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Kim gave us a lot of great suggestions of things to do and see and took the stress out of finding the right type of accommodation for our needs. Would definately use Kim's skills and experience again and would highly recommend her as an agent to anyone wishing to travel to NZ.
Julie, Jamie and Harrison, Australia, April 2006
An easy web site to move around. It covers all aspects of travel and adventure in N.Z.
The response to questions and bookings is excellent.
Thanks Kim, love your country, we will be back.
Bernie and Maggie Collocott, Australia, April 2006
We have travelled all over the world and Experience New Zealand did the best job for us of any travel agent we have ever used. They matched our interests to the planned trip perfectly. They were extremely responsive. They gave us absolutely the custom trip experience without all the custom trip costs, and we truly got personal attention. The places we stayed all well exceeded our expectations. Their knowledge of New Zealand and their recommendations are all based on personal experience which helps tremendously. All the innkeepers where we stayed spoke very highly of their interactions with Experience New Zealand.
I liked the fact that we were able to combine their recommendations along with some arrangements we wanted to make on our own. Their flexibility in designing what YOU want to do, combined with their intimate knowledge of New Zealand, made our trip an outstanding travel experience. In working with Experience New Zealand, it was like having friends who really know the country make all the travel plans for you
and everything they plan exceeds your expectations.
Doug Timmel, USA, March 2006
Helen, thank you very much for organizing our trip to New Zealand. Your recommended itinerary and accommodations were absolutely perfect! The trip was made so much better being planned by people knowledgeable about NZ&we; would have been lost otherwise and not seen nearly the interesting places that we did. The hosts at the B&Bs; were so welcoming and friendly perfect suggestions! Ill use Experience NZ again when I return there for another fabulous holiday!!!
Andrew and Janet, USA, March 2006
Manesh and I would like to thank Experience Travel New Zealand, and in particular Kim, who made the planning and execution of our trip to New Zealand as smooth as a possible and very memorable.
Thank you for everything!
Hasmita and Manesh Bheda, Switzerland, March 2006
We had a fantastic time on our 3 week trip to NZ. By using your company we saved a lot of time having to preplan too many things ourselves or waste valuable time on arrival in a town looking for a place to stay. The additional suggestions in the itinerary of activities and restaurants was also useful. I would definitely recommend using your agents again.
Jim and Mary Allen Martin, USA, February 2006
Our trip organised by Experience New Zealand was fabulous. The standard of accommodation and hire car was exemplary. The whole thing went without a hitch and they had thought of everything down to marking our route on the map! It was totally hassle free and meant that we could get on with enjoying ourselves and seeing as much of New Zealand as possible.
Kirsty Lloyd and Dan Hall, UK, February 2006
To sum up our trip... it was fantastic! You did a great job in every aspect. We will highly recommend you and your agency to all of our friends and business contacts who are considering New Zealand for their next vacation. There are so many great things to say about
the trip, that it would take up several pages. Thanks for doing such a fine job for us.
Bernie and Gwyn, Alaska, February 2006
Our New Zealand experience was wonderful, because Kim was so apt at personalizing it to our needs and interests. Having never being there, she interpreted our interests with her knowledge and created a wonderful experience. Thank you Kim....
Caroline and Jerry Summit, USA, February 2006
Excellent planning services saved us a lot of time and provided me with relaxed accommodation in locations and properties we would not have been able to find by ourselves..
Mercier family, Hong Kong, January 2006
Experience New Zealand did a nice job for us on both trips. We were unfamiliar with the areas and they handled the arrangements without a hitch. Even now that I know more about where to go and what to do, I will use their services in the future. They serve as a great resource and add value to the trip. Thankyou.
Charlie and Vicki Glab, USA, January 2006
Our travels through New Zealand were significantly enhanced by the thorough and thoughtful planning of Helen at ENZ. We enjoyed the level of involvement in the planning on the front end and reaped the benefits at every destination.
Wendy, Keith, Sydney and Abby Morical, USA, January 2006
We found the documents at the Budget counter and were very positively surprised regarding all the information you had gathered for us. Everything worked out excellently and we had a wonderful time in NZ. The mobile home was extremely well equipped and huge. We probably should have spent less hours on the road since the roads are quite windy and steep and driving a 3.5 ton mobile home on the wrong side of the road just adds to the complexity a bit. We also used some of your excellent recommendations for dining both in Kaikoura and in Christchurch. Thank you for arranging everything for us so nice. We felt really pampered. We showed your travel itinerary to our kiwi friends in Auckland and they were very surprised a NZ company would do so much. So pad yourself on the back for that.
Jonas, Marie-Louise, Fredrik, Gustaf, Cecilia , Sweden, January 2006
This was the adventure of a lifetime. Glenn put together a fantastic trip for our honeymoon. The accommodations were extraordinary, the food and wine recommendations were fabulous, and the activities Glenn arranged were a blast. We had a great time exploring the South Island and we cant wait to return to NZ some day.
Michelle Eichler and Joshua Zell, USA, January 2006
Unbeatable local knowledge. The best arranged trip we have ever had anywhere.
Peter Niculescu, USA, January 2006
It cant get any better than this. Kim & her team know their stuff, and most importantly, they plan for what you want, personalize your trip, saves you all the hassle and put that wow factor into your travel. . I will use them again for my next trip to NZ
Yanghong Chua and Xueyi Hu, Singapore, January 2006
With Helen it was "no worries". As the trip went along we often said, well lets see if Helen can top the last place, and sure enough she did. Was surprised how easily the trip came together just using e-mail. Only complaint is we did not get to meet her. Sorry we didn't get to chat on the phone at the end of our trip. You get an A+. Most everything equaled or exceeded our expectations. Really appreciated the detail of your driving instructions. Accommodations were terrific, everything went without a hitch.
Bob and Laney, USA, January 2006
Helen, thank you for all your assistance in planning our trip to the South Island of New Zealand. Our family had a wonderful time with activities that we all enjoyed! We shared exciting experiences together, like tandem skydiving to River Surfing to quiet elegance of Doubtful Sound. These are all great memories for our family. Thank you again!
The Kopp Family, Hong Kong, January 2006
Experience New Zealand team make wonderful holiday for the whole Chion-Hock family, including discovery, very good program and finding the best rate quality/price for the accommodations........... MERCI BEAUCOUP SILVANA !!!!
Corinne, Didier, Myriam and Adrien, Ile de La Réunion , January 2006
To travel to the other side of the planet not knowing much about the place youre going can be a nerve-wracking experience, but using Experience New Zealand to book our honeymoon was one the best decisions weve ever made! The three weeks we spent travelling the country were absolutely magical! From the top of the North Island, to the bottom of the South, every place we stayed and every adventure we took were amazing and exactly suited to our tastes. Thank you Experience New Zealand, for making our dream vacation a reality!
Michelle Holland and Matt Groner, USA, January 2006
Silvana,
Just some words to tell you that we had a wonderful vacation in New Zealand. The country is so nice, the weather, the people, the attractions, the motorhome... everything was great!
