King-Size Tour Guide

New Zealand’s landscape is nothing short of remarkable; its natural features so astonishing that it has even stood in for fantasy settings such as Middle Earth, Narnia, and has inspired Avatar.
It’s not surprising that in recent years, an increasing number of film directors have chosen New Zealand’s outstanding landscape as a backdrop – a diverse range of natural features make it a popular choice with location scouts. The perfect cone of Mt Taranaki became Japan’s Mt Fuji in The Last Samurai and the Southern Alps became the Himalayas for Vertical Limit. The Coromandel’s beautiful Cathedral Cove made a perfect setting for Cair Paravel in Prince Caspian, and dare we say that the Kiwi landscape might have done its bit to make Avatar the biggest movie of all time. For visitors, this diversity means you can stroll along a beach in the morning, stop at a winery for lunch and then be hiking along an alpine trail by the afternoon.
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Time: Mainland is GMT -4 (GMT -3 from October to March). Easter Island is GMT -6 (GMT -5 from October to March).
Electricity: Electrical current is 220 volts, 50Hz. Round two-pin plugs and round three-pin plugs (in-line) are used.
Language: The official language is Spanish.
Travel Health: There have been confirmed cases of Swine Flu in Chile, and seven deaths. There are no vaccination requirements for entry to Chile, but a typhoid vaccine is recommended for travellers other than short term travellers who restrict their meals to major restaurants, hotels or cruise ships. Dengue fever is on the increase and visitors should take precautions against mosquito bites. Water is generally safe in the cities, but should be treated in the rural areas; bottled water is widely available for drinking. Santiago is severely polluted and this could cause respiratory problems or eye irritations, particularly from May to August. Travellers visiting the Andes Mountains should be aware of altitude sickness, and ascend slowly to allow the body to adjust. Healthcare in urban areas is adequate, but hospitals and clinics are extremely expensive and usually require payment in cash. Health insurance is strongly recommended.
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Managua is the capital city of Nicaragua as well as the department and municipality by the same name. It is located on the southwestern shore of Lake Managua. The city was declared the national capital in 1852. Previously, the capital had alternated between the cities of Le?n and Granada. The city has a population of about 1,680,100; composed predominantly of Spanish-speaking criollos (unmixed Europeans), whites and mestizos. (continue reading...)

Special Interest Escapes
For the ultimate in individualized service, I will design your New Zealand itinerary and be your personal tour guide and driver. You will not only enjoy a totally carefree trip, but also experience the land and culture through the perspective of a local Kiwi. You can also combine business with pleasure by incorporating activities before, during, or after your tour. Travel excels in offering complete flexibility in arranging your itinerary and travel dates.

I recommend that you allow at least 15 days for a tour as a minimum. Naturally, I will custom tailor the tour to match your specific interests and your desired travel dates.

As always, your personal itinerary is guaranteed to be a balance of culture, scenery, and people, with the added input of my unique insights and experiences of New Zealand according to our high quality standards and philosophy. (continue reading...)