Phuket has long been a destination for foreign travelers to Thailand, and certain areas of the island are well- (if over-) developed to cater to foreign interests. But Phuket is a tourist destination for a reason, although the small-town seaside vibe has all but disappeared from Phuket Town and Patong. Kata, a 45-minute drive south of the Phuket Airport, retains some of what Thailand originally became known for: beaches, easy living and a friendly community. Accommodations, such as the Kata on Sea bungalow complex, are cheap, and the food is varied (Thai classics, Italian and Scandinavian), and surf shops rent boards for the minor swells in the Andaman Sea.
The cities of Vietnam can overwhelm, but you can find peace almost exactly halfway between Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in the small, tailor-laden town of Hoi An. Hoi An is a sleepy seaside town that's (in)famous for its tailor shops, which outnumber restaurants and hotels. There's a quietness to the town. You can rent bicycles for a dollar a day or a moped for $10 as of January 2011 and drive along the narrow streets to a Hoi An's beach on the East China Sea or head inland to small tracks running between immense rice fields. Hoi An has three local specialty dishes, including cao lau, a noodle dish with roasted pork. Daily flights are available from Hanoi or HCMC, but Hoi An is also accessible by train (to Danang, plus a 40-minute taxi ride).
Sanur, on the Indonesian island of Bali, is comparable to Kata in Thailand in one key way: It's a small town that represents everything that made a tourist industry flourish. Bali's backpacker haunt is typically Kuta on the western coast; on the opposite coast (only a half-hour by taxi), visitors will find Sanur (nicknamed "Snore"), a small town along the calmer eastern waters. Sanur is a guesthouse town, and most of the accommodations are small bungalows tucked into jungle landscapes. Everything is close and walkable, and no hotels or guesthouses are more than 10 minutes from the beach. Check out the Swastika Bungalows with pool access and the small, beachfront restaurants that serve fresh seafood and the local fried noodle and fried rice specialties. Most menus are in English.
A few hours by bus from Kuala Lumpur, Tanah Rata travelers will find what may be the coolest place in Malaysia. While KL is roasting year-round, Tanah Rata in the Cameron Highlands enjoys moderate temperatures due to its elevation. This tiny town is known for its tea and strawberry fields and the Boh Tea Plantation, and it maintains the British tradition of High Tea, with the few cafes in town offering scones and tea each afternoon. You will find one bar and a handful of Indian restaurants that serve daily specials every day, collections of curries and naan served on a banana leaf. The region around Tanah Rata has a dozen well-marked hiking trails leading into the rain forest, some of the oldest jungles on Earth. Guesthouses are common here, and they feature knowledgeable and friendly local owners who can arrange small tours of the area.
