Honeymoon coming up - anything we should be aware of?

[Febs]

Hi all,

Honeymoon is fast approaching D) and as bookings have been a mix of QFF points, hotel points, direct with TAs and direct with airlines, I just want to make sure we've covered everything for the places we're visiting (which are a mix of places we've been like HK and NY, and new places like Vietnam and Maldives).

Itinerary includes HK, Malaysia (Langkawi, KL), Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City), Maldives, London (<24hrs) and the US (inc a 1-day domestic SC run). We're both on Aussie passports (with plenty of validity), have both received our Vietnam Visas and have both updated our ESTAs (which are still valid). From my own research and discussions with Qantas, we won't need to arrange visas for anywhere else (Malaysia, Maldives) as these either aren't required or are applied for on arrival.

Anything else we should be aware of with these destinations? Figured as we're not using one consistent TA for everything, I should do one final check here.

Also, if anyone has any recommendations for "must dos" for the above destinations, that we should be looking at booking now, it'd be much appreciated. I've got AMEX waiting to try for a reservation at a few nice NY restaurants (Per Se, might try Eleven Madison Park too), I've put my name down for Letterman tickets (and will try in person too), and I'm planning on booking a Jet ski tour of Langkawi (because it was one of the best things I've ever done on a holiday when I was there last year). We'd also like to tour the Cu Chi tunnels in Vietnam (should we book beforehand? Any recommendations?), and will probably try to book tickets to a Cirque du Soleil in Vegas (we've seen a few before, but really want to see Love).

I know everyone's definition of a "must do" will differ, but if anyone has any recommendations, please let me know.

Many thanks in advance.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[lightie]

Just have a great honeymoon, if you happen to mention on the planes you are on your honeymoon you may get a pleasant surprise! I was in upper deck coming back from UK to Singapore and the FA brought up a couple who had just married the day before, they were so excited about being upgraded from Economy to Business Class, I thought it was lovely, had a great talk with them

 

[Febs]

Just have a great honeymoon, if you happen to mention on the planes you are on your honeymoon you may get a pleasant surprise! I was in upper deck coming back from UK to Singapore and the FA brought up a couple who had just married the day before, they were so excited about being upgraded from Economy to Business Class, I thought it was lovely, had a great talk with them

Yeah definitely planning on trying that subtly at different parts of the trip. When we came back from NY last time, after we'd just gotten engaged, I mentioned it in passing to the FA on the Qantas flight home, and he brought around a complimentary bottle of Charles Heidsieck champagne (we'd been upgraded too, though didn't need to play the engagement card for that one). Very unexpected, but very nice.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[777]

Main thing you need to be aware of: Honeymoon will likely end in marriage!

Seriously, no advice but have a great time

 

[Simo]

Have a good time on your honeymoon.

You won't see the outside of the accommodation.

 

[KitKat]

Eleven Madison Park - had a great time there last year (few days ago), fantastic food, service - will go again when back in NYC
Dish of the year for me was the guinea fowl - melt in your mouth (never thought a fowl could taste this good)
Congratulations and have a great time!

 

[lightie]

Re the other thing I meant to mention was the Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam, went there about 14 years ago, so guess very changed now, make sure you go to the real ones, not the enlarged ones for visitors,(used to cost about 10 times the real ones) very exhausting, dropping down into various corridors, but well worth it, we had to sit for a propaganda movies first, there were so many great things you could at that time buy there, I am a real haggler, which is why I like Asia, but here even I didn't bargain, a real hand painted vase still looks the same today, for $A1, also cobra wine, didn't try that with the baby cobra in to bottle. There was a cafe in Ho Chi Ming City where you could go and put you names down for the trips, eg Mekong when it was just opening up. The cafe used to be listed in Lonely Planet, authentic trips on local buses etc, for about $US5 pp,

 

[jujay]

Malaria tablets recommended for when you are in Vietnam, check if any vaccines are required for Maldives.

Have fun!

 

[markis10]

No SPA action in the Maldives as of yesterday, apparently they are a front for more insidious things LOL.

 

[Febs]

Thanks everyone.

Eleven Madison Park - had a great time there last year (few days ago), fantastic food, service - will go again when back in NYC
Dish of the year for me was the guinea fowl - melt in your mouth (never thought a fowl could taste this good)
Congratulations and have a great time!

Thanks, sounds great. We're hoping for a dinner reservation at Per Se so might try for a lunch at Eleven Madison Park one day - hopefully that'll increase our chances (reminds me of being in NY in 2009 - certain 3 starred restaurants were relatively easy to book, and they were doing some ridiculously good lunch specials. 3 courses at Jean Georges for $45 from memory!)

