On accommodation—expect basic
Our rustic bungalow in Koh Samui, Thailand. Amenities—bed, mozzie net, bathroom with cold-water shower, table, light bulb, powerpoint, two chairs (one very flimsy). It was more than enough. We didn't upgrade to the air conditioning and hot-water option.
If you’re counting on five, four or even three-star accommodation, don’t do an overland trip. A lot of the time, you’ll find that your tent is the cleanest, comfiest and quietest place around.
Overland trips are budget adventures. When you aren’t bush camping or staying in campgrounds, you’ll be in budget hostels or hotels. This accommodation will usually be in the cheaper (and often the cheapest) range. Occasionally it is the only place in ‘town’.
This is not surprising. The 5000–6000 pounds you pay for six months of travel, food and accommodation doesn’t go very far.
We’ve had a lot of very basic accommodation on this trip. There have been dorm rooms for up to 30 people, and plenty of hotels with rooms for three or four people. You just have to be adaptable. In some cases, you’ll be able to upgrade from a dorm room to, say, a room for two. We’ve upgraded a few times (usually out of huge dorm rooms), but mostly it’s not been necessary or worth the extra expense. But then we’re pretty daggy (look it up) which is why, I suppose, we enjoy and do this kind of travel.
Where to next? 
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