Cecilia, Mexico, December 2005
We have used Experience New Zealand twice now and have been extremely pleased with both trips. Its the best of both worlds: the freedom of a self-drive tour along with the comfort in knowing the plan was done someone with so much experience and ability. Too bad there is not someone like them in every country.
Jim and Lea Fisher, Singapore, December 2005
An email to thank you for arranging a fabulous holiday in NZ. We had a great time and were amazingly lucky with the weather: raining only on one day in Wanaka, and that was the day we chose to get very wet anyway by going canyoning. Overall a fantastic trip that we'll never forget, and very sad to leave. Only consolation that we'll certainly be back. Your service is excellent, really taking the time to work out what sort of clients you are dealing with and what would suit them. I like the transparency of your charges too. The itinerary and welcome pack with all brochures also first rate. I'll recommend you unreservedly to anyone thinking of going to wonderful NZ
UK Clients, UK, December 2005
Hindsight being a wonderful thing, we tried to cram in a little too much, particularly in the last few days but the things that stand out are: the friendliness of most of our hosts, the awesome scenery around each bend and the memories of seeing 11 whales, the magical experience of swimming with seals, all 3 children celebrating Boxing Day with bungy jumps over Queenstown, an 18km sea kayak, a 14km trek through the equivalent of rainforest and the true sound of silence in Fiordland: can we come back?!
Thank you so much Denise
Graham and Sharon Smith, Great Briatin, December 2005
Silvana,
The pleasure has been mine. You have been very prompt and and informative with all your responses and I would not hesitate to recommend you to anyone that wants to travel there in the future. Thank you for all your help and recommendations, tips, suggestions, etc.
Take care
Fernando, USA, November 2005
Denise was exceptional in the planning and execution of our trip to the South Island of New Zealand. Her recommendations were intelligent and well thought out to reflect our objectives and interests. Throughout our collaborative planning process, she was always highly communicative and responded to all of our communications in a timely and comprehensive fashion. I have very high standards for those I do business with, and Denise has met or exceeded all of my expectations. We would recommend her to everyone without reservation!
Ron and Susan, USA, November 2005
Glenn,
It is approaching almost 1 year since our trip to New Zealand and we have not stopped thinking about it. We have taken it upon ourselves to be self-appointed ambassador constantly promoting New Zealand tourism. There are so many wonderful things about your country that we fell in love with Whare Kea, Martinborough Wine Festival, and Wharekauhau just to name a few. The people, the scenery, the adventures and excursions, it was everything we wanted and it offered so much more than we could have imagined. We want to plan our Winter and Summer trips well in advance, before more people discover New Zealand and bookings become scarce.
There is no doubt in our minds that we were able to experience this amazing New Zealand vacation because of the knowledgeable travel agent that crafted our itinerary. Glenn, your honest advice and attentive customer service made a lasting impression on us. We have many friends in the US travel business and they are rightfully impressed when we share with them what we have come to know as Glenns brand of customer service.
We look forward to the years ahead, which will bring us back to New Zealand. We will be calling you very soon!
Ken Kish, USA, November 2005
If you ever go to New Zealand, be sure to contact Silvana Bonderer at Experience New Zealand. She did a fantastic job setting things up for us! From accommodations to shuttles, everything she arranged was a big success! We'd use her services again in a heartbeat!
Lorie, USA, November 2005
Denise was amazing. She is patient and helpful and so full of information and suggestions. There were four of us involved in developing the itinerary and activities, all of us with differing opinions. Deciding on the final itinerary was a long, difficult process. Denise was terrific at helping us to focus on the amazing places to visit and stay, and the great things to do once we got to each location. I would highly recommend Denise to any friends traveling to New Zealand. She's an unbelievable wealth of knowledge. This was Jerry and my third trip to New Zealand. And, by far, this trip was one of the best we've ever taken. In my opinion, the success of our trip is due, in large measure, to Denise's patience, guidance and input.
Debbie and Jerry, USA, November 2005
We have done a lot of traveling in the last 40 years, but I think that New Zealand is probably the most beautiful place on earth! It was a great experience and Denise planned a perfect trip for us. Thank you. Sandy and Renee
Sandy and Renee, USA, November 2005
Hi Helen, We had a fantastic time in New Zealand. Nelson was our favorite city, so glad you recommended it to us. The trip was unforgetable and all of our stays were superb. We will recommend your agency and you to anyone looking for a fabulous vacation.
Jan and Mark, USA, November 2005
Helen, all the plans that you made for us were excellent! You really understood what kind of trip we were looking for, what kind of accommodations we wanted, and were very prompt in answering all our questions!!
Anne and Gordie, Canada, November 2005
New Zealand is a spectacular, unspoiled treasure. Working with Glenn and his team let us enjoy the trip and not worry about the details. The accommodations and activities they arranged were perfect for us. It couldn't have gone any better.
Dan Junius, USA, November 2005
We recently visited Australia for three weeks followed by New Zealand for three more. After spending many days putting together our own accommodations, travel, and sight seeing packages for Australia from dozens of internet sites, we were very happy to run across the Experience New Zealand web site. At first our plan was to use some of the information ENZ provides on its site to simply help plan our New Zealand adventure. But the uniqueness and diversity of what New Zealand has to offer made it quite apparent that the expertise of ENZ was exactly what we needed. The entire process of planning and approving the trip with Glenn Campbell was a joy and the end result could not have been better. We dont know where or when but we shall return to New Zealand if for no other reason than to let ANZ do it again.
Warren and Joey Knudson, USA, November 2005
Denise,
We are all very pleased with the lack of stress we incurred in lining up what looks like a spectacular trip in New Zealand. Had we tried to do this on our own, we clearly would have missed most of the important sites. Thanks again for all your help.
Neil Burns, USA, October 2005
Thank you Helen for organising a fantastic honeymoon for us. You took all the hassle out of planning an itinerary and booking accommodation and the places you booked for us were all amazing. New Zealand is a great travel destination with world class scenery and hospitality. Well definitely be back soon!
Rory and Rebecca, Australia, October 2005
Experince NZ provided a fantastic service and made our trip to New Zealand much easier as all the hassle was taken away from us. Silvana kept us regularly informed and planned our itinerary perfectly. If getting a motor home go for the biggest you can as space a big problem in the 2 berths and go for the all inclusive insurance deal as we would have had to pay $700 for a new windscreen if we had not. We had a brilliant holiday and would definitely use Experience NZ again. Thanks.
Jean and Darren, Cyprus, October 2005
Denise,
Well, we have finally settled back here in the UK. Its time to put pen to paper and try to sum up our experience.
We are absolutely sure that had we tried to organise a 3 week holiday for seven of us, followed by a two week honeymoon, on our own we would have come badly adrift. However, having read your website and spoken to you that first time we knew that you were the company to help us.
All of the venues that we received guidance on from you were just right for our needs and were certainly set in some amazing locations, especially the honeymoon hotels/cottages.
You can be assured that you have our fullest recommendation. Denise, Glenn and all of your excellent staff, we would like to thank you for being so professional, friendly and wonderfully supportive. To travel to the other side of the world is quite an undertaking, to book everything with a company that you dont know is a brave decision, but you have all made our journey of a life-time as easy as a trip within our own country.
