Dash for Cash in New Zealand

September Sun!

It’s September in Bermuda and yet the temperatures don’t seem to be dropping. I’m a runner and I’m just waiting to be able to exercise without melting. What could make exercise more enjoyable? How about a cash incentive.

What am I talking about? The New Zealanders have it right with the Orewa Dash for Cash event on January 15th on the Orewa Beach near Auckland. So it costs $10 to enter the event, but EVERY participant is given a cash, voucher or spot prize for just entering!

And don’t forget in January it will be summer in New Zealand so if you’re going to run why not make sure it’s worth it? But who from Bermuda is going to travel to New Zealand for a run? Well…probably no one.

Which is why I say pair it up with a fantastic trip with Tauck tours.

Run for your cash on January 15th, enjoy Auckland and then on January 21st join Tauck Tours for your private charter around both the North and South Islands of New Zealand starting from $2,595 for a nine-day immersion.

What does this include? Make cultural connections, from ancient Maori dance traditions in Rotorua to country life at a working farm; explore your adventurous side on a jet boat cruise; pamper your palate on a green-lipped mussel wine cruise in Marlborough Sounds and at a wine tasting and lunch at Mudbrick Vineyard on Waiheke Island; and view some of the world’s most beautiful natural wonders during a luncheon cruise on Milford Sound and a visit to Walter Peak Country Farm.

Sounds good to me and if it sounds good to you check-in with Carl Paiva, the CEO of CTravel for the deals. The tours start in January and run all year-long!

Fancy visiting New Zealand’s large neighbour? Why not combine a visit to Australia with a chance to see world-class tennis? The Australian Open runs from January 17th until January 30. Or make sure you’re in Australia for their day and enjoy a Jazz & Blues Festival in Melbourne on January 23rd.

It’s the time to head down there because, again, it’s summer and finally Tauck Tours is also offering a private charter. What better way to see this massive island? The 12-day adventure in the begins with two nights in Melbourne at the top hotel in this beautiful city.

Guided sightseeing offers you an insider’s perspective on life here, from visits to landmark sights to dinner aboard a traveling tramcar. Then it’s off to two nights at Ayers Rock with a sunset toast at mystical Uluru and a three-night stay at Peppers Beach Club in Port Douglas with a catamaran cruise to the Great Barrier Reef. Your last four nights will be spent in Sydney where breakfast with the koalas, a private Sydney Harbour luncheon cruise and champagne with the kangaroos of the Blue Mountains ensure an authentic taste of life Down Under!

What about an authentic taste of the Italian culture? What about pretending you’re in the Sopranos? Zegrahm and Eco Expeditions have just the thing for you! This is no ordinary tour. It has taken Z&E years to put this together and now they have an incredible circumnavigation event around Sicily. It’s only one time a year – April 4 – so it will book-up quickly.

Send yourself around Sicily

What does this include? From Malta, you embark on a luxury small ship cruise around the island of Sicily, famed for its archaeological legacy and culinary traditions. The itinerary visits Phoenician settlements near Marsala, and the Greek temples of Agrigento and Selinunte.

Then you tour the Roman theaters and villas of Taormina and Lipari, and discover the ornate architecture of Norman-Arab castles and cathedrals in Cefalu, Palermo, and Monreale.

Of course there are also  wine and olive oil tastings, visits to outdoor markets, and gourmet meals at local restaurants along the way.

So what are you waiting for? Oh Carl Paiva’s number? Well check out CTravel’s website and enjoy the savings they can give you for these incredible vacations!

Adventure travel around the world!

Have you got vacation time left and are trying to figure out what you’re going to do? Do you want to venture further than America or Europe but can not be bothered with worrying about the organization? Do you want to learn about the culture of Libya? Or swim through the waters of Indonesia?

Are you interested, but worried? Do you want to venture to China, but worry without a guide it just wouldn’t be possible? Do you want me to stop asking questions? Ok fair enough.

It’s Wednesday so it’s time to talk about random wanderings.

Which is why CTravel’s CEO Carl Paiva and his team of trusty agents are here to help. They can help book an adventure through Libya, Bhutan or even India. Or is off the track in Africa more your speed? All of these far-flung as well as the not-so-far (i.e. an adventure around Britain) are accessible with specifically designed tours and operators.

Images from Bhutan by Zegrahm & Eco Expeditions

It’s this travel with adventure and a heavy dose of culture that Mr. Paiva says is in incredible demand and CTravel has plenty of different tours to offer…..you just have to ask.

He said: “It’s generally clients who know the agent or know myself and contact us and do the research with us. They know we can offer it. Our wish is to get the message out that we have contacts with specialty suppliers and we have agents that focus on that type of account.”

What are some of the adventure trips he has booked in the past for clients?

“One of our clients does a river cruise through the Amazon on the Peruvian side where there are more animals. We also have a river boat operator that travels through Africa.

“People will know about the Nile cruises and the Europe cruises, but these cruises are unique. The mass market traveler is also very varied. It can be from the luxury to the second tier operators or independent. But the suppliers would be doing larger groups.”

So Carl what’s the difference between Adventure Travel vs. Leisure?

“Adventure travel or the cultural exploration travel the operators are generally small, focused primarily on catering to people who are cultural minded.

“These are historians or people interested in art, religion, etc…. People who prefer to travel to learn, to have new experiences versus the mass market.”

“Those type of people like to seek out travel suppliers that cater to their needs.”

What do Bermudians or residents need to know about booking with these operators?

“They are small and unique. They don’ have budgets for advertising nor do they want too. It’s important for those clients to give us a heads-up because the operators are small groups so they book-up very quickly.

“These trips are way off the beaten track with very select clientele. They are also education focused and the visitors are not necessarily pulled in to see shows or even bars. They are not necessarily having drinks every day.”

Some of the operators CTravel uses are Zegrahm and Eco Expeditions and Travcoa to name a few.

What are some of your more unique trips?

“An example is I received an email from a contact who said they had a villa on the Mustique Island for 16 adults and 10 children over the Christmas holidays. That’s the kind of thing that comes daily to me.”

So what are you waiting for? Book your Sahara visit in Libya or your Azores trip with Spain, Gibraltar, Morocco, Canary Islands and Madeira thrown-in with CTravel.