“I have already spent the winter in Thailand, Bali and Sri Lanka.” How to prepare for your first wintering and what to consider when choosing a location

What is the best and cheapest place to spend the winter — Bali, Thailand or Sri Lanka? A detailed comparison of countries in terms of prices, infrastructure and safety you will find in our interview with Victoria Orlik. 

About choosing a country to spend the winter—the main criteria

— In which countries have you already spent the winter? How do you choose a destination?

— I have already spent the winter in Sri Lanka, Bali and Thailand. 

I have several criteria for choosing a country. The first “wintering destination” for me was Sri Lanka: then the warm climate, surfing and not very high prices were important to me. Another plus was that there were a lot of guys from Russia in Sri Lanka, that made me feel safer.

Now I am spending the winter in Thailand, namely in Phuket. I have something to compare with, and for me personally this location turned out to be the most suitable.

Closer to the specific points that I pay attention to:

• Excellent infrastructure, everything is at hand: cafes, laundry, shops, gym, yoga, beaches, spa. It’s easy to resolve all everyday issues here. There are minimal traffic jams which is great for beginners to learn how to drive a scooter or motorcycle.
• Good roads. I love driving a motorcycle and love long journeys with a group, so cool roads are truly a mega bonus in Asia. In Thailand, everything is completely fine with this.
• Community. First of all, I always try to join the crowd of Russian-speaking guys; the contingent in Phuket really responds to me: everyone communicates calmly and gets to know each other. Of course, if you wish, you can find “your” people in any country, but in Thailand I personally manage to do this faster and easier. With each winter, we become more and more acquainted, and it’s very cool when you have friends in different countries.
• Beaches. I love the ocean, the sea and everything connected with it! Especially if you can get to the beach in 30 minutes or even faster. The most beautiful and well-kept beaches in my opinion are Karon, Kata, and Nai Harn in Phuket, as well as the excellent Mirissa beach in Sri Lanka.
• The price of housing matters a lot. I draw attention to the price-quality ratio. Now in Southeast Asia it has become expensive to spend the winter season almost everywhere, especially in Thailand and Bali. The level of comfort to which we are accustomed in Russia is available here for about X2 of prices in Moscow. A decent room in a condo in January/February for 1 month will cost 30,000 baht–45,000 baht (approximately $850–$1250). For this money you get a beautiful view from the window, high-quality renovation without mold, and sometimes even a kitchen. The price includes light, water, internet, cleaning, packing and a gym with a swimming pool. There is cheaper housing, but it often comes with “nuances”: either ants or termites that gnaw at the closet consistently 2 times a day, a noisy road outside the window, tired renovations and dampness.
• Ecology and cleanliness. And then Thailand turned out to be number one for me in terms of cleanliness: there is a minimum of garbage on the streets, for Asia - they are really very clean! In Bali, the most comfortable location from this point of view is Ubud. In Sri Lanka, this is Nuwara Eliya in the center of the island. There is no ocean, but the place is very atmospheric and calm.
• Stable Internet. In Bali and Thailand, the Internet is generally not bad - you can always negotiate with the landlord to upgrade the tariff to 50 or even 100 megabits/sec. Sri Lanka also has this option, but the island-wide power outage schedule creates problems. I was unlucky enough to be there in the midst of the 2022 crisis, when I had to sit without electricity for 12 hours a day.
• Rain season. In Bali this period is even more or less tolerable, but in Thailand and Sri Lanka the rains make life very difficult.
• Food. This is a topic that I, of course, cannot ignore. What I liked most was the food and the way it is said in Bali and Thailand. I am very conscious of my diet and it is very important for me to have a wide variety of foods. In Sri Lanka this is a tense situation. For example, in the city of Weligam there is only one small store, which regularly runs out of basic products, such as chicken or milk. Wet wipes are generally in short supply, but can be found at the pharmacy if you look. I can recommend good steaks at Locale Gastrobar & Hotel. But in Sri Lanka there are amazing and cheap seafood and fruits - this is something for which it is definitely worth going there at least on vacation.