Jon and Yvonne Ham, UK, September 2005
Denise,
You exceeded our expectations. I appreciate your helping us with Dylan who became ill during the trip. ENZ is a service I would highly recommend folks to consider. We usually just go on our own schedule. However, this was better because the level of accommodation and recommended restaurants were consistent to our levels of expectations (which we discussed with Denise in our telephone session).
Smith family, USA, September 2005
Denise,
As we worked through our itinerary we realised just how much work you had put into it. It was such a varied programme, giving us a great opportunity to see so much of your beautiful country. For that, we give you many, many thanks. We would also like to say that the hosts in each region were all so kind, and a real pleasure to be with. As with you, we will never forget them. Thank you once again Denise for making our holiday in New Zealand such a wonderful experience.
Pearl and Gordon, UK, August 2005
Dear Ian,
Greetings from your happy customer from the Netherlands! You have asked for some photos which is difficult as I took about 600 photos! In summary, we very much enjoyed our travels in NZ with Pacific Horizon, despite the rain. The vehicles themselves were probably on the small side (but that was our choice); but were problem free. I must also comment on the charming and helpful personel at the Christchurch and Wellington depots. We very much enjoyed our time in Wellington with our children. If it was not for the rain we might have seen more of the city. Thank you once again for your help in making our trip to NZ a success. Take Care.
Kind regards,
Jan de Vries, Netherlands, March 2005
Dear Ian,
We are back in speeding Hong Kong life style, and trust me this is a big deal to go back to normal life after the so nice time we get in NZ.
My family and I thank you and your company for the great service and care you provided us with. It was a really amazing trip across the South Island. We drove 1600km within 11 days and took about 600 digital pictures! Sometimes we even had to say "ok, hold-on with photo, we will never reach the target of the day if we stop every 2km for some nice pictures" It seems your place is like paradise and just proves its real and not just dream.
Once we stopped for lunch on small sandy riverbank and got stuck with the rear wheels spinning and sliding. I had to dig by hand in the sand in order to stuff the wheels with wood and stones and I was covered with hundreds of sand flies within 5 minutes. Three weeks later I still have few marks and I never experience such itchy things.
This is a funny story but for sure we are not about to forget our time in NZ. In fact we have already done some expectations for the next one.
Thanks again.
Stephane, Sophie, Camille et Marie, Hong Kong, March 2005
Hi Ian,
We are back from your wonderful country and wished we could have stayed longer! We had a GREAT trip. We loved the ruralness of the country, miles and miles of pastures, sheep, cows and horses. The Doubtful Sound overnite trip was awesome! it rained over 1 1/2 feet while we were in the area but we felt that it was the best way to see the rain forest. I don't think we have ever seen so many waterfalls!
We enjoyed everything we did but I think the two things that stick out in my mind were the Doubtful sound trip and the Walter Peak Farm excursion. I would repeat those. The top 10 holiday parks were also fantastic.
Thanks again for helping to make our trip a wonderful experience!
Warm regards,
Christine DiCurti, USA, February 2005
We are so grateful to Helen at Experience NZ Travel. She took care of making all of our travel arrangements and was very efficient and right on target with meeting our family needs. We enjoyed our trip and all the accommodations and outings were outstanding!
The DuCharme Family, Singapore, February 2005
Dear Denise,
We arrived home on Sunday after a spectacular trip. Marsha and I want to thank you for your help. Everywhere we went we were greeted warmly and treated extraordinarily well. We particularly enjoyed the Queen Charlottes trek, but to single out one part that was better than another is impossible. Queenstown and Punatapu were wonderful. The surprise of the trip was the one day Routeburn trek that Sue from Punatapu suggested. Meg and John at Riverrun in Wanaka were terrific hosts, etc. etc. They suggested kayaking on the Clutha. I fell out of the kayak (I have never fallen out of any watercraft before) and had a truly enjoyable swim in the rapids before getting back in the kayak. A memorable experience.
There were three unexpected highlights of the trip. One was the incredible warmth of the Kiwis wherever we went. The second was the outstanding beauty of the flora and fauna something that needs to be seen in person to be believed. Third was the interaction with other travelers from all over the world, whether they were at Riverrun, Punatapu, St. Mary's Convent etc or trekking with us in the Queen Charlotte sound.
We enjoyed having lunch with you and appreciate your help in arranging and directing us to the wonders of New Zealand.
Warmest regards
Mark and Marsha, USA, January 2005
Dear Denise,
Gary and I are finally home and just had to let you know what an incredible time you planned for us. Our accommodations were superb and all the hosts made us feel like family. Each one was so different that we couldn't wait to meet what lay ahead. Our days just flew! The one thing you should have insisted upon is that we give ourselves at least 6 more weeks in your beautiful country! We're already talking about coming back to take in the Bay of Islands, the Coromandel Pennisula, the Catlins, and Stewart Island.
Thank you so much for steering us in the right direction. We couldn't have enjoyed a trip any more than we did and we certainly will recommend you for our friends who are talking about coming to NZ.
Warm Regards,
Loe and Gary , USA, January 2005
Nicola,
Thank you for such a hard work you have done organizing and taking care of our trip. Right now it is Monday almost 2:00 am in Mexico City and just for curiosity I checked my e-mails to see if I had some news from you, and .... all my trip was there! Thank you very much.
I spoke with Tere this morning and told her about how nice, good, professional and fast you are when helping me organize everything. I also told her that amazingly enough I decided to leave everything in your hands regarding our trip organization and planning; she knows me very well, and could not believe it and was amazed about it, since I never do it, usually I do the planning myself and it is very difficult for me to trust someone else and let someone do all the planning and organization for me. I told her that I did it because you gave me a sense of complete trust. It is never too late to change our way of thinking, don't you think?
Mr. H. Lopez C, Mexico, December 2004
Helen,
You are absolutely marvelous, and I will send all our friends to you in the future. I can't thank you enough for all the work you have done for us. You are obviously swamped, juggling hundreds of tourists and their tours, so it is very impressive that you've kept us so well informed and made us feel so welcome.
Liz Schilling, USA, December 2004
Dear Ian,
We have now been home (sadly) nearly a week but still feel overwhelmed by our experiences in New Zealand, you do live in a fantastic country. The scenery etc was fantastic, but NZ's biggest asset is it's people who's friendliness and above all positivety are to be treasured. Please export shiploads of positivety to the UK, we need it. Everything that you had arranged went superbly. Our overnights with the van were at Hokitika, Wanaka, Lumsden, Papatowai, Portobello, Milford, Frankton & Ashburton. Some of the sites had more to offer than others but all were of a good standard and superior to most of their European counterparts. I must thank you again for all the work you did for us and I have reccomended experiencenz to a couple of colleagues who have expressed an interest in NZ. We cant wait to visit again! Kind Regards
Reg Oakley, UK, November 2004
Ian, what can I say? A truly mind blowing experience, we are already excitedly planning for our return in autumn. The scenic beauty of the South Island was only surpassed by the hospitality of the people. Without any doubt in my mind I will say the highlight of the trip was the drive through Haast Pass, Unbelievable. The Lower Buller Gorge was also outstanding. Actually, everywhere we went was wonderful. I wish to add that had it not been for your knowledge of NZ travel and your attention to detail our NZ holiday would or I should say could not have been such a fantastic experience, EVERYTHING you organised was spot on and free of any hang-ups. The Pacific Horizon motorhome was exceptional and equipped with everything that anyone could possibly need for a holiday and the staff we encountered were extremely friendly and helpful.
