advisories remain at their current, eased levels, but most carry a war and civil unrest exclusion for anything more serious than flight disruption. If your itinerary touches Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait or Qatar, all of which have been struck directly in the past few days, check that exclusion wording carefully before you rely on it. ### Has the situation actually got worse in the last few days? Yes. The US has carried out 8 consecutive nights of strikes on Iran as of 19 July, Iran has struck US and allied bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and Jordan, and 2 US service members were killed in Jordan on 18 July, the first American combat deaths from Iranian fire since March. Iran's government has said the US has effectively suspended the memorandum of understanding that underpinned June's ceasefire. Airlines are reacting faster than government advisories, with several re-suspending or extending pauses on Gulf routes this week. ### Are ticket prices rising because of the conflict? Yes. Jet fuel is forecast to average around $152 a barrel in 2026, up roughly 70 percent from 2025, and airlines are cutting long haul capacity by up to 12 percent in response, on top of the added flight time from rerouting around restricted airspace. US airfares are already running about 21 percent higher year on year, and the [International Air Transport Association](https://www.iata.org/en/pressroom/2026-releases/06-07-middle-east-disruptions-high-fuel-prices-halve-airline-industry-profitability/) expects the disruption to nearly halve global airline industry profitability this year. --- ## Official Government Travel Advice - [UK: FCDO travel advice for the United Arab Emirates](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/united-arab-emirates) - [US: State Department travel advisory for the United Arab Emirates](https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories/united-arab-emirates-travel-advisory.html) - [Australia: Smartraveller advice for the United Arab Emirates](https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/middle-east/united-arab-emirates) - [Canada: official travel advice for the United Arab Emirates](https://travel.gc.ca/destinations/united-arab-emirates) Have an update or questions? Comment below. If you're considering Dubai as a longer-term base, the UAE also just launched [a new 5-year multi-entry visa](https://budgetbro.app/blog/dubai-5-year-multi-entry-visa-nomads) with no local sponsor required, worth reading alongside the current travel advice above. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # How does the Middle East Crisis Affect You? > From fuel rationing in Sri Lanka to rising transport costs in Thailand and Vietnam, here's what the Middle East oil crisis means for your trip across Asia - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/middle-east-crisis-travel-effects - Published: 2026-03-16 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Travel Updates - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- In addition to our [daily updated Asia Travel Update](https://budgetbro.app/blog/middle-east-travel-update) page, BudgetBro has created this new page to monitor the effects within Southeast Asia for travellers. The ongoing US-Israel war on Iran has effectively shut the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic and the ripple effects are hitting travellers across Southeast Asia right now. From fuel rationing in Sri Lanka to rising transport costs in Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines, here's what you should be aware of if you're travelling the region/planning to. The situation is changing fast. If the Strait of Hormuz reopens, markets and supply chains can recover relatively quickly. If it remains closed beyond a few more weeks, the impact on fuel availability and transport costs across Southeast Asia will deepen. We'll update this article as things change. ## Why Does Whats Happening in the Strait of Hormuz Matter to Me as a Traveller in SEA? Around 60% of Asia's crude oil imports pass through the Strait of Hormuz. With that route effectively closed, Southeast Asian governments are scrambling to manage fuel reserves, and the knock-on effects for travellers are extremely visible on the ground. This isn't just a news story. It's affecting the cost of your tuk-tuk, the price of domestic flights, and whether the bus you're counting on will actually show up. ## Should I still go to Southeast Asia? If you're about to travel to Southeast Asia, yes still go, but budget for more time and money for getting around. Be aware that many hostels/guesthouses run on generators so you may experience power cuts. ### Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka has moved the fastest and most drastically. Since the 15th March 2026, the government activated a National Fuel Authorisation System requiring all vehicles to use a registered QR code before purchasing fuel. No QR code, no fuel, at any station in the country. What does this mean for you if you're travelling in Sri Lanka? If you're renting a vehicle or hiring a private driver, make sure your rental company or driver has registered their vehicle on the official portal as without it, they cannot legally fill up. Weekly fuel quotas are now enforced per vehicle category: motorcycles are limited to 5 litres, cars and tuk-tuks to 15 litres, and vans to 40 litres per week. 15 litres car allowance covers roughly 150–200km depending on the vehicle, meaning drivers doing multiple tourist runs daily are going to hit their limit fast. - Confirm with your driver or rental company that they are registered on fuelpass.gov.lk before you travel - Expect some private drivers and tuk-tuk operators to charge more, or be unavailable mid-week as they exhaust their weekly quota - Budget more time for overland journeys, queues at stations may be longer and some trips may need to be broken up - The government has also declared a mid-week public holiday to conserve fuel, so factor potential closures into your plans ### Thailand: Thailand is already facing serious economic issues this year, and the oil shock has hit at the worst possible time. The government has imposed a temporary price cap on diesel and ordered most government agencies to work from home to reduce fuel demand. This is not so much relevant to tourists, however, what you will feel: rising costs for transport. Songthaews, minibuses, and private transfers are all run on diesel. You should expect to see fare increases, especially on longer routes between cities. There are also warnings that a prolonged conflict could significantly dent Thailand's tourism industry directly, as jet fuel costs push up flight prices and affect how many visitors the country receives overall. - Agree transport costs upfront rather than agreeing to pay on arrival - Shop around for long-distance bus trips - Domestic flights with AirAsia, Vietjet etc., are still operating normally but fares are increasing daily (Set up flight price tracking with Skyscanner, Google Flights) ### Vietnam: Vietnam has announced plans to source crude oil from non-Middle Eastern suppliers, but experts have suggested it will only cover six days of national consumption. With existing reserves reportedly at around 20 days, Vietnam is at real risk of shortages. The government has told people to limit unnecessary travel and stay home where possible. - Overland transport between cities is fine now but may become disrupted if the situation worsens - Motorbike rental fuel access for small vehicles (low weekly quotas if rationing is introduced) could become an issue - Book domestic flights sooner rather than later as jet fuel costs rise ### Philippines, Indonesia and Cambodia: The Philippines sources around 96% of its oil from the Persian Gulf region and has already been hard hit — the peso has weakened significantly and fuel price increases are filtering into all transport costs. The government has moved to a four-day work week to conserve fuel. Indonesia, despite being an oil producer, imports more than a third of its crude. Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar have very limited refining capacity and rely on exported petroleum products from Thailand and Vietnam — both of which are now under pressure to conserve their own supplies. - Overland border crossings that rely on bus or shared transport may see service reductions or higher fares - Boat transport in coastal areas and between islands can be affected as diesel prices rise - If you're island hopping, particularly in the Philippines or Indonesia check with operators before you book that services are still running as normal ### Domestic Flights: Expect Fares to Rise Jet fuel prices are a direct function of oil costs, and those are rising sharply everywhere right now. Airlines typically adjust fares within two to four weeks of significant fuel cost increases. Budget airlines in Southeast Asia, which already operate on thin margins are likely to pass costs on faster than full-service carriers. If you are looking to book domestic flights, booking now is better than waiting. Fares on routes within Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines and Indonesia are all likely to trend upward while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. More reading to help you plan: [Middle East Travel Update](https://budgetbro.app/blog/middle-east-travel-update), [Cheapest Flights to Asia August](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheapest-flights-asia-august) and [Cambodia Visa-Free Trial for China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cambodia-visa-free-china-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # New Phnom Penh-Yangon Flight > Cambodia Airways launches a new Phnom Penh to Yangon route on March 20, linking Cambodia and Myanmar. What it means for budget travellers planning the region. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/new-phnom-penh-yangon-flight - Published: 2026-03-15 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Myanmar, Yangon, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, KTI, RGN, New Flight Route - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Following a [new route by Air Cambodia from Phnom to Da Nang](https://budgetbro.app/blog/air-cambodia-phnom-penh-danang-route) last month, Cambodia's newest airport, KTI, continues to expand and build out its network. Cambodia Airways has just announced a new service between Phnom Penh and Yangon, Myanmar, launching 20th March. The service will operate twice a week on Mondays and Fridays, and will take approx. 1 hour 30 minutes. Flights available for $125 one way. ![Cambodia Airways BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/cambodia-airways-myanmar-flight-budgetbro.webp) Flight Times: Departs Phnom Penh: 1515 Arrives Yangon: 16: 50 Departs: Yangon: 1750 Arrives: Phnom Penh: 20:25 We acknowledge, whilst Myanmar is not a straightforward destination for most travellers right now, this new connection opens up options for those who are going, and it's another sign of KTI's growing ambition as a regional gateway for Cambodia and the World. Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Cambodia River Express](https://budgetbro.app/blog/new-phnom-penh-to-siem-reap-ferry), [Air Cambodia Phnom Penh to Da Nang Direct Flight](https://budgetbro.app/blog/air-cambodia-phnom-penh-danang-route) and [Vientiane-Da Nang Flight Resumed](https://budgetbro.app/blog/lao-air-vientiane-to-da-nang). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # What is the new EU Entry/Exit System? > The EU's Entry/Exit System launched 12 October 2025, replacing passport stamps with digital records and biometric scans for UK travellers visiting Europe. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/eu-exit-ees - Published: 2026-03-10 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Europe, EES - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- ## **What Is the EU Entry/Exit System (EES)?** ## If you’ve travelled around Europe before, you’ll know the routine. You land, join the queue at passport control, hand your passport over, the officer stamps it, and you’re through. Nothing complicated. That system is now, however, being replaced. Bad news for stamp collectors! The EU Entry/Exit System, usually shortened to EES, is a new digital border system that records when non-EU travellers enter and leave the Schengen Area. Instead of stamping your passport, border control logs your trip electronically and links it to biometric data like a facial photo and fingerprints. For travellers, the main change is what happens the first time you cross the border. When you arrive, your passport is scanned and your biometrics are recorded. That creates a digital travel record so the system knows when you entered Europe and when you leave. Once that record exists, future trips become simpler. Border officers no longer rely on stamps to see how long you’ve stayed. The system automatically tracks it. This applies to anyone visiting Europe from outside the EU for short stays. That includes travellers from the UK, the US, Australia and most other visa free countries. On paper it sounds like a technical change happening behind the scenes. In reality it’s a pretty big shift in how European borders work. Passport stamps disappear, biometrics replace them, and your travel history in the Schengen Area becomes fully digital. You can read more about the new [Travel to Europe Mobile App](https://budgetbro.app/blog/travel-to-europe-mobile-app) ## **Why the EU Is Introducing the Entry/Exit System** For decades Europe relied on passport stamps to track who entered and left the Schengen Area. It worked, but it was also a blunt system. A small ink stamp in a passport was often the only record of when someone arrived or departed, and border officers sometimes had to manually check whether a traveller had stayed too long. The Entry/Exit System moves that process into a digital database. Instead of relying on stamps, the system records the date and location of every entry and exit automatically. Border authorities can instantly see how long someone has been in the Schengen Area and whether they are still within the 90 days allowed for visa free travel. Security is another reason behind the change. Because the system links each entry to biometric data like fingerprints and facial recognition, it becomes much harder for someone to enter Europe using multiple identities or different passports. There is also a practical side to it. Passport stamps are slow, inconsistent and easy to miss. A digital system removes that guesswork and replaces it with a clear record of movements across the border. For travellers, none of this changes the rules of visiting Europe. The 90 days in any 180 day period rule still applies. What changes is how closely it can be monitored. Instead of stamps scattered through a passport, the system calculates it automatically. ## **How the EU Entry/Exit System Works** From a traveller’s perspective the process is fairly simple. The main difference is that instead of a passport stamp marking your arrival, your entry into the Schengen Area is recorded digitally in the system. The first time you cross the border after the system launches, border control creates a digital travel record linked to your passport. Your passport is scanned, a facial photograph is taken and your fingerprints are collected. These details are stored together so the system can identify you the next time you enter Europe. That record logs exactly when and where you entered the Schengen Area. When you leave, the system records your exit as well. Those two points create a clear record of how long you stayed, removing the need for border officers to manually check stamps or count days in a passport. ### **What Happens the First Time You Enter** The first time you enter the Schengen Area under the new system may take slightly longer because this is when your biometric record is created. At passport control your passport will be scanned and you will be asked to provide a facial photo and fingerprints. This information is then linked to your passport details and stored in the Entry/Exit System. In practical terms this means a few extra steps compared to the old stamping process. Many airports and ferry ports across Europe are installing kiosks or biometric scanners to handle this part of the registration. ### **What Happens on Future Trips** Once your biometric record exists, future trips become much simpler. Border control already has your details in the system, so your passport and biometrics only need to be matched to the existing record. That means the process can be quicker than the old system of manual passport stamps. In many places travellers will eventually be able to use automated border gates, where the system verifies their identity and records their entry without a full manual check. ## **Who the Entry/Exit System Applies To** The system applies to travellers visiting the Schengen Area from outside the European Union. If you hold an EU passport, nothing changes for you. The same generally applies to people with residence permits or long term visas. For everyone else, this is where the change happens. Travellers from visa free countries such as the UK, the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand will have their entries and exits recorded digitally instead of receiving passport stamps. The rule itself is not new. Most visitors can stay in the Schengen Area for up to 90 days within any 180 day period. The difference is that the Entry/Exit System tracks that automatically instead of relying on passport stamps and manual checks. ## **Entry/Exit System vs ETIAS** A lot of travellers confuse the Entry/Exit System with another upcoming system called ETIAS, but they are not the same thing. The Entry/Exit System is what happens at the border. It records when you enter and leave the Schengen Area and links that information to your passport and biometric data. ETIAS is a travel authorisation that will eventually be required before visiting Europe. Travellers will need to apply online before their trip and receive approval before boarding their flight. The easiest way to think about it is this. ETIAS happens before you travel. The Entry/Exit System happens when you arrive. Together they are part of the EU’s plan to modernise border control, but the Entry/Exit System is the change travellers will notice first. Questions? Ask in the comments. More reading to help you plan: [Solar Eclipse 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/solar-eclipse-2026-where-to-watch-europe), [Europe vs Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-vs-southeast-asia-travel) and [The GHIC / EHIC explained](https://budgetbro.app/blog/travel-insurance-ghic-ehic-card). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Vientiane-Da Nang Flight Resumed > Lao Airlines resumed Vientiane to Da Nang route in March with two weekly flights, strengthening tourism between Laos and Vietnam. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/lao-air-vientiane-to-da-nang - Published: 2026-03-07 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Laos, Vietnam, DAD, Da Nang, Vientiane, New Flight Route - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Lao Airlines have announced that from 29th March, 2026, the Vientiane to Da Nang route will start again. Lao Airlines suspended its Vientiane to Da Nang route due to the pandemic in 2020 and low passenger take up. In 2023, passenger demand remained low after an attempt to restart it again. It is hoped this time following a resurgence in post-pandemic tourism and Da Nang tourism popularity it will work. ### When are the flights? The route will operate on Thursdays and Sundays. Departs Vientiane departs at 11:20 AM and arrives in Da Nang at 12:40 PM Departs Da Nang at 1:50 PM and lands in Vientiane at 3:10 PM ### How much are the flights? At the date of this article the lowest fare of $149.50 from Vientiane to Da Nang was found for 19th April and the lowest from Da Nang to Vientiane was $156.50 on 5th April. Both promo fares with 20kg checked baggage. You can check the flights on [Lao Airlines website](https://laoairlines.com/en/) Further Reading: Last month there was an announcement from Sun PhuQuoc confirming new connections between Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh and Phu Quoc in Vietnam. Article Source: [https://laoairlines.com/en/lao-airlines-resumes-direct-flights-between-vientiane-and-da-nang/](https://laoairlines.com/en/lao-airlines-resumes-direct-flights-between-vientiane-and-da-nang/) Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Air Cambodia Phnom Penh to Da Nang Direct Flight](https://budgetbro.app/blog/air-cambodia-phnom-penh-danang-route), [New Phnom Penh-Yangon Flight](https://budgetbro.app/blog/new-phnom-penh-yangon-flight) and [Christmas in Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/natal-no-sudeste-asiatico-calor-luzes-e-novas-tradicoes). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Sri Lanka's Holi Festival in 2026 > Holi Festival 2026 in Sri Lanka brought colour celebrations to Colombo and Tamil Hindu communities, with events, music and traditional powder. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/holi-festival-sri-lanka - Published: 2026-03-07 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Sri Lanka, Festival, 2026 - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Holi took place this year on 4th March, 2026, marking the Hindu festival of colours that celebrates the arrival of spring and the victory of good over evil. Around the world it’s known for huge street parties, coloured powder flying everywhere and music loud enough to shake buildings. Sri Lanka celebrates it too, just on a much smaller scale. The reality is Holi here isn’t something that takes over entire cities like it does in India. Instead, most of the celebrations happen within Hindu communities, around temples, community gatherings and organised cultural events. If you were travelling through Sri Lanka this week you probably wouldn’t see massive street closures or crowds filling every road. What you might have seen instead are pockets of colour appearing across different parts of the country. ## Celebrations in Colombo Colombo saw some of the most visible celebrations this year. One of the events took place at India House, where officials and members of the Indian High Commission marked the festival with the traditional throwing of coloured powder and community celebrations. It’s a smaller event, but one that happens most years and reflects the cultural ties between India and Sri Lanka.  At the same time, Holi is increasingly becoming something that entertainment venues and event organisers are leaning into. This year City of Dreams Colombo launched a three-day event called Signature Holi Rush, running from 6-8 March. The resort turned its pool area into a colour zone, hosting live music, DJs and a Holi-themed celebration designed to capture the same playful chaos the festival is known for.  These kinds of organised events are becoming more common, especially in larger cities where both locals and visitors are looking for a way to experience the festival in a more social setting. ## The Festival Itself Holi is rooted in Hindu tradition and begins the night before with Holika Dahan, where a ceremonial bonfire symbolises the burning away of evil and negativity. The following day is when the real celebration happens. People throw coloured powder, known as gulal, over friends and family. Music plays, people dance, and the whole idea is that social boundaries temporarily disappear. Age, status and background stop mattering for a few hours because everyone ends up looking exactly the same once they’re covered head to toe in colour. Even though Sri Lanka’s celebrations are smaller, the meaning behind the festival remains exactly the same. ## What It Felt Like On the Ground What makes Holi in Sri Lanka interesting is that it often feels accidental rather than planned. Travellers rarely build an entire itinerary around it because the celebrations are scattered and community-based. You might see groups celebrating near a temple, you might see an organised event in a hotel or park. Or you might not realise it’s happening until someone walks past with bright pink powder across their face. It’s quieter than India’s version of the festival, but the atmosphere is still there. Laughter, colour and people enjoying the excuse to forget normal life for a few hours. And honestly, sometimes those smaller, unexpected celebrations are the ones that end up sticking with you the most. More festivals and events to plan around: [Nyepi in Bali](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nyepi-bali), [Songkran in Thailand](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-festival-thailand) and [Khmer New Year in Cambodia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/khmer-new-year-cambodia). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Kampot to Koh Rong Ferry Services > Kampot to Koh Rong, Koh Sdach and Koh Rong Sanloem with Buva Sea and GTVC. Prices, travel times, and why it beats going from Sihanoukville. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/kampot-koh-rong-direct-ferry-2026 - Published: 2026-03-03 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Koh Sdach, Koh Rong, Koh Rong Sanloem, Cambodia, Kampot, BUVA Sea, GTVC - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Last updated: 17th March, 2026: Article updated to reflect the additional ferry service by GTVC. # Buva Sea Kampot to Koh Rong Direct Ferry Prices & Times *TL;DR:* - *Buva Sea direct ferry from Kampot launched on 6th March (islands > Kampot) and March 7 (Kampot > islands)* - *Serves Koh Sdach, Koh Rong & Koh Rong Sanloem* - *$23.75 one way* - *2h 15m journey* - *No Sihanoukville transfer needed* - *GTVC ferry from Kampot to Koh Rong $15 one way* You've probably heard about Sihanoukville and why many travellers choose to skip it right? It is still worth a visit if you have time, especially for the beach; but if you're strapped for time, departing from Kampot is perfect for most travellers. It's quick, just as affordable as going from Sihanoukville, and a lot less hassle as there is no bus transfer needed. The terminal and facilities at Kampot are newer, the town itself is worth a day or two, and now with two ferry operators to choose from, you have genuine flexibility on price and timing. A tuk-tuk to the terminal won't set you back much, and as both services grow we'd expect hostels and hotels to start offering pick-ups and shuttle services before long. ## Buva Sea: Direct Ferry from Kampot In a Facebook post from Buva Sea Cambodia, it was officially confirmed that the direct ferry from Kampot to Koh Sdach, Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem resumed from the islands to Kampot on 6th March, with services from Kampot to the islands beginning on 7th March. The high-speed catamaran was due to launch earlier but was delayed due to a combination of regional border tensions and low visitor numbers. A one-way ticket from Kampot to Koh Rong costs $23.75, and the journey on the high-speed catamaran takes around 2 hours 15 minutes. ### Buva Sea Departure Times **Kampot → Islands** *(from 7th March 2026)* DepartureRoute 8:30am Kampot → Koh Rong Sanloem → Koh Sdach → Koh Rong **Islands → Kampot** *(from 6th March 2026)* DepartureRoute 12:30pm Koh Sdach → Kampot 1:30pm Koh Rong → Kampot 1:45pm Koh Rong Sanloem → Kampot *Times are subject to change — confirm directly with Buva Sea before travel. Book on VET Express or RedBus's website. (Check the new user deals for ferry)* ## GTVC: New Ferry Service from Kampot GTVC has also launched a direct ferry service connecting Kampot to Koh Rong and Koh Rong Sanloem. At $15 one way, it's the more budget-friendly option of the two. ### GTVC Departure Times **Kampot → Koh Rong Sanloem → Koh Rong** DepartureRoute 9:30am Kampot → Koh Rong Sanloem → Koh Rong **Koh Rong → Koh Rong Sanloem → Kampot** DepartureRoute 1:00pm Leaves Koh Rong (Long Set Beach) 1:15pm Leaves Koh Rong Sanloem 1:45pm Arrives Kampot *Times are subject to change — confirm directly with GTVC before travel. Book at *[*GTVC*](https://www.gtvcspeedboatcambodia.com/en/transit/pages)* or RedBus* ## A Comparison Buva Sea vs GTVC: Price: Buva Sea $23.75 one way GTVC: $15 one way Journey time: Buva Sea: 2h 15m GTVC: TBC Islands served Buva Sea: Koh Sdach, Koh Rong, Koh Rong Sanloem GTVC: Koh Rong, Koh Rong Sanloem Did this help? Drop us a comment below. Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Cambodia River Express](https://budgetbro.app/blog/new-phnom-penh-to-siem-reap-ferry), [Christmas in Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/natal-no-sudeste-asiatico-calor-luzes-e-novas-tradicoes) and [New Phnom Penh-Yangon Flight](https://budgetbro.app/blog/new-phnom-penh-yangon-flight). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # From The Founder: February Update > BudgetBro founder Josh shares his February 2026 startup update, covering early traction, product development and lessons learned building in public. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/from-the-founder-februarys-recap - Published: 2026-03-01 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Press - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- ## February Overview of BudgetBro Hi, if you're new here, I'm [Joshua Rawlinson](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuarawlinson), founder of BudgetBro: a new behavioural travel (budgeting) app launching in beta soon. If you've been around for a while though, like the last few months, February hasn’t been full of big wins. It also hasn’t been full of losses. It’s been steady. Focused. Everyone on the team is still showing up with the same intention: make the app better than it was yesterday. That consistency matters more than a flashy announcement. We’ve secured a small amount of funding. Updated the website. Fine-tuned parts of the app that most people will never consciously notice. Expanded the team. Tightened up our future plans. A lot is happening behind the scenes. No beta release just yet. I do sometimes think this whole thing would make a great Netflix documentary. “Beta Testing My Nervous System” feels about right. I’m writing this from Berlin. ITB starts tomorrow. Further down I’ve dropped a photo of where we’re staying. It’s not conventional. Samar had concerns. Fair ones. Keep reading. ## User Interface & User Experience Not much has changed on the UI front, and that’s a good sign. It means we’re close. Our frontend developer, Dhananjani, has been ahead of the backend for a while, which has given us space to refine the small stuff. I mean tiny details. Spacing. Micro-interactions. The bits most people don’t consciously see but absolutely feel. I enjoy this part more than I expected. There’s something satisfying about tightening a screw no one else noticed was loose. On the UX side, we’ve been thinking long term. Specifically churn. Churn is the percentage of users who stop paying. In travel, that number is naturally higher because people stop travelling. So the question becomes: how do we onboard people before they travel, and how do we keep them when they get home? BudgetBro isn’t just going to sit inside a 3-6 month travel window. We’re building an ecosystem. That means expanding beyond pure travel budgeting so we diversify properly. If we get that right, churn becomes a strategy problem, not a seasonal inevitability. ## Back to Work One big shift this month is that I’ve gone back onsite temporarily to make sure cashflow isn’t something that keeps me awake at night. I’ve dusted off the tools and stepped back into the cold. It was a shock. I don’t quite have the body I used to, and after years in warm climates the British winter hit differently. On the trowel I looked like I was about to hold up a bank. I’ve also been wearing a MusiCozy headband with built-in speakers. It keeps you warm and you don’t have earphones jammed into your ears all day. Small thing, but when you’re working solo it makes a difference. Whoever invented that deserves a pint. Here’s a photo of me onsite in full winter mode. Feel free to laugh. ## Investment I didn’t mention this earlier because I didn’t want to jinx it. Since January I’ve been deep in the business plan, personal survival budget, forecasts, all of it. We were approved for a government-backed startup loan and the funds have now landed. That changes things. It’s allowed us to expand the team sooner than planned and bring forward features we originally parked for post-beta. One of the big ones is offline sync. A lot of people care about it. More than I expected, if I’m honest. Connectivity isn’t the issue it once was, but this isn’t about what I think. It’s about what users want. Offline sync isn’t small, so we’ve brought in a new developer, Rikas, to focus purely on that. The rest of the team can stay locked in on the final hurdles. The loan gives us roughly three to four months of additional runway. It also takes some weight off my shoulders. That said, it’s not the finish line. We still need proper equity investment to scale this the way we intend to. I’m still not taking a wage. Ten or eleven months in and I haven’t paid myself from the company. I’m fine with that. I believe in the vision, but more than that, I enjoy building it. Even if my hairline has filed a formal complaint. ## ITB Berlin Now, the accommodation. ITB Berlin isn’t cheap and neither is Germany in general. I booked late and we couldn’t justify £100+ per night. I also wanted privacy. So I booked a capsule inside a hostel. Six nights for £172. I’d never done it before. If you’ve never seen a capsule setup, picture a small, enclosed pod with just enough room to sit up, charge your stuff and shut the world out. Samar thought I’d lost it at first. But once we arrived, she came around quickly. It’s surprisingly cosy. Private. Quiet. Better than most hostel setups we’ve had over the years. Here’s a photo so you can judge for yourself. As for ITB itself, I still don’t fully know what to expect. I’ve read a lot, but events always feel different in real life. What I do know is that turning up as the face of something we’ve built from scratch feels significant. We’ve got a simple plan. - Nathan is handling the speaking slots and formal bits. - Samar is focused on direct connections with companies we’ve had our eye on. - I’ll be talking to as many people as possible, ideally with a beer in hand. For the record, that division of labour wasn’t my idea. Nathan put it together.,, and I’m not complaining haha. ## Final Thoughts If you read these recaps back to back, you’ll probably notice a theme. We’re always slightly on a knife-edge. It can feel heavy. Slow. Like progress is happening under the surface rather than in headlines. But that’s also where most startups fall apart. Quiet pressure. No applause. Just work. Every problem we solve makes us harder to kill. Every month we survive, we get sharper. We’re cementing our place in the travel space properly, not loudly. If you’re a regular reader of these updates, I appreciate you more than you know. If you ever want to chat, connect with me on LinkedIn or drop me an email at [josh@budgetbro.app](mailto:josh@budgetbro.app). I'd love to hear from you! See you next month. More from the founder diary: [← January Update](https://budgetbro.app/blog/january-founder-recap-startup-momentum) · [March Update →](https://budgetbro.app/blog/from-the-founder-march-recap). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Is Sri Lanka’s New Digital Nomad Visa Worth It? > Learn how to get the Sri Lanka Digital Nomad Visa in 2026. Cover income requirements ($2k/mo), fees, and the step-by-step application process. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/sri-lanka-dnv - Published: 2026-02-18 - Updated: 2026-08-17 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Sri Lanka, Visa, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Last Updated: 18th March, 2026 - Article checked for accuracy. Sri Lanka has launched a Digital Nomad Visa. On the surface, it’s straightforward. Spend up to a year on the island while working remotely, without relying on back to back tourist stamps. For anyone who’s considered slowing down in Sri Lanka rather than just passing through, that sounds appealing right? But this new visa isn’t just a headline. It’s a set of rules, thresholds, and trade-offs. And, depending on how you travel and how you earn, it either makes your life easier or adds another layer of structure you might not want. Before you get sold on the idea of twelve months in the tropics, it’s worth looking at what this visa actually involves, and who it’s really built for. ## Who's Eligible and What It Actually Costs To qualify, you need to be over 18 and earning at least USD $2,000 per month, from outside Sri Lanka. That can be as a remote employee, freelancer, or business owner, but your income must be foreign-sourced. This visa does not allow you to work for Sri Lankan companies or generate local income. The income threshold is the main filter. They want consistent, provable earnings. Savings alone won’t carry you. If your income fluctuates heavily month to month, expect more scrutiny. If you’re comfortably above the requirement and can show clean documentation, eligibility itself is straightforward. The visa fee is USD $500 per year for the main applicant. It’s another $500 for a spouse, and $500 for each dependent. So a couple is looking at $1,000 per year before insurance, police clearance, medical checks, and document prep. For a solo remote worker, that’s reasonable for a one year residence visa. For families, it becomes a more deliberate decision. This is built for stable earners who want a proper base, not for someone piecing together short term freelance work while figuring it out on the move. ## How the Application Process Works This isn’t a click, pay, approved type of visa. Applications go through Sri Lanka’s Department of Immigration and Emigration under the residence visa category. There’s an online element, but you’re still dealing with formal document submission and review. It’s not built like a fast tourist ETA system. You’ll need a completed application, passport copies, passport photos, proof of income, international health insurance that covers Sri Lanka, a police clearance certificate issued within the last three months, and a medical clearance. If you’re applying with a spouse or children, you’ll also need marriage and birth certificates. There’s also a recommendation step involving the Ministry of Digital Economy, which adds another layer to the process. None of this is unusual for a residence visa. It’s just more involved than what most backpackers are used to. Processing times aren’t clearly published. Realistically, the timeline depends on how quickly you can gather clean documentation and whether anything gets flagged during review. Police certificates expiring. Insurance wording not matching requirements. Missing income proof. Small things can slow the process down. If you’re planning around this visa, you don’t apply a week before your flight. You give yourself breathing room. A few weeks to gather documents properly, and additional time for review and endorsement. Renewals add another step. You’ll need to show continued eligibility and, importantly, tax registration with Sri Lanka’s Inland Revenue Department. That doesn’t automatically mean you’re handing over half your income, but it does mean the relationship becomes more formal the longer you stay. ## Is It Actually Worth It? If I’m being honest, most backpackers don’t need this. If you’re hopping around Asia, keeping things loose, figuring it out as you go, a structured residence visa is probably overkill. This visa is for a different type of person. Someone earning properly each month. Someone who’s tired of counting visa days. Someone who wants to rent a place for a year and stop pretending they’re “just visiting”. The $500 fee isn’t the real barrier. The real barrier is consistency. Can you comfortably show $2,000 a month without sweating? Can you handle admin without it draining you? Are you okay with stepping into a system that becomes more formal if you renew? Because once you do this, you’re not drifting anymore. You’re choosing Sri Lanka as a base. That changes the mindset. If you already know you want to build a year of your life there, this makes sense. If you’re just attracted to the idea of it, but still want freedom to pivot, it might feel heavier than you expected. The visa isn’t good or bad. It’s intentional. And if you’re not travelling intentionally, it probably isn’t for you. You can discuss this with us on the [BudgetBro Subreddit](https://www.reddit.com/r/BudgetBro/) Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [You Can Now Travel Visa-Free to Sri Lanka](https://budgetbro.app/blog/sri-lanka-free-visa-scheme), [Full Guide to Europe’s Digital Nomad Visas in 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-digital-nomad-visas-2026) and [Digital Nomad Life](https://budgetbro.app/blog/digital-nomad-life-2026). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How much do you need to earn for Sri Lanka's digital nomad visa? At least USD 2,000 per month, earned from outside Sri Lanka. That can be as a remote employee, a freelancer or a business owner, and you will usually need to show recent bank statements or proof of income to back it up. ### How long can you stay on the Sri Lanka digital nomad visa? Up to one year, working remotely for clients or an employer based outside the country. It is granted under the residence-visa route through the Department of Immigration and Emigration rather than as an instant online approval. ### Is the Sri Lanka digital nomad visa worth it for backpackers? For most backpackers hopping around Asia, no. A short visa-free or tourist entry is simpler and cheaper. The nomad visa makes sense if you want a single settled base in Sri Lanka for several months rather than keeping things loose. ### Can you enter Sri Lanka visa-free instead? For short stays many nationalities can enter visa-free or on a tourist ETA. If you only want a few weeks or a month, that route is far less paperwork than the nomad visa. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Updated Venice Tourist Tax for 2026 > Venice has confirmed its day entry fee for 2026. Here’s what it means if you’re planning Europe on a budget. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/venice-tourist-tax - Published: 2026-02-11 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's News - Tags: day-trips - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Venice has confirmed that its tourist entry fee will return in 2026, covering around 60 peak days between April and July. The structure remains similar to previous years, with a €5 to €10 charge depending on timing and booking. The policy targets day-trippers rather than overnight visitors, with residents and workers exempt. This is no longer a one-year experiment. The city trialled the system in 2024, continued it in 2025, and has now extended and structured it for 2026. When a city repeats and expands a policy like this, it signals confidence in the direction. ## Who Actually Feels This The fee doesn’t hit people staying overnight. It hits short-stay visitors entering on high-traffic dates. That means the classic “train in, see St Mark’s Square, take photos, leave by evening” approach now comes with friction. For backpackers and budget travellers moving quickly across Europe, that matters. Not because €5 is dramatic on its own, but because it adds to a growing stack of small costs. ## The Compound Effect Europe doesn’t feel expensive in one big moment. It becomes expensive gradually. Tourist taxes, baggage fees, fluctuating train prices, and now access charges. If you’re changing cities every two or three days, those small additions build up fast. Venice isn’t breaking your budget. It’s just another layer. ## Why Venice Is Doing This For years, Venice has struggled with overtourism. Cruise ships, overcrowded alleys, shrinking residential populations. The city has made it clear it does not want to eliminate tourism. It wants to manage volume. Introducing a fee on peak days is a filtering mechanism. It nudges behaviour without banning access. The city is effectively saying that if you want to visit during the busiest periods, you contribute directly to the strain you create. That approach prioritises longer stays over quick visits. It rewards travellers who embed themselves slightly more, rather than passing through at speed. ## Is Europe Pricing Out Budget Travel? Venice is the most visible example, but it’s part of a wider shift across Europe. Cities are raising accommodation taxes, restricting short-term rentals, and experimenting with crowd control systems. None of this is dramatic in isolation. Together, it reflects a change in attitude. Europe is no longer chasing maximum volume. It is managing it. For budget travellers, this doesn’t mean Europe is closed. It means the old formula of constant, rapid city hopping is becoming less forgiving. Fewer stops and longer stays stretch money further than trying to tick off five headline cities in ten days. ## What This Means If You're Planning 2026 Venice is still worth visiting. The architecture, the atmosphere, the history, none of that disappears because of a small entry charge. What changes is how casually you can treat it as a quick stop between other cities. It becomes something you plan around rather than squeeze in. If you’re building a Europe trip on a tight budget, the adjustment is simple but important. Moving slower suddenly makes more financial sense than racing across borders. Staying longer in fewer places spreads fixed costs better, avoids repeat transport expenses, and reduces the number of small local taxes and access fees stacking up along the way. Travelling outside peak dates matters more than ever, and secondary cities start to look far more attractive when you factor in both cost and breathing space. The 2026 confirmation isn’t some dramatic escalation. It’s reinforcement. Venice has reviewed the numbers and decided this approach works for them. That’s the real signal. When a city tests something, repeats it, and then expands it, others pay attention. Budget travel in Europe still works. It just works better when you move with intention instead of momentum. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Why You Need Travel Insurance > The internal argument I have before every trip, and why I always end up buying travel insurance. The real risks backpackers face and what cover matters. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/why-you-need-travel-insurance - Published: 2026-02-10 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Travel Insurance, Europe, South East Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Every trip starts the same way. Flights are booked, the hostel is saved, and there’s a budget spreadsheet sitting somewhere pretending I won’t blow it in the first week. At that point everything feels under control. I’ve done this before. I know how this works. Then, usually a bit later, the same question comes up. Do I actually need travel insurance? On paper, probably not. I’m young-ish, I’m healthy, and I don’t spend my days doing obviously stupid things. Mostly. That money could go a long way on the road. Fifty quid is food for nearly a week, or beers for a few nights, or if I’m being honest, both. Travel insurance always feels like paying for something I don’t expect to use, which makes it very easy to push it down the list. But this is also the exact point where trips start going wrong. Not because anything dramatic has happened yet, but because I’m assuming nothing will. And that assumption is doing most of the work. So if you’re having the same internal debate, you’re not being reckless or clueless. You’re just doing what most people do before a trip. The question is whether that logic actually holds up once you leave home. ## It's Not Just About the Trip, It's About You Too. Travel Insurance isn't just about lost bags or cancelled flights. It’s about medical care too. That’s the part people don’t like thinking about, so they minimise it or skip over it entirely. If you get sick or injured abroad, you’re not covered the way you are at home, and I don’t feel like I need to spell that out. A hospital visit that feels routine can turn into a bill that follows you for years. And if things get serious, if you need surgery, specialist care, or to be flown home, the cost escalates very quickly. Most trips don’t involve hospitals. That’s true. But the ones that do aren’t small problems. Travel insurance isn’t about expecting that to happen. It’s about not being financially exposed if it does. And more importantly, it’s about not pushing the consequences of your avoidable mistakes onto the people who care about you. That’s the uncomfortable bit. But it’s also the honest one. ## Backpackers Need Travel Insurance More, Not Less. Here’s a weird idea that travel insurance is for expensive trips or older travellers. In reality, budget travellers are usually the most exposed. Longer trips, tighter budgets, more overnight transport, more basic accommodation, and more situations where things can go wrong simply because you’re moving constantly. If one bad day can wipe out your entire budget, insurance isn’t a luxury. It’s risk management. Skipping it only makes sense if you can afford the consequences. I can’t. And you can’t either. ## Best Travel Insurance If you’re still questioning whether it's worth having travel insurance or not at this point, either you didn’t really read this or you’re choosing not to think past yourself. No insurance doesn’t just affect you, it affects your family, your partner, and anyone who would be left dealing with the fallout if something went wrong. We've got a guide to the [Best Travel Insurance for Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-southeast-asia-uk) for you. Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Best Travel Insurance for UK to Europe Trips in 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-uk-europe-trips), [Europe vs Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-vs-southeast-asia-travel) and [The GHIC / EHIC explained](https://budgetbro.app/blog/travel-insurance-ghic-ehic-card). Off to Asia? See our provider-by-provider pick of the [best travel insurance for travelling Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-southeast-asia-uk). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # The GHIC / EHIC explained > Why you should have travel insurance as well as a GHIC or EHIC. Learn more about travel insurance and the GHIC and EHIC cards. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/travel-insurance-ghic-ehic-card - Published: 2026-02-03 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Travel Insurance, EHIC, GHIC, Europe - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Firstly, ## What is the EHIC? The European Health Card is a card that the UK had when it was in the EU. It allows for healthcare between countries within the European Union and Switzerland. The UK now uses the GHIC, but if you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement/ are an EU citizen you will continue to have this. ## What is a GHIC? The Global Health Insurance Card, is the UK version of the EHIC, this gives you access to state healthcare within the EU should you need it. This was implemented after Brexit. More information and details on how to apply can be found here. [GHIC - NHS](https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-uk-global-health-insurance-card-ghic/) (There are scam sites, be careful to use this official site, there is no charge) It's important to understand that these cards are not a replacement for travel insurance and having travel insurance can cover you for more medical treatments than without one. Insurance will also cover for your family flying to be with you if you're seriously ill and/or repatriation to get you home. ## If I have a GHIC or an EHIC, I don't need Travel Insurance right? The GHIC is NOT a replacement for travel insurance. It is free to have though, and lasts for up to 5 years. You may have to pay for treatment that a local resident would be expected to pay for in the country you're visiting, but having the GHIC can often speed up the process of being treated, and in some countries cost less than without one. Remember to check the [UK's Foreign Travel Advice](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice) wherever you go for up to date information on entry requirements, health and security in the country you're visiting. You can also register for email updates. Heading to Southeast Asia? We've got a guide to the [Best Travel Insurance for Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-southeast-asia-uk). Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Best Travel Insurance for UK to Europe Trips in 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-uk-europe-trips), [Why You Need Travel Insurance](https://budgetbro.app/blog/why-you-need-travel-insurance) and [Solar Eclipse 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/solar-eclipse-2026-where-to-watch-europe). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # From The Founder: January Update > Behind the scenes of a startup in 2026. I’m sharing the raw January recap of our transition from survival mode to real momentum. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/january-founder-recap-startup-momentum - Published: 2026-02-02 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Founder, Press - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- This month’s recap feels very different to recent ones, and honestly, that’s a huge weight off my shoulders. Before anything else, I want to thank everyone involved in building BudgetBro. Not just the app itself, but the belief behind it. This isn’t a one-person job. It takes committed developers, data specialists, SEO minds, and a wife who genuinely believes in the vision of making travel cheaper, easier, and more connected. January felt like progress again. And that matters. ## **User Interface / User Experience ** Back in December, I set a target of December 20th for beta testing. That deadline completely flopped. Not because it was unrealistic, but because I underestimated how many issues final implementations would surface. It genuinely felt like we were taking steps backwards instead of forwards, and that was probably the most vulnerable point of the build so far. Those issues carried into early January, then mid-January. Even when progress was being made, it didn’t feel like it until the back end of the month. That’s when things started to click and real improvements became obvious. One of my biggest personal challenges is perfectionism. I’ve been told countless times that 95% of users won’t notice the imperfections I obsess over. But I’ve always focused on the other 5%. Right or wrong, that mindset slowed momentum several times throughout the development. That said, I’ve now accepted that UI and UX perfection happens over time. What matters is crossing the line and getting the app into beta. We’re not perfect yet, but we’re close enough to learn properly. I’m confident beta users will appreciate the work that’s gone into this, and I’m genuinely excited to share it. ## Outstanding Items One of BudgetBro’s core USPs is the in-app ecosystem. After nearly a year of development, I fully understand why there’s a gap in the market. What we’re building is hard. “Bro’s Local Picks” is a good example. The idea is simple. Show users accommodation, food, and activities around them. In reality, accessing this data as a startup is a catch-22. To get quality live data, you need users. To get users, you need live data. We’ve explored nearly every possible route to solve this. I’ve even visited Booking.com’s headquarters. For beta, this feature will launch using static data so users can experience the end vision. Live data integration will come later. “Bro’s Local Tips” is in a similar position. It’s functional, but still being refined. Beta users will see a strong static version while we continue improving it. We’ve also invested heavily in behavioural learning. BudgetBro isn’t just an expense tracker. The goal is a real-time travel companion that learns and adapts to each user. However, machine learning requires data, and data requires users. This part of the app will evolve during beta as real usage feeds back into the system. Yes, that means beta isn’t the full app. That’s intentional. This is our MVP, and it’s a standard, sustainable approach for SaaS products. ## Investment Over the last 10 months, we’ve invested over £30,000 of our own money into BudgetBro, alongside countless hours, very little sleep, and a few emotional moments along the way. When this started, cost wasn’t something I focused on. It was a passion project. Something on the side. Like garlic bread at Nando’s. Nice to have, not essential. That changed. Once I started seeing real potential, it became the main course. Extra hot. Full chicken. I doubled down, expanded the team, and increased development pace around August 2025. That’s also when I realised equity investment would likely be necessary, but not something to rush. In December 2025, Samar and I returned to the UK to reduce outgoings to bare-minimum BudgetBro expenses. I also made the decision to return to bricklaying to strengthen our position while actively exploring equity opportunities. This process won’t be instant. I’m new to it, and I expect it to take time. But we’ve built something genuinely unique, and with the right backing, the growth potential is far beyond what we imagined six months ago. Patience has been key throughout this journey. That hasn’t changed. ## ITB Berlin At the end of February, myself, Samar, and Nathan will attend our first ITB Berlin event. I don’t know exactly what to expect, but I’m excited for every part of it. The connections, the conversations, and the opportunity to actively promote BudgetBro. The timing feels right. After a long year of hard work, it feels like the reward phase is beginning. If you’re attending ITB Berlin, I’d love to connect beforehand. Feel free to email me at [josh@budgetbro.app](mailto:josh@budgetbro.app) or reach out on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshuarawlinson/). ## Final Thoughts So, that’s January. A positive recap throughout, and that feels good. Let’s see what February brings. Who knows, maybe even investment... Speak to you all next month. Love, Big JR --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # UK to Southeast Asia: Monthly Cheap Flight Update > Find the cheapest flights from the UK to Southeast Asia in February 2026. Updated monthly with the best routes, fares, and tips to save on your trip. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia - Published: 2026-01-31 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Thailand, Asia, Backpacking, Travel, South East Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Bookmark this page, we update it regularly with the latest UK to Southeast Asia flight deals. Here we track the cheapest flight prices from the UK to Southeast Asia. Prices and routes are updated regularly to reflect the latest deals. Flights to Southeast Asia in February are usually more expensive than January. Fewer sales, less airline panic, and way more people fleeing winter like it’s a sinking ship. Direct flights get pricey fast, and even “budget” routes start acting premium. However, after digging through dates, routes, and some properly painful layovers, one pattern kept showing up over and over again: Istanbul. February’s cheapest routes almost always pass through it. Not Paris, not Frankfurt, not the flashy Gulf hubs. Istanbul is where prices quietly drop. ## Flight Option 1: £173 to Bangkok (Cheapest Overall) This isn't my favourite option as the layover in Mumbai might push your limits, but it'll be adrenaline filled to say the least. **Leg 1: London Stansted to Istanbul** You’ll fly from London Stansted into Sabiha Gökçen Airport on the Asian side of Istanbul. It’s about 40 km from the centre and roughly 90 minutes by bus, but here’s the good bit: you’ve got almost 21 hours. That’s not a layover, that’s a mini trip. Plenty of time to wander, drink raki, watch some questionable belly dancing, and demolish a few kebabs like a professional. Accommodation is stupidly cheap. You can grab a hotel for under £25 or a hostel for under £15, crash properly, then roll back to the airport fed, rested, and feeling smug about how little you spent. **Leg 2: Istanbul to Mumbai (overnight)** This overnight flight drops you into Mumbai with a long layover. Mumbai Airport sits roughly **20–25 km from central areas**, and getting around is cheap using local trains or Uber if you pick your timings wisely. Real talk though. Mumbai is hectic. Traffic jams are normal, trains are **RAMMED**, and nothing moves quickly just because you want it to. But don’t let that scare you off. With **nearly 11 hours**, you can still cover a lot, and for most people, that’s more than enough time to get a proper taste of the city without it tipping into chaos. **Leg 3: Mumbai to Bangkok** This is your final leg, and while you *could* try to get some rest, beware. You’re landing in Bangkok at **21:00**, and if you want to fix your body clock quickly, sleeping is a trap. Power through it. Stay awake. Have a few vodkas if that helps (it usually does). For **£173**, this route is ridiculous value. (Don't forget you'll need a visa if leaving the airport, in Feb this is $25) ## **Flight Option 2: £231 to Bangkok (Better Timing)** Very similar to option 1, however I prefer this more, better timing, short layover in Jordan and a much nicer airline (or at least the second and third leg is) **Leg 1: Manchester to Istanbul** This is basically the same setup as before, just flying out of Manchester instead of Stansted. It’s a morning flight with a clean arrival into Istanbul and a **huge 28-hour layover**. Unlike option 1, this one actually lets you live a little. You’ve got time to party, meet potential travel buddies, sleep properly, and still enjoy a full day in the city. Which, all things considered, is pretty elite. **Leg 2: Istanbul - Jordan** Departing Istanbul at 22:10, you’ve got a short flight over to Jordan. I’d fully recommend trying to sleep through this whole leg. Your main mission right now is fixing your body clock, and the good news is you’re already halfway to Thailand time. You’ve then got a sweet 3-hour layover, which is perfect. Enough time to stretch, grab a drink, and reset. Beer is fine. Coffee is not. Trust me. **Leg 3: Jordan - Bangkok** Your final leg. Please get **at least 3 hours of sleep**. This is the one that actually matters. It’ll set you up perfectly for Bangkok, especially because you’re landing at **15:25**, right in peak hour. That timing is elite if you play it right. Get to your accommodation, do the **three S’s** (shit, shave, shower), then head out. Hit the strip, embrace the chaos, and forget whatever happens next day. Let’s be honest. The first night is always crazy. ## **Flight Option 3: £275 to Phuket (Straight Into Island Mode)** This one skips Bangkok completely and drops you straight into Phuket. It’s the most expensive out the 3 but it's much cheaper than stopovers though major hubs and you get a full 24h in Athens. If you're a true traveller, you'll know this is a no brainer. **Leg 1: London to Athens** You kick things off flying into Athens. It’s a solid first leg and a genuinely good city to lay over in. Athens Airport sits about 35 km from the city, and the metro gets you into the centre in roughly 40 minutes, cheap and easy. With a full 24 hours in Athens, and an arrival at 13:25, your options are wide open. This isn’t a rush job. You’ve got time to explore, eat well, drink better, and still sleep properly. Time is very much on your side here. **Leg 2: Athens to Sharjah** Admittedly, a **5-hour layover** isn’t exactly ideal, but I think the Athens stop earns enough brownie points to cancel it out. You’ve already won there. Think of this one as admin time. You’ve got enough space to download a few films, catch up on some content, and actually sit down for a proper meal without sprinting through the terminal. Not glamorous, but it does the job. **Leg 3: Sharjah to Phuket** Final leg. Lock in some sleep on this flight if you can. Even a few hours makes a difference because once you land in Phuket, it’s game on. You’re touching down at **10:50 in the morning**, which is about as perfect as it gets. Different route. Different vibe. But if Phuket is the goal, this one absolutely delivers. ### Prefer Direct? There are several dates throughout February on London to Bangkok routes for direct one way £300. Would you take one of the 3 above or would you prefer to take the expensive route through major hubs like Dubai? I'd love to hear your thoughts, reach out to me on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/budgetbro.app/) Keep the planning going with our guides to [Cheapest Flights to Asia August](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheapest-flights-asia-august), [South & Southeast Asia Flood Tracker 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/asia-flood-tracker) and [Halloween in Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/halloweeninasia). Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/the-backpack-reality-check-every-traveller-needs) and [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nipah-virus-india). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Brits Can Now Travel to China Visa-Free > Visa Free Travel to China confirmed. British travellers can now visit China visa-free for up to 30 days. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-visa-free-uk-travellers - Published: 2026-01-28 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's News - Tags: China, UK, Visa, Featured - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- 15th February - It has been confirmed today by the [Ministry of Foreign Affairs People's Republic of China ](https://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/xw/fyrbt/202602/t20260215_11860467.html)that the UK from 17th February until 31st December, 2026 will no longer need a visa for 30 day travel. This follows a recent meeting between British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping with the intention of resettingUK-China relations. After the meeting, the Chinese government’s official readout confirmed they will "actively consider" implementing a unilateral visa-free policy for the UK but until today this was not confirmed officially by them. This follows a similar move for Canada earlier this month, after Prime Minister Mark Carney secured a visa-free agreement during his own visit to Beijing, a clear signal that China is opening its doors to boost tourism and strengthen global ties. The read out from official Chinese sources has been posted to the government website and confirms "China is actively considering granting unilateral visa waiver to British people, Xi said." [https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202601/29/content_WS697adb81c6d00ca5f9a08d1f.html](https://english.www.gov.cn/news/202601/29/content_WS697adb81c6d00ca5f9a08d1f.html) Industry experts believe the official green light is imminent. Wendy Wu, founder of Wendy Wu Tours, featured in a recent *Independent* travel video, suggested that based on previous rollouts with other nations, a formal confirmation from the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs could arrive as early as Monday. ### **The Potential Impact of Visa-Free for British Travellers** For years, British travellers have faced a high barrier to entry compared to their European and worldwide counterparts, many of whom already enjoy 30-day visa-free access. A change would mean the scrapping of the current £151 standard visa cost, removal of the need for biometric appointments at visa centres, and subsequently allowing for more spontaneous travel of up to 30 days. ### **Current Status for Travellers from the UK** While the "active consideration" is a massive step forward, travellers should note that the policy is not yet in effect. As of today, British citizens can still utilise the 240-hour (10-day) visa-free transit if they are flying through China to a third country, or the specific 30-day visa-free scheme for Hainan Island. You can read more about the Transit Visa here. [You can read more about the Chinese Transit Visa here](https://english.www.gov.cn/policies/featured/202511/06/content_WS676548cbc6d0868f4e8ee28f.html) [View the full list of current countries visa-free for China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-visa-free-travel-list) Keep the planning going with our guides to [Current China Visa-Free Countries April 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-visa-free-travel-list), [Brazil Just Went Visa-Free for Chinese Citizens](https://budgetbro.app/blog/brazil-just-went-visa-free-for-china) and [You Can Now Travel Visa-Free to Sri Lanka](https://budgetbro.app/blog/sri-lanka-free-visa-scheme). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Nipah Virus 2026 Traveller Update > Is the Nipah virus affecting travel in 2026? Check the latest airport screenings in Thailand, Singapore, and Vietnam for backpackers coming from India. