Straight answers for 18–35 travel

Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are the cheapest countries in Southeast Asia for backpackers — around £25–£35 a day covers a dorm bed, street food and local transport. Thailand and Indonesia cost a little more but are still superb value; Singapore is the one place to budget hard for.

Budget roughly £700–£1,000 on the ground for two weeks in Thailand in 2026 — dorms, street food, local transport and a few activities — plus about £450–£700 for return flights from the UK. Spend big on islands, diving or nightlife and it climbs quickly; travel frugally up north and it drops.

Group tours are usually cheapest at the two ends: very early, when operators reward committing months ahead, or on late-availability departures that haven't filled. The most expensive time is the last few weeks before a popular, nearly-full departure. The trick is to watch the price and book when it dips — not on impulse.

Book a small-group tour if you're short on time, heading somewhere logistically tricky, or want instant company and safety; travel solo if freedom, budget and setting your own pace matter more. Plenty of 18–35s do both — a tour to start, then break off and travel independently once they've found their feet.

Do it before you turn 30. Most working-holiday visas — Australia, New Zealand, Canada — cap first applications at 30, with a handful of countries stretching to 35 for some nationalities. Your early-to-mid twenties are the sweet spot: you're eligible almost everywhere and have the fewest commitments to leave behind.

Yes. A single hospital visit abroad can cost more than years of premiums, and backpacker policies are cheap — often £30–£70 for a multi-week trip. The catch is cover: make sure it includes the activities you'll actually do (scooters, diving, trekking), your full trip length, and enough for your phone and gear.