About the experience of wintering in Sri Lanka, Bali and Thailand—comparison of destinations

— Let's talk about each experience. When did you spend winter in each country and how long did you stay there in total?

— I spent 2 months in Sri Lanka, and in May 2022 I moved to Bali, where I lived for a year. Compared to Sri Lanka, the difference in terms of infrastructure, service, availability and quality of products immediately caught my eye, plus Bali has a more developed international community. After that, I spent a month in Phuket, and I liked it even more. 

— Why is it good to live in each of the three destinations in winter?

— Wintering in Sri Lanka is suitable for those who respond to the most simple and rustic Asian vibe. Weligama and Mirissa are surfing meccas during the winter in this country, the crowd is very nice, there are many activities. The island itself is incredibly beautiful, the nature is so majestic that in some places you even want to cry from the beauty you see! I recommend taking a trip for 5-7 days around Sri Lanka, be sure to visit the Yala National Reserve, Nuwara Eliya and the Royal Botanical Park in Kandy.

Bali is also a favorite place for surfing, a unique local culture, and luxurious nature. Everyone can find a hobby according to their interests: yoga, drawing, “ecstatic dance”, kitesurfing, just surfing, tennis, vocals, mafia and much more.

There are many different locations in Bali. The island is large and can be explored with interest for 3+ months. The most beautiful locations for me personally: Handara golf club, Nusa Penida, Jatiluwih Rice Terraces, Amed, Gunung Batur, Kintamani.

Thailand is for those who love beaches or nightlife. There are great roads here and good housing. Also excellent infrastructure, more comfort and opportunities for families with children than, for example, in Bali. Amazing fresh and delicious food.

— When is the best time to come to each of these countries for the winter? When does this season start and end there?

— Sri Lanka: The rainy season lasts from mid-April to the end of October, it is pronounced and it rains regularly.

Bali: The rainy season starts from late October and lasts until early March. The rest of the time is considered the “dry season”. Despite the rains, which can be prolonged, people still fly here from all over the world in winter. The rainy season is not as pronounced as in Sri Lanka, so we can consider that the season in Bali is all year round.

Thailand: the rainy season is pronounced, especially on Koh Phangan / Koh Samui, but I wouldn’t recommend flying to Phuket in the summer either. The high season starts from mid-November and lasts until mid-May.

About the necessary documents

— What do you need to move to these countries for the winter (documents, etc.)?

Let's go through each country.

Sri Lanka:

• International passport valid for at least 6 months.
• Arrival Card, filled out in advance on the website or upon arrival.
• Visa: Until March 31, 2024, an ETA (electronic visa) can be obtained free of charge, but it cannot be extended. If your visa expires after March 31, you can extend your visa for a fee. With this visa you can enter the country twice within 30 days.
• Return ticket: optional, regular ticket booking will also work.
• Medical insurance: it is not very important to have as a document for entry, but in fact it is mandatory for all travelers.
• Confirmation of accommodation reservation: optional, not asked.

*A negative PCR test result and vaccination certificate are no longer required.

Bali:

• International passport valid for at least 6 months.
• Return ticket: yes, required for visa on arrival/tourist visa. Just a reservation will do.
• Visa: visa fee on arrival - 500,000 IDR⁣ (about 30 USD), visa is valid for 30 days. There are also visas that allow you to stay in Indonesia for 2-3 months or longer.
• Medical insurance: optional as a document for entry, but mandatory in fact for all travelers.
• Confirmation of accommodation reservation: optional, but there are cases when the availability of reservation was checked at Moscow airport / upon arrival.

*A negative PCR test result and vaccination certificate are no longer required. You won’t have to fill out the e-HAC form in the PeduliLindfungi app, which was renamed SATUSEHAT Mobile in April.

