How to DIY overseas trip?
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Thank you so much for all the advices.
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Don’t forget to take up necessary travel insurance!!
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You should plan a list of places / activities you want to do when you are there and “play by ear”. If happen to be bad weather, choose the indoor activities for the day. Otherwise go outdoor. Booking day trips are usually pretty easy when you are there and you are staying in some “tourist” area where these services are available within reach.
Another item you might want to look at is which website to use for hotel booking. Take for eg, for China, I find booking thru’ Chinese websites offer cheaper rates (in local currency) than thru’ English websites. I would do my checking of hotel opinions thru’ Tripadvisor, but would then use a Chinese website to book the hotel (just search hotel Chinese name in google and it will list the sites). Other possibilities is booking directly thru’ the hotel’s own website - can be cheaper too. -
For me :
1. check calenders - kids’ holidays, spouse biz trip / ownself biz trip / conf etc : make sure no clash in dates
2. make air tickets booking, select seats
3. plan itinerary, each location how long, routing, minimise / avoid back-tracking, key activities identified first, others can fill in later
4. book hotels
5. book car rental
6. update packing list
7. one week to departure : buy nec travel insurance online, change FX, and if got hotel offers by prepayment, convert hotel bookings to prepaid and save money etc
8. online check in, go airport -
verykiasu2010:
and if got hotel offers by prepayment, convert hotel bookings to prepaid and save money etc
This one I dun understand. Saw this term \"prepayment\" in some hotel websites. Can explain in simpler terms? Many thanks in advance. -
Pen88n:
Another item you might want to look at is which website to use for hotel booking. ..Other possibilities is booking directly thru' the hotel's own website - can be cheaper too.
Hubby told me to use wotif.com and not direct hotel booking, says it is cheaper at Wotif. I dun understand how it can be cheaper. Any catch?
We need 2 rooms. If via Wotif, can specify need interconnecting rooms? Many thanks in advance. -
Jennifer:
it meant advance payment. the hotel will charge you upon confirmation of your booking. in some hotels, they only charge initially for the 1st night and the remaining upon checkout. some even charge you when checkout. if you are very confirmed with your travel plan, then prepayment will be cheaper if they offer you this option.verykiasu2010:
and if got hotel offers by prepayment, convert hotel bookings to prepaid and save money etc
This one I dun understand. Saw this term \"prepayment\" in some hotel websites. Can explain in simpler terms? Many thanks in advance. -
php:
it meant advance payment. the hotel will charge you upon confirmation of your booking. in some hotels, they only charge initially for the 1st night and the remaining upon checkout. some even charge you when checkout. if you are very confirmed with your travel plan, then prepayment will be cheaper if they offer you this option.[/quote]OIC. Any measures I shld take to safeguard my pyt?Jennifer:
[quote=\"verykiasu2010\"]and if got hotel offers by prepayment, convert hotel bookings to prepaid and save money etc
This one I dun understand. Saw this term \"prepayment\" in some hotel websites. Can explain in simpler terms? Many thanks in advance.
I was reading some visitors' reviews at some hotels and found that mixup in rooms allocation is quite common. If paid upfront, can hv recourse if given wrong room? Many thanks in advance. -
Jennifer:
OIC. Any measures I shld take to safeguard my pyt?
it meant advance payment. the hotel will charge you upon confirmation of your booking. in some hotels, they only charge initially for the 1st night and the remaining upon checkout. some even charge you when checkout. if you are very confirmed with your travel plan, then prepayment will be cheaper if they offer you this option.php:
[quote=\"Jennifer\"]
This one I dun understand. Saw this term \"prepayment\" in some hotel websites. Can explain in simpler terms? Many thanks in advance.
I was reading some visitors' reviews at some hotels and found that mixup in rooms allocation is quite common. If paid upfront, can hv recourse if given wrong room? Many thanks in advance.[/quote]this happens anywhere, anytime... can't help especially during peak period...one thing for sure, you will pay for what you get...
i remembered many years back when my little girl girl was young, i booked through online requesting for a king-size bed room. upon check in, hotel told me that they had only 2 single-bed room. but in the end, the hotel upgraded me to a presidential suite room without any extra payment....still had a dedicated dining room on the same room and facilities to use... so shiok...
to avoid this happen, check in early to reduce the risk... -
If you are traveling as an adults only group then DIY trips would be fine. But if you are traveling with small children, elderly persons or people with health conditions then it would be better to travel with a pre-planned/pre-confirmed travel arrangement. This would help you to save time, money & efforts.