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/nipah-virus-india - Published: 2026-01-28 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's News - Tags: India, Nipah Virus, South East Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Last updated: 29th January, 2026 # **Nipah Virus 2026: What Travellers Need to Know About Asia Airport Screenings** Backpacking Southeast Asia right now? There’s a lot of talk about the Nipah Virus (NiV) following a small outbreak in West Bengal and Kerala, India. While the risk to the average traveler remains low, several major SE Asia hubs have brought back "COVID-style" screening to keep things in check. If you’re flying between India and Southeast Asia, here is what you need to know. ### **Quick Facts: TL;DR** - **The Risk:** There is a limited, localised outbreak in India (specifically West Bengal and Kerala). While serious, Nipah is a "poor spreader", it doesn’t transmit easily through casual contact, crowds, or public transport. - **How it Spreads:** Primarily via fruit bats, pigs, or very close contact with someone already sick (usually in a home or hospital setting). - **Symptoms:** Starts like a heavy flu (fever, headache, sore throat) but can lead to severe respiratory issues or neurological symptoms like dizziness and confusion. - **The Travel Verdict:** No need to cancel your trip. Authorities are simply being extra cautious to ensure these small clusters stay contained. - **Treatment:** There is no vaccine yet; care is focused on managing symptoms. ### **Airport Checks: What to Expect** If you are flying into the below countries, especially from India, or if you have a recent travel history there, expect extra checks and steps for your time at the airport. #### 1. Thailand (Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Phuket) Thailand is on high alert. They’ve implemented a "three-phase" measure for flights arriving from risk areas. - The T.8 Form: You might be asked to fill out a health declaration form before landing. - Fever Checks: Automated thermal scanners are active. If you have a fever, you’ll need a "Fit-to-Fly" certificate or face immediate isolation. - "Health Beware" Cards: Officials are handing these out to arrivals. Keep it—it tells you which symptoms to watch for and where to go if you feel sick. - Source: [Nation Thailand / Ministry of Public Health](https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40061777) #### 2. Singapore (Changi Airport) Singapore has officially stepped up surveillance as of late January 2026. - Temperature Screening: Active for all travelers arriving from affected regions. - Health Advisories: You’ll receive digital or physical notices at entry points advising you to monitor your health for 14 days. - Source: [Communicable Diseases Agency (CDA) Singapore](http://www.china.org.cn/world/Off_the_Wire/2026-01/29/content_118306214.shtml) #### 3. Malaysia (KLIA / KLIA2) Since Nipah was first discovered in Malaysia in 1998, they take this very seriously. - Point of Entry Screening: Increased thermal scanning and health interviews for those coming from South Asia. - Field Surveillance: They are coordinating with veterinary services to ensure local bat populations aren't carrying it (currently, they are clear). - Source: [Ministry of Health (MOH) Malaysia](https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/01/28/malaysia-intensifies-surveillance-at-entry-points-after-nipah-infections-reported-in-india-says-moh/207058) #### 4. Vietnam (Tan Son Nhat & Noi Bai) Vietnam has classified Nipah as a "Group A" (most dangerous) infectious disease. - Strict Isolation: In HCMC, anyone showing fever or "neurological abnormalities" (confusion/dizziness) is sent straight to the Hospital for Tropical Diseases. - 14-Day Monitoring: Travelers from India are urged to self-monitor for two weeks after entry. - Source: [Vietnam Ministry of Health / VietNamNet](https://vietnamnet.vn/en/vietnam-steps-up-nipah-virus-surveillance-at-tan-son-nhat-noi-bai-airports-2486037.html) #### 5. Cambodia (Techo International Phnom Penh) Cambodia's Ministry of Health (MOH) issued a high-priority alert on 25th January, 2026. This is due to recently launched new direct flight routes between India and its major tourist hubs, the government is moving fast to secure entry points. - Arrival Screening: New quarantine and surveillance protocols at Techo International Airport. Travellers from India should expect thermal scanning and potential interviews regarding a 21-day travel history. - Targeted Routes: Surveillance is specifically intensified for passengers on the new direct flights: Air Cambodia (New Delhi to Phnom Penh) and IndiGo (Kolkata to Siem Reap). - The "Seven-Point" Guide: The MOH has urged the public and travellers to avoid raw palm sap and fruits that appear bitten or partially eaten by bats. - Bat Population Monitoring: While no human cases have been found in Cambodia in 2026, the virus has been detected in local Cambodian fruit bats in the past, leading the CDC to maintain "Level 2" surveillance in rural areas. - Source:[Khmer Times / Cambodia Ministry of Health](https://www.khmertimeskh.com/501833505/cambodia-on-high-alert-as-nipah-cases-rise-in-india/) ## **Traveller Tips: How to Stay Safe** 1. Skip the "Bat Fruit": In India or border regions, avoid fruit that looks like it’s been nibbled on. Also, skip raw date palm sap (a common local drink) as bats love it too. 2. Wash Your Hands: Standard advice, but it works. Use alcohol-based sanitiser after using public transport. 3. The 14-Day Rule: If you’ve been in Kerala or West Bengal, keep an eye out for a "flu-plus" feeling (fever, headache, and especially confusion or drowsiness) for two weeks. 4. Don't Panic: Unless you are working in a healthcare setting in the outbreak zone or handling bats, your risk is extremely minimal. These airport measures are mostly to catch the rare "imported" case before it spreads. 5. Ensure you have adequate travel insurance. Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia), [Why You Need Travel Insurance](https://budgetbro.app/blog/why-you-need-travel-insurance) and [Central Asia's Single Visa Plan Is Back](https://budgetbro.app/blog/central-asia-single-visa-plan-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Brazil Just Went Visa-Free for Chinese Citizens > Brazil has gone visa-free for Chinese travellers, opening up a major new travel corridor. Here is what it means for South America tourism and backpackers. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/brazil-just-went-visa-free-for-china - Published: 2026-01-27 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Brazil, China, Visa, Free - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Brazil didn’t shout about this, but it absolutely should have. Brazil now allows visa-free entry for Chinese citizens, this comes following China allowing Brazilian citizens visa-free travel in June 2025, and it's a move that could reshape how people travel across South America. If you care about flight prices, route options, and getting somewhere before it turns into an overcrowded mess, this matters more than you think. ## What's Actually Changed Until now, Chinese passport holders needed a visa to enter Brazil. It wasn’t impossible, just annoying enough to kill spontaneity and push travellers toward easier destinations. Brazil removed that requirement for short stays, which instantly lowers friction. Less paperwork means faster decisions, more last-minute bookings, and a lot more people adding Brazil to their shortlist instead of scrolling past it ## Why This is a Big Deal Even if You're Not Chinese China is the largest outbound travel market on the planet. Before the pandemic, more than 150 million people travelled abroad every year. Brazil doesn’t need all of them. It barely needs a fraction for airlines to start paying attention. When demand at that scale appears, routes get tested, seat capacity increases, and competition kicks in. Competition is how prices stop doing unhinged things. Even if you never set foot in China, more long-haul traffic usually means better connections, more choice, and occasionally, actual deals. ## Brazil is Playing the Long Game This move isn’t about filling beaches next month. Brazil is positioning itself as South America’s gateway for Asia, similar to how certain countries become default entry points in other regions. Tourism from Europe and the US is stable but slow-growing, while Asia still has serious momentum. Brazil is leaning into that future, and the knock-on effects matter more than the headline. Expect more hotels, better regional airports, and improved transport beyond Rio and São Paulo, which is exactly where travel gets easier for anyone not just ticking off the obvious highlights. ## The Ripple Effect Across South America Brazil isn’t a dead-end destination. Once travellers land, they move. Overland into Argentina, flights to Peru, buses north toward Colombia. Making Brazil easier to enter makes the entire continent feel more accessible, and other countries notice when they risk becoming the awkward border in the middle of a popular route. Don’t be surprised if this nudges neighbouring countries to rethink their own visa policies over time. Visa-free today usually means smoother multi-country trips tomorrow. ## Will Prices Inflate? Yes, in some places. Rio during Carnival won’t suddenly become cheap and Fernando de Noronha will still hurt your wallet. That part isn’t changing. But more demand also brings more accommodation, more competition, and better mid-range options. Brazil is genuinely enormous, with coastal towns, inland cities, and nature-heavy regions that are still well under the radar. The common mistake is only looking at the obvious places at the obvious times. Real talk, if Brazil is already on your “one day” list, waiting years is how you end up paying more for the same caipirinha. ## Why This Matters Right Now Visa changes don’t explode overnight, they compound. Airlines test routes, hotels expand slowly, and infrastructure improves bit by bit. The people who benefit most are the ones who move before demand fully peaks. Brazil just sent a clear signal that it’s open for long-haul travel from Asia, and the travel industry will respond the way it always does. Once that momentum is obvious, the quiet advantage disappears. Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Brits Can Now Travel to China Visa-Free](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-visa-free-uk-travellers), [Current China Visa-Free Countries April 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-visa-free-travel-list) and [You Can Now Travel Visa-Free to Sri Lanka](https://budgetbro.app/blog/sri-lanka-free-visa-scheme). ## Final Thoughts This isn’t random policy noise. Brazil opening visa-free access to China reshapes routes, prices, and how people move around South America, whether you notice it or not. The only real question is timing. Are you getting there while it’s still flying slightly under the radar, or after everyone else clocks on? --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Disneyland Abu Dhabi Confirmed > Read morw about Disneyland Abu Dhabi and Disney’s 7th global theme park on Yas Island. Learn about its Emirati-inspired design, opening timeline & travel tips. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/disneyland-abu-dhabi-confirmed - Published: 2026-01-26 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Abu Dhabi, Disneyland, Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- So, Disney is officially heading to the Middle East! Disneyland Abu Dhabi has been announced for [Yas Island](https://www.yasisland.com/), making it Disney’s seventh theme park worldwide and its first in the region. For travellers bouncing between Europe, Asia, Africa or India, this isn’t just another Disney park. It’s shaping up to be a major stopover flex, especially if you’re already passing through the UAE. Here’s what’s confirmed, what’s still up in the air, and whether it’s actually worth caring about if you’re travelling on a budget. ## Where Is Disneyland Abu Dhabi? Disneyland Abu Dhabi will be built on Yas Island, Abu Dhabi’s entertainment zone, basically the UAE’s answer to Orlando, but way more compact. Yas Island already has: - Ferrari World - Warner Bros. World - Yas Waterworld - F1 racetrack For travellers, this is low effort: - 30 minutes from Abu Dhabi city - About 1 hour from Dubai - Easy access via buses, taxis and ride-hailing apps ## When Will Disneyland Abu Dhabi Open? There is currently no date. Disney parks take time. From announcement to opening, most take 5–7 years, which puts Disneyland Abu Dhabi realistically later in the decade. This article is very much a “watch this space” situation. Once construction starts or dates are announced we will update this article. ## What Will Disneyland Abu Dhabi Look Like? Disney has said the park will be “Emirati in style”, which is actually a big deal. This is a concept of what it might look like. Instead of copy-pasting another fairy-tale castle, expect: - Middle Eastern design influences - Desert tones, modern architecture and big statement visuals - A Disney park that doesn’t look like any other Disney park Think less Paris, more future-facing, closer to Shanghai Disneyland energy with local flavour baked in. Also, because this is the UAE: - Expect a lot of indoor attractions - Night-time shows and late opening hours - Tech-heavy rides designed for heat-friendly comfort ## Will Disneyland Abu Dhabi Be Worth It for Backpackers? This is where it gets interesting. Disney parks aren’t usually “budget travel”, but Abu Dhabi might be one of the easier places to do Disney without going broke. ### Here's why: - Huge stopover hub (you might already be flying through here) - Short travel distances, no need to rent a car - Likely multi-park passes with other Yas Island attractions - Compact enough to do in 1–2 days ### However: - Disney tickets won’t be cheap - On-site hotels = not backpacker friendly - Food inside the park will be overpriced (no surprises there) ## How to Do Disneyland Abu Dhabi on a Budget If you’re travelling smart (and not trying to cosplay luxury), here’s how this could work once it opens: ### Stay Off Yas Island Base yourself in Abu Dhabi city or even Dubai where cheaper hotels and hostels exist. Commute in. ### Use It as a Stopover Abu Dhabi is already a popular layover city. Pair Disneyland with: - A desert trip - Mosque visit - Beach day Suddenly the ticket feels more justified. ### Go Shoulder Season Avoid: - December - Major holidays - F1 race week Flights and accommodation spike hard during those periods. ## How Will This Compare to Other Disney Parks? If you’ve done Disney before: - More modern than Paris - More tech-heavy than Hong Kong - Likely closer to Shanghai in scale and ambition This park is being built from scratch, which usually means fewer compromises and better flow. Abu Dhabi would become Disney’s [s](https://gulfnews.com/photos/from-california-to-abu-dhabi-a-look-at-disneys-theme-parks-around-the-world-1.500122568)eventh global theme park. It will be strategically located to welcome visitors from the Middle East, Africa, India, Asia, and Europe, and the resort is expected to attract millions of regional and international tourists every year. Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Halloween in Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/halloweeninasia), [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia) and [16,095KM Away From Home](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-i-ended-up-here). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Australia Day: Party or Protest? > Backpacking Australia on January 26? Learn what Australia Day means, why protests happen, what’s open, and how backpackers can experience it respectfully. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/australia-day-protest - Published: 2026-01-24 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Australia, Backpacking - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- ## Australia Day: BBQ, Beach… or Protest? If you’re travelling Australia right now, January 26 can be a confusing day. One minute it’s beach beers and sausages, the next it’s marches, speeches, and very real political conversations. Welcome to Australia Day! Also called Invasion Day or Survival Day, depending who you ask. Australia Day almost always delivers a heatwave, and warnings have been issued for the day temperatures in excess of 40 celsius, so be sure to drink water constantly, wear sunscreen, find shade, and don’t treat day drinking like a competitive sport! Heatstroke ruins plans fast... ### Why Are People Protesting? January 26 marks the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, when Britain began colonising Australia. For many Australians: a national day with BBQs, beaches, and citizenship ceremonies. For First Nations people: the beginning of land theft, violence, and cultural loss. That’s why you’ll see large “Change the Date” or Invasion Day rallies in cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. These are peaceful, passionate, and very visible. Backpacker etiquette: You don’t need a hot take. Listening > debating. If unsure, be respectful and curious. ### Want to Experience Something Meaningful? Alongside the usual parties, many cities host Survival Day events celebrating Indigenous culture: Live music & dance Art markets Talks and storytelling Festivals like Yabun in Sydney It’s one of the best ways to understand Australia beyond beaches and beer. ### Practical Stuff You Actually Care About - Most shops, pubs, and bottle-os are open (often with holiday hours) - Public transport usually runs on a public holiday schedule - Hostels often organise BBQs, beach trips, or day parties ### Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Australia Working Holiday Visa Fee Increase](https://budgetbro.app/blog/australia-working-holiday-visa-fee-2026), [International Volunteer Day](https://budgetbro.app/blog/international-volunteer-day) and [Updated](https://budgetbro.app/blog/travel-deals-for-backpackers). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Guide to Best Things to Do in Japan on a Budget 2026 > Discover the best budget things to do in Japan in 2026, including free attractions, cheap transport, & food tips. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/things-to-do-in-japan - Published: 2026-01-20 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Japan, Things to Do, Travel - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Japan has a reputation. An expensive one. For years, it’s been lumped into that mental category of “amazing but probably not for my budget”, especially if you’ve spent time bouncing around Southeast Asia where £30 a day feels comfortable. I used to think the same. But the more I looked into it, especially recently while building a budgeting app for travellers, the more I realised Japan doesn’t quite deserve the fear it gets. Is it cheap? No. Is it doable on a backpacker budget without ruining the experience? Absolutely. This isn’t a perfectly polished guide written by someone who’s done one two-week trip and now sells presets. This is me, a 30-year-old backpacker, still figuring out blogging, trying to explain Japan honestly for people who actually care about their budget. ## W**hat a Realistic Daily Budget Looks Like in Japan** If you’re travelling Japan like a backpacker rather than a tourist, your costs usually fall into a few predictable patterns. On the lower end, staying in hostels or capsule hotels, eating mostly from ramen shops, curry houses and convenience stores, and walking a lot, you’re looking at roughly £35 - £45 per day. This isn’t miserable travel either. Japan’s “cheap” food is still good, and the cities are built for pedestrians. A more comfortable backpacker budget sits around £50 - £70 per day. This gives you more flexibility, occasional nicer meals, paid attractions, and less stress about transport decisions. Once you start pushing past that, you’re drifting into tourist territory. Not wrong, just different. ## **Drinking in Japan on a Budget (And Why It’s Easier Than You Think)** Drinking in Japan doesn’t have to kill your budget, but it’s one of those costs that adds up fast if you’re not paying attention (just like Southeast Asia). Convenience stores are the backpacker lifeline here. A can of beer from 7 Eleven, Lawson or FamilyMart usually costs around £1.20 - £2.50, which is why pre-drinking outside a Konbini is completely normal. In bars and Izakaya's, a standard draft beer typically sits around £3.50 - £5.00, sometimes a bit more in Tokyo or tourist-heavy areas, but still reasonable compared to the UK. You’ll mostly see Japan’s big domestic beers everywhere. Asahi Super Dry is the most common and very easy to drink, Kirin Ichiban is slightly fuller, Sapporo turns up a lot outside Tokyo, and Suntory Premium Malts is the slightly nicer option without being expensive. If you’re into IPAs or pale ales (I certainly am), Japan does have a solid craft scene with breweries like Hitachino Nest, Baird Beer, Yona Yona Ale (Yo-Ho Brewing) and Coedo, but this is where budgets feel it. Craft pints usually land around £6–£8, making them more of an occasional treat than an everyday choice. Stick mostly to domestic beer and konbini cans, treat craft nights as a bonus, and drinking in Japan stays very backpacker-friendly. ## Toyko: How To Do It Without Losing Your Mind (Or Wallet) Tokyo gets a reputation for being expensive, but honestly, it’s about choices. There are heaps of things to do that cost little to nothing if you play it smart. Backpackers consistently report daily budgets around £50 - £65 can cover hostels, cheap eats, and plenty of sightseeing if you mix convenience-store meals with casual noodle shops and free attractions.   Start with the classics you can almost always do for free - **Asakusa & Sensō-ji Temple** Tokyo’s oldest temple is beautiful, iconic, and free to wander. The surrounding streets are classic old-Tokyo vibe with cheap snacks and street side stalls.   - **Yoyogi Park & Harajuku** Big parks and people-watching for free. On weekends Yoyogi can feel like its own festival with performers, picnickers, jugglers, and cosplayers.   - **Hibiya Park** A historic green space near the Imperial Palace. Excellent for a picnic, rest break, or cheap beer from a Konbini before you venture further.   Public parks and temple districts like these are the backbone of free (or nearly free) days in Tokyo. They’re relaxing, photogenic, and give you that “big city feels human again” moment without dropping yen every five minutes. **Budget-Friendly Eats & cheap Culture** Tokyo’s food scene can be ridiculously cheap if you lean into the local rhythm instead of booking the fancy stuff: - **Konbini meals and B-kyū gurume**  Cheap comfort food is a real thing here. Think ramen bowls, donburi, yakitori skewers, monjayaki, and fried goodies you can grab for ¥300 - ¥1,000. These spots are everywhere and genuinely good.   - **Tsukiji Outer Market** Not totally free, but walking around this market is a slice of Tokyo for hardly anything. You can sample sushi and street snacks for budget prices compared to restaurant sushi.   - **Museum days & quirky exhibits** Some neighbourhood galleries and pop-ups (like the Yayoi Kusama Museum in Shinjuku’s quieter side) are worth checking if you’re into art, though they might charge entry. It’s worth booking ahead for cheaper tickets.   One of the quirks of Tokyo’s budget scene is that food doesn’t have to be expensive to be amazing, and hunting down authenticity is part of the fun. **Cheap Transit, Big City** Tokyo’s subway and train system can be intimidating, but a 24-hour metro ticket (¥800 / about £5) is a huge value if you’re hopping all over the city in a day.  Honestly, lots of walking helps cut costs and lets you soak in the city in a way a train never will. **Budget Activity Ideas** You absolutely can fill your days without dropping yen on theme park level things - **Wander Shibuya & Shinjuku** Drifting through neon districts costs you nothing, and people-watching at the scramble crossing never gets old. - **Harajuku & Omotesando** Window-shopping, interesting street food, and creative fashion without paying for a ticket to get in. - **Sumida River strolls** Meandering river routes bridge culture and chill cheap adventure. - **Seasonal parks** Cherry blossoms, autumn leaves, and park vibes are free if you time your trip right. Most travel guides will sell Tokyo as “expensive and fast,” but the real open-budget trick is: move slow, eat local, walk a lot, and lean into free culture. That’s how people manage Tokyo for backpacker budgets like the €60–€75 range travellers report. ## Kyoto: Old Japan, Free Strolls & Temple Feels Kyoto is the kind of place where you’ll find temples on every corner, secret alleyways, and more shrines than you can shake a stick at. All without needing to blow your whole budget. Most budget guides (and real backpackers) put Kyoto around £45 - £65 per day if you mix cheap eats, hostels, and a few paid entries into your plan. **Kyoto's Big Name Sights (That Are Actually Worth It)** A lot of Kyoto’s magic comes from ancient places you can literally walk into without dropping cash (or with very small fees if you want the full experience) - **Fushimi Inari Taisha**  The thousand torii gates that snake up the mountain are iconic and free to wander. Go early or late to dodge the crowds and actually enjoy it.   - **Kiyomizu-dera Temple**  One of Kyoto’s most famous temples with sweeping views of the city. The entry fee is small relative to how spectacular it feels, especially at sunset.   - **Arashiyama Bamboo Grove**  Otherworldly bamboo paths where most of the experience is wandering. Unless you choose extras like garden entries. Go sunrise for the best (quiet) budget photos.   - **Kyoto Imperial Palace & Nijo Castle**  Historic samurai and shogun vibes that give context to Japan’s history. There are modest entry fees if you want inside tours.   - **Stroll the streets of Gion**  Kyoto’s famous geisha district is atmospheric with lanterns and traditional buildings. Just be respectful. It’s a neighbourhood, not a theme park.   - **Nishiki Market**  A food-lover’s playground where you can wander for free and snack cheap on fish cakes, rice balls and pickled stuff. Great for meals on the go.   - **Shinkyōgoku Street** A lively covered arcade of shops and street food stalls that’s free to explore and full of cheap bites and souvenirs.   ### **Backpacker Vibes & How to Move** Kyoto rewards slow, wandering travel. Instead of rushing from paid site to paid site, most backpackers mix a couple of entry tickets with lots of free strolling. Temple districts, parks, ancient streets, local neighbourhood's and tiny shrines you’d miss if you weren’t walking.   Bus passes and metro cards are your friend here. Kyoto’s buses will take you nearly everywhere a budget traveller wants to go. And if you time your temple visits early in the morning, you’ll avoid crowds and sometimes even small fees for guided spots. Heads up: Kyoto recently announced a tourist accommodation tax increase that affects anyone staying overnight. Even budget stays will have a tiny nightly tax added (though hostels under about 6,000 yen a night will see just a minimal ¥200-ish charge). ## Osaka: Street Food, Neon Nights & Low-Cost Culture Osaka often gets called Japan’s kitchen, and that reputation is deserved. It’s loud, slightly chaotic, food obsessed, and noticeably easier on the wallet than Tokyo if you travel it right. Recent backpacker guides consistently place Osaka as one of the most budget-friendly major cities in Japan, thanks to cheaper hostels, simple metro lines, and a huge amount of stuff you can do without paying for attractions. What makes Osaka work so well for backpackers is that the city doesn’t hide its personality behind ticket booths. You experience it by walking, eating, and hanging around rather than queueing up. **Things to Do in Osaka Without Spending Much** Start in **Dotonbori**, especially at night. This is the version of Osaka most people picture. Neon signs, the canal, the crowds, and street food everywhere. You can wander for hours without spending anything, then grab takoyaki or okonomiyaki from a stall when hunger hits. It’s chaotic, fun, and very Osaka. - **Osaka Castle Park**  Is another solid stop. While the castle interior charges an entry fee, the surrounding park is massive and completely free to explore. It’s ideal for a slower afternoon, a cheap picnic, or a break from the busier districts. During spring, it’s also a popular cherry blossom spot. - **Shinsaibashi-suji ** For pure street life, is worth a wander. It’s a long covered shopping arcade packed with food smells, people watching, and constant movement. Even if you don’t buy anything, it’s one of the best places to feel the city’s energy. - **Minami-Temma Park**  This is a little quieter. Runs along the Yodo River and feels much more local. It’s a good place for a walk, a sit down with a cheap drink, or a calm break from the city noise. - **National Museum of Art, Osaka**  Offers rotating exhibitions with fairly reasonable entry fees compared to bigger museums elsewhere in Japan. It’s a good option on a rainy day if you want something more than wandering streets. There are plenty of paid attractions too, like the Umeda Sky Building observatory and ferris wheels, but they’re optional. Osaka’s appeal for backpackers comes from cheap urban exploration and food culture, not stacking up entrance tickets. **Eating Cheap in Osaka** Osaka’s reputation as Japan’s food capital isn’t marketing hype. Cheap, filling food is everywhere. Street snacks like Takoyaki, Okonomiyaki, grilled skewers, and casual noodle dishes are easy to find and usually cost somewhere between ¥300 and ¥900 for a proper portion. You can absolutely overspend here if you eat like you’re on a short holiday, but if you treat meals casually and follow your nose, Osaka stays very manageable on a backpacker budget. Mixing street food with smaller local eateries and the occasional convenience store dinner keeps daily food costs predictable and low. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [What Went Wrong with Air Japan?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/air-japans-final-decent-what-went-wrong), [Is Japan Really Giving Tourist Free Domestic Flights?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/japan-free-domestic-flights-tourists) and [Slow Travel](https://budgetbro.app/blog/slow-travel-how-its-really-done). Working out a daily budget for Japan means juggling yen against your home currency. A dedicated app keeps that painless, so [compare the best travel budgeting apps](https://budgetbro.app/alternatives) and pick the one that fits how you travel. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Current China Visa-Free Countries April 2026 > Complete 2026 list of China visa-free countries, including Canada, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Sweden and the United Kingdom. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-visa-free-travel-list - Published: 2026-01-15 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: China, Visa, 2026 - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- The [China Travel Comeback](https://budgetbro.app/blog/chinatravelcomeback2026) for 2026 is well and truly underway. British travellers can now take advantage of visa-free travel to China. The expansion of visa-free travel to China removes one of the biggest barriers for tourists and is [why you should travel to China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/why-travel-to-china-2026) this year in 2026! If you are planning to travel to China this year, it's worth noting recent updates. Like many countries, China has now adopted a new [Online Digital Arrival Card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-online-arrival-card) which you can complete before landing to speed up immigrations. Additionally the [Nihao Travel App](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nihao-travel-app) powered by UnionPay, is a new travel tool for tourists. Combining digital payments with city-wide metro cards, and helping travellers to navigate public transport and everyday payments, this is an [Essential Apps for China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/essentialappsforchinatravel), integrating city-wide metro cards and digital payments into one interface. This is the current full list of countries eligible for 30-day visa-free stays in China: Andorra, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, New Zealand, North Macedonia, Norway, Oman, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom and Uruguay. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Brits Can Now Travel to China Visa-Free](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-visa-free-uk-travellers), [Brazil Just Went Visa-Free for Chinese Citizens](https://budgetbro.app/blog/brazil-just-went-visa-free-for-china) and [Cambodia Visa-Free Trial for China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cambodia-visa-free-china-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Rio Carnival 2027: The Complete Guide > Planning to attend Rio Carnival 2026? This complete guide covers dates, tickets, samba parades, street blocos, accommodation, and essential travel tips. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/rio-de-janeiro-carnival-guide - Published: 2026-01-07 - Updated: 2026-08-18 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Festival, Carnaval2026, Brasil - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Update for Rio Carnival 2027 coming soon. # Why does Rio Carnival ignore the calendar? If you look at the official 2026 calendar, you will see that Carnival ‘begins’ on 14 February. But for Rio residents, the calendar is merely a suggestion. In Rio, the festivities are a state of mind that takes over the streets months before. And the party doesn't end on Ash Wednesday. Rio's ‘hangover’ is the liveliest in the world: the following weekend, we still have the Champions' Parade and ‘after’ blocos, such as Monobloco, which draw crowds who refuse to accept that the revelry is over. ### Technical Rehearsals: The stage for free The Technical Rehearsals at Sapucaí are the perfect chance to step onto the biggest stage on Earth without paying a penny! The atmosphere is like a rehearsal among friends, but the energy is like a championship final. Check out [the official 2026 calendar](https://liesa.org.br/noticias/251208-calendario-ensaios-tecnicos.html#:~:text=A%20Liga%20Independente%20das%20Escolas,2026%2C%20na%20Marquês%20de%20Sapucaí.) on the LIESA website. #### Highlights of the 2026 calendar: Where and when to be With over 400 blocks, you need to stay focused. Here are the moments you can't miss: - **Pre-Carnival (January until 8 February):** Total focus on technical rehearsals at the Sambódromo (Sunday evenings). - Friday (13/02): Official opening. The [Bloco Carmelitas](https://www.instagram.com/blocodascarmelitas/?hl=en), in Santa Teresa is the best place to feel the soul of the city. - **Saturday (14/02): **The giant [Cordão da Bola Preta](https://www.instagram.com/cordaodabolapretaoficial/?hl=en) dominates the city centre in the morning. In the afternoon, the [Banda de Ipanema](https://www.instagram.com/bandadeipanema/?hl=en) brings colour and diversity to the South Zone. - **Sunday to Tuesday (15/02 to 17/02): **The day belongs to neighbourhood blocos (such as [Simpatia é Quase Amor](https://www.instagram.com/blocosimpatiaequaseamor/?hl=en)) and the night is sacred at the Sambódromo. - **Post-Carnival (21/02 and 22/02): **The Champions' Parade and the mega-block [Monobloco](https://www.instagram.com/monoblocooficial/?hl=en) bring the party to a close. ** Want to check timetables and addresses in real time?** The most comprehensive source for advance planning in 2026 is the  [Diário do Rio](https://diariodorio.com/agenda-dos-blocos-de-rua-do-rio-de-janeiro-em-2026/). For last-minute official confirmation, keep an eye on the [Visit.Rio](https://visitrio.com.br/carnaval-no-rio-de-janeiro/) portal. ### Where to Stay: A Strategic Decision - **South Zone (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon):** The most popular and safest area, with easy access to the underground. - **Downtown and Lapa:** The birthplace of bohemian life. Intense nightlife and affordable prices, but expect a lot of noise. - **Porto Maravilha:** A modern option, ideal for those who want to focus on the Sapucaí parades and parties at Pier Mauá. ### Logistics: The Metro is your best friend Between 13 and 17 February, forget about cars or apps. MetrôRio operates 24 hours a day and is the only way to get around the roadblocks. - **Contactless payment:** Use your card or mobile phone directly at the turnstile.. - **No dynamic pricing:** Unlike apps, the metro has a fixed price and the carriage becomes an extension of the party. ### Official Uniform and Sun Care With temperatures reaching 40°C in 2026, comfort is king: 1. **Always wear trainers: **Protect yourself from broken glass and puddles. 2. **Protect your scalp: **Wear caps or headwear.** Real tip:** Apply sunscreen to your hairline. Burning the top of your head on the first day is the fastest way to ruin your trip. 3. **Hydration and fan:** Drink water between beers and bring a fan. It will be your portable ‘air conditioning’. - **EXTRA TIP:** Buy cheap accessories at** Saara (Downtown) **before the party starts. ### **Streetwise Tips: How to have a carefree time** Rio during Carnival is an explosion of joy. The secret to enjoying it 100% without any worries is simple: be strategic and cautious. By following the ‘Carioca style’, you can relax and focus on what matters. - **A money belt is your best friend: **wear that thin pouch inside your clothing. With your mobile phone and card safely tucked away, you are free to jump around and hug everyone without having to check your pockets every five minutes. That's freedom! - **Strategic photos:** Want to capture the carnival? Of course! Just do as the locals do: stop for a second near a police officer, inside a shop or in a quieter spot, take the photo and put your camera away. Then it's back to the festivities. ### **Sisterhood at the Street Party: **Looking out for each other*.* For women, Rio Carnival is a giant support network. The atmosphere is one of unity. - **Travelling together on the way there and back:** More than just safety, it's guaranteed fun. Arranging to arrive and leave together avoids the stress of missed connections.. - **The Meeting Point:** Mobile phone signals often fail in crowds. Before entering the block, choose a reference point (e.g., ‘in front of such-and-such ice cream parlour’). If anyone gets lost, they'll know where the party continues! - **Transport:** MetrôRio is the darling of revellers. It is brightly lit, full of people in fancy dress and fast. If you use an app, just check the sign before getting on a simple habit in any big city. - **Support Network:** Did you see someone in need of help or feel uncomfortable? Rio is a champion of campaigns such as "[**NÃO É NÃO!**](https://www.instagram.com/naoenao_/?hl=en)**" (No Means No!)**. Look for the support tents or any other female reveller; mutual help among women is what makes Carnival so welcoming. **Where to seek support if required:** - **DEAT:** Tourist Assistance Police Station (Leblon): entirely focused on visitors. - **Riotur Information Desks:** Information desks in Copacabana and Ipanema. - **Emergency: **Use the[ App 190 RJ](https://sepm.rj.gov.br/apps/#190-rj) or look for the **Segurança Presente** tents scattered throughout the blocks. **Summary: **Rio is not for amateurs, but with your money belt in place and your friends nearby, your only concern will be deciding which parade to attend next! ### The Sapucaí Ritual In 2026, the Special Group will parade on three nights (Sunday, Monday and Tuesday). - Where to buy: Exclusive channel via [Ticketmaster Brasil](https://www.ticketmaster.com.br/event/riocarnaval2026). - **Survival Tip:** Bring a disposable raincoat** (umbrellas are prohibited)** and lots of energy to watch the sun rise on the runway! ##### **Etiquette and Respect** 1. **Pee in the right place: **Zero Waste fines are steep (approx.£110). Use the portable toilets. 2. **‘No means no’:** Kissing only with consent. Rio has zero tolerance for harassment. 3. **Respect the residents:** Do not block entrances and do not climb on historical monuments. Whether it's the luxurious glamour of Sapucaí or the sacred sweat of the street blocks, Rio's Carnival is democratic and unforgettable. With these tips, you're already one step ahead of most tourists. Now all you have to do is choose your costume in Saara and dive into the biggest party on Earth. Viva o Rio, viva o Carnaval 2026! Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Rio Carnival 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/rio-carnival-history), [Yi Peng Lantern Festival Thailand 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/yi-peng-festival-thailand) and [Electric Daisy Carnival December 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/edc-thailand-phuket-guide). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Rio Carnival 2026: The History and Traditions Behind the World’s Biggest Party > Rio Carnival is more than a party. Discover the history, traditions, and cultural roots behind the world’s biggest festival ahead of Carnival 2026. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/rio-carnival-history - Published: 2026-01-07 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, Festival, Carnival2026, Carnaval2026, Brasil - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- # About the Rio Carnival in Brazil ## From the Streets to the Stage: The Conflict That Shaped the Festival Carnival in Rio de Janeiro was born out of class conflict. In the 19th century, there was Entrudo: a popular game where people threw water and flour at each other. The elite, finding this ‘uncivilised’, imported Masked Balls from Paris to bring luxury to the festivities.. - **The Secret of the Masks: **More than just aesthetics, the masks served to reverse roles. It was the only time when royalty dressed up as beggars to circulate anonymously, and high society women dressed as ‘mundane’ women to enjoy a freedom that was impossible during the rest of the year. This duality shaped Rio: the desire to be someone else is still the soul of every costume we see today.  From the chaos of Entrudo to the luxury of balls: the duality that created Rio's Carnival ## The Legacy of Tia Ciata: Where the Sacred and the Profane Meet The ‘DNA’ of the festival lies in Little Africa. In the early 20th century, samba was persecuted by the police, and it was under the protection of Tia Ciata that it survived. A respected mother of saints, she opened her backyard to musicians: in the front room, the religious (sacred) ritual took place, and in the back, the batucada (profane). This connection is the reason why every samba school has an Ala das Baianas (Baianas Wing). They are the spiritual shield of the school, representing the women who saved samba from extinction. The Baianas: the spiritual shield and ancestry that protects samba ## Samba Schools: From Quilombos to Popular Operas Samba schools were born as urban quilombos. The term ‘school’ was chosen deliberately: it was the place where the culture of the favelas was taught to those whom the city tried to ignore. In 2026, when a school enters the avenue, it is transforming centuries of exclusion into a visual opera of luxury and power. The pavilion: the ultimate symbol of a community's resilience and pride. ## Cariocas and the Sambista: Schools vs. The Blocos de Embalo For those rooted in tradition, there’s a vital difference. Samba Schools focus on competition, storyline and technical rituals. Blocos de Embalo (such as the iconic Cacique de Ramos), on the other hand, focus on the trance of rhythm. They do not compete for points; they ‘rock’ the crowd with hypnotic drumming. If the School is the narrative, the Bloco de Embalo is pure conviviality. Blocos de Embalo: the power of rhythm that unites people without the need for judges. ## Blocos vs. **Sambadrome**: The balance between Chaos and Order Rio celebrates in two ways. The Sambódromo is the temple of technique and national pride. The Street Carnival, on the other hand, represents ‘horizontal revelry,’ without ropes or tickets, where the soul of Rio renews its freedom. To plan your route for the 2026 blocos, check out the [Portal Visit Rio](https://visitrio.com.br/carnaval-no-rio-de-janeiro/). The democratic occupation of the streets: where revellers rule the city. ## The Year-Round Cycle: Why does Carnival never end? For samba dancers, Ash Wednesday is the first day of the next Carnival. The quadras function as social centres throughout the year. Carnival is the identity of Rio because it is the only time when the city truly feels like it owns itself. You can feel this energy all year round at the [Technical Rehearsals at LIESA](https://visitrio.com.br/ensaios-escolas-de-samba-rio-de-janeiro/). Carnival is not an event, it is a process: a whole year's work for four days of glory. ### Are You Ready to Live This Story First-Hand? Now that you know the soul, the ‘why’ behind the Bahian women's spinning, and the resistance that runs through the veins of samba, you are one step ahead of any ordinary tourist. But in practice, how can you navigate this sea of people in 2026 without getting lost? How to choose between the luxury of Sapucaí and the sweat of the street blocks? Where are the most authentic blocks and how to prepare for the marathon of revelry? Heading to Rio this year? Check out our [Complete Guide to Rio Carnival 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/rio-de-janeiro-carnival-guide). Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Rio Carnival 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/rio-de-janeiro-carnival-guide), [Electric Daisy Carnival December 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/edc-thailand-phuket-guide) and [Yi Peng Lantern Festival Thailand 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/yi-peng-festival-thailand). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # You Can Now Travel Visa-Free to Sri Lanka > Sri Lanka's free tourist ETA for 40 nationalities is live from 25 May 2026. You still need an ETA, valid 30 days with double entry. Full guide and FAQ. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/sri-lanka-free-visa-scheme - Published: 2026-01-07 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Sri Lanka, Visa, Tourism, South East Asia, Backpacking - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- From 25 May 2026, Sri Lanka's free tourist ETA scheme is officially live. Citizens of 40 countries can now obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) at no cost, valid for a 30-day stay with double entry. The ETA is still mandatory: you must apply before you travel, but the fee has been removed. Following Cabinet sign-off on 30 March, and parliamentary approval on 7 May 2026. The scheme is approved to run for one year, with a review at the six-month mark to decide whether it continues on the same terms. The change reflects a broader push to rebuild momentum in Sri Lanka's tourism sector, one of the country's most important foreign exchange earners. By removing the ETA fee while keeping the pre-travel authorisation requirement, the government is reducing the cost of entry without giving up administrative screening. Three countries previously exempt from the ETA, the Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore, must now use the system too. Their ETAs are also issued free of charge, and Maldivian travellers will receive a 90-day tourist visa through the system under a bilateral reciprocity agreement. One important note for anyone who applied early: ETA fees paid before 25 May 2026 will not be refunded. You can apply through the official [Sri Lanka ETA portal](https://eta.gov.lk/slvisa/). ## Which Countries Are Eligible? The following 40 countries are eligible for the free tourist ETA: Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belarus, Belgium, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Poland, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and United States. The circular confirms that holders of diplomatic, official, service, and ordinary passports from these countries are all eligible. Citizens of China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Russia, and Thailand were already receiving free ETA issuance under existing arrangements. ## What Is the Difference Between a Visa Waiver and a Fee Waiver? This is not a visa waiver. Travellers are still required to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before travel, but the fee itself has been removed. In practical terms, this reduces cost but does not eliminate paperwork or approval requirements. All standard eligibility criteria and security checks remain in place. Public Security and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ananda Wijepala has confirmed that the ETA requirement is being retained as a national security safeguard. The government does not intend to implement the measure in a way that creates a security risk, which is why pre-travel authorisation continues. ## What the Free ETA Covers The free tourist ETA grants a 30-day stay from the date of first arrival and permits double entry within that validity. If you leave Sri Lanka and return during the 30-day window, only the remaining balance of that initial period applies on the second entry. Travellers who want to stay beyond 30 days can apply for a visa extension, but extensions remain subject to the usual fees. The free scheme covers tourist travel only; business and other visa categories are not included. ## Why Is Sri Lanka Introducing the Free Tourist ETA? Sri Lanka's tourism recovery has been uneven following recent economic and political challenges. While arrivals have improved, officials believe visa costs remain a barrier, particularly for budget travellers, backpackers, and families comparing destinations across Southeast and South Asia. For price-sensitive travellers, even a relatively small visa fee can influence destination choice, especially when neighbouring countries offer simpler or cheaper entry. By removing the ETA fee, Sri Lanka hopes to reduce upfront costs, encourage longer stays, and signal that the country is open for tourism again. Key target markets include the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Australia, as well as several Middle Eastern nations, all viewed as high-value or repeat-visit markets. Authorities estimate the policy could attract around 247,000 additional tourists and generate roughly $317 million in revenue, against a forecast cost of $75 million in waived fees. ## When Did the Free Visa Scheme Come Into Effect? The free tourist ETA scheme came into effect on 25 May 2026. Cabinet approved the draft regulation on 30 March 2026, Parliament approved the underlying regulations under the Immigration and Emigration Act on 7 May 2026, and the Department of Immigration and Emigration confirmed the operational start date in a circular dated 19 May 2026. The programme is approved to run for one year, with a review planned at the six-month mark to assess whether it should continue under the same terms. ETA fees paid before 25 May 2026 will not be refunded. Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Is Sri Lanka’s New Digital Nomad Visa Worth It?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/sri-lanka-dnv), [Brits Can Now Travel to China Visa-Free](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-visa-free-uk-travellers) and [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia). ## Frequently Asked Questions: ### When did the free visa scheme start? The scheme is live as of 25 May 2026. Citizens of the 40 eligible countries can now apply for a free tourist ETA via the official [Sri Lanka ETA portal](https://eta.gov.lk/slvisa/). ### Am I eligible for the free ETA if I'm from one of the 40 countries? Yes. If your country is on the approved list, you are eligible for the free tourist ETA from 25 May 2026. The circular confirms that holders of diplomatic, official, service, and ordinary passports from these countries all qualify. ### Do I still need to apply for a visa if the fee is waived? Yes. The scheme waives the ETA fee, but you still need to apply online and receive approval before you travel. All security checks and eligibility requirements remain in place. The waiver removes the cost, not the application process. ### How long is the free ETA valid for, and how many entries does it permit? The free tourist ETA is valid for 30 days from the date of your first arrival in Sri Lanka and permits double entry. If you leave and return within the validity period, only the remaining balance of the initial 30-day window applies on the second entry. ### What is the difference between a visa waiver and Sri Lanka's free visa scheme? A visa waiver means citizens do not need to apply for a visa at all. Sri Lanka's scheme is a fee waiver: citizens must still apply for and receive approval for a tourist ETA, but the processing fee is removed. ### How long will the free visa scheme last? The scheme is approved for one year from 25 May 2026, with a review at the six-month mark to determine whether it should continue under the same conditions. ### Do citizens of the Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore still skip the ETA? No. From 25 May 2026, citizens of the Maldives, Seychelles, and Singapore must use the ETA system, even though they were previously exempt. Their ETAs are also issued free of charge. Maldivian travellers receive a 90-day tourist visa through the system under a bilateral reciprocity agreement. ### Will the free visa scheme apply to all types of visits? The scheme covers tourist ETAs only, for visits of up to 30 days. Business visas and other visa categories are not included. Visa extensions beyond 30 days remain subject to the usual fees. ### How do I apply for the free ETA? Apply through the official [Sri Lanka ETA portal](https://eta.gov.lk/slvisa/) before you travel. The process is the same as before; only the fee has been removed for the 40 eligible nationalities. ### Are ETA fees paid before 25 May 2026 refundable? No. The Department of Immigration and Emigration has confirmed that ETA fees paid before 25 May 2026 will not be refunded. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Travel Volunteering Opportunities Around the World > Fresh travel volunteering opportunities for August 2026, from Cambodia to Mexico. Swap a few hours of help for free accommodation and meals abroad. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/travel-volunteering-opportunities - Published: 2026-01-06 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Volunteering, Asia, South East Asia, Europe, Travel, solo travel - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- # Travel Volunteering Opportunities: August 2026 **TL;DR: This is our regularly updated pick of travel volunteering opportunities, refreshed for August 2026. Most roles swap a few hours of help, teaching, reception or hostel work, for free accommodation and meals, so you can stretch a trip much further. Right now we have live roles in Cambodia and Mexico. Always confirm the details directly with the host and check your visa allows volunteering before you commit.** Volunteering abroad is one of the cheapest ways to travel for longer. In exchange for a few hours of work you often get a free bed and food, which wipes out a traveller's two biggest daily costs. Here are the opportunities we are tracking this month. ### **Cambodia** Phnom Penh Smart Zone School: Volunteers wanted to teach english at a school near Phnom Penh for a couple hours a day during the week, in exchange for 3 cooked meals a day and free accommodation (with aircon). Teaching experience not necessary. Minimum stay of two weeks requested. Contact Hai Sophan through the [Smart Zone School Cambodia Workaway Page](https://www.workaway.info/en/host/885236231974) Koh Ta Kiev The Last Point Hostel: Volunteers wanted. Minimum stay is 4 weeks, free accommodation and meals provided. Get in touch directly by Facebook: [The Last Point](https://www.facebook.com/Thelastpointisland?__cft__[0]=AZYQ9Zz127RYeNEjRwS5K3yX1xOPrm0LaIDk29zZncSqyTRW9KqULB0r_pNSsWs4DjI-tli13I0OzZUNdg7tacIbUVEM0m-2fyW16e3Waomp7lYuLycSm3Rb6ovQmX1maX4jWKKTsuWH6l4JuZ9Zeh33B7U5Yn7BHD-up4IceDSpd54CO0AmQE13FA9eEaT7Kee4uuCd04NCOm_52d12vRRS&__tn__=-]K-R-R), Telegram: [https://t.me/TheLastPointKohTakiev](https://t.me/TheLastPointKohTakiev?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAYnJpZBExdHRxUjNjVjJtRk0yUGxYcHNydGMGYXBwX2lkEDIyMjAzOTE3ODgyMDA4OTIAAR6EypwNdFZaCoThSWFbtZ7jum9-1YBa27KMEMXCF-adKsRegsw9VwAC7XIzzA_aem_lVjoScGAcqunAFOK3sIz0w) or WhatsApp/Phone: +85588 610 7777 Koh Rong Ocean Lounge Hostel and Bungalow: Volunteers wanted. Free accommodation and food & drinks offered. [https://www.facebook.com/groups/1442973689289941/user/100063669783762/](https://www.facebook.com/groups/1442973689289941/user/100063669783762/) Koh Rong Samloem The Big Easy - Volunteers wanted for hostel/bar work. Free accommodation & food and drinks tab offered. [https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ggm8B8XjE/](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Ggm8B8XjE/) ### **Mexico:** Hostel Ka'beh & Fiesta Party Hostel, Cancun Roles: Reception Assistant, Reception Manager, Party Promoter & Maintenance Crew [https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ChfwdzurN/](https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1ChfwdzurN/) ## Frequently Asked Questions About Travel Volunteering ### Is travel volunteering really free? The volunteering itself is unpaid, but most roles cover your accommodation and meals in return, which are usually a traveller's biggest daily costs. You still pay for flights, insurance and personal spending. ### Do I need a visa to volunteer abroad? It depends on the country and the role. Many places allow short, informal help on a tourist visa, but some do not, and unpaid work can still breach visa rules. Always check the local immigration rules before you commit. ### How much money do I still need? Budget for flights, travel insurance, local transport and personal spending. With bed and board covered some travellers get by on very little, but a buffer for emergencies is essential. Tracking it in BudgetBro keeps you honest. ### How often is this list updated? We refresh it monthly, most recently for August 2026. Listings come and go quickly, so treat older entries as a starting point and confirm directly before you travel. ### Where can I find more volunteering roles? Workaway, Worldpackers and hostel Facebook groups are the main sources. The roles here are ones we have spotted through those channels, so always message the host directly to confirm they are still open. Important Disclaimer: BudgetBro does not promote unpaid labour, illegal volunteering, or activities that bypass local employment protections. Travellers are responsible for complying with Immigration Laws and all relevant Visa Conditions. When in doubt, do not volunteer without explicit, official approval. Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Europe vs Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-vs-southeast-asia-travel), [Camp America 2027](https://budgetbro.app/blog/camp-america-work-at-summer-camp-usa) and [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # The Final Nail in the Coffin for Hanoi’s Train Street? > Hanoi Train Street may be nearing its end. After years of viral tourism and public safety incidents, Vietnam is diverting trains away from the area entirely. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/hanoi-train-street-final-days - Published: 2026-01-06 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Vietnam, Hanoi, Tourism - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Hanoi’s Train Street was never meant to be a tourist attraction. Once a residential railway, it became a viral tourism hotspot where trains pass inches from cafés and crowds. Now, after repeated public safety incidents, Vietnam is reportedly moving to divert trains away entirely. A full-size passenger train passing through a narrow alley packed with people was never sustainable. And now the city is finally moving to put an end to it. Authorities in Hanoi have proposed stopping passenger trains from running through the stretch of railway made famous by Train Street altogether. Under the proposal, southbound trains would terminate at Hanoi Station, while trains coming from the north would stop at Gia Lâm Station, with passengers continuing their journey using other transport. When approved, this would mean passenger trains would no longer pass through the section between Hanoi Station and Long Biên Station. In simple terms, the Train Street moment would no longer exist and the must do Hanoi tourist attraction is no more. ## Is Hanoi Train Street Closing? Online videos are stating the Hanoi Train Street is closing, however, despite various reports from authorities announcing clampdowns, nothing has been confirmed that there are now no longer trains running through this street. The decision to review the train route comes down to safety. Train Street sits inside a railway safety corridor, an area where cafés and crowds were never meant to be. As tourism exploded, visitors stood on the tracks for photos, businesses operated right up against the rails, and police were regularly forced to clear the street moments before trains arrived. Authorities have tried partial crackdowns in the past. Temporary closures, warnings, patrols. None of it worked long term. The crowds kept coming, and the risk never went away. By stopping passenger trains on this stretch entirely, the city removes the danger instead of constantly trying to control it. Officials have also tied the proposal into wider plans to protect and redevelop historic areas around Long Biên Bridge, shifting the focus toward safer, more sustainable use of the space. For travellers, this means expectations need to change. The Train Street seen all over social media is already fading, and this proposal makes that official. Hanoi still has plenty to offer, just not at the cost of people standing inches from a moving train. ## The Memories Train Street Gave Travellers For a lot of travellers, Train Street wasn’t just another stop on the map. It was one of those moments that sticks. The quiet before the horn. Café owners folding tables back. Everyone pressed against the wall, half nervous, half excited, waiting for the train to pass. For some, it was their first real “this feels wild” travel moment in Vietnam. For others, it became a photo they still scroll past months later, tied to a specific trip, a specific time in their life. That’s why this proposal will sting for some people. It’s normal to feel disappointed when something you experienced, or hoped to experience, is taken away. Train Street became part of people’s travel stories. And those stories don’t disappear just because the trains stop running. But at the same time, most travellers who stood there could feel it. How close it was. How little room there was for error. How one wrong step could have changed everything. This proposal doesn’t erase the memories. It just draws a line under a moment that was never meant to last forever. And for future travellers, Hanoi will still deliver those moments. They’ll just come from places that don’t rely on danger to feel unforgettable. ![Josh and Samar at Train Street, Hanoi | BudgetBro](https://articles.budgetbro.app/me-and-samar-hanoi-train-street-budgetbro-1.webp) Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Christmas in Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/natal-no-sudeste-asiatico-calor-luzes-e-novas-tradicoes), [Ha Giang Loop Travel Insurance](https://budgetbro.app/blog/ha-giang-loop-travel-insurance) and [Vientiane-Da Nang Flight Resumed](https://budgetbro.app/blog/lao-air-vientiane-to-da-nang). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Thailand Songkran Festival 2026 > An honest look at Songkran in Thailand, including what happens, where it’s best celebrated, what to expect as a traveller, and whether it’s worth it. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-festival-thailand - Published: 2026-01-05 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Thailand, New Year, Asia, Songkran - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Songkran is Thailand's traditional New Year celebration, held every year from April 13 to 15. Officially, it marks a time of cleansing, renewal, and paying respect to elders. In practice, it's a nationwide water fight that turns entire cities into splash zones, and it's one of the best experiences you can have in Southeast Asia. The water element comes from an old Buddhist tradition of gently pouring water over elders' hands and Buddha statues to wash away bad luck and welcome good fortune. That tradition still happens every morning in temples across the country. But outside the temples, it's been replaced by water guns, buckets, hoses, ice water, and absolutely zero mercy. I spent Songkran 2025 in Chiang Mai and I'd go back every year without thinking twice. Once it kicks off, nowhere is safe. Streets, cafes, tuk-tuks. Step outside your hostel and you're getting hit with ice-cold, shock-your-soul water before you've finished your morning coffee. Here's the thing that surprised me most: it's cheap. I was spending around £70 a day covering food, plenty of beer, and being out from morning to night. If you're on a tighter budget, you could easily bring that down. Water guns cost next to nothing from street vendors, and the best parts of Songkran are completely free. One rule: waterproof your stuff or leave it behind. If you think you'll stay dry, you won't. ## Chiang Mai: The Songkran Capital Chiang Mai doesn't hold any official title, but it's where everyone points when you ask where Songkran really hits different. Part of it is timing. Songkran celebrations tend to stretch longer here, often starting a day early and running well beyond the official dates. It never feels rushed. The Old City moat is the other factor. It turns the entire area into one continuous splash zone rather than scattered hotspots across town. But what really sets Chiang Mai apart is the balance. You'll see traditional New Year ceremonies happening inside temples while full-on water fights erupt right outside the walls. Neither takes over. And it never feels staged for tourists. Locals are just as deep in it as everyone else. If you're doing Songkran for the first time and you can only pick one place, make it Chiang Mai. ## Best Cities to Celebrate Songkran, Ranked ### 5. Ayutthaya Ayutthaya offers the most traditional take on Songkran. The focus here is on temple ceremonies, merit-making, and symbolic water pouring rather than street-wide water wars. You'll still see splashing around the historic park, but it's gentle and respectful. If you want the cultural meaning of Songkran without the chaos, Ayutthaya is the one. **Budget note:** Ayutthaya is one of the cheapest options on this list. Day trip from Bangkok or grab a guesthouse near the ruins for under £15 a night. ### 4. Phuket Phuket mixes Songkran with beach life. Patong and Bangla Road turn into splash zones, with water fights spilling out of bars and clubs throughout the day. It leans more towards nightlife than tradition, so don't come here expecting temple ceremonies around every corner. But if you want sun, sea, and water fights in one package, it works. **Budget note:** Phuket runs pricier than the north, especially around Patong. Stay in Phuket Town or Kata for better rates. ### 3. Pattaya Pattaya stands out because it just doesn't stop. After the main Songkran dates end, the Wan Lai Festival stretches celebrations into the following week. Expect water fights during the day and heavy nightlife after dark, especially around Beach Road and Walking Street. It's less cultural and more party. **Budget note:** Accommodation is reasonable outside the beachfront strip. Soi Buakhao area gives you a local feel at backpacker prices. ### 2. Bangkok Bangkok's Songkran is all about scale. Khao San Road and Silom shut down and become packed water-fight corridors with DJ stages, massive crowds, and vendors everywhere. You'll also find proper New Year rituals and temple activity scattered across the city if you look for them. Silom deserves a special mention. It's one of Bangkok's most LGBTQ+-friendly areas, and during Songkran, Soi 2 and Soi 4 come alive with colour, music, and a festival atmosphere that feels like an unofficial Pride celebration. Thailand legalised same-sex marriage recently, and events like gCircuit Songkran (Asia's biggest LGBTQ+ circuit festival, running since 2007) have helped make Songkran one of the most inclusive festivals in the region. Bangkok can feel intense and tourist-heavy at times, but if you want big energy, it delivers. **Budget note:** Khao San Road hostels book up fast over Songkran. Book early or look at areas like Ari or On Nut for cheaper dorms with BTS access into the action. ### 1. Chiang Mai Chiang Mai is the benchmark. The festival takes over the Old City, the moat keeps the water flowing, and celebrations aren't confined to one street. Traditional ceremonies still happen during the day while full-scale water fights dominate from midday onwards. It's one of the few places where Songkran feels both deeply cultural and completely unhinged at the same time. That combination is hard to find anywhere else. **Budget note:** Chiang Mai is one of the most affordable cities in Thailand full stop. Hostels, street food, and local beers keep daily costs well under £50 if you're sensible about it. More festivals and events to plan around: [Khmer New Year in Cambodia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/khmer-new-year-cambodia), [the Yi Peng lantern festival](https://budgetbro.app/blog/yi-peng-festival-thailand) and [Bon Om Touk water festival](https://budgetbro.app/blog/bon-om-touk-cambodias-electrifying-water-festival). ## Frequently Asked Questions About Songkran: ### Is Songkran the same date every year? Yes. Songkran falls on April 13 to 15 every year and these dates are fixed as a national public holiday across Thailand. Unlike some festivals that follow a lunar calendar, Songkran's dates don't shift. That said, celebrations in cities like Chiang Mai and Bangkok often start a day or two early and run beyond the official dates, so the actual festivities can last closer to a week depending on where you are. ### Is Songkran better in Bangkok or Phuket? It depends on what you're after. Bangkok gives you the full spectrum: massive water fights on Khao San and Silom, temple ceremonies if you seek them out, LGBTQ+ events, and a nightlife scene that runs all week. Phuket gives you beaches and a more relaxed party vibe centred around Patong. If you want scale and variety, Bangkok. If you want sun, sea, and a more laid-back festival feel, Phuket. For budget travellers, Bangkok offers more hostel options and cheaper food. ### Why do they throw water at Songkran? The water tradition comes from a Buddhist ritual of pouring water over the hands of elders and over Buddha statues to symbolically wash away bad luck and welcome good fortune for the new year. Over time, this gentle custom evolved into the street-wide water fights you see today. April is also the hottest month in Thailand, which helps explain why nobody minds getting soaked. The traditional ceremonies still take place every morning in temples across the country. ### Is Songkran LGBTQ+ friendly? Very much so. Thailand is one of the most LGBTQ+-welcoming countries in Southeast Asia, and Songkran amplifies that. Bangkok's Silom area becomes a major hub for LGBTQ+ celebrations during the festival, with Soi 2 and Soi 4 hosting street parties, DJ events, and a huge turnout. gCircuit Songkran, which has run since 2007, is Asia's biggest gay circuit festival and draws thousands of attendees from over 50 countries each year. Thailand's legalisation of same-sex marriage has only strengthened Songkran's reputation as one of the most inclusive festivals in Asia. ### How much does Songkran cost on a budget? Songkran itself is essentially free. The water fights, street parties, and temple ceremonies cost nothing. A basic water gun from a street vendor costs a couple of pounds at most. Your main expenses are accommodation, food, beer, and getting around. In Chiang Mai, you can comfortably do a full day of Songkran for £40 to £70 depending on how much you drink and where you eat. Bangkok runs slightly higher but is still very manageable. Book hostels early because prices spike over the festival dates. ### What should I bring to Songkran? Waterproof everything or leave it at your accommodation. A dry bag or waterproof phone pouch is essential. Wear quick-dry clothes and sandals or flip-flops. Leave anything you can't afford to get wet back at your hostel. Sunscreen is important too because you'll be outside all day in April heat, and you won't notice the burn when you're constantly getting splashed. Cash is better than cards for street vendors, but keep it in a sealed bag. ### Is Songkran celebrated outside Thailand? Yes. The water festival tradition extends across Southeast Asia. Laos celebrates Pi Mai (Lao New Year) around the same dates with similar water-throwing customs. Myanmar has Thingyan, Cambodia has Chaul Chnam Thmey, and parts of Yunnan province in China also hold water festival celebrations in mid-April. Thailand's version is the most well-known internationally, but if you're travelling the region during April, you'll run into celebrations in neighbouring countries too. ## Would You Do Songkran? Songkran sounds wild on paper and somehow even wilder in real life. You either read this and think that looks unreal, or you think absolutely not. Both reactions are fair. But if Songkran does one thing well, it gives you a story you won't forget and it won't break your budget getting there. If you've done Songkran before, I'd love to hear where you celebrated and what it was like. Drop your best Songkran tips in the comments, and let us know where you'll be celebrating. