Have you been thinking about Vietnam?

There are many tour packages available for South-East Asia - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos as well as Thailand. We have some great partners that we work with to ensure you will have the trip that you want - and need.

One of our friends recently visited Vietnam. I was curious as to why she went there out of all the destinations available to her, and more importantly I wanted to know about her experience. She was generous with her time to help me tell her story:

1) Why did you choose Vietnam?

I had been thinking about going to Vietnam to do some cycling, and it seemed just a little bit of a different destination from the other South East Asian countries friends had been visiting. I wanted a place that would push me out of my comfort zone and experience new and interesting things. Air New Zealand had some travel deals on so I found a tour that fit with what I wanted to do and went with it.
 

2) What were your expectations?

I had no expectations other than adventure, and with around 500kms covered in total on two wheels, including some rugged terrain, extreme temperatures and a 1700m hill climb, it certainly delivered that!
 

3) What did you get out of traveling there?

A fantastic and deeply enriching experience that I'll never forget. Stunning scenery from city to sea, meet many beautiful, humble and kind-natured people and taste the most amazing and delicious food.

I toured on bike from Saigon through to Hanoi for 15 days and got to truly push myself in a day to day adventure while immersing myself in the dynamic contrasts that Vietnam represents. I got to experience the local side of Vietnam, taste sensational food and really discover a magical place that has left a huge impression on me.

4) Any final comments?

It is a brilliant, safe and rewarding place to visit. Do your research on basics like currency and customs but other than that it is a really wonderful place and I'll definitely be returning soon.

* All images courtesy Jennifer Corbett | @msjencorbett

Flying around New Zealand?

Did you know that you pay no more for your seat if you book through your Travel Agent, and it’s a whole lot less hassle for you?

Agents also have the ability to hold seats or change them (with conditions) and it won’t cost you any penalties.

We send our clients all over New Zealand - for work, for fun, for surprise weekend getaways (although that’s a little trickier with the airline’s apps not keeping secrets!).

Where do you want to go next?

Let us do it for you. We can book your flights, cars and accommodation. We’ll make it easy.

South African Airways - Update

SAA in New Zealand has been very proactive with regard to the new visa requirements for people traveling on a NZ passport to South Africa. More detail can be found here.

Their new Airbus A330-300 planes have arrived and are now flying on selected routes.  With impressive technology, a world-class entertainment system and comfortable surroundings, the new planes make long-haul flying a joy. This aircraft is not currently on the Perth to Johannesburg route, however if you're looking to fly with SAA to Europe or USA you'll be able to enjoy it!.

If you're interested in learning more about SAA's global reach, you can download their flyer.

Meet South Africa!

Qantas Short Term fares to UK/Europe - Available until 30 Jan 2017

Qantas has short life Economy and Business fares to the UK and over 35 points in Europe, available for sales until 30 January 2017.

Including. . .

London Economy return from:
$1772* Low season ex AKL (travel on Qantas services via MEL)
$1972* Low season ex AKL/WLG/CHC

London Business return from:
$7401* Business ex AKL/WLG/CHC

And Europe Economy return fares from:
$1497* Low season to OSL ex AKL/WLG/CHC

* Add $50 to Economy for outbound travel Thu - Sat and $250 to Business Fri - Sun

Economy filed travel dates:

Low: 16 Jan - 04 Apr, 24 Apr - 13 Jun, 02 Oct - 30 Nov 17
Shoulder: 05 Apr -23 Apr, 14 Jun - 15 Jun, 01 Sep - 01 Oct, 01 Dec – 06 Dec 17
High: 16 Jun - 31 Aug, 07 Dec – 13 Dec 17

Business filed travel dates:

16 Jan – 13 Dec 17

Go Cruising with Go Holidays

 
Discover the vast countries and cultures of Asia with Princess Cruises. There’s something for everyone to enjoy from Ancient temples, Buddha statues and bustling cities to white sand beaches, forests and wildlife.

