Friday, June 20, 2014

Binh Ba - Vietnam Travel Guide

The Binh Ba island in Cam Ranh City, Khanh Hoa Province is famous for the name “lobster island”. As being among places welcoming the earliest dawn in Vietnam, Binh Ba gazes attract from travelers with its wild beauty. Binh Ba is very suitable for traveling in a short time, away from the hectic life. If you can book cheap flight tickets to Vietnam, then visit this pristine island as a short stop during your trip along the coast of Vietnam.

WHEN TO GO

Best time to travel to Binh Ba is from February to August. Also, during this time, cheap flight tickets to Vietnam are easier to book (excluding Vietnam national holidays).

HOW TO GO

After departing with your flight tickets to Vietnam, you can visit Binh Ba island by long distance buses from Ho Chi Minh, Ha Noi or Da Nang to Cam Ranh bus station. Here, rent motorcycle taxi or taxi to reach Ba Ngoi port and spend about one hour on for sailing to the island.
flight tickets to Vietnam

WHAT TO EAT

There are many delicious specialties of this island, especially fresh seafood such as red shrimp, squid, marlin, oyster… But to come to Binh Ba without tasting its delicious lobster will be a real disaster. Binh Ba lobster can be made into various tasty dishes such as the mixture of alcohol and blood of blue lobster.

WHERE TO STAY

On the island, there are homestays and hostels for groups of tourists. Otherwise, guests can contact the locals here to sleep overnight or sleep at boat in order to enjoy the night at sea.

WHAT TO SEE

There are 3 famous beaches in Binh Ba including Bai Chuong beach, Bai Nom beach, and Nha Cu beach. Each one has its own characteristic for visitors to explore. Nom Beach is the most beautiful beach on the island, having a bow back sand beach with the gigantic stones on the two top sides. You will be pleasure in the blue beach stretching out to the skyline. Nha Cu Beach has dense coral. Take your diving eyeglasses, just bow your body into the water will be a scene of a beautiful ocean with a group of colorful fishes in the beach. Chuong Beach is an ideal place to watch the sunrise on the island. The sun progressively rises, a red covering the sky creating a mystery moments.
The beaches on the island are close together so tourists can walk or hire a motorbike from the locals. Besides beaches, tourists can visit famous places on the island, such as Ngu Hanh Tomb and Binh Ba Communal House and war relics left from the war.

The most interesting and attractive things are viewing the sunset, catching the sunrise on the island, enjoying the seafood, going to the market soon... Those contribute to wonderful memory of your trip to Binh Ba island. From now on, don’t hesitate when booking cheap flight tickets to Vietnam and Binh Ba trip will become your shining glory.

Sources:
http://www.vietnamplaces.info/2014/01/binh-ba-island-of-wild-beauty.html
http://threeland.com/vietnam-travel-guide/binh-ba-island-robinson-crusoe-island-cam-ranh-bay.html
http://www.vietnamtourism.org.vn/attractions/nature-adventure/beaches-and-islands/7-reasons-you-should-visit-binh-ba-island.html
http://nhatrangbeauty.com/601/binh-ba-island-in-khanh-hoa/
http://www.vietnamtourism.org.vn/attractions/nature-adventure/beaches-and-islands/binh-ba-island-should-not-be-missed-during-summer-holidays.html
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Travel-g293921-c209747/Vietnam:Tips.For.Binh.Ba.Island.Excursion.html
http://www.vietnamtoursholiday.com/blog/destinations/travel-to-the-binh-ba-lobster-island.html

Ba Lua Archipelago - Vietnam Travel Guide

For those who already booked cheap flights tickets to Vietnam, you can mark down on your wish list a destination that is little bit different from the usually tourist trail in Vietnam. Dubbed the “Little Ha Long Bay” of the south, Ba Lua Archipelago consists of about 45 large and small islands in the territorial waters of Kien Luong District, Kien Giang Province. Those islands were named after their shapes and local folklore. If you want to spend one or two days to explore the unspoiled island, let's see suggestions below.

HOW TO GO

After purchasing cheap flights tickets to Vietnam, you can buy bus tickets to go to Ha Tien or Rach Gia through the travel agent. Then, you will take a boat from Hang Pagoda - Phu Tu Island in Binh An Commune, Kien Luong District.

