Newsletter

 
We had a wonderful turn out for our Scenic River Cruising information evening!  Vaughan gave us lots of great information and we had great discussion. You can see my website anytime with the most up to date of the upcoming evenings, as I plan them later in the year.

Brigitte’s Memories Connection Website 

Have you “liked” me on Facebook?  Facebook and my website is where you will find the most up-to-date Specials.  If you don’t see a deal for your destination on this page, contact me and I will be back in touch when a great deal comes out.  I have also have pages of featured suppliers, with videos and photos of tours and cruises.

Did you know that on my website you can book your own Travel Insurance with our best QBE Insurance including a 20% discount.  You can even complete a confidential medical assessment here also.  Great for a quick trip to Aussie or even your trip further afield.

You can even make your own Hotel Booking here, including New Zealand, Aussie, in fact accommodation all around the world!!!  The link goes through to Expedia booking site, giving you great deals!  The best part is I can print out your booking, and include with your travel wallet, and anything else I book for you.  I am even here if you need me to guide you with your choices!

I am still looking for any photos you would love to share on the Gallery page – do email these through with an explanation of where the photo was taken.

2016 or 2017 Holiday planning?

Still wanting to get away in 2016?? I have some great “last minute” deals coming across my desk at the moment.  Today the Islands have come on sale!  We had a great Rarotonga package deal released, see my website specials page for details.

For your 2017 holiday, I have so many great Earlybird deals (Fly-free deals, discounts, bonus offers) for Tours and River and Ocean Cruises for Europe, USA, Canada Asia, in fact all parts of the world.  Now is a great time to book these with only a deposit to hold the best deal.

Would you love to travel by rail (not coach) in many countries of the world, Europe, USA, Asia, even New Zealand, but would love to be part of an escorted group (not going it alone)?  I have a great “TravelMarvel” escorted Train 2017 Tours brochure arrived in my office this week, The Tours include great earlybird deals, so do contact me if you would like a copy of the brochure to view.

The 2017 earlybird Flight deals will be coming out from September onwards.. so do contact me if you would like to be advised once these are out for you travel dates.

Brigitte’s August Holidays…

This is our “quiet” season in the office.  Many folks have headed away on your well planned holiday and we are preparing for the upcoming Earlybird season that starts in September.

So in the first week of August, I will be “trying” to relax on a Rarotonga beach!!   Normally our holidays are “activity” based.. so it will be interesting to see how long I can last relaxing on a beach!!  I’ll tell you when I get back!

I will be back in the office from Monday 8 August to Tuesday 16 August (10 days), before heading away again.  I have been given an extraordinary opportunity to join other Travel Agents and Brokers on an River Cruise from Paris through Burgundy and Provence to the South of France, French Riviera.  It is an Avalon Waterways “Wellness” Cruise with Avalon Ambassador, Deborah Hutton!  It will be a foodie delight Cruise through the wine regions of France.  I am so pleased to experience a River Cruise first hand and enjoy this popular area.

While I am away my wonderful staff, Selena and Nicky will be on hand to answer your queries, post out brochures, or make holiday planning appointments, so we can meet up on my return on Thursday 1 September 2016.

For emergencies or last minute changes, my home phone is diverted to Selena with our company cell phone and I do have my buddy broker Beryl, on hand particularly for those who will be travelling during that time.

So now is the time to start planning your USA holiday! 

American Airlines is back in New Zealand flying the Auckland to Los Angeles route. This new competition means we can expect to see very competitive pricing on flights to the USA. 

One of the fantastic things about the USA is the sheer variety of activities and sights on offer; From the amazing food/wine/shopping/sightseeing trips, there are stunning national parks, there are cruise options galore, and don't forget the ever-popular family holiday to Disneyland!

With that in mind, I've selected a few newly released deals from Globus that will let you explore the USA in first class comfort. These are fantastic tours! The details are all taken care of, and you'll get VIP access to the major attractions (no waiting in lines!)

All you need to do is soak up the experience - and they come with a 15% early booking discount!

If Canada and Alaska are on your bucket list, take a look at the Spirt of the Rockies Tour below. This is a very popular tour (including 2 days on the famous Rocky Mountaineer!), and you can save $1,120 per person!     

This is only a very small selection of what's available, so do get in touch if you'd like me to look for particular tours or destinations!  

Pacific Coast Adventure with Globus

Save 15% on 2017 ‘The Americas’ tours

Take advantage of the fantastic airline deals and tick the USA off your bucket list! 

A sampling of Seattle, the beautiful Oregon coast, and the incredible California Redwoods make this magnificent journey along the Pacific Coast one you'll remember. 

You'll start your vacation in Seattle; then travel south to Portland. Known for its foodie culture, you’ll get a chance to discover it first hand with  a Portland tasting tour and excursion to a local winery. 

Enjoy some of the spectacular scenery waiting in Oregon, including Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area, with wind-sculpted sand dunes stretching 500 feet above sea level. In California, view the world's tallest trees in spectacular Redwood National Park. You’ll even have the opportunity to see an 1,800-year-old redwood! 

9 Day trip from $3340 per person twin share

SALE ENDS 13 September 2016

USA Travel Tips

The USA is a fantastic place to visit! There is SO much to see and do and 
there really is something for every type of traveller. Here are a few quick tips to get you started!

1. There's an App for that!
Apps are fantastic to use in the USA, and there's practically one for every situation. From apps that guide you around museums and attractions, through to apps that notify you when you're near a clothing store having a sale - there's an app to help you make the most of your trip!

2. The food is fantastic.
The USA may be the home of McDonalds and Burger King, but if you stick to burgers and fries you'll be missing out on some amazing food! If you're looking for a place to eat, download the Yelp App and you'll soon find the locations and ratings of the local restaurants/cafes/delis near you. It's a great way to explore the city and experience great food at the same time.

3. Don't forget to allow for sales tax when you shop.
That amount on the price tag is not what you'll actually pay. Unlike New Zealand, prices in the USA generally exclude sales tax (and the tax rate varies depending from city to city and state to state). To be safe, add an additional 10% to the price tag, this will give you a rough guide.

4. Tipping - how much?
How much should you tip? If you're given a bill to pay (eg at a restaurant), an easy way to calculate your tip is to take the amount of tax on your bill and double it, this will give you a rough figure. Some establishments will automatically add on a tip to your bill, keep an eye out for this, or you may end up tipping twice!

More Travel Specials

Spirit of the Rockies Tour

Book and deposit by 13 September and SAVE $1,120 per person

This is a VERY popular itinerary, with:

• 2-day Rocky Mountaineer rail journey (GoldLeaf service)
• Coach tour through Lake Louise, Jasper, Sun Peaks, Whistler & Victoria
• 7-night Holland America Alaska cruise (Outside cabin)

The normal price for this stunning 19 day tour is from $10,454pp, twin share (based on 29 Apr 2017 departure)

BUT if you book by 13 September 2016 you'll only pay the  EARLY BOOKING PRICE of $9,334 pp, twin share.

This is a brilliant deal on a FANTASTIC trip, and spaces are going to fill up quickly at this price, so please get in touch today if you'd like more information.