Travel thoughts

Hi All SHC members

Just to share some thoughts of travel.

For those who love to travel and don’t have a companion, are they interested in joining some travel club for singles or small group travel that can take care of things like accomodation, flight fares. I’m asking this as for travel discounts, there must be twin sharing accomodation and 2 to go airfares etc. Sometimes one may want to travel at a short notice or is doing a F & E travel.

If I’m making a trip by myself I don’t mind cutting costs if a travel club can assist with matching travel plans of other members who are planning trips alone. Can SHC help in this aspect?

Regards

Joan

41 thoughts on “Travel thoughts”

  1. Hi Joan and everybody thinking of participating in the travel club,

    I have something to share. The travel industry is definitely a cut-throat business. With rising costs and lower margins to agents, especially with online bookings, rooms and flights offer little incentive to travel agents.

    Ticketing agents barely make SGD 10 per ticket in Singapore. In Thailand, the same group of agents make less than $5 per ticket. Sadly, tours are usually underpriced, resulting in tour guides having to take travellers shopping for diamonds and handbags.

    When the Travel Club idea was mooted, the discussions groups felt that some opportunities could be identified eg making some reasonable income to cover expenses. Perhaps, no viable solution has been identified. But, we should keep the ideas moving.

    Setting up a Travel Club was the intention, although I suspect the viability is debateable (right spelling?).

    As we can see from the activities, travel is an exciting and much desired activity for the SilverHairs community, as well as for SHCians. We all love to travel, at least before our legs decide not to move, or before our money box runs dry.

    So, I hope members with some ideas can give your opinion too.

    I also feel that, if there is no interest in running a travel club, maybe we can find a few friendly travel agents who could meet some of our needs. But, again margins are low, and reasonable volumes have to be met.

    Now, any members out there running a travel agent or travel business? Raise your hands, and we can chat. The agent representative should be a SHC member.

    Terence Seah

  2. No the margins are rich enough to support a fully sustainable operation.

    The difference is in the style of travel. Seniors travel is not the “7 day 12 countries” tour. In these tours, the local organiser pay out almost everything they make to the airline hotels, and overseas operators.

    Senior travel are typically free & easy to relatively much fewer locations. They are tied to a longer stay. A home away from home for some months in a year.

    Travel margins is better if the operator offers a turnkey package extending from travel to property management for relatively few select locations. It is like a retirement second home model. The operator organises it like a farmstay with transport. You can have beautiful inexpensive countryside homes with easy transport access to urban facilties. Best of both worlds. Cheap and good too.

    Three months out in an Asian country can reduce your living expenses by 30% without loss of stnadard of living. In fact, you may be enjoying a much better lifestyle. And don’t forget. Yuo could be earning a rental too on your existing vacant property.

    The operator can facilitate even the Singapore lodging so that yu can rent out your local property for longer term. We term book local accomodations for members. So coming back to Singapore can also be a holiday. A good example is in Ron Oz who came back to Singapore recently. Some members are already renting for local stay and travelling often. This is an ideal arrangement for them.

  3. Tim,

    Congratulations.

    You found your true calling. Escorting women around socially in Geylang.

    It’s time to leverage on your exceptional talent. Today Geylang. Tomorrow Patpong and SOHO. How about EO the travel bureau.

    There is paradise on earth. And you can help us to get there.

    Hee hee

  4. Have you views on whether there are opportunities for members to rent out their HDB or private apartments. I dont read so much of this on this forum, so I am unable to offer a view if renting out their apartments is an option.

    I guess renting out HDB or private apartments may not be an interesting or viable option for SilverHairs. Or is there a snag that we do not know. Perhaps, it is the HDB rules that is holding off this possibilty. Or maybe private apartments are already easily rented out by placing ads in the papers.

    Joan, my concern is the Travel Club may not have enough members to support its operation.

    Terence Seah

  5. Hi Terence and KT

    I agree. Travel is definitely something that members will do especially those who want a break or seniors who have the time before they can’t do so.