WHAT TO EAT

On the island, it’s easy to catch snails, oysters, crabs and clams on the rocky reefs for your own grilled seafood dinner. Or you can also buy fish, shellfish, and snails of people on the island and let them cook for you.
cheap flights tickets to vietnam

WHERE TO STAY

It’s possible to find accommodation in private homes for a reasonable price. Alternatively, you can come equipped with your own hammocks, tents and flashlights for camping. If you seek out a perfect destination to renew your energy, hurry up and book cheap flights tickets to Vietnam! You will be rewarded for your efforts with the glistening white sand and the sparkling deep blue sea.

WHAT TO SEE

Surrounded by many islands in shallow waters, Ba Lua Archipelago rarely encounters strong winds and big waves. As such, it is suitable for tourists to take a boat for sightseeing. If tourists want to travel on the archipelago, they’d better use small boats to navigate in the shallow waters and weave through canyons to discover the caves.
One of the most must-see cave in Ba Lua Archipelago is Tien Cave, which is 150 meters long through the inside of a mountain following the axis of the southwest and northeast, is a masterpiece of nature. Winding between towering walls carved by erosion, this 150-metre-long cave leads to a nice sandy beach. Therefore, tourists often enter the southwestern gate to visit the cave and when going out, they can take a bath at a dreamlike beach.

This spot is idyllic, perfect to relax and insulate oneself from the sometimes oppressive din of the big city, most preferred destination of tourists booking cheap flights tickets to Vietnam. Sea breezes invite you to discover the mysteries of these beaches and islands. Back home, you will never forget the charming landscapes and the hospitality of local islanders.

Sources:
http://www.vietnamplaces.info/2013/12/explore-wild-archipelago-ba-lua.html
http://english.thesaigontimes.vn/Home/travel/travelguide/19009/Cruising-Ba-Lua-Archipelago.html
http://www.citypassguide.com/vietnam-travel-blog/archipelagos-hai-tac-ba-lua-and-nam-du
http://www.vietnamtocambodiatravel.com/Indochina-travel-guide/Untouched-Ba-Lua-Archipelago/

Thursday, June 12, 2014

Surviving long-haul flights to Vietnam from USA

If you have not taken any long-haul flights to Vietnam from USA, everything about the experience can seem overwhelming, from the moment of searching for cheap tickets on the Internet. However, even though it’s not your first time, I think it’s safe to say that you still will not like the idea of spending more than 10 hours in the sky. Yes, a long-haul flight can be the most physically and financially demanding component of travel. To help you make long-haul flying go smoothly and even that it becomes a relaxing part of your holiday to Vietnam, here's how to safely survive a couple of hours trapped in an aluminum canister.

flight to vietnam from usa


Choose your seating wisely.


If you're sitting in an airplane that has a three-row configuration—where there is a section of seats on the left side of the plane, followed by a middle section, and section on the right side—you should opt for one of the aisle seats in the middle section in particular. Though it may not seem obvious, this seat has several advantages.

Most importantly, it gives you easy access to the aisle and bathroom while also giving the people sitting in the middle seats two options to get to the aisle. This should automatically reduce your chances of getting climbed over (or having to politely exit your seat so others can get out) by 50 percent or somewhat significantly. 

Opt to sit near the back of the aircraft for long-haul flights to Vietnam from USA, if you don't mind the extra noise produced by the engines. Certain aircraft, such as the Boeing 747 series, have a large area behind the last row of seat in the back of the aircraft that give you plenty of space to stretch.

Prepare your entertainment.


  • Download some of the latest songs or movies as it will be more entertainment than the old movies you already have. 
  • Stock up on paper and books on your e-readers, as internationally departing flights don’t allow the use of small devices yet.
  • Invest in a quality pair of headphones. The headphones, usually available on the plane (whether for purchase or for free) are usually of poor quality. Noise-canceling headphones and in-ear headphones are great if you have them, and can help block out engine noise.
  • Always have a couple of recent magazines with you. Picking out new magazines at the airport before you leave is a fun way to start your trip!

Get comfortable.