Thailand:

• International passport: there are no specific requirements for the validity period of the document, but it is better that it is valid for at least six months before arrival.
• Visa: Russians are allowed to stay in the country without a visa for up to 90 days. Upon entry, you will be given a stamp with permission - that’s all, you don’t need to pay anything extra.
• Medical insurance: optional as a document for entry, but mandatory in fact for all travelers. Medicine here is very expensive, especially dentistry. Use insurance.
• Return ticket: optional, regular ticket booking will also work.
• Accommodation confirmation is not required.

*A negative PCR test result and vaccination certificate are no longer required.

— What difficulties might you encounter at the stage of preparation for spending winter and upon arrival in the country?

— If we talk about Russians, then all issues with preparing documents take no more than 30 minutes — and a visa can be obtained upon arrival. This year I only bought tickets in advance — I took them 4 months in advance at a favorable price.

Most often now, one big difficulty arises: finding housing that you would like in terms of price-quality ratio. Prices have risen, but housing has not gotten any better. You can spend from several weeks to one or more months searching.

Everything else is little things that you can easily handle on your own; Basically, these are some everyday moments that can irritate you at first. The most important thing is to get your life in order in the first week, and then you can enjoy life.

About finding housing and monthly expenses

— How did you look for housing for this period in each of the places? What about the prices for rent and utilities?

— In Bali and Thailand (Phuket, Koh Phangan), housing prices have approximately doubled over the past two years since Covid restrictions were lifted. In any of these countries you can rent a room for 20-30 thousand rubles ($220-$330), the only question is the quality of this housing. Renting a cozy villa with a group in a pleasant area for 3 rooms will cost an average of $3,000–3,500.

* Read about life and rental prices in Sri Lanka in our article.

— How did the cost of living differ in each country? What about food prices and basic expenses in general?

— The other day my friend and I were just discussing this topic. We came to the conclusion that flying to Asia for the winter makes sense if you are prepared to spend at least $1,100 a month: only decent housing will cost from $450, and you also need to take into account the costs of renting a scooter, gasoline, groceries, and travel.

In terms of budget, Bali and Thailand are about the same level for me. In Thailand, transport rental, gasoline and food in cafes are more expensive. In Bali, rental housing is about 15% more expensive, but very cheap gasoline/taxi, and more budget entertainment.

For a comfortable winter in Asia, now on average you need to be prepared to spend from $1600–$2200.

Important tips for those preparing for their first winter

— What do you like about this experience, about spending the winter abroad?

— For me, wintering is not just an opportunity to spend the winter in the warmth of the ocean. This is also an opportunity to expand your horizons, meet friends, and explore the world from different angles. For example, in all the countries where I spent the winter, from the very first week I was faced with an incredible number of events. Sometimes it seems that more happens here in a week than in normal life in a month.

You can gain life experience here very quickly. Everything is somehow simpler, or something, and people are easier to climb.

— What advice can you give to those who are still planning to spend the winter somewhere?

— Very good question! I have already accumulated the following list of tips, I’m sharing:

• Before your trip, talk to those who already live in the location you are interested in for wintering. It may seem cliche, but I’ll still say that I always advocate for safety. And each country has its own characteristics. For example, there are a lot of thieves in Bali. They steal phones, money, jewelry, helmets, bikes, etc. I personally know people who had money stolen from their villa safe. For some reasons, even the police will not help find the culprits. Thailand is very safe, here you can leave your keys and money in the bike and have peace of mind.
• Don't neglect SPF, even if it's cloudy, the sun in this part of the world is very active.
• Be sure to use mosquito spray—Dengue fever is not sleeping. It is still very difficult to bear. Also, a cure has not yet been invented for it.
• Respect local traditions, no matter how strange they may seem to you. Behave calmly with expats, especially those who have lived in this country for a long time, do not get involved in scandals and do not offend anyone.
• Join the community as soon as possible, don’t sit at home most of the time. All the coolest impressions from Asia can be obtained by sharing emotions with friends. Be open to meeting new people. Wintering is a great way to develop networking skills.

Give this world a taste, wintering is great!