Flights and Transfers

Please note that you are liable for the cost of your airfare in the event that you need to cancel off the program or if Travel/Study is unable to run the program for any reason.

Therefore we strongly recommend waiting to book your flights until closer to departure, purchasing refundable tickets or considering additional travel insurance to cover the cost of your flights in case you are unable to use your ticket. You may opt to work with your travel agent or call airlines directly or look on your preferred travel websites for flight options.

If you don’t already have a travel agent, we recommend you contact Carol Brazeau at Travel Experts, Inc., located in Oceanside, CA. She would be happy to assist you with air arrangements. She can be reached by email at carol@travelxperts.com or by phone at 650-823-9958. Note that Carol charges a service fee for making travel arrangements.

When to Arrive/ Transfers (see below if you are doing the extension)

Arrive in Auckland (airport code AKL) by 11:00 a.m. on Monday, January 9.

• Transfer duration: approximately 30 minutes from the airport to the Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbor (16.5 miles)

• Check-in time at hotel: rooms will be available beginning at 6:00 a.m. on January 9.

• First activity: a light lunch on Monday, January 9 at approximately 12.30 p.m., followed by a walking tour of the central city of Auckland.

Transfers from the airport to the hotel are provided for all travelers arriving in Auckland on January 9. We’ll use the flight information you provide to arrange included transfers. You may be grouped with other travelers arriving on the same flight or at the same time.

If you plan to arrive earlier than January 9:

• Making your own arrangements: A taxi costs about NZ $80 (US $60). Taxis are very safe and accessible. Taxi drivers speak English and accept major credit cards.

• Private transfer: NZ $195 (approx. US $150) for up to 2 people. Includes meet/greet service in arrivals hall and assistance with luggage to the transfer vehicle. Note that payment for private transfers is non-refundable after the final payment due date for the trip. Contact Olivia at Unparalleled Journeys at olivia@upj.co.nz to book a transfer.

When to Depart/Transfers

Depart from Queenstown (ZQN) anytime on Friday, January 20:

• Transfer time: approximately 15 minutes from the Hotel St. Moritz to the airport (5.2 miles).

• Final activity: morning at leisure on January 20.

Transfers from the hotel to the airport are provided for all travelers departing Queenstown on January 20. We’ll use the flight information you provide to arrange included transfers. You may be grouped with other travelers departing on the same flight or at the same time.

If you plan to depart Queenstown later than January 20:

• Making your own arrangements: A taxi costs about NZ $60 (US $45). Taxis are very safe and accessible. Taxi drivers speak English and accept major credit cards.

• Private transfer: NZ $125 (approx. US $85) for up to 2 people. Note that payment for private transfers is non-refundable after the final payment due date for the trip. Contact Olivia at Unparalleled Journeys at olivia@upj.co.nz to book a transfer.

Optional Pre-trip Extension

Arrive in Auckland (airport code AKL) by 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 7.

• Transfer duration: approximately 30 minutes from the airport to the Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbor (16.5 miles)

• Check-in time at hotel: rooms will be available beginning at 6:00 a.m. on January 7.

• First activity: a light lunch on January 7 at approximately 12.30 p.m., followed by a walking tour of Auckland’s historic Marina.

Transfers from the airport to the hotel are provided for all travelers arriving in Auckland on January 7. We’ll use the flight information you provide to arrange included transfers. You may be grouped with other travelers arriving on the same flight or at the same time.

If you plan to arrive earlier than January 7:

• Making your own arrangements: A taxi costs about NZ $80 (US $60). Taxis are very safe and accessible. Taxi drivers speak English and accept major credit cards.

• Private transfer: NZ $195 (approx. US $150) for up to 2 people. Includes meet/greet service in arrivals hall and assistance with luggage to the transfer vehicle. Note that payment for private transfers is non-refundable after the final payment due date for the trip. Contact Olivia at Unparalleled Journeys at olivia@upj.co.nz to book a transfer.

Extra Hotel Arrangements

If you decide to arrive early or depart late, our tour operator, Unparalleled Journeys, would be happy to assist you with additional touring arrangements or hotel nights. Please contact Olivia at Unparalleled Journeys at olivia@upj.co.nz if you are interested in additional arrangements before or after your tour.

The following are costs for extra hotel nights:

Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbor, Auckland – Superior Room*

• $544 NZD (approx. $370 USD) per room per night, double occupancy

• $500 NZD (approx. $340 USD) per room per night, single occupancy

Hotel St. Moritz, Queenstown– One Bedroom Alpine Suite or Lakeview Guest Room*

• $835NZD (approx. $565 USD) per room per night, double occupancy

• $668 NZD (approx. $450 USD) per room per night, single occupancy

* These prices include breakfast and taxes. Note that the rates above may include booking fees and more restrictive cancellation penalties than the main program and may not represent the lowest available pricing. Rooms are fully refundable up until 30 days prior to arrival. You may find better deals online or by booking directly with the hotel. If you elect to make your own additional hotel reservations, please notify Laura Slaughter. You may need to change rooms if you opt to book directly, since hotels cannot always link individual hotel reservations with group reservations.

Accommodations

Following are links to the hotels on our journey.

• Auckland: Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbor (night of January 9 & 10, pre-trip extension January 7 to 9)

• Wellington: Intercontinental Wellington (nights of January 11 & 12)

• Blenheim: Chateau Marlborough (nights of January 13 & 14)

• Christchurch: Hotel Montreal (nights of January 15 & 16)

• Queenstown: Hotel St Moritz (nights of January 17, 18 & 19)