Do some research on the country you want to visit and start creating yourself a list of places you wanna go or things you want to do while you are there. Be selective with your list and don’t try to fit too much in during the time you will be there. You don’t want to spend all your days always travelling from one place to another. From there it will be easier for you to research hostels and transport and to create a vague itinerary.

I like to always book my first hotel for a few days when I land in the country, and decide my next move after. This gives me time to meet people, rent a scooter, hear about the cool spots and organise the next move. I found that hostels were the cheapest way to afford travelling for a while, as you share a room, and sometimes a meal a day is also included in the nightly price. Most hostels also have a scooter rental option which makes it very convenient and cheaper to get around.

Buy a SIM card right off at the airport or at a street stand, this will allow you to feel safe and in contact with more people. For about $12 you get about 20gb and when you run out you can simply buy another one.

Have a day bag separate from your travel backpack for your everyday items that you bring with you. Keep your travel documents, passport and extra cards together in a safe compartment. Having a backpack with a zip at the front is very convenient and stops you from having to empty your whole backpack every time you try to reach for something at the bottom.

I would say that the chances are pretty high that along your trip, you will lose some cards, so I will say to have a backup card (or a few) brings you peace of mind and makes your life much easier when you do actually lose one.

I recommend having a waterproof pouch/bag for all electronics things. For your cables, cases, charging block. When you’re in a different country the last thing you wanna do is go on the hunt for a charging block. Your phone is your only reliability so you need to have a charger easily accessible. Oh & also, I like to keep the plane headphones in case I lose mine.

Also good to have a universal plug converter. Most countries have different plug outlets and to carry heaps of different ones is annoying, whereas if it's all in one it's quite convenient. They even have the USB outlet on them.

Always have a light blanket/sarong, so it doesn't take too much room in your bag but makes the difference for the cold. In south east Asia, I always found that the travel buses are extremely cold because they are blasting the AC. We also all already know how cold it gets in the plane sometimes.

I like to carry my own pillowcase, as it’s super light in your bag. Although most hostels are super clean and tidy, I always prefer to have my own pillowcase.

A pair of earplugs. Especially if you travel and stay at hostels, you never know who you are going to end up sharing a room with, and some people snore incredibly loud (take into consideration that this is coming from a very light sleeper ahah). Sometimes you also have to sleep at the airport and the earplugs make the whole difference.

In most of the south east asia countries, tap water is not drinkable. You can carry your own water bottle but the refill stations are pretty rare, forcing you to buy a plastic water bottle, because it ensures that the water is filtered.

Before I travel to a country, I like to look up the language and get to learn a few useful words or sentences. Please, thank you, where is ____, etc. The locals always appreciate an effort and in return they are also more likely to make an effort to help you out.

Like many places around the world, culture and religion plays a big role and you want to make sure that you are very respectful of it. Do your research and make sure you bring the proper attire. In most temples or tourist attractions it is important to have your shoulders covered, even sometimes your knees, and if you do not have the proper attire, you will have to buy some. Oftentimes they have stands nearby that sell sarong but they are obviously more expensive. For the rainy season, it’s good to have a waterproof cover. Even if the rain doesn't stick around for the whole day, sometimes it gets pouring with rais for a few hours, and you don’t want to get soaked. Again, if you plan on walking a lot, good trainers are essential and make sure you wear comfortable clothes. Most locals are used to seeing tourists dressed differently than them, but I always preferred to have clothes that are appropriate rather than my usual cropped top and tiny shorts. This avoids you sticking out as an obvious tourist, but it avoids having people looking at you constantly.

if you have deathly allergies, I would recommend writing them on the official language of the countries you’re visiting, and having them laminated, so you can show them to the staff when comes time to order some food. This avoids the information getting lost in translation and any potential sticky situations.