Hello to other travelers

Hi  Yes I'm booked on this trip, really looking forward to it.  The reviews are excellent :)  Sarah

Hi Sarah,

I am really looking forward to it and beginning to get excited. Have you done anything about Visas yet?

Marianne

Hi Marianne,

Yes, I have my visa, came through quickly from the Embassy.  I applied early for it as I know I'll forget it and leave it too late.

Hi everyone - can't wait to escape to Vietnam - should be a lot of fun (vaccinations booked for Thursday....)

 Not visited Vietnam before - it looks lots of fun :-)......can't wait. How long does the visa last for ?just wondering when i should apply

Hi Tracy - I've sorted mine through myvietnamvisa.com which means I get my visa on arrival in Vietnam and saves sending my passport away.  I believe you can also pay to get it before you travel.  I think that the single visit visa lasts 30 days.  Not long to departure now!!

I am booked on this trip to, thought I would say hi!! Only booked recently really need to do something about the Visa!!!

Hi Everyone, just a quick question re the Visas are many of you getting the On Arrival visa or the one you have to send off to the embassay? On arrival seems cheaper trying to deciede between the comfort of already having the visa and not having to do it at the airport or not having to send my passport away when the trip is only a few weeks away!

I got mine from the embassy, took less than a fortnight to get back to me from the time I posted it.  One less thing to have to worry about the other end, but I guess it's down to personal preference!

Hi Zoe, i was thinking about getting mine at the airport, the only thing that puts me off is having to wait about in the airport to get authorisation, reading up it says we need to take 2 passport photo also.Think i will panick a little as i have changed since my passport photo,they may decide to not let me in ha ha.

Hi, thanks for your replies I sent mine off in the end. Though I am sure it would be fine at the airport decieded I'd rather get mine sorted seeing as my bags are normally last anyway, wouldnt want to hold the group up even more! Can't believe how quickly the trip is coming around soon be here!!!

Hi again everyone, only a couple of weeks to go - just wanted to ask whether anyone has particular views regarding some of the stuff in the trip notes.  It suggests taking your own cycling helmet but for the sake of only a short ride on one afternoon (from what I can see) and not wanting to lug it around for the rest of the trip, I wasn't going to bother, although I do wear a helmet when cycling in the UK.  I will totally sway to peer pressure however if everyone else is taking theirs...

My other query was about malaria prophylaxis.  Again, the trip notes say that it is definitely needed, but the travel health sites I've checked aren't so clear - seems to imply that there is minimal risk and no need for medication in the cities down the coast, and I can only suppose that Exodus are referring to the last bit in the Mekong delta where potentially there might be a slight risk for a couple of days.  So I'll probably take with me some doxycycline for the last bit to use if needed, but I guess it depends on the actual places we go to.  Would be interested to hear what everyone else has been told.

Anyway, look forward to seeing you all soon!

Hi - I'm not taking a cycle helmet (a, I don't have one and b, I don't really fancy taking one all that way)....  still busy buying loads of other stuff that I need for the trip

I saw my local doctor and also spoke to a pharmacist re malaria - from the itinerary we have they both saw no risk.  Famous last words....!

Only two weeks to go....scary! 

Hi

 I am not taking a helmet as I dont have one to be honest! My doctors charged £15 for a 2 minute phone call where they told me it was up to me as it was on the board of needing them or not needing them...... very helpful! I got Doxycycline in the end as I have had it before and was fine! Fairplay I am really unorganised haven't sort much out though I have just booked a hotel for the night by heathrow, didnt fancy the 5am coach option!

 See you all next weekend!

Hi

 I am not taking a helmet as I dont have one to be honest! My doctors charged £15 for a 2 minute phone call where they told me it was up to me as it was on the board of needing them or not needing them...... very helpful! I got Doxycycline in the end as I have had it before and was fine! Fairplay I am really unorganised haven't sort much out though I have just booked a hotel for the night by heathrow, didnt fancy the 5am coach option!

