Private Group Tour Danang

Both me and husband with a group of friends, all in 6 families with 19 pax headcount.  It was arranged by friend who knows Jacky of Jacky Vietnam Travel from his previous Hanoi trip.  Jacky arranged everything for us for the 5 days 4 nights tour from 5th till 8th July 2018. The timing was not right as it was summer, scorching hot weather with actual temperature highest 37 degree Celsius and night temperature about 28 degree Celsius.

We bought air ticket via Air Asia which fly direct to Danang for cost of RM1239.80 for 2 person.  Local full board tour with 3 nights stay at 5 star hotels cost us USD700 (RM2870 @ 4.1) for 2 person.  Total RM4,109.80 which comes up to RM2,054.90 per person for 5 days 4 nights tour inclusive tipping for guide and driver, all entrance fees and Mandarin speaking guide.

Bana Hill

Our flight arrived Vietnam time 12.05 pm, we were greeted by Jacky and Zheng our Danang tour guides.  As soon as got on the 44 seaters coach, we were provided with wet towel, mineral water and sweet Lychee. We then proceed to lunch at a Madame Lan Restaurant for noodles before continue our journey to Hoi An.  This restaurant was chosen since it is an air condition restaurant. We checked into Royal Hoi An Hotel located at Hoi An, just 5 minutes walking distance to Ancient Town. We had dinner at the restaurant facing riverside before we we sent back to hotel.  

The next day, we were taken to Cam Thanh Eco Tour and then checked into Hai An Beach Hotel facing the sea. This hotel is just 15 minutes away to airport.   It has taken too long for us to check in as the hotel was just opened to public on the same day i.e. 5 July 2018.  However, this is a beautiful hotel.

On the third day, after breakfast we proceeded to Bana Hill about 40 minutes from our hotel.  As it was school 3 months summer holiday, this place was packed with people and tour group. You have to go up the hill by cable car. We assembled at 3 pm to travel down the hill and then back to hotel for rest.  We were picked up at 7.30 pm for river dinner cruise at 8pm.

Our Full Itinerary: 

DAY  1 DANANG ARRIVAL 

Pick up from Danang airport to transfer to Hoi An to check in hotel.  On the way, stop at local restaurant for local noodles and coffee.

After check in hotel, had a rest before we walk about 5 - 10 minutes to Hoi An ancient town, Asian trading port in the 17th & 18th centuries such as Chinese Communal House, Hoi Kien Temple, ancient Tan Ky Merchants House, 400 years old Japanese bridge. The VND20,000 is blue and has a picture of this Japanese Covered Bridge of Hoi An on one side.

Dinner with Vietnamese set menu was served at local restaurant near the Ancient. town.  Free and easy for some shopping at their night market after dinner. As someone's birthday falls on tomorrow, at midnight, there was a small party with drinks, snacks and cake organized to celebrate the occasion.

DAY 2 HOI AN COOKING CLASS - ECO TOUR AT CAM THANH COCONUT JUNGLE VILLAGE

After breakfast in hotel, we check out at about 9 am.  We were dropped at a village explore the are with wood carving demonstration. Then by boat for another an hour journey, transfer to Cam Thanh Coconut Village by boat. We were given welcome drink and then we take the bamboo basket and learn how to catch crab.  There was an entertaining performance dancing to the Gangnam Style song on the bamboo basket.

After about 30 minutes ride, we were back to restaurant for cooking class. After the lesson, enjoy food that we have prepared.

About 1 pm we board bus to get back to Danang.  On the way, we visited Nuou stone village, Linh Ung Pagoda but we skipped Marble Mountain as it was too hot.

We checked in Haian Beach Hotel and have taken almost 45 minutes to an hour for check in as the rooms were not ready even it was almost 3pm check in time.  In the evening we were taken to a restaurant for buffet. After dinner, free to go around the hotel for some foodstuff shopping. 

DAY 3 BANA HILL 

9am pick up from hotel to Bana Hill which is about 40 minutes away.  Board the cable car to the top and then tram to explore Le Jardin D'Amour, Debay Wine Celar and ling Ung Pagoda.  Then continue second cable to car to visit the French village, enjoy street music, watch Art's statue, Campanile, Nine Floor Goddess Shrine, Tombstone Temple , Linh Phong Monastery.  Buffet lunch at local restaurant.  

After lunch, join in Fantasy Park with walking in fairy forest, discover dinosaur Park, enjoy 5D wild west, 4D death race ride, 3D mega 260 degree, ride on journey into underground, enter Jurassic Park etc.

3 pm return by cable car leaving Bana Hill. 4 pm visit to Lotte supermarket. Then back to hotel.

8 pm dinner on Dragon cruise. Enjoy Han river and weekend fire show at Danang dragon bridge.

DAY 4 DEPARTURE 

After breakfast, check out and proceed to Danang airport. Our luggage was heavier from the cashew nuts and Vietnam coffee.  Jacky was so sweet as he gave each family 2 boxes local food product, a cap and an embroidery drawing as souvenir.

