Maldives...Anyone?

[LightningSux]

DO NOT EXCHANGE YOUR MONEY IN YOUR HOME COUNTRY!

Thailand has some of the best rates in the world.

Do not withdraw all your money at once, it's far too risky.

Try to limit your ATM withdrawals as we get f*cked really hard by the fees (200 baht every time you withdraw cash), cash is king in Thailand, get yourself a moon bag and put it in there.

Convert your money at the exchange in the airport. They'll give you the best rate.

Oh and when you're ask to be charged in ZAR or Baht ALWAYS select Baht as the conversion will work out cheaper.

Also, check which bank offers the best options in terms of international cash withdrawal fees and currency conversion charges. I had opened a Capitec account to save for the trip, and as far as I remember, at that stage international withdrawals via my Capitec card had no extra charge (can't remember if there was percentage currency conversion fee?). But now I see it is R70 per international cash withdrawal

 

[jdido87]

Book early to get the best prices.

Do not want to use an agent this time around. I lost a lot of money last year with STA. Will be booking everything ourselves. The hotels can be booked now but the flights for December 2022 are not available yet. How is Krabi compared to Phuket. Which is better for a family vacation?

 

[Zurg]

Do not want to use an agent this time around. I lost a lot of money last year with STA. Will be booking everything ourselves. The hotels can be booked now but the flights for December 2022 are not available yet. How is Krabi compared to Phuket. Which is better for a family vacation?

I never mentioned an agent

 

[Zurg]

Do not want to use an agent this time around. I lost a lot of money last year with STA. Will be booking everything ourselves. The hotels can be booked now but the flights for December 2022 are not available yet. How is Krabi compared to Phuket. Which is better for a family vacation?

We booked everything ourselves, down to the tours we went on. When I say book early I meant email those places early enough because they give you a good rate when you book in advance.

 

[jdido87]

We booked everything ourselves, down to the tours we went on. When I say book early I meant email those places early enough because they give you a good rate when you book in advance.

Did you book direct with the airlines or through third party sites. I find travel start to actually be a slightly cheaper than booking on the airlines website even with a VPN

 

[Zurg]

Did you book direct with the airlines or through third party sites. I find travel start to actually be a slightly cheaper than booking on the airlines website even with a VPN

Try Skyscanner.

 

[chrisc]

Imagine Cruising must be one of the dogiest travel agents I have dealt with. Paid them in full (R133k) in Oct 2019 for a cruise which was cancelled by the cruise line, Holland America Line in March 2020. Despite HAL telling me a full refund had been retured to IC, they steadfastly declined to refund me, saying instead it would be put towards a future trip

After 12 months of nagging, I got a credit note. Then in September 2021 got the refund, less a handling fee

Never again. IC are part of Virgin Travel in the UK, same directors and registered address yet on the phone they deny it

I found that 62 SA tourists booked the same trip as we did. That is R3.8m IC kept for 23 months

 

[jdido87]

Imagine Cruising must be one of the dogiest travel agents I have dealt with. Paid them in full (R133k) in Oct 2019 for a cruise which was cancelled by the cruise line, Holland America Line in March 2020. Despite HAL telling me a full refund had been retured to IC, they steadfastly declined to refund me, saying instead it would be put towards a future trip

After 12 months of nagging, I got a credit note. Then in September 2021 got the refund, less a handling fee

Never again. IC are part of Virgin Travel in the UK, same directors and registered address yet on the phone they deny it

I found that 62 SA tourists booked the same trip as we did. That is R3.8m IC kept for 23 months

I will never ever use a travel agent again

 

[Zurg]

I will never ever use a travel agent again

They're con artists praying on those who aren't cognizant of traveling costs especially first time travelers. You'd be surprised how many people let some of that money go without even so much as a why?

 

[Zurg]

I will never ever use a travel agent again

They're con artists praying on those who aren't cognizant of traveling costs especially first time travelers. You'd be surprised how many people let some of that money go without even so much as a why?

 

[modern10]

What did OP end up going with?

 

[The_Traveller]

@OP

Postpone the trip and save up more for a higher class island.

Make it a special one for you and your partner.