How to Use a Package Comparison Worksheet
Two packages look alike on the poster: put them on equal terms before you pay either.
Fix the dates, room type and head count first, send the same list to every agency, then fill one column per quote. A price gap only means something once both quotes describe the same trip. Where they differ, ask, price the difference yourself, or drop the package.
What goes in the worksheet?
One row per item, one column per package. Keep the rows identical across quotes.
| Row | What to write |
|---|---|
| Dates | Departure, return and number of nights |
| Travellers | Adults, children and their ages |
| Flights | Departure city, airline, baggage allowance |
| Hotels | Names or areas, room type, bed type |
| Meals | Breakfast, lunch and dinner included or not |
| Transfers | Airport and city, private or shared |
| Tours and tickets | Each tour, with entrance fees listed |
| Guide | Language, hours, tips |
| Insurance | Included or not, and what it covers |
| Payment | Deposit, balance date, cancellation terms |
| Licence | Agency licence number |
How do you fill the dates and rooms on equal terms?
Use your dates, your head count and your room need for every quote. If one agency offers a different hotel class, record that class and ask for a quote on your original choice too.
Check the practical rules that touch every package. Vietnam asks for a passport valid for at least 6 months after arrival2. Confirm the rule on official channels, and ask each agency who is responsible for visa questions.
How do you check the agency?
MOTAC’s homepage links to a travel agency check (TOB and TAB) at motac.gov.my1. Use it before you pay a deposit, and write the licence number in the worksheet. Keep every quote and every message in one folder.
What do you do with the differences?
Sort each difference into one of three actions.
- Ask: the quote is silent or unclear. Request the answer in writing.
- Price it: one quote leaves out something you want. Estimate the cost and add it.
- Drop it: a missing item you cannot replace, or terms you cannot accept.
Total each package again after the adjustments. The new totals are the ones to compare.
What is the next step?
- Use the package inclusion comparator to line up what each quote includes.
- When you write to agencies, follow what to include in a Vietnam package enquiry.
- Add the cost lines with the cost worksheet in ringgit and read Vietnam trip cost from Malaysia for a realistic range.
- If you need halal arrangements, read Muslim travellers in Vietnam: meal and prayer checks.
- See all methods at the planning tools hub.
Send us the quotes you have, and we can place them side by side on one worksheet, mark the gaps and suggest which questions to ask each agency.
Common questions
Why compare packages on equal terms?
Because a lower price can hide a different trip. One package may use a basic room and leave out transfers and meals, while another includes them. If you fix the dates, rooms, head count and inclusions first, the gap in price shows a real gap in value.
What should I write in the worksheet first?
The things you control: travel dates, number of adults and children, room type, flight departure city and the places you want. Send the same list to each agency so every quote starts from identical facts. Then record each reply in its own column.
What do I do if two packages differ on meals?
Ask both for the meal plan in writing, then price the missing meals yourself and add them to the cheaper package. If you have halal needs, ask how each meal is arranged and who confirms it. Compare the totals after the adjustment.
How do I check that an agency is licensed in Malaysia?
MOTAC's homepage links to a travel agency check covering TOB and TAB licences. Use that check before you pay a deposit, and keep the licence number with your booking. If a quote comes without a licence number, ask for it.
What if a quote leaves something blank?
Treat blank as not included until the agency confirms in writing. Ask for each blank line to be filled in, such as baggage, tickets, tips and the guide. A written yes protects both sides, and a no tells you what to price separately.
Sources
- MOTAC's homepage links to a travel agency check (Agensi Pelancongan, TOB/TAB) at motac.gov.my/kategori-semakan-new/agensi-pelancongan-tobtab/. MOTAC. Link read from the homepage; the lookup page itself was not opened. Owner: click-test it.
- Passport must be valid for at least 6 months after arrival in Vietnam. vietnamtourism.com visa page. Check before travel.
Keep planning
Send us the quotes you have, and we can place them side by side on one worksheet, mark the gaps and suggest which questions to ask each agency.