Is it better to book accommodations in advance in Southeast Asia?

Hi everyone,

I’m leaving for a little over 3 months starting at the end of January—Thailand (January-February), then Laos (February-March), Cambodia (March), and Vietnam (March-April).

I see that a lot of travelers don’t seem to book accommodations in advance and just go with the flow.

Given that I’ll be traveling during peak season (January to early May) and these are still very popular destinations, do you think I’ll be able to easily find places to stay on the spot without booking the day before?

Thanks!

Juliette

Hi, I never book anything in advance. Except for the first night upon arrival. I’ve never had any bad experiences. I should mention that I usually arrive in the early or mid-afternoon. Beforehand, I always check on Google to make sure there are several hotels in the same area. The only minor hassle I’ve had was arriving in Bangkok around 10 or 11 PM. I had to try a few hotels before finding a room. But they were all on the same street🙂. Otherwise, I avoid places recommended by guidebooks. Because, honestly, they’re often fully booked. Plus, they’re not always the best spots.

Hi there,

It's a good idea to book the first night and then shop around to see if there's something better or better located. Generally, you can always find something.

After that, there's no need to book three months in advance—you'll find options, but sometimes prices go up.

I was there last winter in Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. It was horribly hot, so prioritize places with AC if you can, especially in Cambodia.

Happy travels

Yeah, it's usually better to check places out in person for hotels... Except during holiday periods—then you should book ahead. BUT since COVID, I’ve heard that booking a hotel (at least for the first night(s) in Thailand) is now mandatory? Worth double-checking.

Hi there, I always travel during the winter peak season in Thailand and other Asian countries. I book my hotel for my arrival, sometimes for several nights to have peace of mind after a tiring flight. I’ve had a few struggles finding places, especially because of prices. I’ve sometimes had to give up on certain destinations that were too crowded and therefore too expensive. But I’ve always managed.

I book city by city on well-known platforms because I arrive alone in a city I’ve sometimes never set foot in before (can’t exactly say, "You watch the bags while I go look"), and sometimes too late. It’s good to know that check-out is usually at noon (or 11 AM) and check-in starts at 2 PM.

Sometimes I don’t book at all when I know a city well and have several hotels in mind. I also book by contacting the hotel by phone, SMS, or email. Nowadays, I also use Facebook Messenger because it’s easier to get quick responses that way. WhatsApp or Line aren’t widely used yet.

I agree with Luan—it was unbearably hot last winter when I was in Thailand and Malaysia. I always use the AC.

To answer Djackx67, booking a hotel used to be mandatory if you needed a visa before traveling. I travel visa-free. It’s always good to have a hotel address (whether or not you’ve actually booked there) to give at passport control when you arrive on a flight. They’ve often asked me for it.

Hi Juliette,

I’ve been to these countries several times and I never book ahead. However, over the past few years (let’s say 5), every time I show up at the reception of the hotel I’ve chosen, they ask me, "Did you book?"—implied, "through booking.com!" This can even happen at a really modest guesthouse! (Like in Laos or Vietnam, where they only have a few rooms.)

As far as I’m concerned, the answer is always no, and most of the time they find me a room. But sometimes, it’s only for one night because they have a reservation for the next day—just for that single date—even if I tell them I’d like to stay several days (and I offer to pay in advance to prove it).

Conclusion: If you want to be sure to find a room when you arrive, then book! (For me, it’ll always be without, even if I have to try two or three hotels before I find one.)

The overuse of BOOKING.COM is really a nightmare when you’re traveling as a backpacker and relying on these "small accommodations" (under $10).

Have a great trip! (With or without a reservation...)

PS: One of my photos (Laos) to brighten up this slightly "negative" post...

I recommend checking if there’s a festival like New Year’s in January before arriving somewhere without a booking. After that, it depends on your destination... often I pick two hotels the day before on Booking or another site to make sure rooms are available, then I just show up without booking.

Hi, I always book in advance online. First, I want to make the most of my trip and not waste time. Plus, it lets me pick the best hotels at the best price... because the closer you get to the date, the more expensive it gets.