Queenstown, NZ, location, location, location!

Queenstown, NZ, location, location, location!

I just recently spent three nights in Queenstown, New Zealand and loved the lakeside town. Even though it was my second visit to Queenstown I didn’t do any of the same things I did before as Queenstown and the surrounding area has so much to offer.

Day 1

The first day was an easy day as I had just arrived via Los Angeles and Auckland.  The flight to Queenstown allowed us to see the Southern Alps which viewed from above looks like a spine running down the middle of the South Island of New Zealand.

As we neared Queenstown I kept thinking is there actually enough flat land to land this plane? The sun was shining and there were mountains in every direction you looked!  And, even when we landed at the airport and got off the plane on the tarmac everyone was busy clicking off pictures. The view of the mountains and the low lying clouds were stunning!

We were lucky to be staying at the Rydges Lakeland Hotel which is directly across from the lake so the views were incredible with lake and the backdrop the Remarkable Mountains. Even though the Rydges is not right in the centre of town is very close to walk to everything in less than 15 minutes. Most of the rooms at the Rydges face the lake and either have terraces or balconies from which to enjoy the view. Even the bar and restaurant have stunning views.  Seeing the sun rise over The Remarkable Mountains while having breakfast at the hotel restaurant each morning was fantastic!

I opted to walk around the beautifully located town of about 10,000 permanent residents, soon after we arrived at the hotel.  Queenstown is located on the shore of Lake Wakatipu. It is a glacier formed lake but according to Maori legend the lake was formed by the burnt sleeping body of the giant Matau after he had abducted a chief’s daughter.  A “S” hole was left behind which soon filled with the melted snow and ice forming the lake as it is known today.

 Queenstown has many restaurants and shops and wonderful places for coffee. That day we also lucked out as there was a craft market taking place which featured local artisans.  I ended up buying some hand poured tea light candles and a merino wool hat for my daughter.

It was a great way to ease into the beginning of the trip and to orientate myself with the life of Queenstown.  

Stay tuned for more on Queenstown and area.

Denise Gushue - Certified Travel Advisor

Kiwi Specialist

e.denise.gushue@gmail.com 

Things to do in LA on a 24 hour stopover

LA Stopover!

As I sell a lot of South Pacific to my clients often they connect via Los Angeles. And, since it is such a long journey from eastern Canada I often suggest an overnight in LA before connecting the next evening. With good planning you can stop over for free in LA, as long as your stop over is less than 24 hours. This is where my expertise comes into play. Yes it means paying for a hotel for the night but most hotels near LAX are relatively inexpensive and offer free shuttles to and from the airport.

Manhattan Beach Pier

So what do you do that extra day you ask? Well I recently stayed in Los Angeles before flying out to New Zealand the next day and I found a very inexpensive option, the Ocean Express Trolley. Since most hotels have a check out time at noon, you will have to store your bags with the bellman for the day.  The trolley ticket can be purchased from your hotel concierge for 5.00USD for a return trip with hop on hop off privileges and stops at near many of the hotels on Century Boulevard.  You can go to a local beach, like Manhattan Beach and/or shop till your heart’s desire. Not only can you shop in the village of Manhattan Beach but there are also some shopping centres on the trolley’s route where you can opt to stop at if you are a diehard shopper.

Manhattan Beach

Great service at Cotton Cargo, Manhattan Beach! 

 I stopped at Manhattan Beach and checked out the gorgeous beach and pier. It will give you a real taste of the Californian lifestyle, and, it was just so great to walk on the beach and soak up some of the sun! There is a board-walk as well from which you can see some incredible homes!

 The shops in Manhattan Beach are laid back and the service is friendly.

The Ocean Express Trolley is not the only option though that you can do while in LA. There are also tours to see Hollywood, some of the Star’s homes, and day passes to Disney Land in Anaheim.

Having that stopover in LA could actually be an added bonus to you holiday plans with the help of a travel agent in the “know”!

Check out this video on the Ocean Express Trolley

Denise Gushue - Certified Travel Advisor

e. dgushue@maritimetravel.ca

The Importance of Travel Insurance

Just recently had a client who booked a very expensive trip which involved a luxurious train journey. As it is required by the Ontario Travel Industry Act I offered him insurance and he declined, saying the money was better in his pocket and not theirs.

Well it turned out the train journey he booked was cancelled due to some flooding while he was at destination making it impossible for the train to operate. The train company did offer a full refund but he was stuck with the transfers to and from the train station that were pre-paid and non refundable.   But that was not the worst of it, now he had to get from point A to point B, this resulted in booking a flight to the final destination and paying out of pocket for the flight for him and his companion.  Another unexpected expense was 2 extra nights in a hotel at the final destination as originally he would have been spending those 2 nights on the train. With it being during the Christmas season flight and hotel availability was very limited and it made it a challenge to find room at the inn, so to say. This could have been an easier process if he had insurance because most insurance companies offer a 24/7 assistance program which is there for such situations and really comes in handy if you are unable to reach your travel agent right away.

