Simply put – if you have the time, just do it! It will take you approximately 9.5 hours to complete the Great Ocean Road in Australia but every minute of it is worth it if you enjoy amazing views, wild beaches and some good road trip fun!
Deciding whether you should take a trip at the Great Ocean Road will firstly depend on what else is on your itinerary as very often, you will be enjoying similar sceneries in other parts of Australia.
Is the Great Ocean Road dangerous?
The Great Ocean Road can be dangerous if you’re not used to long drives that consist of several turns and corners. You need to stay on alert and take breaks whenever necessary. In lots of instances, you will also face big trucks along the way (especially at night). If you are not comfortable with driving, we recommend you opt for a long day trip from Melbourne. There are several tour operators and bus companies offering such trips from the city. Most of the time the cost will also be inclusive of lunch.
What is the best time to visit the Great Ocean Road?
You should consider visiting the Great Ocean Road between the months of March and April during the late summer. That being said, July to September is also great if you want to maximise your chances of spotting on whales.
Your best bet when travelling from islands to islands in Indonesia is to rely on boats and ferries (but do make sure to do some research on their reliability as there have been several cases of ferries sinking in Indonesia).
That being said, what makes Indonesia unique is that it is the world’s largest island country – Indonesia is the largest archipelago in the world with over 17,000 islands (of which approximately 6000 are inhabited). For that reason, there will be many instances where travelling from one island to the next will require a flight.
What are the main islands in Indonesia?
The main islands in Indonesia include Java, Sumatra, Java, Borneo (referred to as Kalimantan in Indonesia), Sulawesi, and New Guinea; two major island groups (Nusa Tenggara and the Maluku Islands).
If you are looking for recommendations on the most popular islands for tourists in Indonesia – they consist of Bali, Lombok and Flores. To this day, Bali remains the most visited island in Indonesia with over 6.3 million foreign arrivals in 2019 alone.
Travelling around France without speaking French is absolutely possible. That being said, it will depend on which parts of France you’re planning to visit. Contrary to popular belief, French people do speak English, though sometimes basic, while others absolutely master it.
In big cities like Paris, it will not be a problem for you to travel around without speaking French. Although it is a good idea and always more convenient to know some French sentences, you will be just fine speaking to the locals in English as they are very much used to having non-French speakers visiting France.
You may of course find instances that might come as confusing and a little challenging (especially if you’re planning on visiting non-touristy towns, provinces and smaller villages), but with technology and a translation app, it will be easy to get your points communicated. To add, most restaurants in the big cities also offer an English menu so you will not face problems when wanting to order food in France.
In general, we also recommend travellers going to France to learn the basic greetings and phrases as it might come in useful and it is of course regarded as a good courtesy.
A lot of travellers often wonder what language is spoken in Mauritius. Luckily, both English and French are fluently spoken in Mauritius. Although you’re more likely to hear people speak French and Creole, you’ll be surprised to know that the official language of Mauritius is in fact English!
You won’t face any difficulty travelling around Mauritius even if you only speak English. The education system in Mauritius is primarily English-based so most people speak English to some degree, and especially if you’re visiting touristy areas.
Rest assured, your taxi driver, hotel staff, tour guide and most people you will encounter will be able to understand you. It might only get harder if you intend on travelling in small villages around Mauritius. Locals might feel a little insecure about speaking English at the beginning but you don’t have much to worry about. Just make sure you’re speaking slowly and level down on the articulation of words.
Most of those travelling around South East Asia wonder whether Laos is worth visiting. Laos tends to stand out as a cheaper destination in SouthEast Asia, but in fact it is more expensive than Vietnam. To add, it isn’t strikingly any different to Vietnam in terms of landscapes. That being said, there are way more attractions and activities in Vietnam, while Laos is known for its laid back atmosphere, making it very popular among backpackers.