    KT may have a point that unless you are new to the place, you may want to take things easy and see the place again F & E. Then if cost can be cut down by long term stay instead of hopping about and trying to see too much in a short time may prove more expensive and tiring as well.

    If we look at travel clubs in various countries where SHC members, interested in acting as operators, can help to provide a service – that is locate or provide B & B type accomodation/self-contained homes/boarding homes/rooms where the owners may offer accomodation w/wo meals for a reasonable price below what is cahrged in hotels. That may be like below $100/day with meals and some sightseeing. Some owners may see that as a way of meeting other SHC members, making friends besides getting some small income.

    This may suit single travellers/couples/small family groups where their travel needs are met at lower costs charged by tour operators.

    Regards
    Joan

  6. One of the things which attracted me to SHC in the first place is that it is a unique social experiment. The premise is that things can start small and relatively unorganised purely by the social grouping of like minded people.

    This is true to some aspects as greatly emplified by SHC’s social events. But when it comes to more complex projects the old corporate management style works better.

    This should also be true for the Travel Club project. We should start it like any business. Provide special concessions for SHC and encourage members to participate in its equity and/or managment. Then it is open to outside investors, managers and participants.

    SHC itself cannot generate the escape velocity for most projects of this size and complexity. You either start well or not at all.

  7. Well said, KT .

    The key word : experiment.

    I was amazed to learn so much about human nature and behaviours from all walks of life and all levels of thinking at ground level in a short period of four months.

    How marvellous, enjoyable and wonderful !

    Make several good friends who are sincere, meaningful and helpful, especially those with common social, professional objectives and clear minded ones for continuing learning, sharing and beautiful fellowship.

    I am glad we make several excellent friendships, including strangers who are non SHCians who patronised at the flea market; and some younger and much younger ones whom I met at Scorebot during and outside SHC events.

    For me, it is both learning experiment and experience beyond textbooks, real life first hand, without inhibitions.

    Cheers,

  8. KT at #6, 2nd para

    May I add, established and generally accepted (not old) corporate management styles and platform would be effective and efficient.

    : ))

  9. A @38

    Aiyah…

    Old is old-lah. What is not new is old.

    Accept aging with grace. Like we were virgins once. Believe it or not. But no more.

    Alas. You are right but sad. Say but no one hear. Back to shaking the old durian tree. What falls may hurt you and not good to eat.

  11. KT

    Good ripe durians must fall naturally in seasons.

    Those plucked by moneys are not ripe and not eatable as fresh.

    Go to the Durian Trail at Bt Timah / Rifle Range one early morning you would able to pick some of both sorts : natural and artificially plucked (by monkeys).

  12. Hi All

    How ideas flow! Amazing!

    My thoughts on a Travel Club involving SHC is that SHC members keen on travel can besides travel also engage in some sort of enterprise themselves. It can be done personally, on a small scale or by like-minded members who want to take it on as a business. maybe KT, you may want to start a business then.

    Personally I feel that members who just want to see places with the help of people living there can benefit if they know who to contact. I can be a contact person for Perth. All we then need are contact persons all over eg Thailand, Melbourne,Vietnam etc.

