The Affordable Travelers

Hi All! I am planning my first Asia trip to Thailand. I plan on backpacking two weeks. I have never been and I am flying in and out of Bangkok. Any recommendations, advice, warnings, tips, or help would be appreciated! Also I have a long layover in Kumning China (13 hours). Side note that I wanted to mention. I purchased my plane ticket for the day of Christmas and it was over $300 cheaper EACH WAY than any other day of the month. =)

Just used packing cubes for the first time last trip. Game changer. It was so much easier to move from one place to the next because my stuff wasn't everywhere. It's also a lot easier to get that 'thing' you inevitably need from the bottom of your bag at the airport. It's a lot less awkward pulling packing cubes out of your bag than piles of your clothes.