eye-opening days in Vietnam & & Cambodia includes Hanoi Halong Bay Hoi An Ho Chi Minh City Phnom Penh Angkor Wat departs March

Transcription

1 22 eye-opening days in Vietnam & & Cambodia departs March an intimate unforgettable taste of Indochina includes Hanoi Halong Bay Hoi An Ho Chi Minh City Phnom Penh Angkor Wat plus a luxury 8-day cruise on the Mekong River with your tour leaders John & Robyn Cooney

2 2 page I NDEX: 3. The Big Idea: fromjohn&robyncooney 3. Tour Highlights: towhetyourappetite 4. Group Travel: double-the-fun threecheers! 5. Feedback: whatpreviousmadmidlifershavesaid 6. Our River Cruise: Avalon Siem Reap 8. Who s Who? introducingjohn&robyncooneyandglenarmstrong 9. What About You? age,health&mobility 9. compulsorytravelinsurance 11. Nitty Gritty: cabinoptions 12. estimatedprice:from$12,999pp 12. depositsrequired 13. what sincluded? notincluded? 14. passports&visas airlinestuff updates 15. Our Itinerary: routemapandday-by-daydetails 16. Auckland Vietnam 17. Hanoi HalongBay HoiAn 18. HoChiMinhCity CuChiTunnels 19. MekongCruisebegins 19. VinhLong CuLaoGieng ChauDoc 20. LongKhongA PhnomPenh KillingFields 20. WatHanchey AngkorBan 21. KonpongLouang KampongTralach TonleSap 21. SiemReap AngkorWat 22. moreangkortemples homeagain,homeagain! 23. Fine Print: bookingconditions 25. Booking Forms: oneformrequiredforeachperson

3 3 T INDOCHINA.It shardtofindtherightwordstoadequatelydescribe VietnamandCambodia.Fascinating,colourful,heart-warming,utterly different theyallcometomind.butperhapsit sbestjusttosay:thisisonepartof theworldthattrulygetsunderyourskin! ime for some Kiwi-style Midlife Madness! WeCooneyshavehadthepleasureofleadingseveralKiwitoursthroughthis regionoftheworld.and,noexaggeration,wecan tgetenoughofit!thefrenchified citiesofhanoiandhochiminh(inwhatwasnorthandsouthvietnam) the bustlingmekongdeltawithitscolourfultapestry-of-life thepeaceful,laid-back Cambodiancountryside thequaintcapitalofcambodia,phnompenh themindbogglingworldheritagemonumentsofangkorwat. Andwhatbetterwaytoenjoyallthisthanapamperedcruisealongthe famouswaterwaysofthemightymekongriver aboardthelovelyavalon Siem Reap withallmeals,entertainment,sightseeingandtippingpaidforinadvance? Imaginesettlingintoyourroomy,well-equippedcabin soakinguptheatmosphere beingpamperedday andnight whilefamoussitesandfishingvillagesandrurallandscapesandancienttemplesglideslowlypast,right outsideyourwindow. MIDLIFE MADNESS ON THE MEKONG that swhatwe regoingtoenjoy.andifyou reamadmidlifer,too, we dloveyoutojoinusinmarch2019forthisuniquelyasianexperience! W hat are the tour highlights? It shardtoknowwheretostart becausethe wow momentswilljustkeepcoming,dayafterday,night afternight,highlightafterhighlight.likewhat?well,like enjoyingthefrenchcolonialcityofhanoi,vietnam snortherncapital,withitsonepillarpagoda,templeof Literature,OldQuarterandDongXuanMarket drivingthroughthescenicredriverdelta,andovernightjunk-cruisingonhalong Bay,famousforitsemerald greenwatersandspectacularlimestoneislands exploringcharmingoldhoi An(aWorldHeritageSite)withitsJapaneseCoveredBridge,colourfulmarketplace andredbridgecookingschool samplingchaoticho Chi Minh City(wasSaigon),withitsReunificationPalace,ThienHauPagoda,BinhTayMarket andlacquerwearart inspectingtheastonishingundergroundcu Chi Tunnels,usedduringthe AmericaWar bythevietcong cruisingthevastmekong River,withitsevergreenislands,floatingmarkets,villages,templesandgardens learninghowricepaper,ricewineandtraditionalcandyaremadeinvinh Long plusvisitingasampan-making

4 4 familyincu Lao Gieng checkingoutalocalfish-farmatchau Doc,andwatchingacotton-weavingdemointhevillageofLong Khong A exploringvibrantphnom Penh(Cambodia),withitsrichKhmerculture,gold-encrusted wats (temples)and stunningsilverpagoda witnessingthetuol Sleng Genocide Museum nearphnompenh,andtouringoneofthekilling Fields partakinginatraditionalwater-blessingatwat Hanchey andenjoyingaschoolvisitatangkor Ban village meetingasilversmithinkonpong Louang ridinganox-cart andenjoyingafarm-visitinkampong Tralach adventuringtokompong Khleang andtakingintheastonishingbirdlifeandfloatingfishingvillagesoftonle Sap (Cambodia sgreatlake) gettingupcloseandpersonalwiththebreath-takingancienttemplecomplexesofpreah Khan,Ta Prohm,Angkor Thom,Banteay Srey,andAngkor WatinthejunglenearSiem Reap T hree cheers for groups! Traveliswonderful andgroup TRAVEL isdoubly-wonderful!atleast,that sbeenourexperience,ever sincewefirstlaunchedmidlife Madness Tours.Whenyougoadventuringwithoneofourgroups,youend updoingstuff,goingplaces,meetingpeople,grabbingopportunities,andtryingthingsthatyoumightn thavethe couragetotryifyouweretravellingonyourown.plusyou vegotagreatbunchofkiwifriendstosharethese fantasticexperienceswith andzeroriskoffeelingleftoutorlonely!inshort,there snoendtothefunthat happensandthememoriesthataremadewhenlikeminded,young-at-heartmidlifersgoadventuringtogether. We reoldhandswhenitcomestotouring.pluswemakeapointof addingvalue withspecialmidlife MadnessextrasthatmakegoodtoursGREAT!SocomeandsharesomeMidlife Madness on the MEKONG withus! D on t delay: book & pay your deposit Wewouldurgeyoutoactpromptly.Thiswillbeaselectgroup,withplacesallocatedonafirst-come-firstservedbasis.OurrequestedcabinsaboardtheAvalon Siem Reap arelikelytofillupfast andwhen previousmadmidlifetourshavesoldoutwe vehadtoturnsomedisappointedpeopleaway. SopleasereadthisInfoPackcarefully,thensecure your place by phoning Glen Armstrong (our booking manager at House of Travel Ellerslie) on or by ing info@midlifemadness.tours and sending your booking form and deposit (plus a copy of the main page from your passport) to House of Travel, PO Box 11164, Ellerslie, Auckland Don tmissout decidetodaytobepartofourindochinaexperience! Here shopingwe llseeyouinmarch2019 &

