On the finish of July 2025, we’re heading off on a vacation simply the 2 of us for a {couples} trip. We’re leaving our youngest teen daughter, who’s now 17, dwelling by herself for the primary time whereas we head to Phnom Penh, Qingdao and Manila.
Desk of Contents
It is going to be our second time in Phnom Penh, we additionally visited in 2019. Our daughter lives in Qingdao, so this will likely be our third go to and our first time to the Philippines.
Over time, when we now have travelled with two children, we used to journey on a price range and keep in cheaper lodging, take low-cost airways and eat road meals. In all honesty, we’ll nonetheless be consuming road meals as a result of it’s the greatest!
Now that we now have two much less folks travelling with us, our lodging fashion might change a bit bit, however we now have at all times loved cheaper, extra native locations. On this article we we clarify our journey planning prices and ideas on reserving this vacation.
Who’re we flying with?
On this journey, because it’s simply Bec and I (Mark), we determined to fly a couple of higher airways. We selected Singapore Airways from Melbourne to Phnom Penh and Cathay Pacific from Qingdao, China, to Manila.
Each these airways are 5-star rated and include huge reputations. We now have flown Singapore earlier than and located them to be unbelievable with service and luxury. Cathay Pacific has some huge sneakers to fill if it’s going to be nearly as good as Singapore Airways.
Subsequent comes one other two airways we now have by no means used earlier than, China Jap, which we will likely be flying with from Phnom Penh to Qingdao, and Cebu Pacific from Manila to Melbourne. China Jap is a 3-star full-service airline, and Cebu Pacific is a price range provider, so we now have a little bit of every little thing with these 4 airways.
Cebu Pacific flies an Airbus A330-900neo plane that has a capability of 459 passengers, making it probably the most densely configured A330neo in operation. Fortunately, we paid for seat choice, which allowed us to e-book a 2-seat aisle close to the again. Cebu Pacific is the one one in every of airways we’re utilizing the place we now have to pay for a meal.
Flights
- Melbourne to Phnom Penh with Singapore Airways $976.92
- Phnom Penh to Qingdao with China Jap $ 567.40
- Qingdao to Manila with Cathay Pacific $966.63
- Manila to Melbourne with Cebu Pacific $680.00
I looked for flights on Skyscanner and Journey.com. Then, I headed to the airways’ official websites and booked the flights from there.
Do we want a visa?
Cambodia is the one nation of the three we’re visiting that requires a visa in actuality. Cambodia has an on-line system the place we stuffed in our particulars, uploaded a duplicate of our passport and paid $35.00 USD. It was very easy to make use of, and the visa was in our e mail 3 days later.
The Philippines requires you to log onto the eTravel platform (the official web site for eTravel registration) and register your keep within the Philippines. The Philippines eTravel Platform will solely will let you register your journey inside 72 hours of arrival. So, it seems to be like I will likely be doing this from China.
China has opened up huge time within the final 12 months and now permits 30-day visa-free journey to residents from 79 international locations ultimately rely.
Visa
- Cambodia Visa – x2 $100.00
Reserving journey insurance coverage
We by no means journey with out journey insurance coverage, it’s a must-have for anybody who’s touring abroad. We now have traveled lots beforehand and have wanted journey insurance coverage on numerous events in Germany, Vietnam and Cambodia prior to now.
It truly is a non-negotiable for us. I booked this journey insurance coverage with an organization referred to as Freely that we now have used on earlier journeys. I used to be fortunate that Cashrewards, an Australian app, had 18% money again when reserving journey insurance coverage, which made the value much more engaging.
Journey Insurance coverage
- Freely – 2 folks: $204.00
Reserving airport parking
We reside 243 kilometres away from Melbourne Worldwide Airport, so we have to drive our automotive to the airport. There aren’t actually any straightforward public transport choices from our hometown.
The closest practice station is 20 kilometres away, then we must catch a practice to Melbourne Southern Cross Station and get a bus from there. Because of this airport parking is our greatest possibility.
We have been in a position to get 5% low cost when reserving by means of our Royal Vehicle Membership of Victoria (RACV) membership.
Airport Parking
- Simple Airport Parking prices $165.00 for 19 days.
How will we get from the airport to our lodge?