    joan

  13. Hi Guys(means every member regardless of sex )
    This is my 1st posting SHC Question for Joan …what is F & E?
    To start a new Biz just for travel club is not viable…better to cnx with a travel agency who is interested to support the travel club project…perhaps myself.I am a BIZ trvl specialist whose company is GSA (wholesaler of sorts) for 4 minor airlines ie Vietnam Airlines,Royal Jordanian Airlines,Kenyan Airways and Kuwait Airways.I also help people when they run into trouble waitlist closed,get a lower booking class and save money for travelers eg $200 saving diff btwn E and Y class (both economy class ) on HKG sector.How do members feel when a travel agency gets best genuine wholesale prices and makes SID$30 for regional trips and SID$50 for long trips.From their hotel comms they make 5% comm giving members back 5%(usually). I have a basic concept that might work but needs further research and discussion.For example SQ has GV2(Grp of 2) and GV4 fares and members post on “TRAVELMATE” internet bulletin board their intention to travel on a particular date with a tentative return date but return date to be negotiable btwn parties involved.Discounts can be split btwn travelers and agency…need to keep something for SHC as well?(terence pls input)Hotels may be tricky problem if different sex travelers. Another
    problem… should they behave as traveling companions or each do their own thing when they arrive meet only on return flight.There
    are numerous other problems like change of schedule as GV2 n GV4 means they have to travel to and fro together.If one member wants to change all parties affected. Would like to work closely with airlines like TG
    (Thai Intl) with interesting fares like SID
    $211 (inclusive of my $30 profit)to BKK (return YE fare )…taxes plus SID$151.TG has a flat fare with no extra for traveling together…have to negotiate whether they want to give extra discount to support this prog.I hope I have thrown the 1st ball in the SHC for further discussion…will make strong effort to be at Han ‘s on 17Apr for in person discusionsIn the meantime keep my HP nbr 93833883 email insiders111
    Should anybody run into problems call me or if they want to compare prices I will mark up $30-$50 as mentioned earlier.Check our bottoms oops bottom-lines…just being cheeky(hope I am not out-of-line with my brand of bawdy humour…Terence pls censure me if this is too much for genteel SHC members who might have gone to sleep reading my long-winded debut posting).The floor is open for a new round of discussions on the internet and at Hans.Have fun and stay young
    (at least in the heart)
    fellow SHC members. I leave you with this quote by Kahil GIbran “Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot help but keep it from themselves”
    Best regards

    Patrick Khoo

  14. (Thank-you. This is a complete quote from Patrick Khoo. He has made a signature contribution to the Travel Club in his first submission. It has a great offer on the fly that even Ter missed. Forgive us, Pat. For age has blunt the foggy edge. But some of us do read before we shoot our machine mouths. Hee hee

    You’re ON!!! Let’s arrange to meet.

    Due to the well loved high tech nature of this forum, it is unreadable. So I re-formatted it here to make it more readable.)

    ————- QUOTE from Patrick Khoo —————

    Hi Guys(means every member regardless of sex )

    This is my 1st posting SHC Question for Joan

    What is F & E? To start a new Biz just for travel club is not viable. Better to cnx with a travel agency who is interested to support the travel club project…perhaps myself.

    I am a BIZ trvl specialist whose company is GSA (wholesaler of sorts) for 4 minor airlines ie Vietnam Airlines,Royal Jordanian Airlines,Kenyan Airways and Kuwait Airways.

    I also help people when they run into trouble waitlist closed,get a lower booking class and save money for travelers eg $200 saving diff btwn E and Y class (both economy class ) on HKG sector.

    How do members feel when a travel agency gets best genuine wholesale prices and makes SID$30 for regional trips and SID$50 for long trips.From their hotel comms they make 5% comm giving members back 5%(usually).

    I have a basic concept that might work but needs further research and discussion.
    For example

    1. SQ has GV2(Grp of 2) and GV4 fares and members post on “TRAVELMATE” internet bulletin board their intention to travel on a particular date with a tentative return date but return date to be negotiable btwn parties involved.

    2. Discounts can be split btwn travelers and agency…need to keep something for SHC as well?(terence pls input)

    3. Hotels may be tricky problem if different sex travelers. Another problem… should they behave as traveling companions or each do their own thing when they arrive meet only on return flight.

    4. There are numerous other problems like change of schedule as GV2 n GV4 means they have to travel to and fro together.If one member wants to change all parties affected. Would like to work closely with airlines like TG (Thai Intl) with interesting fares like SID $211 (inclusive of my $30 profit)to BKK (return YE fare )…taxes plus SID$151.TG has a flat fare with no extra for traveling together…have to negotiate whether they want to give extra discount to support this prog.

    I hope I have thrown the 1st ball in the SHC for further discussion…will make strong effort to be at Han ’s on 17Apr for in person discussions

    In the meantime keep my HP nbr 93833883 email insiders111 Should anybody run into problems call me or if they want to compare prices I will mark up $30-$50 as mentioned earlier.Check our bottoms oops bottom-lines…just being cheeky(hope I am not out-of-line with my brand of bawdy humour…

    Terence pls censure me if this is too much for genteel SHC members who might have gone to sleep reading my long-winded debut posting).The floor is open for a new round of discussions on the internet and at Hans.