If he had decided to take the cancellation/interruption insurance, yes the train would have still been refunded because they were not able to operate but his flights, hotel and transfers would have been covered by the insurance because it would have been considered an interruption.

Sometimes putting money into the insurance company’s pocket gives you the peace of mind that you will be keeping the rest of your money in your pocket during your trip especially when things don’t go as planned.

Travel insurance, don’t leave home without it!

Denise Gushue - CTC

denise.gushue@vision2000.ca 

  

Don’t leave home without them! Travel essentials for your carry on.

The things we take on a trip with us can vary tremendously depending if it is a business trip, trip to a sun destination or an outdoor adventure. But when it comes to the things you take with you in your carry-on or what you wear while travelling there are some essentials I don’t leave home without, especially when travelling by air!

Here is my list:

1. Wear comfortable, versatile clothes while on the plane. It’s a good idea to wear layers that are not bulky. I like to wear a nice pair of yoga pants with a nice comfortable top and a light jacket or sweater. I especially like the yoga pants because of the forgiving stretch in the waist. There is nothing worse than being in a middle seat between two strangers and all you can think is I wish I could undo the top button and maybe unzip the zipper a little because your stomach has decided to bloat during the flight.

2. Wear comfortable shoes that have a little give in them, just in case your feet swell and comfort comes in handy if you have to run to catch your connecting flight. Warm socks are good too if you are on a long overnight flight and you want to get a little shut eye. I personally find it hard to sleep with shoes on, it just doesn’t seem natural?

3. A pashmina or a sarong is a handy thing to have in your bag just in case you get cold and there are no blankets left.  A sarong is also a good idea if you are going to a sun destination in conjunction with putting your bathing suit in your carry-on too. This is great if you arrive at the hotel early and you can’t check in yet. Why delay the vacation, get them to store your bags until your room is ready and go to the beach or pool!

4. On long flights overseas I carry a tooth brush, one of those travel ones and a tiny travel size of tooth paste, an extra pair of undies and clean top This especially great when eating in a confined sometimes turbulent space.  I always manage to get a spot or two on my top!  That way you can freshen up before you arrive. Other great things you can carry is a small travel size deodorant and some unscented moisturizing cream – that can be used for face and hands. Skin can become very dry and dehydrated during flight.

5. I know you can’t carry a water bottle through security but it is a good idea to buy one once through. It is important to say hydrated while onboard especially on long haul flights. Getting a drink of water on board is dependent on when they decide to come around for meal or snack service and those little cups they give you is never enough water.

6. If you are on any medication always take it with you in your carry on, never pack it in your checked baggage especially if you need to take it on a regular basis, just in case your suitcase doesn’t arrive with you at destination.  And make sure it is the original bottles with your prescription details and Doctors’ name is on it. You don’t want anyone at security interrogating you over those mysterious pink and blue pills in the zip lock bag in your purse!

7. Always take any valuables like jewelry, or your camera etc. on board the aircraft. And make sure all electronics are charged or have fresh batteries as they may ask you to turn them on while going through security.  

8. Take all your travel documents, travel insurance policy and any contact names, numbers or addresses you may need while on the trip. Don’t pack it in your checked baggage!  You don’t want to arrive with no bags or your hotel reservation and get into a cab and tell the driver take me to the Marriott and he asks “which one?” And then he informs you there are 3 Marriott hotels in the area and you don’t know the street address of the one you are booked at.

9. And probably the most obvious is your passport or appropriate identification. I always suggest that you also carry a photocopy of your passport and credit cards just in case you lose them in a separate bag , separate part of your bag or in your checked bags. It is also a good idea to leave a copy with family at home.

10. After ensuring you have your passport and travel documents, because all that other stuff you can get by without if you had to.  I think the most import things to take is your sense of humour , an open heart and a sense of adventure, because these are the things that you can’t buy and after all it’s only the journey that matters!

Denise Gushue - CTC

Travel Advisor

denise.gushue@gmail.com

The Favourite Season



Even though the sky is grey.. with every raindrop the colours of nature intensifies. And the sound of every raindrop soothes the soul. There is allot to be said for the phrase "just add water". D. Gushue

Fall is definitely my favourite season! This is true for many reasons; the most obvious is how beautiful everything looks. From the yellow leaves of the Ash trees, the multitude of colours of the different variety of Maple trees, fire red leaves of the Sumac and the golden colours of farmer’s fields when the sun hits them just the right way. I feel compelled to grab my camera and record this beauty especially after it rains as the water drops intensify the vibrant coloured leaves against the blackened tree trunks and branches. There is nothing like a walk in the woods, breathing the crisp fresh air and hearing the crunch of fallen leaves beneath your feet! And for this reason and this reason alone it would be the one season I would truly miss if I were to move to a tropical climate.


It’s the season when kids go back to school and mom’s are secretly saying a “woohoo” ! As the Staples commercial says “it’s the most wonderful time of year”! It is time to for families to meet during Thanksgiving and eat copious amounts of turkey and pumpkin pie while giving thanks for our many blessings!

It’s the time when most Canadians start to get serious about their work again after having summer holidays and/or a number of visits to the cottage. And with this we also know it is the season of transition from sweaters and rain jackets to snow boots and parkas! It’s a season of preparation for the long winter ahead.

