Mid-Range Travel Guide: East Timor

Accommodation

$40-100 per night

Comfortable hotels, eco-lodges, and boutique guesthouses with private bathrooms and air conditioning

Food & Dining

$25-50 per day

Mix of local restaurants, hotel dining, cafes, and occasional international cuisine in tourist areas

Transportation

$15-40 per day

Private taxis, rental scooters, organized transfers, and mix of public transport for longer distances

Activities

$30-80 per day

Guided tours, snorkeling trips, cultural experiences, museum entries, and organized day trips

Eat at local warungs and markets instead of tourist restaurants for typically 60-80% savings on meals

Use mikrolets and shared transport instead of private taxis to save 70-85% on transportation costs

Stay in local guesthouses outside Dili's main tourist areas for generally 40-60% lower accommodation rates

Book direct with accommodation providers rather than through international booking sites to avoid 10-20% markup fees

Travel during shoulder season months for typically 20-40% lower prices on hotels and tours

Join group tours instead of private ones to reduce activity costs by usually 50-70%

Shop at local markets for snacks and water instead of hotel shops to save typically 100-300% on basic items

Only eating at hotel restaurants and tourist areas, which typically costs 150-250% more than local alternatives

Taking private taxis for all transport instead of using local mikrolets, increasing daily transport costs by 300-500%

Not carrying small bills for local transport and markets, often resulting in overpaying by 20-50% due to change issues

Booking accommodation only in central Dili without considering nearby areas that offer similar quality for 30-50% less