Travel Announcement

My oh my has it been a while! But, don't worry, I haven't disappeared off the face of the planet. Or off of the face of the UK.... yet....

I've recently moved out of my uni house and back in with my family at home; unloading boxes and getting back into the swing of my job has taken up some time over the last couple of weeks, hence the lack of posting on my part. Apologies.

In all of the unpacking chaos and adjusting to being back at home, however, I've been organising something rather exciting....

My big travel announcement?

I'M GOING TO CHINA.

That's right. China. Hong Kong, Yangshuo, Chengdu, Xi'an, Shaolin, Beijing, Hangzhou, Fujian, Shanghai.

For those of you that have seen me in the last couple of weeks, you may already know this exciting news. I've been trying to tell absolutely everyone and I won't shut up about it.

View from Victoria Peak, Hong Kong, 2015

I went to Hong Kong over Christmas a few years ago and cannot wait to go back - the tour I'm going on starting and finishing in Hong Kong, but with so many other sights to see in between.

I booked the tour through STA Travel who are linked to a company called The Dragon Trip, who run tours through Thailand, India, China and Japan, to name a few. My China trip lasts for 25 days, with a few days either side to arrive, check in and get acquainted with my surroundings.

Throughout the trip, I get to go bamboo rafting down the Li river, visit the Shaolin Temple and watch a Kung Fu performance, bathe in mud caves, have Chinese cooking lessons, visit temples and propaganda museums and attend a tea ceremony in the Fujian Province.

(If I wasn't so afraid of heights, I could even have a go on the world's highest bungee jump - 233 m/ 764 ft high - if I wanted to.)

! Amazing !

My First Ever Flight (aged 16) to Edinburgh

The cost of the trip was £1,619 (with a student discount), this cost covering the tour, accommodation, inter-city travel, travel insurance and a flexi-flight pass allowing me the freedom to change at least one flight between London and Hong Kong.

This overall price included a £49 flight deposit; the rest of the return flight costing only £445.92.

My post-night accommodation at the end of the trip cost £35, but with an added extra of £25 to Santander for a foreign exchange fee - something I have learnt is unnecessarily expensive. If you can escape transferring money online into foreign currency, or have a credit card, then it is possible to avoid these extra fees. Lesson learned.

So far, the trip total has cost me £2,124.92 (bank fees included), now all I need to cover is food and spending money - lucky I've got some birthday money tucked away in my savings!

Now I'm at the stage where long visa forms need to be filled in and a trip to London is on the cards to visit the Chinese Embassy - as of 2018 it is essential for travelers to attend an embassy appointment to get a fingerprint and eye scan on the system. It sounds intense and is freaking me out a little.

But, eight weeks from now and I'll be half way across the world - taking in the sights and eating all sorts of authentic Chinese food.

Let the countdown begin!

Stay tuned on my site for more info and tips on packing, flying and my general excited-ness about seeing the world!

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Any travel or packing advice that I can use would be MASSIVELY appreciated; I will also credit you in the next post.

Please, share comments and send in messages if you have any pro-travel tips :)