Chris Edwards - Personal Travel Manager

02/02/2024

29/01/2024

SIXTY COUNTRIES AT 60 😄
Today I’m celebrating having achieved a personal goal to visit 60 countries by my 60th year. I’m very fortunate to have had the opportunity to travel as much as I have & if Covid taught as anything, it’s not to take such freedoms for granted. There are many many more countries to visit so looking forward to adding to this total.

26/01/2024

BARBADOS BEACH BREAK 😎
Being so far from home, I never imagined that I’d ever spend a week relaxing in the West Indies island of Barbados. But here we are, having a blast! Barbados has so much on offer !

Whilst it’s certainly true there are many great island options closer to NZ, if you are considering a Caribbean cruise there are many options that start or end in Barbados.
Making it a great place to stay pre or post cruise.

Check out some of the highlights of our week here in the photos below…

17/01/2024

While less well known than the other ABC islands (Aruba & Curacao), Bonaire has been my favourite so far ! Let’s see if it can hold that honour for long …😄

16/01/2024

The first of our Southern Caribbean island stops …

14/01/2024

Today we discovered there is more to Panama than just hats & the Canal !
(Turns out the hats are imported from Ecuador!)

11/01/2024

ROMANCING CARTAGENA !
The Colombian port city of Cartagena was the initial inspiration for our current trip around the Caribbean.

My wife & I, were making a list of places we would probably feel more comfortable visiting from the safety & security of a cruise ship. Cartagena certainly sounded interesting, but our only reference point was that it is the setting for the 80’s classic movie “Romancing the Stone” starring Micheal Douglas & Kathleen Turner.

Further research showed that-
a) none of that film was actually filmed in Cartagena !
b) it is a stunningly beautiful city!

Eventually we chose a cruise departing Cartagena & have stayed in the old town for two nights prior to embarkation.

We have found that our concerns re safety here were unwarranted. Whilst you always want to be careful about flashing cash around, this is a destination that is safe to wander, even at night.

Locals are friendly & there are police visible in the main tourist areas.

We have loved it here - despite the heat!
They say there are only two temperatures here - hot & hotter!

We definitely should have leant more Spanish before coming- but have got by OK without it

Highly recommend 😄

10/01/2024

Cartagena is a beautiful city. It’s most colourful neighbourhood is Getsemani, just a short 10 min walk from Cartagena’s walled old town - it’s a must-visit when you are here

05/01/2024

Amazing Street art all around the Wynwood District of Miami. Highly Recommend booking the Early access 1hr tour - it gets you in before the crowds & the commentary explains the artists & their work so well

04/01/2024

The chance to see the Mayan ruins in Tulum while cruising the Mexican coast was a real highlight! Spectacular location for this archaeological site

27/12/2023

Kicking things off in South Beach Miami!

04/12/2023

MONDAY TRAVEL MEMORY - Arezzo's Joust of the Saracen

Among the ancient traditions that Tuscans love to celebrate, the Giostra de Saracino or Joust of the Saracen is up there with the best for atmoshpere & pure spectacle !

Held twice a year - on the 3rd Saturday in June & on the 1st Sunday in September, the joust takes place in Arezzo's beautiful Piazza Grande

The whole town turns up in medieval costume as each quarter of the town parades towards the Duomo for a blessing, then compete against each other in a joust to with the Golden Lance.

Traditional flag-throwers add to the occasion & then the main event - galloping riders attempt to hit a target held by an armor-plated dummy (representing a Saracen) holding a cat-o'-nine-tails in his hand. The closer to the centre of the target they strike, the greater the points. If they are hit by the Saracen's cat-o'-nine-tails as it swings around towards them, there are points deducted

The cheering when a quarter's knight hit the target rivaled any stadium of football fans & equally so when a rival knight missed his

Whilst it was the jousting that drew us to Arrezo, we left amazed at the passionate rivalry of the town's four neighborhoods & the exhuberant joy of the winners !

01/12/2023

FRIDAY FAVOURITES - SIEM REAP
If there is one question I'm asked the most, when I tell people I work in travel, it's "What's your favourite place you've been to?" It is not an easy one to answer.
There are just SO MANY amazing places on this planet, where do you start !
Each Friday I will randomly highlight (in no particular order) one of my Favs & what I love about it - Today it's SIEM REAP in Cambodia !

