Your Custom Text Here
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
Beijing is an amazing city of over 20m people. It's a place where worlds collide. A place of apparent chaos yet with an underlying order that makes everything work.
I recently spent a few days there so I thought I would share some of my experience. And that really is what Beijing is: an experience.
English is not widely spoken so at first it will feel very strange. On the first day there I explored, map in hand. Now - I have discovered that I have a bit of an issue when it comes to using maps in the Northern Hemisphere. North doesn't feel like North to me. A lifetime of living in New Zealand clearly makes me feel upside-down. Having worked that out, using a map in Beijing became useful and effective.
You will walk a lot. It's a massive city and takes a lot to get around. Do make sure you learn to use the subway. It's really inexpensive and is a very efficient way to extend your range.
Department stores and malls open at 10am and stay open until 9:30pm-10:00pm.
If you want to find cheap goods (and the famous fakes) go to Silk Street. It's 7-8 floors of leather goods, clothes, toys and more. It has a great foodhall where you can sit amongst the locals and eat authentic food. One thing that was interesting is that people will come up to you and try to talk to you. Chinese love practicing English.
China World is where you find all the well-known luxury brands. A huge underground mall with many shops, food stores and even an ice-skating rink.
I found that there isn't really a drinking culture in Beijing. There is little understanding or appreciation of wine and quality beer. Wine is either 'white' or 'red'. Some stores are trying hard to learn about variety but still default to the 'oh, you're looking at white wines - try this...' approach.
If you want a more Western-influenced bar/club/restaurant experience, head West from Tuanjiehu subway station to Sanlitun Bei Lu. There is a fantastic mall here, and it's home to many bars. Some that even supply beer and pizza.
In the Nali Patio Tower we found many restaurants and clubs, including one called The Black Moth. It's an amazing cocktail bar that is very exclusive and somewhat hidden.
One thing I was surprised by is how Beijing has embraced Halloween. I queried our guide about this and her comment was "Find joy in everything" - so even if something has no cultural significance to a Chinese person, or is commercialised, just embrace it and enjoy it.
Sightseeing in Beijing is great. It's the home to Tian'an Men Square, The Forbidden City, The Summer Palace, various parks, and also the access to sections of The Great Wall and the Ming Tombs.
I love visiting The Forbidden City. It never ceases to amaze me. The sheer scale of the complex and the journey you take when you walk through is quite memorable.
We visited the Juyongguan section of The Great Wall. It's less populated that Badaling. Be prepared for a bit of a climb. 300m of elevation in a very short distance, on uneven steps that range from 10cm to 40cm in height. Exhausting but exciting!
If your tour/timings allow you'll get to visit Jade carving factory and a Pearl harvesting factory. Both these places showcase the cultural importance of these resources. The workmanship is also something else. Very interesting and a good opportunity to purchase a reminder of your trip.
Visiting the Ming Tombs is also interesting. The Dadaling tomb is open to the public. It's set in some beautiful grounds and is worth a visit.
Walking through the Olympic Park is quite dramatic also. Seeing what the Chinese achieved to be able to host the Games in 2008. The architecture is great to see up close.
The Summer Palace is a must-see. This park is steeped in history and is just beautiful. It is very well cared for. A haven for tourists and locals alike.
I particularly enjoyed people watching and seeing the locals go about their lives. Learning how to cross roads like a local. Learning to use the subway like a local. Observing the markets, the street stalls, the workers keeping their city clean.
Beijing is a melting pot and is so interesting to be immersed in. A definite favorite destination of mine.
^sd
Following a joint directive from the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) and the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), Air New Zealand is placing a total ban on the carriage of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices from 5am today – Sunday 16th October 2016.
These devices cannot be accepted for carriage either in person, in carry-on luggage or in checked luggage. This is a FAA and US DOT safety requirement. We are also in consultation with the NZ Civil Aviation Authority on this matter.
We are advising travellers not to bring these devices to the airport with them as they cannot be accepted for travel and there is no storage facility available for them at our check-in areas. Owners of these devices are being advised to contact Samsung for advice on how to return their devices.
Please ensure these changes are advised to all your customers with upcoming travel.
When I traveled to China, I was taken by Xi'an. It's an extraordinary city, with so much history.
It is home to the world famous Terracotta Warriors plus many other timeless attractions dating back 5,000 years. It's a wonderful destination to explore.
The Sheraton Xian North City Hotel is already well established in the market providing 5 star service to travelers. We got the opportunity to meet the Management of this property when they visited New Zealand recently. It was great talking with them and reminiscing of my time in their city.
