How to Make Your Family Getaway Memorable

Written by Cloe Matheson

Photo Credit: Pexels

Whether young or old, we all dream about going on one of those picture-perfect family getaways that promises a million kodak moments. Although, as a parent, you may have had a few less-than-golden experiences of holidaying with the kids - don't let that ruin your belief in a fun family vacation. Here are six brief tips to make your getaways more memorable and enjoyable for the entire family. 

1. Go Slow

Firstly, try not to rush. This goes not only for individual activities, but also for your general mindset regarding the holiday. We, as parents, tend to make life more difficult for ourselves by either trying to pack too many activities and pit-stops into each day or by rushing through the holiday because we're eager to get back to pressing work matters or other pressures of daily life.

Peek Inside for the Weekly Deals - Flights & More!

I got hold of an offer from Orbitz about their Weekly Deals that I want to share with you. You may be interested. One of the offers will take you to New Zealand, the destination that you'd been dreaming of. I have explored NZ, and really, you do not want to miss the beauty of this island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. 

Bay of Islands NEW ZEALAND : Photo taken by Freddie of FromATravellersDesk

Treat yourself for a holiday that you will treasure forever. Take a peek on New Zealand and the rest of the world. You will find big savings in their Weekly Deals. It's 100% New Zealand!

Appreciate Art and Culture of New Zealand

Written by Brian Mcquillan

The beautiful country of New Zealand also possesses a wealth of cultural attractions with its great Maori culture, places of performing arts, museums and art galleries that makes it a perfect destination for art and culture buffs.

Tourists from around the world keep flocking to this destination to explore its various art and cultural offerings, though it is not the main achievement for this relatively young country on the map of the world.

Photo credit: nzstatic

Here we acquaint you with the major art and culture destinations of the country.

Museums

Museum offers an authentic insight into the art and culture of the region, and museums in New Zealand are no exceptions. On their visit to these museums, the tourists can see the cultural and historical artefacts.

If you are interested to have a glimpse of the Maori and Polynesian culture, then Auckland Museum should be your pick where a large collection of artefacts are rearing to educate and entertain you.

15 Friendliest Countries revealed. Are they really that friendly?

Friendly People of Austria

Once again, the World's Friendliest Countries has been released for 2012.  While I quite agree with the results, am just not sure for the rankings that these countries got out of the 15. I have visited 10 of the countries listed and yes, most of them do deserve the honour. They are indeed friendly. I have not been to Cayman Islands, Spain, Bermuda, South Africa and Mexico, so I cannot talk about them in this blog.  

In my opinion, the countries  who should get the Top 5 Friendliest spots are: (1) New Zealand (2) Canada (3) Australia (4) Malaysia  (5) United States.  The rankings I have here is based solely on my travel experiences to these countries; pleasing local people, polite, helpful, honest and welcoming.

The Dark Side of New Zealand

Bay of Islands is so far the best of the islands I have visited. It has many interesting historic towns including Paihia, Russel, Waitangi and Kerikeri. I, myself, cannot believe that I have explored the bay up to the edge of the world at Cape Brett.  

But before I lost control of jumping to the climax of this story, let me start with our scary flight via Air New Zealand from Auckland to Kerikeri.

Hole in the Rock ~ Cape Brett NEW ZEALAND

I am not used to fly with small aircraft with only 8 passengers on board. Though it's not the flight itself which is scary.

Destination: New Zealand is hot for 2012

Hot on the heels of Rugby World Cup, and a bag full of international tourism accolades from 2011, New Zealand is set to stay in the international spotlight for 2012.

The 2011 collection of significant awards - designating New Zealand as hot, popular and eco-friendly - confirms Aotearoa New Zealand as a top international destination for visitors looking to fulfill their travel dreams.

Travel authority Lonely Planet has picked New Zealand’s Southern Lakes in the ‘top 10 regions to visit in 2012’, and New Zealand was voted top global eco-tourism destination at both World Traveller and Viagens e Turismo tourism awards in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

New Zealand ranked third strongest country brand in the 2011 FutureBrand Country Brand Index (CBI), and in the past 12 months many individual Kiwis - sports people, film-makers, authors, designers, artists, wine-makers and tourism operators - have been recognised as among the best in their field.

Researched destination
New Zealand is among the most researched destinations for UK tourists according to flight comparison website Skyscanner’s 2012 global travel trends report - an analysis of flight search data from 15 million monthly users.

Spain remains the favourite British destination, but a 35% year-on-year increase puts New Zealand in the top 10 destinations receiving growing interest from the British travelling public.

In October, The Telegraph (UK) readers named New Zealand as their second favorite worldwide destination at the Telegraph Travel Awards, and Wanderlust (UK) travel magazine readers voted New Zealand their third most satisfying holiday destination.

Rugby World Cup which brought 133,000 visitors - including significant numbers of UK tourists - to New Zealand in September and October, also delivered New Zealand landscapes and culture along with live rugby coverage to a massive international viewing audience in 230-plus countries.

For 2012, two New Zealand regions have been singled out for international attention.
The Southern Lakes region which includes three major New Zealand tourist destinations - Queenstown, Lake Wanaka and Fiordland - is the only New Zealand region to feature in Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel 2012’. Queenstown and Southern Lakes is ranked at #8 for its year-round activities and spectacular scenery.

Kaikoura - New Zealand’s southern whale watching capital - became the first destination in the world to achieve gold in a new global green benchmark for community sustainability efforts. The Gold Community certification awarded by Green Globe recognises the Kaikoura community’s efforts and contribution to New Zealand’s world-leading sustainable tourism credentials.

Cycling and hiking
In 2012, there will be plenty to entice travellers to experience Destination New Zealand’s natural wonders, unique culture and lifestyle including some outstanding new cycling and walking attractions.
New Zealand’s developing national cycle trail project - 18 ‘great rides’ through some of the country’s iconic landscapes - is on track for completion towards the end of the year / early 2013. Several cycle ways are already open and others will be opened progressively during this summer and over the coming months.

The ‘great rides’ will join New Zealand’s well established network of nine ‘great walks’ - multi-day hiking treks through a series of wild New Zealand landscapes which include the famed Tongariro Crossing, in the volcanic central North Island, and the Milford Track through the dual world heritage parks of Fiordland on the South Island’s remote southwestern coast.

For intrepid hikers, the Te Araroa Trail - traversing the length of New Zealand - will provide the newest and ultimate walking experience but there are also many opportunities for recreational walkers as the 3000-kilometre trail covers a multitude of shorter day and overnight walks.

Courtesy of Breaking Travel News