Thailand and Bali are two of the most well-known travel destinations on the planet. In fact, because they can appear to be so similar, it can be tricky to know which one suits you better. For each of these I first state the case for Thailand, and then the case for Bali, and then an overall winner. This is because as with almost all points in this article , the winner for you will depend on the type of traveler you are.
Some of the most beautiful and varied beaches in the world can be found in Thailand. Thailand is made up of both a mainland chunk of SE Asia and hundreds of islands. Because of this, there is an unparalleled number and variety of world class beaches here. Yep, Bali is well-known for its fantastic surf beaches. There are so many beaches here that are slightly different shapes etc.
Beginners just trying to catch your first wave could start in the comparative safety of Nusa Dua beach. Not into surf? Both have some incredible beaches, that is a fact. But, based on variety and beauty it has to be Thailand. As such, the people are generally very kind and peaceful.
Bali, on the other hand, is a totally different proposition in this respect. As such, there is a striking, obvious difference between the culture of Thailand and Bali. If you go to the right places and go with an open mind, you can experience a wonderful culture, likely very different to where you are from, in either Bali or Thailand.
All in all, you can make travel in Thailand as cheap as you want. They may not be the most comfortable, but the hour coach journeys that take you from the north to south etc. This is again pretty close.
