Pre-trip costs so far:(all in Australian dollars - AUD)
- Airline tickets $1306 TOTAL RETURN (AirAsia including taxes, fees, luggage upgrades, picking seats but not food) More than half the price of other airlines - the tickets were bought over 6 months when specials came up ie $0 flight + taxes from SR to KL
- Passports $640 (2 adults & 2 children) and photos $48
- Travel Insurance (through travelinsurance direct, with coupon voucher) $400
- Medical (some vaccinations, 1st Aid kit and medication to take)$640
- Visas for Vietnam $150 TOTAL (not through embassy but purchased prepaid visa-on-arrrival for 3 months through vietnam-visa.com) Saved over $230 compared to buying visas through embassy in Canberra (for 1 month) and then getting extension in Vietnam
- Accomodation booked in advance at Gold Coast $140, KL $60 (2 nights) & HCM $90US (3 nights) and taxi from airport $14($US)
- Mastercard Wizard Clear Advantage Credit Card(no cost to purchase, $1.50 to close at Post Office, no annual fees, allows pre-loading of own money to avoid daily interest on cash withdrawals, 30 day interest free on purchases, no conversion, ATM or other fees while overseas! Uses xe.com rates which are higher than average. There will be ATM charges by the international banks we use on our trip)
- Pacsafe products so we feel more secure: waist money belt, tavel documents pouch, cable for backpacks and lock Cost $200
- Ordering of international money and some travellers cheques incurred no fees at Post Office (that's because their rate is slightly lower than some places though overall I still found it a good deal - they don't carry all currencies and it takes 48 hours to get it). we got these as a back up in case we come across a sole broken down/empty ATM.
