How to grab Halong Bay cruises deals

While planning for a tour to Vietnam, you will come across many Halong Bay cruises deals. There are actually so many in the market that each tour operator claims to offer something or the other exclusive. And, you are bound to get confused about which are the good Halong Bay cruises and which tours are right for you.

To find this out, you would have to do some research in the market. It is advisable to book the cruise in advance before you actually reach in advance. As internet has made life simpler, you can check the details of the operators and just call them to know the prices. When you have called a few, you will know the difference in amenities and price. Do look for websites that offer travelers feedback and genuine reviews. The decision will be a lot easier then.

What to expect

Now the question is how to decide which cruise deal is the best for you? Whether you will be in for a win or for a loss? If you consult a Vietnam travel agent or just ask the hotel reception desk about what is the difference between the various cruises to Ha Long Bay, what they will tell you will confuse the same: the more expensive it is, the better the boat and the better the food. But how different are they and what's going to suit you and your budget?

You should not be surprised to know that the tours have some common features. They all start and come back to Hanoi at approximately the same time. They take a stopover at souvenir shops, restaurants and cafes for breaks. The meals include two breakfast, lunch and dinner. All have beds for night accommodation, kayaking tours,visit caves and offer swimming excursions.

The cabins across the various range of boats are almost similar in size. Rooms are not very spacious but are sufficient for a night stay. The windows are large to give you a sufficient view of the sea. The compact bathrooms offer shower cubicles, rain shower and not just wet room as in budget cases.

Some difference that one may come across is in meals. The food varies across the three boats. On a budget boat, the food that you will be served with will be just to fill your stomach and would not match gastronomy. While, on the premium and luxury boats, you would get exotic cuisine with best presentation However, drinks can be really expensive there.

So choice is yours to decide which of the tour is good Halong Bay cruise for you. 

The best Halong and Sapa tour guides

Halong Bay, the World Heritage seascape that is surrounded by mighty limestone pinnacles, is one of the most popular tourist destinations of Vietnam. Indeed, the best way to take a tour of the Bay is on a cruise. Halong tour guides are everywhere in Hanoi and they have a tour to sell as per your budget and aspirations.

From luxury to junk, in Halong Bay, you will get the tour of all kinds. The variety of trips on offer can be completely amazing for you. Here is a look on what to expect on a tour to Halong and Sapa in Vietnam -

Luxury cruises

The luxury cruises on the bay are nothing less than luxury hotels. So, if spoiling yourself and indulging in lavishness is on your mind this holiday season, then goes on for a luxury cruise of Halong Bay.

The cruises that are nothing else but luxury hotels floating on water will offer you the experience of five-star amenities there, including meals, cosy cabins, personalised guides, kayaking stop over and more. From lazing on a swanky sun lounger to witnessing the sunset with a glass of your choice of potion, you can do whatever you want on the deck. A luxury cruise can cost you US$220-300 for an overnight (two days and one night) trip, the cost may vary as per your choices.

For the travelers who are looking for something that is premium but falls in a middle range should go for mid range options. There is a huge variety of tours for you to choose varying on the basis of price and value for money. The overnight budget cruises start from the US$60 per person and can go up to US$110 and US$130.

The mid-range tours are better than bargain-basement tour operators, as they do not make compromises on safety and give you comfort and amenities that are enough for an enjoyable tour experience. As these tours are mostly preferred by tourists and are often in demand, you can negotiate well with the tourist operator. Due to strong competition on this sector, operators offer many deals and freebies to attract tourists. Make most of your money there.

Along with Halong Bay, you can take a Sapa tour as well. There are many Sapa tour guides for you to choose from, such as trekking day tours, nomad trails, luxury bus tour, tribal tour, Can Cau market tour, homestay customised tour, day train tour, Duc Minh travel tour and many others. 

How to grab cheap Halong Bay cruises

The real fun of travelling is when you get an amazing tour of your wishes at a price that suits your pocket. For all those who believe in budget travelling, cheap Halong Bay cruises are the best. Not only they offer you the worth of your money, but also take you to a destination that is close to Mother Nature and will make you stress free and rejuvenated.

But budget in Halong Bay does not mean dearth cheap because in that case the tour that you will choose will not be able to assure safety. So, the budget tour here is the mid-range tour that does not ever compromise with safety and offers you amenities enough to enjoy the trip.

Do a thorough research online to find out cheap Halong Bay cruises. You can get good deals if you sound interested and can bargain well. Also, rates are different in different seasons as per peak tourist flow. Like June to August when many people visit the Bay the tour prices increase a little, which in December to March, some of the boats become affordable.

While you select your budget trip that suits your pocket, do not finalize till you are happy with the basic quality of service, meals and comfortable accommodation. Yes, Ha Long Bay is a breath-taking spectacle and it does not much matter which boat your sailing on, but there are certain basic amenities that you really want to be there.

Ensure that you are not conned. There should be nothing that was promised and isn’t delivered. Beware of the scrupulous operators in Hanoi and other cities.

The decent midrange Halong Bay cruises also include Kayaking. Paddling around the limestone landscape for around an hour allows you to get a close hand experience of the limestone towers. There is a completely different angle that you get to explore while Kayaking as it is just at the sea level and really up close. There is a special feeling of peace without the chafing hum of engine boats in the background.

However, you need to be an experienced kayak to manage on your own for an hour or more. The professional kayakers can also enjoy just-kayaktrips, which are organise in Lan Ha Bay that offers almost similar breath-taking views as Halong Bay and is less crowded too. A full-day kayaking trip from Cat Ba Island can cost you somewhere between US$25 to US$30 per head.