Re the other thing I meant to mention was the Cu Chi Tunnels in Vietnam, went there about 14 years ago, so guess very changed now, make sure you go to the real ones, not the enlarged ones for visitors,(used to cost about 10 times the real ones) very exhausting, dropping down into various corridors, but well worth it, we had to sit for a propaganda movies first, there were so many great things you could at that time buy there, I am a real haggler, which is why I like Asia, but here even I didn't bargain, a real hand painted vase still looks the same today, for $A1, also cobra wine, didn't try that with the baby cobra in to bottle. There was a cafe in Ho Chi Ming City where you could go and put you names down for the trips, eg Mekong when it was just opening up. The cafe used to be listed in Lonely Planet, authentic trips on local buses etc, for about $US5 pp,

I like the sound of that, thanks!

No SPA action in the Maldives as of yesterday, apparently they are a front for more insidious things LOL.

Heh saw that. Not a huge deal, but personally I can't see it sticking. They rely on the tourist $ too much, and there are other options (e.g. Bora Bora) which people will take their business to if they start letting religion interfere with tourism too much.

Malaria tablets recommended for when you are in Vietnam, check if any vaccines are required for Maldives.

Have fun!

Good point, I meant to ask about that. If we're only staying in Ho Chi Minh city (with a tour to Cu Chi tunnels), are Malaria tablets still necessary? I take them whenever I go to India, but usually because I work in semi-rural/industrial areas. Haven't bothered when I've been to most parts of Asia as I've mostly stayed in cities. I guess better to be safe than sorry. Are the good Malaria tablets still ~$7/tablet?

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[jujay]

Good point, I meant to ask about that. If we're only staying in Ho Chi Minh city (with a tour to Cu Chi tunnels), are Malaria tablets still necessary? I take them whenever I go to India, but usually because I work in semi-rural/industrial areas. Haven't bothered when I've been to most parts of Asia as I've mostly stayed in cities. I guess better to be safe than sorry. Are the good Malaria tablets still ~$7/tablet?

Cheers,
- Febs.

I would still take them, personally. Southern Vietnam is warmer than the north, which generally = more mozzies. There are mozzies in the city too, it's not limited to rural. I just wouldn't risk it, getting stuck with malaria will effectively end your entire trip and it stays with you for life IIRC. Not sure how much they cost, you need a prescription from your gp so they might know costs.

 

[simongr]

Main thing you need to be aware of: Honeymoon will likely end in marriage!

Normally a honeymoon comes after a marriage

 

[ajca]

I would still take them, personally. Southern Vietnam is warmer than the north, which generally = more mozzies. There are mozzies in the city too, it's not limited to rural. I just wouldn't risk it, getting stuck with malaria will effectively end your entire trip and it stays with you for life IIRC. Not sure how much they cost, you need a prescription from your gp so they might know costs.

Well, it really depends. jujay's strange recommendation that you take anti-malarials for a short stay in Ho Chi Minh City is a good reminder of why we should ignore medical advice from random internet users.

Here's what CDC says:

Malaria
Areas of Vietnam with Malaria: Rural only, except none in the Red River Delta and the coast north of Nha Trang. Rare cases in the Mekong Delta. None in Da Nang, Haiphong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Nha Trang, and Qui Nhon. (more information)​

So, I would suggest instead using lots of mosquito guard (make sure you get the DEET stuff).

And if you do decide to take antimalarials then be aware of the side effects, particularly with doxycycline which has some unpleasant side effects, e.g. potentially limiting the effectiveness of the contraceptive pill, upset tummies, and yeast infections in women. A few things that could really screw up your honeymoon!

Anyway, definitely go see a travel doctor (they are generally more up to date on travel specific issues than GPs), tell them where you'll be going, and where you'll be staying. I'm on a month long trip in Asia right now and bought a medical kit from them which has turned out to be very useful.

And have a great honeymoon! What an amazing itinerary! Enjoy!

 

[codash1099]

I can only wish that the question had been worded differently. All possible kinds of answers went through my mind when I read the thread title.

Congratulations and enjoy yourselves!

 

[jujay]

Well, it really depends. jujay's strange recommendation that you take anti-malarials for a short stay in Ho Chi Minh City is a good reminder of why we should ignore medical advice from random internet users.

Wow. Just wow. If I'm a random Internet user then so are you and your advice should be ignored as well.

My advice was based on the fact that my doctor made the recommendation for when I went to Vietnam. Your post even mentions HCMC as one of the risk areas, so what gives??! Most medicines have potential side affects - I didn't have any problems with the ones you mentioned.

How about you just give your opinion without laying into other peoples posts?? Otherwise what's the point of having discussion forums in the first place, sheesh.

 

[ajca]

Read it carefully: "None in Da Nang, Haiphong, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Nha Trang, and Qui Nhon."