🌏 Arlenes Travel Helper
Your Southeast Asia travel helper for your phone
Save it, open it on the go, check things fast.
📲 Add to Home Screen
🍏 iPhone: Share → Add to Home Screen
🤖 Android: Menu ⋮ → Add to Home Screen
🍏 iPhone: Share → Add to Home Screen
🤖 Android: Menu ⋮ → Add to Home Screen
🛂 EntryForms & required info
💵 MoneyATM, cards, fees
📶 InterneteSIM, SIM, hotspot
🚆 TransportFerries, buses, trains, flights
💊 HealthWater, dengue, pharmacy
🏝️ PhilippineseTravel, cash, island hopping
🚨 EmergencyNumbers & help
🛠️ ToolsBook & compare
🛂 Official Online Entry Forms
⚠️ Use official links only. Other websites are often overpriced or pure scams.
🇵🇭 Philippines
eTravel 🇲🇾 Malaysia
MDAC 🇸🇬 Singapore
SG Arrival Card 🇮🇩 Bali / Indonesia
Electronic Customs Declaration 🇰🇭 Cambodia
e-Arrival 🇹🇭 Thailand
TDAC
eTravel 🇲🇾 Malaysia
MDAC 🇸🇬 Singapore
SG Arrival Card 🇮🇩 Bali / Indonesia
Electronic Customs Declaration 🇰🇭 Cambodia
e-Arrival 🇹🇭 Thailand
TDAC
🇵🇭 Philippines: Use the official eTravel website only and save your QR code as a screenshot.
💡 Money & Safety
💵 ATM trap: Always choose "Without Conversion" at the ATM. Otherwise you often lose money on a bad exchange rate.
💳 Backup: Bring 2 cards plus some emergency cash.
🚕 Taxi & transfer: Use Grab, Bolt or Gojek instead of negotiating on the street.
💱 Exchange rate: Check the rate quickly before withdrawing money.
💱 Free Currency Converter
Live rates for all countries
📶 Internet & eSIM
- eSIM is very practical if your phone supports it.
- Otherwise buy a local SIM card after arrival.
- Always make screenshots of hotel addresses, bookings and QR codes.
- If you travel a lot, having a working connection during transfers and ferry trips saves nerves.
🚆 Transport & Onward Travel
💡 Pro tip: Check or book ferries, buses and trains online when possible. It is easier to compare connections and secure your seat.
In Southeast Asia, distances often look short on the map but can easily take half a day in real life.
⛴️ 12Go.asia – Ferries, buses, trains & flights
💊 Health & Water
- ❌ Tap water: Do not drink it.
- ✅ Ice: Factory-made ice is usually safer than crushed ice.
- 🏥 Pharmacies: Chains like Watsons or in the Philippines Mercury Drug are useful.
- 🦟 Dengue: Mosquito protection is essential. Buy repellent locally if needed.
⚠️ Not medical advice: for vaccinations and personal health risks, see a travel doctor before your trip.
Vaccines in short: Check Hepatitis A, tetanus/diphtheria, and depending on your trip also discuss typhoid or rabies.
🏝️ Philippines Extra
- eTravel: Fill it in on time before arrival or departure and save the QR code.
- Cash: On many islands, cash is still very important. Do not rely on cards only.
- Island hopping: Flight + van + boat can easily take a full day.
- Buffer day: Add one before your international flight if possible.
- Ferries: Bad weather and rough sea can delay or cancel connections.
- Mercury Drug: A very useful pharmacy chain while traveling.
⚠️ If the sea is rough or the weather is bad, never plan your onward travel too tightly.
⚡ Power & Adapter
- Multi-USB charger saves space.
- Power bank is gold during island trips and long transfers.
- Universal adapter makes life easier.
📴 Offline & Screenshots
- Save your hotel address and phone number offline.
- Make screenshots of QR codes, tickets and bookings.
- Keep important booking details as images on your phone too.
- Do not leave emergency numbers and insurance details only in your emails.
🏍️ Scooter & Traffic
Without the correct license or insurance, things can get expensive very quickly.
- Important: Most scooters in Asia are well above 50cc.
- Motorbike class: What matters is whether your license is valid for the actual vehicle class.
- Do not rent blindly: Check license, rental company and insurance first.
🚨 A normal car license alone is often not enough.
🎒 Arlene's Packing Tips
- 🔋 Bring a power bank.
- ☀️ Pack sunscreen from home.
- 🧴 Bring your own deodorant.
🧳 Short Packing List for Southeast Asia
- 📱 Phone + charging cable
- 🔋 Power bank
- 🛂 Passport + copy / screenshot
- 💳 2 cards + some cash
- ☀️ Sunscreen
- 🦟 Mosquito repellent
- 💊 Small travel medical kit
- 🔌 Universal adapter
- 👕 Light clothes + flip-flops
- 🌧️ Thin rain jacket / poncho
🌦️ Weather, Best Time & Budget
Show weather / best time / budget
| Country | Visa (Philippino passport) | Best time | Budget |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thailand | visa-free, check TDAC | Nov - Apr | medium |
| Vietnam | visa-free | Feb - Apr | medium |
| Bali / Indonesia | Visa Free | May - Sep | Medium |
| Malaysia | visa-free | Mar - Oct | Medium |
| Singapore | visa-free | Year-round | High |
| Hong Kong | visa-free | Mar-May / Oct-Dec | High |
🏝️ Phu Quoc: Depending on your route, this can be a special case, so always double-check before booking.
🚨 Emergency Numbers
- Thailand: 1155 (Tourist Police)
- Philippines: 911
- Vietnam: 113 (Police)
- Bali / Indonesia: 112
🛠️ Arlene's Travel Tools
The most useful tools while traveling:
🏨 Agoda – Hotels ✈️ Trip.com – Flights & Asia trains ⛴️ 12Go – Ferries, buses, trains 🎟️ GetYourGuide – Tickets & tours 📶 Yesim – eSIM