daffy_traveller

We are a family of 4 - (2 kids, 15 & 16) and we really want to see Vietnam over this coming Christmas break. This is our first trip to Asia. Our budget is $5000.

We have enough mileage for 2 tickets so we will have to pay for the other 2 which looks to be running about $3200. That leaves $1800 for accommodations, food and internal travel expenses. We don't need fancy digs but they need to be clean and safe. We plan on seeing Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Mui Ne and the Mekong Delta area. If possible, we would also like to see Hoi An.

Is our budget realistic? I have seen hotels and B & Bs for $50- $75 a night that are perfect for us, so I think we can keep the room cost between $750- $1000. Can we feed ourselves and get from place to place for $1000?

If not, it's off to Puerto Rico!

I have been working on this plan since January and I need to make a decision once and for all. If we spend all our mileage, I'm afraid we won't see Asia for 5 years. This forum has always come through for me - please help again!

rhkkmk

where are you coming from---$3200 seems a bit high..

call the airline when you are booking the award ticket and buy the paid tickets from them, you might save $$... its worth the $20 service fee..

3* hotels are consistently nice but $60-100

rhkkmk

you might ask tonkin travel to help with hotels and transportation... they will save you $$ too

chuanvy

For transportation form Hochiminh city to Danang or Hanoi, jetstar.com is cheaper than vietnamairlines, book early. If you go by bus, book open tour, Sinhcafe, An Phu
Hotel: how many stars? How many day? Price from 35usd to ....
I think enough if you book early. Welcome to Vietnam

crosscheck

Check out the Victoria Hotel site - Vietnamese-owned chain of authentic 4-star hotels. http://www.victoriahotels.asia/- We didn't go to Vietnam, but stayed at the Victoria in Siem Reap, Cambodia. They offer fantastic packages which include transportation, and their rooms are family friendly with plenty of room for all four of you.

crellston

With that sort of budget, check out www.hostelworld.com for decent hostels and small hotels. You will get something decent for less than $50 per night. Train travel is cheap and a great, if slow way to get around www.seat61.com is a good resource
Buses are even cheaper but not that comfortable. Steer clear of hotel or tourist restaurants and you can eat really well and very cheaply.

daffy_traveller

Thanks for the info -

the train looks terribly slow so I am wondering if we can see all we want to see in the time we have. We had thought of the bus, but that might be even slower?

Tonkin isn't letting me send an inquiry- I'm batting zero so far!

I will see what the airline can offer me in terms of the purchased tickets.

I'll keep trying for a few more days.....

BillT

Be very careful about where you eat - all it takes is one person in your group getting a nasty reaction to some of the local food and bingo there goes your well laid plans for a few days. Do not eat street food- yes there are those on this forum that will attest to the fact that they have eaten such food and nothing has happened - true enough -but everyone's stomach is different and reacts differently to the local food and their issues. Had you asked about what Asian destination would be best for a first trip and I would have suggested Thailand- its has much better tourist infrastructure and plently of places to eat without worries. Your teens may hunger for that hamburger at times and that is not a problem in Thailand. Plenty to see and do for two weeks in Thailand- but it seems you have your heart set on Vietnam so have a great time!

thursdaysd

The train is more comfortable than the bus, and if you take a night train that saves one night's hotel cost. Have you visited seat61.com for train info?

I suggest you check out Lonely Planet's thorntree forum, where you are more likely to find people with even lower budgets than yours, rather than people suggesting three and four star hotels and travel agencies that handle them. Sinh Cafe would probably be more useful, but you need to check a guidebook for the correct web site, as there are a lot of look-alike competitors, and although I think this is the right site I could be wrong: http://www.sinhcafetravel.com.vn/

daffy_traveller

Gave up on Vietnam - too hard to get tickets with mileage. Looks like the hubby and I will go on our own in a few years when the kids are out of the house and we can travel more freely....

Just booked our tickets to Puerto Rico. Not quite Asia, but nice nonetheless....

thanks for all your help gang!
L

BillT

Always difficult to get ff awards during a holiday period. And since you have kids you are forced to try during summer vacations or on long holiday breaks. We always book 6-9 months ahead and avoid holidays and summer (easy for us as our kids are grown and out of the house. Once you are in that boat you will find it much easier to book your ff awards.