Picking between Laos and Vietnam will all depend on what you intend on doing, but Laos is a great stop to enjoy a glimpse of the old South East Asia as it feels like time has stopped. If you’re looking for adventure and lots of attractions and activities, then Vietnam might be a better option. It is definitely hard to choose between Laos and Vietnam, this is why most travellers tend to include both destinations on their itinerary to SouthEast Asia.
Why is Laos expensive?
Laos is landlocked by neighbouring countries like Cambodia and Vietnam and only a few products are locally produced in Laos. The reason why Laos is expensive as compared to its neighbours is because it has to import practically everything.
In general, The Philippines tend to be cheaper than Thailand, so this is where you might get more bang for your buck. However, it is important to remember that places like Manila also get quite expensive. It will really depend on where exactly you intend on visiting and staying in The Philippines. Both countries offer beautiful beaches, tropical rain forests filled with wildlife, and big cities full of culture and atmosphere.
Now, although cost is an important factor when travelling, we would not recommend it being the determining element when it comes to planning a family trip. What’s even more important when traveling with kids is safety and security. Generally speaking, Thailand is safer than The Philippines. For this reason, we would recommend families on their first trip to South East Asia to experience Thailand over The Philippines. It is also easier to travel around Thailand with young kids since transport conditions in The Philippines aren’t necessarily convenient or comfortable (yet).
There are still a few places in The Philippines with high risks of kidnapping. In Manila, foreigners are also often targeted for petty-crimes and walking in unlit areas at night remains not recommended. To add, there tends to be a lot of beggars and slums around the city, and this might come as a cultural/lifestyle shock when traveling with small kids.
Family-friendly destination in South East Asia – Safest destination in South East Asia
The safest country to visit in South East Asia is Singapore. It is also a kid-friendly destination with several activities and attractions such as the Universal Studios Singapore, Night Safari and so much more. However, Singapore is listed as one of the most expensive countries in the world. A good alternative is also to visit Malaysia, which tends to be much cheaper than Singapore but equally family-friendly.
Assuming they will be travelling to Mauritius to make the most of the beaches, the best place to stay in Mauritius during the summer month of December would be the North. Truth be told, both the North and West Coast have unbeatable beaches and stunning accommodation options.
The North sees more tourists than the West Coast which is more popular for day trips or sunset catamaran cruises, but a good way to enjoy the very best of the island is to opt for a few days in the North and the rest in the West. This is an option that many choose to go for as both coastal areas offer a different atmosphere. The South and East on the other hand are great for day trips.
How many days do you need in Mauritius?
Flying from the UK to Mauritius, we recommend you take a trip of at least 7-10 days in Mauritius. With this amount of time, you will be able to enjoy the best of what the island has to offer – a combination of relaxation and adventure activities.
Which part of Mauritius has the best weather?
Both the North and West coast of Mauritius have an average temperature of 28 degrees Celsius. Be mindful when on the East Coast of Mauritius as you might experience stronger winds, especially between the months of July and August when temperatures drop as low as 15 degrees Celsius.
Traveling around The Philippines often comes as a challenge for tourists, especially if you intend on visiting remote areas and islands in The Philippines.
In fact, one of the main reasons why those traveling around South East Asia often opt out from traveling to The Philippines is because of the lack of land connection (both with its neighbouring countries but also between the different islands in The Philippines itself).
The most common type of transportation in The Philippines is what they refer to as “jeepneys”. There are also motorized tricycles, or tourists often rent scooters while on islands like Cebu or Palawan.
To travel around the Philippines, you will need to check boat schedules – the best way to go about that is to opt for packages from local tour operators. Another option is to take a flight from one island to the next, although this might come as more expensive.
In The Philippines, you can’t simply hop on buses or trains or even ferries, as compared to neighbouring countries like Thailand, Vietnam or Cambodia. It is true that transportation can be very difficult to travel around The Philippines. Add to that, delays and frequent cancellations, you will need to be ready to be disappointed, and have in place a contingency plan when traveling around The Philippines.