I could rave on for hours about the beauty of NZ of which you are more than fully aware. I will contact you in the New Year .
Alexander Musgrave, Australia, October 2004
Ian,
I don't know how we could possibly thank you enough for making this happen for us!! Everyday has been a magical and surreal experience. I was very sad to have to come home (most trips I am happy to come home), but this one has really taken our hearts and has made me insanely in love with the country. My girlfriends are all jealous!! Please keep in touch and you will come highly recommended amongst friends and family. We've heard nothing but good things from your recommended locations. Good job!! And thank you for making this birthday absolutely memorable. My 40th is going to be hard to beat!! Andrew is already getting nervous about what he has to come up with to beat New Zealand. (I'm thinking we should just purchase some property and a home there for my 40th Hee Hee).
Thank you again and take care!!
Absolutely in love,
Helen
Andrew and Helen Forslund, USA, September 2004
Hi Denise,
We are home now after the best holiday ever! Thank you for everything you did for us. It was a holiday of a lifetime, and we have done a lot of travelling in the past. Christchurch was fun, despite Nick spraining his ankle the day we arrived (jetlagged going down the stairs at Hambledon).Calvin, the host, very kindly ran us to the nearest clinic where they x-rayed it and luckily no broken bones. We enjoyed everywhere we went, Lake Tekapo was lovely and the Grand View very comfortable, Wanaka was a favourite, the Lakeview Apartments were very stylish and a beautiful view. We loved the Siberia Experience and we had great weather, also Doubtful Sound was a highlight (accommodation and food couldnt be better) and the kayaking was great fun. The West Coast was amazing especially Fox Glacier and Lake Matheson. Punakaiki, and the rain forest were interesting. Villa 10 was a truly lovely spot with great views. We all loved Wellington and The Gatehouse was the best. Lisa made us feel right at home and Ben got on well with her son Elliot same age. The Lord of the Rings tour was brilliant, and Ben loved it! Garth was really good showing us around. The Chocolate Fish Cafe was wonderful. We have so many great memories, so thank you again for everything; we will have to come back as we didnt have time for the North Island
Warm regards Sue
The Goodson family, UK, April 2004
Hello Glenn.
Brian and I have been back from New Zealand now for almost 3 weeks and we are still missing New Zealand. Everything you have recommended have been great and the only thing that I would change is instead of a 2 week vacation, I want a 4 week vacation...just on the south island. Both the north and south island are beautiful but we both agree that we would come back and stay longer on the south island. The scenaries, mountains, vistas, views, activies in the south island is worth every second. I think everyone that have viewed our photos have also decided that New Zealand would be their next vacation spot.
Our trip was wonderful thanks to you. We got where we needed to do and everything was set so we had no worries. Thanks for making our trip so great.
Linda and Brian, USA, April 2004
Glenn, First off, I've remarked to a number of people that it was one of, if not the best, trip we have ever taken. The accommodations were superb. With few exceptions, the itinerary couldn't have been better for an introductory trip to NZ. I would emphasize that three and a half weeks is a bare minimum - and at that you only scratch the surface. Our sticking to two nights minimum at each accommodation was essential. In fact the most enjoyable stops were the three and four day ones. With two nights you only get one day to enjoy the area. While you can see a number of things while driving to your next stop, you need the full days to really do anything. We ARE coming back and wholeheartedly recommend your services to anyone contemplating a trip to NZ. Next time we would like to spend more time in the Bay of Islands - but then we could just do the whole itinerary over again and be happy!!!!
Bruce and Sue, USA, April 2004
Hi Glenn, Just wanted to thank you. All along the trip we coincidentally met people who you or Denise had put trip's together for and they were all raving about your choices. We had a delightful time and the places we stayed at were just wonderful. Sue at Punatapu had a beautiful home, gourmet food magnificent grounds and couldn't have been sweeter or nicer. Wendy and Steve at Korimako were fabulous. Wendy is the most amazing cook and we had without question the best lamb we've ever eaten at her home. They are both a lot of fun, as well. Victoria at Eichardt's is just an angel and her staff divine. They have access to the best of everything in Queenstown. Suite #4, ours, was excellent. Many thanks for all your hard work and delightful choices. We certainly enjoyed the best of South Island in your hands.
Pamela and Rick Crandall , USA, March 2004
Dear Glenn,
I just wanted to commend your company and in particular, Ian Jongepier, for his assistance in helping me organise my trip to New Zealand. I stumbled upon your company by chance on the internet, and am pleased that I did, as your service has been exceptional. Dealing with Ian has been a pleasure - his willingness and enthusiasm to help should be commended - by far the friendliest and most helpful travel consultant I have dealt with over many years of travelling.
I will have no hesitation in advising my friends and family to organise any future trips to New Zealand through your company.
Looking forward to hitting your shores in 3 days time.
Regards,
Debbie Lovell, Australia, March 2004
Hi Nadia,
We had the most wonderful time in New Zealand. Everything went so smoothly and even the awful weather you had in Feb. disappeared when we got there. Thank you for all your help.
John and Mary Morrissey, USA, March 2004
Hi Ian!
Got back home from New Zealand yesterday. We had a great trip - very adventurous. We loved the North Island, especially the luge track in Rotorua! Highlights for the whole trip would have been the Tongariro Crossing (absolutely AMAZING!) and the boat cruise at Milford Sound. Regarding the Tongariro Crossing, on some brochures that are available it is recommended to do the Waihohunu track, with some brochures saying this is at least as good as the Tongariro Crossing - NOT TRUE! Can't really recommend any good campgrounds as we only stayed at one for our whole trip! We ended up beside rivers or in forests etc, it was wonderful.
Weather was perfect for our first week in the North Island, however much of our time in the South was cold and rainy. We even got to experience snow flakes landing on our tongues in Mt Cook national park, which was fun!
All in all we had a great time, no complaints at all. And thanks for all your help!
Regards,
Debbie
Debbie Lovell, Australia, March 2004
Denise,
Well, here we are home in California after our superb holiday in New Zealand. Madeleine and I want you to know how much we appreciate all your diligent work in arranging our visit. New Zealand is an absolutely stunning country full of fun and friendly Kiwis. Micha and Klaus and their lovely home at Villa Sorgenfrei could not have been more enjoyable. The Worcester, run so nicely by Maree and Tony has to be among the finest homes in Christchurch. Our apartment at Wairepo was so very comfortable. Richard gave us the full tour of his apple operation and Joyanne is a real character. And Sue Bilbie absolutely bent over backward to make our stay in her beautiful home one never to forget. Our two days there had perfect weather and we thought her view of the bay was a combination of San Francisco Bay, and Hong Kong and Sydney Harbors. We couldn't stop just staring out. I had thought of coming to see you when we were in Wellington but we arrived late on Good Friday and we doubted you would be in Saturday.