This leads me to another reason I love fall as a travel consultant, everyone now is thinking about going south or further afield to escape the undeniably long and cold Canadian winter that lies ahead. Sure we love our snow shoeing, skating, skiing and hockey but there is nothing like sitting on a beach, cruising on a ship or zip lining across the rainforest canopy to warm up our bodies and lift our spirits! And fall is the best time to book for the winter months, as you have more availability, especially if you are planning to travel during peak times like Christmas or March Break. It is also the time when many travel suppliers have Early Booking Bonuses and promotions so they can fill their ships, hotels and planes early in the season. And as a consumer it is also a good time to commit to a vacation because by leaving it too late to book you will often feel the drain of the expenditures that comes with the holidays. This often leads to putting that holiday on hold till next year. And by the time February comes along you realize that maybe that toaster oven or tread mill that is collecting dust is no match for sitting on a beach, cruising on a ship or zip lining over the jungle canopy.

So before changing your front hall closet from summer/fall clothes to winter clothes take a moment to plan your winter escape. With that in mind I leave you with some wise words from Mark Twain.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

Denise Gushue - CTC (Certified Travel Counsellor)

e. denise.gushue@gmail.com

In the beginning there was Maui – A Maori Legend.

New Zealand is known as one of the youngest countries in the world geologically, and actually is the highlands of the submerged continent called Zealandia. But to the Maori there is another story of how New Zealand or Aoterora, the land of the long white cloud came to be. It is the legend of Maui and his magic fish hook, this is his story.

“Maui was a demi-god, who lived in Hawaiiki. He possessed magic powers that not all of his family knew about.

One day when he was very young, he hid in the bottom of his brothers' boat in order to go out fishing with them. Once out at sea, Maui was discovered by his brothers, but they were not able to take him back to shore as Maui made use of his magic powers, making the shoreline seem much further away than it was in reality.

So the brothers continued rowing, and once they were far out into the ocean Maui dropped his magic fishhook over the side of the waka. After a while he felt a strong tug on the line. This seemed to be too strong a tug to be any ordinary fish, so Maui called to his brothers for assistance.

After much straining and pulling, up suddenly surfaced Te Ika a Maui (the fish of Maui), known today as the North Island of New Zealand. Maui told his brothers that the Gods might be angry about this, and he asked his brothers to wait while he went to make peace with the Gods.

However, once Maui had gone his brothers began to argue among themselves about the possession of this new land. They took out their weapons and started pounding away at the catch. The blows on the land created the many mountains and valleys of the North Island today.

The South Island is known as Te Waka a Maui (the waka of Maui). Stewart Island, which lies at the very bottom of New Zealand, is known as Te Punga a Maui (Maui's anchor), as it was the anchor holding Maui's waka as he pulled in the giant fish.”

Source: The New Zealand Encyclopedia 4th Edition – Batemen

Today Maui’s Fish the North Island is the most populated island in New Zealand as it is home to the largest city, Auckland, which has a population of about 1.3 million people. It the major gateway to New Zealand as with it’s international airport welcoming many overseas visitors on a daily basis. At the bottom of Maui’s fish (the North Island) is Wellington which is the capital of New Zealand and also where one would catch a ferry across the Cook Straight to the South Island (Maui’s Waka).

The South Island is sparsely populated but is home to the Southern Alps, Mount Cook, and the iconic tourist spot Milford Sound.

At the bottom of the South Island we have Maui’s Anchor or Stewart Island. Stewart Island is known for it’s aquaculture, tourism and conservation, and is the least populated of the 3 islands with a total of 390 or so residents.

Even though New Zealand is three separate islands it is still considerably compact and it is easy to visit all three within a two week stay. However after being there most would say that in order to fully explore this wonderfully beautiful place that was pulled out of the sea by Maui two weeks doesn’t always do it justice. Most visitors want to come back again!

denise.gushue@gmail.com

Travel advisor 

Kiwi Specialist

Follow the path of the heart and discover it's only the journey that matters.



The Days of Summer 2011 - A Photo Diary.

Sunset on Lake Huron, near Penetanguishene.

Although this summer we didn't have any solid plans to vacation with our kids due to a family member's illness we did try to do some things to make it special.

Here are some pictures I took during that time.

Wild flower - Foley's Mountain, near Westport, ON.

 

Sumac lined path at Bonnechere Caves.

Clematis, really close to home - in the backyard.

Another glorious sunset on Lake Huron.

Penetanguishene - impatiens I believe. 

John's beach - Lake Huron.

Incredible sky outside my front door -
probably the only good thing left by Hurricane Irene. 

another outside my door.

and another - I was busy clicking away that evening!

Julian's halo on Lake Huron ..rarely seen...lol.

My crowd - my two and my two nephews -
they had so much fun!

Enjoying the day at Foley's Mountain.

Look mom I can hike and drink at the same time.

Purple cone flowers, Westport.

White cone flowers.

Cottage life.

Lovely garden in Westport.

playing with shadows - backyard.

having fun at Saunders Farm