5 5 W hat people have said about our previous cruises: TheprimerequirementforeachMadMidlifetouris:WE VE GOTTA HAVE A GOOD TIME! Andthe feedbackwegetafterwardsfromourfellowadventurersspeaksforitself Thank you for the wonderful job you did! The whole trip was worth every cent I spent I couldn t fault a thing. And I ve already booked on next year s cruise! (Brenda) We were blown away by the excitement, entertainment, the architecture, the scenery and so enjoyed making new friends. This tour was all that we expected, and more! (Barbara) You put a great deal of effort into organising this trip thank you. We visited places we d only dreamed about. The whole holiday was the best away experience we ve ever had! (Ray) Really enjoyed the Mekong such different lands and different people. Hoi An would be the pick of the towns, for me. And the Red Bridge Cooking School (especially its chef) was so much fun! (Sandra) A wonderful trip! I was hesitant at first about going on a group tour, but I m so pleased I joined you. It all went so smoothly, without a hitch. I d recommend your cruises to anyone! (June) I congratulate you I had a better time than I ever imagined. Everything went so smoothly, our group was so friendly, and no one felt left-out. (Zelda) Thanks for always going the second (and third) mile! We really appreciate your capacity and enthusiasm. (Marie &Warwick) An amazing trip! Thanks for all the fun and laughter you instigated along the way. I can certainly understand why people choose to travel with you again and again. You re amazing! (Shirley) The cruise was out-of-this-world and the way everything came together on the ship and on shore was quite remarkable. Many thanks. (Margaret) A thank-you never seems adequate. It was such a pleasure travelling with you again you made me feel so welcome. (Anne) We had a fab trip. Thanks for all the work that went in beforehand. Once the credit card is paid off we ll be saving for the next one. Definitely the way to go! (Bev&Colin) I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of our tour. Have bored everyone to tears since, raving on and on about the things we did and the wonderful friends we made. I have itchy feet now and want to do it all again, so don t be surprised if I book for next year. (Diane) It was all so much more than we had envisaged. You really did make it fun! (Brian&Margaret) Thanks for all the advance planning you did to create this amazing tour. Thanks for being delightful tour leaders, and such kind and thoughtful friends. You take the stress out of travel. We can certainly understand why people choose to go with you over and over again. (Maureen&Kevin)

6 6 S tep back in time in colonial comfort and style! ThemainhighlightinMarch2019willbeauniquejourneyalongthemightyMekongRiver.Sailingaboard thebrandnewavalon Siem Reap,we llcruisefromhochiminhcityinvietnamtosiemreapincambodia (nearthegreattemplecomplexesofangkor) crossingthroughtwocountries,twoculturesandtwowaysoflife. Builtin2014theAvalon Siem Reapwasspecificallydesignedtoofferthebestcruiseexperienceonthe Mekong.Shehasbeenmeticulouslycraftedtoofferallthemodernfeaturesyouexpect,yetsheretainsthecolonial charmsofittingtovietnamandcambodia.withherultra-shallowdraft,theavalon Siem Reapcanpenetrate remoteareas,andenablerealculturalexchangesbetweenthetravellerandtheinhabitantsofthemekong. Whilethenumberofguestsonboardmaybesmall(maximum36),theshipisn t.builtaslongandwideas othershipsthatcarrytwiceasmanyguests,thepublicspacesneverfeelcongested.fromtheair-conditioned Panorama Lounge totheopen-airobservation Lounge,there sampleseatingandchoicespotstorelax.thelounge areasarelocatedatthefrontoftheship,nottheback,sonomatterwhereyousityou llalwayshaveagreatview. Thecrew(24)allembodythespirit, You first, no matter what! andguestsarepromisedsuperbcomfort, finedining,greatcocktailsandchoicewines,nottomentionexcellentlevelsofservice.

7 E njoying the Avalon experience Ourcruisewillfeatureshore excursionsonceortwicedailytosmallriversidevillages,buddhisttemples, historicalsites,marketsandhandicraftworkshops.infact,someoff-the-beaten-trackplacesthatwe llvisit cannotbereachedoverland.andtherewardsthatawaitusareendless:stunninglandscapes,gorgeousscenery, thrivingruralcommunities,magnificentmonuments,andawarm,friendlywelcomefromthelocals. SailingonanAvalon Cruise isessentiallyanoutdoor experience,andtheatmosphereisinformalandrelaxed. Whilethe18PanoramaSuites(cabins)areverycomfortableandroomy,mostpassengersprefertospendtheirtime outondeck,enjoyingtheendlessactivityalongthesefamouswaterways. Included isoneofthefavoritewordsonavalonvessels.that swhyeveryair-conditionedsuiteincludesa generoussittingarea acomfortcollectionking-sizebed(thatcanbemade-upastwosingles) ahuge4.2-metre wall-to-wallwindowthatslidesacrosstoformanopen-airbalconywithunparalleledriverviews alargeprivate bathroomwithshower,fullamenities,hairdryer,plushbathrobes,slippers,etc alargeclosetforamplestorage (plusunder-bedspaceforyoursuitcase) awriting-deskwithconvenientpoweroutlets aminibarwith complimentarylocalbeer,softdrinks&bottledwater anin-roomsafe andmore. Allmainmealsareincluded,alongwithcomplimentarywine,localbeer/spiritsandsoftdrinksatlunchand dinner.(premiumbrandsareavailableforanextracharge.)dressissmart-casual,withnojacketsrequired. Breakfasts andlunches areheartybuffets,whiledinners aresit-downs,withentreechoices.avarietyoflocal cuisine isoffered.however,forthosewhodon tenjoyspicyorexoticfood,europeanalternativesareavailable. Mostspecialdietscanberequestedandattendedto. AlsoincludedforAvalonguests: aprofessionalcruisedirectorandcertifiedlocalguides withheadsetsandbottledwaterprovidedonallshore excursions,alongwithfreshfruitandarefreshingdrinkuponourreturn fascinatingdestinationtalksanddemonstrations plusaselectionof LocalFavourites, offeringuniquecultural activitiesandinteractionswithlocals complimentarywi-fiaccessinloungeareas(wheresignalisavailable). WHAT MORE COULD YOU NEED? DECIDE NOW YOU RE GOING TO JOIN US!

