DESIGN A TRIP
Let us create your perfect vacation with a customized itinerary designed to fit your
specific needs, interests & travel style.
Get started now with 3 easy steps.
01
To understand how this works, please do the reading below first.
02
Complete our Customized Itinerary Questionnaire.
03
Book a time to speak with one of our team to discuss your questionnaire. Note: times are listed in Pacific Daylight Time.
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US Citizens passports must have at least 6 months validity (past the date you intend to leave New Zealand & Australia);
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Visitors from the USA will need to hold an NZeTA before travelling to New Zealand. An NZeTA will last up to 2 years and cost approx. USD$15.00. Passengers who are transiting through New Zealand, are also required to hold an NZeTA even if New Zealand is not their final destination.
Apply HERE for your NZeTA. Approval can take up to 72 hours. We recommend obtaining as soon as you've booked your trip.
If you are entering New Zealand you must also pay an IVL, which funds tourism infrastructure and helps protect our natural environment. You pay the IVL at the same time as you request your NZeTA. The IVL costs USD $24.00. -
Visitors from the USA will need to hold an ETA before traveling to Australia. An ETA will last for one year and cost approx USD$98. Appl y HERE for your ETA.
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If you are using frequent flyer miles, you must have your travel dates booked and confirmed before we can start this process;
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If you would like us to book your air travel, please complete our Traveler Information form.
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If you have booked your own flights, please provide us with all details (ie: airline, flight #, departing and arriving airports, arrival date/time, departure date/time);
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We use four and five star accommodations;
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We work with a limited number of selected B&B's, boutique hotels, hotels, apartments and lodge accommodations;
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We partner with ProTravel International to provide international and domestic airfares.
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We also offer travel services for those wishing to visit South Pacific Islands (ie: Fiji, Tahiti, Cook Islands);
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We book complete itineraries which means we do not book pieces of an itinerary. It is a requirement that both parties agree on the complete itinerary and price and your trip is booked all together;
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We require at least four weeks’ notice (this may vary depending on time of year);
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We do not itemize or breakdown pricing of our itineraries;
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See below for details of our trip planning fee;
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We do not get involved with using clients loyalty programs and credit card membership benefits etc. If you wish to use any such programs, these must be booked directly by the client, and prior to working with us.
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During the booking process please use our office phone for all contact, unless urgent.
QUESTIONNAIRE and itinerary design
About You
Complete our 'Customized Itinerary Questionnaire'. Consider your options for 'Getting Around' New Zealand and include any thoughts on this. Please add any additional information about your travel needs and style. We'd love to hear about your hobbies and general interests. Feel free to book a Pacific Daylight Time appointment time to discuss otherwise we will contact you upon receipt of your questionnaire to set up a time to chat. A trip budget must be included. We recommend a minimum budget for two weeks, excluding airfares of $10,000 per couple.
To design the best possible trip we will need to speak in person to discuss your questionnaire and get to know you a little. This also confirms for us that you are serious and would be ready to book your trip if we invest the time in designing an itinerary that meets your needs, interests and budget as you have outlined. This process, although time consuming for both parties does ensure we deliver a highly customized itinerary and an incredible vacation.
Itinerary Design
We will design and price a ‘suggested itinerary’, along with a quote for travel insurance. This will be sent via email for your review. Once you have reviewed the ‘suggested itinerary' and provide feedback, we will continue to make any changes necessary to ensure it meets your needs, interests and budget.
Trip Planning Fee
We charge a non-refundable $250 trip planning fee for trips for 4 people or less for trips of 3 weeks or less. This is deducted from your total trip cost at time of final payment. Fees for larger groups. longer and more complex itineraries and last minute trips will be quoted on a case by case basis.
Trip Deposit
Once approved, we will proceed in making booking and confirming your trip. At this point we will request a non-refundable deposit of *$1000 per person (deducted from your final trip cost). We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance at time of booking. We will require your age and total trip cost to provide a quote. Please note, travel insurance must be purchased within 14 days of paying your trip deposit to be eligible for pre-existing conditions waiver. *Some bookings will require a higher deposit of $1,000 per person.
Confirming Your Itinerary
Once your deposit has been received, we then proceed and send requests for confirmation on your itinerary. This can take a week or so. When this is complete, your 'confirmed' itinerary will be emailed to you along with an updated quote showing deposit paid and final payment due date. Any changes you request after this time will incur a $50 change fee per item. At this point, we will recommend making a lump sum payment towards your trip to allow us to ticket your airfares. Note. This is done through an industry partner (airfares wholesaler) so your payment will be made to them. We will advise details at the time.
Final Payment
Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure, or if booking with this period, full payment is due upon confirmation of your itinerary. We will contact you at least 65 days prior to arrange final payment. If paying by credit card, we require a 'Credit Card Authorization' form for the final amount to be completed.
Travel Documents
Your travel documents are sent by email or delivered to your first hotel at your destination.