New Zealand at Christmas - any MSE ideas please?

richardw

jackieblack wrote: »

Pandora, I've read through this thread becoming increasingly dimayed by the negative posts from a couple of people

They aren't negative, but constructive and I'm sure the OP is able to take or leave those that don't apply.

pandora205

Thank you jackieblack but I'm pretty thick skinned! Lots of posts made suggestions that would have been useful if I'd had some flexibility, which I don't.

So thanks for all the comments - they are appeciated!

To give a bit more background, my elder daughter will have been in NZ for nearly 12 months, so it'll be a long time since we saw her. My younger daughter had been in contact (facebook is a wonderful thing!) and 'arranged' to go out over the summer on her own. Big sister and boyfriend have jobs working in a ski resort, so it would have been lovely except they will be working, little sister is only 15 and couldn't go on her own, she thinks she's an expert snowboarder and can go off on her own, etc., we already have a week's holiday booked in August and we've already skied this year. In the end the suggestion of going at Xmas suited us all and would mean DD1 and bf would be back at his parents' in the far north in the warmest time of year. (It sounds wonderful there - they have passion fruit and lemons in the garden, not to mention a jacuzzi and barbecue).

So that is how I ended planning a trip that I hadn't thought of, though I hadn't quite realised how much it would cost when I started investigating (probably as DD1 and bf counted as young people got cheap flights with STA and not peak season).

blindman

jackieblack wrote: »

Pandora, I've read through this thread becoming increasingly dimayed by the negative posts from a couple of people who felt they could chip in and critcise what you're planning. You asked for ideas!

The OP actually asked for

any MSE ideas.....from seasoned travellers...

I gave her my MSE advice about the trip she is planning, which in a nutshell was to not to go at Xmas for such a short time over that distance, -especially as the DD1 would be back in January/February 2010 and DD2 was studying hard.

I am a very seasoned traveller.

As richardw said

They aren't negative, but constructive

and the OP did take or leave those that don't apply.

Zoelikesjam

Hi pandora,

My mum dad brother and sisters emigrated to australia 18months ago now, and we visited them christmas just gone(yes i know its not nz but its a hefty flight!) We went with our three under five little ones, and honestly, the flight wasnt to bad at all. Short stop over in hong kong airport which flew by after a little shopping and chilling out! Oh and a good stretch! Yes, we went at the most expencive time of the year but like you it was our only choice due to work commitments. However, we mannaged to wangle a pretty blooming good offer for that time of year.
The reason i am replying is to just agree with you about the educational value of this trip! Our eldest two, 5 and 3yrs are now totally clued up about Australia and the different cultures. I wish you and your daughter a fantastic holiday! And tell her to revise on the plane! then she can enjoy the holiday compleatly because she wont get any work done! Two weeks isnt a long ammount of time, however you will get plenty of things fitted into that!
Have a fab time! And let us all know how you got on
zoe x:j

pandora205

Thank you for the positive post Zoe.
I'm really looking forward to going and I'm doing my research on accommodation and car hire to save as much as I can in view of the cost of fares. It looks like we are going to stay in a backpackers hostel, though a rather nice one on the beach which is less than 5 minutes from my elder daughter's place. It is going to be such an adventure for us both (DD2 and me).