With my upcoming move to China I've been stabbing in the dark in terms of what I need to get done and definitely underestimated the cost. It's amazing when you look at an all inclusive trip and find out there are a hundred different things you've forgotten to factor in; visas, transport, medicines, luggage costs. Now, a few weeks before my flight I've finally paid for everything and I'm 100% prepared to take on the beautiful country, but not without a ton of expenses. So here's a breakdown of what I had to pay for, after first only expecting to spend a few hundred on flights and visas.
These prices are based on preparation for a five month stay in China.
Flights
£290
I decided to go with a ridiculously cheap flight in the end. As I'm planning on traveling after China I bought a one way but at £290 that's a dirt cheap price to fly half way around the world. If you're willing to recheck your baggage at every stop-over and arrive/fly at unsociable times then you can save hundreds on airfare.Skyscanner is one of the best websites to compare flights with, however I did buy mind from Kiwi which was a little cheaper.
Jabs
£350
(I'm not a freaking doctor so do some of your own research)
£350
(I'm not a freaking doctor so do some of your own research)
Hepatitis B £80, 4 doses
This is probably the most important jab you can get when going to China. The rate of Hepatitis B is phenomenal and if you read up about it for just a few seconds it'll freak you out to the point of running to your doctor. Unfortunately quite often Hep B isn't available on the NHS unless it's included in a twin-ric which is when they do Hep A and Hep B in a combined dose. All doctors surgeries offer Hep B but will most likely advise you to get it done at a Travel Clinic with the rest of your injections to save you extra trips. BUT, Hepatitis B is much more expensive. Usually about £40 per dose rather than £20 at your GP. Hep B needs to be done 0, 7, 14 days and then an additional dose after a years time.
Japanese Encephalitis £120, 2 doses
I'd never heard of this one until I'd wandered to the doctors and told them I was leaving for China. It's basically a viral brain infection that shows barely any symptoms. However 1 in 250 people will get serious symptoms such as fits and inability to speak, of which one in three will die. Now you're scared right? Although the statistics hold up at about one in a million travelers getting the infection it's really not something you're going to want to skimp on. Each dose is about £80 on day 0 and 28. You'll need to get this one at a travel clinic as most GP's don't provide a fair few travel specific vaccinations.
This is probably the most important jab you can get when going to China. The rate of Hepatitis B is phenomenal and if you read up about it for just a few seconds it'll freak you out to the point of running to your doctor. Unfortunately quite often Hep B isn't available on the NHS unless it's included in a twin-ric which is when they do Hep A and Hep B in a combined dose. All doctors surgeries offer Hep B but will most likely advise you to get it done at a Travel Clinic with the rest of your injections to save you extra trips. BUT, Hepatitis B is much more expensive. Usually about £40 per dose rather than £20 at your GP. Hep B needs to be done 0, 7, 14 days and then an additional dose after a years time.
Japanese Encephalitis £120, 2 doses
I'd never heard of this one until I'd wandered to the doctors and told them I was leaving for China. It's basically a viral brain infection that shows barely any symptoms. However 1 in 250 people will get serious symptoms such as fits and inability to speak, of which one in three will die. Now you're scared right? Although the statistics hold up at about one in a million travelers getting the infection it's really not something you're going to want to skimp on. Each dose is about £80 on day 0 and 28. You'll need to get this one at a travel clinic as most GP's don't provide a fair few travel specific vaccinations.
Rabies £150, 3 doses
I never thought rabies was an actual threat. I don't know why considering it's so widely known but apparently it's a genuine risk in China, particularly in rural areas. We all know the breakdown for rabies, don't get bitten by dogs, but there's a little more to it than that. It's passed through saliva therefore any bite, scratch or even a lick to broken skin can contract the virus. The rabies vaccine needs three doses on day 0, 7 and 28. Each dose is about £55 and can only be done at a travel clinic.
I never thought rabies was an actual threat. I don't know why considering it's so widely known but apparently it's a genuine risk in China, particularly in rural areas. We all know the breakdown for rabies, don't get bitten by dogs, but there's a little more to it than that. It's passed through saliva therefore any bite, scratch or even a lick to broken skin can contract the virus. The rabies vaccine needs three doses on day 0, 7 and 28. Each dose is about £55 and can only be done at a travel clinic.
Travel Insurance
37p/day
The cheapest insurance plan you'll find is probably with STA Travel who offer 37p a day on their budget option which quite frankly is a steal. This will however add up easily. If you're doing five months in China that will end up being roughly £155. They do offer different plans if you want more coverage obviously with a higher price. While their standard option is most popular you don't get much more than the budget one, except for dental and a few extra pounds here and there. STA also tends to have offers here and there especially around the new year such as x% off and offering free insurance on the purchase of a trip, huzzah! Not into STA? Other popular insurers include Boots and Thomas Cook, so get a-looking for what others are cooking.
37p/day
The cheapest insurance plan you'll find is probably with STA Travel who offer 37p a day on their budget option which quite frankly is a steal. This will however add up easily. If you're doing five months in China that will end up being roughly £155. They do offer different plans if you want more coverage obviously with a higher price. While their standard option is most popular you don't get much more than the budget one, except for dental and a few extra pounds here and there. STA also tends to have offers here and there especially around the new year such as x% off and offering free insurance on the purchase of a trip, huzzah! Not into STA? Other popular insurers include Boots and Thomas Cook, so get a-looking for what others are cooking.
Visa
£300
The visa I had to get is an X2, which basically covers both learning and working. For China, as in most countries, when you go over to work you have to be sponsored by your employer. However you may have to pay for your employer to sort out their admin side in terms of a letter of invitation that you use to prove that a company in China is going to take care of you. Through my employer this cost £150.
