Internet in Southeast Asia

Hi Danny,

Welcome to SEA (southeast asia).

Well, since I'm a singaporean, let me share with you how you can go about getting connected real cheap.

There's 2 way.

One way is to get inside any internet cafe to start surfing. The rate are anything from $2.50SGD ( about $1.97AUD) to $5SGD per hour.

The other way is to get a pre-paid card for $18 from telco, M1, where you can get to surf and call locally.
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If you are heading to Malaysia, there this simple way to get connected. Just buy any pre-paid card that comes with internet, go to starbuck and get connected.
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Hope it helps

Regards
bahnsurf

Hi Danny.

When you get to Bangkok, Thailand, the best choice is to get True Wifi. Just drop by any True store and ask for it. Don't let them sell you expensive tourist Wifi though. Ask for the one that you can buy with your phone (and True sim card). Very cheap 5$ for a month and covers just about anywhere in Bangkok. Or you can buy something called True Play in 7-11 for 100 baht ($3) for 5 hours.

Hi Danny,

Although technically based in the UK, I've spent 11 of the last 12 months out of it including around SE Asia - I found that although I had a 3G iPhone with me, so I always had connectivity - Most of the countries you're going to have many wifi hotspots and Internet Cafes, so depending on exactly where you are you may find that you have many options.

Even for phone calls it often works out easier to buy a pay as you go phone or sim card at the airport. SE Asia is actually very well set up for Internet in most places. Singapore for example has a 100MB Internet (via fibre) to most homes and is actually one of the fastest and most reliable internet connections there is right now.

I think as long as you have some sort of 3G mobile device the best bet is to see if you can get a local sim card when you get into each country and keep your eye out for wifi hotspots.

If you have an iphone or ipod touch - check out the app store as there are many apps for finding the nearest hotspot etc.

Have fun.

Andy

Where are you staying in HK and China, will it be in hotels?

China you will find internet cafes, noisy and smoky but you can get online. HK is hard to find internet cafes.

China you will find lots of sites are blocked, if you're going to be there for any time then get a proxy before you get there.

Most hotels in both China and HK have internet, and check on the options. In HK you will find often buying a week's internet is cheaper even if you're not staying a week. Some hotels give free internet.

To get cheaper rates for hotels use Asia Travel Hotels Resorts Air Ticketing Tours Packages Reservation for HK and eLong - Travel China, Travel Smart - China, travel, discount airfare, flights, hotels, cars for China. Elong is the Chinese arm of expedia and they are one of the cheapest ways to do it.

We lived in China for 3 years and been in HK now for over 2, just ask if you need any help, because there are many ways to travel as a foreigner in China even if you don't speak the language.

Bev

Try to do some research for wi-fi hotspots before going over there. There are many restaurants and cafes that offer this, including Starbucks. Google 'free wi fi' to pull up search sites that will provide you listings of hot spots all over Asia.