8 8 T our leaders: John & Robyn Cooney International travel hasfeaturedhighonouragendaforseveraldecadesnow.inbetweenkidsand grandkidsandpublishingthefamilymagazinegrapevine(whichweestablishedbackin1981),we vebeen privilegedtovisitmanystunningdestinations:europe,theuk,singapore,vanuatu,theusa,israel,egypt,africa (Kenya&Tanzania),China,Laos-Cambodia-Vietnam,theMediterranean,theBaltic,India,China,SouthAmerica, Canada,Alaska.Andsomehow,amongstallthisrushing-around,welaunchedMidlife Madness Tours. Travel,we vediscovered,isanall-five-sensesexperience achancetosee,feel,smell,hearandtastethe world.andyou vegottobelieveus:sightseeingasagroupoflaid-backkiwisisdoublethefun!wehesitatetocall ourselves experts butwerelishthechancetoexplorenewcountries,culturesand customs we reat-homeinairports,hotels,cruiseships,andthelike andweknow howtomakethemostofauniquetravelopportunity. Our2019 MEKONG CRUISE can tcomequickenough lotsoflaughs,great company,andmemoriesthat lllastforever.here shopingyouwilljoinus! John&RobynCooney,POBox212,Whangamata3643,NZ Phone: (mob) jc@johncooney.co.nz Website: TravelBlog: Facebook: B ooking manager: Glen Armstrong at House of Travel Ellerslie House of Travel Ellerslie isaniata-bondedconsultancy,servingpassionatetravellerslikeyousince2004.glen and his teambringtomidlifemadnesstoursextensiveexperiencewithgrouptravel,plusacommitmenttohelping thecooneysprovidetheverybestbywayofhassle-freeadventures soyoucanenjoyevery minuteandnotworryaboutathing! House of Travel isanewzealandownedandoperatedtravelcompany,establishedin 1987,with65outletsnationwide.Glenandhisteamlookforwardtotalkingwithyouaboutyour bookingarrangements travelinsurance andanyothertouringqueriesorrequirements. HouseofTravel,POBox11164,Ellerslie,Auckland1051,NZ Streetaddress:108MainHighway,Ellerslie,Auckland Phone:tollfree Office: info@midlifemadness.tours Website:

9 9 A ge, health & mobility Thistour(asthenamesuggests)isalittledifferenttomost.Andwe rekeentoattractlike-minded,funloving,young-at-heartpeopleinmidlife(orthereabouts).so:if you find yourself in your middle years or retired ANDyou refitandhealthyandabletokeepup ANDyou rekeentokickupyourheels,gomildlywild, andlaughyourselfsillywithabunchoffellow-kiwis thenyou llfitinjustfine! If you re outside this age group,that snotnecessarilyaproblem.inourexperience,ageisn tasimportantas ATTITUDE.Ourgroupsusuallyfeatureagoodmixofsinglesandcouples andhappilyincludesomeoldermembers whoenjoygoodhealth,andoftenturnouttobethelife n souloftheparty. However,thisMidlifeMadnesstourwillbebusy,active,on-the-go withlengthyflights,someearly mornings/longdays,lotsofgettingon-and-offourcruise-ship,andheapsofon-footsightseeingtotakein.which probablymakesthistourunsuitableforyouifyouhaveadisability mobility/balanceproblemsorwalking difficulties heartorlungoreyesightconditions orotherhealthissuesthatcould(i)placeyouatunreasonable risk,health-wise,(ii)requireextratime/attentionfromthetourleaders,or(iii)slowdownthegroupasawhole. M edical Certificate please 1. Youmust advise us,atthetimeofbooking(andlater,shouldthingschange),if youhaveanyrelevanthealthormobilityproblemsweneedtobeawareof. 2. Ifyouhaveanyhealthormobilityproblems orifyou re70 years old (or more) you llbe askedtocompleteamidlifemadnessmedical Certificate(fromHouseofTravelEllerslie) whichrequiresomeinputfromyourdoctor.(thisinformationwillbetreatedconfidentially.) 3. Ifwebelievethistourisunsuitableforyou(forhealthormobilityreasons): a. wemaydeclineyourbooking,withregret(we dencourageyoutojoinaslowerpaced,less-demandingtour) or b. ifyouwereintendingtotravelonyourown,wemayrequest that you travel with someone else(yourwife/husband/partner,afamilymember,aclosefriend,a travel-buddy) whocanaccompanyyouandprovideanyspecialassistanceyoumayneed. T ravel insurance compulsory Travellingwithno(orinadequate)coverishighlyrisky and,shouldanaccidentorillnessoccurwhile you reoverseas,itcanproveextremelycostly!whichiswhywe require everyone joining this Midlife Madness Tour to have adequate, up-to-date insurance (includingprovisionforemergencyevacuation).regrettably, failure to attend to this could result in your booking being declined.please,therefore,considerthefollowingtwo options:

10 10 Youcansign up for our RECOMMENDED TRAVEL INSURANCE.HouseofTravelEllerslieofferavaluable 1. discount (up to 20%)thatyoumightliketotakeadvantageof.SimplycallGlen Armstrongon (toll-free)andaskforaquote PleasealsoticktheRECOMMENDEDTRAVELINSURANCEboxonyour BookingForm(downtheright-handsideoftheform). Glenwillgetbacktoyouwithaquote,plusfurtherinformation.Your travelinsurancediscount(upto20%offthepremium)willbedeductedby HouseofTravelEllersliefromyourfinaltourinvoice. Alternatively,you can arrange YOUR 2. OWN INSURANCE,ifyouwish. However,toavoidanyunpleasantor expensiveshocks(inthe unlikelyeventofanaccidentorillness): a. please check your policy s fine-print carefullyandmakesureyouknowwhat you recoveredfor andwhatyou renot coveredfor.forexample,you should be coveredfor emergency evacuation (in theeventofseriousinjuryorillness)and civil commotion (intheeventofriotsand demonstrations).ifindoubt,discussyour concernswithglenathouse of Travel. b. please provide us with a copy of your policy document,showingtheinsurance company,policynumber,emergency contactnumbers,etc sowehavethis informationonhand,shouldasituation arise. CONFUSED? Ifyou dliketodiscussanyage/health/ insurancemattersfurther,please ringglen(houseoftravelellerslie) toll-free on

11 11 C abin options PanoramaSuites(cabins)aboardtheAvalon Siem Reapareroomy (22.5sqm),beautifullyfinished,andlocatedonthe TONLE DECK(x6)and MEKONG DECK(x12). Eachair-conditionedsuitefacesout,offeringriverviews with alargewindowthatslidesacrosstoformanopen-airbalcony aking-sizebed(thatcanbemade-upastwosingles) alargeprivatebathroom(withshower,hairdryerandfullamenities) acomfortableseatingarea(withwritingdesk) amplestorage anin-roomsafe aminibar(withcomplimentarylocalbeer,softdrinks,bottledwater) andmore. Confused? Can tsettleon yourcabin preference? GlenatHouse oftravelellerslie canexplainthe deckplansand options. Phonehim now,toll-freeon