The time of day and the space from the airport to the lodge makes the distinction in how we select our switch choices. In Phnom Penh, we’re going to seize a ride-sharing service.
In Cambodia, this will likely be Seize (the Asian model of Uber) as a result of we’re touchdown within the morning and could have time to type this simply by ordering a automotive on the app. In Qingdao, the airport is 50 kilometres away from the town, our daughter will likely be there to fulfill us, and we’ll take the Qingdao Metro to our residence.
In Manila, we don’t land until practically 11 pm at evening. We now have an extended day of flights from Qingdao to Hong Kong and onto Manila, so we now have booked a switch to the lodge. The older we get, the extra doubtless we now have change into to take the straightforward possibility, which is a pre-arranged automotive. So, I even booked one again to the airport on the day of departure.
Airport switch
- Return switch from Manila Worldwide Airport prices $46.18, ordered by means of reserving.com
- Seize ride-share from and again to Phnom Penh Airport $30.00 (estimate)
- The price of a experience from the airport to Qingdao Metro is $1.40, or $30.00 for a experience share.
The place are we staying on this vacation?
After looking out Reserving.com and Journey.com, we booked resorts in Phnom Penh and Manila. We’re fortunate sufficient to have free lodging in Qingdao. In saying that, we now have stayed at Vacation Inn Specific in Qingdao beforehand, which value round $90 Australian an evening.
We typically select resorts largely primarily based on worth. Let’s be sincere, we do not need an infinite price range. We now have our worth in thoughts, then we go on the lookout for one of the best lodge that matches that worth in one of the best location for us.
We wish to keep in central areas which might be near points of interest, sights and eating places. In Phnom Penh, we’re staying within the fashionable space simply close to the river and in Manila, we’re staying within the Makati district, which can also be central and fashionable with vacationers.
Each resorts have breakfast included, which is a should in Rebecca’s eyes and as a bonus, they each have roof swimming pools.
Lodging
Staying related whereas away
One of the crucial essential issues for us whereas on vacation is having the ability to entry the web on our telephones. You want web entry for Google Maps, ride-share providers and banking. Thus far, I’ve resisted the temptation to attempt the eSIM as a result of I hold studying numerous conflicting views about how good they’re.
That is much more essential in China, the place you pay for every little thing through a QR code on apps like Alipay and WeChat Pay. China is an ultra-modern society, and every little thing is finished on-line. Additionally, you will want a VPN to entry a lot of your favorite Western apps like Fb, YouTube and Instagram.
Sim card
- 2 x 10gig for Philippines $36.00
- 2 x 20 gig for China $63.00
- 2 x 5-day 2-gig for Cambodia $40
- VPN x2 with LetsVPN $20 for 30 days.
How a lot spending cash will we tackle a {couples} trip?
We’re nonetheless coming to phrases with this as we’re used to travelling as a household. On this couple’s journey, we now have a price range of round $200 a day.
My expertise in Asia prior to now tells me this will likely be loads, and we’ll greater than doubtless come dwelling with some change. It will rely upon what number of cocktails and souvenirs my superb spouse buys!
| Flight Prices | $3280.95 |
| Visa Prices | $100.00 |
| Journey Insurance coverage | $204.00 |
| Airport parking | $165.00 |
| Airport Switch | $100.00 |
| Resort lodging | $810.00 |
| Sim Playing cards & VPN | $159.00 |
| Complete | $4818.95 |
To be truthful, we now have spent a bit extra on issues than we often have. We now have handled ourselves on the lodging greater than we might usually. That is the longest journey we now have taken as a pair within the final 19 years.
Up until now, it has at all times been with 1 child or 2 children, relying on who was at dwelling. I assume the factor to contemplate when reserving a trip is all the additional prices related to it earlier than you even go away. For us, this implies visas, airport parking, SIM playing cards and extra.
That is simply an instance of how we journey. Some folks will wish to spend much less on a visit away, and for others, they are going to be blissful to spend extra. Work out what’s doable for your self, budget-wise and e-book it. We hope you take pleasure in your holidays.
Who Wrote This Article?
Mark is part of a husband and spouse writing and content material creation staff.
Mark Wyld
Father, husband, traveller. During the last 18 years, I’ve travelled with our youngsters to over 45 international locations, from toddlers to youngsters.