As you might expect, we ran into a number of your other clients during our tour and each of them shared our sentiments toward ExperienceNZ. You have a fine operation there and should be very proud to represent the finest New Zealand has to offer. Thank you again, Denise. We certainly will take every opportunity to send our friends to you for their New Zealand holiday
Ray and Madeleine, USA, March 2004
Dear Ian,
Firstly, the service provided by Experience New Zealand Travel Ltd was exemplary. Very efficient, which made things a lot easier for us as a family. The manner in which our request for the campervan was handled was very professional and tended to our needs and requirements. The manner in which Maui dealt with us was also very efficient and professional. Milford Sound was stunning for its scenery. The visit to the Fox and Franz Joseph Glaciers were awesome. We enjoyed a heli-flight to the top of both glaciers. Another very enjoyable experience was the Whale Watch at Kaikoura. There are many more things that I could write about; however I hope this gives you an idea of our experiences on our visit to NZ.
Emyr Watkin, United Kingdom, March 2004
Nadia, I just wanted to thank you for working on my behalf for my trip to New Zealand. It was absolutely fantastic. Next time I'm going to stay for a month. You really came through for me in a big way and I just wanted to thank you for it. Thanks for your time. It was a terrific trip and it was really because of you. Thanks again.
Meade Barlow, USA, February 2004
Hi Glenn,
I thought it was time to say hello to you again. Our trip to your fantastic country was a real thrill. We are already planning a return trip! Your help in planning was invaluable. The accommodations were excellent and in many cases outstanding. Considering that in many instances they weren't our first choices, I can only imagine what the number one spots were like!
Barrie and Mark Handleman, USA, February 2004
Dear Chrisana,
We had a great time and would highly recommend Experience NZ Travel. You know, we have traveled a great deal, so we feel our assessment is accurate. The trip was made enjoyable by it's smoothness. The pace was brisk, but we wanted to see a lot. It is easy, English speaking, first world and relatively safe. The people are fantastic. The country is gorgeous. You made offers to assist us in a variety of things which we did not realize you could do. The accommodations were uniformly FABULOUS. We loved Horopito as it was mind boggling to have the place to ourselves. The people at Tokarahi and River Run were also great. We had fun on the sheep ranch at Mt. Prospect. Corstophine House was to die for. The Doubtful Sound cruise was totally awesome and comfortable. Old St Mary's Convent and its grounds were great. Huntington Stables were over the top. Kaikoura Lodge was beautiful. We could have stayed another night in each of those places if we had the time. The activities you booked for us went well. The Siberia Experience was a high. The Whale Watching was fun (not at all choppy). We ate well everywhere. We were constantly thinking of places to see "next" or return to. We hope to be in touch with you in the future. Once again, thanks for a fantastic job on our NZ vacation. We have been singing praises about the entire experience. We made a contact in Blenheim and expect to arrange a shipment of three cases of NZ wine. We will share it over some dinners with our friends (or maybe just each other) and remember happily.
Marcia Darm and Bruce Berning, , Oregon, USA , February 2004
Hi Ian,
We made it back to California last Saturday. We had a great time in NZ!!! Thanks again for your help and for arranging the accommodations. It was cool that we had a nice place to stay every night. Some people we talked to had not pre-booked and often had a hard time finding a bed for the night, especially in the busier areas like Te Anau and Abel Tasman. Yes, we really had an outstanding time and the weather didn't bother us at all. As I said earlier, it was actually perfect for hiking. We were looking at the pictures we took last weekend and agreed that it definitely was an absolutely awesome experience. Even though if have some really good pictures, they'll never do NZ justice. You have to see it with your own eyes to fully appreciate how beautiful it is.
We liked all the areas we visited. Each one of them has its own beauty and appeal. Our favorite place was Wanaka because the scenery is awesome and there is a ton of hiking trails within 1 hour drive. From an accommodation point of view the highlights of our stay were the Blue Ridge Estate (mainly because Brian and Lesley Avery are such wonderful, wonderful hosts), the River Run (awesome views and awesome food - and John and Meg also were great hosts), and Kahikatea. We were actually pretty lucky with the weather too, considering that it wasn't the best summer you had. We only got rained out twice. Other than that it was fine. Not as warm as expected but nice. Actually worked out good because if it had been hot the hiking would have been a lot less enjoyable.
Let me close by thanking you again, Ian. You did a great job trying to show us most of the wonderful spots your country has to offer. We want to come back and spend more time in the areas we liked the best. We will definitely use your service again and recommend you to our friends!
Best regards,
Sabine and Dewayne, California, USA, February 2004
Chrisana,
Firstly, I would like to say Experience NZ is a first rate outfit run by people who have been there and know their way around. The level of attention to detail and personal service was admirable. I especially appreciated the packet at the airport on arrival in NZ with driving directions, guidebook and other useful info. I recommend Experience NZ highly to anyone visiting your wonderful country. Secondly, the trip itself went very well. We liked Pukeko Landing and Claremont very much and would recommend both. Rich and Rosie were great. We also enjoyed Punatapu and Korimako. Ron Stewart from Glenorchy was an excellent fishing guide, we had a nice day and did not get too burned. I look forward to returning to NZ someday soon. I appreciate your help, you did an excellent job.
Stan Schwarz, Florida, USA, January 2004
Anne,
Now that we are back in the UK I wanted to drop you a line to say thank you again for all your help in arranging our trip. We had an absolutely wonderful time, made all the better by some of the superb accommodation we stayed in. We especially enjoyed Kaikoura Lodge and Wanaka Springs.
Thank you again for all your help and I wish you well in 2004.
Kind regards,
Sarah Starnes & Steven Henderson, Kent, England, January 2004
Hi Chrisana, the trip was fabulous. The Old Convent and Aporo Pondsiders were very welcoming. In Nelson area, we relaxed and visited the Abel Tasman Park. In Dunedin we went to visit the yellow eyed penguins and the albatross colony. We went for a walk in the peninsula. It was lovely, so peaceful. We then drove to Te Anau. This was one of my favourite places, certainly because of the cruise on the Doubtful Sound. This was beautiful, the children were so happy because we saw dolphins. It is great and grandiose. We walked along the lake, the trees, the colors and the sunsets are fantastic. We spent quite some time lying on the grass and just being happy there. The hosts at Old Nick were very friendly. In Queenstown we admired the art work of Tim Wilson. The road to Fox Glacier is fantastic for the trees (especially Haas you should see the paintings of Tim Wilson of that area amazing!) Overall, it was great, you did a perfect job. We wish we had more time for our trip. The people we met were so easy going. Nothing seemed complicated, just enjoying. We will definitely go back to New Zealand. It was so hard to arrive in Bangkok, the air is so polluted and there are too many people. We needed two to three days to find back our routine. Thanks for arranging everything; we will be in touch again.
Sylvie Desilles , Thailand, January 2004
Dear Anne,
We just got home yesterday. I had meaning to call you while we were still in New Zealand, but it just didn't happen. I just want to thank you for a wonderful holiday. I learned on our travels from one of the B&B; owners that you are an intern. Well, I just wanted you to know that I had no idea. I thought you were a fully experienced agent. Everything ran so smoothly for us. We were thoroughly pleased with the accommodation as well as the activity choices.