Some benefits of the property and location:
* A close 40 minutes from the Xian International Airport
* The only 5 star hotel which has the new Metro system located underneath the hotel
* On the Metro it's only 3 stops to the Bell tower, Drum tower and the very popular Muslim Street
* 10 minutes walk to the old Daming Palace grounds which are 1,400 years old
* 1 hour 15mins to the Terracotta Warriors
* World class museums and fabulous Xi'an Cuisine
If you get the chance, you must visit!
^sd
Take a look at what our friends at Starwood have to offer you for your accomodation.
811 7th Avenue I New York, NY 10019 I 212 581 1000 I sheratonnewyork.com
1,781 Guest Rooms • 61 Suites • 43 Meeting Rooms • Total Meeting Space: 60,000 sq. ft.
The Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel is located between Central Park and Times Square in the center of Manhattan’s Midtown entertainment district. Experience the thrill and magic of award-winning Broadway shows right before your very eyes. Only here will you experience those exciting moments that New York City is famous for. The hotel is a source of familiar comfort in a city of millions.
270 West 42nd Street I New York, NY 10036 I 212.201.2700 I westinny.com
873 Guest Rooms • 30 Suites • 32 Meeting Rooms • Total Meeting Space: 34,000 sq. ft.
Welcome to a place where time ceases to tick and begins to flow. Where every sense is soothed and energy is restored. Where your well-being reigns supreme. In the center of Times Square, New York City all around you, discover a hotel destination where you and your family stay at your best. Experience a whole new level of luxury and serenity at The Westin New York at Times Square. For a better you™.
212 East 42nd Street I New York, NY 10017 I 212 490 8900 I westinnewyorkgrandcentral.com
774 Guest Rooms • 12 Suites • 12 Meeting Rooms • Total Meeting Space: 15,000 sq. ft.
Convenience and elegance merge at The Westin New York Grand Central. Our central location puts the city at your fingertips, whether you’re catching a train at Grand Central Terminal or visiting iconic New York sites like the Empire State Building, Bryant Park, and Times Square. Maintain your wellbeing with Westin WORKOUT®. Experience ultimate comfort with Westin Heavenly® Bed and Bath. Or relax with friends at The LCL. No matter how you choose to spend your time, the Westin difference ensures that your stay is everything you want it to be.
541 Lexington Avenue I New York, NY 10022 I 212 755 1200 I whotelsnewyork.com
696 Guest Rooms • 56 Suites • 7 Meeting Rooms • Total Meeting Space: 8,868 sq. ft.
W New York is a sanctuary within the city - close to the museums, Times Square, Broadway, the business district, and just blocks away from some of New York’s finest department stores, and the famed Rockefeller Center. W New York’s Whatever/Whenever® philosophy pampers guests with “whatever you want, whenever you want it,” inviting sophisticated business and leisure travelers into a world where anything can happen.
1567 Broadway at West 46th Street I New York, NY 10036 I 212 930 7400 I whotelsnewyork.com
509 Guest Rooms • 43 Suites • 6 Meeting Rooms • Total Meeting Space: 2,300 sq. ft.
Welcome to our Times Square Hotel. Take a front row seat. Perched above the “Crossroads of the World,” near the Big Apple’s famous theater district, W New York - Times Square amplifies the city’s famous energy.
201 Park Ave. South at East 17th St. I New York, NY 10003 I 212 253 9119 I whotelsnewyork.com
270 guest rooms • 16 suites • 6 meeting rooms • Total Meeting Space: 7,000 sq. ft.
Located in iconic Union Square - W New York - Union Square is housed in the David Rockwell freshly re-mixed landmark 1911 beaux arts Guardian Life building. Surrounded by seasonal offerings at the farmer’s market, boutiques and shops of the West Village, and celebrated landmarks, W Union Square is the perfect juxtaposition of the class of uptown and downtown cool.
8 Albany St. I New York, NY 10006 I 646 826 8600 I whotelsnewyork.com
217 Guest Rooms • 3 Suites • 4 Meeting Rooms • Total Meeting Space: 1,933 sq. ft.
Lower Manhattan is heating up with W New York - Downtown leading the charge. Directly across the street from One World Trade Center and Observatory, Brookfield Place, blocks from NYSE, and offering views of the Statue of Liberty, the hotel is surrounded by the action of this iconic neighborhood. Steps away from renowned destinations like the South Street Seaport and Governor’s Island and easily accessible to Brooklyn.
