Here are some great reasons to use a TAANZ travel agent

1. People

TAANZ agents are trained destination and product experts. They work in a NZ owned and operated company. Their accreditation means they are the best in the business and maintain standards just like other industries are expected to. They have access to an immense range of product that customers by themselves will not, and will create for you a quality travel experience that suits your needs, budgets and preferences. For your peace of mind TAANZ members are bonded and must meet financial standards that non-TAANZ members do not.

2. Knowledge

Been there, done that... really! Formal training is important and destination knowledge is invaluable. TAANZ agents are well-traveled and experienced in the popular and off-beat choices. They can offer you first-hand personalised insight to help you plan your next holiday, adventure or escape and can save you hours of web-browsing, the possibility of missing the fine-print and remembering your dream vacation for all the wrong reasons. Avoid disappointment and let your TAANZ agent to the work for you.

3. Choice

TAANZ agents work for you and will make unbiased recommendations. They do not work for any one airline, cruise line, hotel chain or car rental company, but partner with them all. They can aggregate a world of choices at their fingertips and let you make the choice that best fits your needs and budget. You can do all your shopping in the one place, adding your travel insurance, foreign exchange and preferences along the way. It really is all about you! Before you go, your TAANZ travel agent will help you with any visas or destination information and your travel documents will be quality checked and all care taken to make sure your travel is incident-free.

4. Safe Travel

There is a lot of information in social media and your TAANZ travel agent makes it their business to give you the right information on your destination choices. Aggregating official travel advisories with global and local intelligence, be assured that in the pre-planning stages and when abroad you will have all the up-to-date information you need to make informed decisions about safe travel.

5. Advocate

In the event something should occur that you had not planned, your TAANZ travel agent will be there to help. Pre-trip or en-route delays, rescheduling and supplier issues when they occur are unforeseen but you can be assured that your agent will be able to assist and help you when you most need it to get you going again. All TAANZ travel agents subscribe to a code of ethics which are all designed to make their professional services to you their sole focus.

Singapore Airlines Connecting Wellington to the World!

20 January 2016
TB005/16

Singapore Airlines Connecting Wellington to the World!

·        Singapore Airlines launches new flight from Wellington to Singapore via Canberra – The Capital Express!
·        Travel will commence ex Wellington 21 September 2016 with four flights per week.
·        Boeing 777-200 aircraft fitted with 228 Economy Class seats (3-3-3 configuration) and 38 Business Class seats (2-2-2 configuration).
·        Long life and Special launch fares will be available for sale from 25 January 2016 – so stay tuned!

Singapore Airlines today announced it would begin widebody operations from New Zealand’s Capital, Wellington, becoming the first airline to connect the capital to its trans-Tasman neighbour’s respective city, Canberra, and onwards to Singapore.

With flights launching in September 2016, the capital cities of both Australia and New Zealand will be serviced by direct flights for the first time in history, operating four times a week – subject to regulatory approval.

The new ‘Capital Express’ route operating on flight numbers SQ291/292 will also provide New Zealanders – and Wellingtonians in particular – with greater, more convenient access to Singapore Airlines’ global network, spanning six continents.

The new Wellington service makes Singapore Airlines the first non trans-Tasman carrier to operate from more than two destinations in New Zealand.

Singapore Airlines’ commitment to the New Zealand market is strong - as well as introducing the Capital Express service to Wellington, we will celebrate 40 years of service into Auckland and 30 years of service into Christchurch.

Wellington Airfares:
Tickets for the new service will be on sale from Monday 25 January starting from $1,700 for WLG-SIN return and $370 for WLG-CBR return.
The new flights will be operated using 266-seat retrofitted Boeing 777-200 aircraft, fitted with 38 Business Class seats and 228 Economy Class seats.

About Singapore Airlines:

When Singapore Airlines was formed in 1972, it operated a modest fleet of 10 aircraft to just 22 cities in 18 countries. With a commitment to fleet modernisation, product and service innovation and market leadership, the airline quickly distinguished itself as a world-class carrier.
Today, Singapore Airlines operates a modern passenger fleet of more than 100 aircraft with an average age of 7 years 4 months, covering a total of 60 destinations in 33 countries. In April 2016 Amsterdam will be the inaugural destination for its new-generation Airbus A350 fleet. Düsseldorf will join Singapore Airlines’ route network in July 2016 when non-stop flights are introduced from Singapore.
The network will be further added to in September when Singapore Airlines becomes the first international carrier to fly regularly scheduled flights from Singapore to Canberra and on to Wellington. It will be the first time the two capital cities of Australia and New Zealand have been connected by direct flights. It will also be the first time a non-trans-Tasman carrier has operated to more than two points in New Zealand.
Singapore Airlines currently operates 14 round-trip flights from Auckland and Christchurch to Singapore per week.

