Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs
Study the tour you like to go or contact us if there is any question; then please fill out the booking form and have it sent to CBT or your travel agent to start the reservation.
For regular departure group tours, once we receive your booking form, the confirmation will be sent to you the same day or no later than next working day. For tailor made itineraries, it may take a little bit longer depending on the tour you book or the destination you are travelling to.
All visa requirements in this session are for Australian passport holder(s) only; if you are joining our tours and holding other passports other than Australian, please contact us for further details. All information enclosed are for references only, please consult relevant Embassy / Consulate for details.
Passport is valid for more than 6 months from the date travel is complete and there are at least two blank pages for visa stamps.
Due to global impact of Covid-19, many countries change their visa application policy or require PCR test, full vaccination for all visitors. Please consult relevant Embassy or Airlines for more details.
All travellers need visas to visit China. For single entry visa, one visa application form, one recent photo & visa application fee (including GST) of $109.50 per person are required for Australian passport holders. CBT service fee is waived if you are joining any CBT tours; otherwise CBT serivce fee $50 per passport will apply plus any applicable courier fees. Normally it takes 6-10 working days to process. Please make sure your passport has a minimum validity of 6 months before the date of entering China.
China Visa Application required documents:
• Original passport
• 1 recent passport photo
• 1 Visa application form
• Relevant visa application fees
To obtain your China tourist visa, please click here to download the China Visa Application Form.
For Australian passport holders, there is no tourist visa required to visit Hong Kong (max 90 days); Taiwan (Max 30 days), South Korea (max 90 days), Japan (max 90 days). Conditions changed from time to time, we suggest you to check with relevant consulate / embassy for more details.
For Indian Tourist visa, all travelers need to log on to the below website and submit all details for the visa application. For more details, please log on https://indianvisaonline.gov.in/visa/tvoa.html and submit your application online accordingly.
For Nepal visa, all travelers need apply and submit visa application online
http://online.nepalimmigration.gov.np/tourist-visa
For Sri Lanka visa, all foreign nationals are required to apply for Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) before their departure to Sri Lanka by logging on to http://www.eta.gov.lk website.
E-tourist visa is available now online http://evisa.moip.gov.mm/ with payment of USD50 for single entry for a stay up to 28 days from date of entry. The validity of an eVisa approval letter is 90 days from the issued date. Please apply well in advance. Please make sure your passport has a minimum validity of 6 months before the date of travel.
Vietnam Arrival Visa is included for our group tours. You need to submit your valid passport copy when making the reservation. A visa pre-approval letter will be sent to you with your final travel documents so that you can use it for airline check in. Upon arrival in Vietnam, please proceed to immigration where you will find a VISA counter, our representative will be here to assist you.
If you are making hotel or simple package booking, your arrival visa may not included and need to pay the visa fee upon arrival, please check with us.
Cambodia visa can be obtained upon arrival, two photos and visa fee of US$35 per person are required. Laos tourist visa can be obtained on arrival in Laos, one passport photo and stamping fee of $30USD (an extra US$1 on weekends and public holidays) required.
You need tourist visa to visit Mongolia. If you are joining our tours, CBT Holidays will assist you.
Please submit the following documents along with your application form to the Embassy of Mongolia at 23 Culgoa circuit, O’Malley ACT 2606:
- Passport with a validity date at least six months beyond the end of the applicant’s intended period of stay in Mongolia, with at least 2 blank visa pages
- Visa Application Form with one photo /passport size/ Download Application Form
- Proof of travel /Flight itinerary/
- Hotel booking
- Visa fee of Single entry 30 day visa – AUD 230.00
- Fees must be paid by money order or Bank cheques made payable to “The Embassy of Mongolia” /No personal cheques.
- Prepaid, self-addressed return envelope. We recommend using a certified mail with tracking number with signature on delivery.
South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia and Botswana tourist visa can all be obtained upon arrival with no fees;
Zimbabwe double entry visa can be obtained upon arrival with USD45 per person at your expense.
You need visa to visit Kenya & Tanzania
Kenya visitor visa: Apply online www.ecitizen.go.ke @ USD$50 per person.
Tanzania Visa is required @ USD$50 per person IN USD CASH ONLY. This can be obtained upon arrival at the airport.
For Visa to USA, you'll need to apply ESTA online https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta/ REMINDER: Apply for ESTA no later than 72 hours before departing for the United States. Real-time approvals will no longer be available and arriving at the airport without a previously approved ESTA will likely result in being denied boarding.