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Do you need to show Bank Statements to enter Bali? > You do not need to show bank statements to enter Bali yet (April 2026), but a proposal could change that. What it means for affordable travel to the island. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/bali-bank-statement-debate - Published: 2026-01-04 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Bali, Tourism, South East Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Bali’s governor is pushing a bold and divisive idea, bank statements for every visitor... Under a draft regulation called the *Regional Regulation on the Implementation of Quality Tourism*, foreign tourists might have to present bank statements from the last three months before being allowed into the island’s borders. Apparently, it is to > Protect Bali’s economy and culture by ensuring tourists can pay for their stay. > Reduce visa overstays, illegal work, and law violations tied to visitors running out of money. > Boost local spending, especially among small businesses. However, already there are many people speaking out about the proposals online! Some of the reasons why they're against it, include privacy reasons, for example having to show what they've spent and where... Additionally, this could potentially be a barrier for backpackers with lower budgets and or be open to abuse if no fixed minimum amount is clear. There's some interesting comments on Reddit about it: "Weed out the begpackers" "I mean part of me is like thats fair enough, I wouldn't want people coming into my country that couldn't afford to be here for a number of reasons, however.. Its more understandable depending on what country they are coming in from when you look at average wage and conversation rate on currency and than cost of living in that country, there was a reason why it was only getting asked one way around." "Welcome to what we ‘third worlders’ experience when we apply for a tourist visa to developed countries.” You can read more on the Reddit > [Reddit: Requiring Bank statements - Bali](https://www.reddit.com//r/bali/comments/1q3yp24/requiring_bank_statements/) It is worth adding that this is coming from the same governor who recently discussed [Bali’s Possible Airbnb Ban](https://budgetbro.app/blog/baliairbnbban) Two fundamental questions come from this proposal, if you can call it that: Is it to protect Bali's tourism? Or is it about excluding lower quality tourists in favour of higher quality? "Begpackers" as some people refer to. Also, who will benefit and who will lose, luxury hotels and businesses might love it, but backpackers and digital nomads looking for value may definitely not. It's also been pointed out quite rightly that there are doubts about such legality of a governor to be able to implement changes to immigration. Watch this space... Let us know on Social Media what you think! Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [You Can Now Travel Visa-Free to Sri Lanka](https://budgetbro.app/blog/sri-lanka-free-visa-scheme), [Nyepi Bali 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nyepi-bali) and [Bali’s Possible Airbnb Ban](https://budgetbro.app/blog/baliairbnbban). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Cheapest Flights: UK to Southeast Asia January 2026 > Flying from the UK to Southeast Asia in January 2026? We've got the cheapest airlines, best routes, & most reliable flight options for trips to Asia. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/flights-to-southeastasia-jan-2026 - Published: 2026-01-04 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Flights, Travel, South East Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- (From Someone Who’s Done It 15 Times) As a fellow budget traveller, I get it. Saving money isn’t just about cutting pounds, it’s about saving the pennies too. Over the past five years, I’ve basically become a self proclaimed cheap flight connoisseur. In 2023, Samar and I took 15 separate flights over the course of four months, starting in the UK and passing through Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, Southeast Asia and finally Oceania. We spent £1,741.82 in total, which works out at £870.91 each. Yes, I still have the budget spreadsheets from 2023. So trust me on this one. I know how to sniff out the best deals. Here are the best flights this month, from the UK to Southeast Asia in January 2026. ## **The Trade-Off: Time vs Money** Most people automatically take the quickest route possible. Fair enough. But when you’ve got months to play with, that mindset can cost you $$$$$. You’ll almost always find me choosing flights with long layovers. Twenty four hours or more if possible. It’s a free mini trip. New cities, new people, new food, all before you even reach your final destination. That’s exactly the strategy behind the cheapest routes you’ll see below. That said, long and fun layovers aren’t for everyone... ## Thailand **Flight Option 1: London Gatwick (LGW) to Bangkok (BKK) for £192** This flight is honestly me all over. **Leg 1: London - Istanbul** A 23h 5m layover in Istanbul. Perfect. You get a full day to explore the city without rushing. Plenty of time to eat well, walk the neighbourhoods, meet people, and actually enjoy the layover instead of staring at an airport gate. **Leg 2: Istanbul - Mumbai** A 10h 25m layover in Mumbai. Slightly tighter, but still very doable. The airport is roughly 45 minutes from the city by public transport, which gives you around six solid hours to get out, explore, and soak up the chaos. Mumbai is intense, loud, and full on, but even a few hours is enough to feel its energy. **Leg 3: Mumbai - Bangkok** The final leg is short. Just 4h 25m into Bangkok, landing around 21:00. If you’re staying in Sukhumvit, you’ll realistically be checked into your hotel by 22:30. Shower, street food, first Chang. Trip officially started. **Flight Option 2: London Heathrow (LHR) to Bangkok (BKK) for £247** One layover. Solid choice. China also is 144h visa-free for layovers, which makes this epic. **Leg 1: London - Haikou** This is a night flight, which is always a win. The 12h 5m journey should fly by, pun fully intended. You then get a massive 25h 10m layover in Haikou, which is genuinely perfect for a stopover. Haikou sits in the south of China and is known for its colonial-era architecture, the famous clock tower, relaxed local culture, and its waterfront setting. It’s also cheap. Hotels are affordable, food is excellent, and it’s far less hectic than China’s bigger cities. Ideal for a slow, low-stress layover. **Leg 2: Haikou - Bangkok** The second leg departs at 17:00, giving you plenty of time to rest, explore, and get back to the airport without rushing. You land in Bangkok at 18:00. Not too late, not too early, pretty much perfect. Depending on how I’m feeling, this is another route I wouldn’t overlook at all. ## Vietnam **Flight Option 1: London Gatwick (LGW) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) for £242** One layover, minimal fuss, and no hotel costs. Also worth remembering China’s 144-hour visa-free transit, which makes this kind of route a no-brainer if you plan it right. **Leg 1: London - Shanghai** This is my favourite of the two Vietnam options. You get a 15h 30m layover, spread across a full day, which means no hotel needed and no rushing. Shanghai is one of China’s mega-cities, and even a single day here delivers experiences you simply don’t get elsewhere. It’s intense, modern, historic, and overwhelming in the best way. You’ll be tired by the end of it, but you won’t be disappointed. I still haven’t been to Shanghai myself, but if I were flying to Vietnam this month, I’d bet my bottom dollar this is the route I’d pick. **Leg 2: Shanghai - Ho Chi Minh City** Your second flight departs at 21:35, which is ideal. You’ll sleep for most, if not all, of this flight. The only downside is the arrival time into Ho Chi Minh City at 01:10. Not amazing, but manageable. If you’ve arranged transport in advance and know where you’re going, it’s really not a dealbreaker. Grab a taxi, check in, crash, and start fresh in the morning. **Flight Option 2: London Heathrow (LHR) to Ho Chi Minh City (SGN) for £272** This route is almost identical to Option 1, with one key difference. The layover is short, so you won’t be leaving the airport. **Leg 1: London - Shanghai** This is another night flight, which I generally prefer on long haul routes. You arrive into Shanghai at 16:10, which is a decent time. The downside is the 5-hour layover. It’s not my idea of ideal. You’re not there long enough to explore, but long enough to feel it physically. Sitting in an airport waiting for time to pass does take a toll. That said, when the airline is solid and the price is right, sometimes it’s worth looking past that. **Leg 2: Shanghai - Ho Chi Minh City** Your second flight is identical to the second flight in option 1, again not a great arrival time into Ho Chi Minh City but as I said, if you're prepared, you'll have no issues. ## Malaysia **Flight Option 1: London Standstead (STN) to Kuala Lumpur (KUL) for £228** One layover in Turkey, you ready to smoke Shisha and watch belly dancers? **Leg 1: London - Istanbul** You’ll be flying into a secondary airport, but don’t let that put you off. It’s around £3 by bus into the city, which is nothing. You’ll arrive late, so be ready to go straight out and enjoy the night while it’s still alive. If I’m being honest, I’d have my backpack on and be out exploring from the moment I leave the airport, then crash once I’m ready to check in and hit the deck. Hotels are relatively cheap, and with an 18h 55m layover, you’ve got plenty of time to eat well, wander, and experience what Istanbul does best. **Leg 2: Instanbul - Kuala Lumpur ** Your second flight departs at 17:20, which gives you almost a full day in the city. After a late night, you’ll probably be running on fumes, but that’s fine. You’ve got 10h 20m in the air to catch up on sleep. You land in Kuala Lumpur at 08:40, re-energised and ready to see what the next city has to offer. **Alternative options: Kuala Lumpur - Thailand / Vietnam / Cambodia / Loas** Flying into a major hub like Kuala Lumpur usually means one thing. Cheap onward flights across Asia. This route works as a solid alternative to the options above, and you can often continue to Thailand or Vietnam for the same price, or even less. Kuala Lumpur is extremely well connected, but there’s one thing to keep in mind. The train into the city takes around 45 minutes, and the express option can be pricey if you’re watching every penny. That said, Kuala Lumpur is unique in its own way. It’s chaotic, modern, cultural, and honestly, a little bit magical. ## What Are You Waiting For? If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance you’re already hovering over the “book” button. So just do it. Hopefully the routes above stop you from dropping £400–£550 on top tier airlines just to arrive in good time. When you’re going travelling, you’re not going for speed. You’re going for experiences. Paying top dollar to fly straight over countries you could stop in, explore, meet people, and save money in the process is kind of the opposite of that. Let us know which option is you over at [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/budgetbro.app) or [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@budgetbro.app). Happy travels! PS. Check out our [BudgetBro January Travel Bro-Down Newsletter](https://budgetbro.beehiiv.com/p/newsletter-jan26) More reading to help you plan: [Cheapest Flights to Asia August](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheapest-flights-asia-august), [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia) and [Europe vs Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-vs-southeast-asia-travel). Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Cheapest Flights](https://budgetbro.app/blog/indonesiaislandscrownedbest), from the BudgetBro blog. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Ha Giang Loop Travel Insurance > Why you need travel insurance for the Ha Giang Loop in Hanoi, Vietnam. Which insurance is best for you and recent incident involving a female British tourist. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/ha-giang-loop-travel-insurance - Published: 2026-01-03 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Travel Insurance, Vietnam, Ha Giang Loop - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- ## Looking for Travel Insurance that covers Ha Giang Loop? No one plans to get injured while travelling. No one books a flight thinking about hospital bills or insurance paperwork. It’s one of those things you buy quickly, half-annoyed, and hope you never have to look at again. But after years on the road and listening to backpackers swap horror stories in hostels, one thing becomes pretty obvious. Travel insurance is only boring right up until the moment you need it. Lost phones. Broken bones. Scooter crashes. Food poisoning that turns into a hospital stay instead of a rough night. None of it feels rare once you’ve been travelling long term. It happens more than people like to admit, especially when you’re moving fast, changing countries, riding bikes and doing things you probably wouldn’t do at home. That’s exactly why backpacker-specific insurance exists in the first place. ### Backpacker Insurance Isn't the Same as Holiday Insurance Most standard holiday insurance is built around a very specific idea of travel. A week or two away. A hotel. Some sightseeing. Maybe a boat trip. Backpacking doesn’t look like that at all. You’re moving countries, riding scooters, hiking, diving, taking overnight buses, staying in hostels and stretching trips far longer than planned. Backpacker insurance is built for that reality. Longer cover periods, multi-country travel, and fewer problems when your plans change for the third time in a month. That’s where policies like those from Tesco Insurance actually start to make sense. The flexibility is the key part. Because let’s be honest, most backpackers book a rough route, then completely ignore it once they meet people or hear about somewhere better. ### What Tesco Backpacker Insurance Actually Covers Tesco’s backpacker insurance comes in two versions: Backpacker Economy and Backpacker Premier, and the difference between them matters more than people think. Economy is cheaper, but it comes with a £99 excess on most claims. Premier removes the excess entirely. That sounds boring until you realise how often small claims actually happen on long trips. Medical cover is strong on both. Economy covers emergency medical expenses up to £10 million, while Premier increases that to £20 million. That includes hospital treatment, surgery and emergency repatriation if you need to be flown home. This is the cover that protects you from five-figure bills, not the lost flip-flops. Trip cancellation and curtailment is where the gap really opens up. Economy only covers up to £1,000, while Premier goes up to £10,000. If you’ve booked long-haul flights, internal flights or paid upfront for anything expensive, that cap matters. Baggage cover jumps too. Economy covers belongings up to £1,000 with a £250 single-item limit. Premier increases that to £3,000 total and £500 per item, which is far more realistic if you’re carrying a phone, laptop or camera. You also get cover for delays, missed departures, lost documents and access to a remote GP service so you can speak to a doctor in English while abroad. It’s broad, general backpacker cover. Solid for long trips and multiple countries, as long as you’re not doing anything too extreme. ### Big Cat Insurance and the Ha Giang Loop Reality Big Cat Travel Insurance is far more specific, especially when it comes to Vietnam and motorbikes. Their Ha Giang Loop policy exists because standard travel insurance often quietly stops working the moment a motorbike is involved. Medical and emergency evacuation cover goes up to £10 million, which is more than enough for serious accidents and repatriation. Policies can run for up to 24 months, so it works for long-term backpackers, not just short Vietnam trips. The important part is how they handle motorbikes. If you’re doing the Ha Giang Loop as a passenger with an easyrider, you’re covered automatically. No licence required. No activity add-on. That’s a big deal, because a huge number of travellers do the loop this way. If you’re riding yourself, the rules are strict. Riding up to 125cc is covered without an activity pack only if you hold the correct licence and follow local laws. Anything above 125cc requires an activity add-on. Helmets are mandatory, and an International Driving Permit only counts if your home licence already allows you to ride that bike. Big Cat is unusually clear about this, which is rare in insurance wording. One thing they’re upfront about is liability. There’s no personal liability cover while riding a motorbike. Medical costs can be covered, but damage to other people or vehicles depends on the bike’s own insurance. That’s something most travellers don’t think about until it becomes a problem. ### Why This Isn't Hypothetical In April 2026, a 19-year-old British tourist died after a motorbike accident on the Ha Giang Loop. She wasn't riding solo. She wasn't speeding on a rented scooter without a licence. She was a passenger, riding on the back of a bike with a driver, the option most backpackers consider the safe choice. Reports indicate the driver lost control of the motorcycle. The passenger was thrown from the bike and struck by an oncoming truck. She was transferred to a hospital in Hanoi, but sadly didn't survive. This is the scenario no one thinks about when they picture a Ha Giang Loop accident. It wasn't reckless. It wasn't avoidable through experience or skill. It was someone doing the loop the way thousands of backpackers do every month, sitting on the back and trusting someone else to drive. That's exactly why the insurance conversation matters more than most travellers realise. Being a passenger doesn't remove the risk. It changes the risk. And it changes what your insurance actually needs to cover. If you're riding with an easyrider, you need to know whether your policy covers you as a passenger on a motorbike, not just as a rider. You need to know whether the driver's licensing affects your claim. You need to know what happens if the driver is at fault and there's no personal liability cover on the bike's side. These aren't edge cases. They're the most common way people do the Ha Giang Loop. This is where policies like Big Cat's matter. Pillion passengers with an easyrider are covered automatically, no licence required, no activity add-on. That distinction exists precisely because this is how most people experience the loop. But not every insurer treats it the same way, and a standard backpacker policy that technically covers motorbike travel might not cover you as a passenger on a bike you don't control. No one books the Ha Giang Loop expecting to need emergency evacuation or surgery. But the difference between a policy that works and one that doesn't isn't something you can figure out from a hospital bed. [Facebook: Jasmine Ha Giang Loop Tours Official Statement](https://web.facebook.com/share/p/1Dwe3MCjnB/) ### New for 2026: The Ha Giang Loop Border Permit and Why It Affects Your Cover There is a second piece of paperwork that now matters as much as your policy. From 1 June 2026, foreign travellers need a border area entry permit to ride through Ha Giang's border districts, the same districts the classic loop passes through. The permit costs around 200,000 to 250,000 VND, about 8 to 10 US dollars, and you arrange it in Ha Giang City the day before you set off, usually through your hostel or tour operator. Enforcement has tightened sharply. Checkpoints at the Bac Sum and Yen Minh passes now check documents properly, and riders without a valid permit can be fined or have their motorbike impounded. The same goes for your licence: legally riding in Vietnam needs a licence covering your engine size plus an International Driving Permit issued under the 1968 convention, not the older 1949 version. This is where it ties back to insurance. If you are riding illegally, without the required permit, a valid licence or the correct IDP, an insurer can refuse a claim no matter how good the policy looks on paper. So the permit and the right documents are not just about avoiding a fine on the road, they are part of keeping your cover valid if the worst happens. For the full breakdown of the permit, the cost, where to get it and how the checkpoints work, read our [Ha Giang Loop permit 2026 guide](https://budgetbro.app/blog/ha-giang-loop-border-permit-2026). ### Gen Z Problems With Insurance and How to Actually Get It Right Gen Z doesn’t avoid travel insurance because they don’t care. They avoid it because the industry talks like it’s trying to scare you into buying something you don’t understand. So people do what feels logical. They buy the cheapest policy, skim the headline cover and assume it’ll work itself out if something happens. Most of the time, nothing does happen, which only reinforces the idea that insurance was pointless anyway... Until it isn’t. The real issue isn’t buying insurance. It’s buying insurance that doesn’t match how you travel. Long-term trips, moving countries, riding scooters, doing things that aren’t extreme but definitely aren’t sun-lounger safe. That gap between reality and policy wording is where people get caught out. Choosing insurance properly is less about brands and more about honesty. Be honest about how long you’re travelling. Be honest about whether you’ll ride a bike. Be honest about whether you’ve booked flights or gear you can’t afford to replace. If your trip is open-ended and multi-country, a backpacker policy like Tesco’s fits that reality. If you’re doing something specific and higher risk, like riding the Ha Giang Loop, you need insurance that spells those conditions out clearly, not one that hides them behind vague wording. The biggest mistake is thinking optimism counts as coverage. It doesn’t. Travel insurance isn’t about expecting the worst. It’s about protecting the version of you who’s tired, stressed, injured or stuck somewhere unfamiliar and just wants the problem handled so the trip doesn’t end early. Insurance still isn’t sexy. But neither is explaining to your family why your trip ended because you tried to save money in the one place you shouldn’t have. Read more about [Why You Need Travel Insurance](https://budgetbro.app/blog/why-you-need-travel-insurance) or find out the best Travel Insurance for Southeast Asia right now. For a full rundown of cover across the region, not just the loop, see our [best travel insurance for travelling Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-southeast-asia-uk) guide. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Best Travel Insurance for Southeast Asia > Compare SafetyWing, Genki, Big Cat, Outbacker and Tesco backpacker insurance for Southeast Asia, scooter and long-trip cover, updated for 2026. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-southeast-asia-uk - Published: 2026-01-03 - Updated: 2026-08-19 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Guides - Tags: Travel Insurance, South East Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- If you’re travelling to Southeast Asia, travel insurance isn’t exciting, but skipping it, is exactly how people end up with four-figure hospital bills and panic WhatsApp's home. Our guide breaks down all the options for travel insurance companies including the most popular options for backpackers, like Big Cat, Outbacker, Tesco, and Safety Wing amongst others. Most travellers don’t start with specialist backpacker insurance. They start with whatever pops up cheapest, whatever their bank or airline suggests, and what's recommended on TikTok. However, if you're going to get insurance, do the research, because if you don't, you're potentially paying for coverage which is void from day one. We get it, we too hate paying for it, but, needs must, right? Do yourself a favour, do your parents a favour! Get the right level of coverage, and the right coverage for you and your trip. ## Why Backpacker Insurance over normal Travel Insurance for Southeast Asia? Southeast Asia trips are rarely straight forward. People extend visas, cross borders last minute, stay longer than planned, and rent scooters without really thinking twice about it. Most standard insurance policies just aren’t built for that. This is why backpacker and nomad-focused providers like SafetyWing, Genki, and similar alternatives exist in the first place. They’re not magic, but they’re built around how people actually travel in this region. ### [Big Cat Travel Insurance](https://www.bigcattravelinsurance.com/travel-insurance/backpackers-travel-insurance/) Many travel insurance companies require you to have a return flight ticket booked. Big Cat gets it, and with them a one way ticket is fine. They also cover paid work roles with some exceptions which are available at an add-on. hey also cover the Ha Giang Loop as a passenger. We've got an additional guide on [Ha Giang Loop Travel Insurance](https://budgetbro.app/blog/ha-giang-loop-travel-insurance). Standard cover includes 70 activities free of charge. ### [Outbacker Travel Insurance](https://www.outbackerinsurance.com/backpacker-travel-insurance.php) Underwritten by the popular insurance company AXA, Outbacker is a rising option. You can return once for 14 days as part of your policy and they cover working holidays as standard (must check the full list of job roles and activities included). They also have unique features including bag finder, doctor please and travel mate app. Outbacker is currently offering a minimum 15% discount on policy extensions, upgrades and future policies, and BagFinder plus SOS Family location-sharing come free with every new policy. ### [Tesco Backpacker Travel Insurance](https://www.tescoinsurance.com/travel-insurance/backpacker-travel-insurance/) Tesco is a popular option, not only for the fact you can exchange your Clubcard vouchers, £1: £1 in vouchers, but Clubcard holders also get 10% off when buying direct, and cover runs for up to 18 months. Thanks to reader Jack for flagging the Clubcard discount in the comments. One thing to make sure you check though, don't choose Annual Multi Trip (unless you specifically are doing regular trips throughout the year) choose Backpacker, and also, Worldwide excluding USA and Canada otherwise this will be A LOT more expensive. ### [Greatcover.com](https://www.greatcover.com/) Great Cover is getting a lot of attention because it shows up in comparison tables and looks good on price. If you’re doing a short, fixed trip with return flights booked, staying in hotels, and not riding scooters, it can be fine. Where it starts to fall down is long term travel. Southeast Asia trips rarely go to plan. Dates change, countries change, activities happen. Policies like this are usually built for holidays, not backpacking. Also, always check the motorbike section. That’s where most people get caught out. ### [Gigasure Insurance (previously Gigasurance)](ttps://gigasure.com/backpackers-insurance) A lot of people search for Gigasurance reviews because they want to know if it’s legit. That’s fair. Gigasurance often works as a middle layer, not always the insurer itself. That means the actual coverage depends on the underlying policy provider. That’s not a deal breaker, but it means you really need to read the policy wording instead of trusting the brand name alone. If you’re staying short term and know exactly what you’re doing, it can work. If you’re planning to bounce between Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia and Cambodia, you need to be careful. What's cool about Gigasure is that they have an app that you can start claims from, and it pulls through most of the information needed to claim. You just add supporting docs and submit. Also, it allows you to add your insurance details to your wallet on iOS. Pretty neat. ### [CoverForYou Travel Insurance](https://www.coverforyou.com/backpacker_travel_insurance.php) CoverForYou is popular because it’s affordable and easy to buy. For short trips to Southeast Asia, it can do the job. Plenty of people use it for two to three week holidays without issues. Where it becomes less ideal is long stays and flexibility. Extensions, activity cover, and multi country travel can get restrictive. If your trip has a clear end date and limited activities, it’s a reasonable option. If not, read carefully. Backpacker cover starts from around £74.90 on their site (their example rate: one month, Europe, with their maximum loyalty discount) get a proper quote for your Southeast Asia dates and duration, as this will move. ### [SafetyWing Travel Insurance](https://safetywing.com/?referenceID=26441903&utm_source=26441903&utm_medium=Ambassador) SafetyWing is popular for a reason. It’s simple, flexible, and built for how people actually travel. You don’t need to know your end date. You pay monthly, it renews automatically, and it covers multiple countries without having to tell them every time you cross a border. If you’re moving around Southeast Asia, that alone makes life easier. The medical coverage is solid for everyday travel issues, and it works well for people staying long term in places like Thailand, Vietnam, or Indonesia. Where you need to pay attention is activities. Scooter riding and higher risk stuff can come with conditions or require add-ons, so you do need to read the policy properly. What really makes SafetyWing stand out for me is real-world experience. I know plenty of people using it, including someone who needed surgery that cost over 450,000 baht. The claim was paid without drama, no back and forth, and most importantly, no excess. That's where SafetyWing really shines in my opinion. Nomad Insurance currently starts from $62.72 per four weeks for the Essential plan (ages 18–39), or $177.50 a month for Complete. Clicking through with our link will get you $40 in credit." Clicking through with our link will get you $40 in credit. ### [Genki Traveler - Insurance for Nomads](https://genki.world/products/traveler) Genki is a newer name that’s getting a lot of attention with long-term travellers and digital nomads. What people like about Genki is that it feels more modern and health-focused. It’s built more like international health insurance rather than holiday insurance. It works well if you’re: - Staying in Southeast Asia for months at a time - Living in one or two countries - Wanting strong medical cover without worrying about return flights Genki is less about lost luggage and more about proper medical coverage. That’s often what matters most in this region anyway. It’s not the cheapest option, but for people who care more about hospital cover than trip cancellations, it makes sense. --- *Disclaimer:** This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a commission; but it doesn't affect which providers we list or how we list them. Every option here is included because it's worth considering, not because any insurer has paid for placement or ranking.* More reading to help you plan: [Why You Need Travel Insurance](https://budgetbro.app/blog/why-you-need-travel-insurance), [Cheapest Flights](https://budgetbro.app/blog/flights-to-southeastasia-jan-2026) and [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia). ## What about the rest of Asia, not just Southeast Asia? The good news for anyone searching for the best travel insurance for Asia is that the backpacker providers on this page are not Southeast Asia only. SafetyWing, Genki, Big Cat and Outbacker all cover travel right across Asia, so one policy can carry you from Thailand and Vietnam up into East Asia and across to South Asia on the same trip. It is the same cover, just check the region or country list when you quote. A couple of regional pointers. In East Asia (Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong) medical and hospital costs are far higher than in Southeast Asia, so a higher medical limit is worth having, and the backpacker policies here are built for exactly that. In South Asia (India, Sri Lanka, Nepal) the extras that matter are trekking and altitude cover, so if you are heading up towards Everest Base Camp or the Annapurna Circuit, add high-altitude trekking when you quote. For everything else, the provider comparison above applies whether you are in Bangkok, Tokyo, Colombo or Kathmandu. ## Frequently Asked Questions: ### Do I need special backpacker insurance for Southeast Asia? For a short, fixed trip with return flights and no scooters, a standard policy can be fine. But for long, open-ended travel across Southeast Asia, with visa extensions, last-minute border crossings and scooter riding, backpacker or nomad insurance is built for how you actually travel and is far less likely to leave you uncovered. ### Does travel insurance cover riding a scooter in Southeast Asia? Only if you check the motorbike section carefully. Many policies exclude riding, or only cover you with a valid licence and, in some countries, an International Driving Permit. Riding without the right licence or cover is where most claims get rejected, so confirm the exact wording before you rent. ### Which providers do backpackers use for Southeast Asia? Common picks include SafetyWing and Genki for long-term and nomad cover, and Big Cat, Outbacker and Tesco Backpacker for trip-based policies. Big Cat accepts a one-way ticket, Outbacker is underwritten by AXA and covers working holidays, and Tesco lets you pay with Clubcard vouchers. Compare cover, not just price. ### Is the cheapest travel insurance worth it? Not always. The cheapest comparison-table policies are usually built for short hotel holidays, not backpacking, and often fall down on long trips, changed plans and motorbike cover. Read the policy wording rather than trusting the brand or the headline price. ### Can I get insurance if I have already started travelling? Yes. Several backpacker and nomad providers, including SafetyWing and Genki, let you buy or start cover while you are already abroad, which is useful if you extended your trip or set off without a policy. Check each provider's rules on existing trips before you buy. ### Which is the best travel insurance for Asia, not just Southeast Asia? The same backpacker providers, SafetyWing, Genki, Big Cat and Outbacker, cover the whole of Asia, so you do not need a separate policy for East Asia or South Asia. Pick one long-trip backpacker policy, set the region to Asia or Worldwide, add scooter cover if you will ride and high-altitude trekking if you will hike, and it will cover you across the continent. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Nomad Summit Chiang Mai 2026 > Discover why Nomad Summit Chiang Mai 2026 is a must-attend for content creators, digital nomads, and aspiring creators. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-summit-chiang-mai - Published: 2026-01-02 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Thailand, Chiang Mai, Remote Work, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- When you hear Thailand, you probably think of digital nomad hotspots like Bangkok and Chiang Mai. This month, Nomad Summit Chiang Mai is happening, and if you’re a content creator, digital nomad, or aspiring to be one, this event should be on your radar, if you haven’t already booked your ticket. The main Nomad Summit takes place on 16-18th January, 2026, but from the 19th–26th additional events will be happening across Chiang Mai, offering even more opportunities to connect, learn, and create with others. While the summit comes with a price tag, the impact can be huge. Standard tickets are $299, while premium tickets cost $399. You can find more details on their website: [https://www.nomadsummit.com/chiang-mai-2026/](https://www.nomadsummit.com/chiang-mai-2026/) The Summit features a Buildathon, where teams will come up with ideas, prototype, and ship projects together. For creators, this is a perfect opportunity for you to accelerate an idea, test collaborations, and even launch new formats or products during and by the end of the event. You can also join the [Nomad Summit Meetup group](https://www.meetup.com/nomadsummit/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) to meet others attending and discover what additional events are taking place throughout the 10 days. ### Why should I attend the Nomad Summit in Chiang Mai? Like Bangkok, Chiang Mai is a major digital nomad capital, making it the perfect place for networking and collaboration. BudgetBro recently participated in the Nomad Fest Creator Edition in Bangkok alongside creators, and we saw firsthand how impactful learning from experienced founders, remote leaders, and high-performance creators can be. Sessions at the summit will cover practical, actionable topics like building profitable ventures, scaling personal brands and navigating the modern digital ecosystem. One of the strongest benefits of attending is the people you’ll meet. This might just be worth the money in itself. Creative professionals, founders, freelancers, and digital nomads from around the world converge here, whether you're thinking or are already heading to the summit, this could be an excellent time to base yourself here, taking advantage of the rich mix of perspectives and collaboration potential. ### Accommodation in Chiang Mai Nomad Summit has recommended accommodations in Chiang Mai, including Alt_ChiangMai which is a very popular co-working location. [https://www.nomadsummit.com/chiang-mai-2026/accommodations-in-chiang-mai-recommendations/](https://www.nomadsummit.com/chiang-mai-2026/accommodations-in-chiang-mai-recommendations/) ### Nomad Summit Chiang Mai Podcast If you are aspiring to be a content creator or digital nomad, you might find our recent [Digital Nomad Life: What Nobody Really Tells You](https://budgetbro.app/blog/digital-nomad-life-2026) article interesting. If you're going to the Summit, let us know how you get on through Instagram/TikTok Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Digital Nomad Life](https://budgetbro.app/blog/digital-nomad-life-2026), [Yi Peng Lantern Festival Thailand 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/yi-peng-festival-thailand) and [3 Best Restaurants in Chiang Mai You Need to Try](https://budgetbro.app/blog/3-best-restaurants-in-chiang-mai-you-need-to-try). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # From the Founder: December Update > A founder's reflection on December: the delays, the small wins and keeping belief in BudgetBro alive when progress felt slow and the road got longer. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/thefoundersviewdecemberrecap - Published: 2026-01-01 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Founder, Press - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- For the first time since we started building the app back in March 2025, I’ve spent more time away from the desk than at it. Samar and I flew back to the UK to surprise my family for Christmas and honestly, it was the best decision we made all year. That said, it hasn’t been easy for Samar. She’s been away from Brazil for three years, and with our current commitments, getting back there just isn’t possible right now. That part weighs heavy, and there’s no way to sugarcoat it. BudgetBro has taken a back seat over the past 14 days. We’ve been quiet on social media, and from the outside it probably looks like nothing’s been happening. But that’s not really the truth. If anything, this break has helped us see things more clearly. The progress we have made is coming to terms with the worrying number of in-app issues we’re facing. It’s not glamorous progress, but it’s real, and it’s something we needed to acknowledge before pushing forward again. ## December Goals In [November’s recap](https://budgetbro.app/blog/november-recap-the-founders-perspective), I set what I thought were fairly realistic targets. This was after not hitting any of the goals I set in October, so I tried to be a bit more grounded. These were the targets: - App is out for testing prior to December 20th. - We triple our total monthly views over all social media platforms  - We beat our Novembers crowdfunding total of 1.4% - All the BudgetBro team, the followers and blog readers have a blessed Christmas. So what did we achieve? - App is out for testing prior to December 20th. ❌ - We triple our total monthly views over all social media platforms ❌ - We beat our Novembers crowdfunding total of 1.4% ❌ - All the BudgetBro team, the followers and blog readers have a blessed Christmas. ✅ Thankfully, when I wrote these goals, I knew the last one was a bit of a safety net. It felt important to include, just in case the rest didn’t land. Looking back, I’m pretty glad I did. ## What's Going Wrong? Why Aren't My Targets Being Achieved? If I knew the exact answer, I probably wouldn’t be writing this in the first place. And to be completely honest, it’s been taking its toll. I’m losing sleep. I’m comfort eating and have put on far more weight than I’d like to admit. The bank balance is dropping faster than I’m comfortable with. But despite all of that, we’re still here. Still building. Still fighting. **App Testing**: I set a deadline of December 18th with the dev team, giving us a two-day buffer ahead of my original December 20th target. On paper, that felt sensible. What I didn’t expect was what happened next. The more features we implemented, the more problems surfaced. Instead of moving closer to stability, we uncovered more cracks. When our deadline was up, we’d logged 62 separate issues. That number hit hard. For everyone involved. It was genuinely morale-breaking, but there was no way to spin it. We had to be honest with ourselves, accept the reality of where the app was, and push the timeline back yet again. **Monthly Views**: Tripling monthly views was naive. Simple as that. I knew I was flying back to the UK for the first time in three years. I knew content output would drop. Yet I still set the target anyway. This one doesn’t frustrate me as much because it was avoidable. A lack of planning, not a lack of effort. A lesson learned, even if it took missing the goal to see it clearly. **Crowdfunding**: This one’s harder to write. December closed at 0.00%. No movement at all. That’s uncomfortable, and honestly, a bit embarrassing. About six weeks ago, we consciously decided to put crowdfunding on the back burner and focus more on informative, value-led content. The problem was that this strategy relied heavily on app footage and real testing progress. And without the app being ready for testing, that content never materialised. So we ended up stuck in the middle. No app content to push. No crowdfunding momentum. Just a lot of work happening quietly behind the scenes, with very little to show for it publicly. ## What's Changed in The Last 30 Days? Not a great deal. And honestly, that’s good news. It means we’re feeling more confident in the direction we’re heading and not reacting impulsively to every small setback. The main changes have been focused on the website. The homepage layout has been reworked to highlight app features more clearly while reducing visual noise. It’s simpler, easier to understand, and does a better job of explaining what BudgetBro actually does within a few seconds of landing. The crowdfunding page has also had a major revamp. These changes are based on real feedback, how users are navigating the site, and the need for clearer, more direct messaging. Nothing guessy. Just responding to what people are actually doing. The updates aren’t live just yet, but we’re aiming to have everything implemented within the next 5–6 days. ## How Do I Feel About Current Progress? If you’ve been reading these monthly recaps, you’re probably laughing at my ongoing inability to actually get this app out the door. And honestly, that doesn’t bother me. Thick skin comes with the territory. These recaps usually read like three parts pessimism and one part optimism, but beneath all of that, I’m completely clear on where this is going. I understand the end goal. And even when the storm feels bigger than expected, that goal hasn’t moved an inch. Without doubt, we’re building an app that will be dominant within the market. Not because it’s flashy, but because it actually means something. The creativity behind it, the intention, the ecosystem, the way it’s built for real travellers, it's unmatched. So no matter how messy the present feels, it’s temporary. The problems we’re dealing with now don’t outweigh the number of travellers this app is going to help. And that’s the part I keep coming back to. ## January Goals I had to think hard about this one. For January, I’ve decided we’re not setting goals. I’m starting to realise that while goals can be great for momentum, they can also pull focus away from the issues that matter most right now. Hitting targets means very little if the foundations underneath aren’t solid. We’ve got a serious mountain to climb over the next eight weeks. Previous deadlines have already been pushed, and financially, I can’t afford any further setbacks. That pressure is real. What’s also real is this: BudgetBro is part of who I am. It’s in my DNA. And regardless of how difficult this stretch gets, I’m not giving up. Not now, not later, and not even once the mission itself is complete. Love Big JR. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Camp America 2027: Your Summer Camp Jobs Guide > Planning Camp America for 2027? See BridgeUSA J-1 visa rules, camp counselor pay, costs, deadlines, and how AmeriCamp, CIEE, and CCUSA compare. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/camp-america-work-at-summer-camp-usa - Published: 2025-12-27 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Camp America, Summer, USA, Backpacking, Travel, Solo, solo travel, Volunteering, Featured, Summer Camp - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Camp America places international travellers at US summer camps for 9 to 12 weeks under the BridgeUSA J-1 Visa Cultural Exchange Program, with pay, meals, and accommodation included. This guide covers who qualifies, what the J-1 visa actually requires, how much you earn and pay in fees, and how Camp America compares to AmeriCamp, CIEE, and Camp Counselors USA (CCUSA) for the 2027 season. ## What Is Camp America and How Does the BridgeUSA J-1 Visa Program Work? Camp America is a cultural exchange placement service that sends international staff to US summer camps for roughly 9 to 12 weeks, typically June through August. Legal work is authorised through the US Department of State's BridgeUSA Exchange Visitor Program, under the J-1 Camp Counselor category. Camp America itself is a placement agency, not the visa sponsor; a separate BridgeUSA-designated sponsor organisation issues the DS-2019 form that makes the visa possible. Camp types range from traditional overnight camps to sports-specialisation programmes, arts and performance camps, special-needs facilities, and urban day camps. Staff live on-site, work full-time, and share housing with a multicultural team. ## Who Can Apply for Camp America in 2027? You can apply for Camp America if you are aged 18 to 30, hold a passport from an eligible country (including the UK, most of the European Union, Australia, and New Zealand), speak conversational English, are available for the full summer season, and can pass a background and medical check. Student status is not required. ## What Jobs Are Available Through Camp America? Camp America places two main groups: camp counsellors and support staff. Counsellors supervise cabin groups, run activities, and support camper wellbeing; camps favour candidates with sports coaching, lifeguarding, arts or drama experience, outdoor leadership, or childcare backgrounds. Support staff cover kitchen, maintenance, housekeeping, and admin roles, usually on an hourly wage with more defined hours and personal time than counsellor positions. ## Do You Need a J-1 Visa to Work at Camp America? Yes. Every Camp America placement requires a J-1 Visa issued under the BridgeUSA Cultural Exchange Visitor Program. Your placement agency's BridgeUSA sponsor issues a DS-2019 Certificate of Eligibility, which you take to a US Embassy or Consulate for the visa interview. The J-1 also grants up to 30 days of US travel after your camp contract ends. It is a single-employer visa: unauthorised work outside your assigned camp can void your status. ## What Is the SEVIS I-901 Fee and Visa Integrity Fee for Camp America Applicants? J-1 applicants pay the SEVIS I-901 fee to register in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System before their visa interview, separate from the J-1 visa application fee (around $185 at time of writing). A separate Visa Integrity Fee, originally slated for October 2025, remains delayed; the latest projected start is October 2026, at $250, refundable if you comply with your visa terms. As of writing it does not apply to ESTA/Visa Waiver travel. Confirm current fee amounts with your BridgeUSA sponsor before applying, as both figures are set by the US Department of State and can change. ## Does Camp America Require Access to Your Social Media? No. Providing social media handles is optional for ESTA and standard visa applications at the time of writing. Proposals to make social media disclosure mandatory for some visa categories have been discussed but not enacted. Check your BridgeUSA sponsor's current DS-2019 paperwork and the US Department of State's visa application guidance for the latest position before you apply. ## How Much Does Camp America Pay Counselors and Support Staff? Camp America counsellors typically earn $1,200 to $2,250 for the summer, on top of free food and accommodation. Support staff are usually paid hourly, in the region of $10 to $15 an hour. Exact pay depends on your role, experience, and which placement agency and camp you are matched with; camps that include return flights in the package tend to offer lower cash salaries than those where you book your own flights. ## How Much Does It Cost to Apply for Camp America? Camp America placement fees typically run from roughly £300 to £700, depending on the agency, whether flights are included, and how early you apply. This usually covers placement, BridgeUSA visa sponsorship, training, and insurance while in the US. On top of the placement fee, budget separately for the SEVIS I-901 fee, the J-1 visa application fee at your nearest US Embassy or Consulate, and a background check (commonly £20 to £100 depending on provider and country). Fees below are as of June 2026 and are reset annually, so confirm the current 2027 tiers with each provider before applying. ## Which Companies Offer Camp America Placements: AmeriCamp, CIEE, CCUSA, or Camp America? Several BridgeUSA-affiliated agencies place staff at US summer camps, and "Camp America" is both a specific agency and the generic term travellers use for the whole category. The main options are Camp America (the largest network, widest camp choice), AmeriCamp, CIEE's Camp Exchange USA (a BridgeUSA-designated sponsor in its own right), and Camp Counselors USA (CCUSA). Fee structures, included flights, and minimum salaries vary by provider and change each season; the figures in this guide are as of June 2026, so compare current terms directly on each agency's site before applying. ## Can You Travel After Your Camp America Placement Ends? Yes. The J-1 visa's post-completion travel window, typically up to 30 days, is one of the main reasons people choose Camp America over a standard seasonal job. Most participants use this time to road-trip through the US before flying home to the UK or Europe, or continuing onward to Central or South America. ## What Are the Best Tips for a Successful Camp America Application? Apply as early in the cycle as possible, since the best camps and roles fill first. Record a genuine video application rather than a generic one. Be accurate about your skills and qualifications, since camps match staff to specific activity needs. Budget separately for flights and post-camp travel on top of the placement fee. Treat the summer as a cultural exchange first and a job second, and plan your post-camp US itinerary before you fly out. Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Essential Apps for Travelling to China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/essentialappsforchinatravel), [Visiting the USA? You'll need to Show Your Social Media](https://budgetbro.app/blog/usasocialmediahistoryvisarequirement) and [My Beijing Layover](https://budgetbro.app/blog/my-beijing-layover-a-quick-trip-to-the-great-wall). ## Frequently Asked Questions About Camp America: ### What's the difference between Camp America and BUNAC's Summer Camp USA programme? Camp America and BUNAC's Summer Camp USA are separate placement agencies that both send staff to US camps on the same J-1 BridgeUSA visa category. They are not affiliated. Fees, camp networks, and minimum salaries differ between the two, so compare current terms on each agency's site rather than assuming they are interchangeable. ### Is Camp America the same as Camp Leaders? No. Camp Leaders is a separate summer camp placement company operating alongside Camp America, AmeriCamp, and CCUSA. All of them place staff under the same J-1 Camp Counselor visa category through their own BridgeUSA-designated sponsors, but each has its own application process, fee schedule, and camp partners. ### What is a DS-2019 form and do Camp America applicants need one? The DS-2019 is the Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status, issued by your placement's BridgeUSA sponsor once you are matched with a camp. Every Camp America applicant needs a DS-2019 to book a J-1 visa interview at a US Embassy or Consulate. Without it, you cannot legally work at a US summer camp. ### Does the Duke of Edinburgh's Award partner with Camp America? Yes, the Duke of Edinburgh's Award has listed Camp America placements as a way for young people to complete DofE Gold Residential or volunteering requirements. Check the current DofE shop listing and Camp America directly, as partnership terms and eligible placements can change between seasons. ### What is the SEVIS I-901 fee and is it separate from the Camp America placement fee? The SEVIS I-901 fee funds the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System that tracks J-1 participants, and it is paid directly to the US government, separately from any Camp America or agency placement fee. You pay it online before your visa interview, using the SEVIS ID number from your DS-2019 form. ### Can Camp Counselors USA (CCUSA) applicants also apply to Camp America in the same year? You can technically submit applications to more than one agency, including CCUSA and Camp America, but each requires its own fees, paperwork, and BridgeUSA sponsor process, and accepting a placement from one typically means withdrawing from the other. Most applicants pick a single agency once they understand the fee structure and camp options, rather than running two applications in parallel. Fees, visa costs, and job-fair schedules above are as of June 2026; always confirm current figures with Camp America, AmeriCamp, CIEE, CCUSA, or BUNAC directly, and check the US Department of State's BridgeUSA Camp Counselor Program page for the latest visa rules before applying. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Why Bali’s Kelingking Beach Lift Sparked Backlash > Bali’s controversial Kelingking Beach lift promised safety and access. Instead, it exposed deeper problems with overtourism and regulation. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/kelingking-beach-lift-bali - Published: 2025-12-24 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Bali, Indonesia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Kelingking Beach has never been easy, and that’s kind of the point. The viewpoint is insane, the photos do all the talking, and the walk down is brutal enough to scare people off halfway. Every day someone slips, turns back, or realises too late they’ve underestimated it. So when I heard a lift was being built, I didn’t instantly hate the idea. That’s the uncomfortable part. On paper, it made sense. In reality, it turned into one of the most controversial tourism projects Bali has seen in years. ## The Idea That Didn't Come Out of Nowhere The plan was simple. Install a tall, glass elevator down the cliff at Kelingking Beach, making access safer and easier. Less exhaustion. Fewer injuries. More people reaching the beach without risking it on a narrow dirt path. If you’ve ever watched someone freeze halfway down that staircase, clinging to a handrail while tourists stack up behind them, the appeal is obvious. This wasn’t pitched as a theme park ride. It was sold as accessibility. Safety. Controlled tourism. But once construction started, perception changed fast. ## When It Became Impossible to Ignore Photos of the structure started circulating online in 2025, and that’s when things exploded. A towering steel and glass shaft cutting straight through one of Indonesia’s most iconic coastal landscapes. The problem wasn’t subtle. You could see it from the viewpoint. From the water. From almost every angle that made Kelingking famous in the first place. For locals, it felt invasive. For many travellers, it felt like something that belonged in a city, not carved into a cliff that had stayed mostly untouched for decades. And almost overnight, the conversation stopped being about safety. It became about identity. ## The Permits Nobody Could Agree On As backlash grew, officials started digging into how the project was approved in the first place. That’s where things got messy. Different agencies appeared to have approved different parts. Some permits existed. Others didn’t. Key approvals around spatial planning, environmental protection, and disaster mitigation were either missing, incomplete, or contested depending on who you asked. By the time provincial authorities stepped in, construction was already well underway. Eventually, Bali’s governor Wayan Koster ordered the project halted, and later, fully dismantled. The developer was given months to remove the structure and restore the site. The decision was celebrated online. But it also raised a quiet question that never really got answered. Why did it get this far in the first place? ## The Part People Don't Like Talking About Here’s where it gets awkward. Kelingking Beach is already overcrowded. It’s already over-photographed. It’s already suffering from foot traffic, erosion, and unmanaged visitor flow. The staircase itself was never designed for the volume of people using it today. So when people say “this lift would’ve ruined the place”, they’re probably right. But pretending the place wasn’t already under strain feels dishonest too. The lift didn’t create the problem. It exposed it. ## Tourism, Just Without Saying the Quiet Part Out Loud Bali has spent years trying to walk a tightrope. Promote tourism, but not too much. Build infrastructure, but keep it invisible. Make money, but don’t change anything. That’s an impossible balance. The Kelingking Beach lift wasn’t rejected because it was the first sign of overtourism. It was rejected because it made overtourism visible. It forced a question nobody really wants to answer. How do you manage places that are globally famous, fragile, and still expected to support local economies? There’s no lift-sized solution to that. ## So Was It a Bad Idea? Probably. Was it evil? That’s harder to say. It tried to solve a real problem in a place that may already be beyond simple fixes. It failed because of scale, aesthetics, regulation, and timing. But also because it asked people to confront a version of Bali they’d rather not acknowledge. One where untouched doesn’t really mean untouched anymore. The lift will be removed. The cliff will heal, at least visually. The staircase will still be there. The crowds will still come. And the question that started all of this will remain unanswered. What do you do when a place becomes too famous for its own good? Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Nyepi Bali 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nyepi-bali), [Bali’s Possible Airbnb Ban](https://budgetbro.app/blog/baliairbnbban) and [Do you need to show Bank Statements to enter Bali?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/bali-bank-statement-debate). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # New China Nihao Travel App > A new travel app for China claims to simplify transport, language, and daily life for foreigners. But will travellers actually use Nihao? - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/nihao-travel-app - Published: 2025-12-23 - Updated: 2026-08-17 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: China, Travel, Apps - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- We’ve been covering China a lot lately on BudgetBro. If you missed it, you can catch up on our latest article [Why Travel to China in 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/why-travel-to-china-2026), covering the most recent travel updates. China is one of the most app-dependent countries in the world. Payments, transport, food, hotels, even museum entry often rely on QR codes and local platforms. Looking to take on Alipay and WeChat, Nihao is a new app aimed specifically at foreigners, promising to simplify travel in China. Offering built-in visa processing, travel planning and tax refunds along with simplified payment processing. ## Do Travellers Need Another App? Most travellers already arrive in China with multiple payment apps such as Alipay, WeChat etc, a VPN, translation tools and maps, as featured in our [Essential Apps for Travelling to China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/essentialappsforchinatravel), however, while not perfect in design or accessibility; apps like Alipay and WeChat are already relatively tourist-friendly and include built-in translation features. Nihao’s success will depend on how useful before and after arrival, whether it integrates smoothly and if it's recommended. The biggest challenge isn’t functionality, it’s convincing travellers that it’s worth installing before or on arrival in addition the other apps that are out there. That’s a tough ask, but not an impossible one. BudgetBro is testing the app and we'll report back with a full review. Would you download another app for your travels to China? Keep the planning going with our guides to [Why Travel China in 2026?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/why-travel-to-china-2026), [My Beijing Layover](https://budgetbro.app/blog/my-beijing-layover-a-quick-trip-to-the-great-wall) and [China’s Travel Comeback](https://budgetbro.app/blog/chinatravelcomeback2026). ## Frequently Asked Questions ### What is the Nihao travel app? Nihao is a travel app built to help foreign visitors handle everyday life in China, such as transport, language and payments, which normally rely on local Chinese apps and QR codes. It aims to pull those tasks into one place for tourists. ### Do you still need Alipay or WeChat in China? For now, yes. Alipay and WeChat remain the backbone of payments in China and most travellers still install them, along with a VPN and a translation tool. Nihao would need to replace parts of that stack, not just sit alongside it, to become essential. ### Is the Nihao app worth downloading before you travel to China? It may be useful, but it is unproven. The app's value depends on how smoothly it works before and after arrival and whether it is widely recommended. BudgetBro is testing it and will report back with a full review. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Natal na América do Sul: Como é Celebrado em Cada País > Descubra como é o Natal na América do Sul, com calor, ceias de verão, tradições locais e formas únicas de celebrar em cada país. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/natal-nanatal-america-do-sul-tradicoes - Published: 2025-12-22 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: natalnobrasil, natalnoperu, Natalnacolombia, Americalatina, Christmas - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Na América do Sul, o Natal acontece em pleno verão. O calor, a herança colonial europeia e as culturas indígenas moldaram uma celebração bem diferente da imagem clássica de neve, cachecol e lareira. Aqui, o Natal é vivido à noite, com mesas cheias, ruas iluminadas e encontros que se estendem até tarde. É uma mistura intensa de fé, família, comida farta e clima festivo. **Natal na América do Sul: Calor, Devoção e Noites que Não Acabam** Em muitos países sul-americanos, o Natal não se resume a um único dia. Ele faz parte de um período maior de celebrações que culmina no Ano Novo, criando semanas de encontros sociais, eventos públicos e viagens internas. **Brasil: Luzes, Ceia à Meia-Noite e Clima de Verão** No Brasil, o Natal é visual, social e vivido intensamente à noite. A ceia acontece na noite do dia 24, geralmente à meia-noite, seguida da troca de presentes. As cidades ganham decorações grandiosas, presépios e eventos públicos, enquanto missas do galo ainda fazem parte da tradição em muitas regiões. Um dos símbolos mais conhecidos é a árvore flutuante da Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas, no Rio de Janeiro, que se tornou um ponto turístico durante o mês de dezembro. O clima quente faz com que muitas celebrações terminem em varandas, quintais ou até na praia. Além disso, o Brasil entra rapidamente no clima do Ano Novo, um dos mais famosos do mundo. Para muitos turistas, passar o Natal no país é apenas o começo de uma longa celebração que culmina no Réveillon. **Melhores lugares para passar o Natal no Brasil:** - **Rio de Janeiro:** Decorações, eventos públicos e clima pré-Réveillon - **Bahia:** Natal tropical, festas ao ar livre e cultura local - **Gramado:** Clima europeu, luzes e programação natalina intensa - **São Paulo:** Decoração urbana, shoppings e eventos culturais **Colômbia – A Luz que Marca o Início do Natal** Na Colômbia, o Natal começa antes do dia 24. O Día de las Velitas, celebrado em 7 de dezembro, marca oficialmente o início das festividades. Ruas, casas e janelas são iluminadas por velas, criando um clima simbólico de fé, esperança e renovação. As semanas seguintes são cheias de eventos culturais, decorações e encontros familiares. O Natal colombiano é vibrante, comunitário e vivido intensamente nas ruas. Melhores lugares para passar o Natal na Colômbia: - **Medellín:** Famosa pelas iluminações natalinas - **Bogotá:** Eventos culturais e celebrações religiosas - **Cartagena:** Natal histórico com clima caribenho **Peru – Presépios, Fé e Tradição Andina** No Peru, a Noche Buena é o momento mais importante. Os presépios artesanais, muitas vezes extremamente detalhados, ocupam lugar central nas casas e igrejas, refletindo a forte herança católica misturada com elementos culturais andinos. O Natal peruano é mais introspectivo e religioso, mas ainda assim marcado por encontros familiares prolongados e celebrações noturnas. Melhores lugares para passar o Natal no Peru: - **Cusco:** Presépios, igrejas históricas e tradição local - **Lima:** Eventos religiosos e ceias tradicionais - **Arequipa:** Natal mais tranquilo e cultural **Curiosidade Gastronômica** Em grande parte da América do Sul, a ceia combina carnes assadas, como peru ou porco, com saladas frias, arroz temperado e acompanhamentos leves, adaptados ao calor. Sobremesas europeias foram reinventadas com frutas locais, criando sabores únicos para o Natal de verão. Mesmo sem neve, o Natal na América do Sul mantém o verdadeiro espírito da data: união, gratidão e celebração coletiva. Cada país adapta a tradição ao seu clima, história e cultura, criando experiências únicas para moradores e viajantes. 