In mainland Europe, you might be able to choose just one type of transportation to explore several countries. But not in here.

I live in Indonesia, and the closest countries are Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. My husband, our two children, and I explored these three countries for a week a couple years ago.

We can’t rely on just one mode of transportation because Indonesia and the surrounding countries are separated by a vast ocean. To reach Singapore, we took a ferry from Batam. Then, from Singapore, we traveled to Malaysia and Thailand by bus.

Finally, after two days in Bangkok, we returned home by plane. That was one of the most tiring but pleasant moments of our family traveling.

In my opinion, it’s more fun to bring your own vehicle. You can stop at many places and enjoy special moments such as rural views or culinary delights. A cross-country trip using public transportation and in one tour package would limit your chance to explore the country’s uniqueness.