12 12 E stimated price: from $12,999 pp share-twin Thisall-uppriceincludesprettymucheverything airfares,transfers,hotels,avalon cruise,sightseeing, mostmeals,tipsandmore.itisanestimateandmaybeinfluencedbyfurtherunexpectedincreasesand/or currencyexchangeratefluctuations.ourconfirmedpricewon tbeknownuntillaterthisyear.yourpricemayvary accordingtoyourchoiceofacabin andwhetheryou llbesharingacabinandhotelroomswithyourspouse/ partner/friend(share-twin) ortravellingaloneandrequireacabin/roomalltoyourself(single). Ifyou retravelling alone and want to share-twin,talktoglenathouseoftravelellerslieon (toll-free) there sagoodchancehecanmatchyouupwithanothersuitablesingletraveller. Ifyou retravelling alone and require a hotel room all to yourself,askhouseoftravelforthesingleprice. D eposits required & final payment Thiswillbeaselectgroup,withatop-notchitineraryandaccommodation.Andwemustmakeearly commitments(andgroupdeposits)tobesureofthehotelroomsandcabinswe llneed.ifyouwanttobe certainofaplace,pleasecompletethebookingform(attached)andsenditasap,withyourfirstdeposit,to House of Travel, PO Box 11164, Ellerslie, Auckland ST DEPOSIT (withbooking):$1,500pp refundableupuntilsept1,2018(less $250 cancellation fee: see p23) 2ND DEPOSIT (dueseptember1,2018):$1,500pp non-refundable,tosecurecabins,etc FINAL PAYMENT DUE:November 20, 2018 (yourfinalinvoicewillbesentoutinoctober2018) (Note: if you wish to pay your deposit ONLINE by credit card or direct credit please phone Glen at House of Travel for their bank account details: ph ).

13 13 EXPENSIVE EXCURSIONS & EXTRAS W hat s included in the price? Likewesay,pretty much everything!why?well,experiencehastaughtusthatkiwitravellersprefer toknow and pay upfrontandinadvance...ratherthanhavingtofindsubstantialextradollars duringthetourforunplannedsightseeing,meals,tipping,etc.takesightseeing EXCURSIONS,forexample which,onatourlikethis,caneasilytotal$1,500 per person.manytourpromotersdon tincludethecostofthesein theiradvertisedprices,butwedo selectingtheverybestoptionsforourkiwigroupinadvance.thesamegoesfor TIPPING(ahassle,andanecessaryevil,whichcanaddhundredsofdollarstothecostofatrip) plusexpensive MEALSinnicerestaurants all includedinourmadmidlifeprice. Sowhenyou retryingtocomparesimilartoursandpricesbeingoffered,remember:our2019 MekongTourpriceincludesSOMUCHMORE!Here swhat scovered: AIRFARES: economyclass AucklandtoHanoi HanoitoDanangtoSaigon PhnomPenhtoSiemReap SiemReaptoAuckland TAXES: airporttaxesandairlinesecuritytaxes HOTELS: inhanoi,hoian,saigon,siemreap(inclbreakfast) HALONGBAY: overnightbhaya Cruise MEKONGCRUISE: 8daysontheAvalon Siem Reap,includingmealsandgratuities PORTCHARGES: andporttaxesonallcruisestopovers TRANSFERS: betweenairportsandhotelsandpiers MEALSASHORE: asdetailedinthefinalitinerary SIGHTSEEING: allexcursionsandentrancefeesasdetailedinourfinalitinerary TIPPING: allgratuitiestolocalguides,drivers,porters,etc LOCALGUIDES: servicesofexperiencedenglish-speakingguidesonshoreexcursions TOURLEADERS: allthehelpthatjohn&robyncooneycanoffer W hat s not included? passportandvisafees optionalexcursionsandsightseeingnotinitinerary(e.g.whenyou reonyourown) extrameals&drinks(otherthanthosethatarecomplimentary,detailedinthe FinalItinerary) travelinsurance itemsofapersonalnature(e.g.medicalexpenses,laundry,phonecalls,souvenirs,etc)

14 14 T ravel documents 1. PASSPORTS:AlltourmembersneedacurrentPASSPORT (validforatleast6monthsafterreturnto NZ).ARETURNING RESIDENT S VISA isalsorequiredforholdersofotherthannzpassports.ifyou needassistancewitheitherofthesedocuments,phonehouseoftravelellerslie:tollfree S 2. VISAS FOR VIETNAM & CAMBODIA:NewZealandersrequireentryVisasforbothcountries which HouseofTravelEllersliewillobtainforyou.Closertodeparturedateyou llbeaskedtocompletean applicationform,andsendaphotocopyofpages1&2fromyourpassportplusfoursmallpassportsizephotos).visafeesarenotincludedthetourprice thecostwillbeaddedtoyourfinalinvoice. ingapore Airlines stuff-you-should-know 1. BUSINESS CLASS UPGRADE:Ifyou dliketoflybusinessclass(aucklandtohanoi,siemreapto Auckland),phoneGlenon foranestimatedupgradeprice. 2. AIRPOINTS:ToreceivefrequentflyerpointsforourupcomingflightsyouneedtojoinSingapore AirlinesKRISFLYERprogramme.Joiningiseasyandfree:gotowww.singaporeair.com click KrisFlyer click Join Now thenfillintheformandhit send.alternatively,youcanphone OnceyouhaveyourKrisFlyernumber,pleaseletGlenknow.KrisFlyerpoints,canbeusedonAirNZ Domestic,TasmanorPacificIslandsflights aswellasonsingaporeairlines. 3. COMING FROM OUTSIDE OF AUCKLAND:If,whenjoiningthetour,you llflyfromwellingtonor Christchurch,askaboutthespecialconnect-to-AucklandflightsofferedbySingaporeAirlines. M eanwhile, we ll keep you posted! Betweennowandourdeparture,we llkeepyouupdatedwithtour TEASERS (givingyouabackground taste oftheplaceswe llbestoppingat) plusoccasionalmidlifemadnessnewsletters(givingyouimportantdetailsreour tour,mekongtraveltips,whattopack,money-money-money,etc). Inshort,we lldoeverythingwecantohelpyoupreparefor andgainthemax from thisfabulousasiantravelexperience! So what are you waiting for? Decide now you re going to join us!

