| Holiday time can prove very stressful for some | | | | vacation. They could've avoided the daily juggling |
| travelers. One story relayed to me recently was | | | | act of finding accommodation, had private rooms |
| about a haphazard vacation in New Zealand that | | | | and peaceful, uninterrupted sleep - which people |
| left the party wishing they'd had someone else | | | | find is very important when you're on the move. |
| organize their holiday package. The small family | | | | The spontaneity of this kind of New Zealand |
| group of distant cousins started with grand ideas | | | | vacation could be sending shudders down your |
| of a vacation after a reunion at a local winery. | | | | spine right now, or you might think it sounds wildly |
| They decided to cut costs by car pooling and | | | | exciting and liberating. Either way, if you're looking |
| staying with each other's relations in the same | | | | at travelling in New Zealand any time soon it is |
| area (East Coast of New Zealand) for three | | | | highly recommended that you take the time to |
| weeks. Unfortunately, no one put their hand up to | | | | check out what kind of vacation packages are |
| take responsibility for bookings and in January, a | | | | available before heading off in a potentially |
| peak season travelling time in New Zealand, if you | | | | disastrous direction. |
| haven't pre-booked by at least six months - you | | | | These packages come in all shapes and sizes for |
| will find out very fast that there are limited | | | | varying lengths of time, different prices and with |
| facilities in New Zealand. | | | | or without a guide. A full itinerary can be sent to |
| Those basic transport details found the party | | | | you with options, months ahead of schedule. As |
| floundering at the start of their vacation, where | | | | long as you pay the bill, responsibility for your |
| ferry tickets needed to be prepaid some | | | | vacation is handed over - usually to someone with |
| members hadn't done this, so they purchased | | | | a lot more experience. Just consider the |
| different tickets at different prices. These | | | | difference in a vacation if there is someone telling |
| differences led to arguments over whose turn it | | | | or advising you where to eat, what time you |
| was to pay for petrol and to general ill feeling | | | | meet for the next excursion and having it all |
| amongst the group. | | | | prepaid. That would avoid contentious issues like |
| Accommodation also wasn't booked anywhere | | | | whose turn it is to pay for the next petrol bill or |
| around New Zealand and visiting the smaller | | | | disappointment in missing out on a day's activity. |
| towns, hoping for the best, was a risky situation. | | | | On a New Zealand vacation package, there will be |
| One of the best ways to handle this could've | | | | a real bed waiting for you at the end of the day |
| been to pre-purchase a New Zealand vacation | | | | with all the mod-cons (hot running water) in the |
| package with some nights pre-booked, especially | | | | bathroom and privacy. Driving on the one-lane |
| in smaller towns. This would've given these | | | | highways can prove a challenge to the best New |
| travelers ample time to visit their relations and | | | | Zealand drivers so it is bliss to be driven around |
| find out if there really was room for everyone to | | | | and really take in your new environment. Driving is |
| stay at the same place, rather than just landing | | | | a stressful job you can leave behind and find |
| on their doorstep. | | | | more time to relax with a few drinks at dinner, |
| All that aside, they managed to get over their | | | | leaving the guide to transport you home. |
| differences and still had a good vacation but with | | | | Well worth it. |
| a bit more planning it could've been a great | | | | |