10 Free Things to do in Noumea!

Our friends at New Caledonia Tourism sent this through. Like most travelers, I quite like not spending huge amounts of money on unnecessary things when I go abroad. Here's a handy guide of 10 things you can do in Noumea that won't cost you anything!

I LOVE that they've highlighted Geocaching. This is a super-fun activity for all the family! I definitely recommend you try it!

Philadelphia? What is there to do in Philadelphia???

At a recent Roadshow we learned about Philadelphia, and were pleasantly surprised to see that one can easily fill three days there, in a city that isalso known as the Birthplace of America and recently was named the first and only World Heritage City in the USA. Plus, the city lures visitors with a range of affordable and nice accommodation options in the city’s walkable, very lively, and safe downtown.
 
Philadelphia is undergoing a dramatic renaissance that spurred urban renewal over the last 15 years, which truly makes it a one-of-a-kind destination in the USA that won’t disappoint travelers. Millennials are moving into Philadelphia’s Center City at sky-high rates to study (Philly has over 300,000 students) and to pursue their entrepreneurial interests, making the city a very young, vibrant and hip place to live and explore.
 
It’s easy getting to Philadelphia with two major international airports located within 25 to 60 minutes by train from Philadelphia’s Center City. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the largest One World Hub in the Northeastern USA, while Newark International Airport (EWR) is a major Star Alliance hub for the Northeast. Plus, the Amtrak train from New York’s Penn Station to Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station takes only 80 minutes with multiple trains departing every hour.
 
The PHLCVB (The official Tourism Promotion Agency for the City of Philadelphia) generally recommend incorporating Philadelphia into the itineraries of travelers in two ways: either, use Philadelphia as a hub for exploring the Northeast of the USA due to its central location and affordability, or make it an overnight stop on route from New York City to Washington D.C. If travelers stay in Philadelphia’s Center City, they easily can take daytrips by train to New York, Washington D.C, Baltimore, Atlantic City, the Lancaster Amish Countryside, Hershey, or even King of Prussia, where the largest retail mall of America awaits them with over 450 shops. Each destination can be reached by train within 60 to 90 minutes.

But even within Philadelphia’s compact, walkable and vibrant Center City that’s filled with more than 2,500 restaurants and bars, 67 national historic landmarks, tax-free shopping, world-famous universities, performing arts venues and a never-ending schedule of seasonal events, visitors will be entertained plenty. If one spends three full days in Philadelphia, they suggest the following itinerary:

Day 1: Historic Sights of Old City & Society Hill
Start off your exploration of Philadelphia in a neighborhood called Old City along the banks of the Delaware River, where America’s Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and later on the US Constitution to start a new, independent country. This is where George Washington held his presidency before Washington DC was built.
 
Walk the cobblestone streets of Old City and Society Hill, a charming colonial town filled with Georgian-style red brick buildings, narrow alleys, green squares, and many firsts for America. This includes the first White House, Capitol Building (Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage site), hospital, US Mint, bank, stock exchange, and many others. See Christ Church and Carpenters Hall, the Betsy Ross House, where the first American flag was stitched, and don’t forget to view the Liberty Bell. Society Hill also is home to City Tavern, the oldest restaurant in the USA where George Washington met with the Founding Fathers routinely to discuss the future of what is to become America.
 
At the Southern tip of Society Hill, visitors will encounter colorful South Street with its mix of funky bars, restaurants, tattoo parlors, concert venues and unusual boutiques. One can also try a Philly Cheesesteak at Jim’s Steak or head into South Philly to see the traditional outdoor Italian Market and do the ultimate Philly Cheesesteak taste test – Pat’s King of Steaks versus Geno’s Steaks.
 
The Old City and Society Hill neighborhoods are also the starting points for many of Philadelphia’s sightseeing excursions, including hop-on hop-off buses, Segway tours, walking tours, Ride the Ducks, and scenic lunch and dinner cruises on the Delaware River. Many of the city’s more than 3,800 mural arts paintings can be toured here, and explored in fascinating detail. Museums in this area of the city include the National Constitution Center, National Liberty Museum, the Independence Seaport Museum with its historic vessels, and the Museum of American Revolution will open its doors in 2017. You also can hop on a ferry to cross the Delaware River for a visit to the Adventure Aquarium and the historic Battleship New Jersey.

Day 2: Arts and Culture on Broad Street, Benjamin Franklin Parkway & University City
Philadelphia also is a treasure chest for art enthusiasts. The first art school of America, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, can still be visited today and is located just to the north of Philly’s impressive City Hall, the largest and tallest masonry building in the world. City Hall allows travelers to take a tiny elevator to the top of its clock tower for amazing views of the skyline. Just south of City Hall, visitors can catch live theatre performances, see the Philadelphia Orchestra or tap their toes to musicals along Broad Street, also known as the Avenue of the Arts. The Walnut Theatre, the oldest theatre in the United States, is only a few blocks away in the vibrant Washington Square neighborhood with its many bars and restaurants, boutique shops and lively Gayborhood.
 
To the west of City Hall, one quickly finds himself on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, referred to as Philadelphia’s Museum Mile.  There, one will find the Drexel Academy of Natural Sciences and the Franklin Institute on beautiful Logan Square, two of the city’s premier scientific museums with exhibits for visitors of all ages. Just steps away, purveyors of French impressionists will not want to miss The Barnes Foundation, featuring the world’s largest private collection of works by Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse. Overall, more than 1,000 works of art can be viewed here. Next door, the Rodin Museum is home to the largest collection of sculptures by Rodin outside of Paris. A 10-minute walk away from the Rodin Museum, travelers can walk the eerie hallways of abandoned Eastern State Penitentiary, the first federal penitentiary in the USA. We like to think of it as the original Alcatraz, and one definitely should take the time to participate in guided tours of this unique attraction.
 