    Have fun and stay young (at least in the heart) fellow SHC members. I leave you with this quote by Kahil GIbran

    “Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others cannot help but keep it from themselves”

    Best regards

    Patrick Khoo

  15. Hi Patrick

    A lot to read but very enlightening. I’m sure that there will be further comments and queries.

    Answer to Qn for me. F & E refers to free and easy (travel.

    Regards

  16. A travel club is a good idea. We can organise mini tours and gauge the response. Any suggestions on place to visit? I understand that some members drove up to Malaysia.. perhaps we can do this on a SHC basis. Need a co-ordinator for this task. Count me in. I’m keen.

    Regards.

  17. Hi Patrick, think you can arrange for a nature/trekking trip to Bandung Indonesia for the Labour Day long weekend? Am interested, and looking for travelmates as well.

  18. Hi

    Anyone organising sightseeing/golf trip (beginers) to a nearby cool place in Malaysia highlands eg Awana/Camerons in May. If so and I’m around, I may join in.

    Joan

  19. Ann Girl,

    Please ctc me.
    or direct email insiders111@yahoo.com.sg
    or better still in person at Han’s Cafe on 17Apr from 4pm onwards
    I am not a Bandung specialist but could
    put air fare segment and hotel together for
    you.Anything more personalised ref trek details can research and put together if required in conjunction with Indonesian travel ctcs.
    Suggest u monitor response from SHC website or garner support from fellow SHC members.Recommend minimum 2 to travel(can share room ) but ideally 4 would be better
    (safety reasons )Need further discussion
    as to your specific requirements.Will mark up $30 on air fare segment and give 5% hotel comm back for SHC members only.
    Regards
    Patrick Khoo

  20. I would be prepared to do part national service part low profit of $20 per head for air fare segment and avoid/minimise the standard tourist traps for shopping by following personalised and not standard tours eg in places like Bali,Phuket, and Bangkok.Agreed discounts can be given for hotels,cruises etc.Will SHC members be prepared to pay this low premium of $20 for good service when tours are available of $5-$10 mark up. Good service
    would mean better seats on flight and better info/tips being given to participants.If SHC members are interested inquiries can be made through forum and I respond by planning itinerary for group with 2 formats …independant with no tour leader and a larger group with Singapore Tour Leader included but structure of costs/pricing to be agreed beforehand with all the cards laid out on the table(at least for SHC founders to agree before going ahead.I will stipulate minimum head count before group can proceed
    or do separate costing for Grp of 2, Grp of 4 and minimum large Group size.Food for thought for further discussions at Hans or forum pages! Hope nobody gets indigestion from my very direct and blunt posting.To be assured of good prices we can start with Vietnam (Hanoi and / or Ho Chi Minh City )
    tour on Vietnam Airlines(assured of best wholesale prices ) with emphasis on golf or otherwise. By good service on seats means we try to avoid getting dumped with seats at the back of aircraft which is typical of standard tours.Hope SHC members have enough to chew on before we meet on 17 Apr.
    Regards, Patrick Khoo

  21. Hi Patrick Khoo,

    Your post is very timely.

    I am very INTERESTED to go on packaged tourist tour to South Vietnam, Ho Chi Ming City ( Saigon ) but with good service would mean better seats on flight and better info/tips being given to participants and a Singapore Tour Leader to see to our needs.

    I want less of shopping but more on
    cruises,places of interest and with a few cultural performances.

    Would also like to visit a bamboo lacquered factory, in-laid mother of pearl furniture factory ,porcelain factory and to see Vietnamese wood craftmanship.

    Also to the famous Chu chu tunnels.

    However, the weather is impt too.

    Heavy stormy monsoon during certain periodswith typhoon.

    I do not want to go on a wet drenched tour.

    Pls.let me and other SHCians know more if there is such a tour and when.

    Would appreciate if held during school holidays.

    Anyone join me ?