🇧🇷 Feliz Natal| 🇨🇴 Feliz Navidad| 🇵🇪 Feliz Navidad --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Digital Nomad Life: What Nobody Really Tells You > A realistic look at digital nomad life in 2026. Income options, burn rate, travel styles, and what it really takes to stay on the road long-term. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/digital-nomad-life-2026 - Published: 2025-12-21 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Travel, Remote Work, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Being a digital nomad has landed on almost everyone’s bucket list in recent years, and I get it. Who genuinely wants to grind through a dead-end 9–5, watching bills pile up, when the alternative looks like travelling Southeast Asia on £25 a day? If that’s the choice, my vote's obvious. But here’s the part that rarely gets said out loud. Remote work while travelling looks glamorous online, but the reality is usually far less polished. Unless you were already working remotely back home or you have a skill that doesn’t require being onsite, you’re starting with a serious uphill climb. It’s not impossible. People do make it work. But the success rates are far lower than social media would have you believe. Let’s break down the main options properly. ### **Remote Work Options (The Realistic View)** These aren’t get-rich-quick paths. They’re the options that actually keep people travelling. **Influencer / Content Creator ** This space feels a lot like e-commerce right now. Completely oversaturated. I’m not knocking it. A huge amount of work goes on behind the scenes and it can be mentally exhausting. The main problem is identity. By that, I mean niche. Everyone is posting the same “viral 7-Eleven ham and cheese toastie” video. To stand out in 2026, you need something genuinely different. And even then, unless you’ve got a face, story, or angle people genuinely stop scrolling for, the odds are still stacked against you. I don’t say this to crush anyone’s dream. If this is what you really want and you’ve got personality, I genuinely wish you the best. I’d even love to help you and have you post content in-app. But here’s another reality check. Hitting 10K followers is not the finish line people think it is. A close friend of mine has around 23K followers on TikTok and averages under £10 a month. That’s not a typo. Which brings us to a more realistic angle. **User Generated Content (UGC)** This is far more achievable for most people. Why? Because brands are shifting their focus from follower counts to engagement. A creator with strong engagement and clear analytics can be more valuable than someone with 50K followers and no audience trust. The process is simple in theory. Post good content, track your analytics, then start reaching out to brands directly. It still takes work, but it’s a much more realistic entry point. Think short-form ads, testimonials, and product clips rather than travel vlogs. **Computer-Based Online Jobs** Hourly online work for a company is massively underrated. A lot of travellers see this as “giving up” on the creator dream, but the reality is harsh. Most people don’t have the cash buffer to sit around waiting for content to pay the bills. I know a couple who were deep into financial markets and trading. They kept hitting the same wall. Not enough consistent income. So they pivoted. They took an online job booking vet appointments. They worked from 4pm to midnight Thailand time and earned around £1,200 each per month. They didn’t quit their dream. They subsidised it while making it sustainable. That mindset is elite, and it’s what actually keeps people travelling long-term. ## Pick Your Nomad Style Here are three common ways people travel, and each one hits your budget and productivity differently. **Fast Travel** This is the six-month backpacker energy. Southeast Asia is huge and you want to see everything. Fair enough. But transport and short stays add up fast. Domestic flights and sleeper buses feel cheap individually, but they rack up quickly. On top of that, productivity tanks. Constant movement kills focus, no matter how motivated you think you are. Pretending otherwise usually just leads to burnout. **Slow Travel** Staying one to three months per location changes everything. Monthly rentals are cheaper, transport becomes simple, and routines actually form. Renting a scooter for £50 a month beats taxis every time. Productivity goes up because your life stops resetting every week. Honestly, this is the most sustainable option for almost everyone. Personally, I’d say two to three months is the sweet spot. One month disappears fast when you’re working properly. **Base With Side Trips** This is where things really click. One long-term base with cheap rent, plus short trips when you want them. It gives you a sense of normality without killing the adventure. Base yourself somewhere like Da Nang and suddenly Asia is on your doorstep. Thailand for £30, Cambodia for £45, China or Singapore within reach. Weekend trips instead of constant moves. You also get the underrated bonus of actually owning things without stressing about baggage fees every time you fly. ## Your Monthly Burn Rate If you take one thing from this article, let it be this: know your burn rate. This is your survival number. The amount you need each month to stay fed, housed, connected, insured, and able to work without constant stress. If you don’t know this number, long-term travel becomes guesswork. A solid nomad budget isn’t complicated, but it must be complete. Accommodation is almost always the biggest cost. Food is the easiest to control if you eat local. Transport covers daily movement and the occasional long trip. Then there’s your work setup, coworking, software, backups. Connectivity matters too. SIMs, eSIMs, VPNs. Health costs, insurance, basic meds. Fun matters as well. Ignore it and it turns into random overspending. Finally, admin. Visas, renewals, fees. These are the silent killers most guides skip over. Instead of chasing one perfect number, think in ranges. A barebones month. A comfortable month. A stretch month where you pay for convenience or move more. Location and travel speed change everything. This is why slow travel consistently wins. It keeps costs predictable and stress low. ## The Accommodation Ladder Work exchanges like Workaway or Worldpackers can slash costs, but only if your paid work is flexible. House-sitting can wipe accommodation costs entirely if the timing works. Monthly rentals are the real sweet spot. Facebook groups, local agents, guesthouses, and monthly Airbnb filters usually beat nightly platforms. Style matters less than function. You need a desk, a chair you can sit on for hours, quiet for calls, and solid WiFi. Hostels can work short-term, especially for community, but they come with a hidden cost. Being surrounded by travellers usually leads to more spending. Short-stay Airbnbs and hotels are convenient, but convenience is expensive when paid nightly. Aim for 30 days minimum. That’s when rates drop, transport settles, and the constant reset costs disappear. Staying longer doesn’t just save money. It stabilises your entire lifestyle. ## Your Work Setup Being a budget nomad isn’t about suffering. It’s about setting things up once and avoiding constant small fixes. A reliable laptop, lightweight charger with adapter, backup storage, basic noise control, and one posture upgrade like a stand or keyboard. These aren’t luxuries. They protect your ability to earn. Use one system for tasks and files. Notion, Drive, Dropbox. It doesn’t matter which. Just don’t scatter everything. Cafés look cheap but usually aren’t. Coworking spaces often save money in the long run because they protect focus and consistency. The real question isn’t price. It’s whether the setup helps you earn reliably. ### **The Difference Between Dreaming and Doing** So what are you actually going to do with all this? Reading is easy. Implementing is what counts. Know your burn rate. Stop leaking money through nightly stays. Slow down. Lock in longer bases. Build systems that protect your income and your sanity. Feel free to reach out at anytime on[ Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/budgetbro.app/). Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Nomad Summit Chiang Mai 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-summit-chiang-mai), [Is Malaysia the Digital Nomad Hotspot for 2026?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/malaysia-digital-nomad-hotspot-2026) and [Full Guide to Europe’s Digital Nomad Visas in 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-digital-nomad-visas-2026). Living out of a backpack across time zones and currencies makes spending easy to lose track of. See [how BudgetBro compares to TravelSpend](https://budgetbro.app/alternatives/travelspend) for keeping it all in one place. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Why Travel China in 2026? > China is reopening fast. Easier entry, better payments and fewer crowds make 2026 the best time to visit. Here’s why travellers are going back. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/why-travel-to-china-2026 - Published: 2025-12-21 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: China, Asia, Travel, 2026 - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Last updated: 27th March 2026 ## China quietly disappeared from most travellers’ plans for years, but in 2026, it’s coming back and not in the way many people expected. [Entry to China is easier if you're British due to the recent visa-free change ](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-visa-free-uk-travellers)Payments finally work. Crowds haven’t fully returned. And for travellers willing to step outside the usual backpacker banana pancake route, China feels refreshingly new again. ## China Is Open China’s travel comeback didn’t happen overnight though. Instead of a sudden reopening, the country has been gradually reintroducing international travel and refining the system as it goes. By 2026, travellers are benefiting from more predictable entry processes, clearer digital arrival requirements and improved infrastructure for foreign visitors. If you’re planning your first trip since pre-2020, you’ll notice a smoother experience than many expected. If you want a full breakdown of the latest entry process, including digital forms, read our [new China online arrival card](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-online-arrival-card) update. ## Fewer Crowds Than Pre-Pandemic (For Now?) While destinations like Japan, Thailand and much of Europe are dealing with over-tourism, China is still in a recovery phase. Tourist numbers are rising, but many iconic places are noticeably less crowded than they were pre-COVID. This means, easier train bookings, shorter queues at major attractions and more availability in mid-range accommodation. For travellers who like seeing places before they become saturated again, this window won’t last forever. This post-reopening phase is exactly when destinations are at their best, accessible, but not yet overwhelmed. ## China Is More Budget-Friendly Than You Might Expect China has had a reputation for being expensive, but day-to-day travel costs can often surprise first-time visitors. In many cities, you can expect: Affordable local food Cheap public transport Reasonably priced domestic trains Good value accommodation outside luxury districts Compared to Japan or Western Europe, China can be far more forgiving on a daily budget especially once you understand how the local payments work. If you’re planning your finances, keeping track of spending across regions and currencies becomes essential on longer trips. ## Digital Payments Actually Work for Foreigners Now Cashless payments were once one of China’s biggest barriers for visitors, but that’s changed. In 2026, foreign travellers can realistically get by using: International cards linked to local payment apps QR payments in most cities App-based transport and food ordering It’s still a little different from travelling in Southeast Asia and Europe, but it’s no longer a deal-breaker. For a practical breakdown of what essential apps you should have on your phone before arriving, read our guide to [essential apps for travelling to China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/essentialappsforchinatravel). ## Budgeting for a Trip to China in 2026 Daily costs can change quickly between cities, regions and transport types, especially when everything runs through digital payments. Tracking spending as you go makes a huge difference on longer trips, particularly if China is part of a wider Asia itinerary. Tools that help you log expenses in real time, handle multiple currencies and spot overspending early can remove a lot of friction, especially in cash-light countries like China. ## China Offers a Completely Different Travel Experience Even seasoned travellers are often caught off guard by how varied China is. Within one trip, you can experience: Mega-cities with ultra-modern skylines Traditional villages and historic towns Mountain regions, deserts and rice terraces Regional cuisines that feel like different countries If you’ve already “done” Southeast Asia or parts of Europe, China feels genuinely new, not just another variation of the same backpacker route. ## It Fits Perfectly Into a Wider Asia Trip China is becoming easier to combine with neighbouring destinations again. Many travellers in 2026 are: Adding China to longer Southeast Asia trips Using it as a stop between East Asia and Europe Exploring overland routes and regional flights If you’re travelling long-term or planning a multi-country itinerary, China no longer feels like a logistical headache just another (very big) chapter. For context on how China’s return is affecting regional travel, read our [China's 2026 Travel Come Back](https://budgetbro.app/blog/chinatravelcomeback2026) article. Keep the planning going with our guides to [China’s Travel Comeback](https://budgetbro.app/blog/chinatravelcomeback2026), [New China Nihao Travel App](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nihao-travel-app) and [Essential Apps for Travelling to China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/essentialappsforchinatravel). Keep the planning going with our guides to [Why Travel China in 2026?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/indoors-tomorrowland-shanghai), from the BudgetBro blog. ## Final Thoughts: Why Go Now? China won’t stay under-visited forever. As systems improve and confidence returns, tourism numbers will continue rising. By travelling in 2026, you’re catching China at a rare moment, open, accessible, and most importantly not yet overwhelmed. China isn’t just open again. In 2026, it’s quietly one of the most underrated trips you can take. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Londres: O Que Me Motivou a Visitar o Lugar? > Um relato pessoal de 24 horas em Londres. O que me motivou a visitar a cidade e as primeiras impressões da capital britânica. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/24-horas-em-londres - Published: 2025-12-18 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: London, Viagem, Motivação, BudgetBro - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Tudo começou em 2001. Eu tinha apenas 5 anos quando vi minha mãe embarcar em sua primeira viagem internacional rumo à Inglaterra. Cresci ouvindo histórias sobre uma Londres mágica e encantadora, onde tudo parecia saído de um livro: desde as ruas até os icônicos ônibus de dois andares. Para quem vivia em uma comunidade, aquela realidade parecia um universo paralelo. A viagem dela não era apenas um passeio, mas a busca corajosa por uma vida melhor para a nossa família. No entanto, com três filhas muito pequenas chorando de saudade, ela não aguentou a distância e voltou para casa com menos de três meses de viagem. Mas voltou cheia de fotos, histórias e, acima de tudo, o incentivo para que nós mesmas buscássemos ver o mundo com os nossos próprios olhos. E foi ali que eu decidi: eu quero ver essa Londres. Agora, aos 29 anos, venho contar a minha experiência de apenas 24 horas nesse mesmo lugar. Já adiantando um spoiler: não tive aquele sentimento mágico que minha mãe descrevia, mas também não tive decepções. O que acontece é que já estou na estrada como viajante há mais de três anos, visitei muitos lugares ao redor do mundo e acabei criando na minha cabeça uma Londres de conto de fadas. No final das contas, ela é um lugar real, feito por pessoas reais, e eu... bom, eu já não tenho mais cinco anos. **A Londres da minha vida Real: Pura Realidade (e Cansaço)** Após 13 horas de voo direto da Tailândia, o que eu menos queria era complicação. A prioridade não era a magia, era a sobrevivência, e a eficiência britânica ajudou: nosso voo pousou às 14h40 e chegamos ao hostel por volta das 16h, sem perder tempo. Tomamos duas cervejas rápidas no próprio hostel para despertar a energia e fomos para a rua. A fome e o cansaço batiam forte, mas a missão era clara: ver os clássicos de Londres. O frio, no entanto, logo me lembrou que o calor do Sudeste Asiático tinha ficado para trás. A animação estava lá, mas o casaco também! Caminhamos até o Big Ben e a famosa London Eye. A experiência foi um misto de "finalmente ver de perto" e "preciso dormir". Os monumentos são imponentes, sim, mas àquela hora, a iluminação noturna e a nossa exaustão fizeram com que as fotos não ficassem boas. Não houve um momento de "conto de fadas". Éramos apenas dois viajantes famintos procurando um lugar para comer antes de desabar na cama. Naquela noite, a única coisa mágica que eu queria era o sono kkkkkk. O "ver o mundo" ficou oficialmente para o dia seguinte. **O Despertar: Entre o Sonho e o Real ** Acordar em Londres depois de uma noite de sono profundo foi como finalmente abrir o livro que minha mãe começou a ler para mim em 2001. O frio ainda estava lá, cortante, mas a energia estava revigorada. Saímos para a rua com uma missão diferente. Não era mais sobre "sobreviver", era sobre observar, sentir e viver. Londres de dia é um organismo vivo, apressado e cinza, mas com detalhes que justificam o encantamento da minha mãe. Os ônibus vermelhos cruzando as pontes, as cabines telefônicas que parecem resistir ao tempo (e ao uso indevido de quem as usa como banheiro, infelizmente!) e aquela arquitetura que mistura o império com a modernidade absoluta. Eu não sentia a magia "encantada" de uma criança, mas sentia algo mais profundo: o privilégio. Olhando para cada detalhe, lembrei de onde vim. A menina que cresceu na favela estava ali, 24 anos depois, respirando o ar que antes só existia nas histórias da minha mãe. Decidimos que nossas poucas horas restantes seriam gastas sem pressa. Tomamos um café observando o movimento, caminhamos pela Portobello Road, apreciamos o Big Ben mais uma vez e, por sorte, vimos o primeiro-ministro saindo de sua residência oficial enquanto pessoas protestavam. Ali eu entendi que a magia de Londres não está em ser perfeita ou um conto de fadas, mas em ser o palco onde eu finalmente encerrei um ciclo que começou em 2001. Minhas 24 horas chegaram ao fim e, enquanto seguíamos para o próximo destino, entendi que a Londres que encontrei era bem diferente daquela dos relatos da minha mãe. A dela era feita de esperança e deslumbramento; a minha foi feita de história, pé no chão e uma pitada de crueza. Não vi fadas, vi protestos. Não senti apenas o perfume das flores, senti o cheiro real das ruas de uma metrópole. Mas, acima de tudo, vi a mim mesma: uma mulher que atravessou o mundo para validar o sonho daquela garotinha de cinco anos. Londres não me entregou um conto de fadas, mas me entregou algo muito melhor: a consciência de que o mundo é enorme, complexo e está logo ali, esperando por quem tem coragem de ir ver com os próprios olhos. Missão cumprida, mãe. Eu finalmente vi a sua Londres e agora, sigo criando a minha. More reading to help you plan: [From the Founder](https://budgetbro.app/blog/november-recap-the-founders-perspective), [16,095KM Away From Home](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-i-ended-up-here) and [Minha Conexão com O BudgetBro](https://budgetbro.app/blog/o-toque-feminino-por-tras-do-budgetbro). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Christmas in Southeast Asia: Why the Festive Season Looks Different > From the Philippines to Thailand, discover how Christmas in Southeast Asia blends tradition, religion, and tropical travel experiences. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/natal-no-sudeste-asiatico-calor-luzes-e-novas-tradicoes - Published: 2025-12-18 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Christmas, South East Asia, Cambodia, The Philippines , Indonesia, Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- In Southeast Asia, Christmas takes on a different shape. Palm trees are wrapped in lights and warm weather replaces snow, creating a distinctive contrast between decorated tropical settings and festive traditions. The region includes countries with large Christian populations such as the Philippines and Timor-Leste, alongside predominantly Buddhist or Muslim nations like Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia. In this blog, we explore how religious diversity and climate shape Christmas experiences that range from deeply religious to purely commercial. **The Heart of the Celebrations: The Philippines** The Philippines is widely considered the heart of Christmas in Southeast Asia, combining strong religious traditions, a deep family spirit and lively community celebrations. The tropical climate creates a Christmas filled with lanterns and decorated palm trees, but what stands out most is the length of the festive season. The country is known for starting its Christmas countdown as early as September, making it one of the longest Christmas seasons in the world. One of the most important religious traditions is Simbang Gabi, a novena of masses held in the early hours of the morning over the nine days leading up to Christmas. Another iconic symbol is the Parol, star-shaped lanterns traditionally made from bamboo and paper. These light up homes, churches and streets, representing hope and light in Filipino culture. Celebrations strongly centre around family during the Christmas Eve meal known as Noche Buena, when families gather after the Midnight Mass to share food, connection and joy. The sense of community is equally striking. Neighbourhoods and churches host events, carol singing and gift exchanges among friends, strengthening social bonds and shared connection. Christmas in the Philippines is not about cold weather or snow. It is about light, faith, unity and a sense of belonging. **A Valentine’s Day 2.0: Urban and Secular Christmas** Across Southeast Asia, Christmas is often experienced in a more secular way and takes on a romantic tone, especially in countries with strong urban and tourist appeal. In Thailand, the date does not replace family celebrations, which traditionally take place during Lunar New Year, but it has become a popular time for couples and friends. It feels like a Valentine’s Day 2.0, marked by dates, gifts and special dinners. In Bangkok, the CentralWorld Christmas Lights attract crowds who come to stroll under the displays and take photos. In Indonesia, shopping centres such as Grand Indonesia Mall in Jakarta create themed decorations and Christmas events. The lights and installations become backdrops for dates, casual outings and memorable moments. For many young city residents in these countries, the holiday is less about religion and more about social experiences and the glow of festive consumer culture. **Commercial Celebrations and Distinct Local Festivities** In much of Southeast Asia, Christmas has become a major commercial event, particularly in large urban centres. In Thailand and Singapore, the date is not religious for most of the population, but the festive atmosphere takes over shopping centres, hotels and tourist hotspots. Competition between shopping malls becomes a spectacle in itself. CentralWorld in Bangkok sets up giant trees and large-scale light shows, while Marina Bay Sands and Orchard Road in Singapore turn entire avenues into open-air Christmas displays. In Kuala Lumpur, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur leads the extravagance with a new theme each year. For many people, Christmas means shopping, photos with festive decorations, meeting friends and seasonal promotions, creating an experience that feels Western in style but largely disconnected from local religious faith. **Local Highlights and National Curiosities** **Thailand:** Christmas is not a national public holiday, but in Bangkok it transforms tourist areas with illuminated palm trees, seasonal events and heavy decoration in shopping centres and hotels. The CentralWorld Christmas Market is a popular spot for photos and relaxed meet-ups with friends. **Singapore:** Orchard Road becomes the centre of secular celebrations, with impressive light displays, shop window activations and decorations competing for global attention. Christmas on A Great Street draws thousands of locals and travellers looking for festive vibes, shopping and photo opportunities. **Vietnam:** Christmas follows a similar urban and secular pattern. Young couples and groups of friends gather in cafés, exchange small gifts and explore Christmas decorations across major cities. It feels like a collective seasonal date, driven by atmosphere rather than religious tradition. **Conclusion** In Southeast Asia, Christmas takes many forms. In the Philippines, it is deeply rooted in religious devotion. In Singapore, commercial sparkle turns the season into a visual spectacle. In Thailand, the day passes casually as a normal working day, but one surrounded by festive decoration in tourist areas. Christmas here is flexible, sun-filled and multicultural, showing how the holiday has become both global and tropical. Which of these celebrations would you like to experience? More reading to help you plan: [South & Southeast Asia Flood Tracker 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/asia-flood-tracker), [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia) and [Cheapest Flights to Asia August](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheapest-flights-asia-august). Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Christmas in Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/natal-nanatal-america-do-sul-tradicoes) and [Christmas in Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/hanoi-train-street-final-days). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Tomorrowland Thailand December 2026 > Tomorrowland Thailand 2026: The biggest EDM festival in the world. Here’s what’s confirmed so far, ticket info, and important information for travellers. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/tomorrowland-thailand-2026 - Published: 2025-12-15 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Thailand, Festival, Music, Tomorrowland, Pattaya - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Last updated: 18th March, 2026 - Updated to reflect the WorldWide Ticket Sale sold out after going on sale on the 7th March. ## Tomorrowland, Thailand, December 2026 Following the pre-registration for Tomorrowland Thailand 2026 on 8th January and Hotel package sale on 28th February; tickets went on sale on 7th March and sold out fully within minutes. More information on ticket types on the [Tomorrowland Thailand 2026](https://thailand.tomorrowland.com/en/passes-packages/) website. Thailand hosting Tomorrowland sounds wild. The biggest EDM festival in the world, set in a tropical country, with cheaper travel, warm weather, and a December date that fits perfectly into peak season. On paper, it feels almost too good to be true. And if you have already Googled it, you will know why. Fake lineup posters, made up ticket prices, confident blog posts stating things as fact that simply have not been confirmed yet. The more you read, the harder it gets to tell what is real and what is just recycled hype. So instead of adding to the noise, let’s slow it down and strip it back. This is what is actually confirmed about Tomorrowland Thailand 2026, what is still unclear, and why the story has been more complicated than most festival announcements. ### What's Officially Confirmed so Far As of now, Tomorrowland is officially planned to launch in Thailand in December 2026. This is not based on leaks or speculation, but on public statements and approvals coming from the Thai government itself. The plan is not for a one off event either. Thailand has positioned Tomorrowland as a long term project, with a proposed five year agreement running from 2026 through to 2030. The festival is expected to run over three days, following the traditional Friday to Sunday format used by Tomorrowland in Belgium and other international editions. It is also a government backed project, with cabinet level approval tied to broader tourism and soft power goals. This is one of the key reasons the announcement has carried so much weight, even before details like tickets or lineups exist. In terms of scale, official statements describe a large capacity site covering roughly 250 to 350 rai (approx 133 acres), which puts it firmly in the category of a major international festival rather than a scaled down regional edition. What has not been confirmed yet is just as important. There are still no exact dates, no lineup announcements, and no ticket pricing or sales information released by Tomorrowland itself. Anything you see online claiming otherwise should be treated with caution. ### The Controversy: Backlash, Politics, and Public Reaction Part of the reason Tomorrowland Thailand has felt confusing from the start is because it did not arrive quietly. Reports around government investment figures quickly sparked debate inside Thailand, with questions raised about how much public money was being allocated and whether that spending made sense given other national priorities. Those numbers, whether quoted accurately or not, became the focal point of criticism almost immediately. It is important to be clear about what that criticism actually represents. The pushback has largely been about budget transparency, optics, and political decision making, not a blanket rejection of festivals or international events. This distinction often gets lost online, where it is easier to frame the story as locals being anti tourism or anti music, which does not reflect the reality on the ground. Things were not helped by mixed messaging earlier on. In 2024, reports surfaced suggesting uncertainty or disagreement around the project, which later clashed with more confident government announcements. That period of back and forth created a vacuum where rumours thrived. Once people lose trust in official clarity, speculation fills the gap, and that is exactly what happened here. This context matters. It explains why there are so many fake confirmations, aggressive predictions, and confident but incorrect blog posts floating around. Before getting excited about locations, accommodation, or travel plans, it is worth understanding that Tomorrowland Thailand has been as much a political and communication story as it has been a festival announcement. ### Why Wisdom Valley, Chonburi? Based on official government communications, the planned location for Tomorrowland Thailand is Wisdom Valley, in the Bang Lamung District of Chonburi Province. This area sits just outside Pattaya and forms part of Thailand’s Eastern Economic Corridor, a region the government has been actively promoting for large scale international projects and events. From a logistics point of view, Chonburi makes sense. It sits close enough to Bangkok to remain accessible, but far enough out to support a festival of this size without being forced into the capital itself. The area is also relatively close to U-Tapao International Airport, which the government has been pushing as a secondary international gateway, while Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok remains around a ninety minute drive depending on traffic. That gives organisers multiple arrival options, which is essential for an event expected to attract international visitors. It is worth stressing that while Wisdom Valley has been named in official planning documents, this should still be viewed as the planned location, not something that is locked in stone. Large events like this often evolve during the planning phase. What is clear, however, is that if the festival goes ahead in this area, accommodation pressure is far more likely to be felt in Pattaya and nearby coastal areas than in central Bangkok. Bangkok will still play a role for travellers, but most people attending would realistically base themselves much closer to the site. ### Tickets and Pricing: What Exists Vs What's Invented As of now, no official ticket prices for Tomorrowland Thailand have been released. There are no confirmed sale dates, no official pricing tiers, and no authorised ticket platforms announced by Tomorrowland itself. This is an important line to draw early, because a lot of the information circulating online jumps straight past this fact. According to @edmhub_my on Instagram, tickets will go on sale in February 2026. [https://www.instagram.com/p/DN7y942AUK9/?hl=en](https://www.instagram.com/p/DN7y942AUK9/?hl=en) but again there is no official confirmations. The Thai baht price ranges you may have seen shared across blogs, social media posts, and travel pages are estimates, usually based on European Tomorrowland pricing, currency conversions, or pure speculation designed to rank on search engines. Some of it comes from festival comparison sites, some from content farms, and some from travel companies testing interest long before sales exist. You will often see sections titled something like “expected ticket prices” floating around. If those numbers are mentioned at all, they should be treated as unconfirmed online estimates, not announcements. Until Tomorrowland publishes ticket details directly, any site claiming exact prices or selling packages tied to ticket access should be approached very carefully. The safest approach right now is to ignore urgency based marketing and wait for official channels to go live. ### Lineup: It's All Speculation There is currently no lineup announced for Tomorrowland Thailand 2026. No headliners have been confirmed, and no artist has been publicly tied to the event by Tomorrowland. Any DJ list you see online at this stage is speculation, regardless of how confidently it is presented. Tomorrowland traditionally announces lineups relatively late, often in phases, and there is no reason to believe the Thailand edition will be any different. While it is reasonable to expect booking patterns similar to the European edition, especially for headline acts, that is still an assumption, not confirmation. Fake lineup posters have already started circulating, and calling them out early helps avoid disappointment later. ### Practical Planning Before Prices Move December in Chonburi is one of the better months to be there. The weather is more stable, rain is less frequent, and temperatures are manageable, which is a big reason December has been floated as the target window. What’s interesting right now is that, despite all the noise online, accommodation prices in the area have not moved yet. Looking at real listings in Chonburi Province for mid to late December, prices for 2026 are currently sitting almost exactly where they are for 2025. For example, between 15 December and 31 December, Nano Place Hotel is showing at around £16 per night for both years. Christella Hotel Laemchabang sits at roughly £24 per night in 2025 and £23 per night in 2026, while R-sai Sriracha is holding steady at about £18 per night across both periods. In other words, the market has not priced Tomorrowland in at all yet. That matters. If you already know you are likely to go, this is the kind of window where locking in a cheap, flexible booking for the whole month can make a huge difference. Once official dates, ticket sales, and lineups are announced, prices around Pattaya and Chonburi are unlikely to stay this low. It is not unrealistic to see the same rooms jump to several times their current rate once demand spikes. The key is flexibility. Booking something refundable now gives you optionality. You can hold a low rate, see how the announcement unfolds, and adjust later without pressure. Waiting until everything is confirmed may feel safer, but it almost always means paying more. Where you stay will also shape your experience. Most attendees will likely base themselves in Pattaya or nearby areas, with Bangkok acting more as an overflow option rather than the main hub. Backpackers and long term travellers may find it worthwhile to stay longer and build the festival into a broader Thailand trip, while short term visitors will likely focus on proximity and transport convenience. If Tomorrowland Thailand happens as planned, it will be huge. But right now, the smartest move is staying informed, moving early where it makes sense, and not letting hype force rushed decisions. More festivals and events to plan around: [EDC Thailand](https://budgetbro.app/blog/edc-thailand-phuket-guide). Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Best eSIMs](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-esims-thailand-december-2025), [UK to Thailand](https://budgetbro.app/blog/uk-to-thailand-flights-december-2025) and [Thailand DTV Visa](https://budgetbro.app/blog/dtvvisaguidethailand). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Europe vs Southeast Asia: The Honest Comparison > Europe or Southeast Asia? We compare costs, lifestyle, visas and travel pace to help backpackers decide where to travel in 2026. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-vs-southeast-asia-travel - Published: 2025-12-14 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Europe, South East Asia, solo travel, Travel - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Choosing your 2026 backpacking destination is exciting, but also confusing. Southeast Asia has long been the ground zero for budget travellers. Europe, meanwhile is seeing a resurgence of long-term, slow-paced backpacker routes with smooth logistics and massive variety. So what's actually worth your time, budget, and passport pages? Let's break down the good, the hard and everything in-between. ## The Big Picture: Two Very Different Adventures **Europe** Europe feels built for movement. Old cities stacked with history, museums you actually want to spend time in (or not), and train routes that make hopping between countries feel almost too easy. It’s social without being forced, organised without feeling boring, and ideal if you like variety without friction. There’s comfort in how predictable Europe is. Everything works, everything connects, and you always know where you stand. That structure comes at a cost though, and depending on where you are, Europe can feel noticeably more expensive and lacks the picturesque beaches like its counterpart, Southeast Asia. **Southeast Asia** Southeast Asia is less polished and far more fluid. It’s islands and temples, night markets and roadside food stalls, long bus rides, scooters, and backpacker routes you never plan but somehow end up on anyway. Days blur together in the best way, and places you thought you’d pass through often turn into your new overseas residence. It’s cheaper, messier, and much more open-ended. You meet people, swap stories, follow recommendations, and let the trip shape itself. Things don’t always run on time, and that’s part of the experience rather than a problem. ## Budget Reality Check Here’s the truth most travellers don’t like hearing: budgeting is the backbone of any long and successful trip. Ignore it and things slowly drift out of control without you even noticing. A few extra nights here, one too many “it’s only a tenner” moments there, and suddenly you’re booking a flight home way earlier than planned. Which sucks. Below is a simple table that breaks down the main expense categories, so you can see at a glance where your money actually goes and how Europe and Southeast Asia really compare day to day. These figures are averages pulled from multiple sources, so your real-world costs will vary depending on how you travel, where you go, and the choices you make along the way. ## Culture & Experience **Europe** Europe tends to reward travellers who already know how they like to travel. The history is deep, the cities are dense, and everything works the way you expect it to. Trains run on time, borders are easy, and moving between countries feels smooth and controlled. You can spend a morning in a museum, an afternoon wandering old streets, and still know exactly where you’re sleeping that night. For many travellers 25 and over, this predictability is part of the appeal. Europe allows you to enjoy culture without the constant friction. You still get variety, but it comes wrapped in comfort, structure, and familiarity. Social scenes exist, but they’re often more intentional. You dip in and out rather than being thrown into it. It’s not boring, it’s just less chaotic, and that’s often appreciated once you’ve done a few long trips already. **Southeast Asia** Southeast Asia thrives on movement and unpredictability. Street life spills everywhere, street drains stink, plans change hourly, and travel days are part of the story rather than something to minimise. Scooters, night markets, temples, long bus rides, and shared hostels create an energy that’s hard to replicate anywhere else. This is where 18–25 year olds often feel most at home. The pace is faster, the social scene is constant, and the line between travel and everyday life blurs quickly. You meet people easily, stay longer than planned, and bounce between places based on conversations rather than itineraries. It can be chaotic and tiring, but it’s also where most first big travel memories are made. **The Real Difference** Europe offers layered culture with structure. Southeast Asia offers immersion with momentum. Younger travellers often lean towards the freedom and energy of Asia, while older travellers tend to value Europe’s ease and reliability more. Neither is better, they just suit different stages of travel and different personalities. ## Final Thoughts Honestly, there will always be a divide between the two. One will never truly beat the other. Backpacking in Southeast Asia feels like throwing your younger self into pure chaos in the best possible way. It’s loud, unpredictable, social, and full of moments you never planned for. Europe, on the other hand, often feels like the next natural step. It’s the kind of place many people come back to once they’re a bit older, a bit more settled, and sometimes able to work online, where higher daily costs don’t hit quite as hard. However you look at it, both regions deserve their time. Travel isn’t about picking a winner. Never say never. Be rich in experiences, my friend. ### Extra: The Costs Before You Even Leave This is where a lot of overspending actually starts. Before you even arrive anywhere, money’s already leaking out, especially if you’re heading to Southeast Asia. Some costs are unavoidable, flights being the big one, but there are plenty of ways people burn cash here without realising it. Simple choices like avoiding overnight layovers or refusing budget airlines can cost you hundreds. We’ll get to that. If you’re 25 or under, you’ve probably seen endless TikToks titled *“*What I packed for 3 months in SEA*”*. Trust me, don’t listen to them. If you’re going to Southeast Asia, take half of what you think you need and buy the rest when you arrive. Clothes are cheap, available everywhere, and suited to the climate. You’ll save a serious amount of money and travel lighter at the same time. This approach is so underrated it’s almost criminal. Insurance is another one people downplay. It’s not a massive cost, but it has to be factored in. Do your research and pick something that actually fits how you travel. If you’re unsure, I’ve covered this properly in my [Best Travel Insurances](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-southeast-asia-uk) blog. Now flights. The real wallet killer. If you’re travelling for three months or more, why are you paying a premium to fly straight through the Middle East on expensive airlines? Honestly, why. A slower route using budget airlines, breaking the journey into short stops, can save you a fortune and give you extra experiences along the way. Spending 12 to 24 hours in new countries beats sitting in an airport lounge. I wrote a full breakdown on this in my [Slow Travel Guide.](https://budgetbro.app/blog/slow-travel-how-its-really-done) One cost people constantly overlook is an International Driving Permit (IDP). It’s only £5. Get it. Renting a scooter without one can invalidate your insurance, and that’s a mistake you don’t want to learn the hard way. Then there’s your backpack. If you’re travelling long term, this is not where you cut corners. A proper backpack will save your back and your sanity. Osprey have been everywhere the last few years for a reason. I’ve had mine since 2019 and I don’t see myself replacing it anytime soon. I paid £80 back then. These days they’re closer to £150–£180, but it’s still money well spent. TLDR moment? Don’t follow the crowd. Make smarter choices before you even leave and you’ll save enough to fund an extra one or two weeks in Southeast Asia. That alone should be reason enough. Whichever way you go, get insured first. Here is our pick of the [best travel insurance for Southeast Asia and beyond](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-southeast-asia-uk). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Train > Travelling JB to KL by train in 2026? Full ETS timetable, seat classes, fares, how to book on KTM Intercity, and what the journey is actually like. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/jb-to-kl-train-malaysia - Published: 2025-12-13 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Trains, Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Johor Bahru - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Since December 2025, there has been a direct electric train running between JB Sentral in Johor Bahru and KL Sentral in Kuala Lumpur. No transfers, no diesel trains, no stitching together different parts of the network — just a single service covering the full 330km route along Malaysia's west coast. Before this launched, travelling between the two cities by rail meant changing trains at Gemas, which added significant time and made the journey awkward enough that most people chose buses or drove instead. That has changed. This guide covers everything you need to know: what the train is, how long it takes, what it costs, how to book, and what the journey is actually like. If you're travelling to Malaysia from overseas, you must also complete the [MDAC (Malaysia Digital Arrival Card)](https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/mdac/main) within three days of arrival unless you are exempt. ## At a Glance Route: JB Sentral to KL Sentral (direct) Operator: KTM Berhad (KTMB) Train type: ETS (Electric Train Service) KTM 94 Class EMU Journey time: 4 hrs 10 min (Platinum) / 4 hrs 40 min (Gold) Standard fare: from RM82 one-way Business class fare: from RM152 one-way Daily departures from KL Sentral: 7 (as of Feb 2026) Booking: KITS Style app, ktmb.com.my, station kiosks Launched: 12 December 2025 ## How People Travelled Between JB and KL Before the Train Before the direct ETS service launched, the three main options for the JB-KL route were bus, car, or a rail journey that required a transfer at Gemas. Here's how they compared: Bus 5-6 hours (traffic dependent) RM25-RM45 Cheapest, but unreliable timing Car 4-6 hours RM100+ in tolls Flexible, but tiring and expensive Old train (via Gemas) 7-8 hours RM60-RM80 Required transfer, slow ETS direct (now) ~4 hrs 10-40 min From RM82 Fast, direct, no transfer The gap the new service fills is clear: buses were affordable but unreliable, and the old rail route via Gemas was so slow it wasn't worth the effort. The ETS sits above buses on price but delivers meaningfully better speed and reliability. ## Timetable: JB Sentral to KL Sentral & KL Sentral to JB Sentral As of early 2026, KTMB operates multiple daily departures in both directions. Services expanded from four per day at launch to seven or eight daily departures from January 2026 onwards. From KL Sentral southbound to JB Sentral: The first departure is at 7:55 AM and services run through until the evening. From February 24, 2026, there are seven daily southbound departures from KL Sentral. From JB Sentral northbound to KL Sentral: Multiple daily services, including a morning departure around 8:40 AM and afternoon/evening options. > Important: KTM has rescheduled some services from 18 April 2026 onward due to the KVDT2 double-tracking project. Always check the latest timetable at [ktmb.com.my](https://www.ktmb.com.my/TrainTime.html) or the KITS Style app before booking, as departure times are subject to change. Tickets can be purchased up to 60 days in advance. ## Ticket Prices ETS fares on the JB-KL route are dynamic, meaning prices vary based on the service type, day of travel, and how far in advance you book. ETS Gold (standard class, more stops): From approximately RM82-RM99 one-way. ETS Platinum (fewer stops, slightly faster): Slightly higher than Gold fares. Business class: From RM152 one-way, with access to the Ruby Lounge at KL Sentral. Discounts available: - Children aged 4-11: approximately 50% off adult fares - Children under 4: free (when not occupying a separate seat) - Senior citizens aged 60+: discounted rates with valid ID Compared to flying, there are no airport transfer costs, no check-in queues, and no baggage fees. Compared to driving, there are no toll fees (the North-South Expressway alone costs over RM100 one-way) and no fatigue from five-plus hours behind the wheel. ## How to Book Tickets for the JB Sentral to KL Sentral ETS train can be booked through three channels: 1. **KITS Style app** — KTMB's official mobile app for iOS and Android. The most convenient option for booking on the go. 2. **KTMB website** — [ktmb.com.my](https://www.ktmb.com.my). Book online and print or show your e-ticket. 3. **Station kiosks** — Self-service machines at KL Sentral, JB Sentral, and other major stations. **Book early.** This route is popular, particularly on Friday evenings and Sunday nights. Weekend and public holiday services regularly sell out within days of the booking window opening. One to two weeks' advance booking is recommended for peak travel times. ## Intermediate Stops The ETS does not run non-stop between KL Sentral and JB Sentral. Gold services make more intermediate stops than Platinum services. Key stops along the southern sector include Seremban, Gemas, Segamat, Kluang, Rengam, Layang-Layang, Kulai, and Kempas Baru, before terminating at JB Sentral. The number of stops is one reason Platinum services are slightly faster than Gold services on the same route. ## What the Train Is Like The KTM 94 Class trains running this route are modern, air-conditioned, and noticeably more comfortable than the older diesel trains that used to operate on parts of this corridor. Standard class features a 2+2 seating configuration with adjustable backrests, footrests, tray tables, and a power outlet at every seat. Complimentary Wi-Fi is available throughout the train. Windows are large enough to make the countryside views — palm oil plantations, rubber estates, and rural kampungs — a genuine part of the journey. Business class offers enhanced seating and access to the Ruby Lounge at KL Sentral, located one floor above Platform 2, before departure. One practical note: cabin temperatures are consistently kept around 18°C. Regardless of the weather outside, bring a light jacket or layer for the journey. Arrive at least 30-45 minutes before departure to locate your platform and board comfortably. ## Getting to and from the Stations **KL Sentral** is Malaysia's largest transport hub. From there you can connect directly to the LRT, MRT, KTM Komuter, and the KLIA Express to both Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Subang Airport. Taxis and Grab are available outside the station. **JB Sentral** is located in the city centre of Johor Bahru, directly adjacent to the CIQ (Customs, Immigration and Quarantine) complex for travellers continuing to Singapore. Taxis, Grab, and local buses are available outside. **Travelling onward to Singapore from JB Sentral:** Cross-border travel requires road or the Shuttle Tebrau train to Woodlands, Singapore. Allow 30 minutes to two hours for immigration clearance depending on the day and time. The RTS Link (Rail Transit System) connecting JB Sentral to Woodlands North in approximately five minutes is expected to open in early 2027. Planning a wider Malaysia trip? Our [Malaysia backpacking budget guide](https://budgetbro.app/budget-malaysia) covers daily costs across the country. ## Frequently Asked Questions I**s there a direct train from JB Sentral to KL Sentral?** Yes. Since 12 December 2025, KTM operates a direct Electric Train Service (ETS) between JB Sentral and KL Sentral with no transfers required. **How long does the JB Sentral to KL Sentral train take?** The journey takes approximately 4 hours 10 minutes on Platinum services and around 4 hours 40 minutes on Gold services, depending on the number of stops. **How much does the JB to KL train cost?** Standard one-way fares start from approximately RM82-RM99 depending on the service and day of travel. Business class fares start from RM152. Fares are dynamic and vary with demand and booking date. **How do I book a JB to KL train ticket?** Tickets can be booked via the KITS Style mobile app, the official KTMB website (ktmb.com.my), or self-service kiosks at major stations. Tickets open up to 60 days before travel. **How many trains run between JB Sentral and KL Sentral per day? ** As of early 2026, there are around seven to eight daily services in each direction. KTMB expanded from four daily services at launch in December 2025. Always check the current timetable on the KTMB website as schedules are subject to change. **What time is the first train from KL Sentral to JB Sentral?** As of February 2026, the first southbound departure from KL Sentral is at 7:55 AM. **Is the JB to KL train faster than the bus? ** Yes. The ETS takes approximately 4 to 4.5 hours. Bus journeys typically take 5 to 6 hours, and are significantly longer in traffic. The train is also more predictable. **Can I travel from JB to Singapore by train?** You cannot travel directly from JB Sentral to Singapore by ETS. From JB Sentral, you can cross the border by road (taxi/Grab/bus) or by taking the Shuttle Tebrau to Woodlands, Singapore. The RTS Link rail connection between JB and Singapore is expected to open in 2027. **What is the difference between ETS Gold and ETS Platinum?** ETS Gold services make more intermediate stops and typically have slightly lower fares. ETS Platinum services stop at fewer stations and are marginally faster on the same route. **Do I need to bring anything for the journey? ** Bring a light jacket, cabin temperatures are kept at around 18°C. Your ticket (either digital or printed) is required to enter the station and exit at your destination. For Malaysia entry, overseas travellers must complete the MDAC (Malaysia Digital Arrival Card) within three days of arrival. ## Summary The JB Sentral to KL Sentral ETS train is the clearest upgrade this route has seen in years. It removes the transfer at Gemas that made train travel impractical, cuts the journey down to around four to four and a half hours, and offers consistent reliability that buses and cars on this corridor can't match. At fares starting from RM82, it sits above the cheapest bus options in price, but the time saved and the overall experience justify the difference for most travellers. Book through the KITS Style app or ktmb.com.my, book early if you're travelling on a weekend, bring a layer for the cold cabin, and arrive at least 30 minutes before departure. *Travelling through Malaysia? BudgetBro is a free app for tracking travel expenses and managing your trip budget. *[*Download it here.*](https://budgetbro.app/getbudgetbroapp) --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Electric Daisy Carnival December 2026 > EDC Thailand returns to Phuket in January 2026. Dates, location, tickets, where to stay and what backpackers should know after last year’s safety concerns. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/edc-thailand-phuket-guide - Published: 2025-12-12 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Festival, Music, Thailand, Phuket - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Last updated: 13th March, 2026 Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) is one of the world’s biggest electronic music festivals, and in December it happens again in Phuket, Thailand. You can expect huge stages, international DJ's and thousands of other ravers flying in from across Asia and beyond. For backpackers, EDC Thailand can be an unforgettable experience, but it’s not a typical chill island party. After what happened at the previous edition, going in informed matters. If you’re used to festivals in Europe or Australia, adjust expectations. Thailand plays by different rules. Drug use is taken very seriously. There are direct flights to Phuket from Bangkok and other regional hubs. During the festival there will be heavy traffic so ride-shares, shuttles, etc. will be in heavy demand so where possible accommodation in walking distance will save you money and stress. So in short, if you love big EDM festivals, are travelling around Southeast Asia in January EDC may just be for you. If you’re looking for a laid-back beach rave or budget-friendly party scene, smaller islands or local events might suit you better. ### The need to know's: Dates: 18, 19, 20th December 2026 Location: Rhythm Park, near Bang Tao / Laguna, Phuket Age limit: 20+ (There are strict ID checks) Music: EDM, house, techno, trance, hardstyle Tickets: GA and VIP, tiered pricing from $299 for General Access ### Why go to EDC / go to EDC in Thailand? December is peak Southeast Asia backpacking season Phuket is easy to reach from Bangkok, Malaysia and Vietnam Big-name DJ's without the Western festival prices Beach hostels, cheap food and island hopping before or after the festival Many backpackers plan EDC as part of a longer Thailand or Southeast Asia route. ### What Happened Last Year at EDC? EDC Thailand’s debut in Phuket in 2025 was huge, but it wasn’t without problems. Last year there were multiple drug-related arrests, two deaths linked to suspected substance use & police presence and security were significantly increased throughout the event. Thailand has zero tolerance when it comes to drugs. Laws are strict, enforcement is real, and festivals are closely monitored. This doesn’t mean EDC Thailand is unsafe, but it does mean backpackers should drop the “anything goes” mindset that might fly elsewhere... You can buy event tickets and shuttle bus tickets here [https://thailand.electricdaisycarnival.com](https://thailand.electricdaisycarnival.com) More festivals and events to plan around: [Tomorrowland Thailand](https://budgetbro.app/blog/tomorrowland-thailand-2026). More reading to help you plan: [Yi Peng Lantern Festival Thailand 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/yi-peng-festival-thailand), [Best eSIMs](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-esims-thailand-december-2025) and [UK to Thailand](https://budgetbro.app/blog/uk-to-thailand-flights-december-2025). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Is Japan Really Giving Tourist Free Domestic Flights? > Are tourists really getting free domestic flights in Japan? We explain how the scheme works, who qualifies, and what the fine print looks like. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/japan-free-domestic-flights-tourists - Published: 2025-12-11 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Japan, Flights, Travel Insurance, Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- You've probably seen the headlines across your socials by now. "Japan is giving away free flights to travellers this winter" "UK and European travellers can now get free domestic flights in Japan" "Japan offers free domestic flights for British tourists" It sounds incredible, and it kinda is, but the real picture is more complicated than the clickbait suggests. Let's cut through the hype and look at what's actually happening from both sides of the story. ## Where the Confusion Comes From (and why the Headlines Aren't Wrong) Over the last few weeks, the same story has been popping up everywhere. Japan offering free domestic flights, especially for travellers coming from the UK and Europe. This is not TikTok hype or recycled travel rumours. Outlets like The Independent, Time Out and Euronews have all covered it, and they are pointing to real airline promotions, not speculation. So yes, there is something behind it. Where people get confused is what “free flights” actually means. Japan is not letting tourists land and hop around the country on unlimited free flights. What is being offered is a specific airline deal where domestic flights are included when you book them the right way, and only under certain conditions. Once you understand that difference, the deal makes a lot more sense and you can decide whether it actually works for your trip or not. ## The Reality: What ANA Is Actually Offering This is where the story becomes clear. All Nippon Airways, Japan’s main airline, is running a seasonal promotion that allows some travellers to include up to two domestic flights inside Japan when they book their international flight with ANA. That is where the free flights headlines come from, but it only works if you do it properly. If you are travelling from the UK or Europe and book your flight to Japan with ANA, you can add up to two internal flights to the same reservation without paying the base airfare for those domestic legs. You cannot add them later and you cannot book them once you land. They have to be included from the start. The booking window runs from 24 November 2025 to 31 January 2026 and it applies to economy class only. You still pay taxes and fees on the domestic flights, so they are not completely free in the strictest sense, but the airfare itself is included. The domestic flights do not have to be flown during the booking window, and ANA’s network covers more than 40 destinations, which makes this genuinely useful if you want to get beyond the usual Tokyo and Kyoto route. ## Why Japan and ANA Are Doing This Japan is not short on tourists. It is short on tourists spreading out. Most visitors still follow the same route every time. Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka, maybe Mount Fuji, then out. That puts pressure on a handful of cities while huge parts of the country barely see any tourism at all. This promotion is a way to push people further. Into regional cities, quieter areas, and places that normally get skipped. From ANA’s point of view it fills seats. From Japan’s point of view it spreads money beyond the same crowded hotspots. ## Why the Headlines Are Getting It Wrong The headlines are not completely false, but they are missing the important part. Japan is not giving visitors unlimited free flights once they arrive, and this is not a government scheme. What is being offered is a specific airline promotion that only works when flights are booked together, in advance, and under certain conditions. [https://www.ana.co.jp/en/my/plan-book/promotions/domestic-add-on-free-flights/](https://www.ana.co.jp/en/my/plan-book/promotions/domestic-add-on-free-flights/) When those details get left out, it sounds like something it is not. Once you understand how the booking actually works, the deal makes sense. The problem is that most headlines stop at “free flights” and never explain the rest. Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Surviving Long Haul Flights](https://budgetbro.app/blog/survive-long-haul-flights), [Cheapest Flights to Asia August](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheapest-flights-asia-august) and [Layover Like a Pro on Long Haul Flights](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-to-do-a-long-haul-layover). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Thailand DTV Visa: What You Need to Know > A complete guide to the DTV visa for digital nomads. Covers requirements, documents, timelines and real applicant experiences from recent embassy updates. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/dtvvisaguidethailand - Published: 2025-12-11 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Thailand, DTV, Visa, Digital Arrival Card, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- If you’ve been eyeing up Thailand as a long-term base while working remotely, you’ve probably come across the DTV Visa. It’s Thailand’s multi-entry digital nomad visa that quietly dropped out of nowhere, got a load of mixed reactions, and then somehow became the “golden ticket” for anyone trying to stay here without doing endless visa runs. Here’s the catch though, most of the blogs out there are either outdated or written by people who haven’t even applied for it. So instead of feeding you the same recycled nonsense, I’ve gone through actual applicant blogs, nomad groups, embassy notes, and real step-by-steps from people who applied recently, not two years ago. ## What Is the DTV Visa? The official name is the Destination Thailand Visa (DTV). It’s basically Thailand’s long-term remote worker visa for digital nomads, freelancers, remote employees, or anyone doing legitimate online work outside of Thailand. Quick breakdown: - Length of visa: 5 years. - Entry type: Multiple entry. - Fee: 10,000 baht. - Where to apply: Outside of Thailand at a local embassy (don't risk doing it in the country) - Who is it for: Remote workers, freelancers, cultural trainees, Muay Thai, medical programs etc... In short you can line in Thailand for long stretches at a time, but you need to leave and come back if you want to reset your days. ### Who Qualifies? This is where people overcomplicate things. Here’s the real-world version of the requirements, based on embassies + applicants who actually got approved: - Passport valid 6+ months (obviously) - Proof you work remotely (job contract, client invoices etc...) - Bank statements showing 500K baht over the last 3 months - Passport photo - Proof of where you currently live (drivers license, residency permit, rental contract, utility bill) - Visa application form - Visa fee payment Some embassies also ask for: - A flight booking - Proof of accommodation - A simple explanation letter about your remote work #### How to Apply Here’s the practical process from real applicants who’ve done it recently: 1. **Gather your documents ** Prepare clean PDFs for everything. A lot of embassies only accept *one* upload per category, so combine related documents into a single PDF. 2. **Apply online** Most applicants used the online portal because it's faster and easier. thaievisa.go.th, or visit your local embassy. 3. **Wait for embassy follow-ups** Most people receive emails asking for clarification on documents like: Proof you really live where you're claiming, extra bank statement, more detail about your remote job, a more in-depth explanation letter. But don't worry, this is normal. 4. **Approval time** Based on real nomads fastest approval is around 6 days, average approval between 10-18 days. If it's slower than this, usually it's due to confusing documents. ##### Real Applicant Experiences After digging through personal blogs, Reddit threads, Q&A forums, and long-form visa breakdowns, here’s what people actually faced: 1. **Embassy quirks** The embassy you’re assigned is based on your *current location* during application. If you’re travelling, and your “location” doesn’t match your documents, they will email you to explain it. 2. **Proof of remote work** Applicants were asked to prove more than what's stated on the governments website like: company registration, job roll, past years portfolio and references. 3. **Financial proof** If your money is split over different accounts, make sure you have a separate PDF clearly stating it! 4. **Expect emails** Pretty much everyone reported at least one follow-up email. Respond clearly, be polite and you'll good. When it comes to getting the DTV visa approved, the main thing people keep saying is that the easier you make it for the embassy, the smoother it goes. Keep your PDFs tidy, labelled properly and easy for someone to open and understand. A short cover letter really helps as well. Just explain who you are, what you do, how you work remotely and why you’re applying. Most of the delays people complain about come from confusion on the embassy’s side, not from missing documents. Applying early makes a difference too, ideally six to eight weeks before you plan to arrive. Pay attention to the address you enter as your current location because it’s one of the biggest reasons people get asked for extra clarification. And finally, remember that the DTV doesn’t let you work for any Thai business. It only allows remote work for companies or clients based outside of Thailand. ## Do DTV Holders Need the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC)? Yes. The DTV is multi-entry, so every time you arrive in Thailand you must file the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which has been mandatory since 1 May 2025. Because DTV holders cross the border far more often than a one-off tourist, this is the form you will complete again and again. Thailand's Immigration Bureau has now launched the THIM app, which lets you file the arrival card from your phone and reuses your saved details on repeat entries. For how it works, what it does, and what is changing in 2026, read our guide to [Thailand's THIM app for long-stay travellers and nomads](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-thim-app-long-stay-travellers-nomads). Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Papua New Guinea's Arrival Card Is Now Mandatory Before You Fly](https://budgetbro.app/blog/papua-new-guinea-digital-arrival-card), [Vietnam's Health Declaration Is Not Mandatory From 1 July After All](https://budgetbro.app/blog/vietnam-health-declaration-long-stay-travellers-nomads) and [Best eSIMs](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-esims-thailand-december-2025). ###### Final Thoughts The DTV visa is still new, so different embassies handle it in slightly different ways, which is why people online have such mixed experiences. The main things that matter are keeping your documents organised, applying early, and making sure the information you submit matches your actual location. Most applicants get at least one follow up email, so don’t stress if that happens. And when it comes to proving remote work, keep it straightforward. The simpler and clearer you make everything, the smoother the process will be. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Visiting the USA? You'll need to Show Your Social Media > The USA is now requiring travellers to submit their social media history from the past five years for travel in 2026. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/usasocialmediahistoryvisarequirement - Published: 2025-12-11 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Camp America, Backpacking, Travel, USA - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- # **US May Require Travellers to Provide Five Year Social Media History: What It Means for Visitors and Camp America Applicants** The United States as per the Federal Register Customs & Border Protection is proposing that all travellers, including tourists, ESTA visitors, and Camp America (J-1) visa applicants will have to submit their social media history from the past five years as part of the entry process. Although the policy is still under consideration, it has already raised major questions around privacy, border screening, and how digital footprints could influence visa decisions. This article explains what the proposal includes, why it’s being debated, and how it could affect future US travel. # **What the Proposal Says** The current proposal under review would require over the last 5 years: Email addresses and phone numbers Close family members names and DOB's and birthplaces, addresses and phone numbers A list of all social media platforms / handles, usernames, or profile links # **Why Is USA Considering This Change?** Officials claim it would: - Improve identity verification - Help identify online extremist behaviour - Assist in security background checks - Close “digital information gaps” in the current system Critics though, argue that social media is an unreliable indicator of real-world behaviour, it is easy to misinterpret, and may disproportionately affect young people specifically who post casually or humorously. # **Who Would Be Affected?** If implemented, the rule may apply to:Tourists using ESTA (Visa Waiver Programme) - including Australia & UK Tourist visa applicants Business travellers Camp America applicants (J-1 visas) Students and exchange visitors This means UK, EU, Australian, and other visa-waiver travellers could all be required to submit their digital history. # **How Would This Affect Tourists Visiting the US?** ### **1. Longer application times** Travellers may need to recall years of old accounts, previous usernames, deleted platforms, or profiles they no longer use. ### **2. Increased scrutiny** Border officials could review posts, interactions, or public content and may ask follow-up questions. ### **3. Risk of misinterpretation** Humour, sarcasm, and memes often lack context. Something posted years ago could be read differently during security screening. ### **4. Privacy concerns** Many travellers worry about governments storing or analysing personal digital history. ### **5. More refusals due to “digital red flags”** Entry could be denied if an officer believes a post raises security concerns even if the traveller meant nothing by it. # **Impact on Camp America / J-1 Visa Applicants** Camp America applicants, and anyone applying for a J-1 cultural exchange visa, may be affected more heavily than tourists. Here’s why: ### **1. J-1 visas already involve strict screening** Background checks are deeper than tourist visas. Adding five years of social media history creates another assessment layer. ### **2. Younger applicants have larger digital footprints** Young travellers often have: - Multiple old accounts - Jokes or memes that can be misunderstood - Posts from school or early adulthood - Deleted accounts still visible online This increases the risk of delays or follow-up questioning. ### **3. Social media may be reviewed for “intent”** Camp America applicants must prove they will return home after the programme. Social media suggesting: - wanting to emigrate - plans to stay longer - job-hunting in the US …could raise issues. ### **4. Political posts may attract attention** The US does not ban political expression, but posts supporting extremist movements or violence could trigger concerns, even if shared accidentally. ### **5. Extra processing times** J-1 visas already take weeks. Adding a social media review could increase wait times, especially during summer. # **What Camp America Applicants Should Do Now** While nothing is confirmed, preparing early helps. Here’s what applicants should consider: ### **1. Review public content** Make sure your profiles don’t show: - Violent content - Drug use references - Explicit or offensive posts - Posts about staying illegally in the US - Political extremism, even as a joke ### **2. Make old posts private** Most platforms let you hide your early content. ### **3. Check username consistency** Ensure you can list all accounts clearly. ### **4. Remove unused or joke accounts** Old parody accounts can confuse screening systems. ### **5. Avoid deleting everything at once** Large, sudden deletions sometimes look suspicious. ### **6. Save a list of your accounts** This makes the form faster if the rule goes ahead. # **When Could This Policy Come Into Effect?** Nothing has been approved yet, the consultation period is open until February 2026. Technically, entering social media information has been included since 2016 on the application but as optional. However a pilot could begin at the end of February 2026 with a wide rollout by the summer. Camp America applicants may be in the first group affected. Expect debate, privacy challenges, and revisions before a final decision is made. # **What This Means for Travellers Overall** If implemented, this would become one of the most intrusive digital requirements of any major travel destination. For travellers, it introduces: - More paperwork - More scrutiny - Longer processing times - Greater need for careful online behaviour Digital footprints are now part of international travel, and this proposal shows that governments are increasingly treating social media as part of identity verification. # Summary: The US proposal to require five years of social media history is not yet confirmed, but travellers especially Camp America and J-1 applicants should stay informed and be prepared. Your online presence may soon be as important as your passport when applying for a visa. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Camp America 2027](https://budgetbro.app/blog/camp-america-work-at-summer-camp-usa), [My Beijing Layover](https://budgetbro.app/blog/my-beijing-layover-a-quick-trip-to-the-great-wall) and [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Best eSIMs: Thailand December 2025 > The best value eSIMs for Thailand in December 2025, tested after seven months living there. Covers network coverage, price and a top personal pick. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-esims-thailand-december-2025 - Published: 2025-12-11 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Thailand, esim, South East Asia, Budgeting - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- After spending seven months in Thailand this year, I’ve been tracking every baht of my budget like a hawk. And trust me, something as simple as choosing the wrong eSIM can mess with your cashflow more than you’d think. A little research goes a long way, or you can just save the effort and read this. I’ve listed my top five picks below. Full transparency: I rarely use anything other than my #1 choice, and once you see the benefits, you’ll understand why. That said, it*does* come with one curveball, so make sure you read through all five options before you buy. ## #5: Airalo Airalo gives you 50 GB of data for 30 days in Thailand for about £21.50. For a well known company with solid coverage across the country, that price is not the end of the world. For most backpackers though, 50 GB is more than enough and Airalo is one of the most reputable eSIM brands you can choose from. If you plan on using Airalo, it makes more sense to go for the higher packages straight away. Buying data in daily or small GB packs will cost you more than your meals each day, so you may as well absorb the higher cost from the start. Even though Airalo has a great reputation, I have never used it because it does not really fit how I travel. I am a budget focused traveller and apps like this usually suit people who come to Thailand for a few months and spend more freely. There is nothing wrong with that, it is just not how I move. Airalo being in fifth place does not mean it is bad. It is simply not the one I choose. These are my personal top five eSIM options for Thailand and everyone travels differently. ## #4: Saily App I have never used Saily myself, mainly because I am always hunting for the cheapest eSIM possible, but I keep hearing great things about it. The app is clean and simple, the support team is known for being fast, the speeds are solid and the setup process is easy. You can also buy multi-country eSIMs which is a big plus if you are bouncing around Asia. All of this sounds great, but it comes at a premium price. For me it is way more than I would ever feel comfortable paying, especially since I know there are cheaper options that work perfectly fine. I also need to admit that I am as budget focused as a traveller can be. Things that annoy me might not annoy you, and things that do not bother me might drive you mad. Some people hate buying a new eSIM every ten days, even though I barely notice it. We all travel differently and Saily fits plenty of people, it just does not fit me. ## #3: Firstly App I have used Firstly a few times, usually when I land in a new country without a local eSIM ready or when I plan to buy a physical SIM later. I normally pay around £1.80 for high speed internet for 24 hours and that is more than enough to keep me going until I sort something better out. One thing I really like about Firstly is the option to get free internet by watching adverts. If you only need a short burst of data for an hour or so, this works surprisingly well and can save you a few pounds on quick tasks. The app is easy to use and the support team is usually fine to deal with. You can also buy multi country eSIMs if you are moving around the region. If you are coming to Thailand though, I still recommend choosing my number one option. It is faster, cheaper and much better value for long stays. ## #2: AIS 7 or 10-day 35GM eSIM AIS is the closest match to my number one pick, but there is one catch that puts it slightly behind. Every time your plan ends you need to verify your ID again. Doing this every 7 or 10 days gets annoying fast and it honestly ruins the experience. You get less data and the price is a little higher, but AIS is one of the biggest networks in Thailand, so the speed and coverage are reliable everywhere you go. If you want something safe and familiar, AIS will never disappoint you on performance. The only reason this sits in second place is because options three, four and five are common, overpriced and not very useful for long term backpackers. AIS is solid, but TDAC is still better value in almost every way. [https://www.trip.com/things-to-do/detail/44775420/](https://www.trip.com/things-to-do/detail/44775420/) ## #1: TDAC 7 or 10-day UNLIMITED HIGH SPEED eSIM This is the holy grail of eSIMs and nobody can tell me otherwise. I have used TDAC for all my months in Thailand and most of the time I get about 300 Mbps download speed without even trying. On Agoda it states you get 50 GB of high speed data. In reality you get unlimited high speed data once it is active on your phone. I hotspot my laptop every day and upload hundreds of gigabytes of footage to the cloud for editing and I have never run out of data. You pay between £3.25 and £3.75 on Agoda and the QR code arrives in your email within minutes. No paperwork. No ID checks. No pointless steps. You pay and you connect. Simple. The only slight drawback is that you need a new eSIM every 7 or 10 days. For me though this is a small price to pay as the price and speed you get are worth it every time. [https://www.agoda.com/en-au/activities/detail?activityId=1167053&cid=1844104&cityId=9395&travelDate=2025-05-20&enrichedOfferId=1296284&pax=1_1&offerOptionId=0](https://www.agoda.com/en-au/activities/detail?activityId=1167053&cid=1844104&cityId=9395&travelDate=2025-05-20&enrichedOfferId=1296284&pax=1_1&offerOptionId=0) Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [This eSIM through Agoda is the Cheapest for Thailand Right Now](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailands-best-325-esim), [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia) and [Christmas in Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/natal-no-sudeste-asiatico-calor-luzes-e-novas-tradicoes). Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Best eSIMs](https://budgetbro.app/blog/eatingbugsinthailand) and [Best eSIMs](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-afternoon-alcohol-ban-lifted-trial). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Layover Like a Pro on Long Haul Flights > Many airlines offer free or low-cost stopovers. Here is how to book a long haul layover and explore a second destination without an extra flight. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-to-do-a-long-haul-layover - Published: 2025-12-10 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Flights, Middle East, Europe, Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Let's face it, most travellers see layovers as time to kill. Hours stuck in uncomfortable seats, overpriced food, and staring at the departure board on repeat. But done properly, long layovers can work in your favour. An 8 to 10 hour + connection gives your body time to reset. You can move, stretch, eat real food, and step out of travel mode instead of squeezing everything into one exhausting haul. They also add experience to your trip. Instead of just passing through an airport, you get a window into a new city. A local meal, a walk through real streets, and a taste of somewhere you might never have planned to visit. Longer layovers also reduce stress. Delays happen, and having breathing room means fewer sprints between gates and less anxiety about missed connections. If it is not clear by now, this is me telling you to intentionally build time into your layovers. Aim for a minimum of 8 to 10 hours, or even overnight when it makes sense. ## Top Layover Hubs: Europe, Middle East & Asia From the UK, a large amount of long haul travel into Southeast Asia runs through hub airlines rather than direct routes. Qatar Airways, Emirates and Etihad move a huge share of passengers by routing flights through Doha, Dubai and Abu Dhabi before continuing east. These hubs are now the backbone of UK to Asia travel. Qatar Airways is one of the most common choices. Flights from London usually connect through Doha before continuing to Bangkok, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. Pricing is often competitive and connections are longer by default, which works well if you want time to rest or leave the airport rather than rush through transit. Etihad follows a similar model through Abu Dhabi. Their network is slightly smaller, but they still offer strong coverage into Asia with sensible flight timings and pricing that often undercuts European carriers. For many travellers, Etihad provides one of the most relaxed connection experiences. Another airline worth paying attention to is China Eastern. They operate routes from the UK into major Chinese hubs like Shanghai, with onward flights into Southeast Asia. These tickets are often cheaper than Middle Eastern or European carriers and naturally come with longer connections. If you are comfortable transiting or briefly entering China, this can be one of the best options for same day layovers that allow rest or short city exploration. British Airways and Singapore Airlines still matter, especially for travellers chasing direct flights. But in terms of availability, frequency and cost, hub airlines through the Middle East and China now dominate UK to Southeast Asia routes. If you plan around this, it works in your favour. These routings are often cheaper than nonstop flights and give you enough time to eat properly, slow down or explore a new city instead of spending hours stuck inside a terminal. You can read solo traveller [Fabiana's Beijing stopover](https://budgetbro.app/blog/my-beijing-layover-a-quick-trip-to-the-great-wall) where she enjoys the Great Wall of China for free. If you want a deeper example of this style of travel, I recommend reading my blog [Slow Travel: How Its REALLY Done.](https://budgetbro.app/blog/slow-travel-how-its-really-done) It breaks down a three day journey from the UK to Thailand via Rome and South Korea, with prices, routes and practical steps to turn long connections into real experiences. More reading to help you plan: [Surviving Long Haul Flights](https://budgetbro.app/blog/survive-long-haul-flights), [Cheapest Flights to Asia August](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheapest-flights-asia-august) and [April Cheapest One Way Flights to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/flights-to-southeast-asia-april-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Bali’s Possible Airbnb Ban > Bali's governor has threatened to ban Airbnb-style rentals. Here is what the possible ban means for your 2026 trip and safer ways to stay. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/baliairbnbban - Published: 2025-12-09 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Asia, Travel, Airbnb, Bali, Indonesia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Bali's Governor has sent a shockwave through the travel world after being reported at a recent event saying the government will consider plans to stop Airbnb style accommodation on the island. The Governor argues that many villas and short term rentals do not follow zoning and tax rules and are not contributing fairly to Bali’s local economy. For anyone planning a Bali trip, especially budget travellers and digital nomads who rely on villa and homestay rentals, this raises big questions. The original article was published in The Jakarta Post but a non-paywalled version is available on [The Bali Sun website](https://thebalisun.com/bali-threatens-to-ban-airbnb-as-island-cracks-down-on-tourism-businesses/). ## What Is Actually Being Proposed? According to the local reporting, the governor told the Indonesian Hotel and Restaurant Association conference in Denpasar that the government will review Airbnb in Bali and may propose that it is “stopped” if the platform and its listings do not support regional tax income. Key points so far: > This is a proposed crackdown, not an instant ban > The focus is on unlicensed and illegal villas that are advertised online > Authorities believe many properties break spatial planning rules, skip permits or avoid local taxes  Other reports say Bali has more than 2,000 hotels and villas operating without permits, and around 16,000 lodging units marketed online that compete with a few hundred officially registered hotels and resorts. At the same time, Bali is trying to manage over-tourism, crowded infrastructure and environmental strain after a surge in post pandemic visitors. It appears this is part of a much wider clean up of tourism businesses. ## Has anything changed right now? No, this is just a report from a comment made by the Governor. It is not the first time the government have discussed this. Nothing has or will change immediately. You may wish to express caution about booking Airbnb's too far into 2026 and consider exploring other options. Budget Bro will update this article with any developments. Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Nyepi Bali 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nyepi-bali), [Why Bali’s Kelingking Beach Lift Sparked Backlash](https://budgetbro.app/blog/kelingking-beach-lift-bali) and [Halloween in Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/halloweeninasia). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Essential Apps for Travelling to China > Planning a trip to China in 2026? From Alipay and WeChat payments to VPN access and restaurant apps, we've listed all the essential tools for China. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/essentialappsforchinatravel - Published: 2025-12-09 - Author: Daniel Almond - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Solo, solo travel, Asia, Backpacking, Femaletravel, Travel - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- If you’re heading to China in 2026, no matter whether you’re a backpacker exploring Beijing, Chongqing, or Shanghai as a first-time visitor there are essential apps you will need. Navigating the big cities and hidden gems in China you will need these essential apps, and without could bring you great difficulty and make for a miserable trip. Digital rules differ from the West here: cash is fading fast, Google and many familiar services are blocked, and local apps run everything from payments to transport, bookings, food and maps. Make sure to install and set up these apps and VPN before you arrive, and you’ll save time and avoid frustration! BudgetBro recently published an article on why China may be the next big stop for backpackers in 2026, so here are some of the apps that I have used whilst travelling and teaching English whilst in China for you: Alipay: Essential for all payments via QR code. Cash is obsolete for most transactions. Can integrate with transportation even as foreigner. WeChat: Essential for all payments via QR code. Cash is obsolete for most transactions. Built-in apps to WeChat for different services. MetroMan: Provides offline subway maps and route planning for navigating city metros easily. Xiaohongshu: The key platform for discovering trendy restaurants, cafes, and travel spots through visual reviews. Dianping: China’s Yelp. Critical for finding, evaluating, and reserving tables at restaurants. Trip.com: The best booking app for hotels and trains in China, with accurate local map integration. Offline Translator: For translating menus, signs, and conversations without internet. LetsVPN: To access blocked services like Google, WhatsApp, and Instagram. (Recommended you pay for faster more reliable service) Amap: Amap offers accurate maps, public-transport/mass-transit routes, and walking directions. Apple Maps does also sync well. Visited China before? Got any apps I need to try, you can message me on Instagram :) Daniel Further reading: [China Arrival Card Update](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-online-arrival-card) April 2026 [Is China the next big stop for Southeast Asia backpackers](https://budgetbro.app/blog/chinatravelcomeback2026) ? Solo traveller Fabiana's [How I Visited the Great Wall of China for Free During a Layover](https://budgetbro.app/blog/my-beijing-layover-a-quick-trip-to-the-great-wall) Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Essential Apps for Travelling to China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/viajar-sozinha-um-mergulho-em-si-mesma), from the BudgetBro blog. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # UK to Thailand: Best Flights December 2025 > Flying from the UK to Thailand in December 2025? The cheapest airlines, best routes and most reliable options for Christmas and New Year trips. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/uk-to-thailand-flights-december-2025 - Published: 2025-12-09 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: UK, Thailand, Airlines - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Looking for flights from the UK to Thailand? You’re not alone. Around 10–15% of Brits are hunting for a last-minute Christmas flights to Bangkok and are wanting to escape to Southeast Asia. And honestly, I get it. It’s freezing, dark by 4pm, and that alone is reason enough to leave. Trust me, that’s exactly why I did. Tropical islands, white beaches, soaking up the winter sun with some pad thai for pennies and a fresh coconut instead of battling Tesco on Christmas Eve. Sounds like a dream. The only catch is the flights, and yes, you might have to emotionally prepare yourself before checking prices. Christmas flights to Thailand are not cheap. Demand goes through the roof, availability tightens fast, and suddenly your “spontaneous escape” starts looking like a committed financial decision. But if you know what you’re getting into and plan it right, it can still be worth it. Let’s talk about what prices actually look like and how to avoid getting completely rinsed. Flights are one way unless said otherwise. ## Flights, Dates and Prices **Monday 22nd December 2025** The best flight I could find is departing Manchester at 07:50, it takes 17h 50m total with 1 stop in Istanbul. It's a self transfer in Istanbul but with a 4.5h layover, I don't see this as an issue, especially if you have just a backpack. The total is £485.00. **Tuesday 23rd December 2025** I battled with a few options for this day, depending on how tight you are on a budget, you could save £70 in exchange for a 44h total trip. sounds scary but you have 17 hours in Istanbul, you could use this to your advantage and explore the city for the night. Although this is something I would do, I know it's not everyone's cup of tea. This option is £469.00 departing at 14:15. The mid -priced flight isn't overly quick either, 23h total and 3 layovers in total... Ouch. This departs at 11:30, stops in Istanbul, Kuwait and Abu Dhabi. For a total of £31 more, I'd much prefer option 1, above. The quickest but not the most expensive way arrive in Thailand is through IndiGo with a snappy 1.2h layover in Mumbai, your overall time to arrive is 15h 10 at a not so beautiful price of £616.00. However you can do a very similar route with Qatar for £751.00! **Wednesday 24th December 2025** Flying with an airline I've actually never heard of, Hainan. This flight is semi respectable comparing them to others within this list. Departure from Manchester at 11:15 with an overall time of 19h 45m and 2 layover in Beijing the total cost is £480.00. By far the most financially responsible flight for this date. **Monday 29th December 2025** I only planned to do the few days running up to Christmas, but I did come across this one flight, which is pretty brutal at 40h but if you planned it right, you could save yourself a nice little chunk. This flight departs Manchester at 14:15 and arrives in Istanbul at 21:00. You have a huge 17 hours here! You can pick up a semi-decent hotel for £17 in the city which can be used to your advantage and explore what potentially is a new city for you. It also gets better, your 2nd and 3rd flight are with Cathay Pacific and travel through the Middle East and Hong Kong, guaranteed luxury. This is something which would tickle my pickle. Whats best is the flight is £320.00. So, what type of person are you? Someone who'll pay £751.00 to Qatar and arrive in less than 16h or are you the type of person who'll spend £320 to arrive 40h and make the most of new cities in between? I'm keen to hear, DM on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/budgetbro.app/). Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Cheapest Flights to Asia August](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheapest-flights-asia-august), [Best eSIMs](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-esims-thailand-december-2025) and [Thailand DTV Visa](https://budgetbro.app/blog/dtvvisaguidethailand). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Surviving Long Haul Flights: Traveller Edition > Proven long haul flight hacks from real travellers. How to sleep better, stay comfortable and arrive refreshed after 10 hours in economy. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/survive-long-haul-flights - Published: 2025-12-07 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Long Haul, Flights, Europe, Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Long-haul flights, whether overnight or spanning 10-20 hours, they're grim. It's a mental and physical test for even the fittest and usually, people like myself SUCK at them. With a little planning and smart habits, you can arrive at your destination feeling much more relaxed, rested, and ready to go. Here’s a comprehensive survival guide (backed by travel experts, doctors, and seasoned traveller's) on how to make long flights comfortable and even enjoyable. FYI I have a travel hack below everyone will like (although borderline ballsy.) ## Why Long Flights Are So Tough Before we get into how to survive a long flight without losing your mind, it helps to understand why they feel so rough in the first place. Plane cabins are ridiculously dry, which is why your skin feels wrecked, your eyes burn and your throat’s shot before you even land. You’re also stuck sitting still for hours, which messes with circulation, especially in your legs, so everything feels heavy, stiff and swollen by the time you stand up. Throw in cramped seats, weird temperatures, barely any movement and the joy of trying to sleep upright, and it’s no shock that long-haul flights leave you feeling cooked. The good news is a bit of planning goes a long way. Dial in a few small habits and you can land feeling human instead of broken. Here’s what actually helps. ### Pre Flight & Packing: Setting Yourself Up for Success Packing for a long flight is a bit of a balancing act. You don’t want to lug half your house onto the plane, but you also don’t want to sit there for 12 hours wishing you’d brought one extra thing. The good news is you really don’t need much. A few well chosen items can make a massive difference to how you feel mid-flight and when you land. You’ll see doctors online recommending compression socks, supplements, posture gear and all sorts. Most of it’s overkill for the average traveller, so I’m not even going there. This is just the stuff I actually use and swear by. Cabin air is bone dry, which is why everyone looks and feels wrecked halfway through a long haul. A simple skincare refresh goes a long way. Yes, men too, relax. Moisturiser, eye drops or even a basic face mask can stop you feeling completely fried. Also, bring an empty water bottle and fill it after security. It’s underrated, saves money, and keeps you drinking way more than relying on cabin service. Snacks matter more than people realise. Plane food is hit or miss, and eating badly just makes you feel sluggish and bloated. Nuts or seeds are solid because they keep you full without spiking your energy. Fruit is great for hydration and easy sugars. Oatcakes, rice cakes or plain crackers are clutch when your stomach’s not loving life. If you want something sweet, dark chocolate or a low-sugar protein bar does the job without the crash. Throw in an electrolyte sachet or herbal tea and you’ll feel way better by the time you land. Also, add this to your pre-flight checklist (pun fully intended): board the plane **last**. Not first, not early access, last. It feels wrong, but trust me. You’ll understand why in the next section. #### In-Flight: What to Do (and What to Avoid) To kill the suspense, there’s a very specific reason you board the aircraft last: **to steal better seats**. Yes, I’m talking about empty rows and stupid amounts of legroom. And yes, this takes a bit of confidence. But trust in the BB Father, JR. I’ve got about a 95% success rate with this. Most recently, literally two days ago flying from Surat Thani to Bangkok. I board last, scan the cabin and see the emergency exit rows are full. Immediate thought: *F£#K*. I’ve got seconds to figure something out. Then, out of nowhere, the first row after first class is completely empty. All three seats. Even more legroom than the exit row. My eyes lit up. Absolute pl-orgasm (plane orgasm if you didn't guess.) I jumped straight in and acted like I belonged there. No hesitation. No eye contact. Never questioned. I do this on every flight and it nearly always pays off. Try it. Just don’t do it if you see me, because then we’re at war. Respect the BB Father. Right, back to surviving the flight. Keep moving, even in small ways. Sitting still for hours absolutely wrecks your body quicker than you expect. If you can, stand up and walk the aisle every now and then, even if it’s just a lap to the toilet and back. When that’s not possible, do what you can in your seat. Flex your calves, rotate your ankles, roll your shoulders, stretch your spine or hips slightly. It sounds minor, but it makes a massive difference to stiffness and post-flight pain. Support your posture. A bit of effort here saves a lot of regret later. Chuck a small pillow, lumbar cushion or rolled-up jumper behind your lower back to support your spine. Try to keep your feet flat on the floor, knees roughly level with your hips, and don’t sit cross-legged for hours. If you’ve got the option of extra legroom, it helps with movement and comfort, but remember the travel hack: don’t pay for it. Earn aura points instead. Make sleep easier. If you’re planning to sleep, a window seat usually gives more support and fewer interruptions. Layer your clothing because cabin temperatures are all over the place, and comfy socks or slippers are a game changer. A decent travel pillow can completely change how you sleep, and cutting down screen time before resting helps your body switch off instead of fighting blue light at 3am. ### After Landing: Reset and Recover Once you’re off the plane, don’t immediately switch off. For most backpackers, landing isn’t the finish line. It’s usually straight into an airport bus, a minivan or a long wait for a night train. Before you sit down again, move a little if you can. Even walking through the terminal helps get blood flowing and loosen up legs and joints that have been stuck for hours. Roll your shoulders, stretch your hips and shake off the stiffness before it follows you into the next seat. Rehydrate properly and eat something light. You’re almost always more dehydrated than you realise after a long flight, and heavy food tends to slow you down even more. Water first, easy food second. If there’s time, change your clothes. Swapping out tight shoes, socks or your top can instantly make you feel human again. A few quick stretches for your hips, back and calves will help stop that locked up feeling from sticking around for the rest of the journey. ### Agree/Disagree? Are there things I haven't mentioned which you feel like should be included? Send me a message on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/budgetbro.app/), I'm always keen to hear! Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Layover Like a Pro on Long Haul Flights](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-to-do-a-long-haul-layover), [Cheapest Flights to Asia August](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheapest-flights-asia-august) and [April Cheapest One Way Flights to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/flights-to-southeast-asia-april-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Air Cambodia Phnom Penh to Da Nang Direct Flight > Air Cambodia launches a new direct route connecting Phnom Penh and Da Nang as part of wider growth from the newly opened Techo International Airport. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/air-cambodia-phnom-penh-danang-route - Published: 2025-12-06 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Cambodia, Vietnam, KTI, Da Nang, DAD, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Cambodia's national flag carrier, Air Cambodia has launched a new direct route connecting Phnom Penh (KTI) to the popular Vietnamese city of Da Nang (DAD). The service is part of a wider expansion from Cambodia’s newly opened Techo International Airport, which became the main aviation gateway for the capital in late 2025. This is good news for travellers as the existing routes from Cambodia are via Bangkok, Thailand. The announcement was made through [Air Cambodia’s Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/AirCambodiaK6/posts/pfbid0qaXyBzq9tUxDf9pYEPZmXQunZ3urjUP8rduYkAVesw2DyaLzBk62xqsEGjzos8ARl) page. ## Techo International Airport takes centre stage In September 2025, Phnom Penh’s operations moved from the former Phnom Penh International Airport to the new Techo International Airport, located south of the capital, not actually in Phnom Penh but Kandal Province. It is a 30-60 minute journey from the centre depending on traffic. The move has allowed Cambodia to expand routes, modernise its operational facilities, and position Phnom Penh as a more competitive aviation hub in Southeast Asia. The new airport features increased runway capacity, larger terminal facilities, and upgraded passenger services that support both domestic growth and regional connections. ## Da Nang joins expanding route list Da Nang becomes one of the newest international additions to Air Cambodia’s growing network, alongside domestic services and connections into China, Japan, and other nearby markets. Da Nang is one of Vietnam’s most visited coastal cities, known for beaches, seafood, the Marble Mountains, and easy links to Hoi An and Hue. For Cambodian travellers, this route offers a practical short-haul escape. ## Boosting tourism in both countries The new service is a positive step for travellers and for tourism on both sides of the border. It supports Cambodia’s tourism recovery, while also encouraging more Vietnamese visitors and business travellers into Phnom Penh and beyond. With Da Nang already popular among international travellers, direct links from Cambodia are likely to make short trips and regional travel significantly easier. ## Digital Nomads Da Nang has quickly become a favourite base for digital nomads thanks to its reliable internet, strong café culture, affordable living, and long-stay accommodation options along the coast. The new direct route makes it easier for nomads already based in Vietnam to visit Cambodia, whether for visa runs, side trips, or to explore Phnom Penh and other growing remote-work destinations such as Siem Reap and Kampot. As both countries continue to attract long-term travellers and remote workers, more direct air links are likely to support a smoother movement of digital nomads across the region. ## The new route: what you need to know The new route starts on 15th January, 2026 Phnom Penh - Da Nang (KTI-DAD) Monday, Thursday 10:30 12:40 Phnom Penh - Da Nang (KTI-DAD) Sunday 16:50 19:00 Da Nang - Phnom Penh (DAD-KTI) Monday, Thursday 13:10 15:20 Da Nang - Phnom Penh (DAD-KTI) Sunday 19:30 21:40 The lowest available fare when checked today 7th December, 2025 was $113 which includes 23kg checked baggage and 7kg hand luggage. It is worth adding, there are already existing services to Da Nang from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap, but they require a stop in Bangkok, Thailand. Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Vientiane-Da Nang Flight Resumed](https://budgetbro.app/blog/lao-air-vientiane-to-da-nang), [New Phnom Penh-Yangon Flight](https://budgetbro.app/blog/new-phnom-penh-yangon-flight) and [Cambodia Visa-Free Trial for China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cambodia-visa-free-china-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # My Beijing Layover: A Quick Trip to the Great Wall > Got a long layover in Beijing? Here is how to visit the Great Wall, navigate transit visas and make the most of your stopover. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/my-beijing-layover-a-quick-trip-to-the-great-wall - Published: 2025-12-05 - Author: Fabiana - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: China, Backpacking, Travel, Solo, Solo Female Travel - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Most people assume visiting the Great Wall of China requires a full-day tour, a high budget, or months of planning. But what many travellers don’t realise is that you can visit one of the world’s greatest wonders for free during a long layover in Beijing. No tricks, no luck, just smart planning and knowing exactly where to go. This wasn’t accidental for me. I planned it, structured it, and made the most out of my layover and you can do the exact same. Here’s how I turned a simple stopover into one of the most memorable experiences of my trip. ## Why Beijing Is the Perfect Layover Destination Beijing Capital International Airport runs an official free transit tour program for international travellers. It’s designed specifically for people with long layovers, making it one of the easiest and most budget-friendly ways to see the Great Wall. Some travellers don’t even know this exists but if you love stretching your travel budget like I do, Beijing is honestly one of the best airports in the world to connect through. And the best part? This experience is incredibly smooth. You land → join the free Great Wall tour → return just in time for your next flight. It really is that simple. ## How I Planned My Visit Step-by-Step When I landed in Beijing, the process was straightforward. Since I have a Portuguese passport, I didn’t need a visa, just the arrival card, which is quick to fill in. But depending on your passport, you might need both the arrival card AND a temporary visa exemption which is also free, but Always check before you travel. Once you exit immigration, you’ll need to move between terminals. The airport shuttle bus between terminals is completely free, and runs continuously, so it’s fast and efficient. I landed in Terminal 2, but the free Great Wall tour registers in Terminal 3, so the shuttle was my first stop. After reaching Terminal 3, I followed the signs toward International Departures until I found a small stand promoting the Free Transit Tour to the Great Wall. This is where you sign up & timing is everything. You must arrive between 6am and 6:30am to secure a spot. Registration closes before 7am and once they reach capacity, that’s it. Your layover MUST be longer than 7 hours to join. Ideally 8–12 hours to make it comfortable. Once signed in, you simply wait until around 8am when the bus departs. It returns at around 2/3pm giving you plenty of time to pass security and catch your next flight. It’s genuinely one of the only places in the world where you can land and effortlessly join a free tour to a UNESCO site in the same morning. ## My Journey to the Great Wall of China The journey to the Mutianyu section takes around 90 minutes. I sat next to a Brazilian couple and we ended up spending the entire morning together, one of the many reasons solo travel feels anything but lonely. Mutianyu was the perfect section for a layover visit. It’s quieter than the more famous Badaling area, beautifully maintained, and offers some of the most scenic views of the Great Wall snaking across the mountains. ## Exploring the Wall: Cable Cars, Views & Sliding Down Once you arrive, you can choose between hiking up or taking the cable car. Hiking is beautiful but slow, and with a layover schedule, time matters, so I chose the cable car up, it saves you both time and energy, giving you more of the morning to enjoy the panoramic views at the top. At the summit, the scenery hits you instantly, wide mountains, peaceful landscapes, clean stone pathways, and towers stretching in every direction. It’s surreal to see it in person, especially knowing you arrived without spending anything on transport. After exploring the watchtowers and taking photos with the couple I met, we decided to descend using the toboggan slide, It’s fast, surprisingly safe, and honestly one of the most fun ways to leave a UNESCO World Heritage site. A highlight I’ll never forget. ## A Few Things I Learned Timing is the most important part of this whole experience. Arrive early, give yourself space to move between terminals, and make sure your layover is long enough. Another thing I learned is how valuable it is to have your mobile data ready immediately. With an eSIM, I didn’t waste time trying to find WiFi or navigate apps with restrictions. It helped me head straight for the shuttle and secure my place on the tour. I also realised how organised, safe and stress-free the entire process is. From the moment you land to the moment you return to the airport, everything is coordinated around your flight. If you arrive early and your layover is long enough, this is one of the easiest bucket-list experiences you can ever plan. And if the free shuttle fills up, booking a paid tour through Trip.com is still incredibly cheap which is usually between £19 and £29, with an optional buffet lunch that’s very worth it & you get the option to stay even longer. ## Why This Experience Is Perfect for Budget Travellers This trip proves something I believe deeply, budget travel isn’t about spending less, it’s about learning more. You can unlock experiences people assume are expensive simply by knowing where to look, planning a little smarter, and staying open to opportunities. This is what I love sharing through my travels, that with the right approach, the world becomes more accessible than you think. Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Camp America 2027](https://budgetbro.app/blog/camp-america-work-at-summer-camp-usa), [16,095KM Away From Home](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-i-ended-up-here) and [Essential Apps for Travelling to China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/essentialappsforchinatravel). ## Final Thoughts My layover in Beijing didn’t feel like a transit, it felt like a full travel experience. I landed, joined a free tour, explored the Great Wall of China, took the cable car, slid down the mountain, met new people, and still made my flight with time to spare. If you ever find yourself connecting through Beijing, don’t sit in the airport. You could be walking across one of the world’s greatest wonders in just a few hours and you don’t have to spend a penny on transport. Travel doesn’t have to be expensive. It just has to be intentional. And this experience proves it. - Fabiana --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Cambodia River Express: Phnom Penh to Siem Reap > The Phnom Penh to Siem Reap express ferry has resumed. How does the $49 scenic river route compare to the bus for travelling north in Cambodia? - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/new-phnom-penh-to-siem-reap-ferry - Published: 2025-12-05 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Travel, Cambodia, Backpacking, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Last updated: 16th January, 2026 - This article has been updated to reflect timings and changes to the service. # New Cambodia River Express service to/from Phnom Penh/Siem Reap The original article in December on Kiri Post confirmed a new express Phnom Penh-Siem Reap boat service has started up again. It comes after a 6 year break in service. There are many options for road travel to Siem Reap from Phnom Penh with many overnight services. Compared to air travel it is much cheaper to take a bus, there are also river boats you can take but these can take around 7-8 hours so it's more of a day trip rather than a method of getting A to B. The new express service is $49 one way and offers a scenic trip up. BudgetBro is confirming the details of the service and will update soon. Whilst it is not cheap it quick option for those travelling North in Cambodia and similarly the South and onwards to Vietnam. One month on, Cambodia River Express announced an update on Facebook confirming a revised service launching from 16th January. The new service removes the need to transfer to a bus mid-journey, making it a fully direct river connection of about 6/7 hours. Full timings of the service will be announced after a few trips. You can book tickets on the website > [https://cambodiariverexpress.com](https://cambodiariverexpress.com) It will run on Saturday's and Tuesday's 8.30am from Phnom Penh and Siem Reap Wednesday's and Sunday's. The Facebook account has speculated they may have to suspend the route at the end of February due to water levels and would then look to re-start in July/August. Bookmark or save this page for updates. Keep the planning going with our guides to [New Phnom Penh-Yangon Flight](https://budgetbro.app/blog/new-phnom-penh-yangon-flight), [Cambodia Visa-Free Trial for China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cambodia-visa-free-china-2026) and [Air Cambodia Phnom Penh to Da Nang Direct Flight](https://budgetbro.app/blog/air-cambodia-phnom-penh-danang-route). Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Cambodia River Express](https://budgetbro.app/blog/kampot-koh-rong-direct-ferry-2026), from the BudgetBro blog. Costing up a Cambodia trip? Our [Cambodia travel budget guide](https://budgetbro.app/budget-cambodia) breaks down what you will spend each day on the road. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # From the Founder: November Recap > From the Founder: how BudgetBro grew, stumbled and recalibrated through November. An honest look at the wins, the setbacks and what we learned building the app. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/november-recap-the-founders-perspective - Published: 2025-12-05 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: BudgetBro, App, Crowdfunding, Founder - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- If you’re reading this post, you’re about to get a version of me that’s slightly more reflective and slightly less comedic than usual. November has delivered promising progress across several fronts, but it has also exposed areas where our ambitions have outpaced our visibility. And I’ll be honest, the road to becoming the #1 travel app has held more surprises than I initially anticipated. Lately, I’ve found myself revisiting our targets with a sharper lens. It’s a balance I’m still calibrating. Are our goals overly ambitious, or have we simply underperformed in getting the attention needed to support them? The truth is, I’m comfortable embracing big goals, but what matters most right now is the momentum that fuels them: pre-launch visibility and a clear path to effective crowdfunding. Engagement isn’t just about community growth or social metrics, it also directly influences our ability to launch strongly, attract partners, and build a financial runway. At this stage of development, visibility isn’t vanity, it’s infrastructure. Without it, the ecosystem around BudgetBro becomes harder to lift off the ground. Which brings me to the core concern: our lack of visibility isn’t a threat to what we’re building, but rather to how quickly we’re able to support it through public awareness and crowdfunding success. ## Crowdfunding At the end of October, I set what I believed was a realistic but ambitious target: increase our crowdfunder by another 12% throughout November. We closed the month at 1.4%. Not ideal. But it did teach me two things. First, people who promise support rarely follow through. Second, people who don’t know us either can’t financially contribute or simply aren’t receiving a clear enough message about why we need the funding and *what* they get in return. Put together, that combination is giving us conversion rates that are, frankly, close to zero. So yes, this sends us back to the drawing board, again, for the third time. But how do I feel about that? Surprisingly steady. This is uncharted territory for me, and learning curves are inevitable. I’ve never expected this journey to be smooth, and truthfully, I enjoy the challenge of solving problems that initially feel impossible. To ground things a bit, I looked at conversion metrics from other early-stage startups. With 100,000 views per month, you might convert around 0.2% into crowdfunding pledges. At an average of £9.99 per pledge, that’s roughly £1,998.00 per month. Is that achievable? Maybe. But it also assumes we can consistently generate 100k monthly views on brand-new social accounts with a limited footprint. Suddenly the target begins to feel more hypothetical than practical. Something I actually didn't think about previously. And to make things even more interesting, we’re heading into December, the month where everyone’s budget is already spoken for. We may be trying to push momentum at a time when people are least able to financially engage. It’s not exactly the perfect scenario. Still, none of this shakes my confidence. Setbacks aren’t fatal, they’re signals. Crowdfunding remains important, but we’re not out of time. What we do need is sharper messaging, better testing, and more strategic experimentation. So while the numbers may look a little gloomy on paper, the wound is superficial. The engine is still running, and there’s more than enough fuel to keep going. ### App Progress This is the part where I can finally shake off the heavier thoughts, because we are entering a chapter that is moving almost exactly as planned. There have been a few setbacks, but for reasons far outside anyone’s control. A cyclone hit Sri Lanka and caused significant damage across the region where most of our development team lives. Thankfully everyone is safe, although some have been without power for quite a while. My October target was simple. Keep pushing. We managed to do that. We are now only a few steps away from sending the app out for testing and getting it into the hands of creators, which feels huge. This stage should give us the momentum our socials have been struggling to generate. The only catch is that reaching this point came with an unexpected cost. We are ready to test, but we have not yet finalised partnerships with Agoda, Booking, Trip or any similar providers. That means we need to lean on Google data for the time being, which is extremely expensive. I spent time with the team working out how to handle this so our testers do not unintentionally create a bill that wipes us out. A little techy' information for you: Google charge 34 dollars for every 1,000 API calls, and we get 5,000 free each month. The issue is that every hotel, restaurant and activity counts as a separate call. We plan to show 20 of each, which totals 60 calls every time a user loads a location. If you imagine 500 testers travelling to three new places a month, that is around 90,000 calls. The cost for that is 2,890 dollars each month, which is not something we can simply absorb. The solution is straightforward, although it took hours of discussion to reach it. Users who discover us through Reddit or other testing forums will receive Build A. That version uses static data we add manually, which costs nothing beyond some development time. Content creators and influencers will receive Build B, which includes full Google integration. Even then, we need limits. Twenty five users changing location three times a month already uses our entire free quota of 5,000 calls. So we also need to cap how often testers can use the feature. The question now is what that number should be. Too many calls is too expensive, too few makes the feature pointless. I am still trying to land on the right balance. Ideally, this becomes irrelevant very soon. Once we partner with the appropriate platforms, we can access the data we need without paying these Google rates, and this hurdle disappears entirely. Outside of this issue, the app itself has seen progress in every corner. We have even added a few small features that noticeably improve the user experience. It feels good to be at this stage. I am genuinely excited for what comes next. #### Decembers Goals? I'm kind of scared to set any but in the name of BudgetBro, I'll try to be more realsitic so I don't find myself aging 8 times quicker than normal. - App is out for testing prior to December 20th. - We triple our total monthly views over all social media platforms - We beat our Novembers crowdfunding total of 1.4% - All the BudgetBro team, the followers and blog readers have a blessed Christmas. See you all at the start of 2026 for another Monthly update. Big JR 💚 #### More from the founder diary: [← BudgetBro October Recap: Progress, Problems & Lessons Learned](https://budgetbro.app/blog/what-october-taught-us-as-a-team-budgetbro) · [December Update →](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thefoundersviewdecemberrecap). Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [From the Founder](https://budgetbro.app/blog/24-horas-em-londres), from the BudgetBro blog. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # International Volunteer Day > Learn how travellers can support local communities on International Volunteer Day, plus real volunteering opportunities across Europe and Southeast Asia. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/international-volunteer-day - Published: 2025-12-04 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Backpacking, Travel, Volunteering - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- What does International Volunteer Day Mean? Every year on 5 December, International Volunteer Day highlights the people who give their time, skills and energy to support communities around the world. But what many travellers don’t realise is when done right, travellers can be the most impactful volunteers. From spending a week helping a turtle conservation centre in Greece, to assisting English classes in rural Cambodia, volunteering while travelling creates genuine connections and often leaves a lasting benefit long after the backpack is unpacked. ## How do Travellers Make a Difference? Travellers bring something uniquely valuable, time, curiosity and cultural exchange. You don’t need specialist skills to make an impact; sometimes, consistent support is what communities need most. Examples of meaningful contributions: Supporting local NGOs that rely on short-term volunteers Helping with community tourism projects in rural areas Joining environmental clean-ups Assisting with after-school programmes when visiting longer-term destinations Contributing to animal welfare centres that need daily hands-on help Even a few hours can shift pressure off local staff and strengthen community-led efforts! ## The Dos & Don’ts of Volunteering Abroad Not all volunteering is created equal. Ethical travel matters. **Do:** Choose organisations that are locally run Prioritise roles that match your skills or interests Support long-term, community-led projects Always follow local advice, culture and expectations **Don’t:** Join unregulated orphanage tourism Expect to “save” a community Treat volunteering like a photoshoot opportunity Take roles requiring professional qualifications you don’t have Take photos of children / locals without permission Ethical volunteering is about respect, not rescue. ## **Volunteering Opportunities Across Europe & Southeast Asia** If you’re keen to volunteer during your trip, we’ve created a monthly roundup with legitimate, ethical volunteering options: Check back here for our Where to Volunteer guide. ## **Why International Volunteer Day Matters for Travellers** Travel is more than bucket lists and itineraries, it’s a chance to be part of something. International Volunteer Day is a reminder that: Your choices matter Your time and energy can support real community projects You can leave a destination better than you found it And as travel grows again across Europe and Southeast Asia, responsible volunteering shapes the future of tourism. If you’re travelling soon, consider adding one small volunteering action to your journey, even if it’s just one beach clean-up, or one day helping a local organisation. Small actions add up. And today is the perfect day to start. Keep the planning going with our guides to [Camp America 2027](https://budgetbro.app/blog/camp-america-work-at-summer-camp-usa), [My Beijing Layover](https://budgetbro.app/blog/my-beijing-layover-a-quick-trip-to-the-great-wall) and [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Thailand Lifts Afternoon Alcohol Ban in Trial Ahead of New Year > Thailand has temporarily lifted its decades-old afternoon alcohol sales ban. Here’s what the trial means for travellers, businesses, and the New Year period. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-afternoon-alcohol-ban-lifted-trial - Published: 2025-12-03 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Thailand, Latest News - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Thailand has officially lifted its decades-old restriction on afternoon alcohol sales, marking a major shift in the country’s alcohol regulations and a notable change for locals, tourists, and businesses. [The update was published in the Royal Gazette](https://www.pptvhd36.com/news/สังคม/262795) this week and will take effect as a temporary trial of 6 months. ## What has changed? For more than 50 years, Thailand has enforced a daily ban on alcohol sales between 2:00pm and 5:00pm, limiting legal sales to two periods: 11:00am–2:00pm and 5:00pm–midnight. Under the new trial regulations: - Retailers will be permitted to sell alcohol continuously from 11:00am to midnight - The afternoon restriction between 2:00pm and 5:00pm is suspended - The change applies nationwide during the trial period The policy is designed as a temporary measure, with authorities monitoring its economic and social impact before deciding whether it will become permanent. ## Why did Thailand have an afternoon alcohol ban? The afternoon ban dates back to 1972, where it was originally introduced to discourage government employees and office workers from drinking during work hours. Over time, it became one of Thailand’s most criticised laws. In practice however, the rule was frequently confusing for travellers and inconsistently enforced, particularly in tourist-heavy areas. ## Why is the Thai Government changing these rules now? The Thai government has framed the move as part of a broader effort to: - Support the hospitality and tourism sector - To stimulate economic activity during New Year celebrations - Modernise outdated regulations that no longer align with current travel patterns Tourism businesses in popular destinations such as Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and the islands will of course welcome the move during one of the busiest periods of the year. ## Concerns and criticism of the change Not everyone supports the change however. Public health groups have raised concerns about increased risks of drink-driving, alcohol-related accidents, and public safety issues, particularly during the holiday periods where alcohol consumption is already very high. According to the World Health Organisation, Thailand has some of the highest alcohol consumption rates in Asia. Local beers such as Chang and Singha, are enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. The government has stated that enforcement and monitoring will remain in place throughout the trial period, with information collected to assess whether the benefits outweigh potential risks. ## What does this mean for travellers? For travellers visiting Thailand during the New Year period in 2025, the change means: - Less interruption purchasing alcohol from Seven Eleven shops etc. - Less confusion around legal sale times - More consistency between bars, restaurants, and retail outlets However, existing laws around drunk driving, public behaviour, and alcohol sales on religious holidays remain unchanged. ## Will the alcohol sales ban change become permanent? At this stage, the lifted ban is strictly a trial measure. The government will review economic impact data, public safety statistics, and enforcement outcomes before deciding whether to permanently remove the afternoon restriction. If successful, the move could mark the end of one of Thailand’s longest-standing alcohol regulations, and signal a broader push toward modernising rules that impact tourism and daily life. More reading to help you plan: [Best eSIMs](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-esims-thailand-december-2025), [UK to Thailand](https://budgetbro.app/blog/uk-to-thailand-flights-december-2025) and [Thailand DTV Visa](https://budgetbro.app/blog/dtvvisaguidethailand). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Viajar Sozinha: Um Mergulho Em Si Mesma > Viajar sozinha pode assustar, mas revelou-se libertadora. Aqui está o que aprendi na minha primeira viagem solo e como aprendi a gostar da própria companhia. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/viajar-sozinha-um-mergulho-em-si-mesma - Published: 2025-12-03 - Author: Lahys Freire - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Femaletravel, solo travel, female content - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Oieee, me chamo Lahys Freire, tenho 35 anos, sou brasileira, baiana criada no dendê do extremo sul da Bahia. Hoje atuo como educadora financeira justamente porque quero ter liberdade geográfica e poder trabalhar enquanto viajo. Eu  sempre fui o tipo de pessoa que fazia tudo em penca rsrsrs. Viagens com muitos amigos e familiares, shows, bares e jantares com mesa reservada para mais de dez pessoas, e eu ainda amo muito tudo isso. Mas chegou um momento em que, por questões de tempo, localização, prioridades e dinheiro, isso não foi mais possível. E então comecei a me questionar muito sobre viagens solo. No início, era algo que definitivamente não passava pela minha cabeça. Achava inseguro, achava que talvez fosse ser chato... "com quem vou comentar olha aquilo ali?", pensava eu. Mas a vontade de explorar foi muito maior e decidi pesquisar mais sobre o assunto e me cercar das possibilidades que poderiam dar ruim. E assim comecei a planejar a minha primeira viagem sozinha. E já vou dar um spoiler: amigas e amigos, viajar sozinha é viciante! Decidi ir para Bonito, no Mato Grosso do Sul, e logo me veio a pergunta: o que pode dar errado? Bom, segurança em primeiro lugar. Meu seguro de vida já cobria todo o território nacional, então tudo certo. Mas e na hora de escolher acomodação, agência de viagem, meio de transporte? Busquei um equilíbrio entre preço e qualidade. Muito barato poderia significar uma localização ruim ou menos segurança, e talvez mais despesas com transporte. Muito caro, por outro lado, não fazia sentido, porque eu estava lá pela viagem, não pela cama ou pela piscina. Gastar com essas facilidades e não usar seria, na verdade, um desperdício de dinheiro, e isso não combina comigo. Passei dias salvando acomodações e lendo reviews (aliás, deixem sempre reviews, elas ajudam muito nós, viajantes!). Teria sido mais fácil se eu tivesse achado tudo em um só app, tipo aqui no Budget Bro, mas não tinha, então gastei horas pesquisando. Depois de muita análise, cheguei à conclusão de que, para o meu estilo de viajante, o hostel era a melhor opção. Assim eu poderia fazer novas amizades e, consequentemente, baratear passeios, porque passeios privativos, meus amigos, são uma fortuna! Também encontrei uma agência de turismo local que vendia passeios com antecedência. Como era minha primeira viagem solo, quis evitar possíveis erros, então comprei tudo antes. Gosto de organizar minhas viagens assim: quando chego ao destino, só me preocupo com a diversão e as memórias, porque as contas já estão todas pagas! E as fotos? Ah, claro! Comprei também um tripé com controle remoto, que me permitiu registrar tudo e guardar essas recordações. E lá fui eu! Viajar sozinha é como um mergulho na alma. Você fica 100% dependente de si mesma: seu humor depende de você, o que fazer depende de você, se o dia vai ser bom ou não também depende de você. É uma verdadeira imersão em autoconhecimento. Parece que, por tudo depender só de você, seus sentidos se aguçam: você fica mais aberta ao inesperado, mais atenta aos sons, aos cheiros, às paisagens... tudo fica mais nítido. E, por estar nesse "modo exploradora", você se permite muito mais. Nessas viagens conheci muuuita gente bacana, pessoas com quem mantenho contato até hoje. Você aprende com as histórias dos outros e deixa um pedacinho da sua com eles também. Essa foi a primeira de muitas. Depois de Bonito vieram Jericoacoara, Itacaré e tantos outros destinos. Com o tempo fui entendendo melhor quem eu sou e qual é o meu estilo de viajante. Cada viagem foi única. Mas o melhor de tudo foi o superpoder que eu ativei em mim: o de GOSTAR DA MINHA PRÓPRIA COMPANHIA E ENTENDER MEUS PRÓPRIOS LIMITES. Isso não só muda a forma como a gente se relaciona consigo mesma, mas também deixa todos os outros relacionamentos muito mais saudáveis. E foi assim que decidi mudar de país. Fui morar na Austrália, a terra dos cangurus! Pense numa loucura: eu não falava inglês e, ainda assim, foi a melhor decisão da minha vida. Essa experiência abriu ainda mais a minha mente. Vivi uma verdadeira imersão cultural e, de lá, ainda consegui conhecer vários outros países, como a Indonésia, por exemplo! Afff, como eu amo explorar novas línguas, culturas e modos de viver! E, amigas, se tem algo que eu posso dizer com toda certeza, é: viajem sozinhas! Desbloqueiem esse superpoder em vocês e vejam a mágica acontecer ao redor. Hoje, passei de viajante solo a viajante de casal, porque em uma dessas aventuras encontrei um doido igual a mim, também se aventurando por aí. E olha que coisa linda: agora somos dois viajantes solo que aprenderam sobre si mesmos e hoje compartilham viagens e aprendizados juntos. E é isso, meu povo: viajem! Porque o que levamos da vida não são bens materiais, mas as memórias que colecionamos ao longo dessa linda viagem chamada vida. Bjs Lay Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Essential Apps for Travelling to China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/essentialappsforchinatravel), [Camp America 2027](https://budgetbro.app/blog/camp-america-work-at-summer-camp-usa) and [Europe vs Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-vs-southeast-asia-travel). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # China's Digital Arrival Card (CDAC): A 2026 Guide for Travellers > China's Digital Arrival Card launched 20 November 2025, replacing paper forms. Here is who must file it, who is exempt, and how backpackers actually do it. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-online-arrival-card - Published: 2025-11-29 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Guides - Tags: China, Digital Arrival Card, Visas, Travel Updates, Backpacking, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- China's Digital Arrival Card (CDAC) has been required for most foreign arrivals since November 2025, replacing the old paper landing card. You file it online through China's National Immigration Administration (NIA) before you land, unless you fall into one of seven exemption categories, most commonly holding a Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card or qualifying for China's general visa-free entry. If China is on the cards this year, either as a planned trip or a pivot from Southeast Asia, here is exactly what changed, who still needs to file the arrival card, and how to actually do it. ## What Is China's Digital Arrival Card? The Digital Arrival Card (CDAC) is an online entry form launched by China's National Immigration Administration on 20 November 2025, replacing the paper arrival or landing card foreign visitors used to fill in on the plane or at the immigration counter. You complete it online before you travel, and the system issues a QR code you show at the border instead of a paper slip. Full detail is on the [official notice from the Chinese Embassy](https://us.china-embassy.gov.cn/eng/lsfw/zj/notice/202512/t20251203_11765346.htm). ## Who Has to File It, and Who Is Exempt? Most foreign nationals entering China need to file the arrival card, but seven groups are officially exempt: - Holders of a valid Foreign Permanent Resident ID Card. - Mainland Travel Permit holders, covering Hong Kong and Macao residents who are not Chinese nationals. - Group visa holders, or travellers eligible under China's general visa-free entry policy. - 24-hour direct transit passengers within designated port areas. - Cruise passengers on the same-vessel entry and exit. - Travellers using E-channel entry. - Foreign crew members of transport vehicles. The one that trips people up is the third category. China's general visa-free entry policy, which now covers the UK and a growing list of other countries, is a [separate scheme from the 240-hour visa-free transit policy](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-visa-free-uk-travellers) that lets travellers from 54 countries stop over for up to 10 days without a visa. General visa-free entrants are exempt from the arrival card. The 240-hour transit exemption only covers a much narrower 24-hour direct transit within designated port areas, so most people using the longer transit window still need to file the card. Check our [current list of China's visa-free countries](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-visa-free-travel-list) if you are not sure which policy applies to you. ## How Do You Actually Complete the Digital Arrival Card? You can file it before you travel through the [official NIA arrival card portal](https://s.nia.gov.cn/ArrivalCardFillingPC/entry-registation-home), the NIA 12367 app, the WeChat or Alipay mini program, or by scanning the official QR code on your phone. If you have not completed it in advance, you can also do it on arrival using QR codes or on-site devices at the port, or fall back to a paper form. You will typically need your passport details, flight information, and where you are staying in China. ## Do You Need It If You Are Only Transiting Through China? If you stay airside and never clear immigration, no. You only need to complete the arrival card if you are actually entering China, leaving the airport for a stopover under the 240-hour visa-free transit policy included. The narrow exemption is specifically for 24-hour direct transit within designated port areas, not the full 10-day transit window, so most transit stopovers still need the card filed. ## What Should You Have Ready Before You Land? Complete the card before you fly if you can. Airport Wi-Fi at Chinese ports can be slow during peak arrivals, and in many airports you need to register for Wi-Fi with your passport first, which adds friction if you are trying to file the card on arrival. Have your passport, flight details and accommodation address ready, and consider having mobile data and a VPN sorted before you land, since most Western apps and sites are not accessible on Chinese networks without one. ## Why This Matters for Backpackers Pivoting Through Asia A lot of travellers moving through Southeast Asia end up adding China to the route later than planned, a cheap flight, a visa run that turns into a longer stay, or a simple change of plan. China is an increasingly common add-on for exactly this kind of traveller, so knowing the arrival card system in advance is one less unknown at immigration. Read our [guide to essential apps for travelling in China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/essentialappsforchinatravel) for the WeChat, Alipay and VPN setup you will want sorted before you land. ## Frequently Asked Questions: ### Is China's Digital Arrival Card free? Yes. There is no fee to file the CDAC, whether you complete it online in advance or on arrival. ### Can I still use a paper arrival form? Yes, as a fallback. Paper forms remain available at Chinese ports if you have not filed the digital card in advance, though the digital route is faster since it skips the immigration counter queue. ### Do I need internet or a Chinese phone number to complete it? No Chinese number is needed. You do need internet access, either before you fly or via airport Wi-Fi on arrival, which can be slow during peak periods, so filing it before you travel is the more reliable option. ### What happens if I do not complete the arrival card? You risk delays at immigration, since the digital card is designed to replace the manual paper process most ports now expect. Filing it in advance takes a few minutes and avoids the on-arrival queue entirely. ### Is China visa-free for UK and Canadian travellers now? China has been expanding its general visa-free trial to cover more countries, including the UK. Policies and eligible nationalities change, so check our [guide to China's visa-free policy for UK travellers](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-visa-free-uk-travellers) for the current position before you book. Travelling through China on a budget? It can still be surprisingly affordable if you plan properly, though payments and transport work differently than in Southeast Asia, you will want Alipay or WeChat Pay set up before you arrive. BudgetBro tracks spending in over 160 currencies, so a detour through China sits alongside the rest of your trip in one place, not a separate tally in yuan. Travelling elsewhere in Asia on the same trip? Compare the [best travel insurance for travelling Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-travel-insurance-southeast-asia-uk). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Full Guide to Europe’s Digital Nomad Visas in 2026 > A 2026 country-by-country guide to Europe's digital nomad visas: real income requirements, fees, tax rules, and the new Bulgaria and Slovenia schemes. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-digital-nomad-visas-2026 - Published: 2025-11-29 - Updated: 2026-08-18 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Visa, Europe, 2026, Digital Nomad - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- TL;DR: More than 20 European countries offer a Digital Nomad visa, or an equivalent remote-work option in 2026. Bulgaria and Slovenia both launched brand new schemes over the 2025 to 2026 winter, and income thresholds have risen in Spain, Portugal and Croatia. Most countries want proof of stable monthly income of roughly 2,500 to 4,500 euros, private health insurance, and income earned from outside the country. France still has no nomad visa and now bans remote work on its visitor visa. Southeast Asia is where most digital nomads start out: cheap living, fast wifi and a big, friendly community. As careers and priorities mature, a lot of remote workers eventually look to Europe for the things Asia does not always offer: reliable public transport, card payments almost everywhere, strong healthcare, and a stable long-term base inside one of the largest free-travel zones on earth. A growing list of European countries now offer formal digital nomad visas or remote-worker residence permits. These let you live in the country legally, long term, while earning your income from abroad, without the endless tourist-visa runs. The rules, fees, processing times and income thresholds differ from country to country, and 2026 has brought real change: two brand new schemes, several higher income bars, and one country closing the door on remote work altogether. Here is the full picture for 2026, country by country, with all the details in one place. ## What is a digital nomad visa? A digital nomad visa is a residence permit that lets you live in a country while working online for an employer or clients based anywhere except that country. It is designed for people who earn their money abroad but want to base themselves locally for a while. It is not a work permit for the local job market, and it is not a tourist visa, which does not let you legally reside or, in most cases, work at all. ## What do you need to qualify? The paperwork varies, but almost every European scheme asks you to prove the same core things: You genuinely work remotely, as an employee, freelancer or company owner. Your income comes from outside the country you are applying to. You meet the minimum monthly income requirement, the figure that changes most between countries. You hold valid private health insurance covering that country. You have somewhere to stay, usually a rental contract or proof of accommodation. You have a clean criminal record and a passport with plenty of validity left. It is less about impressing anyone and more about showing you can support yourself without leaning on the local system. ## Which European countries offer a digital nomad visa in 2026? These are the main options in 2026, including the two newest arrivals. Income figures are the current 2026 requirements. Where a country ties its threshold to a local wage benchmark, the exact euro figure can drift slightly through the year. ### Bulgaria (new for 2026) - Visa type: Digital nomad residence permit, launched December 2025. - Income requirement: Around 2,583 euros per month, based on 31,000 euros a year, which is fifty times the national minimum wage. - Duration: One year, renewable once, for a maximum of two years. - Cost: Roughly 100 to 200 euros once you include the residence card. - Processing: Typically 30 to 90 days depending on the consulate. Good to know: Bulgaria joined the Schengen Area and adopted the euro in 2025, so it is now a genuinely convenient, low-cost base for travelling around Europe. Income must come from non-EU sources, and this is a renewable residence route rather than a fast track to permanent residency. ### Slovenia (new for 2026) - Visa type: Temporary residence permit for digital nomads, launched November 2025. - Income requirement: Around 2,900 to 3,300 euros per month, roughly twice the average net salary. - Duration: Up to 12 months, non-renewable. You can only reapply six months after it expires. - Cost: Around 162 euros. - Processing: Usually a few weeks to a couple of months. Good to know: Slovenia allows immediate family reunification, which is rare among these schemes. It is temporary by design, with no path to permanent residency, so treat it as a great one-year base rather than a settling-down route. ### Portugal - Visa type: D8 digital nomad and remote work visa. - Income requirement: Minimum 3,680 euros per month, four times the Portuguese minimum wage and up from 2025. - Duration: A short-stay visa that converts to a two-year residence permit once you arrive, renewable, with a possible path to permanent residency and citizenship. - Cost: Application around 90 to 100 euros, residence card around 150 to 170 euros. - Processing: Visa decision 30 to 60 working days, then a further 30 to 60 days for the residence card. Good to know: The income bar is high relative to the cost of living outside Lisbon and Porto, and AIMA, the immigration agency, is famous for delays. Note the tax change: the old NHR regime is closed to new applicants, and its replacement, IFICI, is aimed at people working inside Portugal in tech or research. Most remote-for-foreign-clients nomads no longer qualify for a flat rate and pay standard progressive tax. ### Spain - Visa type: Spain Digital Nomad Visa, also called the Teleworking Visa. - Income requirement: Around 2,849 euros per month, which is 200 percent of the Spanish minimum wage, raised with the 2026 wage increase. - Duration: Up to one year, exchangeable for a residence permit that can be extended for up to three years initially. - Cost: Around 75 to 80 euros at most consulates, plus a small residence-card fee in Spain. - Processing: 20 to 60 days. Good to know: The paperwork is detailed, covering contracts, degree or experience proof, private insurance and background checks. Spain also offers a reduced tax regime for new residents, a flat 24 percent up to 600,000 euros a year under the Beckham-style rules, worth checking before you commit. ### Italy - Visa type: Digital Nomad Visa for non-EU highly skilled remote workers. - Income requirement: Around 2,300 to 2,700 euros per month, roughly 28,000 euros a year. - Duration: One-year residence permit, renewable if you still meet the criteria. - Cost: Visa fee 100 to 120 euros, residence permit a further 80 to 100 euros. - Processing: 30 to 90 days from the consulate, plus time in Italy for local appointments and the residence card. Good to know: Italian bureaucracy is slow and the rules are still being interpreted, so experiences vary. You are expected to be a highly skilled applicant with clean, complete paperwork. ### Greece - Visa type: Digital Nomad Visa, a national visa. - Income requirement: Minimum 3,500 euros per month, higher with dependants. - Duration: Up to 12 months, then a two-year residence permit with the chance to extend. - Cost: 75 to 150 euros, plus residence-card fees when you switch to a permit. - Processing: 2 to 4 weeks for the visa, 1 to 3 months for the residence permit. Good to know: The income bar is high relative to local wages, and the card can take a while even after approval. On the plus side, Greece gives new tax residents a 50 percent income-tax reduction for seven years, and everyday costs are lower than much of Western Europe. ### Croatia - Visa type: Temporary stay for digital nomads. - Income requirement: Around 3,622 euros per month, which is 2.5 times the average net salary and was updated in March 2026, or equivalent savings. - Duration: Up to 18 months in a single grant. - Cost: 100 to 150 euros once you include the residence card. - Processing: 30 to 90 days depending on whether you apply from abroad or inside Croatia. Good to know: The permit cannot be renewed back to back, so it is more of a long single season than a settling-down route, and you now need around six months of bank statements. Croatia is in Schengen, and crucially your foreign income is not taxed locally, one of the best tax positions in Europe for a nomad. ### Estonia - Visa type: Short-stay C or long-stay D visa. - Income requirement: Minimum 4,500 euros gross per month in the six months before applying, the highest of the mainstream schemes. - Duration: Up to around 12 months depending on the visa. - Cost: C-visa 80 euros, D-visa 100 euros. - Processing: 15 to 30 days once you submit a complete application. Good to know: The income bar is very high for the local cost of living, and it is a time-limited visa with no path to residency by itself. What you get in return is a genuinely digital government, near-instant online bureaucracy and a clean, tech-friendly base. ### Malta - Visa type: Nomad Residence Permit. - Income requirement: Minimum gross of around 42,000 euros a year from foreign sources, roughly 3,500 euros a month. - Duration: Valid for one year, renewable up to four years total. - Cost: 300 euros, plus 27 euros per residence card. - Processing: 30 to 60 days once everything is submitted. Good to know: English is widely spoken, daily life is easy and the remote-working rules are clear. Rent and living costs on a small island can be higher than you expect, but foreign income can get favourable tax treatment. ### Germany - Visa type: Freiberufler, or freelance, residence permit. Germany has no dedicated nomad visa. - Income requirement: No fixed legal minimum. You prove sufficiency with client contracts, savings or income. Commonly cited figures sit in the low thousands of euros a month, but it is assessed case by case. - Duration: One to three years for the initial freelance permit, with a path to permanent residency. - Cost: Visa application around 75 euros, residence permit around 100 to 110 euros in Germany. - Processing: 30 to 60 days, plus local appointment time at the Auslanderbehorde, the foreigners office. Good to know: Many offices want to see German clients or an economic interest in the region, so being one hundred percent foreign-client based can be harder to justify. There is no single official income figure, so do not trust anyone who quotes one as gospel. ### France - Visa type: No dedicated nomad visa. Remote workers historically used the long-stay visitor visa, the VLS-TS. - Income requirement: Roughly 1,400 euros a month for the visitor visa. - Duration: Up to 12 months, often renewable annually. - Cost: Around 99 euros plus a tax stamp when you validate it in France. - Processing: 15 to 60 days through French consulates. Good to know (important): As of mid-2025 the French tax authorities and Interior Ministry confirmed that remote work is not allowed on the visitor visa, even if all your clients are abroad, and prefectures have refused renewals on that basis. To work remotely from France you now need a different route, such as the Profession Liberale permit, the Talent Passport or an EU Blue Card. Tread carefully. ### Other options worth knowing - Hungary (White Card): around 3,000 euros a month, one year plus one renewal, with no residency path. - Romania: around 3,300 euros a month, and income plus social contributions are exempt from Romanian tax, another strong tax position. - Cyprus: around 3,500 euros net a month, renewable up to three years, capped at 500 permits, with attractive non-dom tax rules. - Montenegro: a lower income bar of roughly 1,350 euros a month upward, but the whole scheme is currently legislated to end on 31 December 2026 unless it is extended. - Albania and Andorra: longer-stay options outside the EU, with Andorra requiring a substantial deposit. Poland, Ireland and Switzerland still have no dedicated nomad visa in 2026, so remote workers there rely on ordinary residence or tourist routes. ## How does tax work on a European digital nomad visa? Tax is where most nomads get caught out. The near-universal trigger is the 183-day rule: spend more than 183 days in a country in a calendar year and you usually become a tax resident on your worldwide income. Some visas quietly make you a tax resident regardless of the day count. A few countries are genuinely nomad-friendly. Croatia does not treat digital-nomad-permit holders as tax resident, so foreign income is not taxed there. Romania exempts income and social contributions for permit holders. Greece gives new tax residents a 50 percent income-tax cut for seven years, and Spain offers a reduced flat rate under its special expat regime. Portugal, by contrast, has closed its old NHR scheme, so its tax pitch for pure remote workers is weaker than it used to be. Always get country-specific advice before you commit. ## How do you track days in the countries you're travelling/the 90/180 Schengen rule? Holding a residence permit ties you to one country for residence and tax, but time spent in the wider Schengen Area on short stays is still capped at 90 days in any rolling 180-day window. Miscount it and you risk fines or an entry ban. This is exactly what BudgetBro's [Days in Country tracker](https://budgetbro.app/getbudgetbroapp) is built for. It counts your days per country and includes a Schengen 90/180 counter that warns you as you approach the 90-day limit and tells you the date your oldest Schengen day rolls off, so you know exactly when you can re-enter. It works from your logged spending, so it doubles as a visa-limit and tax-residency guide while you travel. It is part of the free [BudgetBro app](https://budgetbro.app/getbudgetbroapp), on iPhone, Android and the web. ## Upcoming digital nomad events to plan around Choosing a base is far easier once you have met the community in person. We are building a dedicated digital nomad hub, and this guide will link to it soon. In the meantime, here are the major nomad events happening across Europe over the next few months, several of which we cover in full: - [NomadEire Conference and Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-conference-fest-ireland-2026): 1 to 3 September, near Dublin, Ireland. - [The Nomad World Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-world-fest-2026): 10 to 13 September, Porto, Portugal. - [Athens Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/athens-nomad-fest-2026): 18 to 25 September, Athens, Greece. - [Nomad Cruise](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-cruise-southampton-new-york-2026): 19 to 26 September, sailing from Southampton in the UK. - [Turkiye Nomad Fest](https://budgetbro.app/blog/turkiye-nomad-fest-2026): October, Alanya, Turkiye. - [Web Summit](https://budgetbro.app/blog/web-summit-lisbon-2026): 9 to 12 November, Lisbon, Portugal, a huge tech event with a large nomad crowd. Dates can shift, so always confirm on the official event pages before booking travel. ## Frequently Asked Questions: ### Which European country has the easiest digital nomad visa? There is no single easiest one, but Croatia, Portugal and Estonia are the most established routes, and the new Bulgarian and Slovenian permits are worth watching. Croatia is quick to set up but cannot be renewed back to back, Portugal has a well-trodden process despite AIMA delays, and Estonia runs fully online but asks for a high income. ### Did any European country launch a new digital nomad visa in 2026? Yes. Bulgaria launched a digital nomad residence permit in December 2025 and Slovenia launched one in November 2025. Both are aimed at non-EU remote workers who earn their income from abroad. ### Which European digital nomad visa has the lowest income requirement? Montenegro sits around 1,350 euros a month and Albania lower still, though both are outside the EU. Within the EU, Bulgaria and Italy are among the more accessible at roughly 2,500 to 2,700 euros a month. France's old visitor route was lowest at around 1,400 euros but no longer permits remote work. ### How much income do you need for a European digital nomad visa? It varies by country, but most ask you to prove a stable monthly income of roughly 2,500 to 4,500 euros. Estonia is highest at 4,500 euros gross, while Bulgaria, Italy and Malta sit at the lower end. Figures are reviewed each year and several rose in 2026. ### Can you travel around the Schengen Area on a digital nomad visa? Once you hold a residence permit from a Schengen country you can generally travel freely across the rest of the Schengen Area for short stays, but those short stays are capped at 90 days in any 180-day period. Your permit ties you to the issuing country for residence and tax. A tool like BudgetBro's Days in Country tracker helps you stay inside the 90/180 limit. ### Do you pay tax on a European digital nomad visa? Often yes, once you become tax resident, which usually happens after around 183 days in the country. Croatia and Romania are notable exceptions that do not tax foreign income, and Greece offers a large discount for new residents. Rules differ a lot, so get country-specific advice. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # South & Southeast Asia Flood Tracker 2026 > Live tracker of 2026 flooding across South and Southeast Asia: latest affected regions in Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam, with advice for travellers. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/asia-flood-tracker - Published: 2025-11-28 - Updated: 2026-08-17 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Floods, South East Asia, Thailand, Vietnam, The Philippines , Travel - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- *This page is being regularly updated with the latest flooding information across South and Southeast Asia, including traveller reports, government alerts, and volunteer opportunities.* Last updated: 18 August 2026 ## August 2026 update: monsoon season is active Monsoon flooding has picked up again across the region. Through late July and early August 2026, disaster agencies logged around 30 flood, storm and landslide events across ASEAN. In Thailand, flooding hit the north and border provinces including Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Nan, Phayao, Phetchabun, Chanthaburi and Ranong, with Nakhon Phanom city flooding on 10 August. In the Philippines, Tropical Depression Luis and the southwest monsoon caused flooding in the Bicol (Region V) and Zamboanga Peninsula (Region IX) areas. Vietnam reported storms, flooding and landslides in northern and central provinces including Lao Cai, Dien Bien, Son La, Lam Dong and Ca Mau. Most of the region stays manageable with planning: check the morning forecast, keep outdoor plans to the early part of the day, and avoid mountain roads and small boats when storms are active. The bigger exceptions are the typhoon-prone Philippines and Vietnam's central coast. Always check your own government's travel advisory and local alerts close to your trip. The country-by-country log below covers earlier updates from the 2025 to 2026 season. *Sri Lanka:* [@amalinii](https://www.instagram.com/amaliniii/) on Instagram is posting updates on how you can help, including a real time Google Docs link for what is needed and how & where you can support: [Google Doc - Sri Lanka How & Where You Can Help](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1nurUZGpF4hTbGSBw9trINt31nQARItFxhgEiBFW3uW0/edit?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQMMjU2MjgxMDQwNTU4AAGneU0EIQPucmP1sbj2Pa0loqjO2OUHEPrpVpagCPqAFfrP6e2l7R67-2_9NWI_aem_fZtRYD25zDe7337RZLe8vQ&tab=t.0) *29th November: State of Emergency declared after 153 people declared dead.-DW News: *[*https://www.dw.com/en/sri-lanka-declares-emergency-as-floods-kill-more-than-150/a-74952338*](https://www.dw.com/en/sri-lanka-declares-emergency-as-floods-kill-more-than-150/a-74952338) *28th November: Al Jazeera *[*Cyclone Ditwah has killed 50 people in deadly floods*](https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2025/11/28/more-than-50-killed-in-deadly-sri-lanka-floods-what-we-know-so-far) *Indonesia:* *30th November: Despite flooding and landslides severely affecting Sumatra with over 400 deaths, *the main tourist hub* areas of *Seminyak, Ubud, and Canggu remain unaffected. [https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/indonesia-flood-death-toll-climbs-303-amid-cyclone-devastation-disaster-agency-2025-11-29/](https://www.reuters.com/business/environment/indonesia-flood-death-toll-climbs-303-amid-cyclone-devastation-disaster-agency-2025-11-29/) Thailand: 27th November: [Southern Thailand Flooding](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-flooding-news) 26th November: An emergency was declared in Hat Yai - [Bangkok Post](https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/general/3146297/flood-death-toll-in-south-rises-to-145) 11th November - Heavy rainfall continues in northern Thailand (Chiang Mai, Chang Rai) Philippines: 11th November - 18 dead, and over 1 million displaced from Typhoon Fung-wong Vietnam: 11th November - Heavy rain forecasted for Hoi An # Asia's Drowning in Problems In the past 14 days here are some worrying facts: - The Philippines have been hit by Typhoon [Kalmaegi](https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/11/06/philippines-typhoon-kalmaegi-death-toll-vietnam-tino/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) which caused catastrophic flooding across the central Philippines (especially Cebu and surrounding areas) where a national state of emergency was declared. No official death toll has been released but it's exceeded 100 so far. - Vietnam has also been hit hard, they've been hit by severe floods and landslides in central provinces Hue, Hoi An, Quang Nam, Da Nang. They've also seen flash flooding in Ho Chi Minh City. Over 37 deaths have been recorded and they've been hit today with the same Typhoon, Kalmaegi which battered the Philippines just days ago. - Thailand's tourist hotspot [Phuket](https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-battered-again-by-rain-floods-and-landslips-98204.php?utm_source=chatgpt.com) has seen flooding after persistent heavy rain, Bangkok too was flooding in areas on Monday 5th November. Chao Phraya basin and nationwide alerts for 7th-10th of November after Dam outflows increased in 11 provinces. - Myanmar faced ubran flooding across multiple Yangon townships after heavy downpours, this even put a halt to [Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Festival](https://budgetbro.app/blog/taunggyi-tazaungdaing-festival-extended) and was even extended because of the recent weather. - Malaysia has too witnessed severe flooding in Perak, Kedah and Penang. Over 4,000 evacuations to temporary shelters within the last 14 days. ## Travelling or living in Southeast Asia? Give us updates. Leave us a comment on social media or DM us your local updates and we'll add them here to help others stay safe and support local communities. # Volunteer & Donations: How you can help! A significant volunteering effort is underway as flood-waters ravage affected regions, currently there's around 300 volunteers daily helping to clean up and restoring homes in the hardest hitting provinces and much more are needed. Travelling isn't just about the breathtaking views, the cheap food and loving locals, it's also about giving back, so take a second to think about volunteering, the people need you. Your activities will include: - Removing debris and mud from flooded homes - Assisting with drainage, pumping out water and clearing access pathways - Helping families salvage personal belongings and dry out homes - Supporting local relief centres with food and water Your involvement won't go unnoticed, local communities are overwhelmed by the scale of the damage and people like you are urgently needed. The [Bangkok Post](https://www.bangkokpost.com/life/social-and-lifestyle/2870368/volunteers-needed-to-help-flood-victims?utm_source=chatgpt.com) have contact details on their volunteers needed post, click the link to join in 💚 ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Is it safe to travel to Southeast Asia during the monsoon? Usually yes, with planning. Rain often comes in short heavy bursts rather than all day, and most cities cope fine. The real risks are flash floods, landslides on mountain roads and typhoons, so avoid affected provinces, keep flexible plans and check local alerts. The typhoon-prone Philippines and central Vietnam need the most caution. ### When is monsoon season in Southeast Asia? Broadly June to October across mainland Southeast Asia and the Philippines, though timing varies by country and coast. Southern Thailand and Vietnam's central coast run later, into November and December. This tracker is most active through those months. ### Which areas are worst affected in 2026? As of August 2026, northern Thailand, parts of the Philippines and northern and central Vietnam have seen the most recent flooding. Conditions change week to week during the monsoon, so treat any single update as a snapshot and check official sources before you travel. ### How can I help flood-affected communities? Local volunteer and donation efforts run through the season. See the volunteer and donations section on this page, and follow local organisers and verified relief accounts for the real-time needs in each area. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Updated: Cyber Monday - The Ultimate Guide to Travel Deals for Backpackers & Budget Travellers > The best Black Friday 2025 deals for backpackers across Europe, the UK and Southeast Asia — updated as new offers go live. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/travel-deals-for-backpackers - Published: 2025-11-27 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Backpacking, Cyber Monday - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- # The Ultimate Guide to Travel Deals for Backpackers & Budget Travellers Save money on flights, accommodation, insurance, SIMs and travel tools across Europe, the UK and Southeast Asia. Updated throughout the year, including Black Friday and seasonal sales. Black Friday and Cyber Monday (Week) 2025 is no longer just about TVs and laptops. For backpackers and travellers, it has become one of the best opportunities of the year to cut travel costs, from flights and travel insurance to hostels, SIM cards, backpacks, and digital tools. Whether you are already travelling in Southeast Asia, planning to head there soon, or organising a future trip across Europe or the UK, this guide breaks down what deals to expect, where to find them, and how to avoid fake “discounts.” Direct links to Black Friday sales page and information from the website on details where stated. # Black Friday & Cyber Monday Travel Deals ### **When is Black Friday in 2025?** This year, Black Friday falls on Friday, 28th November but most travel deals run well before and after, including on the following Monday, and: Early deals from mid-November Black Friday weekend offers Cyber Monday extensions “Black Week” and even “Travel Month” promotions If you are travelling right now, many discounts apply instantly, and do not require fixed travel dates. ### Why does Black Friday Matters for Travellers? Unlike traditional retail, many travel products are digital or flexible, meaning you can buy now and use later. Black Friday is especially valuable for: - Long-term backpackers - Digital nomads - Gap year travellers - People planning trips for 2026 - Travellers already in Southeast Asia who still need accessories, insurance, or transport ## Accommodation: Accommodation platforms and online travel agencies (OTA's) usually run some of the largest and most reliable Black Friday and Cyber Monday discounts. (Could be useful if you are travelling/have an early flight!) Agoda: [https://www.agoda.com/BlackFridayFlashSale](https://www.agoda.com/BlackFridayFlashSale) Booking.com: [https://www.booking.com/dealspage.en-gb.html](https://www.booking.com/dealspage.en-gb.html) (Black Friday Deals are available at participating properties worldwide, for stays between 20 November 2025 and 31 December 2026.) Expedia: Hotels & Flights Sale [https://www.expedia.com](https://www.expedia.com) Hostelworld: [https://www.hostelworld.com/deals/black-friday/](https://www.hostelworld.com/deals/black-friday/) IHG - IHG One Rewards members save 25%, and everyone else can save 20%. Book by 4 December 2025 for stays before 31 March 2026. [https://www.ihg.com/hotels/gb/en/reservation](https://www.ihg.com/hotels/gb/en/reservation) ## Airlines: Ryanair - Buy One get One Half Price [https://www.ryanair.com/ie/en](https://www.ryanair.com/ie/en) British Airways: Book by Tuesday [https://www.britishairways.com/content/offers/sale/black-friday](https://www.britishairways.com/content/offers/sale/black-friday) Easyjet: Up to 20% off [https://www.easyjet.com/en/](https://www.easyjet.com/en/) Indigo [https://www.goindigo.in/sale.html?BlackFridaySale%202025%7C1%7CFlight%20offers](https://www.goindigo.in/sale.html?BlackFridaySale%202025%7C1%7CFlight%20offers) Vietjetair: Book until 30th November and use the promo code 'THANKME' for up to 100% off eco class ticket prices excl taxes, for travel January 5th, 2026 - May 27th, 2026 FREE 20kg included. [https://www.vietjetair.com/en/news/hot-deals-1697696866958/thank-yourself-with-festive-flights-1763120975765](https://www.vietjetair.com/en/news/hot-deals-1697696866958/thank-yourself-with-festive-flights-1763120975765) NEW Vietnamese Airline: Sun PhuQuoc Airways: 15% off basic economy fares! To/from Phu Quoc. Code 'FLYSPA' should be automatically applied at check-out. [https://www.sunphuquocairways.com/vn/vi/explore/offers/black-friday-2025](https://www.sunphuquocairways.com/vn/vi/explore/offers/black-friday-2025) *Also: Buy tickets to Phu Quoc for round-trip Hon Thom cable car tickets and Wow Pass at Sun World Hon Thom* *Buy tickets to Da Nang for Ba Na cable car ticket and Wow Pass at Sun World Ba Na Hills* *Buy tickets to Hanoi for gift tickets for the Queen’s round-trip cable car and Wow Pass at Sun World Ha Long* *Buy tickets to TP. Ho Chi Minh City offers Van Son Peak Cab Combo Ticket – Hang Pagoda and Wow Pass at Sun World Ba Den Mountain* *Applicable flight phase: From 01/11/2015 to 28/3/2026* Virgin Atlantic: Book by Tuesday [https://flights.virginatlantic.com/en-gb/black-friday](https://flights.virginatlantic.com/en-gb/black-friday) ## E-Sims: HolaFly - 3 Travel eSims for 2. [https://esim.holafly.com/](https://esim.holafly.com/) ## Group Tours: If you are already in SEA, shorter bookings and same-week stays are frequently discounted. Contiki: Ends 4th December [https://www.contiki.com/en-sg/activity/black-friday](https://www.contiki.com/en-sg/activity/black-friday) G Adventures: Up to 30% off [https://www.gadventures.com/travel-deals/black-friday-sale/](https://www.gadventures.com/travel-deals/black-friday-sale/) Intrepid: Up to 20% off [https://www.intrepidtravel.com/en/cyber-sale](https://www.intrepidtravel.com/en/cyber-sale) Introtravel: 15% off, code 'INTROFRIDAY' [www.introtravel.com](https://www.introtravel.com) ## Travel Insurance: World Nomads: 15% off with code 'COVERUP15' [https://www.worldnomads.com/uk](https://www.worldnomads.com/uk) ### Income / Volunteering: The TEFL Academy: Up to 70% off [https://www.theteflacademy.com](https://www.theteflacademy.com) i-to- iTEFL: Up to 85% off [https://www.i-to-i.com](https://www.i-to-i.com) Worldpackers: 4 months free [https://www.worldpackers.com](https://www.worldpackers.com) TrustedHouseSitters (Pet Sitting / House Sitting): 30% off with normal friend referral code. Search Google / Facebook to find referral links. [https://www.trustedhousesitters.com](https://www.trustedhousesitters.com) ## Others: Amazon: Amazon's Black Friday Week and Cyber Monday until 1st December [www.amazon.co.uk](https://www.amazon.co.uk) / [www.amazon.com](https://www.amazon.com) Klook: Up to 50% theme park deals, 5% off hotels in Thailand [https://www.klook.com/en-US/tetris/promo/bfcm-travel-sale/](https://www.klook.com/en-US/tetris/promo/bfcm-travel-sale/) select the country for specific promotions MyGuideGuru: 50% off Subscriptions [https://www.myguideguru.com](https://www.myguideguru.com) More reading to help you plan: [China’s Travel Comeback](https://budgetbro.app/blog/chinatravelcomeback2026), [Australia Day](https://budgetbro.app/blog/australia-day-protest) and [Camp America 2027](https://budgetbro.app/blog/camp-america-work-at-summer-camp-usa). Snagging the deals is half the battle; staying on budget once you are travelling is the other half. [Compare the top travel budgeting apps](https://budgetbro.app/alternatives) to keep every currency in check. ## Final Thoughts: Is Black Friday 2025 Worth It for Travellers? Yes, if you focus on travel essentials, not impulse buys. Black Friday 2025 is best used to: - Reduce your long-term travel costs. - Prepare for Europe, the UK, or Southeast Asia trips ahead! - Upgrade essentials while you're already on the road You can also check our Founder Josh's [top 3 deals this Black Friday](https://budgetbro.app/blog/backpacker-black-friday-guide) --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Southern Thailand Flooding: What’s Happening > Widespread flooding has hit parts of southern Thailand. Here is what travellers need to know, which areas are affected, and how you can help locals. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-flooding-news - Published: 2025-11-27 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Thailand, Floods, Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- This article focuses specifically on the flooding currently impacting southern Thailand. For a broader overview of flooding across the region, including neighbouring countries and seasonal patterns, read our guide to flooding in Southeast Asia. ## Southern Thailand Flooding: What’s Happening, Travel Impact & How You Can Help When people imagine Thailand, the images that typically come to mind include tropical islands, coastal sunsets, local markets and the vibrant energy of travellers exploring day to day life abroad. The south of the country is widely recognised as a haven for relaxation and tourism, a region travellers often visit to unwind, reset, and experience a slower pace of life. However, the monsoon season arrived with exceptional intensity this year, resulting in widespread and severe flooding across parts of the Thai southern region. Torrential rains affected multiple provinces, overwhelming local towns and rural communities. In several areas, streets were submerged entirely, effectively transforming into fast-moving waterways. Residential homes, local businesses, and markets were significantly impacted, with floodwaters forcing closures and displacing families from their properties. For many households, daily life shifted abruptly into emergency response, with residents focused on protecting their families, livelihoods, and personal safety. While major tourist cities such as Phuket and Krabi possess infrastructure that supports rapid recovery, the scale of disruption in less commercialised areas underscored the broader human impact of seasonal natural events. The flooding has highlighted the resilience of local communities while also drawing attention to the urgent need for coordinated relief, essential supplies, and formal humanitarian support. ## Should Travellers be Worried? Tourist hotspots including Phuket and Krabi historically regain normal operations at a rapid pace following monsoon-related disruptions. Airports, main roads, and coastal attractions are typically prioritised for swift recovery because of their importance to national mobility and tourism infrastructure. Seasonal flooding has occurred in Southern Thailand for many years, and recovery systems in these areas are well practiced, efficient, and formally managed. That said, southern flooding extends far beyond highly visited shorelines. Rural suburbs and lesser-known townships often lack immediate flood protections, insurance readiness, or rapid asset recovery support. While ferries, transport routes, and tourist services resume quickly in major hubs, residential districts face longer rebuilding timelines, complex loss assessments, and ongoing relief needs even after the water levels fall. For travellers currently in southern Thailand or planning a visit, there is no need for concern regarding general travel safety when following official local guidance, avoiding unnecessary movement into affected rural zones, and keeping travel plans flexible during the wet season. ### If You Want to Help, Here's what You Need to Know If you’re serious about providing support, a detailed breakdown of how to donate has been shared in a recent article from [The Nation](https://www.nationthailand.com/news/general/40058798). The article includes verified information for financial contributions and ongoing flood-relief efforts. For those already in Thailand, volunteering remains a meaningful option, but it carries the most impact when organised through local aid networks or relief groups on the ground. Above all, assistance should be respectful, coordinated, and directed to communities that are currently affected. If you can help, now is the time. Show up where it matters, support the people who need it, and offer help in ways that truly contribute to long-term recovery. Keep the planning going with our guides to [Thailand Songkran Festival 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-festival-thailand), [Halloween in Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/halloweeninasia) and [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Voluntária no Nomad Fest 2025 em Bangkok: Mais do que um Festival, uma lição de coragem > Viajar para Bangkok para o Nomad Fest 2025 foi empolgante, mas também assustador. Aqui está o que aprendi como voluntária levando o BudgetBro ao evento. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/volunteeringnomadfestbangkok2025 - Published: 2025-11-25 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Thailand, Volunteering, Female, NomadFest - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- O evento [**NomadFest – Creator Edition**](https://www.nomadfestcreator.com) em Bangkok, no ano de 2025, foi uma grande oportunidade para eu e Josh nos conectarmos com outros nômades, aprender com quem já vive do online e apresentar o BudgetBro para pessoas que pudessem realmente entender a dor de viajar full time. Estamos investindo tudo o que temos no aplicativo, então participar de um festival como esse era essencial para o aprendizado, fazer conexões importantes e abrir portas. O BudgetBro é um app que ajuda viajantes e mochileiros a controlar gastos e aproveitar mais a viagem, tudo num só lugar. Ele combina perfeitamente com o estilo de vida nômade porque foi criado para quem precisa decidir rápido, economizar e não quer perder horas pesquisando onde comer, o que fazer ou quanto ainda pode gastar. **Nossa divisão de papéis: por que eu fui voluntária?** Fui voluntária por dois motivos principais: 1. Financeiro: Tudo que temos está indo para o desenvolvimento do app. Ir como voluntária era uma forma de economizar sem deixar de estar presente no evento. 2. Autoconhecimento (e estratégia!): Eu nunca tinha participado de um evento desse tipo. Eu sabia que se eu fosse como participante e me sentisse apavorada, eu provavelmente ia travar e não conseguir voltar nos outros dias. Sendo voluntária, eu podia viver a experiência no meu ritmo, sem a pressão de “representar” o BudgetBro o tempo todo. Minhas funções no festival eram duplas: eu deveria ajudar principalmente na recepção e credenciamento dos participantes, mas também fiquei mais na função tirar algumas fotos e fazer vídeos para as redes sociais do evento. Eles sabiam que eu não sou muito boa tirando fotos ou gravando videos, mas também sabiam que alguma coisa podeia ser reaproveitada. O Josh se comunica e consegue se conectar com outras pessoas melhor do que eu. Nosso representante de marketing, Nathan, também estava lá. Os dois mandaram bem demais representando a nossa marca. **O Ambiente e a Experiência Geral: Um Choque de Mundos** Para mim, a atmosfera do evento foi um verdadeiro choque de mundos. Tudo parecia novo, rápido e até um pouco caótico. Mas, ao mesmo tempo, era inspirador ver tanta gente criando projetos, compartilhando histórias e vivendo um estilo de vida que para muitos ainda parece impossível. O estilo de vida nômade não é só sobre viajar; é sobre se reinventar, se adaptar, aprender rápido e achar coragem onde você nem sabia que tinha. Conheci pessoas do mundo inteiro: europeus, asiáticos, africanos, e por aí vai. Eu conversei pouco, por medo do inglês, mas ainda assim ouvi histórias incríveis sobre carreira digital, viagens longas e projetos criativos. Mesmo sem profundidade nas conversas, foram encontros que abriram minha cabeça. E o que mais me chamou a atenção foram os conteúdos sobre como transformar experiências em oportunidades. Porque isso é exatamente o que eu e Josh fizemos com o nosso aplicativo. **O Ponto Crucial: Quando Veio o Pânico do Inglês** A primeira vez que tentei me apresentar como cofundadora do app foi o momento que me travou. Eu sabia o que queria dizer, mas as palavras simplesmente sumiram. Nos intervalos de uma palestra e outra, as pessoas olhavam para mim esperando uma conversa. Muitas delas ja ate tinham conversado com o Josh, ja sabiam sobre o aplicativo mas elas queriam ouvir a minha versão também. Eu até tentava manter o papo, mas logo me pegava fugindo dali por medo de travar a qualquer momento. Eu gaguejava, esquecia palavras que eu sabia, me enrolava em frases simples. Era uma mistura de frustração, vergonha e ansiedade, tudo ao mesmo tempo. **A Entrevista Inesperada** Em um desses momentos, uma menina chamada Aybriel, sem nenhuma pretensão, começou a conversar comigo. No meio da conversa, eu soltei sobre ser a cofundadora do BudgetBro. Ela, como uma excelente entrevistadora, conseguiu de forma natural tirar de mim as informações necessárias para uma entrevista oficial e me perguntou se poderíamos gravar. Aceitei com muito custo e pela persistência dela! Ela criou um ambiente extremamente confortável e acolheu meu medo de falar em público em inglês. Eu sei que a entrevista em si deve estar um desastre (eu estava muito, muito nervosa mesmo), mas sinto orgulho por ter me permitido tentar. **Fui julgada ou acolhida?** Absolutamente TODOS, de verdade, foram extremamente acolhedores, pacientes e, talvez, muitos nem perceberam o quão nervosa aquela situação estava me deixando. O julgamento vinha apenas de mim. Eu colocava uma pressão enorme por ser cofundadora e por achar que precisava entregar uma versão perfeita de mim mesma. **O Meu Maior Aprendizado: Coragem não é ausência de medo** Eu percebi que coragem não é não sentir medo, é ir mesmo assim. Eram três dias de voluntariado e, no primeiro dia, eu me arrumei, saí de casa e no meio do caminho, voltei pro hotel. Eu comecei a pensar demais sobre múltiplos cenários que criei na cabeça e aquilo estava me fazendo sentir mal. No segundo e no terceiro dia, eu não pensei. Apenas fui! Eu poderia ter fugido mais uma vez, mas eu fiquei até onde aguentei. E isso, para mim, valeu mais do que qualquer palestra. **Me arrependo de ter ido? De jeito nenhum.** Se eu não tivesse ido, continuaria achando que “não consigo”. Agora eu sei que consigo sim, só preciso confiar mais em mim mesma, respeitar minhas limitações e parar de me auto cobrar uma perfeição. O BudgetBro nasceu da vida real, e ir ao festival me fez enxergar ainda mais as dores do viajante, especialmente a vulnerabilidade que sentimos quando estamos fora do nosso país, fora da nossa zona de conforto ou longe de quem nos faz se sentir confiante. Enfim.. Aqui esta um pouco da minha experiencia sobre o Festival. More reading to help you plan: [Minha Conexão com O BudgetBro](https://budgetbro.app/blog/o-toque-feminino-por-tras-do-budgetbro), [Why We're Heading to Nomad Fest Bangkok](https://budgetbro.app/blog/why-were-heading-to-nomad-fest-bangkok) and [Nomad Summit Chiang Mai 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-summit-chiang-mai). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Backpacker Black Friday Guide > Top Picks for Black Friday 2026: The best buys and deals to lock in before your one way flight to Asia - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/backpacker-black-friday-guide - Published: 2025-11-21 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Black Friday, Europe, Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Travelling isn’t expensive because of one big cost, it’s expensive because of a thousand little ones. A hostel here, a bus there, a new charger you lost seven days into your trip, it all adds up. And the annoying part? Most of it is avoidable. Black Friday can be great, but it can also be a hoax. You just need to do your research to stretch a few pounds and add a few more days onto your trip. It’s not as hard as you think either. I’ve done the leg work for you. Below I’ve listed three great ways for you to save money during this Black Friday. ## Black Friday Deal #1: Osprey Farpoint 40L backpack I’ve made this one a priority because I know how big Osprey bags are. Back in 2019 I bought my first Osprey backpack and I still use the same one today. Six years in and it’s as strong as ever, although the zips need a bit of oil. Osprey have been popular for a long time but they’ve had a huge spike in recent years, so finding this bag in the Black Friday sale is pretty epic. Here's the [Amazon](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Osprey-Europe-Farpoint-Backpack-Tunnel/dp/B09KQ2VJCW/ref=sr_1_4?crid=1LUTT4EOMTU0K¤cy=GBP&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.Gny2o--2glV7hcBoCQVJCIVVU4xcEv9-_mrzSFMOaPc482obpkAMcghF8kZ9tpsF9HkHaq5k7W0PTrgyOhupKgN4RxrIOV-60Gbzo0YUFqC-VKX6paQapxMVEgY-Y30Cj8STUOm03tc9Yc5BDXrquRBZ5vpKlwOhCpry0dvVA3LT3TA3wctM3dHIYLpdS1vYJZz2PDY6ViB0br93p2Oe4ZPJQs5XtLCb5dmsCZVO4dY2HOo5uhVq9AOR1Pq2LlJj1E-MJfSyE6mJBiOdt1gWQpDoHB7yFjDUw2fQiHN0qUY.hBtjz86vfXyXTeAir5V90GHqoi4Igw79WwZ1xcoj-lM&dib_tag=se&keywords=osprey%2B40l&qid=1763717562&sprefix=osprey%2B40%2Caps%2C293&sr=8-4&th=1&psc=1) link, 35% off! Thank me later as I know a lot of you will LOVE this one. ### Black Friday Deal #2: Vietjet Air up to 99% OFF! This ones pretty mega, and it's genuine too. If you're in or going to Southeast Asia, you don't want to miss this opportunity. The key thing here is timing, they will fly off the shelf (pun intended) so be quick, and remember it's Vietjet, they will weigh your carry on. They seem to be the only airline which constantly catches me out. Here's the [Vietjet Air](https://th.vietjetair.com) link, GO GO GO! ### Black Friday Deal #3: Hostelworld Although this isn't a direct product you can buy, it's extremely handy, especially if you know exactly where you are going over the next few weeks you can save more than you'd think with unto 35% off most places. what's even more impressive is this the areas the Black Friday deals cover. - Southeast Asia 252 locations - Europe 190 locations - South America 182 Surprising right? Here's the [Hostelworld](https://www.hostelworld.com/deals/black-friday/?utm_source=chatgpt.com+https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/us/plan-travel/local-promotions/black-friday-preview-2025/?) link directly to their Black Friday sales. These are not affiliate links (unfortunately) just my honest opinion on where to look for travel discounts during this year's Black Friday sale. However if these links did help you, share the love and follow our [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/budgetbro.app/), engage with some of our posts. It goes a long way 💚 Keep the planning going with our guides to [Surviving Long Haul Flights](https://budgetbro.app/blog/survive-long-haul-flights), [Layover Like a Pro on Long Haul Flights](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-to-do-a-long-haul-layover) and [Travel Volunteering Opportunities Around the World](https://budgetbro.app/blog/travel-volunteering-opportunities). Once the Black Friday deals are booked, the trip still has to stay on budget. [Compare travel budgeting apps](https://budgetbro.app/alternatives) to track your spending in every currency you use. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # My First Solo Trip Through Southeast Asia > What happens when you stop overthinking, book the ticket and trust yourself: my first solo trip through Southeast Asia and the lessons it taught me. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/my-first-solo-trip-through-southeast-asia - Published: 2025-11-20 - Author: Fabiana - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Backpacking, Asia, Female - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Southeast Asia has always felt like a second home to me. Two years ago, I backpacked this region with a mixed group of friends, the kind of trip where you hop on night buses half-asleep, eat street food at 2am and laugh at things that make no sense. We visited temples, beaches, mountains, and chaotic cities, and I remember thinking the entire time “One day, I want to see this place through my own eyes, not through a group.” There was a freedom in Southeast Asia that stayed with me long after I returned home. Life went back to normal, but the feeling never left, So two years later, I stopped overthinking, booked my flight, and committed to one full month alone. Just me, my backpack, and the person I was about to become. ## The Reality of Solo Travel as a Woman Before the trip, I was excited, but also terrified, I had so many questions: Would I feel lonely? Would I make friends? Would I be safe? Would I even enjoy my own company for that long? I didn’t tell many people how nervous I actually was. But something inside me reminded me of how comfortable and safe Southeast Asia felt the first time, but I told myself “If I’m going to do this anywhere, it’s here.” What surprised me was how quickly everything clicked into place. When I travelled with friends years ago, I relied on everyone else without realising it. But travelling solo forced me to step up in the best way. One of my first solo wins was navigating a huge airport alone in a different country with a huge language barrier. Another was taking public transport in Beijing which was complete unfamiliar city and I realised I didn’t need to panic because I could figure things out step by step. Even small moments, like ordering food in a new language or asking a stranger for directions, became tiny reminders that I’m more capable than I give myself credit for. And that’s the secret of solo travel: Your confidence doesn’t arrive before the trip it grows along the way. ### What This Taught Me **1. You learn to trust yourself** It sounds cliché until you’re actually in a different country making decisions completely alone. On this trip, I had moments where I had to trust my gut, like choosing which boat to take, which tour company looked safe, or which hostel felt right and who to trust around me. There were moments where I thought, “I hope I’m doing this correctly,” and then I would figure it out. Every small win adds to your confidence. **2. You’re stronger than you thought** Solo travel forces you to handle situations you’d normally rely on others for. I realised this the first time I arrived somewhere after a long journey, exhausted, hungry, and carrying my backpack in the heat. Instead of waiting for someone to help, I checked in, sorted my things, showered, and went out for food. Even doing something as simple as walking into a restaurant alone made me feel proud. You become stronger without noticing, it becomes your daily routine. **3. Freedom hits different when you’re alone** One of my favourite moments of the trip so far was deciding to wake up early without anyone complaining about it. I booked activities last-minute, extended stays when I loved a place, and moved on quickly when I didn’t. When you travel solo, nobody rushes you. Nobody slows you down. Nobody questions your choices. You get to live exactly how you want and that’s a feeling every woman deserves. **4. You make deeper connections** Funny enough, I’ve met more people travelling solo than I did on group trips. You naturally open up because you have to. Other solo travellers do the same. I’ve shared meals with travellers from all over the world. I’ve had long conversations during tours, met new friends at hostels, and experienced those beautiful “strangers who feel familiar” moments that only happen when you’re travelling. When you’re alone, friendships become stronger and easier, everyone is on the same wavelength. #### Why Every Girl Should Travel Solo at Least Once This trip has already changed me in ways I didn’t expect and I’m still in the middle of it. But one truth has become so clear. Every woman deserves to experience solo travel at least once. Not to prove a point. Not to be “brave.” Not to escape life. But to meet herself. You learn real confidence Not the kind you pretend to have, the kind you build through small victories, independent decisions, and taking responsibility for your own journey. ##### The Start of Something Bigger This solo journey is only the beginning for me. It has already given me confidence, peace, clarity, and a renewed sense of who I am. And I truly believe every girl deserves to experience that feeling, even once. Whether you’re curious, nervous, excited, or unsure, here’s what I want you to know: If I can do it, you can too. And the world is far more ready to welcome you than you think. More reading to help you plan: [16,095KM Away From Home](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-i-ended-up-here), [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia) and [China’s Travel Comeback](https://budgetbro.app/blog/chinatravelcomeback2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Your First Time Backpacking Europe: The 2026 Starter Pack > A simple 2026 guide with all the links, tips, and tools you need for a smooth first backpacking trip in Europe. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/your-first-time-backpacking-europe-the-2026-starter-pack - Published: 2025-11-20 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Europe, Backpacking, 2026 - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Let’s face it, Southeast Asia has been the go-to spot for backpackers but things are starting to shift. Even places like Thailand, which used to be bursting with positive year-on-year figures, are now falling off. From Jan 1st to Sept 14th 2025, Thailand nervously swallowed a 7.08% drop in tourists, and the ones who are coming aren’t exactly the type of travellers Thailand actually wants. So where does that leave new backpackers in 2026? Honestly, there are three places, but I’ll write separate blogs about each one: China, Europe and South America. Europe is looking hot right now and although it’s not cheaper, it gives you something completely different. You’ve got neighbouring countries that feel nothing alike, trains that take you across borders in hours, and a backpacker scene that still feels exciting rather than overcrowded. Hostels are social, the food is banging, the cities are walkable, and you’re discovering something new every time you jump to the next spot. If you’re planning your first big trip and want the same level of freedom without doing the same old loop, Europe is whispering your name. ## Daily Budget Comparison Before we dive into the simple 2026 guide, I want to quickly highlight the real cost difference compared to Southeast Asia. It’s important for any new traveller because, let’s be real, we’re all hunting for the hacks that stretch our trips as long as possible. I’m no different. If anything, I’m probably one of the most anal budget travellers you’ll ever meet, so here’s the honest breakdown you actually need before choosing your route. In short, and with no surprise, Europe is pricier than Southeast Asia, especially in the big-name cities, but it delivers a completely different level of variety and quality. Eastern Europe is surprisingly similar to Southeast Asia if you’re smart about it, but Western Europe hits hard and you’ll feel the cash burn. Overall, the hostels, transport and food are generally higher quality and way easier to navigate. You pay more, but you get a lot back for it. ### Who Europe Really Suits (And Who It Doesn't) Europe suits travellers who want things to actually work while still feeling like they’re exploring. If you enjoy bouncing between walkable cities, jumping on a train and landing somewhere completely different a few hours later, checking out bars, old towns, beaches and museums all in one week, Europe is your place. A lot of travel blogs mention how easy it is to get around, how social the hostels are and how simple it is to meet people or join tours. But it’s not for everyone. If you prefer that raw, unpredictable, “anything can happen” energy you get in places like Vietnam or the Philippines, Europe can feel a bit too organised. It’s perfect for travellers who want variety, comfort and smooth travel days, but not ideal if you’re chasing wild chaos or off-the-grid adventures. #### Where to Book Everything for Europe (2026 Links You Actually Need) Here's the goldmine chapter of the blog, the recommended links, lets get stuck in! Hostels - Hostelworld - The classic, of course. It's a worldwide favey. - Booking.com - Another classic hard to beat, trusted and offers great value for money. - Hostelz.com - Compares prices so you don't overpay. DOWNLOAD IT. Transport - Trainline - Train bookings across most of Europe. - Eurail / Interrail - Home of the train passes, check it out. - FlixBus - Cheapest buses across almost every county in Europe. - Omio - Great for comparing trains and trains. (Even flights) - BlaBlaCar - Carpooling, weirdly useful and surprisingly legit. Activities - GetYourGuide - Biggest activity platform in Europe. - Klool - Often cheaper in Central and Eastern Europe. - GuruWalk - Free walking tours where you just tip the guide. (Love this idea) - Viator - Another classic. Planning & Navigation - Rome2Rio - Tells you how to get from A to B. - Google Maps - Legend in it's field, especially with offline maps. - Maps.me - Underrated but I think you'll prefer Google. Budgeting - BudgetBro - A no brainer app for any type of travel. This is an up and coming startup with huge potential. There we have it, your true 2026 Europe starter pack. With everything in this blog, you have everything at your disposal. Would you like to add anything to this list? I'm all ears! Drop me a message on Instagram, I'd love to hear it. One more thing worth checking before you book: some airlines let you add [a free stopover in Istanbul, Lisbon or Porto](https://budgetbro.app/blog/free-airline-stopover-programmes-nomads) for free on the same ticket, effectively a bonus stop on your route. Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Solar Eclipse 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/solar-eclipse-2026-where-to-watch-europe), [Full Guide to Europe’s Digital Nomad Visas in 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-digital-nomad-visas-2026) and [Europe vs Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-vs-southeast-asia-travel). A first big trip lives or dies by the budget. Before you go, [compare travel budgeting apps](https://budgetbro.app/alternatives) so you can track spending across every country without the maths. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Why We're Heading to Nomad Fest Bangkok > Three days of learning, meeting people and getting the BudgetBro story out there. Why we are heading to Nomad Fest Bangkok and what we hope to take away. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/why-were-heading-to-nomad-fest-bangkok - Published: 2025-11-19 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: NomadFest, Bangkok, South East Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Thursday 13th of November I was cruising around hostels in Bangkok, showing the app to other travellers and grabbing as much feedback as I could before we launch in January. All was calm until Nathan, our marketer, basically blew up my phone. I don’t remember the exact words but it was something like, “[Nomad Fest Bangkok.](https://nomadfestcreator.com) No ifs, buts or maybes, we have to go.” So that’s exactly what we’re doing. Me and Samar started connecting with people going to the event, plus a few of the speakers, hoping a couple of faces might recognise us when we walk around over the next few days. Nathan’s been prepping me on how to answer questions too. I feel for him. I’m difficult enough on a normal day and the last few have been stressful, but he still pulled through. Am I ready? Not sure. We’ll see. Since this is our first proper networking event as a team, I’ve got no idea what to expect. This isn’t my world. I come from construction management where networking isn’t exactly a big deal. But I’m excited. The last nine months building BudgetBro have been full of little milestones and learning curves, and diving into new sectors has actually been fun. The next few days are packed with the main event during the day and extra events in the evenings. It’s going to be busy, but I’ll share parts of the itinerary with you now. ## What's Happening and When? Wednesday 19th November - ProductTank Bangkok Thursday 20th November - Nomad Fest Opening Event Party (this is coupled with another weekly event held for nomads called [Bangkok Digital Nomads](https://www.meetup.com/bangkok-digital-nomads/)) Friday 21st November - 07:00 - 08:00 Yoga & wellness - 09:30 - 10:00 Kickoff presentation - 10:00 - 11:45 Workshop sessions - 13:30 - 18:00 Workshops in the wild - 19:00 - late - One night in Bangkok party (you'll 100% see me there throwing some shapes) Saturday 22nd November - 08:00 - 09:00 Yoga & breathwork - 10:00 - 10:15 Opening intro - 10:15 - 11:00 John Ho - 11:15 - 12:00 Kash Bhattacharya (I'm excited to meet Kash and listen to his session) - 13:00 - 13:45 Matt Gibson - 13:45 - 14:30 - Gianni Bianchini - 14:30 - 15:00 - Bangkok Hosptial - 15:15 - 16:00 Andre Battah - 16:00 - 16:15 Alex Dufort (GigSky) - 16:15 - 17:00 Awards Presentation - 19:00 - 22:00 Closing party - 22:00 - Late - After party Believe it or not, there's actually even more going on but I didn't want to drown the blog in events, this is more about why we are heading to Nomad Fest BKK. ### Who We Are We’re BudgetBro, a travel app built to make all travellers trips way easier through smart AI budgeting, Bro’s Picks, Bro’s Tips and blogs written and posted by real app users. We’ve built an ecosystem inside one app so whatever you need on the road is in one place. No more bouncing between ten different apps just to plan your day. How do we know what travellers actually need? Simple. Me and my wife have been full-time travelling since 2019. We’ve lived through all the good, bad and chaotic moments on the road, and BudgetBro exists because of everything we learned along the way. We’ve been building BudgetBro since March 2025 and we’re now deep in the final phase of development. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Voluntária no Nomad Fest 2025 em Bangkok](https://budgetbro.app/blog/volunteeringnomadfestbangkok2025), [Best eSIMs](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-esims-thailand-december-2025) and [Cheapest Flights](https://budgetbro.app/blog/flights-to-southeastasia-jan-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Thailands Visa Extension Process Just Got Stricter > I extended my Thai visa the same week the rules changed. Here is the updated visa extension process, the new requirements and how to avoid getting caught out. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailands-visa-extensions-got-stricter - Published: 2025-11-17 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Thailand, Visa, Extension, Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Over the past week Thailand has rolled out yet another visa change, and it’s more bad news for anyone doing long stays. The days of stacking 30-day extensions are over. Immigration has now introduced a 7-day extension for anyone who has already extended within the same year. It’s a rough shift and honestly just another hit to the already dropping tourist numbers in the so-called Land of the Free. ## What Does this Mean for You? The rules are simple now. First extension gives you 30 days. Second one gives you 7 within the same 12 month period. The fee is 1,900 baht and it has to be paid in cash. But don’t think you’ll walk out spending only that. I ended up paying around 2,150 baht today once you include the photos, the copies of my passport, the rental contract, the owner’s ID and, a 10-baht pen they made me buy. It sounds petty but when you’re travelling long term, these little add-ons pile up fast. I also spent five hours there today. One big unorganised mess. So I’m going to run you through exactly what happened and how you can avoid half of the queues with a few simple steps. ### Extending My Visa Today, 17th November 2025 Here in Chonburi the immigration office opened at 08:30 and I genuinely tried to be first in line. I got there early, only to see the queue already spilling into the street. Clearly not early enough. I didn’t let it rattle me too much, but I get irritated in crowds fast and it didn’t take long before the eye-rolling began. I’m not here to chew your ear off. I want to give you something useful so you don’t waste half your day like I did. Immigration is brilliant at making you redo things without any explanation. There’s a big sign telling you what documents you need, so you naturally bring exactly that. What they don’t tell you is how many copies of your passport you need. They don’t tell you about the extra forms. They don’t tell you that you need a passport photo. All of this gets dumped on you at their “documentation checkpoint.” You’ll stand in the same queue two or three times doing tasks you could have done in one go if they simply told you upfront. Before you queue, make sure you have: - TM30 - Passport - 2-3 copies od your passport - Passport photo (6x4) - A PEN!!!!!!! - Rental agreement - Landlords ID - Copy of the house papers You can also check out [Thailand's Official Immigration Website](https://www.immigration.go.th/) but trust me, follow my advice. The most important part: when you get to the desk, ask for the “Application of Extension” form straight away. If you don’t, you’ll queue again just to get it. Once you pass the first station, you go to the second station. Even if you already have everything, they’ll send you straight back to the first station again for that extra form. Every queue is around 45 minutes, so if you can avoid even one repeat queue, you’re winning. Fill out both forms, then get back in line and they’ll finally send you inside to process the actual visa. The next part is semi-chill. Sit down, wait your turn, and listen closely when they call names. If they hold up your passport and you miss it, they won’t call it again. You’ll end up awkwardly pushing in front of people later asking why you’re still sitting there two hours in. Hopefully, you're in and out within 2.5 hours. It sounds simple, it sounds like it's problem free but trust me, it's not. but overall, you get an additional 30 days here, which is epic. So if it's bothering you, or you feel like losing your temper, remember what the next 30 days have in store... I wish you the best of luck! Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Halloween in Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/halloweeninasia), [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia) and [Southern Thailand Flooding](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-flooding-news). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Eatings bugs in Thailand > Eating bugs in Thailand is part culture, part tourist show. Cheap in the countryside, pricey in Bangkok, and still eaten daily in Isaan. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/eatingbugsinthailand - Published: 2025-11-15 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Eating, Bugs, Thailand, Night, Market - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Kyle, a family-friend is over from the UK and I've been trying my best to give him the 'full Thai experience' (minus the ladyboys.) There's a really cool night market here called 'Runway Market' they have a real Boeing 747 as centre stage, you can eat beneath the fuselage, wings, touch the tires, it's pretty damn cool. But like most places here in Thailand, they sell bugs. Disclaimer, I have eaten bugs in the past and it definitely isn't something I had on my 2026 bingo card but here I was, staring down crickets being baited by Kyle 'If you do it, I will too." Obviously, the pressure got to me and soon we were gobbling down a variety of bugs like there's no tomorrow. We even went back for seconds.... # Is it Actually a Tourist Thing? Yes, and no. In tourist markets, the bug stalls are 100% built for 'farang' (foreigners.) bugs are layout like a museum exhibition for pure entertainment and if you see scorpions on sticks, they're NOT eaten by locals. However, let's bite into the juicy part, there's a region in Thailand called Isaan and bugs are eaten as snacks and it's not just a trend. It's been around long before backpackers existed, Isaan people started eating bugs because that's what was available. It was a need, not necessarily a want (even if they do enjoy them.) Isaan is the poorest region in Thailand, mostly farmland and back in the day meat wasn't flying' off shelves (pun intended) Cows were valued, chickens were for eggs and supermarkets just didn't exist. But what was everywhere? Crickets, grasshoppers, cicadas, silkworms, bamboo worms. Fields literally crawled with protein. People picked them, salted them and boom... a new snack was invented. ### Is it still cultural today? - Bangkok - tourist entertainment - Khao San Road - pure instagram bait - Isaan - still normal daily food - Northeastern towns - You'll find bags of bugs the same way you'd see peanuts ### How Much do they Cost? In local areas, a small bag of "ladle" will set you back around 20-30 baht but in tourist areas you can be sure the price will rise to over 100 baht per bag, scorpions can cost 150 baht or more and tarantulas can be 200/250 baht or more. Interestingly, these days bugs are farmed more than they're picked. This is due to a few factors: wild bugs are reliable, you need a large supply to feed a night market. It's safer, they're cheap to farm and tourists don't care where they come from, they just want a photo. Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Best eSIMs](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-esims-thailand-december-2025), [UK to Thailand](https://budgetbro.app/blog/uk-to-thailand-flights-december-2025) and [Thailand DTV Visa](https://budgetbro.app/blog/dtvvisaguidethailand). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Indonesia, Best Islands on Earth? > Indonesia has just been ranked the best island-hopping destination in the world and honestly, every backpacker saw this coming. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/indonesiaislandscrownedbest - Published: 2025-11-13 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Indonesia, Island Hopping, South East Asia, Travel - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- According to a study as featured in [Travel & Leisure](https://www.travelandleisure.com/best-country-for-island-hopping-11843121#:~:text=And%20one%20country%20came%20out,was%20shared%20with%20Travel%20%2B%20Leisure.), Indonesia has officially been named the world's best island-hopping destination with over 6,000 islands, and honestly, it's about time someone said it! Anyone who’s spent more than five minutes backpacking in Southeast Asia already knows Indonesia is the go-to. However, in my opinion, I would still always skip Bali. Six thousand + islands, insane beaches, cheap ferries and enough "OMG" moments to fill a life long memory bank. The new ranking just confirms what every traveller ends up realising half way through their Bali - Nusa - Lombok route: You can't do Indonesia for a week. Within a heart beat you're two months in and still haven't visited Komodo, Flores, Raja Ampat or wherever the group of friends from the hostel are talking about. What's great news for us travellers, it still remains perfectly within our budget. [Indie Traveller](https://www.indietraveller.co/southeast-asia-cost-of-travel/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) are firm on the $1,000 per month price range which is insane if you're island-hopping, $1,000 a month is something you would expect in Southeast Asia without the the ability to freely roam island to island. So if you are reading this, take it as your sign to book that flight, be sure to tag us in some of your [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/budgetbro.app/) posts too! Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Cheapest Flights](https://budgetbro.app/blog/flights-to-southeastasia-jan-2026), [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia) and [Europe vs Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/europe-vs-southeast-asia-travel). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # China’s Travel Comeback: What It Means for SE Asia Backpackers > Everything you need to know before crossing from Southeast Asia into China: costs, routes, pros and cons. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/chinatravelcomeback2026 - Published: 2025-11-11 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Travel, Backpacking, Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- China's inbound scene is heating up and the numbers back it. in Q1 2025 the [SCIO](http://english.scio.gov.cn/chinavoices/2025-05/19/content_117882983.html?utm_source=chatgpt.com) reported 35.02 million inbound tourist visits, up 19.6% against 2024... that's insane! China has always been somewhere I wanted to to visit but I still haven't crossed it off the list because of visa requirements needed on a Brazilian passport, however, this has also changed! Visa rules have loosened a lot, which removes headaches for millions of travellers, China also extended and broadened it's visa-free entry trials in 2024-2025, which reports of 70+ countries covered and millions arriving visa-free in the past year. Flights are rebuilding too, as of late 2025, international seat capacity to and from China is up roughly 10-12% vs last year, this means more routes and better availability across Asia than ever before. ## Why are backpackers Actually Going? Let's be honest, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Malaysia have been ambushed by travellers over the recent years. Although it's always been amazing and always will be, we need new content and people have realised China has A LOT to offer. It's 'new' it's massive, and it's got a mix of chaos and culture that feels untouched. It's huge, diverse and still slightly unpredictable, which is exactly what travellers want again. You can be hiking the rice terraces one day, riding a high-speed train through the neon skylines the next. Plus, visa-free access and a surge of cheap flights from across Asia means it's practical to visit. The country which once felt out of reach is suddenly easier to explore than ever, and backpackers are paying attention. It's different, it's raw and there's been very little content.. ### China vs the Rest of Southeast Asia Now I can't say this from personal experience but from what I have been told by Nathan and what I have read online, China hits different. The biggest pro? It's fresh, it's untouched. You wont be relying on TikTok videos for your itinerary. Massive cities, different food, completely new rhythms. It's that contrast whats pulling travellers up north. On the flip side, it's not as laid-back as Southeast Asia, the language is brutal and connectivity is scarce outside of urban areas whilst also being restricted. Payment systems, foreign bank cards will most likely not work, you will be forced to use digital wallets (which isn't always a bad thing) and the real kick in the teeth is the size of the country. It's HUGE. You will need to plan accordingly. But whether the pro's outweigh the con's or the con's outweigh the pro's, China has opened up it's arms for us all to see what it's got to offer and it's something I WILL be doing. #### Daily Cost Rundown (Realistic Backpacker Targets) We found some figures from a trustworthy source, [Nomadic Matt](https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-guides/china-travel-tips/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) and to keep this part simple for you, I won't go into a lot of detail, I'll just give you daily / weekly averages. - Dorm rooms £9-£10 per night (major cities £19 per night) - Budget hotel room £27 per night (£35-£45 in major cities) - Food £5.50-£8.50 per day (£25-£35 in major cities) - Transport £5-£10 per day. - Attractions £8-£23 per day. Looking at an all-in cost smaller cities, a realistic giro could be £35-£45 per day and in the major cities you're looking more around £75.00. Although these cost are considerably more than places like Thailand and Vietnam, it's definitely worth the next experiences, even if it's just for 3-4 weeks. China has updated its arrival process - read our latest article [China Arrival Card 2026: New Entry Rules for Travellers](https://budgetbro.app/blog/china-online-arrival-card) Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia), [Essential Apps for Travelling to China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/essentialappsforchinatravel) and [16,095KM Away From Home](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-i-ended-up-here). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Is it safe to travel to Cambodia and Thailand Right Now? > The Cambodia–Thailand border dispute has escalated. Here is the latest update and what travellers should know before crossing in 2026. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/cambodia-thailand-border-updates - Published: 2025-11-11 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Cambodia, Thailand - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Last Updated: 27th March, 2026 - Article updated for accuracy. This page is updated regularly with verified developments affecting travelling to Cambodia and Thailand border relating to traveller safety. Save or bookmark for the latest updates. ## Is Thailand safe? The areas bordering Cambodia are still on the UK's Travel Warning List. ### Are tourist areas in Cambodia affected? As of 3/2/2026, the main tourist zones are unaffected. Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, and the islands remain safe, and open. Flights are running normally, and if you're inside either country you shouldn’t notice major changes. However flight prices to and from both countries are continuing to fluctuate due to higher demand and high season. The particular issues are concentrated along border provinces (see below) such as Sisaket, Sa Kaeo, and Battambang, areas that most tourists don’t pass through unless doing overland crossings. You can follow updates from your government foreign office website. For British travellers this is gov.uk and the links are below: Cambodia: [https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cambodia](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/cambodia) Thailand: [https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand](https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/thailand) The US Embassy in Cambodia's maintains its security alerts and still recommends no travel within 50km of border areas. [https://kh.usembassy.gov/security-alert-continued-armed-conflict-along-the-cambodia-thailand-border/](https://kh.usembassy.gov/security-alert-continued-armed-conflict-along-the-cambodia-thailand-border/) It is important you stay informed of travel warnings if travelling to or near any of these areas as this could void your travel insurance policy. ### What does this mean for travellers in Southeast Asia? Exit from Thailand to Cambodia for border run is still not possible. You will have to fly to Siem Reap or Phnom Penh, or consider neighbouring countries. This could mean extra cost, so where possible avoid making plans in advance for travel to and from Cambodia. Flights have risen recently due to the demand on flights between Cambodia and Thailand however they seem to now be stabilising again. Good deals can be found on bus routes to and from Laos/Vietnam but keep in mind visa costs. It is important you stick to the mainstream tourist zones unless you are comfortable with the risk and have adequate insurance that covers border incidents. (Most policies don't) Ensure you have appropriate travel insurance that covers you, and ensure you try to stay flexible with your accommodations and travel plans to avoid unnecessary spending. ### When will the Cambodia-Thailand border re-open? With any sort of conflict it is difficult to say, however, the ceasefire has held, and there are signs of further co-operation from both sides after the election in Thailand on the 8th February. ## Previous Updates: ## January 2026: 22nd January: Cambodia has assured tourists on social media that visiting Cambodia is safe. Travel advisories from countries around the world still express caution travelling anywhere near the border with Thailand. Continue to check official travel news for updates but travelling to Cambodia remains safe, there have been no recently reported safety issues. 21st January: Land border crossings remain suspended despite the ceasefire holding. ## December 2025: 28th December: Ceasefire is holding. 27th December: Cambodia and Thailand have agreed to return to the ceasefire agreement. 16th December: The Royal Embassy of Cambodia in France issued a travel advisory for visitors bound for Cambodia, particularly those transiting through Bangkok’s international airports, mainly Bangkok. The advisory highlighted that some travellers have experienced significant administrative delays, enhanced questioning, and stricter document checks during Bangkok transits, including requests for proof of finances and accommodation details. The Embassy recommended that travellers considered alternative transit routes that bypass Thailand when planning their trip to Cambodia. Despite these transit concerns occurring outside Cambodian territory, the advisory reiterated that Cambodia itself remains safe. [https://www.ambcambodgeparis.info](https://www.ambcambodgeparis.info) 12th December: [Donald Trump has posted on Truth Social ](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/115707808536071986)regarding his telephone call between the two countries Cambodia and Thailand. Despite this however, it's being reported that hostilities are continuing and according to [Al Jazeera](https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/12/12/trump-says-thailand-cambodia-agree-to-renew-ceasefire-after-deadly-clashes) neither side have confirmed independently the agreement to return to the ceasefire. There have now been confirmed reports of over 20 deaths and 270,000+people having to flee their homes. Following the ceasefire agreement and the more formal agreement that followed, events on Monday have seen the worst escalation yet. Various media have reported that Thailand has launched airstrikes on the border area, however there is no official confirmation and it is unclear who fired the first shot, with both sides blaming each other. The international community is calling for both sides to respect the ceasefire and honour the agreement as reported by [Kiri Post](https://kiripost.com/stories/thailand-launches-air-strikes-amid-renewed-border-clashes-with-cambodia). ## Quick Recap of the Cambodia-Thailand Border Tensions The dispute of the land border stretching 500 miles can be traced back to the 20th century. It largely stems from a map created in 1907 whilst Cambodia was under French rule with Thailand holding firm that it is inaccurate. Additionally, many Thai people still disagree with the International Court of Justice ruling in 1962 that awarded sovereignty of the disputed land to Cambodia, being re-affirmed in 2013 and saw clashes between 2008 and 2011. Cambodia and Thailand signed the Kuala Lumpur Peace Accord in late October 2025, a deal meant to de-escalate border tensions, remove heavy weapons, and launch joint land-mine clearance efforts. Keep the planning going with our guides to [Christmas in Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/natal-no-sudeste-asiatico-calor-luzes-e-novas-tradicoes), [This eSIM through Agoda is the Cheapest for Thailand Right Now](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailands-best-325-esim) and [Best eSIMs](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-esims-thailand-december-2025). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # The Backpack Reality Check Every Traveller Needs > Forget the endless TikTok checklists. After five years living out of a 40L backpack, here’s what actually matters. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/the-backpack-reality-check-every-traveller-needs - Published: 2025-11-10 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: How To Pack, Backpacking, Asia, Travel - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Every day I see new TikTok videos like “What I’m packing for my 6 month trip through South East Asia” and I honestly don’t know whether to laugh or cry. Who needs nine pairs of boxers, twelve t-shirts, three pairs of shoes, extension cables and three six metre chargers? I could keep naming things but I’d probably run out of space before they’ve even zipped their bag. Airlines love it, it’s basically free money for them, but it’ll keep happening unless we start showing younger travellers how small decisions make a big difference. The truth is people are wasting money before they’ve even left home, and two weeks later they’re the ones moaning that their backpack’s too heavy. We need to normalise efficient packing! ## In the Ideal World, What's in the Backpack? I don’t want to teach anyone how to suck eggs but I’ve been living out of a 40L backpack for five years and I’ve never once felt like I was missing something. Most of it comes down to mindset. That “I’m travelling so why do I need hairspray” type of thinking. Once you can separate wants from needs, everything you own fits neatly into a 40L pack that goes on as carry-on with most airlines. You’re saving your back, your mood, and your wallet. I recently posted a TikTok reviewing other people’s packing setups and it’s weak. Sixty litre backpacks, two carry-ons, and outfits fit for Milan fashion week. The reality is they’re flying into Bangkok, not the runway. Here’s the video. So let's talk about what you actually need and how you can mentally prepare yourself if you're struggling. ## What's in My Bag This may surprise you but here's my list - 4 BudgetBro t-shirts - 2 normal t-shirts - 3 shorts (combined swim shorts / going out shorts) - 4 pairs of socks - 1 laptop - 1 camera - 1 powerbank - Cables - Toothbrush That is it, this is all I have had for 5 years on the road and I've not needed a single item more. There's no secret, just a realisation that material things don't bring happiness, what does bring happiness is saving fees every time I fly and not needing to pay for checkin baggage. ## Mental Preperation Packing for travel is exciting. You’re thinking about everything you might need and making sure you’ve got it all covered. What you’re not thinking about is the money you’re burning. You don’t realise that half the stuff you’re buying in the UK is 70% cheaper once you land in Southeast Asia. You’re also not thinking about the check-in charges on every single flight you’ll take over the next six months, which, on average, is around £36 per flight. So, take a step back. Reset yourself. Change your attitude. Ask one simple question: **“What am I actually going to use day to day?”** If you do that, I guarantee you’ll pack like me: lighter, smarter, and without the regret. You’ll skip the back ache, avoid paying Grab fees because you’re too tired to carry your own bag, and save that £36 every time you fly. Let me know your thoughts on [Tiktok](https://www.tiktok.com/@budgetbro.app) and whether this helped you. 💚 Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia), [16,095KM Away From Home](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-i-ended-up-here) and [China’s Travel Comeback](https://budgetbro.app/blog/chinatravelcomeback2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # 3 Best Restaurants in Chiang Mai You Need to Try > Three Chiang Mai restaurants that prove this city has more flavour than the rest of Thailand, with what to order and roughly what to budget for each meal. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/3-best-restaurants-in-chiang-mai-you-need-to-try - Published: 2025-11-08 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Chiang Mai, Best Places to Eat, Thailand, Review - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Chiang Mai has always been mine and Samar's favourite place in Thailand, which sounds controversial coming from someone who normally doesn't settle anywhere without a beach. There's just something in the air here and most importantly, northern Thai food is the GOAT. That's not just my opinion by the way, I believe the majority of travellers will agree with me and for the next 5 minutes I want to take you through my top 3 places to eat in Chiang Mai. ## The Soul Of Lana Ok, before we start drooling over some of Northern Thailand's dishes I feel like it's important we talk about Lanna culture because Chiang Mai didn't just wake up one day and decide to be cool. The city once was the capital of Lanna Kingdom, which basically ruled the north before Thailand was even a thing. "Lanna" literally means "Land of a million rice fields." It sounds like a place where they take carbs seriously... Although not many people know about old-school Lanna culture, you can still feel the everywhere. Wooden temples, lazy locals (yes Lanna people are known to be super lazy), the smell of incense mixing with fresh coffee in the morning. It's got that calm, grounded vibe. Chiang Mai feels like the part of Thailand that hit pause on city chaos and just said "Nah, we're good." And honestly, that slow, soulful energy shows up in the food too. Lanna food is simple but bold. It's the kind of food which doesn't need to flex and right in the middle of it all is Khao Soi, the creamy curry noodle soup that's so good it should have it's own national holiday. One spoon full and you'll understand why everyone who visits end up "accidentally" extends their stay. ### Top 3 Places to Eat in Chiang Mai Firstly let me make it clear that these aren't in order, it's impossible because they're all so good. Over my combined 10+ weeks spent in Chiang Mai, these are places I regularly returned to. Spoiler alert, most of them you won't find on any other blog! ### The Milestone 34 Cafe & Bar Ok, getting here isn't the easiest, it's outside of the city BUT it's the perfect excuse to see some countryside. The cafe's location is at the bottom of the mountain, this could be your starting or end point to a great day out. Bee, the cafe owner loves to chat, her English is good and she makes you feel welcome. The cafe has it's one vibe going on, I love the randomness about it and what puts the cherry on the top is Bee's food... UNREAL. Pad Kra Pow is a Thailand staple, which is usually done with white rice but Bee take it one step further with a very well presented dish and a unconventional but delightful difference with the mix of 2 rices, jasmine rice and berry rice. It's a fire combo! Bee's PKP is in my top 5 favourite dishes in Thailand, she really knows how to work that wok, this is a must-do in your Chiang Mai itinerary. ### Mae Hia Fresh Market This isn't the name nor the place isn't a restaurant, it's giving canteen vibes but trust me, don't let this put you off. During our time volunteering at a local English school we were blessed to find quirky places like the [Mae Hi Fresh Market](https://maps.app.goo.gl/ZbhshzVRn6oTv6vM8?g_st=ipc) and not only is the food cheaper than the already cheap food in the city, it's even tastier. Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, this lady who's name I have no idea, needs to be crowned the "Queen of Khao Soi" it's unbelievable, it tops any other Khao Soi in the city and of course, she regularly sells out. Make sure you go before 13:00! Unfortunately the place is a little tricky to find but the area has more to offer than great Khao Soi. Make sure you leave a couple of hours just to chill out in an area which isn't crammed with tourist, this is a very local area. ### Kat's Kitchen I know for a fact, without reading other peoples blogs that this will be on there and I'm trying to be different but this spot is a must visit. We first visited here in 2023, back then the kitchen was outside, it seemed like just a small family run restaurant, however 2 years on things have changed, they've expanded their capacity and staff. Their kitchen is now behind closed doors too. This is truly deserved. You have a variety of food which is all top tier, their service is top tier and their prices are nearly unbelievable. Now, it doesn't look much in the photo but this isn't London, we're not fine dining. We're emerging ourselves in local culture and [Kat's Kitchen ](https://maps.app.goo.gl/Cpi2jp8PADcu46VV6?g_st=ipc) provides all of this. ### Summary 2/3 of my selections are outside the city, this reinforces the fact that there's much more to Chiang Mai other than being inside the square. I strongly recommend you explore the outer edges of Chiang Mai, you will discover many hidden gems which are experiences within themselves. For me, spending time at Bee's Milestone 34 Cafe & Bar tops the list. Whatever you need, Bee's there for you, she's got a big heart. If you're new here, welcome. My name is Josh, my wife and I are launching the app backpackers have been missing. To get it in front of the people who need it, we need you to be involved. Take an extra minute to check out the rest of our website and most importantly, our crowdfunder page. Feel free to say hello on[ Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/budgetbro.app/) too! ### Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Nomad Summit Chiang Mai 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/nomad-summit-chiang-mai), [Yi Peng Lantern Festival Thailand 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/yi-peng-festival-thailand) and [Is Malaysia the Digital Nomad Hotspot for 2026?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/malaysia-digital-nomad-hotspot-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Smoking Ban in the Maldives > The Maldives is introducing a generational smoking ban for anyone born after 2007. Here is what it means for tourists and what to expect on your trip. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/smoking-ban-maldives - Published: 2025-11-07 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Maldives, Smoking, Tobacco, Ban - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- The Maldives have quietly stepped into the spotlight for their new policy on public health by becoming the first country in the world to impose a lifetime smoking ban on a full generation. From November 1st, 2025 anyone that was born on or after January 1st 2007 is permanently banned from buying, selling or using tobacco products within the Maldive islands. This law is applicable to locals and visitors. ## What the Law Says Here are some key points of the new legislation covered by [CBS](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/maldives-generational-smoking-ban-first-nation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com): - The ban covers anyone born on or after 1st January 2027 meaning even when that person turns 18, 30, 50+ they will never be legally allowed to buy, sell or smoke tobacco in the Maldives. - The rule officially got the green light from the President's office earlier this year, updating the country's old Tobacco Control act to include a new generation-wide ban - Includes measures for verification of buyer age, vendor responsibility and broad bands on vaping, importing machinery for tobacco production and sponsorship / advertising. - This law applies to both local and visitors. ### Why it's Significant This is a big deal, not just for the Maldives but globally. It's the first generational smoking ban to actually make it into law, whilst other countries debated the idea, it ended up in smoke. The Maldives have been striving for a tobacco free generation and I'm impressed it's been passed, hopefully other countries will take note of this milestone. ### How Will it Actually Be Enforced? Honestly, this is the hardest part of any law, especially laws of this nature. In 30 years time, it will be extremely difficult to differentiate people smoking in the street who are born prior to 2007 and who isn't. Currently there's no comment from the Maldives about their enforcing plans but if I can give you one recommendation it'll be if you're going to the Maldives, respect their laws. Don't be that guy. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # What Went Wrong with Air Japan? > What went wrong for AirJapan? ANA’s mid-range experiment didn’t quite land, and flights will stop by March 2026. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/air-japans-final-decent-what-went-wrong - Published: 2025-11-04 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Air, Japan, Asia, Travel - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- You should all know me by now, I'm crazy about my puns but it does look like Air Japans flight plan had officially been cancelled mid-air. The story actually stretches back a fair way, since 1990 but the ANA owned airline has officially announced it'll stop flying under the Air Japan brand by March 2026. Wrapping up it's last flights on routes like BKK-NRT around the 29th March. If You're booked on a flight prior to this date, you're totally fine as there's no changes for now but if you've planned a trip later in the year, I'd be finding the emergency exit. (bad pun but good at the same time) ### What Went Wrong Identity crisis, supply chain delays, timing, competition... With Peach already covering the low cost side and ANA dominating the premium seats, Air Japan was stuck somewhere in the middle, like the awkward kid in a group photo. In the end, ANA said what we were all thinking, three brands were one too many. they're folding Air Japan back into the main ANA/Peach lineup to simplify things and save cash. Officially it's being names "brand consolidation" Unofficially? The awkward kid in the group photo got removed by AI remover. I've never flew air Japan before, and in honesty, I hadn't heard of it until recently. I guess that says something when it's nearly older than I am. Source: Official Press Release from ANA Holdings. Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Hong Kong Airlines](https://budgetbro.app/blog/hong-kong-airlines-big-bet-on-intra-asia-travel), [Thailands Free Flight Promise](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailands-free-flight-promise-abandoned) and [Guide to Best Things to Do in Japan on a Budget 2026](https://budgetbro.app/blog/things-to-do-in-japan). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # This eSIM through Agoda is the Cheapest for Thailand Right Now > Tired of overpriced eSIMs? This 3.25 GBP Thailand eSIM beats Airalo on price and coverage. Here is the best budget data option for backpackers in 2026. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailands-best-325-esim - Published: 2025-11-03 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Thailand, esim, Travel, Tourism, Budgeting - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- I know how it feels to be either spending hours waiting in a line to get a local SIM card holding onto your passport for dear life or paying through your a$$ on Esim providers like Airalo. It's frustrating, it hurts the bank, you're wishing on a better solution. I FOUND IT. It's not like I just found it, me and my wife have been using this Esim since March 2025. Anyone I meet, I pass it on and it's time I share it with you guys. I don't know why but searching this on Agoda doesn't always come up, it seems to be slightly hidden but when you find it you just need to save the link. However don't worry I'll include the link below. Within this Esim you get 50GB of data at 300+MBPS speeds for 10 days, it's a piece of art. I rarely have issues, maybe oncer per month the internet is slow but the connection never drops. £9.75 for 150GB and 30 days... I am not an affiliate in anyway with this Esim, so please don't think I'm trying to upsell it to you. Grab it yourself and at a minimum comment on the [TikTok video](https://vm.tiktok.com/ZNdTDGQA6/) and let everyone else know that it is legit. [https://www.agoda.com/en-au/activities/detail?activityId=1167053&cid=1844104&cityId=9395&travelDate=2025-05-20&enrichedOfferId=1296284&pax=1_1&offerOptionId=0](https://www.agoda.com/en-au/activities/detail?activityId=1167053&cid=1844104&cityId=9395&travelDate=2025-05-20&enrichedOfferId=1296284&pax=1_1&offerOptionId=0) I believe this will not let you buy outside of Thailand, you could always try a VPN if you're looking to buy in advance ready for your arrival, make sure you put the start correct date in if this is your plan! Much love 💚 Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Best eSIMs](https://budgetbro.app/blog/best-esims-thailand-december-2025), [From L.A to Bangkok](https://budgetbro.app/blog/from-la-to-bangkok-a-comeback-11-years-in-the-making) and [Slow Travel](https://budgetbro.app/blog/slow-travel-how-its-really-done). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Taunggyi Tazaungdaing Festival... EXTENDED! > Myanmar's Taunggyi Tazaungdaing balloon festival is extended to November 8 after weather grounded several launches. Here is what travellers need to know. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/taunggyi-tazaungdaing-festival-extended - Published: 2025-11-03 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Festival, Hot Air Balloons, Myanmar, Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- The Taunggyi Tazaungdaing (not a chance I can pronounce that) festival in Shan State kicked off on October 29th and usually runs through to November 5th drawing in hot air balloon lovers from around the globe. Many of the large night balloons and Sein-Na-Pan balloons couldn't be to schedule due to bad weather, those flights are still on hold. To make up for the deflated crowd (who liked my pun? DM me 0n [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/budgetbro.app/)) and to give the balloon makers the recognition they deserve, the festival is being extended. The balloon competition will now run until November 7th and the closing ceremony will take place on the evening of November 8th. Expect awards, honorary balloon launches and a full fireworks show to wrap it all up. There's more too, popular singers from Yangon and a well known comedy music duo will perform on November 5th and 6th, keeping the crowds hyped whilst balloons light up the skies on the final days. More festivals and events to plan around: [the Yi Peng lantern festival](https://budgetbro.app/blog/yi-peng-festival-thailand), [Bon Om Touk water festival](https://budgetbro.app/blog/bon-om-touk-cambodias-electrifying-water-festival) and [Songkran in Thailand](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-festival-thailand). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Do I need To Pay a Tourist Tax in Thailand 2026? > Thailand is introducing a tourist tax for international visitors arriving by air and sea. Here is what it means for backpackers and how much it will cost. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-to-introduce-tourist-tax - Published: 2025-11-02 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Thailand, Visa, Asia, Tourist, Tax - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- **Thailand to Introduce Tourist Entry Tax to Boost Tourism Infrastructure** The Tourist minister of Thailand has announced that a long proposed tax on visitors will soon be implemented, with the aim of strengthening the country's tourism infrastructure and ensuring visitor insurance coverage. ### What's Happening Thailands government are yet again in talks on changing entry criteria for tourists, the proposed change will likely see visitors pay 300BHT each arriving by air whilst those entering by land or sea may face 150BHT fee. The idea was first approved by the Thai cabinet in February 2023 yet previous ministers delayed the roll out, now the current minister is pushing to implement the change. ### Why it Matters Thailand projected around 33 million foreign visitor arrivals for 2025, a downward revision from earlier expectations made earlier in the year. According to [Reuters](https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/thailand-records-704-yy-drop-foreign-visitors-so-far-2025-2025-08-19/?utm_source=chatgpt.com) Thailand has made a 7.04% decline year/y, this is significantly below the pre-pandemic total of nearly 40 million. ### The Downside Whilst the idea behind the scheme has good incentives, travellers won't see any immediate benefits when the fee is introduced. Coupled with the potential rollback to 30 days visa-free stay, this could be detrimental to the already collapsing numbers. If you want to read more about the rollback, check out the blog [Thailand: 60-Day Visa-Free Stay, Under Review](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-visa-free-changes). The projects this tax aims to fund, from better public facilities to safety upgrades, will most likely take months, if not years to materialise. Another frustration is the lack of clarity on transparency and use of funds, previously Thailand proposed similar schemes which were later delayed or cancelled due to poor coordination between ministries and airlines. Take the most recent free domestic flights within Thailand for example, this was due to be implemented and usable to tourists in November, yet it's still not been passed by the Thai cabinet. If you'd like to read more on this check out my other blog [Thailands Free Flight Promise: Crash Landed?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailands-free-flight-promise-abandoned) I feel Thailand are on a slippery slope with tourism, if they're not careful they could lose out to neighbouring countries like Vietnam with its welcoming attitude and 45 day visa-free stay for most countries. Thailand need to tread carefully, particularly as talks for the ASEAN multi schengen-style visa seems to be making good progress, leaving Thailand potentially, unstuck. I'd love to hear your opinions, until we have built-in comment sections please feel free to a DM me on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/budgetbro.app/) or [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@budgetbro.app) Working out what a Thailand trip actually costs? Our [Thailand backpacking budget guide](https://budgetbro.app/budget-thailand) breaks down daily spend on accommodation, food and transport for every budget. --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # BudgetBro October Recap: Progress, Problems & Lessons Learned > October hit different. New people, new problems, and a few big wins. Here’s how the month unfolded as we keep pushing BudgetBro closer to launch. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/what-october-taught-us-as-a-team-budgetbro - Published: 2025-11-01 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: BudgetBro, Founder, Crowdfunding - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- For the past nine months, our focus has been within one thing, development. October brought BIG changes. Last month introduced new mile stones, new excitement, new people, and new issues (obviously). I'm excited to spend the next few minutes opening up to you about some of our Octobers highlights. ### New Faces We’ve been lucky enough to welcome Nathan onboard in to the BudgetBro family. He’s running marketing and fits right in with his experience and sarcasm. What Nathan has accomplished in 2 weeks makes me realise that I had **no chance** of doing this myself like I once thought... being humbled in this way is worth its weight in gold. In a strategic move, Nathan is now here in Thailand with us, being together is really fuelling the momentum and I'm lowkey feeling really good about it. ### Issues October opened with difficulties - having to replace one of the dev team. Initially I thought this would add additional time onto the project, time I knew we couldn't really afford to lose, I was also concerned introducing a new member into the dev team at such a late stage would have been problematic, however, I couldn't have been more wrong! We've also faced many issues with the website, these issues aren't because of usual causes like bugs but issues caused by myself. If you've read my previous blog [Crowdfunding: The Founders Perspective](https://budgetbro.app/blog/founder-crowdfunding-budgetbro) you'll already know how good at I am at causing issues, it's kinda my niche. The wording, the placements, everything in the website was decided by me and it ended up being wrong. The amount of hours we've spent correcting this is laughable (well not me, Nathan, I'm no longer trusted lol) but it's all progress. When I look back I see any mistake as a paid lesson, this keeps me at peace with my decisions. ### New In-app Addition Since Nathans approach was anything other than what I expected, I'm now a blogger-boy. With this, Nathan came up with an idea to hold user retention: in app blogs. This isn't just any ordinary in app blog, these blogs can be also published by UGC creators which strengthens the Bro community. Now users can arrive in one area and not only see Bro's Local Picks and Bro's Local Tips, we now have Bro's Blogs. With The addition of in app blogs, the BudgetBro ecosystem is feeling premium, I can confidently say we're building the future of responsible travel and our overall goals moving forward to implement other ideas set BudgetBro apart drastically compared to any other app in the market. Go Nathan! #### Soft Launch on the Crowdfunding This is one of the most exciting parts of October's recap, so much work has been put into getting to this moment and it finally came. Although it's only a soft-launch it's a mile stone accomplished, remember we're not doing a 100m sprint here, we're running marathons in each country. Launching did come with its issues: no real vision for people to back. Nathan recommended we redo the crowdfunding page, include a table for visual representation and include perks for small donations. This is exactly what we did and will be completely implemented by tomorrow, Sunday 2nd of November 2025. If you'd like to see our new layout and potentially even become a Founding Bro take a look around our crowdfunding page. We're currently on **8.7%**! ### Marketing More great news, we've started posting on our [Instagram](https://) and [TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@budgetbro.app). Like anything this'll take time to grow and we're happy with taking the long road. Here's an epic fail for you to hear - we set some random follower goals for Sunday across all platforms: Instagram - 150 (currently at 88) TikTok - 100 (currently at 17) Threads - 50 (currently at 3, 2 of which are me and Nathan 😂) Facebook - 50 (currently at 2) So across the board EPIC fails but thats ok, we set these targets amongst a few beers having a laugh, building team moral. I'm sure tomorow when we look at these stats together we'll set more realistic targets... The marketing is live which means one thing, new goals. We've still got a lot going on in development which is obviously super important, as is marketing which is in Nathan's hands. I'll update you in my November blog on how we did moving forward. ### Final Thoughts Overall, I couldn't be happier with October's progression, we've shown resilience at our weakest points and shown our strengths at our strongest. I've been humbled, I've made countless mistakes, I've paid twice for several things because I always get it wrong on the first but this is the definition of a startup and I'm fluffing loving it. See you in Novembers recap! More from the founder diary: [← October](https://budgetbro.app/blog/founder-crowdfunding-budgetbro) · [November Recap →](https://budgetbro.app/blog/november-recap-the-founders-perspective). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Thailand’s 60-to-30-Day Visa-Free Cut: Approved, but Not Yet in Effect > Thailand is reviewing its 60-day visa-free scheme for 93 countries amid concerns about misuse and security. If you’re planning a stay, here’s what to know. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-visa-free-changes - Published: 2025-11-01 - Updated: 2026-08-11 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro Featured - Tags: Thailand, Asia, ASEAN, Visa, Travel - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Last updated: 12 August 2026. The 60-day visa-free stay has NOT been cut. The Thai cabinet has approved a reduction to 30 days, but it is not yet law and no start date has been set. The story keeps resurfacing that Thailand is "ending" its 60-day visa-free stay. Here is the important part as things stand: nothing has actually changed. As of August 2026, eligible nationalities still get up to 60 days visa-free on arrival, extendable by a further 30 days at immigration’s discretion. The cut to 30 days has been approved by the cabinet, but it still has to be published in the Royal Gazette before it takes effect, and that has not happened yet. So if you are planning a trip in the coming weeks, you are still on the current 60-day rule. Anyone admitted before the new rules go live keeps the length of stay they were granted on arrival. It is a plan that is coming, not a rule that is already here, and the timeline has slipped more than once already. From the Founder, Josh: Over the past 3 years dipping and out of Asia, my wife and I have made the most out of the visa free entry into Thailand. In fact, it's been the biggest saviours! Samar being Brazilian, brings a wave visa issues is most places in the worls, but not Thailand. They actually seem to favour the Brazilian passport more than the British which may surprise you, but it's true. However just like all good things don't last, we've been told we cannot reenter again without a visa. Am I mad about it? No, I actually respect it. 7 months of 2025 we've spent in Thailand on visa-free visits. Some may say it's abusing the system, I'd say we're using a legal loopholes. Let's face it, border runs is what 80%+ of backpackers are doing and for the most part, it's not an issue bur things could be changing. In May 2025 all foreign arrivals entering Thailand. by air, land or sea must complete a new digital form called the [Thailand Digital Arrival Card](https://tdac.immigration.go.th/arrival-card/#/home) (TDAC), this replaces the old paper version, TM6. Backpackers cannot just enter Thailand anymore with no plan, they need to have hotels booked, have proof of a flight out of Thailand and in some cases, proof of funds. People thought not much would change but all backpackers have said they've felt the new, stricter rules. You can read more on the official [Thai Consulate website](https://thaiconsulatela.thaiembassy.org/en/page/visa-information?utm_source=chatgpt.com). I've just published a blog on [Thailand to Introduce Tourist Tax](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-to-introduce-tourist-tax), worth a read if you're locked in on the rollback of the 60-day visa-free stay! ### Where the 60-to-30-day cut actually stands (August 2026) This has been moving slowly through the Thai system all year. The rough timeline: - February 2026: the government announced it would review the 60-day scheme. - 20 March 2026: the Foreign Minister floated cutting the visa exemption to 30 days. - 19 May 2026: the cabinet formally approved the revision. - 14 July 2026: the cabinet signed off a revised framework with some tweaks. Under the framework being discussed (still not active), 59 countries would keep a visa exemption but at 30 days instead of 60, two (Mauritius and Seychelles) would drop to 15 days, and three (Azerbaijan, Belarus and Serbia) would move to visa-on-arrival. Until it is published in the Royal Gazette, though, none of that applies. The 60-day exemption is still what you get at the border. One thing worth clearing up, because it gets muddled with the visa story: the only mandatory step for arrivals is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card (TDAC), which every foreign visitor has had to file since May 2025. Thailand’s newer THIM immigration app is optional. It is still in a pilot and simply gives you an app-based way to file the same TDAC. It is **not** mandatory and it does not replace the TDAC portal. We cover it in full in our [guide to Thailand’s THIM app](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-thim-app-long-stay-travellers-nomads). ### What’s Changing and Why Thailand’s immigration department put the 60-day visa-free scheme under review after concerns it was being used for more than tourism. Officials say the policy was meant to attract visitors who stay longer, book local hotels and spend more, but in practice many use it to work remotely almost permanently or do repeat border runs. The proposed rollback would take the exemption back to the pre-2024 limit of 30 days. For now it remains a proposal that has cleared cabinet but not yet become law. ### The Potential Downfall of this Idea If Thailand decides to cut back the 60-day visa-free stay back to 30 days, it could easily backfire and with tourist levels already down year on year, this might be a bad move. Long stay travellers, especially digital nomads and backpackers are the ones who pump money into local economies over time. Renting rooms, eating local and exploring beyond the main tourist traps. A shorter stay limit could and will push these travellers to set up base in neighbouring countries like Vietnam, Malaysia or Cambodia, where entry rule remain the same. For Thailand, the risk isnt just losing visitors but losing the type of visitor who actually stays longer and spends smarter. Businesses that rely on these types of people will feel the hit within weeks of the new visa rules being implemented. It could also dent Thailand reputation's image as one of the easiest, most welcoming travel bases in Asia. The irony is, that this moves comes just as the region I talking about introducing a shared "ASEAN Visa" similar to Europes Schengen model, that would allow tourists to move freely between countries on one single visa. Is this a strategical stance in preparation, or do Thailand have over ideas? ### What's the Answer for Long Term Nomads? It's an easy answer, one you'd be expecting too. Visa. My wife and I will be applying for a longterm visa in December, you can get tourist visa which is up to 6 months for around $200 or you can get a DTV visa which is valid for 5 years and costs around $300. The only difference being wit the DT visa you need to prove you have 500,000BHT in cash each. However don't be scared off, I read on the government website you can use other families back accounts, assuming you can prove your relationship. What are your thoughts on this? For more on the wider cost of a Thailand trip, see our guide on whether you need to [pay a tourist tax in Thailand](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-to-introduce-tourist-tax). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Cambodian Water Festival > Everything to know about Bon Om Touk, Cambodia's water festival: what it celebrates, when it happens and how to enjoy the celebrations on a backpacker budget. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/bon-om-touk-cambodias-electrifying-water-festival - Published: 2025-10-31 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Cambodia Water Festival, Cambodia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Events in Phnom Penh were cancelled in 2025 due to the Cambodia/Thailand border dispute. Events still took place in Kampot, Siem Reap and the Provinces however. **What is Bon Om Touk?** Bon Om Touk, or Water Festival, is a historic event dating back to the Khmer Dynasty in the 12th century, originally celebrating the naval victories of King Jayavarman VII. Today, it combines this military heritage with a deep spiritual meaning, serving as a way to thank the gods for a bountiful harvest and fishing season. The festival lasts three days and centres around intense boat races, where teams compete for the title of champion. Alongside the daytime regattas, the evenings are filled with cultural celebrations, including tasting local specialities, the ‘Salute to the Moon’ ceremony and various other festive activities. The detailed programme will be covered in the following sections. **When and Where Does It Take Place?** Bon Om Touk is a three-day national holiday that usually takes place in November, during the full moon of the 12th month of the Khmer lunar calendar. The exact dates vary each year. Although the festival is celebrated throughout the country, the focal point of the celebration is Sisowath Quay, on the banks of the Tonlé Sap River in the capital Phnom Penh. This is where the main boat races take place and where most travellers gather to enjoy the festivities. **Main Attractions and Activities** *Main Activities
* Bon Om Touk, also known as the Water and Moon Festival, is one of the biggest events in the country, transforming the whole of Cambodia into one big party. At Sisowath Quay in Phnom Penh, thousands of travellers gather to watch the competitions, sample traditional foods and celebrate the full moon. Boat Races: The Highlight The absolute highlight is the long, colourful boat races, where teams from different provinces compete with impressive strength and pace. The energy of the crowd is indescribable: drums beat incessantly, shouts of support echo and flags wave everywhere. If you want to follow the action up close, our tip is to arrive early to secure a good spot by the river, as the banks fill up quickly. Night Shows: Lights and Fireworks When the sun sets, the festival continues with the Bondet Protib, huge boats decorated with thousands of lights and flags representing different government ministries. They sail majestically down the river while fireworks light up the night sky. It is a colourful show that blends ancient tradition with the vibrancy of a modern party. Lanterns and Symbolism One of the most symbolic and peaceful moments of the festival involves releasing floating lanterns into the river or sky. This ritual, practised by families and travellers alike, symbolises leaving misfortune behind and attracting good luck for the coming year. It is an introspective and beautiful experience, perfect for those who enjoy feeling the spiritual vibe of the country. Auk Ambok Ceremony At midnight on the full moon, the Auk Ambok ceremony takes place, paying homage to the moon as a symbol of gratitude and renewal. People gather to eat Ambok, a simple but meaningful delicacy: fried rice mixed with banana and coconut. It is a tradition linked to Buddhist beliefs that everyone can participate in. *Curiosity* It is worth noting that the strength of tradition is such that, in some years, such as 2015, the government had to cancel the boat races because of low river levels. However, the festival remained a national holiday and the celebrations continued in other ways, showing that the essence of Bon Om Touk is in the hearts of the Cambodian people, regardless of river conditions. ### **Essential Tips for Enjoying Bon Om Touk
** Planning ahead will make all the difference to your experience. It's a crowded festival, so follow these tips to make the most of it: - Arrive early, very early! That's the only way to secure your place in the crowd. Trust us, you'll want a good vantage point, both for the exciting daytime boat races and the night-time light and firework shows. The energy of the crowd is part of the party, but a good spot makes all the difference. - Book your accommodation early. Phnom Penh, for example, becomes the centre of attention in the country during the festival. To avoid inflated prices or being left without a place to sleep, we recommend booking your accommodation months in advance.
 - Don't forget to drink water: Festival days are long, hot, and filled with walking and cheering. Staying hydrated is extremely important.
 - Be open to the cuisine: A trip to Bon Om Touk would not be complete without sampling the local food. There are a variety of traditional delicacies such as grilled fish, noodle soups and, of course, Ambok (toasted rice), offered by street vendors during the midnight ceremony.  **Conclusion 
