Upcoming Travel Plans: One Way Ticket to Southeast Asia!

I have just started finalising my next big travel plans today, and as I had a whole week off blogging over the Easter break and I'm so excited from booking tickets, I just had to ~~gush~~ write all about it!

At the end of January, I bought a one-way ticket to Bali which will be my third time there. One of my best friends is celebrating a milestone birthday and our whole friend group will be coming from New Zealand - which will be so much fun!
With less than a month to go, I thought I had better start preparing for what came after that. I have looked into a lot of options and done a lot of research, but nothing was set in stone, until today!

My husband Gareth gets a two-week break at the beginning of July, (his only break all year) and it's also during the school holidays, meaning it's the worst possible time to fly anywhere. Flights and accommodation are double the price. We looked at everything from Bali, Japan, Fiji, Phuket - you name it, but it was going to cost thousands and thousands of dollars, and that was just for him.
I will already be floating around Southeast Asia and was planning to meet him wherever, and then return home together after me being away for a total of two months.

Just last night we started looking into Vietnam, even though we had only just visited in December. I thought - it's not exactly a destination where most people would take their kids during the holidays, and I was right! I suggested visiting Hoi An, as we didn't get the chance last time and I've heard brilliant things. It's a beautiful ancient city and it's right on the beach - win win.
We managed to find a wonderful hotel resort and flight package deal for less than $2,000 NZD - which is half than what we would have paid anywhere else. We thought about it over night and the next morning - booked it straight away! We are staying in Danang first for three nights, and then Hoi An for eight nights.

With the ending of my travels figured out (kind of - I am yet to buy my return ticket), it was time to start booking the in-between stuff!

There are still some big gaps to fill, but this is how it is looking so far:

Travel Plans

May 16 - 25: Bali, INDONESIA

Here I will be working and also enjoying a fun week with my friends.

May 26 - June 1: Jakarta, INDONESIA

I couldn't go back to Indonesia and not visit somewhere new this time! I'm looking forward to exploring the enormous capital city.

June 2 - 8: Bangkok, THAILAND

I can't wait to return to Thailand which was my very first proper overseas destination over four years ago. That trip changed my life, so I can't wait to see how I feel after visiting a second time, this time with a lot more experience under my belt! I also can't wait to take new photographs, as my camera quality back then was rubbish.

June 9 - July 1: Unknown!

Hopefully, it will include Chiang Mai, THAILAND which I loved a lot more than Bangkok and Siem Reap, CAMBODIA. I've heard not so great things about Cambodia, but I still really wish to see Angkor Wat, so I might literally just go for two days to see that.
I have included both of them on the map above with the places I am heading to as I'm pretty sure they will make the cut!

July 2 - 4: Danang, VIETNAM

This is where we fly into to visit Hoi An, so we decided to spend a few nights here first.
It's the third largest city in Vietnam and has previously been occupied by both the French and Americans, so there's a lot of history there.

July 5 - 12: Hoi An, VIETNAM

I'm super excited to visit the ancient and peaceful town of Hoi An.

July 13 - Unknown!

I may fly back to Australia or I may not. Flights are looking at about a grand to return home during that time period (still peak season) so I might just hang around somewhere for a couple more weeks until the flight prices drop.

While I am over there I will be working - this isn't a vacation! I will continue writing blog posts and I am hoping to daily vlog my adventures for YouTube as well. I already have several jobs lined up, so far four in Bali, two in Bangkok and one in Hoi An. Travel blogging is my absolute dream job, so I am very happy and grateful for any opportunities to continue travelling, exploring the world and achieving my goals.

I will be writing a Southeast Asia Travel Diary series where I will update my travels here at least once a week with highlights and photos, as well as writing travel guides and tips for each new place I visit. Do subscribe to my YouTube channel as well if you would like to follow along with my videos.

I am very excited to head back to Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam and return to some loved places as well as visit some new ones. Hopefully, I'll be able to add a couple more countries to my list as well!

I hope you'll come along on my adventures with me and be apart of the excitement.
This is my first time ever booking a one-way ticket and making things up as I go along and it's such a wonderful feeling! It is pretty daunting that most of it will be a solo trip, but I remember feeling scared before travelling through Europe alone, but I look back on that time and think - piece of cake! I have no doubt, this will be just like that. And hey, I actually quite like travelling alone.

Do you have any exciting travel plans coming up? Let me know in the comments!

Happy Travels,