In January 2015 it launched an alliance with Air New Zealand, to codeshare services between New Zealand and Singapore.

When transiting through Changi Airport, Singapore Airlines Australasian customers are provided with vouchers to the value of S$40 for use within the airport. Customers also have access to an expanded Singapore Stopover Holiday package, all of which goes towards making their journey an enjoyable one. 

TAANZ update - CDC travel warning

Dear Members,

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is urging pregnant women — at any stage of pregnancy — to consider postponing travel to 14 destinations in Latin America and the Caribbean where a virus linked to birth defects is reportedly being transmitted through mosquito bites.
 
The countries impacted by this Level 2 travel notice are Brazil, Colombia, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, Suriname and Venezuela. While the virus causes only a mild illness in most people, there is mounting evidence linking it to a birth defect, especially in Brazil.
 
The CDC also advises women who are contemplating or trying to get pregnant to talk to their doctor before traveling to those areas and to take extra precautions to avoid mosquito bites.
 
Your customers, especially those with international flights, may have questions about the disease and its ability to spread while traveling. You may want to direct them to CDC.gov/travel/notices.  
 
CDC recommends special precautions for the following groups:

Women who are pregnant (in any trimester):
• Consider postponing travel to any area where Zika virus transmission is ongoing.
• If you must travel to one of these areas, talk to your doctor first and strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites(http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/avoid-bug-bites) during your trip.

Women who are trying to become pregnant:
• Before you travel, talk to your doctor about your plans to become pregnant and the risk of Zika virus infection.
• Strictly follow steps to prevent mosquito bites(http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/page/avoid-bug-bites) during your trip.

Specific areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing are often difficult to determine and are likely to change over time. As more information becomes available, TAANZ will keep its members informed.

New entry requirement (eTA) for Canada

Air New Zealand has been advised of a new mandatory entry requirement known as an Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) that applies to all visa-exempt foreign nationals who fly to or transit through Canada effective from 15 March 2016.
 
Applicable customers MUST hold an eTA from this date or uplift will be denied. This affects all citizens from countries who do not need a visa to enter Canada including New Zealand, Australia, UK, France etc. Exceptions include U.S. and Canadian citizens and travellers with a valid visa.
 
The authorisation is electronically linked to the passport and is valid for five (5) years or until passport expiry, whichever comes first. Travellers will need to travel with the same passport they used when they applied for and obtained their eTA.

The cost of an eTA is CAD 7.00 per person.
 
To view eTA-required nationalities visit: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta-list.asp
Eligible customers can apply for an eTA online at: www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/apply-how.asp

For more information please visitwww.canada.ca/eta
 

8 Reasons to visit Zürich in 2016

Our friends at Zürich Tourism recently emailed us with 8 good reasons to visit Zürich in 2016. We would love to help put together a holiday for you to this brilliant destination.

This year, Zurich offers a host of unforgettable experiences for culture lovers and sports enthusiasts. In addition, a newly launched Festival in September promises to delight gourmets’ taste buds, while exclusively this summer a very special open-air swimming pool provides a welcome opportunity to cool down.

Here's the list:

1. Dada!

In 2016, the legendary movement on the interface between art and madness celebrates its centenary, and the whole city will be in Dada fever. Publications and exhibitions at the Cabaret Voltaire – the birthplace of Dada –, the Kunsthaus Zürich, the National Museum Zurich and many other cultural institutions devote themselves entirely to the Dadaists and their legacy.

2. Manifesta 11

This important roving European biennial of contemporary art is guesting in Zurich in 2016. From June 11 until September 18, international artists will address the theme of “What Do People Do for Their Money?”. The results can be viewed at the Pavilion of Reflections and at other exhibition venues. Incidentally, during Manifesta 11, ZürichCARD holders can benefit from reduced admission in many places.

3. A Very Special “Badi” Bathing Facility

The festival center of Manifesta 11 is the Pavilion of Reflections, a floating construction that has been specially made for the event. During the day it serves as an outdoor bathing facility, while in the evening it is transformed into an exhibition space and floating stage. Thus, for the duration of Manifesta 11, Zurich has another “Badi” – as Zurich’s highly popular lakeside and riverside bathing areas are known – for visitors to enjoy.