Once you have the necessary documents, namely the letter of invitation, you'll also need to take two passport photos, your passport, and if you wish a declaration signed by you, although they tend to provide you with this at the embassy. Once you've applied they will take your passport and will give you a date that you can pick it up with your visa, usually only a couple of days or so. If you're applying for one from the UK the embassy's will be situation in Edinburgh, Manchester and of course London. The visa itself once I'd gone to the embassy ended up being about £151.
£300
The visa I had to get is an X2, which basically covers both learning and working. For China, as in most countries, when you go over to work you have to be sponsored by your employer. However you may have to pay for your employer to sort out their admin side in terms of a letter of invitation that you use to prove that a company in China is going to take care of you. Through my employer this cost £150.
Once you have the necessary documents, namely the letter of invitation, you'll also need to take two passport photos, your passport, and if you wish a declaration signed by you, although they tend to provide you with this at the embassy. Once you've applied they will take your passport and will give you a date that you can pick it up with your visa, usually only a couple of days or so. If you're applying for one from the UK the embassy's will be situation in Edinburgh, Manchester and of course London. The visa itself once I'd gone to the embassy ended up being about £151.
VPN
£40
As you might already know China is fairly well known for blocking out all the social media vices that plague our Western world. You know, the websites that take away our souls as we hand them over willingly, or rather enthusiastically. The damned social media platforms include Facebook, Blogger, Twitter, Youtube, Soundcloud, Instagram, and, wait for it, Google. Yes, that's Google maps, Google mail, Google docs, and plain old Google.com.
There's the bad news, now the good news - there is a way around it. You can purchase a VPN (Virtual Private Network) which allows you to search whatever you want on the device of your choosing. It doesn't seem to make much sense at first does it. Why does China block all these websites when it's entirely legal to purchase a VPN outside of the country? Well it's purely for the residents of China. The population is what they're worried about, not some random foreign travelers who float into their cities wanting only to Instagram themselves atop the Great Wall before they move onto their next victim. VPN's typically cost about £40 for a six months trip and are set up through a subscription basis. The two most popular in China are ExpressVPN and Astrill. One will have to be set up before you leave.
As you might already know China is fairly well known for blocking out all the social media vices that plague our Western world. You know, the websites that take away our souls as we hand them over willingly, or rather enthusiastically. The damned social media platforms include Facebook, Blogger, Twitter, Youtube, Soundcloud, Instagram, and, wait for it, Google. Yes, that's Google maps, Google mail, Google docs, and plain old Google.com.
There's the bad news, now the good news - there is a way around it. You can purchase a VPN (Virtual Private Network) which allows you to search whatever you want on the device of your choosing. It doesn't seem to make much sense at first does it. Why does China block all these websites when it's entirely legal to purchase a VPN outside of the country? Well it's purely for the residents of China. The population is what they're worried about, not some random foreign travelers who float into their cities wanting only to Instagram themselves atop the Great Wall before they move onto their next victim. VPN's typically cost about £40 for a six months trip and are set up through a subscription basis. The two most popular in China are ExpressVPN and Astrill. One will have to be set up before you leave.
With TEFL:
TEFL Course
£50
The typical 120 hour course can range from £50 to £150 depending where you buy it. If you're doing a teaching English gig through a program the price of the course is usually included. Groupon often offer discounted courses giving the same accreditation so it's worth perusing the website before you buy.
Program
£1295
If you're going to China through a program like I am the opportunities are pretty limited. The main option is to teach English, a great idea if you want to stay a little longer and really get into the Chinese culture. There's a few companies you can do this through. I chose STA which at the time offered a five month teaching internship for £1295, although in the sale it went to about £750. For this price you're given the TEFL course, a week orientation in Beijing and placement with a school including the accommodation. You're not told where you'll be placed until the orientation week, so it's a bit of a gamble. You could be put in a suburb of Shanghai of in the outer regions of China's countryside.
If you're going to China through a program like I am the opportunities are pretty limited. The main option is to teach English, a great idea if you want to stay a little longer and really get into the Chinese culture. There's a few companies you can do this through. I chose STA which at the time offered a five month teaching internship for £1295, although in the sale it went to about £750. For this price you're given the TEFL course, a week orientation in Beijing and placement with a school including the accommodation. You're not told where you'll be placed until the orientation week, so it's a bit of a gamble. You could be put in a suburb of Shanghai of in the outer regions of China's countryside.
Police Check
£40
Especially if you work with kids you'll need a police check. It's £40 to send off an application online, which takes no time at all, and in return you'll be sent a 'certificate' detailing your criminal convictions, or hopefully lack of.
Secondary School Certificates
£40
This is, if you need one of course. If you're a pretty disorganised person then the certificates or sheet with your results on are probably long gone, but not to fear. You can order them online through your exam board to be sent to you. This is going to cost roughly £40. Pretty steep but unless you kept your certificates there's no way around it.
This is, if you need one of course. If you're a pretty disorganised person then the certificates or sheet with your results on are probably long gone, but not to fear. You can order them online through your exam board to be sent to you. This is going to cost roughly £40. Pretty steep but unless you kept your certificates there's no way around it.
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That's it! Everything I needed to pay for before I set off to China. Obviously here I'm excluding basics for travelling such as wet wipes, mosquito repellent, deodorant (although as a note apparently it's very hard to come by in China), camera film and anything else that you could possibly think of. I fly on Monday so keep in touch for an introduction to Beijing.
That's it! Everything I needed to pay for before I set off to China. Obviously here I'm excluding basics for travelling such as wet wipes, mosquito repellent, deodorant (although as a note apparently it's very hard to come by in China), camera film and anything else that you could possibly think of. I fly on Monday so keep in touch for an introduction to Beijing.
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