Recommend April 2012 - (Page 70)

THE A&K STYLE On Abercrombie & Kent’s 12-day Signature New Zealand, “Guests have a chance to explore the surreal geysers of the Te Puia Thermal Reserve, molten lava bubbling to the surface in Rotorua and the secluded beauty of Milford Sound. Visitors also have the opportunity to sample the island-nation’s cosmopolitan ﬂair in cities like where adventure meets sophistication.” The tour also includes side trips to Waitemata Harbor on board an America’s Cup yacht where guests experience being a deck hand on a sleek vessel. There is also a trip to a Maori village to learn about ancient legends. Nature lovers will get a deeper understanding of the rare kiwi bird during Kiwi Encounter, where visitors interact with New Zealand’s iconic national symbol. Accommodations vary by price point level selected, but include in Auckland, The Langham Auckland or Skycity; in Rotorua, Peppers on the Point Rotoru or Novotel Lakeside Rotorua, and in Christchurch, The George, among others. According to Jean Fawcett, media relations manager, A&K’s signature ﬁve-star service is prevalent during the tour. It also affords the chance to experience what she calls “one of earth’s greatest unspoiled frontiers.” Rates range from about $9,670 pp dbl to $11,790 plus air. 68 april 2012 TRAFALGAR Auckland and Queenstown, “We have a pretty comprehensive 20-day itinerary that includes both Australia and New Zealand,” says Tom Armstrong, corporate communications manager. “We recognize that 20 days might be difﬁcult for some guests, however, and that some might want to visit only New Zealand. So guests have that option.” Armstrong is referring to Tauck’s Grand Australia and New Zealand (from $8,100 pp plus on-tour air) that stops along the country’s high spots while simultaneously engaging travelers in a variety of activities. The tour crisscrosses New Zealand on business-class air charters to and from Auckland. Its stops include visits to a working farm to acquire a taste of New Zealand country life; helicopter rides to the summit of Bob’s Peak in Queenstown, a 2,400-ft.-high landmark with stunning lake and mountain views; visits to the Rotorua geysers to see violent geothermal activity; stops at the glacier-carved cliffs of Milford Sound and even a wine cruise in Marlborough Sound where guests sample green-lipped mussels and other local specialties. The tour includes accommodations in some of the most luxurious hotels and lodges in the country—places like The Langham Hotel Auckland, long considered one of the best hotels in the country; the plush Te Anau Hotel and Villas on the shores of Lake Te Anau, a property with stunning views of the Fiorland Range; and the Crowne Plaza Queenstown, an equally legendary and extolled lakeside resort. Tauck’s guests will enjoy the amenities of world-class accommodations, gourmet meals, spa treatments and memorable scenery that, when spiced with New Zealand’s raw beauty, makes the country one of the premier destinations in the Southern Hemisphere. But regardless of activities or the cost involved in a tour, all will leave with memories of this country’s great natural beauty and with an understanding of why New Zealand calls itself “Home to the Middle Earth,” paying homage to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. n Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): Adventures on Hayman Island (October 2011) contact information Abercrombie & Kent: (888) 785-5379; abercrombiekent.com Active Downunder: (800) 425-9036; activedownunder.com Air New Zealand: (800) 262-1234; airnewzealand.com New Zealand Tourism Board: (310) 395-7480; newzealand.com/travel/trade Tauck: (866) 871-4382; agent.tauck.com recommend.com http://www.recommend.com http://www.abercrombiekent.com http://www.activedownunder.com http://www.airnewzealand.com http://www.newzealand.com/travel/trade http://agent.tauck.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend April 2012

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Provenance Hotels
Tour Talk: Trafalgar
Sailing the Galapagos Islands
Now Sapphire
Paradisus Playa del Carmen
Treat Yourself to Brussels
Panama Specialist Program
New Zealand
Turkish Delights
Women Wellness Retreats
The Still-Single Mingle in Vegas
Club Med Sandpiper, Florida
Hawaii: Escaping to the Islands

Recommend April 2012