4. Opening of the FIFA World Football Museum

A highlight for all soccer fans is the opening of the new FIFA World Football Museum on February 28, 2016. The museum houses an interactive experience world featuring numerous highlights, including the original FIFA World Cup Trophy, the original shirts of all the national teams and a giant pinball machine.

5. Züri Fäscht

A highlight that only takes place every three years: during the first weekend in July, the Züri Fäscht guarantees three days of party feeling in the heart of Zurich’s Old Town. Carnival attractions, music, bars and culinary specialties put the approximately one million visitors in a lighthearted summertime mood.

6. MuDa – Museum of Digital Art

The first museum in Europe dedicated to digital art opens in Zurich at the beginning of 2016. On display are works of art that have been created digitally – that is, using a computer. What makes it all the more special is that the building costs were partly financed by means of an online crowdfunding campaign.

7. FOOD ZURICH

Fine food, slow food, street food: for 11 days in September, everything in Zurich revolves around food. During the FOOD ZURICH festival, gourmets, foodies, picnic enthusiasts, hearty eaters, meat lovers, vegetarians, vegans, gluten intolerant people, and “sweet” and “savory” fans can sample countless culinary delicacies from all over the world.

8. Opening of the newly extended National Museum

2016 sees the inauguration of the long-awaited extension of the National Museum Zurich. The new building will open to the general public in August. Its first exhibition entitled “Europe in the Renaissance: Metamorphoses 1400 – 1600” devotes itself in an impressive way to the most important advances in human history – such as the invention of the printing press and the discovery of an unknown continent.

Philippine Airlines - AKL to MNL In-flight Entertainment

We are extremely pleased to confirm that the Philippine Airlines A320 aircraft flying to and from Auckland via Cairns is equipped with iPad in flight entertainment systems for your Economy Class passengers.
 
These are preloaded with a variety of movies, music, TV shows and Games,

The iPads come with external batteries that will last the flight time to Manila.

^sd

Air New Zealand: Notification about small vehicles powered by lithium batteries

Air New Zealand wishes to advise that effective immediately small vehicles powered by lithium batteries are not permitted to be carried on Air New Zealand operated services as cabin baggage, checked baggage or cargo.

 
Small vehicles powered by lithium batteries, that are also known as a rideable, hoverboard, airwheel, solowheel, mini-segway, or balance wheel (but are not limited to these product names) etc, are battery-powered vehicles used for recreational purposes. These are different from mobility aids which will still be carried.

Explore the Ancient Kingdoms

Our friends at The Innovative Travel Company have released their 2016 'Ancient Kingdoms Holidays' packages.

They have over 25 years of experience which has allowed them to build strong relationships with local representatives in each country.

Are you thinking about Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, or Morocco? How about Spain or Croatia? What about experiencing Israel, the Gulf States or Persia? Or India and Sri Lanka?

There are so many options - from Escorted Tours, to luxury travel. They have holiday for everyone. Are you a solo traveller? Would you be travelling as a family? What about travelling as a couple or with your friends?

Who would you travel with? Where would you go?

Give us a call and we'll help you start putting together a fantastic trip.

Virgin Australia announces non-stop flights from CHC to RAR

Virgin Australia has announced today that it will fly non-stop from Christchurch to Rarotonga, starting Saturday 25 June 2016.

The last flight for the season will be on Saturday 08 October 2016 and will enable South Islanders to fly direct to the Cook Islands without having to transit.

Flights will depart Christchurch at 2.00pm on a Saturday arriving in Rarotonga at 8.35pm the day prior. The return flight from Rarotonga to Christchurch departs at 11.10pm and arrives in Christchurch at 2.25am on the Sunday.

Destinations: Boracay, Philippines

One of my connections and I were talking about travel and he mentioned that his favorite place in the world is the island of Boracay, in the Philippines.

This peaked my interest as Target Travel is known for its Philippines expertise.

Personally, I've not visited there (yet) and I still have a long-held impression (think church youthgroup mission trips to Manila) of chaos and rubbish. I know that this is, of course, incorrect. Hugely incorrect. The best way to reprogramme this sort of thing is to actually get amongst the people on the ground! (starts researching and saving my pennies)

To listen to him talk about Boracay with such passion and see some of his photos, this destination has gone onto my list. Apparently it's just beautiful and not that expensive.

Ask us about how to get there and give you local advice on what there is to see and do!

^sd