Siem Reap is the gateway city for the incredible templea of Angkor - the largest Hindu Temple complex in the world

Most have heard of Angkor Wat, but few realise the vast number of amazing temple ruins there are within the Angkor archeological park. I spent 3 days checking out various temples here & I barely scratched the surface !

So, if you have limited time (& lets face it 3days of temples is way too much for most people!) which ones should you focus on ?

In my humble opinion the TOP THREE must-see temples are ....

ANGKOR WAT - its on the Cambodian national flag, so of course it’s going to be a major contender ! This massive temple is definitely worth exploring. Get up early for the sunrise here - just don't expect to be alone for it - it’s very very popular !

TA PROHM - Massive trees have invaded this temple complex & the fusing of nature & ancient ruin is incredibly atmospheric ! If it looks familiar, it was featured in the Angelina Jolie, Tomb-Raider film

BAYON - Notably different from every other temple in the park, this Buddhist temple has hundreds of huge faces smiling down at you

Also worth checking out is the beautiful BANTEAY SREI - also known as the Pink Temple due to the colour of the sandstone it is built from

If you want more of the jungle enveloping the ruins, then TA SOM is another good one to explore

Its also great to climb to the top of at least one of them & you can do that (with a bit of effort) at TA KEO or PRE RUP

You can get a Tuk-Tuk driver to take you to any of these for just a few dollars, but we hired a qualified local guide (Ratanak) & his knowledge brought the places alive. He also knew all the best photo spots & how to arrange our temple visits so that we avoided the crowds on the large bus tours

Local knowledge like that is definitley worth the extra cost

20/11/2023

MONDAY TRAVEL MEMORY - Keukenhof Gardens, Holland

Open for only 8 weeks a year, these incredible gardens have to be seen to be believed ! I recall arriving there & being told we had 3 hours to explore & enjoy the gardens. I thought to myself - "How am I going to fill in 3 whole hours here?" I had no idea how massive a place these gardens are. In 3 hours I managed to see only around 3/4 of the sprawling gardens. My camera was clicking the entire time !

Each year 40 gardeners plant more than 7 million bulbs donated to the park by local growers ! The result is spectacular, attracting close to 1.5 million visitors annually

Covering 32 hectares of gardens and four grand pavilions, the Keukenhof is one of the world’s largest flower gardens, with more than 7 million bulbs planted each year including 800 varieties of tulips.

Though the park is only open 8 weeks a year (from mid-March to mid-May) it attracts around 800.000 visitors annually.

Keukenhof is located in South Holland in the small town of Lisse, approx 30 minutes southwest of Amsterdam.

21/10/2023

18/10/2023

FREE EUROPE INFORMATION EVENING
Thurs 26th OCT - 7:15pm
Discover the hidden gems of Europe!

Join us for an evening of travel inspiration with our special guest - Back-Roads Touring

Our presentation venue at Black & White Coffee Cartel, Takanini is easy to access for anon Auckland, as it’s jus 500m from the Southern motorway’s Takanini off-ramp by Countdown Waiata Shores

From the picturesque countryside of Tuscany , thru honey-coloured villages in the Cotswolds, via the hill-top towns of Provence, to the Pueblos Blancos of Andalusia

We will take a journey through them all !

Register now by clicking the link below
Tickets are free but space is limited
So book now

https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/small-group-europe-tours-free-information-evening-tickets-731679030677?aff=oddtdtcreator

16/10/2023

MONDAY TRAVEL MEMORY - BOOTHILL GRAVEYARD

I had arrived in TOMBSTONE Arizona too late to catch the daily re-enactment of the Gunfight at OK Corral. The original gunfight lasted just 30 seconds - so it's not something you can show up late for !

I did however spend FAR longer wandering around Tombstone's 2nd most famous landmark - The Boothill Graveyard.

Famous as being the final resting place of those men shot dead at the OK Corral (amongst many others), it's the only graveyard I'm aware of that also sells souvenirs !

Clearly the gift shop wasn't there in Wyatt Earp's day, & the headstones have been replicated, as the original wooden ones disintergrated many decades ago.
But there is plenty of real history here (read their stories in the image captions)
& I've never enjoyed a graveyard as much !