Choose stretching clothes that are forgiving of slumping in your seat, "rolling over" without clinging or potentially even lying across a couple of seats if available. Go for footwear that can be easily slipped off and back on again, all without having to strain to reach under the seat in front of you. Also, pick shoes that are very comfortable, and easy to balance in if you hit some turbulence.

Minimize your carry-on luggage on long-haul flights to Vietnam from USA. Remember that anything that is under the seat in front of you just means less legroom and a more cramped living space for long-haul flights to Vietnam from USA. Don't bring so much on that you compete for your own sleeping space.

How to actually get some sleep.


If you plan on trying to sleep, come prepared. Bring a travel pillow or head restraint, and try to avoid using the inflatable ones. In case of using sleep aids (including "natural" methods such as melatonin, or drugs such as Ambien), try them before you fly with them. These types of drugs can vary greatly in how they affect individuals, so you will want to try them at home before you rely on them on the plane.

Take care of your health.


Drink plenty of water. You can purchase the largest bottle of water available before boarding the flight, and will usually have it refilled by the flight attendants during the long-haul flights to Vietnam from USA.

Prevent colds, the flu, bacteria, etc. Recent studies have found that the water coming out of aircraft sink faucets is often rife with bacteria from sitting in murky holding bins; that the seats, pillows and blankets on planes are more germ-ridden than your laundry basket; that your tray table is probably dirtier than your own bathroom floor; and that the seatback pockets -- well, you don't even want to know, apparently. Your best strategy is to bring along some bacteria-killing wipes, clean up your arm rests, seat belt fasteners, tray table, window pull, and wall next to my seat with these sanitizing towels and always use a paper towel to open the bathroom door from the inside.

Move around. It's actually quite important to keep the blood flowing while you're sitting down for ages during long-haul flights to Vietnam from USA. Some airlines provide guidance on in-seat exercises you can do. You can use bathroom breaks as a periodic opportunity to stretch my legs and either hang out in the back of the galley, at least for a few minutes, or walk down the aisle once or twice.

With a little preparation and research, long-haul flights to Vietnam from USA don’t have to be a daunting prospect casting a black cloud over your holiday. The thing about most of these tips is that what may work for another person may be completely different. Still, many of the strategies above can cut down significantly on the stress of flying. 

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How to buy cheap tickets to Vietnam?

The effects of the financial crisis are still being felt, many years on. Therefore, airlines have slashed fees and costs in order to fill some of the empty seats. Additionally, with the invasion of booking sites, aggregators and airline web sites, you can avoid being the person on the flight who paid the most if you’re willing to put in a little time and effort. Here are a few tips that can help you find cheap tickets to Vietnam:

ticket to vietnam


1. Shop around: Remember not all search engines offer the same cheap tickets to Vietnam


Airfares go up and down all the time. So the only way to know for sure which carrier has the cheapest airfare on any given day is to compare prices whenever you shop for airfare. There are simply too many different airline and travel websites for you to make individual queries in each one. Always use a comparison search site, online travel providers, aggregator sites or consolidators and you will save money on cheap tickets to Vietnam. 

Checking these sites will give you a preliminary idea of which airlines you want to fly with. Armed with this information, you can head directly to the airline Web site to see if the same flights are any cheaper. Just remember some airlines guarantee to offer the lowest possible fares on their own Web sites. While you're there, check to see if the airline is running any sales or promotions to Vietnam.

If you don't see anything in your preferred price range, don't be afraid to bide your time and watch the fares for a bit. Most major booking sites have alert features that will e-mail you when your fare drops to a price you're willing to pay.

2. Be flexible with your travel dates to Vietnam


It’s always cheaper to fly during the middle of the week than on a weekend because most people travel on the weekends and airlines hike up their prices then. If you fly after a major holiday, prices are also a bit cheaper. Early morning or late night flights are cheaper because fewer people want to travel then. Traveling when most people don’t want to fly is a recipe for savings. Even the difference of a day can mean hundreds of dollars in savings.