    Thank you.

  22. Hi Patrick

    Like to post three suggested programmes:

    a) sight seeing cum “some shopping”, b) sight seeing cum factory (value for money shopping and economics for investing activities ) visits and c) sight seeing, shopping and golf.

    Cheers,

  23. Hi Patrick at 21,

    To add on:-

    (i) Tourist class Hotel preferably on high floors shd be near tourist district. Away from noisy railway stns and nearby constructn piling works

    (ii) Extended stay of 3 or more nights to be arranged to explore more of Saigon city using same hotel or other hotels of same class.

    (iii) English speaking guide to be included. I do not understd. Mandarin.

    (iv) Budget airline but not at an unearthly hr like 3 am in the morning.

    Better go now to see the “OLD CHARM” Vietnam before it becomes too developed.

    Thanks and looking forward to your reply.

  24. Hi Patrick,

    I don’t mind Vietnam also – where it’s cool weather but I have restricted travel time only as I’m passing through S’pore. I’m looking at between 21 – 26 May.

    I would like it to be just 4 days with sightseeing, factory visits and golf if possible. If you can arrange some trips around those dates, post them on SHC. Sorry, can’t meet you in Apr.

    Regards
    Joan

  26. Hi Steven Chan, About that trip to Vietnam. How many members do you think will be interested to travel on a free and easy trip to Ho Chi Minh City, taking a bus or rail up to Danang, Hue etc and then up to Hanoi and perhaps Sapa in north Vietnam. Since I do not know much about Vietnam, the trip should be flexible and cover perhaps 2 weeks. All participants shoud be similarly minded as to travel arrangements, food, and accomodation. All decisions will be democratic and the group should spend some time ‘fleshing’ out the details and group travel philosophy to understand each other. This is something similar to an earlier bag-packing trip to Europe by Terence and some other members.

    Another approach would be to travel up in a small convoy to Malaysia, free and easy style, no pre-booking of accomodations, just an agreement to reach a certain destination, eg KL, Penang, or Kuantan. K Trengganu etc and an agreed return date to Sgp. What activities we do depends on our enquiries when we arrive. I am very sure Malaysia has enough malls, discos, bars, restaurants, beaches etc to occupy ourselves. Are there enough members interested at this point?

  27. Attn Ann Girl
    Checked for u the way to go to Bandung(BDO)
    SIN/Bataam( by ferry 45 mins )
    Take Merpati Airlines 90 mins flt from Bataam/BDO
    Price inclusive ferry/flt is $270 plus $30 Deks Air svc chg plus $78 taxes . TTL retail at $378
    Holiday Inn at approx $100 per room night.
    There are other reasonably priced htls at better rate.
    Tour as per customer specifications.
    Hope this will help start the ball rolling to make it 2 or 4 pax.
    Good Luck

    Attn Joan
    Recommend u check my website for tour details at http://www.deksair.com under Singapore under tour package.If u are Singaporean dont need visa.If holding AUS p/p normal application takes 6 work days and costs $70.For urgent it takes 4 days at $100.I personally recommend the F&E package at Royal Pearl Hotel at $430 for 3N/2D n $115 for extra nite.It includes rt airfare on Vietnam Airlines(VN),2 way transfers,2 night’s accomodation plus breakfast.Package is based on minimum 2 to Go or GV2.Tailored packages can be customised to suit yr needs…chk our website for some ideas.Fuel surcharge and visa if required on are calculated separately
    P.S. fuel increase effective 23Apr dep onwards From $125 to $140.If u are not in a hurry suggest u wait till 26Sep-31Oct period for my response to Steven Chan’s inquiry.If u want to go now drop me an email wif dates and full names.