Is there Uber in The Philippines? Ride-hailing apps for The Philippines
There is no Uber in The Philippines. However, you can rely on “Grab” – a ride-hailing app in South East Asia and also common in The Philippines, in big cities like Manila.
Generally, Thailand is known to be cheaper than Bali in aspects of food, drinks and accommodations, as well as flights. However, Phuket is one of the most expensive destinations in Thailand. For this reason, we would want to say that Phuket is more expensive than Bali. Although Bali is as touristy as Phuket nowadays, you will still be able to check out free things to do in Bali – for instance, waterfalls and other natural attractions.
Take into consideration that it will also depend on which season you’re planning to visit. Bali and Phuket have total opposite travel seasons with Bali experiencing its dry season from April to September and Phuket from November to May. Therefore, we would not recommend you pick a destination in South East Asia based on cost but rather on the season (especially when it comes to the weather forecast as this region can experience heavy rainfall and storm).
That being said, we have to confess that there are many other beautiful and affordable islands in South East Asia to visit – Thailand itself has islands that are worthy of everyone’s bucket list and far less touristy than popular Phuket. For instance, if you are worried about how expensive Phuket can get (because it is very touristy), you might want to consider other islands like Koh Samui, Krabi or Koh Phangan. The same goes for Indonesia – did you know that there are amazing islands just a short drive and boat ride from Jakarta? The Thousand Islands are great if you’re after a ‘do-nothing’ kind of holiday. Alternatively, Lombok is also a great option to escape Bali and its crowd.
Is Bali or Phuket better for beaches?
Defining whether Bali or Phuket is better for beaches will depend on what exactly you want to see and do at the beach. If you’re after long stretches of white-sand beaches where you can just relax, then Phuket is a great option. Once there, you’ll have plenty of options for island-hopping tours as well. Bali on the other hand is great to experience unusual beaches due to its volcanic origin – you won’t necessarily come across perfectly white-bone beaches but you’ll surely enjoy the waves if you’re into surfing. One of the most popular activities in Bali is definitely surfing – there are several surfing schools lined up along the beach in Canggu, Kuta or Uluwatu and all of them accommodate beginner to intermediate surfers.
It might come to you as a surprise, but there are budget hotels in The Maldives. Although not as popular as luxury resorts, budget hotels have been popping up around the local islands in the Maldives. Actually, there are over 500 guesthouses on the local islands in The Maldives, with rooms going as low as GBP 50!
Staying at a budget hotel or guesthouse is a great way to immerse yourself in the local Maldivian way of life. This initiative hasn’t been immensely promoted by the tourism board and for that reason, several budget travellers are unaware that the Maldives can be affordable. Another way of staying in The Maldives on a budget is to book a hotel in Male – the capital city of The Maldives. It’s not the same experience as staying at a hotel on a local island as Male does not have nice beaches and clear waters but it is a great way to save cost and you can always opt for day trips to nearby islands to enjoy snorkelling and more activities in The Maldives.
The best way to go about that is through a travel agent so that your budget can be matched easily and with their portfolio of hotels, it is much easier for them to find a stay that will fit your budget and other needs.
Now, you might be wondering why aren’t there more people opting for budget stays in The Maldives then? Simply put, most people travelling to The Maldives are here for a luxurious experience like an all-inclusive holiday in an over-water villa. Adding to that, most of those coming to The Maldives are couples on a honeymoon and one way of making the special occasion even better is by indulging – that’s what The Maldives is famous for after all! Staying at an all-inclusive resort in The Maldives is a once-in-a-lifetime experience a lot of people save up for.
Why is the Maldives so expensive?
There are a few reasons why The Maldives is expensive and no it’s not because they just want to attract luxury travellers. Pretty much everything in The Maldives (food, beverage and other materials) are imported goods. Adding to that, there’s also the issue of high taxes on goods and services (GST), service charge (10%) and a Green Tax for tourists.