For Visa to Canada, you'll need to get an electronic travel authorisation (eTA) before you travel to Canada by air, whether your visit is for tourism, business, study, work, transit or any other purpose.
eNett Client Number (ECN) 300571
Flight Centre Paymentgate code: CHINAB
If you pay by Australian dollars within Australia:
CBT Holidays
Name of Bank: Westpac
BSB: 032044 Account No.: 520303
Please leave your name & tour reference number
If you pay by Australian dollars outside Australia:
CBT Holidays
Suite 2, Level 8, 99 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Name of Bank: Westpac
Account #: 032044520303
Swift code: WPACAU2S
Please leave your name & tour reference number
Westpac Branch Address: 275 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: 132 032
If you remit money from overseas to CBT in USD:
Account Name: China Bestours (Aust) Pty Ltd
Suite 2, Level 8, 99 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Name of Bank: Westpac
Account No.: 034702 238262
Swift code: WPACAU2S
Westpac Branch Address: 275 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: 132 032
If you remit money from overseas to CBT in Euro:
Account Name: China Bestours (Aust) Pty Ltd
Suite 2, Level 8, 99 York Street, Sydney NSW 2000
Name of Bank: Westpac
Account No.: 034705 214223
Swift code: WPACAU2S
Westpac Branch Address: 275 George Street, Sydney NSW 2000 Tel: 132 032
You can pay via Alipay or Wechat
人民币支付: 请联系我们
Account Short Name: CBT Holidays
Account Long Name: China Bestours (Aust) Pty Ltd
Biller Code: 364257
Ref #: please refer to your invoice
You can pay by Visa, Master Card or American Express (fees waived for deposit payment; but 1.5% fee for Master/Visa and 2% for Amex for any subsquent payments).
There is no extra if pay by Visa / Master cards via BPAY, please check BPAY details on your invoice.
Yes, all of our tour guides speak English. For Group Tours, every group tour that has 10 or more passengers travelling will be accompanied by a National Guide from the moment you exit the airport, to when you depart. On multi-country tours, a different National Escort is used in each country. Extensions and stopovers are not accompanied by a National escort however you will have Local Guides. Independent Private Touring - Private tours are not accompanied by a National Escort, but will be accompanied by knowledgeable local guides in each location.
Influenced by American and European travellers, tipping is getting more popular everywhere now. So we suggest total A$9 per client per day total for the national guide, local guides, and coach captains as gratuities for their service. Extra tipping will be charged to your account on any river cruise.
Most of our groups are in between 10-20 people. Some popular departures in high season tend to be more at capacity which is a maximum of 28 people. For Sit-in-coach tour (in Taiwan, South Africa, South Korea), the max group size could be 40 people in high seasons.
The hotels selected for group tours are based on 4 star classified by local National Tourist Administration or the local best in some remote areas that provide the best value for money. Of course, different countries have different standards, but CBT Holidays endeavors to provide our clients with the best available in cleanliness and comfort. Please refer to the tour price chart with details hotel names or similar class.
All of our group tours are fully inclusive with lots of meals and you don’t need to bring large amounts of cash with you; for your references, an average of $60 a day for drinks, small gifts, uncovered meals and non-included tipping is suggested.
20 days before departure you will receive your final documentation, which includes a detailed itinerary, air tickets if you book the flight with us, as well as CBT Holidays “Things you do before you leave” booklet , travel bag and travel kits.
No immunizations are required for entry into Asian countries; but before travelling you may need vaccinations against diseases that are prevalent in the country. This could be in addition to boosters from the childhood immunization program. If you are not sure you are fully up to date with your childhood vaccinations, you should speak to your doctor about what vaccinations you have had and your travel plans.
Yellow Fever to Africa
Vaccination is still strongly recommended for travellers who have never been vaccinated for yellow fever and who intend to travel to countries where there is a risk of transmission. Border biosecurity processes will remain in place for unvaccinated travellers. Australia’s list of yellow fever risk countries and areas is guided by the WHO list of yellow fever endemic countries and also takes into account recent international surveillance data. Many countries including Kenya & Tanzania are among the list. Please visit www.health.gov.au/yellowfever for more details. Please consult your family doctor well in advance. Please bring valid Yellow Certificate with you while travelling.
There is no insurance covered in our tour price, we strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive insurance cover for cancellation, medical expenses, personal accident, personal baggage, money and public liability as soon as you pay your deposit. Please ask us for an insurance brochure, or just simply buy your insurance online from our website by yourself click HERE
Check latest travel updates on smarttraaveller https://smartraveller.gov.au/Pages/default.aspx
Check your baggage weights and restriction
Inform your bank of foreign credit card use when you are away
Contact your mobile phone provider on your roaming service.
Read CBT Things You Need to Know before You Go booklet.