3. When to book your cheap tickets to Vietnam


Airfare sales typically launch late Monday or early Tuesday and to remain competitive, rival carriers will match the lower prices, a process usually completed by 3 p.m. Tuesday. Shop then for the biggest selection of the best prices! This way, you don’t need to gnash your teeth when Vietnam goes on sale the next day. You can either: 

  • Buy Early: Especially during peak travel periods, making reservations late in the game can cost you a lot of money. If you're planning ahead your trip to Vietnam, try to make the call before this deadline, from three to six months in advance, for the best deals. 
  • Buy Late: Often you can buy tickets at the very last minute for a great price, if the airlines have failed to fill their planes. Many airlines offer weekly newsletters that feature their best last-minute deals. You can also find many of them listed in our Travel Deals section, or at specialized sites like LastMinuteTravel.com. 

4. When to fly


According to many scientific studies, the cheapest day to fly is Wednesday, followed by Tuesday and Saturday. Friday and Sunday are the most expensive -- naturally, as many seek weekend getaways and maximize their vacation time by flying on Friday and returning on Sunday, so that’s when airfare prices are almost always higher. 

5. Where to fly: Sometime you have airport choices, and some can be cheaper than others


Big hubs are usually cheaper than smaller airports but not always, and when you have a choice in airports, compare prices. Most major cities have a smaller, secondary airport. Airports charge landing fees, and smaller airports charge smaller fees, which helps keep prices down for you. 

6. Break up your itinerary


Sometimes booking a flight that has a connection as opposed to flying nonstop can save you money. Breaking your trip to Vietnam into segments allows you to search for deals that connect cities on the way to Vietnam which you can’t find on many online travel sites or airline website. 

I hope this guide helps you find cheap tickets to Vietnam. Take the great tips in this guide and learn how to apply them so you don’t end up paying the most for your tickets. 

Happy and safe travels to Vietnam!

Sources:




Hidden costs of flying

Travellers are spoiled for choice when it comes to scoring a deal on a cheap flight. Budget carriers offering more routes around the world making it easier than ever to compare the prices on offer, consumers are getting used to lower fares such as cheap fare to Vietnam. But before you hit ‘buy now’, take a few minutes to check every detail of your booking agreement. Otherwise, you may find that the attractively cheap top line price has been transformed into an expensive overall total given the “hidden extras”.



Don’t fall for cheap fare easily 


In the pursuit of a bargain, it’s easy to overlook or forget about the real costs of that flight. Lower fares mean you’re not paying for inclusions offered by full-service airlines. If you don’t pay attention to the added costs, you can end up booking a really expensive fare to Vietnam or other destinations around the world.

Taxes, Fees and Charges


Often taxes, fees and surcharges increase the first fare quoted considerably by the time you reach the point of purchase. All companies levy various charges, ranging from a surcharge to cover additional insurance costs. Always check these out carefully and make sure you’re not opting in to pay for services you don’t need. There may be a few boxes to unstick before you whip out your credit card.

Checking luggage


With the vast majority of established airline industry players, one item of baggage and one carry on is permitted before a fee is incurred. However, most budget airlines now charge customers for checking even one luggage, not oversized or overweight.

Make sure you look at the fine print of the terms and conditions for your carrier. Don’t get caught out by excess baggage fees. Know the dimensions of what you’re allowed to carry on as well as the weight limit. Each airline has their own rules about cabin baggage and some seem to delight in charging you if your luggage doesn’t conform. At best, you might end up having your luggage put in the hold; at worst it might cost you more than your fare.

Booking fees


The cost of booking flights online by credit card has soared in recent years and now many low-fare websites charge travellers for using their credit card or debit card. 

Seat selection charges


Some airlines charge a premium to reserve seats on their aircraft. For example, besides rock-bottom cheap fare to Vietnam, you will need to add up the seat selection fees.

How can flight times affect your budget?


Typically, the cheapest fares are often only available off season, and on early morning, late evening or night flights, so you need to consider:

Transportation to and from airport


Remember to factor in the costs of making it to the airport. Sometimes public transport schedules won’t get you there on time, which means paying for a shuttle or a taxi, opening your wallet for an airport hotel, or if your budget is really tight then sleeping in the airport itself.

Hotel checking


If it's an early start, you can't bank on checking in at your hotel, so see if you can stash your luggage there or in a locker at the train station. Or even drag your rucksack around town, if you can bear it. 