15 15 L et us explain ThisMadMidlifeadventurewilltakeus deepintotheheartofindochina to famouscapitalsandworldheritagesites tooff -the-beaten-trackvillages andalongoneofthe world smostfamousrivers. ThefunwillstartwithelegantHanoi thenwe llheadsouth(viathelaidbackcoastal resortofhoi An) tosaigon,nowcalledho Chi Minh City,onthelegendaryMekong Delta. Finally,beforeyouknowit,we llembarkonour luxuryrivercruiseaboardtheavalon Siem Reap, foraclose-upencounterwithvillagesand villagersintheruralheartofcambodia. ThisMadMidlifeadventurewillendin Phnom PenhandSiem Reap,attheawesome WorldHeritagetemplesofAngkor Wat. Are you itching to go? We are! Toavoidanyhassles,oursightseeing excursionswillbeselected,booked,and(along withprettymucheverythingelse)paid-forin advance.we llpullafewstringsandbuildin somespecial bonuses justforourkiwigroup endingupwithasuperball-inclusivepackage. WOW! BRING IT ON! We llgiveyoufulldetailsofourflight times,cruisearrival/departuretimes,stopovers, sightseeing,etcinafinal ITINERARY. Inthemeantime...here,towhetyour appetite,isourinterimitinerary. Enjoy!

16 16 Midlife Madness on the Mekong: March 2019 Itinerary Sunday3 Monday4 (D) Tuesday5 (B,L,D) let the fun begin! It sactuallyhappening!ourlongawaitedadventureinindochinaisunderwayatlast!we departaucklandinternationalairportthiseveninginourbigsingaporeairlinesjet,flyingnorth throughthenighttothecosmopolitancityofhanoi inwhatusedtobeknownasnorth Vietnam. Braceyourselves,Kiwis:we reabouttohavethetimeofourlives andthenextthreeweekare gonnabefullofsurprises Vietnam by cyclo! AfterlandinginHanoi,goingthroughimmigrationandcollectingourVietnameseVisas,wehead forourhoteltounpackandfreshen-up.then,thisavo,weventureoutforanintroductory cyclo tourthroughthisfascinating,colourful,crowdedasiancapital.ifyou vegrownup(as manyofushave)notrealisingthatvietnam is morethanjustawar preparetohavesome pre-conceivedideasshattered.thiswarm,friendly,welcomingcountryistrulysomethingelse! Tonightweenjoyayummy,fun-filled Midlife Madness Welcome Dinner atalocalrestaurant. Frenchified Hanoi WebeginafulldayinHanoi withsomesightseeingthatincludestheone Pillar Pagoda (an importantsymbolforthepeopleofhanoi,foundedbykinglythaitoin1049) themuseum of Ethnology(wherewesampleartefactsandcostumesfromsomeofVietnam s54ethnic minorities) andthetemple of Literature (foraglimpseintovietnam spast). WebreakforlunchatpopularKoto arestaurantwhereformerstreet-kidsandorphansare giventheopportunitytolearnskillswhichwillenablethemtofindemploymentinthe hospitalityindustry. Thenweheadforthecity srenownedold Quarter thecommercialprecinctpreviouslyknown as 36 Streets witheachstreetspecialisinginadifferentproduct eg: SilkStreet, Gold Street, CoffinStreet, etc.stayclosetoourguide,won tyou:thisarea samazeofsmallbackalleysgoinginalldirections,soit seasytogetdisoriented.andkeepyourcameraatthe-ready forvendorsattheirdailytasks,stallsstackedwithflowersandfruit,localssnackingonthe sidewalks,andswarmsofyoungandold(oftenupto5or6!)onbikesormotorcycles. Dinnertonightatapopularfoodie-joint.

17 17 Wednesday6 (B,L,D) Thursday7 (B) Friday8 (B,L,D) Red River Delta & Halong Bay Oncewe reup,dressed,fedandwatered,wesay Tam biet! (goodbye)tohanoianddrivefor 3½hoursthroughtherichfarmlandsoftheRed River Delta pastscenesofricefields,water buffalosandeverydayvietnamesevillagelife arrivinginthebaysideresorttownofbai Chay: gatewaytobeautifulhalong Bay.There,weboardanauthenticChinesejunkforanovernight Bhaya Classic Cruise throughanastonishingemerald-greenseascape, thelandof3000 Islands andoneofthenewworld ssevennaturalwonders. We vegotarangeofoptionsthisafternoon:makingourselvesathomeinourcabins lazingon deck photographingpassingislandsandvillagesandboatsofallshapesandsizes eyeingthe amazingpointylimestonerocks partakingofafresh-cookedlunch visitingthevung Vieng fishingvillage or(ifwefeelsoinclined)plunginginforaswim beforeanonboarddemoof traditionalhanoicookingatouranchoragenearho Dong Tien. Then,afterasumptuousseafooddinner,wecanbloboutontheSundeckortakeinamovieon theloungedeckbeforeretiringtoourcabinsforthenight. Halong to Hanoi Wakey-wakey,Kiwis:abrandnewdayhasbegun andsomebrisktai-chi (plusahotcupoftea) ishappeningoutondeck.later,weup-anchorandcontinueouroh-so-leisurelycruise passing morepicture-postcard-gorgeouslocations,andgoingashoreonsung Sot Island toexploresome colourfullimestonecaves. Followingafresh n healthybuffetbrunchwesailbacktohalong City,forourreturn-coach-trip tohanoi. Wehavesomefreetimethisafternoon thendinnertonightonourown(somethingtasty, somewherenice). next stop: Danang & Hoi An Thismorning,wemakeourwaytotheairport,flysouthtoDanang (one-timefishingvillage, nowvietnam s4th-largestcity),andgettaxiedtothecharmingoldriversidetownofhoi An a UNESCOWorldHeritageSite:onceamajorAsiantradingport,nowabustlingtouristhotspot. Ouraccommodationforthenextthreenights?ThelovelyPalm Garden Beach Resort. Afterlunchatalocalrestaurant,weenjoyawalkingtourthroughtheancienttowncentre eyeballingthesitesofformermerchants homes,ahokkientemple(forthefukienchinese Congregation),a400-year-oldJapanese Covered Bridge,andanancientpagoda.Wemightalso gettoseelocalsraisingwrigglysilkwormsforthetextileindustry. Thenwehavetimetogosouvenir-shoppinginoneofSoutheastAsia smostcolourfullocal

