We stopped in Iceland on our way to Italy in October 2017 to explore further outside of Reykjavik. The original plan was to see the Snæfellsnes Peninsula, but it rained constantly for two days, which made it hard to see much of the scenery as we were driving.  Thus, we gave up on the Peninsula & toured the Reykjanes Geopark instead. The rental car and the lodgings cost under $400 for 3 nights. Meals are expensive in Iceland. You can find $20-30 per person meals if you look. Beer and wine are very expensive.

Day 1: Flew WOW Air from LAX($199pp/one way) to Reykjavik(KEF) and rented a car from Sixt($125 for 3 days/automatic compact). Drove 90 minutes NE to Akranes, a fishing village. Airbnb studio($115).

Day 2: Drove 30 minutes to Borganes & visited the Settlement Center Museum. Due to the heavy rain, we headed back to the city. Airbnb room in a wonderful house right outside of Reykjavik($95).

Day 3: Drove 45 minutes to Reykjanes Peninsula; visited Kleifarvatn Lake and the Geopark. Airbnb room in a house in Sandgerdi($65).

Day 4: Flew to London on British Air($65pp/one way)

 

This trip was in December 2017 before our SE Asia cruise on the Celebrity Millenium.  The cruise started in Singapore & ended in Hong Kong. With two couples traveling together, the total cost per person was about $700 + meals for 6 nights/7 days. We could have a great meal for $20 for the two of us, including beer and tea. Hotel prices included breakfast. If we had two more days, we would have gone to Inle Lake. According to our guide, flying would have been the best way to get there. Maybe next time.

Day 1: Hong Kong to Mandalay: Myanmar National Airline; 3 hours, around US$220pp. Two nights at Ayarwaddy River View Hotel($65/night)

Day 2: tour with a guide/driver($95 for the day)

Day 3: drove to Bagan: 4 hours, guide/car($150)  Two nights at The Regency Hotel in Nyaung-U near the bus depot($57/night)

Day 4: tour with a guide/driver($90 for the day)

Day 5: Air KZB to Yangon; 1.5 hours, around $80pp   Two nights at a two-bedroom house near the U.S. Embassy – found on Airbnb($50/night)

Day 6: self-guided tour using taxi($2 to $5 per trip)

Day 7: Jet Asia to Singapore; about 4 hours, about $100pp

 

This trip was in December 2017 after our SE Asia cruise on the Celebrity Millenium.  The cruise began  in Singapore & ended in Hong Kong. The total cost per person for the 6 nights/7 days trip was about $430+meals. We could have a nice meal for $20 for the two of us, including drinks.

Day 1: Hong Kong to Guangzhou: by train from Hunghom Station; 2 hours, around US$30pp. Airbnb studio apartment near Gongyuanqian Station($57)

Day 2: Guangzhou to Yangshuo: by train from Guangzhou South Station; 2 hours, around US$20pp. Pick up service from Yangshuo Station was 100 Yuan per car. Two nights in an Airbnb studio($32/night)   [blog link]

Day 3: bike tour of the villages along the Yulong River(guide+bike, about $40pp)and the Liu San Jie Impression Light Show (about $35pp for pick up service+ticket)

Day 4: Yangshuo to Guilin: We were dropped off in Guilin after a tour of the Rice Terrace (guide+driver, about $125pp). Two nights at the Lakeside Inn near the Central Plaza ($52/night)

Day 5: Walked around Guilin.     [Guilin blog link]

Day 6: Guilin to Shenzhen: train from Guilin North to Shenzhen North; 3.5 hours, around $30. Airbnb studio apartment near the Convention Center($57)

Day 7: Shenzhen to Hong Kong: taxi to Futian border crossing(10 minutes, $2)  walked through the border control on both sides(about 30-40 minutes total), then got on Hong Kong MTR to go to the airport(70 minutes)