Australia and Thailand or USA?
Hi
Me and my bf are planning to travel this summer and really can't decide where! I will be just turned 19 and he will be 21. We both really want to do America but not sure if we will be a bit young and whether Thailand and Australia would be better while we are younger. We are planning to be away 2-3 months. Any tips or suggestions?
Thanks in advance.
Definitely Thailand and Australia for younger backpacker types. Aus has whole networks of buses catering to that market and there are tons of backpackers (hostels) with dorm beds. A huge number of 18-20-somethings especially up and down the more populated east coast. The possible downside can be seeing the same people over and over as it's quite an incestuous travel scene. Much of the real epic scenery is outback and out west so good if you can make the effort. Aus is not cheap though - similar prices to the US/UK in many cases, but it's helpful to join with others, do self-catering and find ways to keep the budget down.
Thailand is just about as backpacker friendly and much cheaper, but of course there are some minor challenges with language and cultural differences. It's also easy to recognize the beaten path follow the others, but that can make it all the more rewarding to strike out on your own a bit. There are cheap public buses going all over the place and the odd train ride can be fun alternative. Read up on scams, especially for Bangkok and some of the southern routes. For example never leave valuables unattended or stick them in the luggage hold of a bus, and anyone randomly approaching you on the street with some kind of smooth talk should be ignored. Also beware those buckets of poison on party beaches.
Better to leave the USA for later (at least 4 years now Trump has won) when you can readily self-drive, and save up for it - expensive.