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GuzHo:
If you are traveling as an adults only group then DIY trips would be fine. But if you are traveling with small children, elderly persons or people with health conditions then it would be better to travel with a pre-planned/pre-confirmed travel arrangement. This would help you to save time, money & efforts.
yes, very true....unless you really know that place very well....if not, it may spoilt your holiday... -
GuzHo:
If you are traveling as an adults only group then DIY trips would be fine. But if you are traveling with small children, elderly persons or people with health conditions then it would be better to travel with a pre-planned/pre-confirmed travel arrangement. This would help you to save time, money & efforts.
Agreed.
Thinking of doing DIY since the children not keen on similar activites due to age gap. Also hubby cant be away for too many days. Just a short trip like 4 to 5 days (inclusive of flying). -
if you have a frequent-stayer program with the hotels it will be good
these days many hotel chains offer their lowest price guarantee to match any lowest price you can find from the internet / agent for their hotel's room/type..... so mostly likely direct booking gets you the best rate (hotel earns more without having to pay comm to agents)
as a frequent stayer, chances of up grade is high
once i made an advanced payment for a hotel but the trip got cancelled...emailed the hotel for the refund, and they agreed even though as per booking agreement they are entitled to the full payment without refund - the gave me face for holding the highest tier of the hotel's frequent stayer program la......and every time i stay sure got upgrade too......ssshhhhhh. -
php:
if they can't give you what you booked, the standard practice is to upgrade you for free
this happens anywhere, anytime... can't help especially during peak period...one thing for sure, you will pay for what you get...
i remembered many years back when my little girl girl was young, i booked through online requesting for a king-size bed room. upon check in, hotel told me that they had only 2 single-bed room. but in the end, the hotel upgraded me to a presidential suite room without any extra payment....still had a dedicated dining room on the same room and facilities to use... so shiok...
to avoid this happen, check in early to reduce the risk...
EVERY time if you checked in late, chances are you get an upgrade
This is how they work : they have a fixed inventory of rooms every day. The lousiest get allocated to customers first if they did not make specific request for room type.
The best rooms are kept to the last :- for the walk in customers who will be charged the rack rate without discount; and also for frequent stayer guests. -
Need help. Any suggestion on how to spend from Christmas to New Year in London.
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atutor2001:
Need help. Any suggestion on how to spend from Christmas to New Year in London.
I think quite boring there .... unless you got friends there and join their Christmas / new year parties.
Suggestions for you :
1. visit HM The Queen, join her at Buckingham or whichever castle she happens to be in ....
2. post-Christmas sales.....shop till you drop...
3. pop over to Paris -
php:
travelling with young kids on package tour can be very jialat also, imagine, refuse to co-operate in the morning when have to get up early to catch the coach, want to sleep early, don't want to join the shopping trip....etcGuzHo:
If you are traveling as an adults only group then DIY trips would be fine. But if you are traveling with small children, elderly persons or people with health conditions then it would be better to travel with a pre-planned/pre-confirmed travel arrangement. This would help you to save time, money & efforts.
yes, very true....unless you really know that place very well....if not, it may spoilt your holiday...
with young kids and old people, i prefer self-drive, there are many travel websites that give suggested itin as well as what to do, where to see and eat, where the sleep etc, and do it at your own pace.....very enjoyable...but got to pay a bit more
i think your DIY means last minute then look for hotel type...like after dinner then start hunting for hotel lah .... -
Jennifer:
I've not done thru' Wotif, so can't b advise if cheaper. Most website allows for specifying additional requirements - eg. non-smoking / interconnecting / additional cot, etc. Suggest you check opinions from Trip advisor, decide on hotel, check out Wotif's rate, do an online google based on hotel name (add a \"book\" or \"rate\" in the search) and see if you can get cheaper rate from other websites (be it hotel's own website / others). Hope this helps.Pen88n:
Another item you might want to look at is which website to use for hotel booking. ..Other possibilities is booking directly thru' the hotel's own website - can be cheaper too.
Hubby told me to use wotif.com and not direct hotel booking, says it is cheaper at Wotif. I dun understand how it can be cheaper. Any catch?
We need 2 rooms. If via Wotif, can specify need interconnecting rooms? Many thanks in advance. -
can also try booking.com
just made some booking there a while ago … -
Thinking of going Sydney n stay near Darling Harbour (serviced by monorail, trains, buses, not self drive). Many reviews were streets noisy, night club noise etc. During hotel booking, can specify want rooms on high floor? :?