Where will you end up at?


Many low-cost companies also use minor, or secondary, airports as their destinations. Some of these airports do not have the same levels of passenger service as you might expect from a major city airport, and many are a considerable distance from city centers. 

Do a little homework to find out how to get to the city center from your destination airport. It is essential to find out the costs and frequency of public transport between these bases and city centers before confirming your booking. Is there public transport? Is there an airport shuttle transfer service? If you’re travelling in a group it can be cheaper to book a car service or share a taxi. For instance, if you book cheap fare to Vietnam at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, you will need to factor in the cost of 400,000 for taxi to the district 1. 

If airline charge less, they're not squeezing as many bucks out of us as they can; if they charge more, they won't end up on page one of your airfare search site results, and you won't fly them. And that's what it's all about for every airline. So to ensure your bargain flight doesn't deal you an unexpected budgetary blow, review the fine print with a critical eye, consider the added costs and pack light. As long as you know what you'll pay in total, fly your favorite airline!

Sources:

Frequent Flyer Programs

If you travel by plane, you've probably thought about getting a frequent flyer card so you can earn miles for free travel. Or, you may already have an assortment of frequent flyer cards riding around in your wallet. So, this article will give you all detailed information about frequent flyer programs.



What are frequent flyer programs?


The frequent flyer program is an incentive program operated by an airline to reward customers for their continued loyalty. As a traveler, you earn free miles for the miles that you fly on a particular airline. The concept behind frequent flyer programs is that the airlines want their passengers to become lifetime customers. It is much more costly for the airlines to get new customers than it is to retain the ones they already have. So how do they reward you? The more frequently you fly with them, the greater your awards. For example, you can redeem free flights Hanoi from USA. It sounds really amazing, isn’t it? 

How to get the most frequent flyer miles?


To get the most frequent flyer miles possible, you should always consider:


  • Be flexible with airports: Particularly, consider departing from and returning to different airports! 
  • Don't travel during the holidays: Fly on slow travel days. The sooner you book, the better.
  • Pick Layover flights: Consider connections in addition to non-stop flights.
  • Fly with partners: Most airlines allow redemptions on their partners, too, even if they don't expose this feature on their website. 
  • Use one carrier: Try and stick to a single carrier.
  • Use credit card: If you can be responsible with your credit card, their reward programs can be a great way to rack up the miles.

How to redeem frequent flyer miles?


You've done the hard part: You've racked up thousands of frequent flyer miles through trips, airline malls, and your airline miles credit card. Now you've got to figure out the best way to use your miles.

Get the best possible value for your miles 


There are quirks in the miles/points redemption process. The actual monetary value is typically 2 cents per frequent flyer mile (reportedly the airline industry average). For example, if you want to redeem 25,000 miles for a free ticket, the number of miles multiplied by 2 cents per mile is $500. As some industry researchers have noted, it may be smarter to save your miles and purchase lower cost flights.

Additionally, you don't always have to use your miles for additional travel. You can use miles and points to purchase other goods and services with certain merchants. 

Hidden costs you might encounter when redeeming miles.


Keep in mind that you'll likely have to pay fees when you cash in your frequent flyer miles. Airlines require you to pay taxes for your flight, which could range from $5 to $50 domestically and up to $600 internationally, and many also impose a fuel surcharge. On flights Hanoi from Washington, the fuel surcharge alone could eat up a lot amount of your money.

It's best to redeem your miles through the airline's mileage program website rather than over the phone, because most airlines will charge a fee if an operator assists you. However, the call center might be able to find you a seat that's not available online. 

Don’t waste your miles


Most frequent flyer miles are wasted. Stop mileage waste! Don’t let good miles die! In almost every major airline program, miles only expire when there has been no use in the account for a year or more. Activity doesn't mean you have to redeem miles, however. It doesn’t take much to keep your accounts active—in some cases all you need to do is complete a survey, join an email list, or transfer 100 miles in or out of the account to reset the clock.

Miles are also wasted for low-value redemptions. Save your frequent flyer miles for high-value, international, first-class travel!

