pyro8

I am having the same dilemma. We will travel for 31 days going through 7 different countries.

Peking China, Hong Kong, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Singapore,and Bali Indonesia.

Although most of our accommodations and several tours are prepaid or will be paid on site with credit cards or US Dollars requested, I am questioning the necessity and availability of local currencies.

As an example:

·The hotel includes a free airport shuttle in Peking, however it is customary to tip the driver, local or US currency?

·Our tour of the Great Wall in China will be paid in US dollars as requested by the tour operator; however we will have to pay out of pocket expenses for lunch and cable cars etc… can we use US currency or do we need local currency?

If we need local currencies should we buy it here in Canadabefore we leave or is it better to buy on location at the airport or hotels?

Thank you BuzzMuzz for the information. Do you know what the different rates are? We will arrive onboard the Volendam in November and are trying to plan an independant tour to Bangkok vs a HAL excursion.

Celebrity probably does offer this. Most everyone on that voyage will want to go to Bangkok.

 

But if they do not - no problem.

 

In the cruise terminal there is a large desk located next to (left side) the main exit door.

At that desk are several staff who speak English.

Their only job is selling transfer tickets; one way and round trip, to Bangkok and other local attractions.

You can choose from buses, mini-buses, taxis, and private cars.

The rates for all tickets are posted on a large signboard in front of the desk.

The rates are fixed, and non-negotiable. They are quite reasonable.

After buying your tickets, you need to walk for about 30 seconds to reach the boarding location, just outside the main exit.

If you have any questions, ask a crewmember. They all visit this desk to go out after finishing work.

When are you going? My DH and I are planning to do the Jeep excursion at Freeport, but we aren't going until Oct 3, so I can't tell you how it was until we get back :o It is land-based, though, and really appeals to me because (apparently) you get to see a great deal of the island interior.

:cool:We will be on the NCL Sky in Freeport on the 26th of October 2010, have you already booked the jeep excursion ? If so who with ? We are interested in stiking out on are own to visit the Lucayan National Park. Any information would be appreciated.

Thank you.... :)