Brigitte Kempf Personal Travel Consultant - Memories Connection

23/12/2022

As the 2022 year draws to a close, I have some news to share.

After nearly 3 years of a Covid Pandemic firstly working to secure refunds and supplier credits while international borders were closed, and then as restrictions eased, working tirelessly to enable many travellers to re-unite with loved ones around the globe, including securing MIQ slots and advising on numerous Covid travel regulations, in a world where travel has become more complex.

I appreciated the joy of travelling again both in NZ heading to Stewart Island and Te Anau and more recently to Europe (and was also able to use a 2020 credit!).

Thank you for all your support and kind words over the last 3 years, and all the wonderful holidays we have been able to book, and the 'Travel Memories' created over the last 15 years.

From the end of 2022, Memories Connection will be closing for new bookings. Assistance will be given for those who have a 2023 holiday booked, or a supplier 2020 credit still to be used.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Cheers Brigitte

08/09/2022

She opened her handbag and pulled out her own marmalade sandwich and remarked: "I keep mine in here." Paddington then congratulated the Queen on her 70-year reign, saying: "Thank you for everything."

Here is the video clip of that Paddington 'Cup of Tea' interaction. https://youtu.be/7UfiCa244XE

RIP Queen Elizabeth - the only Queen most of us knew…

06/09/2022

Emirates has just launched its latest campaign, "The Goose Flies Better", but we can't help thinking it all looks and sounds rather familiar.

09/08/2022

UPDATE We standing at Heathrow baggage conveyor... 💼 all priority bags with lovely red tags came out. But nothing now for at least 45 mins... Whole plane load waiting... Marcus has 1 check in bag... If both had hand luggage.. We'd be on the London tube by now... Just saying....

Airport Check In this morning... 'So you are off to London Heathrow today?' Yes Yes Yes... 3 yrs & we're travelling again! Had obligatory Duty Free shop! 3 weeks away & I'm travelling hand luggage only!! # # beat the Post Covid luggage woes... Anyone doubt I could NOT have a Check In suitcase?! 😃 it's a new era in travel!

07/08/2022

Travel's happening again.. :) Time to use my 2020 credit... My travel tradition nails ready to go, thanks Taanz at P2P. How's your flag knowledge? Comment below with the 4x countries we are travelling to??

16/06/2022

12/06/2022

This is gold... For those who know the Timaru Airport experience!!

OPINION: For the uninitiated, Timaru Airport is a hidden gem, a pristine artefact, the real gateway to the self-proclaimed 'Riviera of the South'.

10/06/2022

A good summary of the travel market including NZ and around the world.

Airline is enjoying strong demand for travel as restrictions ease.

09/06/2022

Have you thought of Pitt Island as a holiday destination?!

30/05/2022

"The resorts are crying out for staff and Kiwi workers are in huge demand."

22/05/2022

Richard and Angelyn Burk of Seattle say they've spent the past year living on cruise ships, and have no intentions of ever returning to their land home.

18/05/2022

✈️ NZ TRAVEL DECLARATION TIPS ✈️

Filling out the New Zealand Traveller Declaration can be a a challenge. It could take a couple of minutes to upload your negative test…or it could result in a lengthy phone call and a conditional approval from the helpline.

But don’t panic, there are workarounds in place to get you on the plane!

Here’s some tips:

1. Start your form before you leave and remember Kiwis don’t need to enter their vaccination details. Write your application reference number down; and then all you need to do (once you have your negative pre-departure test result) is upload a photo of the test and submit.

2 If you are getting your RAT at the airport pre-departure allow plenty of time, just in case.

3. If possible, use a web browser such as Chrome to upload the negative test result as the on-line system continues to be ‘hit and miss’ using Safari (one person can upload their test fine, the person sitting next to them cannot). The Safari issue is something the govt is aware of and is working on.

4. If you are having some challenges uploading your test result, find out what time check-in closes for your flight and call the NZTD helpline.

If all else fails uploading the result & check-in is about to close, the NZTD customer support staff can issue a conditional approval and you can just manually show your test result.

5. Once your NZTD is approved you will need to show the airline check-in staff a screen shot of the emailed PDF.

If you need help in New Zealand, ph 0800 359 269; if you are in Australia, ph 1800 359 269; and if you are calling from overseas, ph +64-4-931 5799.