18 18 marketplaces orchooseadress/gown/jacket/trousers/suittobetailor-madeovernightbyhoi An sfamousgarmentindustry.overnight? Yep,that swhattheresidentexpertsspecialisein here withfashionandqualitytomatch!(justwaitandsee ) Meanwhile,you llbegettinghungry right?sodinnertonightisbackatourhotel. Saturday9 (B,L) Sunday10 (B) Monday11 (B) Tuesday12 (B,L,D) make your own Vietnamese lunch Thismorning,forsomethingtotallydifferent,weexperiencealittlehands-onlearning!Itstarts withapersonally-guidedtourwithatopcheffromthered Bridge Restaurant throughthehoi AnFoodMarket wherewe reallowedtohelpselecttheproductsweneedtomakeourown lunch,whiletakingintheamazingmarketplacesights,soundsandaromas. Thenweboardawater-taxiforaleisurely25-minutechug-a-lugalongtheTuBonRivertothe legendaryred Bridge Cooking School. Here,underthewatchfuleyeofthechef,welearn withlotsofaudienceparticipation,plus hooting,laughingandguffawing howtopreparespecialtyhoiandishes,beforesittingdown toaheartylunch,whereweeatourowndeliciousconcoctions! Thenwechug-a-lugbacktoHoi An fordinneronourown,ifwe restillhungry! a day-off in Hoi An Luckyus:wehavearelaxedstarttoday,withtimetosleepinandenjoyaposhbreakfast then therestofthedayfreetowanderthetropicalgardensofourhotel(fivepalm-smotheredacres spreadalonga220-metrestretchofthecua Dai Beach) orcool-offinthepool(don tforget yourbikini,snorkel-&-goggles,kayakandlifejacket) orgopottering/meandering/shopping/ whatever-takes-your-fancyinlovelyhoi An. Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City ThismorningwemustdragourselvesawayfromgorgeousHoiAnandtransfertoDanang airportintimeforoursouthboundflighttodynamicho Chi Minh City (stillcalledsaigon by manylocals).we vegotthreenightshereinthissouthvietnamesecity.andtonight?we reon ourownforanotheryummysoutheastasiandinner. Eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow (whenwegethome,actually)we diet! Hoi An to Ho Chi Minh City Today,afterbreakfast,weenjoyawalkingtourofHoChiMinhCity'shistoriclandmarks like thereunificationpalaceandthenotredamecathedral includingastopattherexhotelfora refreshingdrinkattherooftopbarwheretheu.s.militaryheldtheinfamous FiveO'Clock

19 19 Follies duringthewar.wethenvisitthewarremnantsmuseumandbustlingbenthanh Market wherewecanspendsomeofourleftoverdong. Finally,tonight(how syourwaist-line?):somemoreauthenticvietnamesecuisine! Wednesday13 (B) Thursday14 (B,L,D) Friday15 (B,L,D) underground in the Cu Chi Tunnels Afterbreakfast,wedriveoutthroughthecitypastvastrubber-plantationsforyetanother unforgettableexperience:thecu Chi Tunnels,aremarkable350km-longnetworkof undergroundbunkersandpassagewaysusedbythecommunistforces(vietcong)tosupply theirsoldiersinthesouthduringthelongstruggleforindependencethattheyrememberasthe AmericanWar. (Ifyou refeelingbrave,youcaneventrysometunnel-crawlingyourself!) Enjoyfreetimethisafternoonandevening.Considerstoppingforadrinkatthefamousrooftop baratthecaravellehotel. our Mekong Cruise begins! Followinganotherslap-upbreakfast(weetbixandtoast?)wetransfertotheportontheSaigon RiverwherewegetwelcomedaboardtheAvalon Siem Reap tostartourlong-anticipated cruiseupthemightymekong. TherearefewtapestriesofriverlifeasfascinatingandvariedastheMekong.Andit shardto imagineamorestrikingculturalcontrastthanwhatwe reabouttowitness:thebustling Vietnam Delta vs.thetranquillityofcambodia. Wehavethechancetogetacquaintedwithourfloatinghotelbeforeamouth-wateringmealis servedonboard andthenourshipmotorsoutintothecurrent. Ohboy,thisiswhatwe vebeenwaitingfor,kiwis letthepamperingbegin! Cruising: Vinh Long to Cu Lao Gieng Thismorning,afterovernightingandbeingrockedtosleepontheAvalon Siem Reap,we transfertoasampanforasceniccruisetovinh Long wherealocalworkshopwaitsreadyto showushowricepaper,ricewine,andtraditionalcandiesaremade. Later,afterlunchbackontheship,wehopintoanothersampanandenjoyscenesofdailylife alongtherivernearcu Lao Gieng stoppingatalocalhomewhereaskilledfamilyworks togethertohand-craftsampansforaliving.thenwerideaspecially-designedmotor-carttoone ofvietnam soldestchurchesforaspecialinteractionwiththelocalcatholicpriest. Saturday16 Cruising: Chau Doc to Long Khong A (B,L,D) Afterascrummybreakfast,wegoashoreforawalkthroughthelocalmarketofChau Loc

20 20 absorbingthesightsandtheatmosphereasbusylocalsgoaboutbuyingandsellingtheirfish, meatandproduce.wethenjoinasampanexcursiondownthebackwatersofthemekongto religioussitesatthebaseofsammountain.alongtheway,wepasstraditionalfloatinghomes, speedboatmerchants,amarketsellingdriedgoods,andmore. Then,afterlunchbackondeck,wetransferbysampantothevillageofLong Khong Aforalocal home-growndemooftheregion swell-preservedtradition:cotton-weaving. Finally,returningtotheship,wecastofffortheCambodian border wherewepracticesaying Suo s day! (hello)withpalmstogetherandheadbowed gothroughtheusualcustoms formalities andcollectourcambodianvisas. Sunday17 (B,L,D) Monday18 (B,L,D) Tuesday19 (B,L,D) Cruising: Phnom Penh palaces & pagodas SailingintoPhnom Penh pasttheroyalpalaceandbusycornicheisahighlightonanymekong voyage.wemoorrightinthecity-centreandcanwalkvirtuallyanywhere.cambodia scapital retainsitsfrenchcharmtothisday andthismorningweenjoyanotherprivatecyclo-tour. The privatequartersoftheroyalpalacearehometokingsihanoukandhisfamilyand,therefore, closedtothepublic.weare,however,abletovisitthefamoussilverpagoda,themostsacred templeinthecountry(whichprobablyexplainswhyitwasspareddestructionbythekhmer Rouge),plustheNationalMuseum,featuringanoutstandingdisplayofKhmerartifacts. Theremainderofthedayisatourleisuretoenjoythecity.Then,justbeforedinner,children fromalocalorphanagewillputonadelightfulsong-&-danceshowjustforus! Cruising: Phnom Penh & the Killing Fields ThebloodyruleoftheKhmer Rouge isapainful,butunavoidable,partofcambodia'srecent history.andourvisitthismorningwillconfrontuswithatragicstorywe renotlikelytoforgetin ahurry.undertheviciouspolpotregime,thetuolsenggenocidemuseum(previouslyaformer highschool)housedover17,000politicalprisoners.fewerthan15ofthemsurvivedthetorture andavoidedbeingsenttothekillingfields wheremorethan200,000cambodianswere eventuallyputtodeath. AfterlunchbackonboardtheAvalon Siem Reap,wedepartPhnomPenhandenjoysome relaxingleisure-timeandscenic-viewingfromthetopdeck. Cruising: Wat Hanchey to Angkor Ban Wecontinueourcruiseupriverthismorningtothehilltoppre-AngkoriantemplesofWat Hanchey.Datingfromthe8thcentury,theseancientbrickstructures(whichpredateeventhe gloriesofangkor)displaythearchitectureofthechenlaempire. Note: the climb to Wat Hanchey features a steep incline. If you feel you re unable to make the

