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Well here I am again, ready to take on another traveling adventure. This time to China! I'll be there almost a month this time, which is definitely the longest I'll have ever been out of the country. This time I'll be traveling with my friend Brittany, who is teaching there for a year and invited me over for her holiday break.
I'll be traveling to Shanghai, Beijing, Nanning, and possibly some other places, and will be there for the Chinese New Year.
So far, this is what my planning has looked like, in terms of just getting ready to be able to take the trip.
Roundtrip airfare to Shanghai: $802
-I was very lucky when I purchased my tickets. Prices fluctuate all the time, and it's a mixture of luck and perseverance to get a good deal. This time luck was on my side. And another plus; neither my going nor coming flight has that big of a layover.
"Flight Protection" insurance: $45
-I always buy this, just in case. I have used it before, and though getting the refund was a more of a hassle than I liked, I did get it.
iNext travel insurance, basic plan: $36
-This was another "better safe than sorry" purchase. Pretty much something I bought that SI hope I won't need to use, but not a bad precaution to take.
Chinese tourist visa: $205+$13 (to mail it out)
-Kind of important! This fee covered the visa and delivery, including a signature requirement. It was fast and clean, so not a lot of worries.
Passport photo ID: $15
-required for the visa. I just went to my local post office to get it done.
In total, that comes to about $1,115 give or take some cents, and that covers my flight, the visa (and everything that went with it), and traveling insurance. Not bad, I don't think.
I'm running around in circles a little bit trying to get ready, as I leave this Wednesday. Still need to buy things, pack things, all that jazz. Packing is what really throws me for a loop. I know how, usually, but packing for a week is different from packing for a month.
I'll be traveling to Shanghai, Beijing, Nanning, and possibly some other places, and will be there for the Chinese New Year.
So far, this is what my planning has looked like, in terms of just getting ready to be able to take the trip.
Roundtrip airfare to Shanghai: $802
-I was very lucky when I purchased my tickets. Prices fluctuate all the time, and it's a mixture of luck and perseverance to get a good deal. This time luck was on my side. And another plus; neither my going nor coming flight has that big of a layover.
"Flight Protection" insurance: $45
-I always buy this, just in case. I have used it before, and though getting the refund was a more of a hassle than I liked, I did get it.
iNext travel insurance, basic plan: $36
-This was another "better safe than sorry" purchase. Pretty much something I bought that SI hope I won't need to use, but not a bad precaution to take.
Chinese tourist visa: $205+$13 (to mail it out)
-Kind of important! This fee covered the visa and delivery, including a signature requirement. It was fast and clean, so not a lot of worries.
Passport photo ID: $15
-required for the visa. I just went to my local post office to get it done.
In total, that comes to about $1,115 give or take some cents, and that covers my flight, the visa (and everything that went with it), and traveling insurance. Not bad, I don't think.
I'm running around in circles a little bit trying to get ready, as I leave this Wednesday. Still need to buy things, pack things, all that jazz. Packing is what really throws me for a loop. I know how, usually, but packing for a week is different from packing for a month.