 See you all next weekend!

Hi everyone, no I'm not taking a cycling helmet and the anti-malarial only taking for the Mekong Delta after reading a thread further on from someone who's already been.  See you all soon! Sarah

Hi,

 Getting really excited now!! I have my passport, visa, ordered Dong! Four more days of work and then travelling down to Heathrow!!!!

I have decided against helmet and the anti malarials. I am going eau d'insecticide instead.

Is anyone interested in meeting at the airport?

Marianne

 

Hi, I havnt done an Exodus trip before. It's been years since I've travelled and am begining to feel quite anxious!! Friends have done this particular trip and have raved about it. I'm excited and nervous in equal measure! Anyway, really looking forward to meeting you all :)

Sarah

Hi Sarah - I'm in the same boat (excuse the pun)...never done a trip like this before and  now starting to think whether a fortnight on a beach wouldn't have been a smarter move....  I'm sure however it is going to be amazing - friends and colleagues who have been to Vietnam have raved about it.  I'm looking forward to getting on the plane on Saturday, switching off and waiting for the adventure to being.  I'm sure it's going to be an incredible trip.  See you at the weekend!  John

Hi John, thanks for resonding. It's somewhat comforting to know that there will be another rusty traveller on board! I've been wanting to take a trip to Vietnam for years, I can't believe its nearly here! See you at the weekend :)

Sarah

Hi Marianne,

 Would be a great idea to meet at the airport, probably at the gate may be an idea .....

Sarah - the other one!  Always more than one Sarah

Hi everyone not long now! I am staying by heathrow the nite before so should be there in plenty of time if anyone fancies a coffee or holiday beer before boarding let me know!

Hi Zoe, I do like a woman who wants a beer in the am! Count me in. Slightly distressed that I shall miss England/France so will welcome a good excuse.

Bridge bar 10.30ish on Saturday morning? I'll be browsing in the duty-free if there's nowhere to watch the rugby but if anyone's around, please say hello! Will try and find an exodus tag to put on my black backpack.

Bridge Bar it is then. Is that on land or air side?

Marianne

Air side, I think it's to the right after security.

That sounds good to me! Will head for the bridge bar and put that tag on hand luggage! I know I ve watched football at heathrow before, fingers crossed for the rugby! See u all Saturday! Zoe

Hi really excited travellling down to Heathrow Fridat staying at Premier Inn .not taking helmet either.

Not got any maleria tablets my doctor and nurse said i didnt need them,also got in touch with rep from exodus who agreed we are in low risk area so will not need tablets. I am all up for meeting up for a beer saturday :-)

 

Hi Tracey I m staying at the premier inn too, though probably will not get there until 9 ish if the trains don't play up! Thought it was a better option than a 5 am coach! Apparently there is a free local bus from there to terminal 4 which is handy! Zoe

Hi Tracey I m staying at the premier inn too, though probably will not get there until 9 ish if the trains don't play up! Thought it was a better option than a 5 am coach! Apparently there is a free local bus from there to terminal 4 which is handy! Zoe

Hi everyone - look forward to trying to find you on Saturday....I'm driving down in the morning.  Hope the team at the Premier Inn look after you (I work for them!).  I think you may have to pay for the bus but it's not too much.  I look forward to hearing the feedback on the hotel and team (only 4 sleeps to go, yikes!)

We get to premier in about 5pm, I have stayed there before and its very nice,you have to pay for the Bus to the terminal if i remember its about £6 each way.

if we dont manage to spot you on the Friday night i am sure we will saturday morning while we are waiting for the bus ... Look out for the exodus luggae tag.

Really excited :-)

 

 

 

 

 

Hi Tracey thanks for heads up re the bus will make sure i have change for bus! Thought it seemed alittle odd when I read that on the Internet! Yes I will attach my luggage label I will look out for u! Think I will have to check the time of the rugby and try time my departure to the airport accordingly! Don't think its quite sunken in I ll be in Vietnam next week!