    Attn Steven Chan
    School hols for Vietnam are a no no where prices are concerned due super peak season ie super duper prices Ugh!Vietnam weather is opposite of East Coast of West Malaysia and more Like Bangkok and Penang(wet mths in Jul)
    Recommend 26Sep to 31Oct (return date at the latest )to take advantage of low season rates .
    Suggest 7 day tour to plan with.I will plan for 16 tour participants than u get me as the baby sitter(tour escort) free or target for 30 participants.The airline deal is 15 pax plus tour guide but I snore very badly so it’s sheer torture for person to share room with me…not fair on the person! There is a public holiday on 01 Oct …u may want to plan around that.A recommended hotel is Zephyr in Hanoi.Obviously best deal on Vietnam Airlines as we are wholesalers for VN plus preferential seating except for 1st row unless no V.I.Ps on board that particular flight.Check our website for some ideas or u can get interest and form a committee to decide where to go leaving golfers time to do their thing.There is a top class 54 hole challenging golf course in Hanoi that golfers would be in cloud 9 at the thought of playing there…but be warned prices are high!I suggest we work on the target date 1st and take it from there.Will provide costing for smaller nbrs if grp size of insufficient strength so original people not disappointed.

    Attn Mary Tan
    Sorry to hear about yr dad . Hope he recovers soon!Just a gist on yr trip .Checked flts for that day quite empty…no need to buy ticket from me…Go to counter n buy shuttle tickets on standby basis but no need to fear…can help u on MH if u run into problems adult at S$115 n child at S$77.Avis rent-a-car pick up K.L. airport drop off at Senai airport in J.B….will give advice on how to get to Singapore.Categoies include Honda city (1.5 L)
    ,Toyota Altis (1.6 L) and Honda Civic (1.8 L).Hotel recommended called Coronade (next to Lot 10 at Bukit Bintang…very central…walking dustance to various amenities and good food…special recommendation…Tom Yam
    .
    In my next post I will give free advice on info required to do formal booking accurately 5 W’s Who When Where etc

    Hope this info will do for the time being until Thursday at Hans…bring your name cards n prepare your questions…fully prepared for grilling and interrogation and 3rd degree etc
    Looking fowaard to have fun with u Guys(not forgetting the ladies as well!)

  29. Thanks Patrick re tour to N and S Vietnam
    …(wet mths in Jul)

    Recommend 26Sep to 31Oct ) OK. Can you pls update me of the suitable itinerary as shown below ?

    My needs :-
    I like a conducted 3 or 4 days GROUP tour to North Vietnam cum 3 or 4days to South Vietnam and have my EXTENDED 2 or 3 nights stay in the hotels around Ho Chi Ming ( Saigon ) city for Free and Easy.

    Are this kind of itinerary offered by your company?

    OR Hi Charles Chua at #26 came up with a GOOD suggestion F n E tours.

    …How many members do you think will be interested to travel on a free and easy trip to Ho Chi Minh City, taking a bus or rail up to Danang, Hue etc and then up to Hanoi and perhaps Sapa in north Vietnam. Since I do not know much about Vietnam, the trip should be flexible and cover perhaps 2 weeks.

    Bag packing trip?

    Sounds a v.good idea for SHCians.Like what Terence,Ann Giri and others went on the FnE trip around Europe.

    However, I am v. sorry I cannot join you.
    I had a slipped disc many yrs.ago due to carry too many heavy dragon pots during gardening in my younger days and my doc had warned me not to carry heavy items over a period of time or must inform the masseur to be careful when massaging my lower back.

    I had no hoice but to opt for GROUP conducted tours 2 or 3 nights exploring the city leaving all my heavy luggages at the hotel.

    For those who are able bodied without any slipped disc, here is a golden opportunity and I would strongly recommend you to join this kind of more ADVENTUROUS and FUN SHC tour.

    Don’t wait until you are 70 when you can hardly walk for long distances or have someone to push you on your wheel chair.

    Scary isn’t it ?

  30. Hahaha!

    You guys!! It’s “back” not “bag” packing!

    Just a short observation: Vietnam’s no longer “free and easy”: What I mean is that it’s no longer cheap. With the rising costs and rapid development, Ho Chi Minh and even Hanoi are no longer budget travel destinations. A hotel rate of $115 or more per night, food costs as high as
    Singapore’s, and tours quoted in US$$$!!

    But, of course, it’s no longer backpacking… it’s golf, casino, fine dining… with the ladies doing the bag packing!

