How to Disaster-Proof your Southeast Asia Trip
As paradisiacal as Southeast Asia's countries can be, the region can be downright nasty if you visit during the wrong time of year. Typhoons lash the Philippines and Vietnam for half the year, and even countries beyond the reach of the "typhoon belt" experience unrelenting monsoons that turn roads into flooded barriers.
So before securing your visa and packing for your trip, make sure you know what weather awaits you in your destination - and ensure you're amply prepared.
The typical typhoon "season" in Southeast Asia occurs between May and October, but the region can experience typhoons at any time of the year (some of the worst typhoons as of late have occurred in December, for instance). These large storms originate in the Pacific Ocean, then move west to lash countries in the "typhoon belt": the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos.
If you're traveling in Southeast Asia during the height of typhoon season, follow the tips in this article to insulate your trip experience from the worst of the storms - if you're caught in the middle of one, these tips will help you get things sorted before they really go pear-shaped.
Best typhoon travel tip: Stay informed. Countries in the typhoon belt closely track typhoons by satellite, allowing local watchdog agencies between 24 to 48 hours to alert citizens and make preparations before the typhoon makes landfall.More »
Unlike typhoons, the southwest monsoon affects all of Southeast Asia - between May and November, winds blowing from the warm, wet equatorial seas dump rains and storms on the whole region. Until the winds change direction again in December, travel becomes a little riskier, even as prices drop throughout hotels and airlines across the affected areas.
There are both upsides and downsides to traveling during monsoon season - while prices are generally slashed by travel providers at this time (good), getting around can be a little problematic, especially as floods can block well-traveled roads (bad). Proceed to the article for tips on how you can make the most of this time.
Best monsoon travel tip: Use your brain when packing your things - your baggage should reflect the particular risks of the monsoon season. Bring plastic bags and other waterproof containers for documents and clothes, and put silica gel packs in your handbags to forestall moisture problems. Find out about what to pack for monsoon season travel in Southeast Asia.More »
Unlike typhoons, earthquakes are difficult to predict and track. And many of the countries in Southeast Asia are located in seismically active regions: the Philippines and Indonesia experience earthquakes on a regular basis. (The tourist attraction of Prambanan, pictured here, is currently being reconstructed after being destroyed by an earthquake in 2006.)
The region's earthquake-prone countries don't have to be avoided by prudent travelers. Before traveling to Southeast Asia, create an emergency preparedness plan to ensure you won't get tripped up by an unexpected tremor while you travel.
Best earthquake travel tip: Staying informed is your best insurance against earthquakes. Before you travel, cross-check your destination's earthquake risk with the U.S. Geological Survey's site, which provides earthquake information by country, or subscribe to their earthquake notification service.More »
Travelers to Bali take note: the proximity of the Sunda Megathrust to the Indonesian island puts it at great risk of tsunami. Should this rift to Bali's southern end unleash an earthquake, the tourist settlements in Southern Bali may be overwhelmed by tidal waves and cause a massive death toll.
Read up on the detailed evacuation plans set up by Bali stakeholders for their residents and tourists: make sure you know what to do when you hear the warning siren go off, and where you have to go to avoid the waves.
Best tsunami travel tip: Book a "tsunami ready" hotel when visiting Bali, to ensure the utmost protection against the worst that nature can offer. Hotels certified as "tsunami ready" by the Bali Hotels Association have certified staff that know what to do in the event of a tsunami; to know what these hotels are, check out this list of tsunami-ready hotels and resorts in Bali.More »
So before securing your visa and packing for your trip, make sure you know what weather awaits you in your destination - and ensure you're amply prepared.
Typhoon season travel tips
The typical typhoon "season" in Southeast Asia occurs between May and October, but the region can experience typhoons at any time of the year (some of the worst typhoons as of late have occurred in December, for instance). These large storms originate in the Pacific Ocean, then move west to lash countries in the "typhoon belt": the Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Laos.
If you're traveling in Southeast Asia during the height of typhoon season, follow the tips in this article to insulate your trip experience from the worst of the storms - if you're caught in the middle of one, these tips will help you get things sorted before they really go pear-shaped.
Best typhoon travel tip: Stay informed. Countries in the typhoon belt closely track typhoons by satellite, allowing local watchdog agencies between 24 to 48 hours to alert citizens and make preparations before the typhoon makes landfall.More »
Monsoon season travel tips
Unlike typhoons, the southwest monsoon affects all of Southeast Asia - between May and November, winds blowing from the warm, wet equatorial seas dump rains and storms on the whole region. Until the winds change direction again in December, travel becomes a little riskier, even as prices drop throughout hotels and airlines across the affected areas.
There are both upsides and downsides to traveling during monsoon season - while prices are generally slashed by travel providers at this time (good), getting around can be a little problematic, especially as floods can block well-traveled roads (bad). Proceed to the article for tips on how you can make the most of this time.
Best monsoon travel tip: Use your brain when packing your things - your baggage should reflect the particular risks of the monsoon season. Bring plastic bags and other waterproof containers for documents and clothes, and put silica gel packs in your handbags to forestall moisture problems. Find out about what to pack for monsoon season travel in Southeast Asia.More »
Earthquake travel tips
Unlike typhoons, earthquakes are difficult to predict and track. And many of the countries in Southeast Asia are located in seismically active regions: the Philippines and Indonesia experience earthquakes on a regular basis. (The tourist attraction of Prambanan, pictured here, is currently being reconstructed after being destroyed by an earthquake in 2006.)
The region's earthquake-prone countries don't have to be avoided by prudent travelers. Before traveling to Southeast Asia, create an emergency preparedness plan to ensure you won't get tripped up by an unexpected tremor while you travel.
Best earthquake travel tip: Staying informed is your best insurance against earthquakes. Before you travel, cross-check your destination's earthquake risk with the U.S. Geological Survey's site, which provides earthquake information by country, or subscribe to their earthquake notification service.More »
Tsunami preparation tips
Travelers to Bali take note: the proximity of the Sunda Megathrust to the Indonesian island puts it at great risk of tsunami. Should this rift to Bali's southern end unleash an earthquake, the tourist settlements in Southern Bali may be overwhelmed by tidal waves and cause a massive death toll.
Read up on the detailed evacuation plans set up by Bali stakeholders for their residents and tourists: make sure you know what to do when you hear the warning siren go off, and where you have to go to avoid the waves.
Best tsunami travel tip: Book a "tsunami ready" hotel when visiting Bali, to ensure the utmost protection against the worst that nature can offer. Hotels certified as "tsunami ready" by the Bali Hotels Association have certified staff that know what to do in the event of a tsunami; to know what these hotels are, check out this list of tsunami-ready hotels and resorts in Bali.More »
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