Passport

Per the entry requirements of the local government, you will need to travel with a passport that has at least 1 blank page and it must be valid for at least 3 months past the date that you will arrive back in the U.S.

Visit the State Department for details about the passport application and renewal process and processing times. It may take several weeks for renewals to be processed, so plan accordingly.

Visa

U.S. citizens are required to have a visa known as a New Zealand Electronic Travel Authority (NZeTA) to travel to New Zealand for stays of up to 90 days. It can take up to 72 hours for a NZeTA to be approved. If travelers do not have a NZeTA when they check in for their flight they will not be allowed to board.

The NZeTA costs NZD $12.00 per traveler for requests submitted using the official NZeta website. In addition, travelers are required to pay an International Visitor Conservation and Tourism Levy (IVL). The cost of the IVL is NZD $35 per traveler and is charged alongside the NZeTA. Both the NZeTA and the IVL are valid for multiple visits within 2 years.

In order to participate in our New Zealand Program you must obtain the NZeTA and pay the IVL.

• Use this link to complete the form and pay the fees (including an additional service fee): https://nzeta.immigration.govt.nz/

  • In order to complete the form you will need to have the following items:

  • A valid passport that you will be using for travel on this trip

  • A credit card or debit card (Visa or Mastercard)

  • An email address

  • A passport-style photo (does not need to be “official”—you may use any camera to take the photo

Citizens of other countries should check with the nearest consulates for specific visa entry requirements for their entire itinerary.

If you are traveling independently of the group or to any other countries prior to or after the group program, check the visa requirements with the local consulates of each country you plan to visit.

General Recommendations

Consult your doctor for medical advice on this program and use your best judgment when evaluating your health, physical ability and the appropriateness of this program for you. This program is a group experience and your level of ability and preparedness will have an impact on the other participants.

Medical care and facilities are readily available in New Zealand, but accessibility and standards of medical services may vary.

You are responsible for bringing an adequate supply of your personal medications as well as medicines for common ailments. Some medicines that are over-the-counter or prescription in the U.S. may be prohibited in some countries. Check with the foreign embassies and consulates in the U.S. for the country or countries where you will be traveling to find out what medications are prohibited, and speak with your doctor regarding alternate medications to bring, if necessary.

We recommend you carry the telephone number and email address of your personal physician, along with an up-to-date record of known allergies and chronic medical problems.

Covid-19 Information and Vaccinations

All travelers will be required to complete a Traveler Agreement and attest to being fully vaccinated (having completed the Covid-19 primary vaccine series) in order to participate in this program. Travel/Study strongly recommends that you stay up-to-date with the most recent boosters recommended for you by the CDC. Please contact our office if you received a vaccine other than Pfizer, Moderna or J&J.

With destination conditions and travel requirements changing frequently, travel protocols for this particular program will be shared with confirmed travelers approximately 3 to 4 weeks before departure.

Other Vaccinations

At the present time, no vaccinations are required by the destinations we visit on this program. (Travel/Study requires all travelers be vaccinated for Covid-19; please see the “Covid-19 Information and Vaccinations” section above for more information.)

You should be up to date on routine vaccinations while traveling to any destination. These vaccines include measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine, varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, polio vaccine and your yearly flu shot.

Ask your doctor what vaccines and medicines you need based on your personal medical history, where you are going, how long you are staying, what you will be doing, and if you are traveling from a country other than the U.S. You can also check the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website for the most up-to-date recommendations.

See your doctor before your trip to allow time for vaccines to take effect, ideally at least four to six weeks before departure.

Sun Protection

The sun can be strong at this time of year in New Zealand. Take precautions to avoid overexposure to the sun during the program. Bring a sun hat with a wide brim, a scarf to protect your neck and sunglasses that block 100% of UVB rays. A quality waterproof, long-lasting, ultraviolet A- and B-blocking sunscreen (at least SPF 30) is strongly recommended.

New Zealand is an island nation with a moderate climate. It is not uncommon to experience several types of weather conditions - including rain - within a given day. In general, the South Island is a few degrees cooler than the North Island.

Temperatures during our program can be variable, historically ranging in January from the mid-50s in the early mornings and evenings to the 60s and low 70s (°F) during the day.

Since weather patterns are increasingly unpredictable, we recommend checking temperatures online at The Weather Channel or Weather Underground a few days before the trip departs.

The cost of this tour includes accommodations, transportation, group meals as noted in the brochure (including soft drinks and local or pre-selected beer or wine with group lunches and group dinners), entrance fees and gratuities for all group activities to guides, waiters and porters. You should need money only for personal expenses, meals on your own, beverages not provided at group meals and for individual purchases.

A few things to note about money while on this trip:

• You will need to pay for everything in local currency using cash or credit cards.

• ATMs are readily available throughout the itinerary, but you may have to split off from the group on excursions in order to seek out an ATM.

• Major credit cards (VISA, MasterCard and American Express) are accepted in virtually all hotels, most restaurants and large shops.

The currency in New Zealand is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). You can find up-to-date information and current exchange rates online, for example at Oanda.

Gratuity Guidelines

These guidelines are for hotel housekeeping staff, private transfers, meals on your own, additional hotel nights or any other travel that is not with the group:

• Hotels: It is not common to leave money for housekeeping staff.

• Taxis/Private Transfers: drivers don't generally expect tips unless they go out of their way for you.

• Restaurants: It is not customary to tip wait staff in New Zealand, though a tip will be appreciated for outstanding service and quality.

Luggage

Due to safety regulations on our chartered airplane, we strictly enforce the following required luggage and weight limits:

• one suitcase per person, not to exceed 45 pounds

• one carry-on piece per person, not to exceed 10 pounds

Participants are responsible for their own overweight luggage charges, so please be aware of your luggage limits during the program as well as the restrictions for your international flight carrier.

Clothing

We recommend a casual, comfortable wardrobe that you can layer. Smart casual attire is appropriate for evening meals.

Laundry Service

• Sofitel Auckland: Laundry service offsite.

• InterContinental Wellington : No laundry service.

• Chateau Marlborough: No laundry service.

• Hotel Montreal: No laundry service onsite but guests can send their laundry to reception before 8.00am weekdays to be cleaned.

• Hotel St Moritz: Self service available. $4 NZD per wash, $4 NZD per dry. Laundry powder is $2 NZD.

Internet

All of our hotels have a business center or internet connections in the rooms. Wi-Fi at each hotel is included in the program cost.

Cell Phones

Contact your cell phone provider to find out how you can use your cell phone abroad. Charges will vary depending on the destination and your existing plan. Please note that many U.S. cell phone plans do not include international roaming, and charges can be quite high.

Adapter

You will need an adapter plug that looks like this to charge any of your electrical devices.

Converter

Most laptop computers and digital camera battery chargers can operate on a range of currents from 110-240 volts, in which case a converter is not necessary since the current in New Zealand is 230 volts, 50 cycles. If you plan to bring any electrical appliances that operate on 110 volts, such as shavers or curling irons, you will need to bring your own electrical converter.