  31. Ya Kenneth, it’s the wives who do the “bag packing” while the guys enjoy themselves. ;-)

    As for me, no backpacking travels. At my age, I prefer to travel with a certain amount of comfort and luxury. Not being ‘snooty’ but I’ve done my share of bag dragging and carrying when my girls were growing up.

  34. I am still trying to target for 4pm but likely to be delayed till 5pm for Hans on 17th Apr as my Chairman from HKG is in town.

    Attn Joan if u have a specific date in mind and names of travellers and specific city drop me an email as I don’t know how to reach U.Hope u have 2 to go…interesting price differential!

    Here’s some tips on how to make a
    reservation eg Joan I know window of travel(21May to 26 May) but I dont know exact date u want,which city in Vietnam,Your name as in passport…sorry Joan I am using u as an example to make my point…Hope u don’t mind being my travel model on the net.So here goes!

    1) WHO? Name/names as in passport …surname 1st with a stroke after surname /
    For reconfirmation follow as written on the ticket.State title eg Mr/Ms?madam ? If have children below 12 years old on date of departure flight please specify ages and sex

    2)WHEN? Date / Time
    When U communicate do not just refer to day of the week but specify date .
    Return Date(if return is open dated please push for tentative return date for protective reservations in case flights are full.
    3) WHERE? Actual destination/Actual City/Actual District(if large city like New York eg if client wants to go to Manhatten …no point in landing at JFK airport and cut across downtown facing traffic jams when U can land at nearer airport like La Guardia
    when U have a choice.However sometimes U have no choice!(Check with travel agent if visa required and that passport has more than 6 months validity(9 months safer)and that U have empty pages left for stamping.
    4) WHICH?
    Preferred airline,Flight number if known and class of travel
    5)WHAT? Contact handphone number( home number …optional )…if hotel provide room number… email address

    Any special services required?
    seat request,waiver of excess baggage on request basis,any special meals or meal allergies.Make sure U are briefed by your travel agent regarding which terminal u are departing from and row nbr if known beforehand eg KUL flights , Business class counter for Singapore Airlines

    If booking is done on the phone imperative that U RECAP in full.Mention alphabets in country or Army style eg A for “America” or A for “Able”Verification in full would give U a chance to spot each other’s mistakes should they arise.
    Take note of P.N.R (passenger name record )or computer reference number for easy recall when speaking to airlines direct.

    I will share with U a freebie travel tip…photostat 4 copies of your passport of the relevant pages ie where photo and passport details are…1 copy for family members,1 copy for secretary or fellow office colleague,2 copies with U …1 copy to leave in hotel room and 1 copy U carry with U.If U are computer savvy and have the right equipment store in thumb drive or computer.

    Hope this will help SHC members when they do bookings or plan trips with me or anybody else.

    Regards Patrick Khoo

  36. Hi Patrick

    It’s OK as it makes reading more understandable. Thanks for the info.

    I have a short stay only in S’pore this time and don’t really want to rush around – time now is to meet friends and take life easy.

    As I make it a point to travel to new places whenever I can and more often than not, I make plans alone and see who wants to join up, it gives me the freedom and also allows other people to do likewise.

    Cheers to you n your future plans.

    Joan

  37. Breaking News…more like heart breaking news!
    We have been forewarned …air fares remain the same but hotel room rates will increase in October
    School holidays end 07sep.
    Suggest we plan a departure in the window from 08Sep to 30Sep and avoid October as well.
    Attn Steven Tan pls provide email and hp nbr so I can contact u directly to plan initial .itinerary .When a Grp committee is formed
    they can oversee or endorse the plans and make adjustments and recommendations