Go Holidays has access to over 40 cruise lines all over the world from small ship to large ocean liners, from luxury to rivers or even self-drive canal boating.

Download the Asia cruise brochure then give us a call. We'll help create a fantastic holiday!

^sd

Air New Zealand have released their second phase of Earlybird Airfares to UK & Europe.

AIRFARES - Air New Zealand (FirstFares)

Paris - Return Economy Class from $1749*pp
Upgrade to Premium Economy ADD$2809*pp
Upgrade to Business Class ADD$5359*pp
 
Amsterdam/Barcelona/Copenhagen - Return Economy Class from $1805*pp
Upgrade to Premium Economy ADD$2599*per person (Amsterdam only)
Upgrade to Business Class ADD$5199*pp
 
Rome - Return Economy Class from $1835*pp
Upgrade to Business Class ADD$5199*pp
 
London - Return Economy Class from $1869*pp
Upgrade to Premium Economy ADD$2999*pp
Upgrade to Business Class ADD$5429*pp

Terms and conditions do apply so make sure you call us in the office.

^sd

Are you planning to visit Portland soon?

Discover all that you can do in Portland this winter with Travel Portland's brand-new 145 Square Miles of Portland section. They have picked out 145 uniquely iconic reasons to visit Portland this winter (one reason for every square mile of the city).

Click on Eat, Drink, Shop, See or Events to see offerings in those categories — or take a chance and click the “Surprise me” button for some random selections. At every turn, you’ll find plenty of reasons to plan a trip to the City of Roses.

^SD

Air China

In November 2016 I was lucky enough to be able to experience Air China's service from Auckland to Beijing.

Many Chinese airlines are now connecting from that wonderful country to ours, and having flown Air New Zealand previously, I was looking forward to the opportunity.

Before getting on board the aircraft, I noted that the timing of the flights was really good. We were scheduled to depart Auckland after 8pm which meant that a natural sleep would occur, leaving us fresh for the early morning arrival.

I have to say that my first impression wasn't ideal. The aircraft we were traveling on was an older Airbus A330-200. Old technology, old entertainment systems, and slightly cramped cabin didn't encourage us. I suspect that this would have been one of the last flights that this aircraft would be doing. More later.

I would guess that 95% of the passengers were Chinese returning home. I loved this of course. It meant that by the time we arrived in Beijing we had been immersed in Chinese culture. Being surrounded by boisterous and continuous non-English conversation reduced the impact of arriving in China to Westerners on their first visit.

All the meals served were rice-based (and delicious) and it was amusing to us to be offered wine, where we could choose from the white one or the red one.  (side note: it shows that there is huge opportunity for New Zealand vineyards in that particular market!).

Our return flight, which departed Beijing around 1am, arriving in Auckland at approximately 6pm local time, was much much better. This was a brand new shiny Dreamliner, and was crewed by a much more senior and experienced crew. The aircraft was beautiful although the Economy-class seats did still seem a little tight. The catering was great, although we were looking forward to a decent burger once we got home. After all, there is only so much Kung Pao Chicken one can consume in a week. And the best thing? No noticeable jetlag. We were both able to sleep a full night and be fresh for work the morning after arriving home.

So, would I fly Air China again? Absolutely. I really enjoyed the experience. Their crews were great and I was watching how they helped their passengers with small details such as filling out arrival cards. They cared a lot.

Visit Texas Properly!

With Air New Zealand opening up direct flights to Houston, New Zealanders have the opportunity to see a part of the USA that has really been a bit off the beaten track.

Over the last year, travelers have flown from Auckland to Houston, seen the Space Centre and then headed off to New Orleans as quickly as possible. This, however, is changing rapidly. 

Texas really is a destination state in its own right.

We recently attended a Texas tourism event in Auckland that introduced us to what is on offer.

Houston is our first port of call. It is America’s 4th largest city and is filled with world-class dining, arts, hotels, shopping and nightlife.  There are plenty of things do do, plenty of things that are great for the budget-conscious traveler, and plenty of things that are great for kids and family.