** Bon Om Touk is not just a festival, it is a dive into the soul of Cambodia. It is three days of pure energy, tradition and spirituality that demonstrate how the country celebrates life, the importance of water and the unity of its people. Amidst the sound of drums, the glow of illuminated boats and the taste of Ambok shared at midnight, you feel Cambodian culture pulsating in a way that no photograph can capture. For those who travel with an open heart, the Water Festival is one of those experiences that will remain etched in your memory forever. So, if you are in Southeast Asia in November, set aside a few days in your itinerary to experience it up close. It is undoubtedly the kind of event that reminds us why travelling is so worthwhile. Did you enjoy reading our article about Bon Om Touk? Then keep an eye out, because every month we showcase the craziest and most cultural festivals in Southeast Asia. And since we're talking about illuminated festivals, check out our blog on the [Yi Peng Lantern Festival in Thailand](https://budgetbro.app/blog/yi-peng-festival-thailand). Seriously, it's one of the most beautiful spectacles you'll ever see in your life. More festivals and events to plan around: [Khmer New Year in Cambodia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/khmer-new-year-cambodia) and [Songkran in Thailand](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-festival-thailand). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Hong Kong Airlines: BIG Bet on Intra-Asia Travel > After years of pandemic pauses, Hong Kong Airlines relaunches daily flights to Hanoi in December 2025. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/hong-kong-airlines-big-bet-on-intra-asia-travel - Published: 2025-10-31 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Hong Kong, Vietnam, Asia, Tourism, Travel - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- This might sound like another boring flight announcement but the new Hong Kong - Hanoi daily route launching on 19th December 2025 says a lot about where travel is Asia is heading. This route hasn't been flown since pre COVID days due to Vietnam closing most international arrivals from March 2020 until it fully reopened in March 2022 however with strict travel restrictions in Hong Kong, this dragged way into 2023. After years of recovery and uneven demand compared to neighbouring routes BKK / SIN, this move by Hong Kong airlines shows how airlines are shifting their focus: From long haul to high demand between cultural hotspots. ### Why is This Route So Important? As far as I'm concerned, it's not. Although I'm sweating within me to visit Hong Kong again, my budget doesn't allow it, or not until the [BudgetBro app](https://budgetbro.app/) launches. However for the rest of the world, it's pretty significant according to [TTW](https://www.travelandtourworld.com/news/article/hong-kong-airlines-expands-its-asian-footprint-with-new-daily-hong-kong-hanoi-route-beginning-19-december-2025-boosting-regional-tourism-connectivity-and-business-travel-links-in-vietnam/?utm_source=chatgpt.com). For years Hong Kong - Vietnam has been a business-focused hub, with the occasional BudgetBroer (backpacker) but since Vietnams tourism BOOM and Hong Kong post pandemic recovery, demand for the mid range leisure travel has sky rocketed. Let's face it, Vietnam has been trending hard: street food, culture, nomads, especially Hanoi being close to Halong bay makes it easy for the weekend travellers. Add in Hong Kong's global connections, this new route basically bridges two of Asia's most exciting travel hubs. Across Asia, more airlines are quietly doing the same: expanding within the region instead of chasing Europe or America. AirAsia keeps adding more secondary city routes like Chiang Mai, Da Nang and Penang. Vietnam Airlines just boosted Bangkok - Hanoi flights. Even Scoot have been expanding into smaller destinations like Krabi. That good old saying "Work smarter, not harder." It's reciprocated here: Shorter flights, higher frequency and less dependency on long haul travellers who're very unpredictable. Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Halloween in Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/halloweeninasia), [From L.A to Bangkok](https://budgetbro.app/blog/from-la-to-bangkok-a-comeback-11-years-in-the-making) and [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia). ### Final Thoughts I think not only for backpackers but locals too, this is great news. More flights, less layovers, more spending in secondary cities. It's a win win for everyone involved. One flight at a time, Asia is finally being reconnected. Josh APPROVES! --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Thailands Free Flight Promise: Crash Landed? > Thailand floated a 700 million baht plan for free domestic flights for tourists. Here is what was promised, why it stalled and what it means for travellers. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailands-free-flight-promise-abandoned - Published: 2025-10-31 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Airline, Asia, Thailand, Travel, Flights - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- A news article by [Bangkok Post](https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/general/3089533/free-domestic-flights-for-200-000-foreign-arrivals-offered) with the title 'Thailand offers free domestic flights for 200,000 foreign arrivals" seems to have crash landed (pun intended) so whats really happened? In August 2025 the Tourism and Sports Ministry of Thailand led by (Sorawong Thienthong) proposed a budget of 700 million THB to launch a scheme offering free domestic flights to foreign tourists in the hope it would expand tourism to secondary cities across Thailand. It was thought the plan would be active between September and November 2025. Using a scheme like this was estimated to bring in around 8.8 billion BHT but it seems to have stalled in midair. (can't help myself with these puns) Why? ### What's the Hold Up? So far, there's been radio silence since the August announcement. The proposal which was supposed to be reviews by the Thai Cabinet, hasn't made it past the discussion stage. However Tourism and Sports Ministry were confident that the plan would "Boos arrivals in low season" the plan literally never taken off (pun game 12/10) There's beliefs that with the 700 million baht price tag which is funded under the fiscal year tourism stimulus might have been applied too late meaning it's waiting to be pushed into the 2026 fiscal plan instead but let's talk about the logistics of the idea: six airlines were listed as partners, think about aligning the booking system, verifying eligible passengers, handling reimbursements per ticker... Without a clear system in place it's probably for the best it's been holding short of the runway. (see what I did there too? 'holding short' so good.) ### What Could The Government Use the 700 Million BHT on Instead? I feel the idea in principle, is a good one but I also feel like there's many stones unturned. The 700 million potentially is money better spent elsewhere: Many of these secondary cities need better infrastructure, better signage, ferry access and so forth. They could use the money to help promote tourism in ways of advertising the festivals, supporting community run events that the locals benefit from rather than the airline. Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [From L.A to Bangkok](https://budgetbro.app/blog/from-la-to-bangkok-a-comeback-11-years-in-the-making), [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia) and [Thailand’s 60-to-30-Day Visa-Free Cut](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-visa-free-changes). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Living My Dream Life While Creating It: The Truth About Travel and Freedom > The truth about travel and freedom: the leap that changed everything and why I am encouraging others to take the chance and chase the life they have dreamt of. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/living-my-dream-life-travel-freedom - Published: 2025-10-30 - Author: Ryan Nurse - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Asia, Travel, Inspiration, Budget - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- In April 2022, I made the biggest decision of my life… I sold everything I owned: my car, my tools, and the identity I’d built for over a decade and I left England with nothing but faith in the idea that I could create my dream life while living it. For more than ten years, I worked as a car mechanic fixing other people’s problems while quietly ignoring my own. Deep down, I knew I was meant for something more. But like many, I was waiting for the “right time.” Then one day, I realised that time wasn’t coming… So I quit my job and went all in on my dreams of becoming a life coach, author, and keynote speaker. ### The Lie We've Been Sold We live in a world that conditions us to believe we have to choose between two paths: 1.Work hard in a job we don’t love, saving up for a “someday” that never comes. 2.Travel the world on a shoestring budget, just scraping by. But that’s a lie! With the right mindset, a bit of financial strategy, and the courage to back yourself, you can do both. You can build your dream life while living it. “I didn’t sell everything to escape my life - I sold everything to create one.” ### Living the Dream - While Building it Today, I’m living my dream life and creating an even better one every single day. To me, it makes perfect sense to travel the world while building a purpose-driven business. Why wait until retirement to see the world, when you can grow personally, professionally, and spiritually right now? I’ve spent the last few years exploring South America and Asia, and I can honestly say this lifestyle is far more sustainable (financially and emotionally) than the 9-to-5 grind I left behind. You can see daily content posted on my [instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ryannurse_) account. ### The Reality of Affordability Back home in England, rent alone costs around £1,000 a month. Since leaving, I’ve lived comfortably (often in pretty nice hotels) for anywhere between £500 and £1,000 per month. I’m not living small, either. I eat out two to three times a day, with meals averaging £1–£5 each. Quality accommodation can be found for £5–£15 per night if you know where to look. People say "it’s not possible." I’m living proof that it is. Because I don’t drink alcohol and don’t chase unnecessary luxuries, I can enjoy a lifestyle that feels richer, freer, and more aligned without overspending. ### A New Definition of Freedom If you’ve ever dreamed of seeing the world, here’s my advice: •If your job can be done remotely — take it on the road. •If it can’t — start looking for one that can. •And if you need a break — set a budget, make a plan, and just go. Life is too short to spend it waiting for the “perfect” time. “Don’t let the only place you ever travel to be the commute between home and work.” ### Final Reflection Selling everything and leaving England wasn’t just a leap of faith. It was a declaration of trust in myself, in the universe, and in the belief that life is meant to be lived, not merely endured. If there’s one thing I’ve learned through travel, it’s this: You don’t need to choose between your dreams and your reality. You can live both - right now! I published my first book called 'Sort Your S-H-I-T OUT!' in December 2023, you can find it on Amazon. Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Halloween in Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/halloweeninasia), [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia) and [16,095KM Away From Home](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-i-ended-up-here). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Halloween in Asia: A Tradition That Became a Trend > How do countries across Asia celebrate Halloween? From Thailand ghost festivals to Japan costume parades, here is what Halloween looks like on the road. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/halloweeninasia - Published: 2025-10-30 - Updated: 2026-08-13 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Asia, Thailand, Halloween, Travel - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Celebrated on 31 October, Halloween has its origins in the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, a crucial moment that divided the year between the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. Over the centuries, the date was adapted by the Catholic Church to coincide with All Hallows' Eve, and through the Irish, the tradition reached the United States, where it became the fun, costume-filled celebration that the world celebrates today. ### How is Halloween Celebrated in Southeast Asia? Halloween is no longer exclusive to the West. In recent years, the witches' festival has made a long journey and reached Southeast Asia. The absence of a direct religious connection has not prevented the region from embracing the celebration in a unique way, combining ghost stories, ‘trick or treat’, costume parties and, of course, lots of tourism. Here, we will explore this fascinating cultural adaptation: how each Asian country interprets Halloween, whether by transforming it into grand urban parties or connecting it to their own ancient beliefs. Influenced by films, music and social media, this celebration has been gaining ground in Southeast Asian countries, arousing curiosity and a desire to participate, especially among young people. It is seen as a fun opportunity to socialise, without strong ties to its religious roots. In addition, the date has become a lucrative and significant event for bars, shopping centres, restaurants and other establishments. In countries such as Vietnam and Thailand, Halloween was more easily absorbed, as both have a certain fascination with ghost stories and beliefs in spirits, even having their own celebrations dedicated to this, such as ‘Ghost Month’ in Vietnam and the Phi Ta Khon Festival in Thailand. Although these celebrations are not directly linked to each other, Halloween, Ghost Month and the Phi Ta Khon Festival all share the same scary theme. In cities such as Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, Halloween has become one of the most anticipated events of the year. Bars, hostels and rooftops host parties that attract travellers from all over the world, with creative costumes, electronic music and street parades. The Khaosan Road neighbourhood practically turns into a ghost carnival, while in Ho Chi Minh City, cafés and shops invest heavily in orange and black decorations. Tourism benefits directly and even temples and cultural attractions subtly get into the spirit, showing that Halloween, there, is more than just a date, it is an opportunity to connect cultures and create memorable experiences for visitors and locals alike. In the Philippines, for example, Halloween blends with Undas (Honours), which is the celebration of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. While in rural areas the tradition is for families to gather and spend the night in cemeteries with their loved ones, in large cities such as Manila the atmosphere takes on a Western flavour, with costume parties and trick-or-treating. Despite modernity, the main focus remains on respect and family unity. In Singapore and Malaysia, Halloween is predominantly a commercial and social phenomenon, especially in urban and tourist areas, but there has been no profound cultural or religious readjustment. The date is marked by its impact on the entertainment and tourism sector, attracting visitors from across the region who are looking for themed parties, fascinating experiences and large-scale events. Parks such as Universal Studios Singapore and Sunway Lagoon become veritable centres of attraction, with huge queues and promotional campaigns dedicated to the date. Shopping centres, restaurants and hotels also get into the spirit, creating a vibrant atmosphere that influences consumption and reinforces Halloween as one of the most lucrative periods in the local tourist calendar. In countries such as Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Brunei and East Timor, Halloween is much more low-key. In some capitals, expat bars and international hotels host themed parties, but in general, the date goes almost unnoticed by the local population. Ultimately, Halloween in Southeast Asia perfectly illustrates how traditions are like nomads that adapt to new places and cultures. Without deep religious roots here, the date has found an opportunity in tourism, the curiosity of new generations and commercial innovation. In some countries, it connects naturally with ancient beliefs about spirits and the supernatural; in others, it has become just a reason to have fun and enjoy a good party. The future promises a Halloween with its own style in Asia, lighter, more colourful and tropical. If you are a fan of this celebration and are in the region, get your camera ready and don't miss the chance to experience this party with a unique and unforgettable Asian flavour. Tips: - Best places to enjoy: Bangkok, Ho Chi Minh City, Manila, and Singapore. - What to expect: rooftop parties, themed bars, events in parks and shopping centres. - What to bring: light clothing, as the heat can be intense even on cloudy days, a raincoat and your dancing shoes. Don't forget to drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated is very important :D ### What's BudgetBro Doing for Halloween? We're working very hard on getting the app ready for public testing, and we're on track which is AWESOME. Take a minute to check out the rest of the website and even our crowdfunding blog, if you could also be part of the community and chip in on the crowdfunder, every penny counts! Keep the planning going with our guides to [UK to Southeast Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheap-flights-uk-southeast-asia), [Thailands Free Flight Promise](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailands-free-flight-promise-abandoned) and [Thailand’s 60-to-30-Day Visa-Free Cut](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailand-visa-free-changes). Keep the planning going with our guides to [Halloween in Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/living-my-dream-life-travel-freedom), [Halloween in Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailands-visa-extensions-got-stricter) and [Halloween in Asia](https://budgetbro.app/blog/disneyland-abu-dhabi-confirmed). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Yi Peng Lantern Festival Thailand 2026: Your Complete Guide > Planning to attend Yi Peng Lantern Festival Thailand in 2026? This updated guide covers festival dates, tickets, locations in Chiang Mai, and travel tips. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/yi-peng-festival-thailand - Published: 2025-10-30 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Yipeng, Lantern, Festival, Thailand, Chiang Mai - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- This year, the Festival will take place 24th-25th November. Chiang Mai will forever have a place in my heart, for me it's my go-to place in the whole of Thailand. It's quiet, it's clean, it's cheap and most importantly, you get Thailands BEST dish, Khao Soi. (my personal opinion) Over the years I have spent a considerable amount of time in Chiang Mai, most recently me and my wife, Samar, volunteered at an English school just south of the city in a place called Hang Dong for 6 weeks. On a scooter it would take around 30 mins drive into the countryside. We'd volunteer on a Saturday and Sunday, 09:00 - 16:00 and the students ranged between 3 and 18 years old. Good memories but let's get on to the real reason you're reading this blog, Yi Peng Lantern Festival. ### Firstly, what is Yi Peng Lantern Festival? Yi Peng Lantern Festival is honestly one of the most beautiful things you’ll ever see in Thailand. It’s that time of year when the sky above Chiang Mai fills with thousands of glowing paper lanterns drifting away into the night. The whole city lights up, and it feels like something straight out of a dream. The festival runs alongside Loy Krathong, which is when people float small decorated baskets (called krathongs) down rivers to let go of bad luck and start fresh. Yi Peng, on the other hand, is all about the sky lanterns. Locals and tourists gather together, write wishes or prayers on their lanterns, and release them at the same time. When they all rise together, it’s pure magic. It’s not just about the lantern release either. The city gets dressed up for it. Temples glow, the streets are full of food stalls, people wear traditional clothes, and there’s music, fireworks, and a buzz everywhere. ### Where Should I stay? If you haven't already got your accommodation sorted you may as well forget it, unless you're willing to pay £70.00 minimum in a hotel. I checked earlier and the average price is over £100.00 per night, what's crazy is during Songkran hotels are only £15.00-£18.00 per night on average. Yi Peng Lantern Festival is 3.5x more expensive! I will do another post on Songkran, some of the best days of 2025 was during this festival, we have a whole file full of photos and videos to share with you. Here's one of the cheapest hotels currently in Chiang Mai you could stay in for £69.00 per night, and actually it's not bad. Our friends have stayed there in the past. It's called the [Amora Tapae Hotel](https://www.agoda.com/en-gb/amora-tapae-hotel/hotel/chiang-mai-th.html?countryId=106&finalPriceView=1&isShowMobileAppPrice=false&cid=-1&numberOfBedrooms=&familyMode=false&adults=2&children=0&rooms=1&maxRooms=0&checkIn=2025-11-5&isCalendarCallout=false&childAges=&numberOfGuest=0&missingChildAges=false&travellerType=1&showReviewSubmissionEntry=false¤cyCode=GBP&isFreeOccSearch=false&tspTypes=6&los=2&searchrequestid=fb3a3c86-36dc-42ae-b922-16f950d1eb53&ds=gdsVaZsvdF60D64g) and it's located just outside the main square, but don't worry, it's a close walk to most things. Just for the record, my favourite hotel in Chiang Mai is called Sleep Mai, this is also very close to Amora Tapae, if you're able to book yourself into Sleep Mai, I highly recommend it! ### How Far Is Yi Peng Lantern Festival From Inside The City? If you stayed in the hotel I mentioned above, you're within a 20 minute walking distance as the Mae Ping River flows to the east of the city. I wouldn't recommend relying on Grabs nor Bolt, often traffic is bad within the city without events so walking is your best bet to efficiently explore the local areas. ### What To Expect On The 5th of November I'm not sure if you have ever experienced a Songkran in Thailand? If you have, you know what to expect but if you havent, expect the streets to be busy from the crack of dawn. Street sellers are setting up the second the sun blesses us good morning. Temples get decorated soon after and by late afternoon you’ll see people heading out with their lanterns. Once you get to the event there’s usually a few hours of food, music and little shows before the big release. Bring a jacket because it can get chilly at night and maybe a small bag for your stuff since it’s crowded. The main lantern release happens after dark and lasts around 30 minutes, but the whole event goes for about three to four hours. After that it’s chaos again with traffic, so expect a slow ride back into the city. More festivals and events to plan around: [Songkran in Thailand](https://budgetbro.app/blog/songkran-festival-thailand), [the Taunggyi balloon festival](https://budgetbro.app/blog/taunggyi-tazaungdaing-festival-extended) and [Bon Om Touk water festival](https://budgetbro.app/blog/bon-om-touk-cambodias-electrifying-water-festival). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Minha Conexão com O BudgetBro > Cuidar de pessoas e criar algo util guiaram minha jornada. Como cofundadora do BudgetBro, conto como transformei uma ideia de viagem num proposito de vida. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/o-toque-feminino-por-tras-do-budgetbro - Published: 2025-10-29 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Thailand, App, Travel, Female, BudgetBro - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Olá, sou Samar, tenho 29 anos e, após ter sido atendente de call center, garçonete, técnica de enfermagem, assistente a pessoa com deficiência e voluntária em projetos sociais, hoje sou a Cofundadora do BudgetBro. Uma conexão inusitada? Talvez. Mas, na verdade, há uma ligação clara em tudo o que eu fiz, mesmo que eu não conseguisse enxergar isso no início. Em todas essas funções, era exigido de mim um cuidado e um atendimento humanizado, com o conhecimento e domínio necessários para que quem recebesse meu serviço, fosse em uma ligação telefônica, na administração de um medicamento ou na explicação de um menu, se sentisse confiante naquilo que eu estava falando, oferecendo e apresentando. Eles precisavam ter uma experiência leve e gratificante. Em todos esses papéis, sempre me preocupei com o cuidado e a qualidade. E na criação do BudgetBro, não fiz nada diferente. Eu juntei toda a minha experiência, com as qualidades profissionais que eu já tinha e aquelas que desenvolvi, para me dedicar a algo que mudaria a forma de viajar. ### O nascimento da ideia A ideia da criação do BudgetBro foi inteiramente do Josh. Confesso que, no início, achei que fosse somente mais uma ideia maluca e, obviamente, não levei muito a sério. Mas, depois de algumas conversas, percebi que esse app era uma necessidade real. Entre uma viagem e outra, percebemos que a falta de organização financeira e um facilitador pra isso era um problema comum entre os mochileiros. Muitos aplicativos de orçamento pareciam complicados demais, e usar o spreadsheet, como eu e Josh fazíamos por anos e anos, não era nada motivacional, além de gastar muito do nosso precioso tempo. Nosso objetivo era criar algo simples, intuitivo e focado no essencial: ajudar as pessoas a entenderem para onde o dinheiro está indo e ajudá-las a organizar isso de uma forma mais inteligente. Lembro quando começamos um esboço de como isso funcionaria. A ideia inicial era rabiscar as funcionalidades mais básicas, categorizar gastos, visualizar o saldo e definir metas. Pra mim, parecia uma conversa informal, mas o brilho nos olhos do Josh e o sorriso no rosto, me apresentando a ideia na perspectiva dele, me mostraram que aquilo era mais que um projeto pra ele. O BudgetBro estava mais perto de ser um propósito ou sonho, digamos assim. Então, a partir daquele momento, o BudgetBro se tornou a minha missão também, e eu faria de tudo para fazer isso ser mais que um simples projeto de escanteio. ### Divisão de responsabilidades Minha jornada começou com a adaptação ao trabalho online, um universo que parecia estranho para mim, acostumada com a crença de que “trabalho de verdade” é feito presencialmente... Uma enorme bobagem, como o tempo me mostrou. A partir daí, definimos a nossa divisão de tarefas. Josh assumiu a posição de Líder de Desenvolvimento, e eu fiquei com a outra parte essencial, atuando como uma espécie de “analista de negócios”. Fiquei responsável pelas entradas de dados e informações, pelas pesquisas sobre demanda e solução. Minha função era testar, procurar e encontrar onde estavam os problemas visuais e de processamento. Nunca imaginei que ajudaria na criação de um app, mas eu sabia que a minha maior missão aqui era garantir que o BudgetBro fosse fácil e intuitivo para que alguém, como eu, um não especialista em tecnologia, soubesse como usar sem muitas dificuldades. Eu precisava garantir a boa experiência do usuário. Também fiquei responsável por dar aquele toque suave e confortável no designer de algumas telas ou ate mesmo, a reformulação completa de algumas delas. Assegurar que o aplicativo de adaptasse conforme cada estilo. Organizei os dados e documentação fundamental para a agilidade da startup, e até me arrisquei na criação de alguns esboços para os personagens e badges do aplicativo. E a função mais importante e difícil, nós dois assumimos: a função de separar o relacionamento do trabalho, dando um ao outro todo o suporte necessário, e quando necessário. Essa era a nossa primeira vez trabalhando juntos e na criação de um aplicativo complexo. Éramos leigos no assunto, e a nossa inexperiência se somou ao desafio de alinhar nossos pensamentos e temperamentos diferentes. Tudo o que poderia ter sido um obstáculo se tornou a nossa maior força. Descobrimos que não precisamos anular nossas diferenças, mas que poderíamos usar isso a nosso favor. O fato de termos humores e perspectivas diferentes nos forçava a debater, a questionar e a encontrar soluções melhores do que as que conseguiríamos se fôssemos cópias um do outro. O objetivo comum era fazer o BudgetBro acontecer, e esse objetivo sempre foi maior do que qualquer desacordo momentâneo. Aprendemos a importância de uma comunicação transparente e do respeito em qualquer parceria, seja ela pessoal ou profissional. No final, a experiência de construir algo do zero com alguém que você ama é incrivelmente desafiadora e gratificante de uma forma que jamais poderíamos ter previsto. Estamos apenas começando e trabalhando para que o BudgetBro receba a visibilidade que merece. Keep the planning going with our guides to [16,095KM Away From Home](https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-i-ended-up-here), [Slow Travel](https://budgetbro.app/blog/slow-travel-how-its-really-done) and [From the Founder](https://budgetbro.app/blog/november-recap-the-founders-perspective). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Slow Travel: How It's REALLY Done > Slow travel means fewer flights, deeper experiences, and smarter budgets. Here’s how you do it. Step by step, destination by destination. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/slow-travel-how-its-really-done - Published: 2025-10-29 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Thailand, Rome, Soeul, Italy, South Korea, Bangkok, Travel, Flights - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- If it was possible to have a PhD in route efficiency, I'd be called Dr Josh right now. Sometimes you have to admit defeat, some routes you just cannot escape but as backpackers we have something very valuable which most people don't have, **time**. This is one of the most underrated flexes in life and trust me, when you're equipped with **time**, you are in control. In 2023, my wife and I have taken 15 flights from the UK to Australia over a 5 month period and paid £1,741.81 (£870.90 each). Yes, I still have my spreadsheets from 2023, this is exactly why I am the right man for the job when it comes to building budgeting app for backpackers! Anyway, my point is, we were able to do this because of 1 thing. TIME. Now, with time you have a couple of options: super cheap flights or cheap flights with experiences, this blog is about cheap flights and experiences. Let's get into it. You're leaving the UK in the next 4 weeks with no plans, maybe it's a trip of a life time, maybe it's a gap year or maybe you're retired. They've all got something in common, **time**. These days flying from A to B quick is only for a couple of reasons: business or when someone has 2 weeks annual leave and need to be time efficient. We don't, this is slow travel baby! I want to inspire you to look outside the box, instead of flying from A to B, lets fly from A to B over 4 days, visit more countries, enjoy new culture and one of my faves - trying new cuisines (and cooking classes). Below I have made up an itinerary from LDN to BKK over 4 days which is cheaper than booking a 1 connection flight with 23+ hours in the air. ### The Route: London - Rome - Seoul - Bangkok. ### Day 1 - Rome 06:45 flight from LGW, arrive in FCO at 10:15. Realistically by time you have disembarked and passed immigration it's 11:00. Take the non-stop train from the airport into the city, these run every 15 minutes and costs around £11.90. The journey takes approximately 32 minutes. Depending on which train you catch, you're in the city for 11:30 or 11:45 and you don't need to get the train back until 17:45 meaning you have over 6 hours in the city! Here's the POA: Firstly buy a pizza and a negroni for lunch, if you're feeling adventurous and ask for pineapple topping. Next head over to the Vatican City and wave good afternoon to Pope Leo XIV, from here you can go to Trevi Fountain and throw in some money you saved from the boring 25+ hours flight from LHR to BKK. Afterwards make your way over to the Colosseum and pretend to listen to your tour guide. Want to know the best part? You've still got time for a cooking class (potentially lol). 17:45 you catch the train back to the airport and catch your 20:15 flight to Seoul. Now, this flight does have 1 layover but it's only for 2.5 hours. By time you've stretch your legs you're already back lining up on the runway preparing to takeoff. I can already sense you're onboard with the whole 'slow travel' vibes (pardon the plane pun) and no, this doesn't contradict it's name, it's actually the opposite, this is the definition of slow travel. ### Day 2 - Seoul I think it's important to remember that we are moving forward in timezones and after your long haul flight arriving into Seoul at 20:30 the following day, you're understandably going to feel it. Your plan now is just to get to the hotel and rest. Grab the AREX express train into the city which takes 43 minutes and will cost approximately £6.43. Locate your hotel and sleep. This is the beauty of slow travel, not only have you completed Rome in a day but you have 36 hours in the South Korean capital, Seoul! But allow me to give you some advice so you don't make the same mistake as us. Check the forecast! Back in November 2024 we also visited Seoul, we flew in from Vietnam and on this day South Korea has the worst snow fall in 100 years, hundreds of flights cancelled but ours made it. However, I had no idea South Korea was cold in winter, we both arrived in shorts and flip flops. IT WAS COLD, but also very magical. There's a certain vibe which runs through the city, especially when it's a foot deep in snow. ### Day 3 - Seoul You've slept for 12 hours, you're feeling great, you get changed and hit the road. Now there's many things to do in Seoul but I think what I'm about to recommend you shouldn't be rushed. Firstly it's most likely late morning, you're jet lagged right? find your local Chimaek, this stands for chicken and beer, trust me, you will NOT be disappointed. Most have iPad style monitors on each table, just keep tapping and food keeps arriving. I rate this more than Korean BBQ, (I felt like that was a letdown) After your weekly calorie intake of chicken and beer, head over to the DMZ. This is your opportunity to look into North Korea with your own eyes, it's an experience which doesn't come round often, I feel like it's something which shouldn't be missed. After adding 163 photos into your camera roll of North Korea there's a traditional village called Bukchon Hanok, this is a picturesque place, super chilled. Go spend some time there and admire your surroundings. You'll see many locals dressed up in Hanbok which is their traditional clothing. If you're feeling like dressing up, you can rent these dresses for photos within the village, cool but not my cup of tea. By this point, it's starting to get dark, head back into the city and immerse yourself yet again in their local cuisine. #### Day 4 - Bangkok You're savvy so you booked a 12:10 flight to BKK meaning no early alarm clock. You wake up, have breakfast and make your way over to the airport. You arrive into BKK at 16:10, which to me is the perfect departure and arrival time. Finally, after your 4 days of slow but impactful travel, you're where the real story starts. ### How Much Did It Cost? Let's walk through each step and compare it against what you'd pay for a flight from LHR to BKK with airlines who get your from A to B the quickest. Flights LGW - FCO £54.00 FCO - ICN £232.00 ICN - BKK £53.00 Total £339.00 Fastest Qatar - £398.00 BA - £399.00 Emirates £513.00 We won't account for spends as if you head straight to BKK you'd still be paying for hotels, transport, food and more. So what are we saving? £70.00, which for me, is an additional 4 days on the road. What will you gain? You will gain an additional 3 countries visited, you waved to Pope Leo XIV, you'll annoy the Italians adding pineapple on pizza, you'll see North Korea with your own eyes, you'll eat Chimaek in Seoul and most importantly, you're a wiser person with these additional experiences. So what do you think? Are you going to do it? ### BudgetBro The Budget Travel App for Backpackers You've made it this far, I'm impressed. Check out the rest of our website, share the blogs with friends and family. We need all eyes on us. BudgetBro will be launching in T minus 70 days and we're crowdfunding the marketing, if you like my blogs, think about becoming a crowdfunder. Click here to see the BudgetBro crowdfunding page on our website, there's a nice video of me too, check it out! Want to get ahead on the planning? We break down [Cheapest Flights to Asia August](https://budgetbro.app/blog/cheapest-flights-asia-august), [Thailands Free Flight Promise](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailands-free-flight-promise-abandoned) and [Cheapest Flights](https://budgetbro.app/blog/flights-to-southeastasia-jan-2026). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # From L.A to Bangkok: A Comeback 11 Years In The Making > United Airlines reconnects America and Thailand with a new daily Los Angeles to Bangkok route, 11 years in the making. Here is what it means for travellers. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/from-la-to-bangkok-a-comeback-11-years-in-the-making - Published: 2025-10-29 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's News - Tags: Thailand, America, Airline, Tourism, Travel - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- After 10 years, flights from America to Thailand are finally back. United Airlines relaunched the route from Los Angeles on October 24th, 2025, and it s about time. The first flight landed in Bangkok on the 26th of October 2025, this is perfect timing for Thailands high season. I have a good friend, Marcellus, I know how happy he'll be about this news, as he's already flown out to Thailand twice this year to see me from Arizona and on both occasions he's transiting through Japan totally 4+ flights each way. The route disappeared many years ago because of 2 main reasons: Demand and Safety. The two combined was a cocktail for disaster and the inevitable unfortunately happened. ### What Happened To Thailands Air Safety Rating? Back in 2015, Thailand’s aviation safety rating got dropped by the FAA. They basically said the system wasn’t meeting international standards and dropped it to what’s called Category 2. It wasn’t that Thai airlines were unsafe to fly. The problem was how things were being managed behind the scenes. The FAA said Thailand didn’t have enough qualified inspectors, the paperwork was messy, and the rules didn’t match what international aviation expects. In short, the system needed fixing. The downgrade meant Thai airlines were still allowed to fly their existing routes to America. but couldn’t add new ones or partner with American carriers. It slowed everything down for years. After that, Thailand spent almost a decade fixing the mess. The Civil Aviation Authority brought in new systems, trained more inspectors, and worked hard to clean up everything. By early 2025, the FAA came back to review it again and this time Thailand passed. On April 22nd 2025, Thailand officially got it's Category 1 safety rating back meaning Thai airlines can now launch new American routes again and start working with American carriers. ### Will This Help Thailands Struggling Tourism? According to [NationThailand](https://www.nationthailand.com/news/tourism/40056300?utm_source=chatgpt.com) from January 1st 2025 to September 30th 2025 arrivals stood at 24.11 million, a 7.56% decrease from the same period in 2024. Now, Samar and I have spent 6 months of this year so far in Thailand and we don't physically see or feel a difference in numbers but facts don't lie. So will these new flights from LAX to BKK make a noticeable difference? It’s hard to say how much one route can move the needle, but it’s a good start. The US market is strong, Americans usually stay longer and spend more than most short-haul traveller's. If this flight does well, it could encourage more airlines to reopen long-haul routes, which Thailand really needs right now. At the end of the day, this isn’t just another flight. It’s a signal that confidence is coming back. And if Thailand can keep building on that, the country might finally see tourism bounce back to where it belongs. Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [Thailands Free Flight Promise](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailands-free-flight-promise-abandoned), [This eSIM through Agoda is the Cheapest for Thailand Right Now](https://budgetbro.app/blog/thailands-best-325-esim) and [Hong Kong Airlines](https://budgetbro.app/blog/hong-kong-airlines-big-bet-on-intra-asia-travel). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # 16,095KM Away From Home: How I Ended Up Here > My story on leaving my home country Brazil and 3 years on I'm on the other side of the world with my now husband building a travel app - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/how-i-ended-up-here - Published: 2025-10-27 - Author: Samar Sheila - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: Travel, Woman, Solo, BudgetBro, App, Backpacking, Female, Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- Cheese pasty and sugarcane juice at the Sunday markets. Karaoke on Christmas Eve. Fights at family barbecues and my nephews jumping on my bed to wake me up at 6 a.m. Because I promised I'd go to the beach with them. I miss home! This post isn't just about how I left Brazil and moved around the world. It's a vivid, true account, full of emotions and feelings, about the peaks of euphoria, when I realised I could finally speak English. The moments of despair, like the loneliness that grips you when you realise you're thousands of miles from home. It's to show that during this journey, I realised that the greatest victory wasn't in getting to know countries and cultures, but rather, the person I'm becoming. Have you ever thought that traveling to an unknown place would change something inside you? One of the first major changes came when I realised how brave I was to leave my country with someone I'd known for just over a year, landing in a country where, besides being cold, no one but my husband Josh, who was my boyfriend at the time, could understand me. After all, this is England. There, I experienced the challenge of communication. I remember as if it were yesterday having to talk to a DHL delivery man, and he was trying to talk to me, but I obviously didn't understand a thing! Until he handed me the package, he made a gesture to take a photo and I posed with the box in my hand. But my colourful head, he wanted to prove he'd delivered it to someone and needed a photo of whoever had received it, so I posed. If he was going to take a picture of me, at least I'd have to be smiling and decent. He laughed, took the picture, and left. I didn't quite understand why he laughed, but I thought he was laughing at our attempt at communicating in English. But the next day, another delivery man came, and this time, Josh answered. I just watched through the window. After a few words were exchanged, Josh held out the box, and the delivery man took a picture of the code on the package. I swear I laughed so hard I understood why the delivery guy from the day before was laughing. He just wanted to scan the package, and I was posing like a model. At the same time I saw the humour in posing for the delivery guy, I also understood that, once and for all, mastering the basics of that language was the bare minimum for my survival, and thats exactly what I did. For the most part, I was with Josh's mother, who I nicknamed "Mother-in-Law of the Gods." What an incredible woman, seriously! Such love, patience, and a willingness to help with every difficulty that I can't even explain. She was so important in my adaptation process. After mastering the basics of English, it gave me new confidence, but what I didn't know was that communication was only part of the equation. The next obstacle was loneliness. In Brazil, I had a cat named Bola, who was with me for 11 years. One day, I received the news that he had passed away, and I cried for hours and hours. It was a cry that was not just for the loss of my companion, but for the fear of losing more than that. At that moment, the truth finally sank in: I was so far from my family, and things can happen without warning. Everything could change in a matter of minutes. The news hit me hard emotionally, imagining horrible scenarios. I realised that, despite the affection and support I had from those close to me, I was alone. Alone with my fears, my thoughts and feelings that I could barely express to myself, let alone in English and out loud. It was then that loneliness stopped being just a concept and became real and almost depressing. Silence reigned for the rest of my day, and when Josh found me, even without many words, he understood. Maybe not the depth of my fear or my inability to verbalise what I felt, but he understood the pain of loss and loneliness. He hugged me, didn't say much, but the hug showed me that I wasn't truly alone, and that was powerful because communication goes far beyond words. Over time, I began to understand that, even with our cultural differences, our connection felt like I was at home. It was from then on that I decided that if I wanted to build a future, I would have to face my fears head-on and find new ways to survive that reality. And guess what? I was proposed to, and of course, I said yes. **The next significant stop was Thailand, where we got married!** I could start this section by telling you how my proposal went, but that's a story for another time! Has anyone here ever tried to get married in Thailand? My God, Brazilians really struggle, lol. There were so many documents, so many emails, and back and forth to the Brazilian embassy that I get dizzy just remembering it, but I won't go into that at this point. I want to focus on how crazy our wedding was, starting with me trying on and choosing my dress two days before getting married. That's right, two days before getting married, I realised we already had everything ready: photography, makeup, decorations, nails; however, my dress and Josh's suit were missing. We were so excited about living life in Thailand, mesmerised by the beauty of the place, that we simply forgot about the clothes, hahaha. But we solved that very easily. Josh tried on two suits and made up his mind, I tried on only three dresses and also decided which one I wanted to marry. From that point on, everything was ready, and we had nothing else to worry about. And then, the long-awaited July 4th, 2023, arrived the day we got married. We woke up early, smiling, enjoyed the pool, drank a few beers, laughed, and admired the beauty of our wedding decor. A simple arch of white flowers, a few strings of fairy lights, and a simple lectern, but imagine all of this on one of Koh Samui's beautiful beaches... it was the simplest and most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. A few hours later, I finally started getting ready; after all, I wasn't going to do much. I wanted light, simple makeup, natural, style hair, and I'd get married with my feet on the ground. So, I knew it wouldn't take long to get ready, and it really didn't take more than an hour. I looked in the mirror and said to myself: "This is the time, Samar Sheila, you're getting married." I remember repeating this over and over until the word "get married" began to carry a certain weight. I don't mean weight in the sense of the wedding itself, but rather the fact that it is only once in a lifetime and how important that would be. I remembered once again that I was alone. At that moment, my family would only be present through a live stream on Instagram, and I burst into tears once more. Josh came into the room, looking gorgeous, in a suit and tie, unlike anything I'd ever seen before, and desperately asked me what had happened. I said, "I don't like the makeup." And I really didn't. But his family wasn't there either, and I didn't want him to feel the same way. He went to the bar, got a cocktail, and said, "Drink this, you look beautiful! But if you want to take off your makeup, I'll help you. You look beautiful no matter what." Together, we adjusted our makeup, wiped away our tears, hugged, and began the photo shoot. Less than 20 minutes into the shoot, he walked down the aisle, and it was my turn to walk down the aisle. I simply lost track of time, forgot how to walk and even talk, hahaha. It was an incredible and unforgettable feeling. We said our vows, said "I do," and enjoyed the evening with our guests, who were a couple of friends we met three days before the wedding and a friend who happened to be on the same island as us. The night ended with dancing, beers, pizza, and lots of laughter. We even laughed at a part of the ceremony where I had to repeat what the officiant said. However, he was speaking in English, and since we already know how good my English is, I repeated a lot of things incorrectly, lol. And that's when I took on a whole new level of pressure... basic English wasn't enough anymore; I needed more. **Honeymoon in Indonesia** After we got married, we went straight to Indonesia. There we visited some beautiful places and some quite chaotic ones too. We learned a bit about the beliefs, culture, and traditions. It was a time of great learning, but to be honest, neither Josh nor I really liked Indonesia. I think we either didn't explore the country well enough, or it's really an overrated destination. Right away, I had trouble adapting to the food, and food is very important. If I don't eat, I'm not in a good mood, and if I'm not in a good mood, I'm not open to appreciating what's around me, you know? Josh, on the other hand, was freaking out about the lack of sidewalks. We were literally sharing space with cars and motorcycles, and that wasn't very nice. We were also facing issues with my spouse's visa in England. So, I think it was a combination of moods, bureaucracy, and a bad itinerary. We left Indonesia with a sense of sadness, but with the certainty that our next destination would be Australia. It was the place where Josh could work and I could finally immerse myself in the language. **Australia** We arrived on the Sunshine Coast with renewed hope. The first thing I noticed was the sidewalk: clean, wide, safe. It was a small sign that we were in a place where order existed, and it gave us some relief. The first few days were filled with optimism. The energy of the city, the smell of familiar food, beautiful beaches, people exercising. It was a daytime place, just the way we like it. While Josh was working, I volunteered five, sometimes six, times a week at the Salvation Army. There wasn't anyone there who spoke my language, but they were already used to it. After all, it was very common for people from other countries to volunteer. They were very kind to me and patient with my communication difficulties. After a few weeks, we all noticed that I had taken my English level up a notch. It was an incredible and unique experience. The initial plan was to stay in Australia for two months until I sorted out the rest of my visa issues in England. But we wanted to explore further and decided I would exchange my tourist visa for a student visa. Now it was serious; I was finally going to an English school. I swapped volunteering for school, and in the first three months, we saw such significant progress that I even received a certificate for student of the month. Can you believe it? By this point, I was already in the intermediate level class. But Australia wasn't all sunshine and roses. Considering I was studying and the results were coming quickly, I found myself feeling empty. Josh worked from 6:00 AM to 4:00 PM, I studied from 8:30 AM to 12:45 PM. At first, after class, I enjoyed the city and the best things life had to offer: beaches, delicious food, pubs, and even mid-afternoon naps. But after a while, nothing was new to me anymore, and I needed more. I needed a job, and it was here that I discovered my problem and why I was feeling empty. Even after five months of English classes, my student visa still hadn't been accepted. I was on a kind of bridging visa, which allows you to stay in the country until they decide whether to accept your new visa application. However, you can remain in the country, following the rules of your previous visa. In my case, before applying for the student visa, I was on a tourist visa, and one of the clear rules was: "NO WORK." So, legally, I was prevented from working. There was plenty of illegal work, but that was never an option for us. We were there to do the right thing and follow the rules. In total, it was a seven-month wait, and during those seven months, I went through challenging times. I was very depressed, I felt useless, and the only thing I was good at was being at the top of my class. During this waiting period, I experienced racism and prejudice for not being from that country. That spark in my eyes for Australia gradually faded, and I just wanted to leave. And one day, I was determined to tell Josh that I didn't want to wait any longer. I wanted to leave for my country, where I felt useful, free from prejudice, and free to work and pursue my profession. I spent the school day practicing in my mind how I would have this conversation with Josh. I left school and, on my way home, I received a call from Josh telling me that my visa had finally been accepted and that we would have another ten months to remain in Australia. That news came as a fuel to my fire. I cried with joy because, for the first time since leaving Brazil, I could finally work and feel like myself. Independent, free, and contributing. That same week, I was already working in a restaurant. But it was only two days a week, and that was in the evenings! So, I looked for another job that would fill my day. That's when I started babysitting Lenny, a nine-year-old with a unique personality. That was also twice a week. Now I had two jobs, but together they still didn't fill my allotted free time. So I started as a cleaner. My visa allowed me to work 48 hours a fortnight. I made a point of filling them every second, and so I did. Finally, everything was on track. English improvement, CHECK! Work, CHECK! Leisure time, CHECK! Everything was on track and just as we wanted. But looking back, I realised that the true achievement wasn't just achieving all of this, but resisting the urge to give up. The seven months of waiting, the feeling of uselessness, and the prejudice left their mark on me, but they also strengthened me. The sparkle in my eyes that had gradually faded began to return. Australia taught me that happiness isn't a permanent condition, but a series of moments of overcoming and gratitude. That phone call from Josh, which changed my day, was proof that life has its own time and that patience is a virtue learned the hard way. That country became a milestone in our journey. After a year and a few months in Australia, we decided we wanted to visit other countries, explore new horizons, and so we did. **The beginning of a new plan…** Once again, we packed our backpacks and set foot in the world. We planned to travel for a year, visiting a country every month. We started our journey in Vietnam. We explored for only 15 days and couldn't take it anymore! Then, we decided we'd go to Thailand to rethink our itinerary. And it was there that we decided we couldn't just travel. We had to give it a purpose. Between drinks at one of Chiang Mai's bars, chatting about plans and the future, Josh had the idea for BudgetBro. It wasn't something we imagined would become so big. At first, it was more of a hobby, so to speak. But then, it grew and grew... We were traveling and, at the same time, creating something for people like us, energetic traveller’s who like things a little more organised, but just right! And from then on, what was supposed to be just a regular app became our mission. And now I can say it was and still is the best one ever. My final lesson so far is that neither Josh nor I can just travel and enjoy ourselves. We have to have a purpose, and we found ours. We traveled to India for a month, then another month in Sri Lanka. They were incredible trips, and I'll delve deeper into them at some point. After another two months of adventure and simultaneously developing BudgetBro, we came to the conclusion that we had lofty plans for the app and that it needed more attention, focus, and dedication. From that moment on, Thailand became our home base. We immersed ourselves deeply and dedicated everything we had to making it a success. Of course, there were many disagreements about Josh and I during the process. Although we share the same goals, we are still two minds with different ideas, with different tastes and ways of seeing things. It wasn't, and still isn't, easy for us as a couple, having to work together and not let stress affect our relationship. But today, after months and months of this process, I see that, once again, we made the right decision and that it was all worth it! The app is fantastic; it's live, in the final stretch, and making us very proud. --- ***Minha trajetória ate aqui.*** Para construir um futuro, eu sabia que teria que enfrentar meus medos e encontrar novas maneiras de lidar com a realidade. Pastel de queijo e caldo nas feiras de domingo. Karaokê na noite de Natal. Brigas nos churrascos de família e meus sobrinhos pulando na minha cama para me acordar às 6 da manhã, porque eu prometi que iria pra praia com eles. Saudades de casa! Esse post não é apenas sobre como saí do Brasil e me mudei pro mundo. É um relato vivo, verdadeiro, cheio de emoções e sentimentos, sobre os picos de euforia, ao perceber que eu podia me comunicar em inglês, e os momentos de desespero, como a solidão que aperta quando você percebe que está a milhares de quilômetros de casa. É pra mostrar que durante essa jornada eu percebi que a maior vitória não estava em conhecer países e culturas, mas sim, a pessoa que estou me tornando. Você já pensou que viajar pra um lugar desconhecido mudaria alguma coisa dentro de você? Uma das primeiras grandes mudanças veio em perceber o quão corajosa eu fui em ter saído do meu país com alguém que eu conhecia há pouco mais de um ano, aterrizar em uma terra que, além de fria, ninguém além do meu marido Josh, que na época era meu namorado, poderia me entender. Afinal, estamos falando da Inglaterra. Lá eu vivi o desafio da comunicação. Me lembro como se fosse ontem que precisei atender um entregador da DHL, e ele tentava falar comigo, mas eu obviamente não entendia nada!  Até que ele me entregou o pacote, fez um sinal de foto, eu posei com a caixa na mão. Ma minha cabeça colorida, ele queira comprovar que entregou pra alguém e precisava da foto de quem tinha recebido a entrega, por isso fiz a pose.  Se ele fosse tirar uma foto minha, ao menos teria que estar sorridente e descente. Ele riu, tirou a foto e saiu. Eu não entendi muito bem o motivo do riso, mas achei que ele tivesse rido pela nossa tentativa de comunicação em inglês. Mas no dia seguinte, outro entregador veio, e dessa vez, o Josh atendeu. Fiquei apenas observando pela janela e depois trocarem meia dúzia de palavras, o Josh estendeu a caixa e o entregador tirou foto do código que tinha no pacote. Eu juro que ri demais e entendi o porque o entregador do dia anterior estava rindo. Ele só queria escanear o código do pacote e eu fazendo pose de modelo. No mesmo momento que eu via graça por ter feito uma pose pro entregador, eu também entendi que, de uma vez por todas, dominar o básico daquela língua era o mínimo pra minha sobrevivência. E assim e fiz. A pior parte do tempo, eu estava com a mãe do Josh que eu apelidei como “Sogra dos Deuses”..  Que mulher incrível, serio!  Um amor, uma paciência e uma vontade de ajudar em cada dificuldade que eu não posso nem explicar aqui. Ela foi muito importante nesse meu processo de adaptação.  Após dominar o básico do inglês, me deu uma nova confiança, mas o que eu não sabia é que a comunicação era apenas uma parte da equação. O próximo obstáculo foi a solidão. No Brasil, eu tinha um gato chamado Bola, que esteve comigo por 11 anos. Um dia, recebi a notícia de que ele havia falecido, e chorei por horas e horas. Foi um choro que não era apenas pela perda do meu companheiro, mas pelo medo de perder mais do que isso. Naquele momento, a ficha finalmente caiu: eu estava a uma distância gigantesca da minha família, e a vida, é um sopro. Tudo poderia mudar em questão de minutos. A notícia atingiu diretamente meu emocional, me faz imaginar cenários horríveis. Percebi que, apesar do carinho e apoio que tinha de pessoas por perto, eu estava sozinha. Sozinha com meus medos, meus pensamentos e sentimentos que eu mal conseguia expressar para mim mesma, quem dirá em inglês e em voz alta. Foi ali que a solidão deixou de ser apenas um conceito e passou a ser real e quase que deprimente. O silêncio reinou pelo resto do meu dia, e quando Josh me encontrou, mesmo sem muitas palavras, ele entendeu. Talvez não a profundidade do meu medo ou a minha incapacidade de verbalizar o que sentia, mas ele entendeu a dor da perda e da solidão. Me abraçou, não falou muito, mas o abraço me mostrou que eu não estava sozinha de fato, e aquilo foi poderoso porque a comunicação vai muito além das palavras. Com o tempo, comecei a entender que, mesmo com as nossas diferenças culturais, a nossa conexão era um refúgio. Foi a partir daí que decidi que, se queria construir um futuro, teria que enfrentar os meus medos de frente e encontrar novas formas de sobreviver com aquela realidade. E adivinhem só? Fui pedida em casamento, e é claro que eu disse sim. **A próxima parada significativa foi a Tailândia, onde nós nos casamos!** Eu poderia começar essa parte dizendo como foi meu pedido de casamento, mas isso é história pra um outro momento! Alguém aqui já tentou se casar na Tailândia? Meu Deus, brasileiro sofre mesmo kkkk. Foram tantos documentos, tantos e-mails e idas e vindas à embaixada brasileira que eu fico tonta só de lembrar, mas eu também não vou me aprofundar sobre isso nesse momento. Quero focar no quão louco nosso casamento foi, a começar por eu ter experimentado e escolhido meu vestido dois dias antes de me casar. É isso mesmo, dois dias antes de me casar, eu me dei conta de que já tínhamos tudo pronto: fotografia, maquiagem, decoração, unhas; porém, faltava o meu vestido e o terno do Josh. Estávamos tão animados vivendo a vida na Tailândia, fascinados com a beleza do lugar, que simplesmente esquecemos das roupas hahahaha. Mas resolvemos isso muito facilmente. Josh experimentou dois ternos e se decidiu, eu provei apenas três vestidos e também já decidi com qual queria me casar. A partir dali, tudo estava pronto e já não tínhamos mais nada com que nos preocupar. E então, o tão esperado dia 04 de julho de 2023 chegou, o dia em que nos casamos. Nós acordamos cedo, sorridentes, aproveitamos a piscina, tomamos algumas cervejas, rimos e admiramos a beleza de como estava ficando a decoração do nosso casamento. Um arco simples de flores brancas, umas cordas de pisca e um simples atril, mas imagina tudo isso em uma das praias lindas de Koh Samui... estava a coisa mais simples e linda que eu já tinha visto. Passadas algumas horas, eu finalmente fui começar a me arrumar, afinal, eu não faria muita coisa. Queria uma maquiagem leve e simples, cabelo natural e preso, e casaria de pés no chão. Então, eu sabia que não demoraria muito para estar pronta e realmente não demorou mais de uma hora. Me olhei no espelho e disse pra mim mesma: “Essa é a hora, Samar Sheila, você vai se casar.” Lembro que repeti isso por muitas vezes até a palavra “casar” começar a soar com um certo peso. Não digo peso no sentido do casamento em si, mas sim pelo fato de ser uma única vez na vida e o quão importante aquilo seria. Lembrei mais uma vez de que estava sozinha. Naquele momento, minha família só estaria presente por uma live reproduzida no Instagram, e eu cai no choro mais uma vez. Josh entrou no quarto todo lindo, de terninho e gravata, como eu nunca tinha visto antes, e desesperado me perguntou o que tinha acontecido. Eu falei: “Não gostei da maquiagem.” E eu realmente não havia gostado. Porém, a família dele também não estava lá, e eu não queria que ele sentisse o mesmo que eu. Ele foi ate o bar, buscou um coquetel e disse “Bebe isso aqui, você esta linda! Mas se quiser tirar a maquiagem, vou te ajudar. Voce fica linda de qualquer jeito mesmo.”  Juntos, ajustamos a maquiagem, enxugamos as lágrimas, nos abraçamos e começamos a sessão de fotos. Não passou nem mesmo 20 minutos de fotos, ele foi pro altar e era a minha vez de entrar. Eu simplesmente perdi a noção do tempo, desaprendi a andar e até mesmo a falar hahahaha. Foi uma sensação incrível e inesquecível. Nós fizemos nossos juramentos, dissemos “sim” e aproveitamos nossa noite junto com nossos convidados, que eram, um casal de amigos que conhecemos três dias antes do casamento e uma amiga que, por acaso, estava na mesma ilha que a gente. A noite terminou com danças, cervejas, pizza e boas risadas. Inclusive, rimos de uma parte da cerimônia em que eu tinha que repetir o que o cerimonialista dizia. Porém, ele estava falando em inglês e, como já sabemos o quão bom o meu inglês era, eu repetia muita coisa errada kkkkkkkkkkkkk. E foi aí que eu passei pra um outro nível de cobrança... o básico em inglês já não era mais o suficiente, eu precisava de mais. **Lua de mel na Indonésia** Após nos casarmos, fomos diretamente para a Indonésia. Lá nós conhecemos lugares lindos e alguns bem caóticos também. Conhecemos um pouco da crença, da cultura e das tradições. Foram dias de muitos aprendizados, mas, sendo sincera, nem eu e nem o Josh gostamos muito da Indonésia. Acho que nós não soubemos explorar bem o país ou realmente é um destino superestimado. De cara, eu tive problemas com a adaptação alimentar, e alimentação é algo muito importante. Se eu não comer, eu não tenho um bom humor, e se eu não tenho um bom humor, eu não vou estar aberta para apreciar o que está à minha volta, entende? O Josh, por sua vez, estava enlouquecendo com a falta de calçadas para pedestres. Nós literalmente dividíamos espaço com carros e motos e isso não foi muito legal. Nós também estávamos enfrentando problemas com meu visto de cônjuge na Inglaterra. Então, eu acho que tinha um combo de humores, burocracias e um roteiro ruim. Deixamos a Indonésia com a sensação de dever não cumprido, mas com a certeza de que nosso próximo destino seria a Austrália. Era o lugar onde Josh poderia trabalhar e eu, finalmente, poderia mergulhar de cabeça no idioma. **Australia** Chegamos em Sunshine Coast com uma esperança renovada. A primeira coisa que notei foi a calçada: limpa, larga, segura. Era um pequeno sinal de que estávamos em um lugar onde a ordem existia, e isso nos deu um certo alívio. Os primeiros dias foram cheios de otimismo. A energia da cidade, o cheiro de comida familiar, praias lindíssimas, pessoas se exercitando. Era um lugar diurno, do jeito que nós gostamos. Enquanto Josh trabalhava, eu fazia voluntariado cinco vezes na semana, às vezes seis, no Salvation Army. Ali não havia ninguém que falasse o meu idioma, mas eles já estavam acostumados com isso. Afinal, era muito comum que pessoas de outros países se voluntariassem. Eles foram uns queridos comigo e cheios de paciência com a minha dificuldade de comunicação.    Após algumas semanas, todos nós já percebíamos que eu havia subido mais um degrauzinho no nível de inglês. Foi uma experiência incrível e única. O plano foi ficar na Austrália por dois meses até resolver o resto das questões do meu visto na Inglaterra. Mas queríamos explorar mais e decidimos que eu trocaria o meu visto de turismo por um visto de estudante. Agora era sério, eu finalmente iria pra uma escola de inglês. Troquei o voluntariado pela escola e, nos primeiros três meses, já vimos uma evolução tão grande que eu até recebi um certificado de melhor estudante do mês. Vocês acreditam? Nessa altura do campeonato, eu já estava na turma de nível intermediário. Mas a Austrália não foi só um mar de rosas. Considerando que eu estudava e os resultados estavam vindo de forma rápida, me deparei com mais um vazio. Josh trabalhava das 6:00 às 16:00, eu estudava das 8:30 às 12:45. No início, após sair da aula, eu aproveitava a cidade e o melhor da vida. Praias, comidas deliciosas, pubs e até mesmo os cochilos no meio da tarde. Mas depois de um tempo, nada mais era novo pra mim, e eu precisava de mais. Eu precisava de um trabalho, e foi aqui que descobri qual era o meu problema e porque estava me sentindo vazia. Mesmo passados cinco meses de curso de inglês, meu visto de estudante ainda não tinha sido aceito. Eu estava em uma espécie de bridging visa*,* que é nada mais do que um visto que te permite ficar no país até eles tomarem a decisão se irão aceitar a sua nova solicitação de visto ou não. Porém, você pode permanecer seguindo as regras do visto que tinha anteriormente. No meu caso, antes de aplicar para o visto de estudante, eu estava no visto de turismo, e uma das regras claras era: “NÃO PODE TRABALHAR”. Então, legalmente, eu estava impedida de trabalhar. Trabalho ilegal tinha de sobra, mas essa nunca foi uma opção pra nós. Nós estávamos lá para fazer o certo e seguir as regras.     No total, foram sete meses de espera, e nesses sete meses eu passei por momentos desafiadores. Fiquei bem deprê, me sentia inútil, e a única coisa em que eu era boa era o fato de ser uma das melhores da classe. Nesse período de espera, sofri racismo e preconceitos por não ser daquele país. Aquele brilho nos olhos pela Austrália foi sumindo aos poucos, e eu só queria ir embora. E em um dia, eu estava determinada a dizer pro Josh que eu já não queria mais esperar. Eu queria ir embora pro meu país, onde eu me sentia útil, não sofria preconceitos, era livre pra trabalhar e exercer minha profissão. Passei o dia de aula treinando na minha mente como eu iria ter essa conversa com o Josh. Saí da escola e, quando estava a caminho de casa, recebi uma ligação do Josh me dizendo que meu visto finalmente havia sido aceito e que nós teríamos mais dez meses para continuar na Austrália. Aquela notícia me veio como um combustível. Eu chorava de alegria porque, pela primeira vez desde que saí do Brasil, eu finalmente poderia trabalhar e me sentir eu mesma. Independente, livre e contribuinte. Na mesma semana, eu já estava trabalhando em um restaurante. Mas eram apenas dois dias na semana e no período da noite! Então, procurei outro trabalho que preenchesse o meu dia. Foi então que comecei a cuidar do Lenny, uma criança de nove anos, com uma personalidade que só ele tem. Também, duas vezes por semana. Agora eu tinha dois empregos, mas juntos ainda não preenchiam minhas horas livres permitidas para trabalho. Então, comecei como cleaner. Meu visto me permitia trabalhar 48 horas quinzenais. Eu fazia questão de preencher até o último segundo, e assim eu fiz. Finalmente, tudo estava nos eixos. Evolução no inglês, CHECK! Trabalho, CHECK! Momentos de lazer, CHECK! Tudo estava nos trilhos e conforme queríamos. Mas, ao olhar para trás, percebi que a verdadeira conquista não foi apenas ter conseguido tudo isso, mas ter resistido à vontade de desistir. Os sete meses de espera, a sensação de inutilidade e o preconceito me marcaram, mas também me fortaleceram. O brilho nos olhos que havia sumido aos poucos foi voltando. A Austrália, me ensinou que a felicidade não é uma condição permanente, mas uma série de momentos de superação e gratidão. Aquele telefonema do Josh, que mudou o meu dia, foi a prova de que a vida tem seu próprio tempo e que a paciência é uma virtude que se aprende da maneira mais difícil. Aquele pais se tornou um marco na nossa jornada.    Após um ano e alguns meses de Austrália, nós decidimos que queríamos conhecer outros países, explorar novos horizontes e assim fizemos. **O inicio de um novo plano…**   Mais uma vez, colocamos a mochila nas costas e o pé no mundo. Tínhamos planos de viajar por um ano e conhecer um país por mês. Começamos a nossa jornada pelo Vietnã. Exploramos por apenas 15 dias e já não aguentávamos mais! E aí, decidimos que iríamos para a Tailândia pra reformular a nossa rota. E foi lá que decidimos que não poderíamos apenas viajar. Nós tínhamos que dar um propósito para isso. Entre um drink e outro aproveitando um dos bares de Chiang Mai, uma conversa sobre planos e futuro, Josh teve a ideia de criar o BudgetBro. Não era algo que imaginávamos ser tão grande. No início, era como um hobby, digamos assim. Mas depois, isso foi crescendo e crescendo… Estávamos viajando e, ao mesmo tempo, criando algo para pessoas como nós, viajantes cheios de energia, que gostam das coisas um pouco mais organizadas, mas na medida certa! E, a partir daí, o que era pra ser apenas um aplicativo comum se tornou a nossa missão. E agora posso dizer que foi e esta sendo a melhor de todas. O meu último aprendizado até aqui foi que nem eu e nem o Josh conseguimos apenas viajar e curtir. Nós temos que ter um propósito e encontramos o nosso. Viajamos à Índia por um mês, depois mais 1 mês na Sri Lanka. Foram viagens incríveis, e que em algum momento eu vou aprofundar aqui.     Após mais 2 meses de aventura e ao mesmo tempo desenvolvendo o BudgetBro, chegamos a conclusão de que tínhamos planos muitos altos para o aplicativo e que ele precisava de mais atenção, um foco maior e dedicação tampem. A partir desse momento, a Tailândia se tornou o nosso escritório. Entramos em uma imersão profunda e dedicamos tudo o que tínhamos para que desse certo. Obviamente houveram muitos desentendimentos em ter Eu e Josh durante o processo. Apesar de termos os mesmo objetivos, ainda somos duas mentes que pensam diferentes, temos gostos e maneiras diferentes de enxergar as coisas.  Não foi e não esta sendo fácil para nos, como casal, ter que trabalhar juntos e não deixar os estresses afetar no nosso relacionamento como casal.  Mas hoje, após meses e meses nesse processo, eu vejo que, mais uma vez, tomamos a decisão certa e que tudo vale a pena! Planning the rest of your trip? We also cover [Minha Conexão com O BudgetBro](https://budgetbro.app/blog/o-toque-feminino-por-tras-do-budgetbro), [Essential Apps for Travelling to China](https://budgetbro.app/blog/essentialappsforchinatravel) and [Camp America 2027](https://budgetbro.app/blog/camp-america-work-at-summer-camp-usa). Heading elsewhere on your travels? See our guides to [16,095KM Away From Home](https://budgetbro.app/blog/solo-female-travel-stories-this-could-be-you) and [16,095KM Away From Home](https://budgetbro.app/blog/my-first-solo-trip-through-southeast-asia). --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Tomorrowland Shanghai 2026 > Rain or shine, doesn't matter anymore. Tomorrowland is heading to Shanghai with it's first indoor event! - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/indoors-tomorrowland-shanghai - Published: 2025-09-30 - Author: Joshua Rawlinson - Category: Bro's Events - Tags: Tomorrowland, Shanghai, China, Asia - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- I'm not a festival man, but if one festival has ever tickled my pickle, it's Tomorrowland. For years I had a temptation to visit their staple event in Belgium, the fact they had their own flights with DJ's blasting EDM music and the pilots battling the man-made turbulence (an over reaction) was just thrilling to me, but, I hate crowded places. So even if I was in love with the thought, it was not my vibe. Like myself, you've probably seen the clips, the fireworks (maybe even the fire on the main stage of this years event), the sea of flags and the DJ's playing to half a million people. These guys don't just host events, they create their own world. Tomorrowland has grown into a global phenomenon. Over the years it's popped up in Brazil, France, Spain and even the United States. It's even confirmed in Thailand for 2026. Deep rooting it's love for EDM in the four corners of the globe but things have changed. This month, November 2026 it's coming to Shanghai, INSIDE. ### For the Curious Travellers If you're already in Asia getting to Shanghai is easy from most major hubs, you can catch a direct flight from BKK to PVG on November 21st for £68.00! The event is being held at the Hero Dome which sits right in the heat of the city. Jumping on the Metro costs around £5.50 and current hotel prices will cost you around £60-£80 for something nice. Although out of many backpackers range, thee costs could easily be aligned if you cut out a few beers over a few weeks... Sorting the next leg of your route? Take a look at [Why Travel China in 2026?](https://budgetbro.app/blog/why-travel-to-china-2026) --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Travel with Pride? We’d Love to Share Your Story! > Are you an LGBTQ+ traveller with a story to tell? BudgetBro is looking for real travel experiences from the community to feature on the blog. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/share-your-lgbt-travel-stories - Published: 2025-11-08 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Blogs - Tags: LGBTQIA+ - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- We’re starting a new category here on our blog celebrating and showcasing LGBT travellers, and we want to feature you! Travelling as part of the LGBT community can be as rewarding as it is eye-opening. From destinations where you can truly be yourself to places still finding their way toward inclusivity, every journey tells a story. At BudgetBro, we’re all about real experiences, from backpackers exploring on a budget to digital nomads finding their next base. That’s why we’re creating a dedicated section for LGBT Travel, where you can find (and share!) honest stories, practical tips, and local advice. Whether it’s discovering LGBT-friendly hostels, navigating local laws, or finding pride events around the world, we want to amplify voices from the community. Tell us about your travels, challenges, or tips for others exploring the world as part of the LGBT community. Want to write for us? Drop us a DM on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/budgetbro.app/)🌈 --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai --- # Calling All Solo Female Travellers: Write for BudgetBro! > Are you a solo female traveller with a story to tell? BudgetBro is looking for real experiences from women on the road to feature on the blog. - Canonical: https://budgetbro.app/blog/solo-female-travel-stories-this-could-be-you - Published: 2025-11-08 - Author: Nathan James - Category: Bro's Solo Female - Tags: Woman - Publisher: BudgetBro (https://budgetbro.app), free AI-powered travel budgeting app --- We’re starting a new category here on our blog celebrating and showcasing solo female travellers, and we want to feature you! Travelling solo isn’t just about seeing the world, it’s about confidence, curiosity, and connection. From hiking through Southeast Asia to exploring Europe on a shoestring, solo female travellers inspire us every day with their courage and creativity. We’ll be featuring real stories, budget tips, and experiences from women who are making the world their own. Want to be part of it? Whether you’ve travelled solo once or dozens of times, we’d love to hear from you. Drop us a DM on [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/budgetbro.app/) :) --- About the publisher: BudgetBro is a free AI-powered travel budgeting app for backpackers, digital nomads and long-term travellers. iOS, Android and web. Machine-readable company profile: https://budgetbro.app/llms.txt | All articles as markdown: append .md to any https://budgetbro.app/blog/ URL | Structured data: https://budgetbro.app/api/ai