21 21 climb, you ll be driven to the top by car. Wepartakeinatraditionalwater-blessinggivenbylocalmonks.Then,afterlunch,wetakea walkthroughtheruralvillageofangkor Ban,visitingauthenticKhmerhousesandalocalschool. Wednesday20 (B,L,D) Thursday21 (B,D) Cruising: Konpong Louang & Kampong Tralach to Tonle Sap WestartoursightseeingtodayatthesilversmithvillageofKonpong Louang,wherewewatch talentedcraftsmenusingage-oldtechniquestoturnpuresilverintoworksofart.thenwe continueontokampong Tralach foranox-cartridepastricepaddyfieldsinthebeautiful Cambodiancountryside,meetingalocalfarmeronthewayandlearningabouthisdailylife. Thisafternoon,afterlunchingbackonboard,weheaduptheTonleRiverwhichconnectsthe MekongandBassacRiverswiththeTonle Sap (GreatLake).Aftertherainyseason,thismassive bodyofwatercancoveraround26,000squarekilometres theperfectbreedinggroundfor fish,whichplayavitalroleinprovidingfoodforpeoplelivingonandaroundthelake. Theareaboastsarichtapestryofruralvillages,templesandmarkets.Aswewindourway throughjungletherivernarrows,andwecanalmostreachoutandtouchthelocalswhocome tocheeruson.(note: If water-levels are too low, we may have to do this trip by coach.) goodbye Avalon cruise hello Siem Reap Webidasad Leah hai! (goodbye)tothecrewoftheavalon Siem Reapthismorning disembark andtransfertotheairport.butitain toveryet,folks,becausewe vegotlotsmore exploringtodo.dusty,congested,disorganisedsiemreap(youhavebeenwarned!)sitsonthe northernedgeoftonle Sap avastshallowlake(morethan150kminlength)renownedforits prolificbirdlifeandendlesslyfascinatingfishingvillages. BurieddeepinthejunglesaroundthetownofSiem Reap aretheworld-famoustemplesof ancientangkor consideredbymanytobethemostspectaculararchitecturalruinsonearth!in fact,onlyegypt snilevalleycancomparetothisvastarrayofancientmonuments.thecityof Angkorservedastheroyalcentre(between802and1350AD)fromwhichadynastyofKhmer Kingsruledoneofthelargest,mostprosperousandsophisticatedkingdomsinthehistoryof SoutheastAsia.Inshort,theancientAngkor EmpirewasBIG! Fastenyourseatbelts,ladiesandgentlemen,becauseafterlunchweclimbaboardmotorised tuk-tuks tobeginourexploration: Angkor Wat thefabulousmaintempleinthearea,listedastheseventhwonderofthe World.Visually,architecturallyandartisticallybreathtaking,it samassivethree-tiered pyramid,morethanakilometersquare,ringsbyahugemoat,andcrownedbyfivelotus-like towersrising65metresintotheair.itsendlesswallsaresmotheredinbeautifulapsara carvings(dancingnymphsandgoddesses)andextraordinarybas-reliefsdepictingstoriesand

22 22 charactersfromhindumythologyandthelegendarywarsofsuryavarmanii Angkor Thom,withitshugestatuesdepictingthechurningoftheoceanofmilk Bayon Temple, uniqueforits54towersdecoratedwithover200smilingfacesof Avolokitesvara theroyalenclosure Phimeanakas theelephantsterrace andthe TerraceoftheLeperKing TheeveningisyourstoexplorecharmingSiemReap,ortowitnessthesunsetatAngkorWat. Friday22 (B,D) Sat23/Sun24 (B) more Angkor temples OnourfinaldayinIndochina,weaddsomemoretemple-wonderstoourmust-seelist.Like what?well,like: Ta Prohm (JungleTemple)wheremassivefigandsilk-cottontreesspreadfromthebroken ruins,towersandcorridors,offeringaweirdlyovergrownatmosphere Banteay Srey thedelicate CitadeloftheWomen withitsdeepanddetailedcarvingsin glowingredsandstone. EnroutewestopatalocalvillagefamousformakingKhmernoodlesbyhand.Later,the afternoonisatleisure andthisevening,aprivateapsara DancePerformancebringsancient Khmerculturetolifethroughmusic,song,anddance. Countonit:yourheadwillstillbespinninglongafteryou vegonetobedtonight! home again, home again Thetimehascome(thewalrussaid)topackourbags,checkoutofourhotelrooms,andmake trackstotheairportforourhome-boundflight. We vetravelledsofar donesomuch seenmorethanwecanpossiblyremember!butall goodthingssometoanend andwelandbackinnewzealandwithuntoldstoriestotell, countlessphotographs,andacontact-listofgreatmadmidlifefriends! Is everybody happy? You bet your life we are!

