AsiaRoutes · blog
Travel blog about Asia
Articles and guides on independent travel across Asia: visas, money, transport, seasons, routes and practical tips for Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, China, Cambodia and Bali.
How Much Money to Take to Bali: A Trip Budget by Day
Working out the Bali budget: visa, tourist levy, accommodation from a hostel to a villa, scooter,…
22 May 2026
How Much Money You Need for Japan: A Trip Budget by Day
Working out the budget of an independent trip to Japan: how much to allow per day,…
4 May 2026
How Russians Pay in China: Comparing the Methods in 2026
UnionPay card, WeChat via Nihao China, a transfer to Alipay, cash and intermediaries. We compare the…
27 Apr 2026
Paying with Alipay from a Russian Card: How to Top Up from Russia
Alipay can be topped up by a transfer to a phone number from Sber, VTB, T-Bank…
22 Apr 2026
WeChat Pay in China: Setup, Russian Interface and Top-Up via Nihao China
How to set up WeChat Pay without a Chinese card, switch the interface to Russian and…
17 Apr 2026
Rosselkhozbank UnionPay Card in Yuan: Buy Yuan on the Exchange and Withdraw Them
A yuan Rosselkhozbank UnionPay card plus a brokerage account is a way to exchange rubles for…
13 Apr 2026
How to Pay in China: Alipay, WeChat, Yuan and Currency Exchange
In China people pay with their phones, and nobody accepts Russian cards — including Alipay and…
8 Apr 2026
Bali Currency: What Money to Bring and How Much Cash
Rupiah, licensed money changers and the classic short-counting scheme. What currency to bring to Bali, where…
3 Apr 2026
Cambodia Currency: US Dollars and Riel — What Money to Bring
In Cambodia the dollar is the second currency and change comes back in riel. Which notes…
30 Mar 2026
Vietnam Currency: What Money to Bring and Where to Exchange Dong
Dong, millions in your wallet and Russian cards that don't work. What currency to bring to…
25 Mar 2026