The grand dame of Philadelphia’s museums awaits visitors at the far end of Benjamin Franklin Parkway – the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This museum, considered to be the third largest art museum in the USA, is known around the world for being the location of the Rocky Steps. Hundreds of visitors stop there every day to take pictures at the statue of fictional character “Rocky Balboa” and race up the stairs of the museum for a breathtaking view of the city’s skyline. We recommend not missing the spectacular interiors of this spectacular building that houses more than 200 galleries with art from around the world.
 
Just west of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, one can overlook Philadelphia’s second river, the Schuylkill, with its famous Boathouse Row along the green riverbanks of beautiful Fairmont Park. It’s quite likely that you will see a balloon rise more than 300 feet into the air along the horizon; that’s an adventure you can have at the Philadelphia Zoo, the oldest zoo in the United States. The hop-on hop-off bus tours can easily take you there.
 
West of the Schuylkill River, especially young travelers will want to head to University City where the campuses of Drexel University and Ivy-league University of Pennsylvania (think “Wharton School of Business”) await with tree-lined streets and walking paths. The Penn Museum should definitely be on your list of places to see, as this anthropological museum showcases a stunning collection of artifacts from around the world. Be sure to visit the Egyptian, Chinese, Japanese, and African collections.

Day 3: Tax-free Shopping & City Life on Rittenhouse Square, Walnut Street & Market Street
After two eventful days filled with museums, historic landmarks, and sightseeing, don’t forget to take advantage of Philadelphia’s tax-free shopping program. Clothing and shoes do not require payment of taxes in the State of Pennsylvania, as they are considered essentials. So be sure to visit the many boutiques along upscale Rittenhouse Row and Walnut Street for unique Philadelphia fashion items. Or visit Liberty Place, a mall that features the new Bloomingdale Outlets and is the starting point for rides to the One Liberty Observation Deck on the 57th floor of this building complex. You’ll get a bird’s eyes view over Philadelphia’s Center City and can learn about the city’s history and landmarks on state-of-the-art, interactive, digital displays.
 
Next to City Hall, on the east side of Market Street, visitors can continue their shopping adventure at Macy’s inside the historic Wannamaker Building, the oldest department store in the USA, where one can see the world’s largest pipe organ in the building’s massive atrium. Macy’s provides 10% savings coupons to international travelers, so be sure to take advantage of this great offer. Four blocks walk away one can find the new Century 21 department store, featuring luxury brands at discount prices.
 
Head across the street head into Reading Terminal Market for a real Philadelphia treat. This old indoor food market features more than 80 different vendors. Try local delicacies such as Scrapple, juicy pork sandwiches, apple dumplings, or cheesesteaks from Amish and Mennonite vendors who bring in their foods from the nearby Pennsylvania Dutch countryside. Or take a culinary trip around the globe when sampling the food of Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern or Mediterranean vendors. Inside this market one can try ice cream from Bassett’s, the oldest ice cream place in the USA. It’s an experience a great place for lunch.
 
Above Reading Terminal Market, business travelers will find the Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC), the largest convention center in the Northeast of the United States. Stretching over four city blocks, this massive venue boasts one million square feet of meeting space. The Hard Rock Café is located within the same building. More than 12,000 hotel rooms are located within a 25-minute walking radius from the PCC, which makes it a convenient choice for hosting conventions, as attendees can easily walk to and from the venue and enjoy the area’s many restaurants, shopping and attractions. Parallel to the convention center, you’ll be able to explore the third largest China Town in the USA. From dim sum, hot pot, to Cantonese cuisine, one can enjoy a culinary trip around China or marvel at the stunning Friendship Arch gifted by Philadelphia’s sister city Tianjin.

There’s a lot more to discover in Philadelphia. Give us a call and let us help.

Air New Zealand to resume Osaka flights

Air New Zealand is pleased to announce it will resume a non-stop seasonal service between Auckland and Osaka, Japan from November 2016.
 
Using Boeing 767-300 aircraft, the airline will operate three return services per week on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays between November 2016 and March 2017, subject to government and regulatory approvals.
 
With a flight time around 11 hours, the outbound service will depart Auckland at 10.25am and arrive at Kansai International Airport in Osaka at 6.00pm, the same day. The inbound flight will depart Osaka at 9.00pm and arrive in Auckland at 12.05pm the following day.
 
In 2013 Air New Zealand consolidated its services to Japan, suspending the Osaka route and refocusing on growing its Tokyo Narita services. Since that time, Air New Zealand has significantly grown traffic between New Zealand and Japan, creating new demand for a seasonal Osaka service.
 
Tickets will go on sale soon.

A South American Honeymoon

One of our clients, Nitika, recently got married and is currently experiencing an extraordinary adventure for her honeymoon. Destination: South America by way of Hawaii.

We are following her journey and were quite taken with her photos of Treehouse Lodge.

This place looks amazing and she’s told us that sleeping 65’ above ground was fantastic but a little disconcerting at first.

They flew LAN from Lima to Iquitos and then traveled by car for 1 1/2 hours to Nauta. From Nauta there was a 45 minute boat ride to the lodge.  A definited scene-setting commute. There is plenty to do there and it’s a terrific place from which to explore the Amazon and its unique flora and fauna.

She's also sent us photos of Cascada El Pailon Del Diablo (the Devils Waterfall) just inspires more wanderlust.

We'll be updating this post as more stories and pictures are sent through. And of course we with her and her husband all the best for their future life together!

Give us a call to help you plan your next experience! And/or honeymoon!

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