Thank you again Anne, for everything.
Priya Wagle, USA, January 2004
Dear Glenn,
Thank you for arranging what turned out to be a fabulous vacation to New Zealand. The Gods definitely were smiling on us when they put us in touch with you. Every place far exceeded our expectations, and we learned to trust your judgement more completely every step of our journey. Terrific job! We will definitely recommend you to anyone we know who plans to head in your direction.
All the best,
Chris Parker
Chris Parker, California, USA , January 2004
Denise,
We are back home after a wonderful trip. Except for a few weather delays and missed flights, we arrived home happy and tired.We want to thank you for arranging a flawless visit for us to New Zealand. As you advised, we loved our Milford Track walk. Ultimate Hikes offers an extremely professional organized walk. Our private rooms were comfortable and warm. The trail had some challenging moments because of heavy rains the few days before our arrival at the trail. Those were quickly overcome and the walk was wonderful. The lodges served tasty meals and New Zealand wines were available. Our group bonded and everyone was helpful and friendly. No doubt following the example set by the staff of Ultimate Hikes. All the bed and breakfast accommodations were comfortable and enjoyable. I'm not sure you have time for too much detail. But we loved Cathy and Phil at Antria Boutique Lodge. Phil's wine tour was well done and enjoyable. Dinner at Herzogs was outstanding. It was our favourite of meals; although, we had wonderful food throughout our visit.Kapitea Ridge Lodge had a wonderful view and they graciously had reserved the room I wanted. Very comfortable and quiet. The walk around Lake Matheson was beautiful. We were able to visit Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. Although the day we visited Fox it was pouring rain. Wanaka Springs was like visiting family! They got everyone together for drinks and snacks. No one wanted to leave for dinner. But we persevered and finally left for an outstanding meal at the White House. Our favourite of the bed and breakfasts was Evergreen Lodge in Queenstown. Lavinia offers extreme comfort in a beautiful environment. We could live there forever. She was helpful and supportive. The breakfasts were wonderful!
Our rental car and all flights in New Zealand were without a problem. Your package we received from Budget was appreciated and used throughout the trip. Ian McKellen sat near us at Saffron's!
We'll be back! Thanks to you!
UK Clients, United KIngdom, January 2004
Hello Denise,
This quick note is to tell you that our NZ vacation was one of the best ever! The three venues were all outstanding in location, accommodations, and service! The Paradise tour was wonderful, and the the Dart River Jet Boat Safari great fun!
We hope we can work with you again in the future.
Bill and Susan Surplus, USA, December 2003
Chrisana
Hi everything went well on the trip. It was great. The itinerary you helped prepare for us was the most thorough of any travel agency we have ever worked with. I am very pleased with all the accommodation, travel arrangements and activities you helped us with. The service and food and people in NZ are top notch. We thought Pondsiders, Evergreen Lodge and The Homestead were all excellent. I would recommend them! We will be back to New Zealand again in the next couple of years. Need to do the North Island next! So I will keep your contact information on file. Thanks again for all you did.
Jill Dauner, Florida, USA, December 2003
Hi Chrisana
The trip was even better than we ever imagined and we can't begin to thank you enough. Honestly, I cried when coming back. The rat race of living in California seems senseless compared to the beauty and friendliness of your country. I'm obsessed with going back and think living there must be fabulous. The accommodations were great and I'd say we loved Villa 10 the best - what's not to love about that place! I am sad, sad, sad that it is all over! We told everyone about our great experience working with you and I wouldn't change a thing. Don't be surprised if one or both of us is back soon. Thank you again for everything. If I can provide references for you, just let me know as I'd love to brag about how good you are.
Julie Selecman and Cici Trino , California, USA , December 2003
Denise,
Thanks for organising a truly wonderful and memorable
holiday. Too many highlights to mention but the choice
of Nelson was perfect for xmas and we would happily
have spent more time at The Quarters and River Run and
Rocky Range and Evergreen and Mt Prospect, The
Gatehouse and ....we loved the variety of accom, situations,and type of
people running them.
New Years Eve at Doubtful Sound will live with us for ever - a perfect
evening and a great trip.
The only small nigggle in 3 weeks was Budget Rental Cars in
Queenstown who were less than helpful but ther ewas
only one person trying to run a pretty busy office .
So a big thank you - if you enjoyed organising it we
enjoyed living it a thousand times more, but are now safely home to rain and grey and crowds and wind.....
David and Jan Galloway, England, December 2003
Dear Ian,
Happy New Year! We are back in Bangkok and had such a lovely time in NZ. What a glorious place it is. We did keep laughing when we recalled everyone saying how crowded and busy it is that time of year...and we definitely agree in as much as the booking for lodging and cars, etc,....but it seemed like we were the only ones there. We enjoyed the scenery and the short walks off the roadways that are so clearly marked and natural.
Thanks for all you help in the planning. Everything went so well and we loved especially the stay in Hokitika at Awatuna and the Orari in Christ Church. It was all very well planned and I appreciate all the information and expertise you provided.
Michelle Goulding, Bangkok, December 2003
Hi Ian,
Just a note to say thanks for all your work in helping us to have a great holiday in NZ! It was great to have all the documents, tickets etc so well organized and waiting for us on arrival.
I'd really recommend the Milford Track; while it's quite an expensive activity, it's worth every penny and the organization, accommodation and food were all excellent. It's a truly stunning walk.
Tongariro Crossing - managed to do by the skin of our teeth due to bad weather, but a stunning walk and so glad we made it!
Franz Josef Glacier - great, especially if you opt for the fast group and get further up the glacier.
Accommodation was generally very good (with the exception of one!) but we really liked Sansouci Inn and Hydrangea Cottage for character and setting. The Magic Cottage accommodation near Kerikeri was excellent too so you might want to recommend that one in the future. Otherwise everwhere was clean and good quality accommodation with helpful and friendly hosts.
Thanks again for your endless patience last year. Have a great 2004 and if you ever visit London let me know and I'll be happy to give you a few tips!
Best wishes
Mark Hutchinson , UK, December 2003
Hi Glenn,
Just wanted to drop you a note after we left Queenstown and New Zealand last week. We had a great time in Northland- we thought the accommodation was the most unique and scenic place that we had stayed and enjoyed ourselves thoroughly. Dave and Tamara were very gracious hosts. Great job in picking this undiscovered treasure for us to start out our honeymoon.
The Milford Track Guided walk was also very good -- lots of great food and the lodges were spectacular.
Thanks for all of your work in booking our arrangements. I appreciated your pro-activeness in calling me and rushing on the bookings before Christmas.
Wendell Wenjen, USA, December 2003
Glenn,
Well, we're home safe and sound and, really just in the last couple of days, over the jet-lag. We had a truly fantastic holiday and can now say we've 'done New Zealand'. Not completely of course because we didn't ever get to the Coromandel peninsula and we didn't see any of the southwest corner of the North Island. But we gave it a good shot over the space of almost 3 months and we have loads and loads of happy memories of people met and places visited. All the accommodations were very, very, good as per our last trip and the car hire and all the excursions went flawlessly. Thank you Glenn, and all at Experience NZ Travel, for making our two holidays in NZ so unforgettable.
