Unearthing exotic locales throughout the world, “Change of Latitude” will explore low-budget, yet exhilarating travel options.

Udon Thani, Thailand

Thinking of exploring the surreal beauty of Thailand? Beyond the popular tourist attraction and capital of Bangkok, Thailand offers many other interesting and untouched cities. Udon Thani, a province in northeastern Thailand, is a perfect place to see Thailand in its natural state.

Udon Thani is welcoming from the minute you touch down on the runway. A train ride or short connecting flight from Bangkok takes you to Udon Thani, where you are greeted at the airport with leis as a complimentary welcome gift. From the airport you can hire a “Skycab” to get into town. Skycabs are the major form of transportation in Udon Thani. Like a taxi cab, a Skycab can be hailed on any street side. It is an open-air vehicle, best described as a tricycle-motorcycle. The fare is cheap and negotiable.

In fact, almost every price in the province is negotiable, especially in the malls. Instead of the franchise stores abundant in America, Udon Thani malls are separated into vendor areas, with private individuals selling everything from clothes to food to electronics. Everything is cheap, and the temptation to buy a T-shirt with the Coca-Cola logo in Thai or famous Thai boxing shorts is just too much to bear.

Authentic Thai cooking is also a major attraction, with several plates of food costing you less than 120 Thai Baht, about $3. One of the most popular menu items is cashew chicken, which costs about $1. Looking for a taste of home instead? The “Eagle Bar” and “Good Everything” restaurants serve both Thai food and American-style burgers and steaks.

What is most striking about Udon Thani is the friendliness of the local people. Though most of Udon Thani is barely modernized and many of the local people live in poverty, the Thai people welcome expatriates and American visitors with open arms.

Everywhere you go, it seems ,you are greeted by locals. Their hospitality and the chance to experience the rich Thai culture make a visit to Udon Thani unforgettable.

Bintan, Indonesia

Picture yourself sipping a blended fruit drink, lying on a beach chair and taking in the breathtaking sights — ocean for miles, the sun setting over the South China sea and palm trees lining the beach. Then picture yourself dining on Indonesian cuisine and a colorful nightlife, finishing the night in your own villa. This is all possible on the exotic island of Bintan.

Located in Indonesia, about 45 minutes away from Singapore, Bintan is the perfect place for a relaxing beach holiday far from home. The largest of the 3,200 islands in Indonesia, Bintan offers a beautiful getaway while also playing host to various tourist attractions.

The best way to get to Bintan is to travel to Singapore or Indonesia and then take a short ferry to the island. Various resorts offer free shuttle transport from the ferry to their own secluded section of the island. The island boasts many luxury resorts and golf, with several that fit the budget constraints of a UCSD student on a trip around Asia. The popular resorts for students include Bintan Lagoon Resort and Mana Mana Beach Club. Both offer pools right next to the beach and a variety of entertainment venues within the resort, including a karaoke bar and arcade as well as a laser tag arena and many amenities. One thing not to miss is a cheap massage on the beach. Many of the resorts also rent out villas with private pools and private golf cart transport that can turn any backpacking experience into a luxury vacation.

Water sports — including wakeboarding, banana boating and jet skiing — are a major attraction and each resort has the equipment necessary to participate. If you’d prefer to see some of Bintan’s natural beauty, you can choose to explore a pineapple plantation or check out the plentiful mangrove swamps that line the island.

The best thing about Bintan is its tropical weather. Bintan’s location just above the equator makes it hot and humid all year round, thus making any month a perfect month to visit the island.

Bali, Indonesia

Bali, one of the most picturesque islands in Southeast Asia, is the ideal place for relaxing and partying alike. With no official legal drinking age, You can spend late nights at the club and long days at the beach.

You can fly directly into Bali without stopping at any of the neighboring cities. Most hotels include airport transportation in their room rental package, and a chartered van can pick you up and take you to your resort. As with Bintan, villa rental in Bali is an attractive option for students. Rentals can start as low as $250 a night for a four-person villa.

The villas at Bali Dyana Villas (http://www.balidyanavillas.com) have attractive packages for student travelers, including airport pick up, welcome drinks and flowers, taxis, free laundry, a free massage and daily breakfast. Unlike other hotels you may have stayed at, these villas provide the comfort of home with the luxury of a five-star hotel. Full-time maids cook breakfast for no extra charge, and the villa also includes its own private swimming pool and free video and Playstation game rental.

Besides lounging around the beach and body surfing, you can also get manicures and pedicures at your beach chair for about $6. If you are looking for something a little more adventurous, many hotels also have motorbike rentals for the entirety of your stay for about 12,000 rupiah ($1.30).

A nighttime visit to South Bali’s busiest streets, Kuta and Legian, will show you just how busy and exciting Bali’s nightlife and entertainment can be. A cheap cab ride (be sure to hail a cab with a meter to ensure a good price) will take you into the heart of Bali’s nightlife and also make Bali’s modernization more apparent — the street includes many American franchises, one being Dunkin’ Donuts. Stores and bars line the bustling street. Visitors should be sure to drop by “The Bounty One,” a bar which is shaped like a pirate ship, with staff dressed like sailors and pirates. It has many happy hours throughout the day, and at night fills up its large dance floor as one of the most popular bars in the district.