Japanese Bridge at Ancient Town, Hoi An

Boat Ride

Dragon Bridge

Paradise Maldives

A place that is so relaxing, a wonderful place for honeymoon. Flight from Kuala Lumpur takes about 4 hours cost us RM1344 for 2 person.  Maldives is 3 hours behind us. Upon arrival we bought 7 days sim card at the airport from Dhiraguu which cost USD22. Our flight was on 18 January 2018 arrived late evening via Air Asia.

We have heard of how beautiful Maldives is and after much thought, why not as we were able to get reasonable accommodation through RCI Vacation club by just paying SGD168 (RM525) for 7 nights stay at Filitheyo Resort. If you book online, this resort will cost you RM6,700 for 7 nights stay. However, food is costly.  We paid daily half board meal (breakfast and dinner) for USD69 per person. And you have to pay for Green Fees at USD6 per person per day. 

As our flight via Air Asia arrived late night, we have to stay at White Harp Beach Hotel, Hulhumale which takes about 10 minutes from airport. They provided complimentary airport transfer for RM260 per night stay inclusive breakfast and wifi.  The next morning we were supposed to be transferred back to airport for us to check in for seaplane but their driver overslept and did not turn up.  As compensation, the hotel provided us with lunch and dealt with Filitheyo and to rearrange for transfer by seaplane.  We finally left the hotel by 3 pm to be transferred to airport to check in our flight via seaplane. We were on the last seaplane flying to Filitheyo.

Seaplane takes about 35 minutes follow by transfer to boat journey about 15 minutes to reach Filitheyo Resort.  Seaplane pricing differs depending on season.  The time we went was USD460 to and fro per person, the cheapest season.

Check in check out process was smooth for this 18 years old resort. Friendly and helpful staff from sales office, front desk, housekeeping to restaurant. International buffet was good with more of Asian/Maldivian cuisines on Thursday night.

You will find a gym, spa, library, swimming pool, main bar, sunset bar and on site dive center. We were booked into watervilla with private sundeck where you can slip right into the turquoise ocean into house reef with abundant of fishes and marine life. Stunning view of sunrise and sunset. We could see Mantra Ray, Dolphin, Shark and colorful fishes.

Basically, if you like quietness, this is a vacation for you where you just snorkel, dive, swim, relax, reading books, watching sunrise, sunset or just do nothing.

If your return seaplane to airport is early, a local guide can be arranged by front desk to take you on walking tour to Male which you need to pay USD1 per person per way for ferry ride 
from airport to Male. You just need to pay the local guide tipping.

Sea Plane

Villa by the sea

Mantra Ray

Self Drive Road Trip Beyond Melbourne

It was only 8 days 6 nights, not long enough for us to cover the places that we intended to.

We touched down Melbourne Tullamarine Airport at 8.20 am, proceeded to immigration and obtained our car rental from Apex, the cost was AUD677 for a Kia Carnival  We were instructed to call Apex once we have collected our luggage for them to shuttle us to their office about 15 minutes away.

We rented Kia Carnival for AUD677.78.  Our six luggage could fit in nicely into the car boot and off we go to Mornington Peninsula.  We stayed at Boneo, accommodation booked under RCI Time Sharing for 7 nights stay cost us RM1657 a place that fits for 6 pax with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. We stayed at Nepean Country Club and Day Spa at Browns Road, Boneo which is 1.5 hours away from Melbourne.

Visa was easy to apply via online https://www.australianvisa.com.my and it cost RM20 per pax for 1 day processing.

Itinerary

Day 1 Night flight to Melbourne
Day 2 Reached Melbourne, proceed to Redhill Farmer Market close 2 pm. Parking AUD4, then to Coles at Rosebud for groceries and check in to Nepean.
Day 3 Yarra Glen Racecourse market and Dandenong Ranges Puffing Billy
Day 4 Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Park, Western Port and Penguin parade at Philip Island
Day 5 Cape Schanck Lighthouse, Shopping at Woolworth, Rosebud & Chemist Warehouse,Safety Beach
Day 6 Brighton Beach Bathing Boxes, Melbourne City Tour - Victoria Market, State Library of Victoria, St Paul  Cathedral, Flinder Street Railway Station, Street Art Hosier Lane.
Day 7 Ferry to Sorrento  then Great Ocean Road - Bells Beach Torquay, Teddy's Lookout Lorne. Check in at Summer Rest Unit at Port Campbell
Day 8  12 Apostles,  London Bridge, Ferry back to Queenscliff
Day 9 Midnight Flight back to KL (Check in airport on Day 8)

Autumn

Puffing Billy

Moonlit Sanctuary Wildlife Park

Bathing Boxes at Brighton Beach

Tasmanian Devil

12 Apostles. Great Ocean Road

From our trip, I think the best is last 2 nights in Melbourne and allocate 2 nights at Great Ocean Road