Dallas is a unique experience in culture, history and food. You can visit AT&T Stadium, the home of the Dallas Cowboys. You can discover the the life and Presidency of John F. Kennedy at the Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza. See the city from a bird’s-eye view at Reunion Tower GeO-Deck - 170m in the sky. The Perot Museum of Nature and Science, the Arboretum and Botanical Garden, the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum all await you. Shopping in Dallas is fantastic too - from Nieman Marcus to finding bargains at Outlet Stores.

Austin - the Live Music Capital of the World. Known for the Austin City Limits festival and its growing technology businesses, Austin is a must-see.  It’s also home to a wonderful ballet, world-class museums, amazing shopping and beautiful outdoor spaces.

Fort Worth. Discover the city of cowboys and culture, stockyards and steak. Interested in taking a Ghost tour? You can. Do you love Texas BBQ? The Texas BBQ Tour will take you to three of the six top barbecue restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth. You’ll sample ribs, smoked brisket and sausage and learn more about cooking barbecue. A good set of skills to bring home to a New Zealand summer! Museums, Art, Science and History, Performing Arts - there is a lot to discover here. And are you really going to walk around Fort Worth in tennis shoes? You need to visit the Justin Boots Outlet Store on day one!

San Antonio attracts 32 million visitors each year. Why? It has a rich cultural history. Are you wanting to Remember the Alamo? Are you wanting to taste the flavours of Pan American and World cuisine? You can. The famed San Antonio River Walk is a must-do. It is a 15-mile treasure that connects the city to its historic roots. San Antonio has five 18th Century Spanish colonial missions and they have been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Hear live Jazz played at the St Anthony Club. Visit SeaWorld San Antonio, the Splashtown waterpark or Six Flags for the thrills. Food, Shopping, Arts, History… San Antonio has it all.
 

Fredericksburg in the serene beauty of the Texas Hill Country is a destination with rich German history. It has countless unique and sophisticated shops, numerous award-winning wineries and gourmet eateries. It is home to over 300 festivals and events every year, so there is always something to experience.

At Target Travel we can put together a Texas experience for you, that you will love. Our in-country partners can tailor your perfect vacation. There is much more information about each destination mentioned above. Clicking the links will take you to the city tourism bureaus. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us.

CTS Tours are terrific!

I recently visited Beijing, and my itinerary was put together by Kevin at CTS Tours. They are specialists in travel to Asia and especially China.

I did put them under a little bit of pressure as I hadn't finalised my flights until only a few weeks before arriving in country.

This didn't phase Kevin at all.

I was impressed by his quick service. One very useful thing to note is that CTS Tours will organise your China Visa on your behalf. You fill out the form, and they do the embassy part for you. This saves a lot of your time.

They have package tours of course, but they're also flexible. They will tailor a tour to your requirements. Where do you want to stay? What do you want to see?

Their tours include a personal guide and driver (minimum 2 people) and they'll collect you when you get through Customs in your arrival city. We arrived at 0510hrs and Renny (our guide) was there, name-card in hand, and full of energy.

Renny handled our hotel check-in, which was helpful as in Beijing, if English is spoken it's as a second language.

We appreciated the clarity around planning the days excursions. We knew when we needed to be ready by, and what we should be wearing. Our guide was very knowledgeable and on the way to the sights would give us a lot of information about what we were about to see. At the destination, more information flowed.

The driver was amazing. He didn't speak a word of English but had such a great sense of humour. I do recommend that unless you're a motoring talent, let the locals drive you around. In Beijing road markings are more guidelines and there is a chaos (with an underlying sense of order). Unless you KNOW how the chaos works, you'll probably hurt yourself!

We loved not having to think. It made the trip more relaxing and enjoyable. Renny looked after all tickets and access. She was also able to add things on the fly as we decided to change aspects of the itinerary.

She looked after us right up to going through the gates to the departure lounge. Amazing service.

At Target Travel we are careful with choosing great travel partners. CTS Tours is one of those and we recommend them wholeheartedly.

^sd