Get a seat out of your miles


The airlines have a notorious reputation for blackout dates and limited seat availability for frequent flyer customers. So, snagging the seat you want might be. But for all those who think it’s impossible to book award flights, there are plenty who disagree. In fact, one study comparing award availability on different airlines found that it has actually gotten a little easier to find seats in recent years.

Wait for last-minute tickets


While many frequent fliers score seats by booking a year in advance, airlines don’t release all award seats that early, which means you may have better luck with a last-minute trip. 

Book a free stopover


One benefit of award travel is the opportunity to book a free stopover. Airlines allow you to book a free stopover abroad, meaning you could book flights Hanoi from New York and spend a few days in Bangkok.

Accept a less than ideal itinerary


Take what you can get with your miles. It can be worth accepting an award ticket to a city near your destination. For example, you can get award as flights from New York to Bangkok, then book flights Hanoi from here.

Check partner availability


Most frequent flier programs let you use miles earned on one airline to book award tickets on partner carriers. 

Racking up frequent flyer miles is hard, but knowing how to use them is a lot harder. Hopefully, this article will help you get the most out of those frequent flyer programs out there.

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Advantages and Disadvantages of Low-Cost Airlines

Low-cost airlines are becoming more prevalent, due to the fact that they offer flights that people can afford. Additionally, finding flights with low-cost airlines is easier than ever before since so many booking engines and sites have started operating. However, low-cost airlines do not always offer the same services or amenities as traditional airlines. Like anything on life, though, there both benefits and drawbacks to flying on a budget airline:



Advantages of Low-Cost Airlines


Price


It goes without saying that it's the price of the tickets that makes low-cost airlines most attractive. Low-cost airlines may not have all of the amenities that other airlines have, but budget airlines often sell seats at rock-bottom prices. For those heading on a vacation to Vietnam, flights with cheap airline to Vietnam means you can spend more money on your holiday. So why not save on air fares and put the money towards having fun on your vacation.

Frequent airfare specials


Budget airlines run regular promotions which slash their ticket prices even further for a limited period. But you need to be quick to get the best deals.

One way option


Many budget carriers offer low fares on one-way tickets, allowing you greater flexibility with your travel plans. 

Promoting Travel


People will travel more often when they can save money. They go to locations that they might not have gone to otherwise because they can afford the airfare. This means that more people are able to travel the world than ever before. Travel packages that include low-cost airlines often encourage travel to certain destinations and may include both airfare and hotel in the price. Those recent years, people travel to Vietnam increase significantly thanks to the appearance of cheap airline to Vietnam.

Disadvantages of Low-Cost Airlines


Aircraft Infrastructure


Customers will face with the maximum decrease of the aircraft infrastructure as well as compromise on some leg space due to rather crammed seats. 

Hidden costs


Low-cost airlines have been criticized for charging "hidden" fees in their prices. The big catch to the jaw-dropping low fares are the hidden fees such as airport taxes and surcharges which can double or even triple the original published low-cost airfare. Also Charges include those for excess baggage, seat reservation and the use of credit cards. There can also be a high price for food and drink on board the plane.

Limited flights


Flights are usually restricted to major routes which can fill up quickly. So, finding cheap airline to Vietnam tickets can be a challenging task. In addition, budget carriers also fly at inconvenient times such as early mornings or late evenings when airport charges are lowest and often only service routes a few times per week. 

Remote airports


To keep their costs low, budget airlines often utilize smaller airports in remote locations. So you will need to factor in additional travel time and transportation costs to get to and from these secondary airports. 

No refunds


Budget airlines offer flights at very low fares at the expense of flexibility. Where standard commercial airlines offer refundable tickets at much higher prices, tickets with budget airlines are rarely refunded and cancellations often mean the loss of all or most of the ticket cost. So if you already book flights with cheap airline to Vietnam, you may end up losing everything.

Baggage restrictions


Luggage limits are much more restrictive than on traditional carriers. Be sure to check the airline's policy in advance, as you may be charged exorbitant fees for excess baggage. 

Budget carriers offer low prices, but they come with some disadvantages. Still, they provide excellent value and, increasingly, service that is comparable to larger air carriers. To keep the risk low, not only pays to do your research, but to also be more flexible with your vacation plans.

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