Taking your own laptop....

Pros:

1. Probably more secure for online payments

2. You can watch movies on it, write novels, listen to music, keep your photos, play games etc. ...good if you're somewhere where there's not a lot of entertainment.

3. Internet is cheaper... Nowadays there are a lot of hotels, bars and restaurants offering customers free wifi. The phone companies also have cheap dialup options if you have a land line ...about 300B/month for unlimited access. Satellite internet connection via mobile phone is also possible but is more expensive.

Cons:

1. Lugging a laptop around adds to weight and rule #1 about travelling in SEA is to travel as light as possible.

2. Your laptop could get stolen or damaged. The high ambient humidity isn't great for electronics, nor is sand, and there are sometimes electricity surges and brownouts. Also keep an eye out for wee red ants ...they like living in computers and will eventually eat all the electric circuits.

If you're worried about using your credit card online then think about getting get an e credit card...they are supposed to be more secure.

In case you didn't know, there are ways to pay for budget airline tickets in Thailand without using a credit card. Although ordinary travel agents don't usually sell them, you can buy Air Asia tickets in cash at many Tesco Lotus supermarkets. Tickets for Nok Air (another budget airline in Thailand) can be paid for in cash at any 7/11.

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“Not all those who wander are lost.” Tolkien.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.