Borneo Without Breaking the Bank

While there are other places like Indonesia that can most definitely be tourist traps, there are countries not so far away, but still within Asia that is very cheap. Borneo is one of those places that can be a haven for backpackers, but what is the best way to get the most out of an expedition to Borneo without breaking the bank?

Travel There For Cheap

To get to Borneo, you could fly Air Asia, but there are plenty of cheap flights there. You can go from Kuala Lumpur or Bali for around $50. As flights don't need to be luxury at this point, you just have to find cheap ones.

Pick Your Attractions

Amazingly, there are many cheap things to do in Borneo. As well as the best beaches in Borneo that cost nothing, you've got numerous sanctuaries, like the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, and the Sunbear Sanctuary that cost very little. And if you want to save more money, pre-book. You can stay in Borneo for a bit longer but still reap the cheap benefits by pre-booking everything. This means you've got to nail down your itinerary, but think about the things you really want to do when you get out there, like diving in Sipadan.

Eating For Cheap

This is where you can really clean up in terms of your budget. Naturally, the food is amazing. There are so many Chinese restaurants there, but you can just go to all of the street food markets and eat a very satisfying meal for very cheap. There are so many options, and if you're looking for something a bit special, the restaurants aren't even that more expensive than the street food vendors. But if you're looking to make a few upgrades to your travel, and you want to have a good time, you can go to the many underground supermarket bars. While these bars are a bit on the illegitimate side, and the fact that as a mainly Muslim country, these underground bars are disguised as restaurants in supermarkets. So if you're looking for a great way to have a sociable and fun evening, there are plenty of options.

Saving On Accommodation

You can go to hostels rather than hotels, but couchsurfing could be the answer for you. You might think that staying with some strangers can ring alarm bells. But in Borneo, the people are so friendly and helpful you could couch surf somewhere new every day, and find no problems getting help for advice. So many Borneans speak great English and are also learning to speak better English, so it's a very positive experience overall.

To get round Borneo on a budget, it's surprisingly simple. Despite the fact that you may spend a bit of money flying over there, once you're there you may not need to spend much money at all! As a way to explore Asia and scratch that travel itch, Borneo can be done on a tight budget. There's no excuse, get packing, book a flight, and go experience the place and learn about yourself in the process!