23 23 H ow to book: 1. ReadtheBookingConditions(below). 2. CompletetheBookingForm(oneperperson,carefullyfillinginyourpassportdetails). 3. MailthefollowingtoHouseofTravel,POBox11164,Ellerslie,Auckland1051: yourbookingform yourfirstdepositcheque($1,500perperson,fullyrefundableuntilseptember1,2018) plusaphotocopyofyourpassport smainpage 4. IfyouwantHouseofTravel sdiscountedinsurance,pleasetickthatboxonyourbookingform. 5. Ifyou repayingonline(bycreditcardordirectcredit)pleasephonehouseoftravelellerslie tollfree on fortheirbankaccountdetails. 6. HouseofTravelEllersliewillconfirmyourbookinginwritingandsendyouareceiptforyourdeposit. 7. Ifthetour salreadyfull,you llbeadvised(withregret)andyourdepositwillbereturnedimmediately. B ooking conditions: TOUR PRICE: MIDLIFE MADNESS ON THE MEKONG 3. Ifpaymentisnotmadebythisdate,bookingsmaybecancelled. $12,999pp sharetwin *A limited number of single cabins are available on request. TOUR PRICE INCLUDES 1. economyclassairfaresfromaucklandtohanoi HanoitoDanangto Saigon PhnomPenhtoSiemReap SiemReaptoAuckland 2. airporttaxesandairlinesecuritytaxes 3. hotels(breakfastincluded)asdetailedinthefinalitinerary 4. overnightbhayacruiseinhalongbay 5. 8-dayMekongCruiseaboardAvalonSiemReap(includingallmeals, entertainment,andonboardgratuities) 6. allportchargesandtaxesatcruisestopovers 7. transfersbetweenairportsandhotelsandpiers 8. allsightseeingexcursionsandentrancefeesasinfinalitinerary 9. mealsashore,asdetailedinthefinalitinerary 10. servicesofexperiencedlocalguidesonallsightseeingtours 11. tippingtolocalguides,drivers,porters,etc 12. assistanceoftourleaders,john&robyncooney TOUR PRICE EXCLUDES 1. passport&visafees 2. optionalexcursionsandsightseeingnotinthefinalitinerary 3. extrameals&drink(otherthanthosethatarecomplimentary,as detailedinthefinalitinerary 4. travelinsurance 5. itemsofapersonalnature(e.g.medicalexpenses,laundry, phonecalls,souvenirs,etc) PAYMENTS 1stDepositDue $1,500pp,payablewithbooking 2ndDepositDue $1,500pp,payableSeptember1,2018 FinalPaymentDue November20, Yourtourreservationwillbeconfirmedonreceiptofdepositand bookingform. 2. Paymentinfullisrequiredattimeofbookingforreservationsmade afternovember20, Traveldocumentsandinstructionsforjoiningyourtourwillbesentto youapproximatelytwoweeksbeforedeparturefromnewzealand (providingfullpaymenthasbeenreceived). MINIMUM NUMBERS Tourcostsarebasedonaminimumof20tourmembers.HouseofTravel Ellersliereservestherighttocancelthetourifthisnumberisnotreached. Inthisevent,youmayclaimcancellationchargesagainstyourloss-ofdeposittravelinsurance.ThisactionwillrelieveHouseofTravelEllerslieof anyfurtherliabilitytotheclient.allindicationsarethatthistourwillbe wellsupported. CANCELLATION & REFUNDS TourArrangements: IfyoufinditnecessarytocancelyourMidlifeMadnesstour,monieswillbe refundedlessacancellationfeeperpersonasfollows: Ifyoucancelafter1stdepositpaid,butbefore2nddeposit(generally upto180dayspriortodeparture) lesscancellationfeeof$250. Ifyoucancelbetween2nddepositandfullpayment(generallyfrom 180to100days) lesscancellationfeeof50%(orasadvised,dueto commitmentsmadetosuppliers). Ifyoucancelafterfullpaymenthasbeenmade(generally90to105 dayspriortodeparture) norefund,sorry. Note:i.Wecommittoofferingyouasmuchofarefundaspossible wheneverpossible. ii.wewillretainaminimumof$500,plusanycancellationfees leviedbysuppliers,whereyourcancellationaffectsthecostto thegroup,oraffectsthesizeorviabilityofthegroup. iii.cancellationconditionsmayvarybysupplier. Norefundisavailableforcancellationaftercommencementoftour arrangementsoronanyservicesnotused.shouldyouencounterany problemsonyourtouritisalwaysbettertotryandsolveitonthespot withtheoperatorofthetour.ifthisisnotpossibleandyouwishtolodgea complaint,thisshouldbedoneinwritingwithin30daysofcompleting

24 24 yourtour. Sightseeing:Norefundswillbemadetopassengerswhoelectnotto partakeinshoreexcursionsincludedintheitinerary. AirArrangements:CancellationfeeswillapplyasrequiredbyAirline TariffRegulationsandwillvarydependentuponthetypeofairfare utilised.travelinsuranceiscompulsoryforeveryoneonthistour. NameChangesmayrequirethecancellationandrebookingofyourairfare portionatyourexpense.amendmentfeesandfaredifferencesmaybe incurred. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS 1. Priortoconfirmingyourtravelarrangements,youshouldcheckthat yourpassportwillremainvalidforatleast6monthsafteryourreturn tonewzealand).theshipmayholdyourpassportduringthecruise. Otherwise,YoumustcarryyourPassportwithyouthroughoutthe entiredurationofthetour. 2. AReturningResident svisaisrequiredforholdersofotherthannz Passports.TalktoHouseofTravelaboutthis. 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SupplyofTravel,Entertainment,AccommodationServicesand Facilities: 2.1 WhenwemakeyourbookingswiththeSuppliersoftravel, entertainmentandaccommodationfacilitiesorservices,weareactingasa bookingagentforthesuppliers. 2.2 Alltravel,entertainmentandaccommodationfacilitiesorservicesare supplieddirectlytoyoubythesuppliers.wehavenocontroloverthe facilitiesorservicesthemselves,orthemannerinwhichtheyareprovided bythesuppliers.thereforeyoushouldbeawareofthefollowing conditions: Wewillnotbeliableforanylossordamageofanykindwhichmay arisefromyouruseof,consumptionof,orinabilitytouseorconsume thosefacilitiesorservices. Theprovisionofthosefacilitiesorservicesissubjecttothetermsand conditionsofyourcontractwitheachsupplier. Whereforanyreason,aSupplierisunabletoprovideparticular facilitiesorservices,thenthatsuppliermaybeentitled,underits contractwithyou,tosubstitutethoseservicesorfacilitieswith comparableorequivalentfacilities,orserviceswithoutincurringany liabilitytoyou.youshouldcheckyourcontractwitheachsupplier. Allfacilitiesorservicesdescribedbyusaresubjecttoavailabilityfrom thesupplier. Wewillnotbeliableorresponsibleforanylossordamagerelatingto yourluggage,personalpossessions,healthorwelfare,ordelaysor traveldisruptionsunlessthesearisedirectlyfromtheservicewe providetoyou. 3. BusinessPurposes: Youagreethatwhereourservicesareacquiredforbusinesspurposes,or whereyouholdyourselfoutforacquiringourservicesforbusiness purposes,theconsumerguaranteeact1993willnotapplytoanysupply ofgoodsorservicesmadeundertheseconditionsandwewillnotbeliable orresponsibleforanylossordamageofanykindtoyou,includingany consequentiallossordamagehoweveritmaybecaused. 4. Prices: 4.1 Eventsbeyondourcontrol,suchascurrencyfluctuations,taxes, changestothepriceofaviationfuelorchangestothecostofservicesor facilitiesmayresultinthepriceschargedtoyoubeingdifferentfromthose showninthisinformationpack.youshouldcheckallpriceswithhouseof TravelEllersliebeforemakingreservationsandbeforemakingfinal payment 4.2 Pricesmayalsobeliabletovariationbetweenthetimeofbooking anddeparture.wereservetherighttovarythepriceupuntilthetimeof yourfinalpaymentbeingreceivedbyusduetoexchangerates,group numbersandothereventsthatmayaffectourinitialquotedprice. 4.3 Receiptofadepositwillbetakenasanunderstandingbythe Companythattheparticipanthasreadandagreestoabidebytheseterms andconditions. 5. LegalClaims: Anyclaimsorlegalactioninconnectionwiththeprovisionofourservices toyouwillbegovernedbythelawsofnewzealand.anyclaimorlegal actionagainstthesuppliersislikelytobesubjecttothetermsofyour contractwiththem,andmaybegovernedbythelawsofothercountries.