Doing it on the Cheap

I am married to a man that has never been to the third world and the idea of doing so gives him hives.  I on the older hand have slept in the dirt, in a hut, in the bush in Africa.  I go with the flow, hubby not so much.  So how do you travel 5 star on a 3 star budget????

Someone asked me to post my secrets of traveling in style but on a serious budget.  Let's be real, we would all like to think traveling to the land of Lo Mein and giant walls would be cheap (they are a third world country after all), but alas it's not!

So let's break it down.  The normal budget given to a family by an adoption/travel group for two adults and one child coming home is close to $10,500... SAY WHAT?

Not let's take a moment and see what all that includes.  International flights, translation, hotel, driver, in-country flights, and.... well that is about it.  Yeah that is all you get for a freaking lot of money.  Now grant it you have to be in country for 12-15 days to get your kid, but seriously??? I went to Africa TWICE for 6 weeks and spent less than $8000.  Though we must remember for $10,500 you also get to see this...

Oh WAIT... no you don't, that will be an extra $150!!!

So how do you get to china, get your kid, see the wall, and actually have money left to eat and do it all for LESS than $9000... well!

I'll break it down for you.

1.  Get an amazing guy named Todd to get you a killer deal on airfare.  $4000 for all three of you including your child's one way ticket home (which can be crazy expensive)... all NON-STOP by the way on a kick ass airline!  Oh and did I mention this is in the Premium Economy Section... oh yeah!!! Living it up!  Who needs business class...

2.  Stay at a world renowned hostel in Beijing where you can get a private room and bath but still get to meet amazing people from all over the world.  We are spending most of our time in China here.  It's $90/night and you get free breakfast and a Kung Fu lesson each day!  Keep in mind most people are spending on average $150/night on their hotel... And their hotel does NOT look like this at night!

3.  Don't go with the agency guide.  Our agency charges $2400 for two adults (your kid is extra) for two weeks in China.  This fee includes adoption paperwork, driving you around, airport pick-up/drop-off, and "if" they have time a little touring in your child's province.  Instead pay only $1000 for your agency to have a guide meet you at the adoption locations and do all your paperwork.  Hire your own drive for 1/4 the cost, who will get you to all appointments, take you shopping, and touring to your hearts content... we are using this guy!  His name is Ping and for $75/day he will drive you anywhere you want to go including the giant wall, and he speaks English... SCORE!

4.  Don't take in-country flights.  Sadly the US only has one consulate in China that can do adoption visas, so if your child is say in Beijing, you must fly to Guangzhou, China to get their visa.  So instead of paying $900 for in-country flights... we are taking the TRAIN!

Oh yes you read it right.  We are taking an overnight train, 22 hours to be exact.  It will cost us $425 and save us a night in a hotel... for a grand savings of roughly $600!!!

On this train we will have a sleeper cabin to ourselves... yup we are buying the fourth bed so we don't end up with a chain smoking chinese dude!

And there is a restaurant car...

You know that food will give me the runs, so I will be eating this....

Plus as a bonus, if our son still likes us and Steve hasn't filed for divorce by the time we arrive in GZ, then damn, we might just make it!

5.  Once you hit your final destination the lovely Guangzhou, China, the final stop, the big kahuna, don't stay at the Garden for $160/night.  Yes it is beautiful, yes it is 5 stars, but come on do you really need that, you just adopted a child dying in an orphanage, this is not the time to show off.  Instead stay a few km away at the Victory Hotel.  It is $80/night for a suite with breakfast included and roof top pool.

Look how pretty it is...

6.  Get Todd you get you great plane tickets that will allow you to leave straight from GZ.  A lot of people take a van to Hong Kong to leave China cause they think it is cheaper.  The van costs $300 then add another $200 for a hotel room... So NOT worth the cost.  Instead fly home from GZ with a layover in Beijing or HKG.  It will save you money I promise...

So those are my main secrets.  Book your travel by yourself.  Don't let the agency do it.  They will RIP you off!  Also did I mention for this price my husband and I are touring around Hong Kong for three days.  We are staying in a harbor front room on Kowloon Island and hitting all the major spots before we head to Beijing to get our son.  Agency says this little "side trip" would set us back $2000 NOT including food... guess how much we are doing it for $850, and yes you guessed it food's included!