Passport photos cost: free photo session (compliments from mommy) and $0.98c instant prints for four of us. However this is probably the only thing we can save during the organisation of our upcoming trip to China. Mommy's heart is aching thinking about almost $1000 that is going to spend on passport and visa applications. Well, perhaps that's a good excuse to go on more overseas holidays - at least we won't spend a cent in this area for many years.
It was definitely an impulsive decision that we made. Half of it was because Mark has been whinging about needing a holiday desperately; the other half was we got sucked in the Qantas's "kids fly free" promotion. Return tickets to Hong Kong have been paid and they are non-refundable. So, we are certainly going, 5 April!! Getting very excited.
7 comments:
I'm not sure you're allowed to take passport photos yourself, they have such strict guidelines these days... I'd be interested to see whether they accept your pics.
The holiday sounds great though :)
I'm a bit worried too. But I did take the photos and crop them according to the guidelines. We are going to lodge the applications tomorrow morning. Fingers crossed...
It's expensive, isn't it? This is just the beginning. Apart from visa application, airport parking and travel insurence are all expensive, before you go, you'll find yourslef already spend hefty sum, but what can you do? it's long-haul... We are lucky that we were still covered by last year's travel insurence at the time of travel, also we only need to apply for two visas. I've read on internet that people complain chinese visa is so expensive nowadays, which costs £100 pound each, but that's for using their service center. We drove to manchester embassy, only cost £50 each for Same-Day Service.
It sounds you've gottern great deal for Kids-Fly-For-Free. Wish we could get that. Daniel's air ticket costed dear. ( 67% for international leg; 50% for domestic leg) as he is now over 2, need Child ticket.
It's a great shame we just miss the chance of meeting up at Kunming as you suggested years ago9presuming you are going back Kunming). It's so close! Also i think it's good timing for you to have such a holiday as your son is fast approaching school age. Once they are in school, you will be will be restricted the chances of taking good holiday deals, as the time you can go will coincided with the school holiday when holiday prices are shooting up...
I can't believe it costs so much to get a chinese visa in UK! Here, it's $40 each (18 pounds?), not too bad. But our passports cost a lot - at least they will be valid for many years.
We didn't plan to have such a big trip at all. Thanks to "kids fly free" sale, hehe. Kids still pay tax, but still a big saving on the tickets. I also thought it's great to make this trip due to the reason you stated (Isaac will start school next Jan., etc). It's a good time for me as well as it's impossible for me to take leave between Jan. and March. However it is a shame that we just missed. Well, maybe we can catch up when you guys visit Sydney. :)
You reminded me, we haven't got travel insurance yet. I got so much on my mind that I'm a bit stressed out now...
Great chance for children to practice the language.
Are you going to have an holiday or actually be very busy - going everywhere, seeing everybody?
I would like to have an holiday, trips to Estonia never really are.
Chinese visas are more expensive for UK and US passport holders, but it's a mutual thing, UK and US visas are expensive for Chinese passport holders too, so shouldn't complain. I remember it costed me £60 to get a US visa a few years ago not including the travelling cost down London
Actually I do believe we are going to have a real holiday this time. With my mom's help, we can be kids-free whenever we want. And we are going to Sanya which is the hot tourist spot - we can just relax on the beach.
Writing this, I just realised we got nice beach here too! Why going thousands of miles for the beach in China? hehe... I guess it's different when you are on holidays.
And to report to Liina about the photos: kids ones passed (although the shadow on Isaac's photo has raised some concerns). Unfortunately Mark's and mine were rejected, also due to the shadow! I need a speed light!! We will take photos again tonight for each other and lodge the applications again tomorrow. Fingers crossed.
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