Wet Willy said...
How the hell did you manage to spend USD$1000 in 8 days in Vietnam????

Accomodation at Mui Ne starts at $6 a night, but you will be much more comfortable paying $10-$12. Then again if you want to break the bank there's places which charge anything from $20 up to $200.

Someone I knew stayed in a place that cost USD$10/night and found bed bugs in his mattress. So not advisable! I stayed at Sunshine Beach resort at USD 36/night, twin sharing is very reasonable.

Airticket from singapore: USD 220
Sunglasses: USD 70
Vietnam Funcup Race: USD 70
Accomodation: USD 126
Loads of food, drinks, shopping etc...I came back with more than USD100 left.

I'm not as "thrifty" as you.

fionzc said...

Wet Willy said...
How the hell did you manage to spend USD$1000 in 8 days in Vietnam????

Accomodation at Mui Ne starts at $6 a night, but you will be much more comfortable paying $10-$12. Then again if you want to break the bank there's places which charge anything from $20 up to $200.

Someone I knew stayed in a place that cost USD$10/night and found bed bugs in his mattress. So not advisable! I stayed at Sunshine Beach resort at USD 36/night, twin sharing is very reasonable.

Airticket from singapore: USD 220
Sunglasses: USD 70
Vietnam Funcup Race: USD 70
Accomodation: USD 126
Loads of food, drinks, shopping etc...I came back with more than USD100 left.

I'm not as "thrifty" as you.

Don't worry Fiona, NOBODY is as thrifty as me! Honestly, I stayed in several places, trying to find the ideal one, and they were ALL comfortable, spotlessly clean, and well-run. I would recommend all of them. Your friend who found the bedbugs must have been unlucky! And remember, $36 a night is a FORTUNE in Vietnam! You should get a royal suite at the Hilton for that! Do you get 3 times the value for 3 times the price? Maybe not! And if twin sharing at $36 a night is good, imagine twin sharing for $10 a night! You could stay forever!!

Let's look at your $1000 budget,... 220 + 70 + 70 + 126 = $486, and you came back with more than $100...you couldn't have spent more than $100 or so on food, so my guess is SHOPPING was your biggest expense! You're a Singapore girl, after all!

Going back next year?

Wet Willy said...

About Fiji...what's the absolute rock bottom price for accommodation? Backpacker places, homestay, etc? Just for information purposes, mind.

The Morrisson's used to provide backpacker accomodation on the same island, although I am not sure they still do. You would have to see if you can find their details and enquire. I think the rates were pretty cheap, but you would need to organise your own meals and transport.

There are other places on the same island that would also provide accomodation.

Richiefish said...

This info is great. Thanks all...I like the sound of Wet Willy World, in Vietnam, but the idea is to escape the frigid QLD winter, so Fiji also sounds good. ( thats assuming the Vietnam season is the same as summer here???)

Yeah, that's the problem. Vietnam is windy in the OZ summer. Last time I was in QLD was winter '07 and I froze my freaking @$$ off - eventually I had to bite the bullet and buy LONG PANTS, for God's sake! That's just not on!

See you in Fiji - provided the bank robbery goes as planned.

Rabs said...

Hey JP.
I hired from the Mistral/F2/North Centre on Bulabog beach. This is the main windsurf and kite beach and is only a 15 min walk form the touristy white beach. There are 2 other windsurf centres on this beach as well - a JP/Pryde Centre and a smaller Korean centre. I found the F2/North Centre better as it's the bigger centre and at the right end of the beach. Taking gear is tricky from Oz as you have to get another 30min connecting flight from Manilla which adds to the stresses...
I stayed at reef retreat which is a dedicated kite/windsurf lodge right by the F2/North Centre on Bulabog beach. www.reefretreatboracay.com. The guy that runs it is called Matt and is an english windsurfer and the place was comfortable with everything you need. Email him at reef.retreat@hotmail.com as he will know the score with the hire centres as we are techincally out of the windy season now. I would have thought they'd still be open and you never need to book anything.

ok rabs that's marcuss' place then the guy with a little half step..next time you might want to try out Horst Lauer's place or the jp/pryde besides the north kite centre(winnie's place) he offers discounts on one week usage and not a hard person to bargain with. i'd say reefretreat is a bit steep but you get what you pay for pretty soon the resort 7stones will open and i can only guess every move you make costs $$$'s..i usually stay at laguna de boracay at the opposite end...am trying to check out cuyo islands if you can google it- small group of islands between Panay and Palawan..2 windsurfing expats moved over there from the madness of Bora and is dirt cheap not exploited and from friends i talked to really flat water and 4.5 weather mostly during season since it's right smack in the middle of nowhere takes only 8hrs. to get there by boat and there happily just 2 pension houses for now

RAL INN said...