    Attn Joan call me on Hp when u and hubby are in town …can pass u some sample itineraries and costing or just plain general advice…thanks for not throwing your shoe at me for using U as an example
    FYI(for your info…SHC members
    Hotel rates in SGN(Ho Chi Minh city )
    Budget hotel at
    $55 per TWNB(2 single beds ) or DBLB (one large big bed for 2 people )per night at retail Prices…Standard …something like First hotel in BKK …OK but poor maintenance.
    $115 per TWNB/DBLB at Royal Pearl at retail prices…suitable for 2 ladies travelling together.
    HANOI
    Budget hotels at $85 per DBLB/TWNB per night at Heritage , Saigon, Sunny or Thien Thai
    $120 at Zephyr hotel per DBLB/TWNB per night
    at retail prices …suitable for 2 ladies travelling together
    My Group fares need to be revised as follows mark up $20 from nett on air fare segment. No discount on Hotels(previous offer of 5 % now rescinded declared as null and avoid from today onwards.
    Star Cruises 3% discount for SHC members (if group is large enough …can try for 5%
    Royal Caribbean and other cruises at 5% discount (subject to confirmation).
    See some of U at Han’s today!

  38. Patrick, can u organise a short trip to Malaysia to kick start the travel club? Do it during one of the off peak weekends in May or June. Perhaps we should avoid the public holidays or school holidays?

  39. Hi Lydia Chin ref Malaysia break.The possible places are Malacca alone or Malacca ( for those who cook or like to eat I know where to buy the best belachan and gula melaka )with Johore,Genting alone or Genting with Kuala Lumpur and Trengganu with towns on the east coast of Malaysia like Mersing(nothing much),Cherating, Kuantan.(east coast trip to be avoided in last quarter due to monsoons and attendent flooding). I would like to engage the SHC community in a forum discussion and conduct a survey as to the availability of volunteer drivers for these Malaysian trips on a “free ride” concept for the drivers in lieu of wear and tear ie the 3 remaining participants in the car pay for all toll charges and petrol consumption incurred during the trip including full tank top up before returning to Singapore.Need feedback on this plan{not original ) from both drivers and participants whether this is a fair arrangement for all parties concerned.For bigger cars is 1 driver and 4 participants too crammed and inconvenient?
    The driver also has final say on who goes in his car.Lady drivers are welcome …especially for useless men (can’t drive ) like myself but we make good navigators especially on “bumpy roads”.I am treading on thin ice by threading this post but If I am going to get shot by Terrance again I will request the right to the form of punishment to be spanking by somebody graceful like Grace Wong ( I am sure she will do it gently…typical of her )Grace do pardon me for getting u involved in this scandal.I truly believe Grace is a good example of the “beautiful”(in heart and otherwise ) people we get to meet in SHC activities.See u guys especially Steven Chan at Dan Hwang’s bowling do on Saturday ( 4 lanes from 4.00 to 7.00pm )at Home Team NS-JOM(junior Officers’s Mess ) Clubhouse at 31 Ah Hood road off Balestier road at member’s price of $2.60 per game.Free amateur coaching and tips will be provided for the rookies but be warned I am a lousy bowler.For those who like swimming let Dan know …perhaps he can arrange swimming/bowling together the next time!(we like to keep the men Happy! Ha! Ha! Ha! Please bring a lot of $1 coins …I will explain when we meet…strictly on volunteer and willing party basis to add some excitement to the occasion.For the lost lambs who can’t find the place the nbr is 64782506.Hope to see more of u there.P.S. Grace if u are coming I will buy u a drink by way of apology for dragging your name in mud!

  40. I might be doing a recce trip to Ho Chi Minh
    city …leaving on sunday.i will make it a point to review the current standard tours
    done by my office and will also look into the places Steven Chan has mentioned previously.The costing for the 2 main cities is already $600 plus without tours so
    I will likely skip Hanoi and target Ho Chih Minh city alone due to budget constraints.Steven Chan I need to discuss in detail with u regarding tentative dates from 08Sep to end Oct..are u going to Scorebot tonight?Any SHC members have any places to recommend on eating places ,spa locations ,karaoke lounges, hotels, shopping places etc let me know n i will check them out.I will also try to take some pictures with a borrowed camera.Best Regards,
    Patrick Khoo

  41. Hi Patrick Khoo,
    I wil not be going to square box tonight. I had Yoga class at Boon lay CC.

    I will revert to you soon.Need to check calendar.
    Thanks for helping.

    SC

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