If you’re an Aussie, chances are you’ve backpacked through Bali, bartered your way through Bangkok markets, or bitten into a crunchy banh mi in a bustling Saigon alley. It’s practically a rite of passage – just like sipping cocktails in Seminyak, or arguing with your mates over which island has the real Full Moon party.
But, while the Southeast Asia itinerary is a well-worn one for generations of Aussie travellers, a new study shows that for many, these ‘relaxing’ holidays come with a fair bit of baggage. And not the kind you can cram with Bintang singlets! According to fresh research commissioned by Traveloka and YouGov, nearly half (48%) of Australians travelling to Southeast Asia found it hard to actually relax. From chaotic airports to dodgy Wi-Fi, stress has somehow snuck into our sarong-packed getaways.
However, here to help is aforementioned Traveloka – Southeast Asia’s leading travel platform that’s just launched in Australia. Designed to simplify everything from flights and hotels to local experiences and eSims, the app is here to make the classic Aussie trip through Southeast Asia smoother, smarter and far less stressful.
The reality is for every dreamy beach snap you post, there’s usually a behind-the-scenes drama. A missed transfer. A questionable hostel. A booking support team that’s mysteriously offline. In fact, Traveloka’s research shows 61% of Aussies find changing flights stressful, 60% worry about finding new accommodation when plans fall through, and 43% dread organising airport transfers.
Gen Z in particular – those leading the charge back to Thailand and Vietnam post-COVID – report the highest levels of holiday stress, especially around visa processing, booking platforms and the age-old issue of reality not matching the Instagram reel.
But Traveloka is taking on all these pain points. Already downloaded more than 140 million times across Asia, the platform’s newly available Aussie version includes:
- Flights from 250+ airlines
- Bookings at 2.2 million hotels and properties
- Flexible rescheduling and refund options
- Free eSims to dodge dodgy airport Wi-Fi
- Airport transfers, car hire and local experiences
- 24/7 multilingual support
- Real-time availability and exclusive app-only deals
So, whether you’re hopping between islands in the Philippines or taking a luxe ladies trip through Laos, you can actually spend your time sipping coconuts instead of refreshing your booking confirmation screen.
It’s not just for first-time travellers either. Even seasoned Southeast Asia lovers – who know their Pad Thai from their Mee Goreng – are leaning into the less-is-more approach when it comes to planning. Because while spontaneity is fun, no one likes the kind of ‘adventure’ that involves sleeping in an airport terminal.
With 23% of Aussies heading to Southeast Asia over the past two years (and Bali topping the list at 8%), Traveloka’s launch feels perfectly timed. Especially for the 30% of us who walked away from our last holiday with at least one regret.
So next time you book a “quick trip to Thailand” that turns into a three-week escape, Traveloka might just be the secret weapon you didn’t know you needed.
Download it now on iOS or Android – or check it out at www.traveloka.com – and make your Southeast Asian sojourn your simplest one yet.