If you also have had a great graveyard visit somewhere in the world, let me know in the comments ...

13/10/2023

FRIDAY FAVOURITES - ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER
If there is one question I'm asked the most, when I tell people I work in travel, it's "What's your favourite place you've been to?" It is not an easy one to answer.
There are just SO MANY amazing places on this planet, where do you start !
Each Friday I will randomly highlight (in no particular order) one of my Favs & what I love about it - Today it's ROTHENBURG OB DER TAUBER on Germany's ROMANTIC ROAD !

Pickup any guidebook on Germany & you will find Rothenburg ob der Tauber described as the "Jewel of the Romantic Road" & it is without question Germany's best-preserved medieval town

Virtually unchanged since the 1600s, the half-timbered houses, cobbled streets & intact city walls make Rothenburg exceptional

A twist of fate sealed Rothenburg in a time capsule. In its day, a favourable position on the trade routes between Northern & Southern Europe made her name. But when trade routes changed she fell on hard times & without the funds to modernise she remained stuck in time while more prosperous towns moved onto Baroque styles.

But the good times would return & by as early as the mid 1800's tourists were drawn to the picture-perfect setting. In 1880 preservation laws were passed to protect Rothenburg's historic appeal.

I've been fortunate to visit twice - with a 20 year gap between visits! And while the tourist numbers have certainly grown the charm of the place has remained intact

There are three must-do's in Rothenburg -
- Walk the city walls.
2 miles of wonderful rooftop level views
- Climb the Rathaus (Town hall) Tower.
There are 220 steps but the views over the town
& surrounding countryside are magic !
- Take the Night Watchman tour
a very entertaining hour-long walking tour at 8pm each evening
What is incredible is that the same man - Hans Georg Baumgartner has been leading these tours for over 30 years ! I can verify that, as I did the tour with him in 1994 & its the same man pictured on his website today https://www.nightwatchman.de/

The other attraction I would reccomend, (though not a must do if you are squeemish) is the Medieval Crime & punishment Museum !
It contains a number of horrifying torture devices, but also many amusing devices used to publicy shame those who broke the law.

Also, if your a fan of Christmas shops then you won't be able to walk by the Kathe Wohlfahrt store

A word of warning - there are several other towns called Rothenburg in Germany - so make sure you are heading to the one located on the Tauber river = Rothenburg ob der Tauber

If you like the sound of towns such as this & want to know more, why not join us for a FREE Europe information evening where we will talk about may others - Thurs OCT 26th 7:15pm

Click on this link for details -
https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/small-group-europe-tours-free-information-evening-tickets-731679030677?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/10/2023

Small Group Europe tours
- FREE INFORMATION EVENING
Discover the hidden gems of Europe !

🗺️ Are you ready to embark on a journey filled with breathtaking landscapes, charming villages, and unforgettable experiences?

Join us for a FREE Information Evening on Thursday, October 26th at 7:15 PM at Black & White Coffee Cartel, Takanini, where we will introduce you to the wonders of Small Group coach tours in Europe, featuring the renowned Back-Roads Touring.

🚌 Immerse yourself in the rich history and culture of Europe as you travel off the beaten path with our expert guides. From the picturesque countryside of Tuscany to the fairytale castles of Germany, our Small Group tours will take you to places that larger groups can only dream of!

📚 During this informative event, you'll gain valuable insights into our carefully crafted itineraries, designed to provide you with an authentic and unforgettable European adventure. Learn about the personalized service, comfortable accommodations, and unique experiences that make Back-roads tours truly exceptional.

💼 Whether you're a solo traveler, a couple, or a group of friends, our Small Group Europe tours offer the perfect balance between guided exploration and independent discovery. With a maximum of 18 like-minded travelers, you'll have the opportunity to forge new friendships while enjoying the flexibility to explore at your own pace.

🎁 Don't miss out on this incredible opportunity to turn your European travel dreams into reality.

📅 Mark your calendars for Thursday, October 26th at 7:15 PM and join us at Black & White Coffee Cartel in Takanini, for an evening that will inspire your wanderlust and ignite your passion for travel. Reserve your spot now by clicking the link below!

👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.nz/e/small-group-europe-tours-free-information-evening-tickets-731679030677?aff=oddtdtcreator

✨ Don't miss out on this chance to discover the magic of Europe with our Small Group tours. Book your spot today and get ready to embark on the adventure of a lifetime! ✈️🌟

Join us at an informative FREE presentation on Small group coach tours in Europe, featuring Back-Roads Touring.

05/10/2023

Small Group Europe Tours
- FREE INFORMATION EVENING
Discover the hidden gems of Europe!

Get your tickets on Eventbrite!

02/10/2023

MONDAY TRAVEL MEMORY - BEAR SPOTTING in British Columbia

Most Kiwis when visiting Canada, travel the distance between Vancouver & Jasper by train. Either using Via Rail or on the luxury Rocky Mountaineer (which is amazing in every sense!)

A compelling reason to consider driving this route instead, is the opportunity to spot bears in the wild from a jetboat on the Blue River.

Blue River Safari have boats departing every hour & have a lovely restaurant on the river to grab food & drink if you have time to fill in before next departure.

As it's viewing wildlife in their natural habitat, there is no guarantee when or where bears will appear. But the jetboat drivers communicate with each other, advising where they last saw bears roaming, & we were fortunate to spot several bears on our hour long ride

Highly recommend !

20/09/2023

AIRLINE LOGIC !

15/09/2023

SIX YEARS AGO- Seems like yesterday!

Last evening in Paris
Had a great dinner then set off to find the steps from the Woody Allen movie "Midnight in Paris" where Owen Wilson gets transported back to Paris in the 1920s. Great movie if you haven't seen yet, check it out. Didn't get transported back in time but have been feeling weird ever since. Maybe the large quantity of wine we had over dinner or something mystical about that spot. Who can say which is true ???😉

11/09/2023

MONDAY TRAVEL MEMORY - SYDNEY AT NEW YEARS EVE !

Having seen snippets of it on TV every year, the New Year's Eve fireworks in Sydney had been a bucket list item for me for quite some time!

In 2019 we got there & celebrated the awesome year we expected 2020 to be !!!

Ah those blissful days before we knew the terms social distancing & self-isolating & had mastered Zoom meetings (Ok lets be honest, most of us never mastered zoom meetings - "You're on mute !" )

The occasion & fireworks lived up to expectation. We had an amazing view from our position. But with more than a million people decending on Sydney harbour each New Year, you have got to have a plan.

Plan A involves staking out a good free spot early in the morning on 31 Dec.
And I do mean early - those who are very keen to get the best spots at Mrs Macquaries chair camp out overnight near the Sydney Art Gallery ! Having claimed your spot you then have to stay there all day or you'll loose it

Plan B involves purchasing an event ticket with top view, pre-reserved table seating, dinner & drinks, & live band. You rock up late afternoon & just enjoy the party atmoshphere

We went with Plan B - and while not cheap it was money very well spent

If you are thinking of doing it yourself get in touch.
NOTE - Accommodation needs to be booked well in advance to avoid taking out a second mortgage !

01/09/2023

FRIDAY FAVOURITES - CINQUE TERRE
If there is one question I'm asked the most, when I tell people I work in travel, it's "What's your favourite place you've been to?"
It is not an easy one to answer. There are just SO MANY amazing places on this planet, where do you start ! Each Friday I will randomly highlight (in no particular order) one of my Favs & what I love about it - Today its the CINQUE TERRE !

Comprising Five cliff-side villages (Cinque= Italian for five; Terre = Land)
this National park & UNESCO World Heritage site is a cluster of Italian jewels !

The villages are linked by walking trails, rail & boat. The walk is the drawcard for most who visit & while strenuous in parts there are easier sections that can be enjoyed by those less certain of their fitness level plus train to get onwards from there.

WALKING THE CINQUE TERRE (My Personal observations) ...
Approximately 13kms long, the paths are unpaved narrow and uneven (apart from the section known as Lovers lane). 5hrs of walking up & down steep hills (not counting breaks or meals in villages). It can be done in a day, but what’s your hurry? Break it into two leisurely days. Take your time, Enjoy ! Good walking shoes required. Take bottled water with you on the trail. My suggested approach is to warm up on the easiest and shortest southern sections and as you work your way north the walk gets progressively longer and more demanding.