Wet Willy said...

Old Salty said...

Hey guys

I did the Safari in Fiji with Warren Last May. ....

Go back again? - damned right I would. I would go there now if I had the money...

http://www.kitebeaches.com/beach/nananu_i_ra.html

try this link, at the bottom of the page are 3 videos, sure their kiting ones but there is some shots of the windsurfers having a ball.
gives a great overview of the conditions and note the equipment rack.

Also take time to watch the reef run video, I'm doing that this year on a windsurfer.
5+ks of flat broad reach in 25-30kts. Heaven.

Here is a link to some pic's from my trip to Fiji last year - appologies in advance for the small sailing shots.

members.optusnet.com.au/~dmenegoni/

Would be going back again this year except for work commitments - I'll have to make it for 2 weeks next year!
The kiting RAL INN video above really highlights the laid back non-sailing time.

Beautiful Manly. Rose bay is delightful this time of year for light wind freestyle.

You live on a boat don't you Richie? I suppose a cruise up to the Whitsundays is out of the question?

Hey Richie, you live on a boat??? You da man!! Can you show us a photo?

here's a potential unexploited windsurf/kitesurfing spot i'll try to check out this weekend or next week depending on when the tropical storm hits our area...written by none other than an ozzie: ww1.tools4fools.info/Philippines/CuyoREPORT.html

Jericoacoara info
flights from $2250 (aero linhas) fly to Sao Paulo Brazil, then you need to get a domestic flight to Fortaleza (Tam or Goal) from around $400 one way. Next is the transfer Jericoacoara (4wd or bus) from around $60 one way. After after 32 hours you have arrived.

Hi Hendo

A lot has changed on the island recently..... I have been here for the past 18 years...

Nananu Lodge closed in March 2007, where you stayed. The big resort on the island (on my boundary) and where i stayed for the first 10 years also closed last November. Both these properties were bought by a Property developer from NZ. Not much has happened in respect to any progress with their development on the ground, apart from closing those two properties...so no changes yet..whew!.

Safari Lodge is on the windy beach and the safe beach, as it has a cross on-shore Wind direction. We have NEVER done a rescue in over 18 years of operation..not bad!!

We have also just opened anoter 20 beds bringing our total to 40 beds, in a variety of accommodation, from the original 3 year old Lodge, Beachfront Bure, Ocean View Villa, Mango Tree villa and funky Mango Tree Villa. The Mango Tree Villas are spoecifically for clients wanting to experience the simple life...share rooms and private rooms, but with a view to die for!! Wake up, roll over and check out the howling wind!

I'm not surprised your 5.0 was too big..i have a 4.2m rigged, actually i have 3.3m through to 7.0 rigged for guests, but often love a ride on the 4.2m

Our winds are between 15-25+ knots....so get ready for some FANTASTIC conditions!

Fiji is a lot warmer and windier than Sydney where i am from....during those winter months...

If you want Professional Windsurfing Instruction, it is available every day and specific Part Instruction (afternoon sessions) dedicated weeks are also available..come on over and improve your skills....

email me warren@safarilodge.com.fj or PM me if you have any queries..

Rgds

Warren Francis

I just got back from Fiji

Stayed at the pearl south pacific hotel, i did not expect to find much windsurfing equipment at the resort but they did have some gear. 2 x Naish Titans, 110 litre and a 141 litre with Naish sprint sails. The equipment was in good nic and they are looking at getting more equipment from what they said to me. The resort is about 2 1/2 hours south of Nadi. The first day there was about 15-20 knots SE which is perfect for flatwater. I wish there was a 7.5 sail there because it would of been perfect blasting.

Plenty of other stuff to do there when no wind - white water rafting, zip lining, reef snorkling and Frigates reef is directly 12 miles out for the surfers. There is a back packers not far from the hotel for eye candy for the singles!

GC MOZ

Sounds like alot of guys have been to Fiji for good flatwater sailing. Does anyone know where to go wavesailing in Fiji either on the mainland or one of the islands (apart from Namotu which is out of my pricerange)? Preferably somewhere with a resort for the rest of the family. Any decent wavesailing down at the Coral Coast which is easily accessable?

Any info greatly appreciated.

Hey Guys,

Check out the Neilson holidays

www.neilson.co.uk/beach/greece/cosmos-beachclub

This resort is in Greece, 499 pounds for two weeks, which is only about $1000 at the mo, includes return transfers to the UK.

So all you need is airfares to get to the UK!! My wifes been on one a few years ago and said it was awesome. Her Sister and family go every May. Warm, windy, and every type of sail and board you could want to use!!

Think we'll be flying to the Uk next year to visit the family, and come home via Greece!!

Does anyone know if there is any decent windsurfing spots in PNG?