Anne & Campbell Armstrong, Longniddry, East Lothian, Scotland, December 2003
Hi Ian and all the ExpNZ crew,
We are back in boring Houston. After a long journey back of delays due to severe weather, flooding and tornadoes in Houston. But who cares? Our trip was AMAZING! Even with 3 days lost. Everywhere we went was just so wonderful! I don't have enough good things to say. Your recommendations were amazing and we loved the places and the hosts. And everywhere we went the hosts had good things to say about you guys, they love working with you, and so did we. I'll be happy to write reviews about anywhere you specifically want, or about all of them because I would like to anyway. I just want to thank you all for all the help you gave us when we needed it. We were very lucky we made it. I'll send some pictures soon. We're already planning our anniversary trip!
Daniela and Erik , Houston, Texas, November 2003
Hi Denise,
I just want to leave you a quick note to thank you for coordinating what was truly a "Dream Vacation!" Everything was better than we could have possibly imagined! We truly enjoyed each of the locations you recommended, but the Huntington Stables stood out above all the rest! Colin and Carol went way above their call of duty to show us a very enjoyable time. We pulled ourselves away to visit Rotorura for about three hours, but then wanted to get back to Cambridge to just unwind. It was truly the "perfect" place to end our vacation, and I would Highly suggest this location to anyone!
Dave and I wish we would have had more time to see more of the country--would have loved to have seen Wellington! Everyone kept telling us what a great city you have.Thank you again for all the time and energy that went in on creating this itinerary for us. We have some family and friends that are looking at visiting New Zealand in the near future, and we will be sure to pass along your contact information!It was a pleasure working with you and thanks again for giving us many wonderful, lasting memories!
Cheers, (see...I picked up a little Kiwi!)
Kristin and David Petron, Salt Lake City, Utah , November 2003
Glenn,
We made it home. We were so overwhelmed with our New Zealand experience. It more than met our expectations. Everyone and every place we stayed at was wonderful. Cavalli Beach House and Villa Polenza were my favorite. Bill and Paula were fantastic. The kind of folks we could be great friends with. Russell and Trina at Villa Polenza were alot of fun. Trina's decorating style was way cool. Steve liked Punapatu (especially Doolie the cook and Toa the dog). Sue was gone, but her staff took good care of us. Our meal at River Run was to die for and the Kahurungi cottage was a nice place to end up at and catch up on all my laundry and get back into my household duties (we cooked) I can't thank you enough for your help and all the work you did in setting us up on the most fantastic trip of our lives. New Zealand is awesome country and every one we met was so friendly and helpful.
Once again, Thank you for everything.
Judy
Judy and Steve Rutz, Florida, USA, November 2003
Hi Glenn,
I hope things are well. I just wanted to let know how absolutely wonderful our honeymoon was. Everything was perfect down to the last detail. Thank you so much for all your help, you truly helped us with a most memorable honeymoon.
All our friends and family that have seen the pictures and video we took were awe struck. We will highly recommend you to any and all who tell us they wish to travel to NZ.
Again my new wife and I are most grateful and appreciative of all your help.
Forever Grateful,
Anthony and Lazara Escarpenter, Florida, USA, November 2003
Hi Ian,
I have been meaning to send you an e-mail since we got back, but it has taken this long to get even close to catching up with a backlog of work. It didn't help that I had a 5-day trip to upper NY state a week after we returned. I just wanted to thank you for your expertise and assistance in helping to put together the itinerary for us. We enjoyed the trip enormously. All of the BBs were fabulous. The only downside was that we ate too much almost every single morning and probably ate and drank too much each evening! The New Zealanders were great hosts. Other than local traveling and restaurants (food and wine were truly wonderful), we managed to experience a 2-hour boat trip on Milford Sound, an 30minute sightseeing tour over Rotorua and the extinct volcano and the Shotover Jet outside Queenstown. Of course we managed to see much more, but those come to mind. It was a wonderful experience. Hopefully we will be able to go back for an extended period of time before too long.
Thanks again for your help!
Graham Jones and Carol Billie, Edmonton, Canada, November 2003
Chrisana --
Well, we've been back a week. The trip was great. Your itinerary and accommodations worked out really well. Particular highlights were the sheep farm, the Routeburn Trek, the Rob Roy glacier walk in Mount Aspiring National Park, sea kayaking in Abel Tasman National Park, whale watching in Kaikoura, and the Tongarero Crossing. My favorite accommodations were the Mount Prospect and Aporo. As you may remember, I was unsure about whether taking the guided option for the Routeburn Trek would be worth it. It definitely was. As it turns out, the high pass was closed by snow, so our group was helicoptered over! Not an option if we were on our own. Also, our group was very diverse and enjoyable (including a contingent from China), not to mention the excellent guides. If you have other clients with similar concerns, that is definitely worth mentioning.
Now that we have first hand experience traveling in New Zealand, we're thinking about what we'd like to do on another visit.
Thanks again for your help in planning our trip.
Doug and Ginny McCrae, Boston, USA, November 2003
Hi Ian, We have (unfortunately) now returned from your lovely country and are back in the real world again!Our trip was fantastic and the vans you recommended (Cruise) were great for what we all wanted to do.
We would all do it again though in a heartbeat!Some of the highlights we found were:
White Island - what an experience! Well worth every cent! How powerful nature can be! Cape Brett - the hole in the rock was amazing, and it was interesting to see all the holiday homes on the islands. Hangi & Concert - over too quickly, but thoroughly enjoyed by all.
In hindsight we should have done Rotorua before White Island because we all were a little underwhelmed by the thermal areas! Agrodome activities - Jet boating, Swoop & Zorb - a lot of fun had by all, even the spectators! Kelly Tarton's aquatic world - the penguins were great to see and the highlight. The men enjoyed a mornings fishing with K2 Charters on Lake Taupo and all came home with some trout (and big smiles!). They have all said they would go out with Ed again if given the chance.Thanks for all your help and assistance on planning our trip, it was greatly appreciated. My parents plan on travelling to the South Island next year so I'll keep your email address as we'd like to deal with your company for that trip too.
Have a safe & happy Christmas and a prosperous 2004.
Melissa Copp, Australia, November 2003
Hi Denise,
Here we are home again after The most wonderful experience we have ever had. We fell in love with New Zealand, her people, the ocean, the sheep, the mountains, the fiords, the bush, whitebait, Te Papa, pavlova's, bungy jumping (I was chicken!). We can honestly say that we thoroughly enjoyed every second of every day. The accommodation you so expertly chose to suit our taste was above and beyond what we had ever dreamed of. The Quarters stole our hearts, especially the most spectacular sunrise, Peter actually rose at 5.45am, a first for him. We walked among the sheep, and enjoyed the fresh corn bread and crayfish. Te Anau was another favorite, and Milford Sound we found to be very awe inspiring. We flew the Southern Alps with Air Fjord land, I was a tad nervous, actually that is putting it mildly, but now I can look back and brag quite readily! Another great day was in Auckland, we hiked up Rangitoto Island and had a wonderful view of Auckland and the surrounding islands. Diane at The Nikau Palms couldn't do enough for us and each time we returned to the house we found home made nibbles which were always delicious. All our hosts were a wealth of knowledge and the food---excellent. There was always the offer to do laundry which is great when living out of a suitcase. We have all the memories of the experience of a lifetime and they will be with us forever. Thank you a million times from both of us for making it just that.