Riomaggiore – Manarola – known as the Via dell’Amore (Lover’s lane)
The easiest section. Wide , paved & flat. 20-30mins. Nice rocky coastline.

Manarola – Corniglia - 45mins – 1hr
An uphill walk to start with (just a warm up for later on!) Levels out to a fairly gentle undulating walk. You will reach Cornaglia rail station just before the actual village. 356 steps await climbing from the station to the village, they are however staggered in alternating directions up the hill, so not particularly steep, just numerous ! There is a shuttle bus that runs between the station and the village if you wish to wait for it, or use it to return to the station after spending time in the village.

Cornaglia – Vernazza – 1hr – 1.5hrs
Steep climb to start with but evens out and finishes with decent to Vernazza.

Vernazza – Monterosso - 1.5 – 2hrs
Narrowest paths and most strenuous part of the trail with significant climbs and descents. 1000 steep steps finish this section (another reason to do this section in this direction, as much easier to tackle them going down than up).

To walk the trail you must purchase a Cinque Terre Card.
Prices start from EUR 7.50 for a 1 day pass and 14.50 for 2 day pass
Better still the Cinque Terre Treno MS Card includes trail access plus unlimited rail travel between the 5 villages & onwards to La Spezia or Levanto (1 day- 18 EUR /2 day 33 Euro)

29/08/2023

PINCH YOURSELF MOMENTS !
My first actual "Pinch me so I know this is real" moment happened right here at the Pyramids of Giza standing directly in front of the Sphinx.

Prior to this I hadn't travelled much. I'd been to Australia a few times plus Fiji & around NZ & this was my first big overseas trip starting with Egypt.

When you are face to face with an image that you have seen countless times in books & movies it can feel quite surreal. Particularly somewhere as historically significant as the Pyramids ! It's mind boggling to consider how old they are - I mean the Romans used to travel there & marvel at the history in front of them !

I've travelled much much more since then, & had many more Pinch yourself moments & I know there are many more to come

So what's been one of your Pinch yourself moments ?

Share in the comments ...

Creating Bespoke Travel Experiences

23/08/2023

MID-WEEK MEANDERINGS - ROUTE 66
Often when travelling, the journey itself is the "destination"
This is certainly true of a great Road trip. There are plenty of ways to get some place fast. The point of a Road Trip is to slow it down & experience the journey itself. Where better to start than with the Mother Road - ROUTE 66 !

Running 3900 kms from Chicago to Santa Monica LA., Route 66 meanders from the Great Lakes to the Pacific thru 8 states. across 3 of Americas most famous rivers (Mississippi, Rio Grande & Colorado rivers) & several time-zones.

Whilst it links several major urban centres along the way, its small town Americana that draws people from the world over.

There is only one correct direction to drive it - that's from East to West ! Its the direction the places are listed in the song "Get your Kicks on Route 66" & its historically the direction the Okies drove to escape the dustbowl which was the birth of the famous route.

Making your way along the Mother Road can be a challenge at times ! 85% of it is still drivable - but it comes & goes. Some of it merges into the Interstate & some of it disappears entirely.

Neon is the signature signage of 66 !
But certainly not the only means of attracting the attention of passing motorists. Strange roadside creations have been part of 66 kitsch since the 1950's . Roadside Dinosaurs are a common example.

The weird & wacky roadside museum is another 66 tradition, Albuquerque has a Rattlesnake museum which is pretty unique!
While in McLean Texas you can visit the Devil's Rope museum - dedicated to the history of barbed wire !

And where else but on Route 66 can you stay in a motel where the rooms are made in the shape of Wigwams ? I can personally recommend it !

You need a good amount of time to do the full journey any justice.
Whilst you could cover the distance using the Interstate highway in 4 days ( 8 hrs driving each day ), just driving the Interstate is NOT experiencing Route 66 !

My advice is plan 2 weeks minimum & 3 weeks far better !
If you've got less time than that, just drive a smaller section of it rather than rushing it. The section thru New Mexico & Arizona combines 66 nostalgia with spectacular desert scenery & passes thru several national & state parks

Hope these photos from my own time on the Mother Road inspire you to try it for yourself ...