Thailand

Still the easiest budget country in Asia to travel well, though the stay is shorter than it was. Since September 15, 2026, US, UK and most EU passport holders get 30 days visa-free instead of 60, so anything longer needs an extension at an immigration office or a tourist visa arranged in advance. What the money buys is hard to beat: night trains and buses that run on time, guesthouses with reliable wifi, and market and street food in Bangkok and Chiang Mai that makes eating out cheaper than cooking. The north around Chiang Mai and Pai and the quieter Isan region stretch a budget further than the southern islands.