Peter and Julie Newman, Canada, October 2003
Hi Denise,
How are you? We just arrived home from our whirlwind trip. It was fantastic and I wanted to thank you for all your insightful assistance with our plans. I really appreciated the fact that you took time to help me organize a very memorable vacation, especially last minute! I will try and call you directly this week so we can talk real-time, but everything was perfect! The weather was super so we didn't have to miss anything. All of your suggestions were excellent and we all had a blast. We will definitely be back to see the rest of the country.
It was a pleasure working with you and I am so happy that Steve got us connected. Thanks again and "we will be back"! All the best, Mary
ps- My son is now an All Blacks fan!
Mary Lynch, USA, August 2003
Hi Ian, Everything was perfect. I cannot say enough about all the great accomodations ... great choices ... we are planning when we can return. It is a beautiful country and the activities are endless. You did a great job and I will recommend your services. We will be in touch when we plan our next trip to your lovely country.
Luttrell Family, China, July 2003
Hello Ian! ... I don't think we can actually put into words how thankful we are for the things you did for us. You planned an amazing trip and I kept thinking I was in a dream and at any moment I was going to just wake up. Jason and I did so many things and saw so much beauty; NZ was far beyond what we imagined it could be. You are such a good person and you really made us feel like friends and we felt so welcomed. And, of course, that signed copy by Peter Jackson, *sigh*, is just out of this world. Jason still opens it up and stares at it, then he puts in away very gently and walks around with a very glazed look in his eye...we're still trying to figure out how the hell you pulled that one off...however you did it, it was just far beyond what we ever expected. I don't think we could ever really say thank you enough. You are awesome at what you do, Ian, keep it up because you really represent NZ so well, we're so glad we found you!
Renée and Jason, Maine, USA, June 2003
I can't thank you enough for ALL the hard work you put into planning
our trip and appreciate all the suggestions you made and all the questions you endured from us! Like I said, from all my positive comments, I think my boyfriend and I will be making a trip back there in the coming years. As your company name states, we truly did "Experience New Zealand" and we have you to thank for that!
Colleen Fogarty and Trish Spence, Amsterdam, Holland, April 2003
We both want to give special kudos to Sue Bilbie from 298 Oriental Parade in Wellington. She took us in to her family and shared her wonderful home with us. We have never stayed with anyone who has treated us so well and taken such great care of us. Our short stay there was the high point of our vacation. Thank you for all of your help.
Laura Griffith, USA, March 2003
Glenn, the words I want to use to describe the trip you put together for me haven't been invented yet. For now I'll have to just live with extraordinary. I was extremely pleased with all of my accomodations, and the activities you booked for me were incredible. My only regret was the short amount of time I had to experience such an incredible country and also that I couldn't just happen to miss my flight home and get to live in the Bay of Islands forever. I probably spoiled myself staying at the Cavalli Beach House for so long and making that one of the first stops on my trip. Anyone I dealt with at your offices was extremely friendly and helpful and I can't think of a single disappointment I had with the service you provided me or with the actual trip itself. Rest assured, I will be back.
Joseph Henry, USA, March 2003
A heartfelt "Thank You" for putting together a wonderful personalized itinerary for our spur of the moment trip to South Island. Not only were your lodging suggestions perfect, but we also availed ourselves of most of your suggested activities, including the helicopter in Fox Glacier and the fixed wing visit to Milford Sound. Having both fallen in love with NZ, we are already discussing our next expedition to tour the North Island, with a view to purchasing property for a second retirement home. Be assured you will have our repeat business. Well done!
Warren Wolfe, USA, January 2003
We would like to thank you so very much for everything you did to help our honeymoon be such a success. We truly had the trip of a lifetime. Much of this was down to your advice and arrangements. From the moment we started to plan our trip, we found both you and your website invaluable for providing information and guidance. Once we got to the stage of booking accommodation and activities, you could not have made things easier. All of your recommended accommodation was excellent, and all of the hosts welcoming and helpful. In particular, we loved River Run. Thank you for your recommendation of dinner! Also, all of the activities you recommended and booked for us were excellent. The dolphin swimming in Kaikoura was a particularly memorable experience, and a really excellent trip all round. We absolutely loved New Zealand, and although we in no way saw everything you have to offer, we feel that we've come away with a really good taste of your fantastic country. Many thanks again, and we will be delighted to recommend you to any of our friends or family who might be heading your way.
Emma and Derek, England, January 2003
Hi Glenn ... I just wanted to write to you and let you know how much we enjoyed our trip and to thank you for your part in it. Everything went just as planned and I have nothing but good reports for every stop. ... Our favorite B&B; turned out to be Antria in Blenheim. Kathy and Phil are great people and they have a really neat place. When we left - after only one night - we felt like we were leaving family! But all the bookings were first rate and exceeded our expectations. And we were there long enough to discover the secret of NZ - its people. We were made to feel welcome everywhere we went and never felt like we weren't getting more than our money's worth.
Jim and Lea Fisher, Singapore, January 2003
Ian, Thanks again for the great arrangements - everything went like clockwork ... All the properties you recommended were excellent and we didn't have any sort of trouble anywhere. It's also been great interacting with you - I almost feel like we've become good friends! I do wish I could've spoken to you to personally thank you - but you were out of office the day I called. Anyway, keep up the good work, and all the best!
Preeti Monippally and Reynold DSilva, India, January 2003
Hi Glenn, After 35 years in the service industry I have recently become disillusioned at the lack of customer service in today's world. However I have recently had reason to deal with your staff member Ian Jongepier and my faith in great service has been restored. The story is a long one, but Ian went to considerable lengths to solve a booking problem for me and obtain a refund which was starting to look lost. If you don't already know, Ian is a great representative of your company. I look forward to doing business with you in the future.
Rob Terry, New Zealand, January 2003
Glenn were back and we had an unbelievable time in NZ! It was so wonderful and we owe a lot of our happiness to you! We did so much that I think we could use another vacation!
Jody Hayward, USA, January 2003
Claudia, Where to start?! Simply we had a fantastic holiday. The accommodation and breakfasts were lovely, we were very happy with our accommodation choices and all our hosts were friendly. Finally, we'd both like to say a big thank you for all your help in making our trip such a success. It was a pleasure dealing with you and I miss our e-mails back and forth!
Caroline Hooper and Peter Milner, Wales, January 2003
Dear Ian,
Just a short note to say thanks for helping me arrange a fantastic vacation. The Maui campervan was a perfect fit!
As always I enjoyed my time in your lovely country. And as always, time flew by and I had to leave much too soon. But "I shall return," in the words of another Yank! In the meantime, I thought you might like to see some of the wild and not-so-wild life on the south island. Enjoy...
Wayne Johnson, Alaska, USA, January 2003
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