Thailand or Indonesia?
The practical differences, drawn from our own write-ups rather than from a brochure. We are not going to tell you which is better - they are different trips. What follows is what actually changes between them.
Places written up here 410 335
UNESCO listings among them 10 30
Cost level Budget Budget
Busiest month in our write-ups January September
Currency Baht (THB) Rupiah (IDR)
Plugs and voltage A, B, C, O - 230 V C, F - 230 V
Everyday languages Thai Indonesian
Driving side left hand side left hand side
Region South-Eastern Asia South-Eastern Asia
Capital Bangkok Jakarta
Thailand
Sanuk - the sense that things should be fun - runs deep; anger loses face instantly.
What we have written up
- Ao Manao bay
- Ao Thalane mangrove bay
- Ayutthaya archaeological site
- Baan Dam, the Black House gallery
- Baan Kang Wat artist village
- Baan Silapin Artist House arts venue
Worth knowing before you go
- Cash is still king at markets and street food; cards work in malls and hotels
- Tipping is not traditional - rounding up or 20-50 baht is appreciated
- 7-Elevens are everywhere and solve most small problems
Indonesia
Seventeen thousand islands and hundreds of cultures; Bali's Hindu rhythm is one island's story.
What we have written up
- Agats town
- Al-Quran Al-Akbar museum
- Alas Purwo National Park national park
- Alor Archipelago island
- Ambarawa Railway Museum museum
- Amed beach
Worth knowing before you go
- Cash for warungs and villages, cards in resorts and malls
- Tipping is not traditional; 5-10% appears on tourist-area bills
- Ramadan changes rhythms in Muslim regions - eat discreetly by day
Counts describe this site, not the countries: "places written up here" means how many pages we have finished, and it keeps growing. Currency, plugs and languages are practical facts and change rarely; check anything visa-related with the relevant official source before you book.