See more details 👉 www.travellerdeclaration.govt.nz

18/05/2022

Is travel with Australia as difficult as you fear? Depends on your direction.

02/05/2022

NZ opened the borders today. Incoming travellers helps keep the price down for outgoing travellers... This article is a good read.... right now flight capacity is limited..... Travellers are booking close to travel....

OEs and business-class are back, say Emirates, but Dubai non-stop is still without a date.

30/04/2022

The world of Travel Agents is changing..... Good read, thanx Megan for explaining the new post-pandemic travel agent world......

Since Covid the travel industry is changing. Travel agents will likely start charging consulting fees and this is what you'll get

29/04/2022

Make sure your passport is up to 'travel standard'

Immigration officials can be very, very strict about your passport's condition.

27/04/2022

Facing weeks-long waits for passports, Kiwis seeking updates have found their calls won't go through.

27/04/2022

OPINION: An airplane is not a gym, so don't dress as if you're going to work out.

23/04/2022

What can you do to make sure your holiday plans arrive in one piece?

23/04/2022

Sons of a pilot father and flight attendant mother, the Kirks have been part of the world of aviation for as long as they can remember.

23/04/2022

A surge in-demand for travel agents, as the world reopens. The pandemic-crippled industry has been under-pressure for the past two months, with flurries of

08/04/2022

Great News!

Auckland Airport, in partnership with Air New Zealand, are now proudly participating in the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Lanyard Scheme. The Sunflower is a discrete way people can indicate a hidden disability and the need for some support or simply a bit more time when moving through the airport.

As the world opens back up, we want everybody to feel supported to travel.

Learn more about the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower and request a lanyard here: aucklandairport.co.nz/information/hidden-disabilities

07/04/2022

April Memories Connection Newsletter

05/04/2022

Our Memories Connection March Newsletter... dust off your passport, there are places to go!!

PurePods have just opened their very first pod in the North Island! Kokomea PurePod sits proudly on a grapevine nursery high above the Kāpiti Coast just an hour north of Wellington.  

23/03/2022

Big Apple here we come!!

✈ AIR NZ TO NEW YORK ✈

Air New Zealand has announced it is heading to New York, with its first flight to the Big Apple on 17 Sep.

The carrier is set to operate its flagship Auckland-New York ( John F. Kennedy International Airport ) route three times a week (initially) year-round with its 787-9 aircraft.

The direct flight will be 16 hours up, and 17 back, and the news has been described by NZ ceo Greg Foran as the moment Kiwis have been waiting for.

“I think it’s going to be a fantastic experience,” he says.

See today's issue for more 📰

21/03/2022

Kiwis eager to travel now borders are open are having to wait up to a month to get their expired passports renewed.

20/03/2022

Great news, making Raro easier to book. PCR 'fit to fly' tests were $250ish each.

🌴 RATs ACCEPTED FOR COOKS 🌴

Travel the Cook Islands just got easier and cheaper, advises Cook Islands Tourism.

A negative pre-departure supervised Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) result is now accepted (instead of the previously required RT-PCR test).

See details here: https://fal.cn/3n46y

📷

08/03/2022

Did you know that women make close to 85 percent of all travel decisions: where to go, when to fly, where to stay, what to see; they are also lion’s share of the tourism workforce. 😮

We wanted to take time on International Women’s Day to say thank you to all the women making travel decisions, whether they are the family planner, designated group trip organiser, a travel advisor, or anything else in between.

Travel can be complicated at the best of times, but in the current climate there is much more to consider. Thank you for working hard to keep everyone safe as they go out and explore and experience all the great things travel allows.

Happy International Women's Day! ♀️

04/03/2022

Great news, helping international travel to get going again...

🙌 GLOBAL ‘DO NOT TRAVEL’ ENDS 🙌

It’s official, the SafeTravel.govt.nz global ‘do not travel’ advisory has ended.

This paves the way for Kiwis to travel the globe with some C-19 insurance cover (policy Ts&Cs will apply) & will significantly bolster Kiwis confidence to ttavel. ✈️🎉👍

The destination-specific travel advisories are back & available here…. https://safetravel.govt.nz/travel-advisories-destination

I think we’ll celebrate by booking a trip!

19/02/2022

Time to update your passport....

Almost half a million New Zealanders have let their passport expire.