New Zealand Dreams With Chef

• The best time to visit New Zealand depends on your interests and what you want to experience. Its typically an all year round destination with October to May being the summer  months and June to September being the colder winter months. 

• Avail of New Zealand visas by applying online. We do Visa process applications for our guests. We ensure a seamless application process to avail of a New Zealand Tourist Visa for Indians. The processing time is around 6 to 8 weeks. 
• Firstly please note, to get New Zealand  visa you need to have good IT returns, liquid assets and good travel history. 

Here are the general steps

Determine The Visa Type

• New Zealand tourist visas are typically issued under the subclass 600 category. There are different streams within this category, such as the Tourist stream, Sponsored Family stream, and Approved Destination Status stream. You should choose the one that best suits your purpose of visiting New Zealand.

Eligibility Check

• Before applying, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria for the chosen visa category. Eligibility criteria may include financial requirements, health and character checks, and the genuine temporary entrant requirement.
• Gather Required Documents

Prepare All Necessary Documents, Which May Include

• A valid passport with a validity of a minimum of six months beyond your intended stay.
• Visa application form, which you can complete online on the official website.
• Passport-sized photographs as per specific requirements.
• Proof of sufficient funds to cover your stay in New Zealand - like bank statements.
• Travel itinerary, including flight and hotel bookings.
• Proof of ties to India, like employment letters, property documents, or family connections.
• Are any additional documents required for your specific visa stream?

Send The Docs To US

• Once you have all documents ready, then you can share the same with us to process further. 

Biometrics And Health Checks

• Depending on your circumstances, you may be required to undergo biometrics (fingerprints and photos) and/or a medical examination. Follow the instructions provided in your application.

Attend An Interview

• In some cases, you may have to attend an interview at the nearest New Zealand embassy or consulate.

Wait For A Decision

• Visa processing times can vary, so be patient

Visa Grant

• If your visa is approved, you will receive a visa grant notification. Please read and understand the terms and conditions of your visa.

Travel To New Zealand

• Once you have your visa, you can travel to New Zealand for the specified period. Comply with Visa Conditions:
• While in New Zealand, adhere to all the conditions stated in your visa, including the duration of your stay. Always verify the latest requirements and procedures on the official New Zealand government website or consult with the New Zealand embassy or consulate nearest to you. Visa rules and conditions may change, so it is vital to have the most current information.

For more detailed information regarding this, please refer to our Visa portal - www.flamingotravels.co.in/visa

• It takes about 15 hours flying from India to New Zealand

• New Zealand is 7 hours and 30 minutes ahead of India

• The flying time to New Zealand from India is Approximately 16-17 hours.
  
• The main cities of New Zealand are Auckland, Rotorua, Wellington, Queenstown, and Christchurch. Singapore Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, VietJet, Cathay Pacific, Qantas, Air India, Thai, and Srilankan Airlines flies from all major cities of India via their Hubs.

Please refer to our ticketing portal https://portal.flamingotravels.co.in/flight

• Yes, it’s mandatory to carry an International Credit Card / Forex Card / Debit card. You need to provide the details of the booked accommodation. A refundable deposit will be blocked for 30 working days and released after you check out. Any damage to the room/property will be charged to this credit card.
• Also, if you hire a self-drive car, you must bring the same credit card used to make the reservation.

• On the tour luggage Allowance in the coach Will be one HANDBAG and one 23/20 kgs check in bag per person depending on the airline policy. 
• Even when flying within New Zealand, in domestic flights, one 23/20 kgs check in bag and one 7 kgs hand carry will be allowed depending on the airline policy.  

• Yes, Please carry minimum Luggage as coach luggage space is limited. We will allow only one Luggage bag with one Hand luggage.

• New Zealand is divided into two islands - North & South Island. The major cities on the North Island are Auckland, Wellington & Rotorua. While in South Island the major cities are Queenstown and Christchurch. The flight times from major cities are as 

Auckland to Queenstown ------ 1 hour and 55 minutes

Auckland to Christchurch -------- 1 hour and 25 minutes

Queenstown to Christchurch ----- 1 hour and 10 minutes

• Mainly for Group tours to New Zealand, we have, itineraries covering both North and South Island with major cities; Auckland – Rotorua – Queenstown – Twizel – Christchurch.

• Yes. One can combine New Zealand with 
• Australia, Fiji, Bora Bora, Bali, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia

• New Zealand has a lot of Indian restaurants in all  major cities across the country. You can get very good Guajarati style, Maharashtrian style, south Indian meals, Punjabi and Rajasthani style, Mumbai style fast food in New Zealand with flamingo tour. 

• A: Yes, most restaurants and cafes offer vegetarian and vegan menu items. New Zealand is accommodating of various dietary preferences. Veg thai, veg Mexican, veg pizza, veg burgers are easily possible. 

• Breakfast: Your breakfast is normally a continental or American breakfast which usually will have Tea or Coffee, Juices, Cereals, Milk, Breads, Butter, Jam, cheese.  Some hotels may provide hash brown potatoes or hot potatoes or hot beans. No Indian item or Jain item will be available. 
• Lunch & Dinner: may be a combination of Indian / Continental or local vegetarian or packed. Local lunch can be pizza, pasta or Mexican or subway. But all vegetarian. 
• Jain passengers: Please note, the Jain food which may be provided will be without onion, garlic & potatoes. Any further restriction from the above for vegetables etc cannot be accommodated. Also there will be restricted choice of vegetables, curries items for jain passengers. 
• A meal doesn’t include any Water Bottles, Beverages Hard/Soft drinks, Fruit Juices.  

*In the cruise, the meals will be served as per the cruise policy. 

Chef Tour Meal Notes

Breakfast

• Cold Breakfast spread with items like Milk, Cereal, Fruits, and breads along with 1 hot Indian Items. In Christchurch we will have hotel breakfast as per their menu.

Lunch

• Afternoon lunch will be a minimum of two or three Items such as Pav Bhaji, Puri Bhaji, Bhel, Chole Puri, Biryani Curd, Handva etc. will be served in outside Picnic areas & Parks. (Subject to weather conditions &  permissions, the time of this meal can vary)
• Lunches will be a combination of restaurant & casserole lunches.

Dinner

•  Indian Dinner will be served in the hotel or in an Indian restaurant with a full set menu of that city.
• Despite having a chef on board, some meals will be prepared by the restaurant due to logistic reasons. (Specifically on days with intercity flight or long distance road travel)
• In few hotels we will provide hotel breakfast In Christchurch meals will be in Indian Restaurant.
• Due to unavoidable circumstances any meal on tour can be packed meal due to operational issues.

• Tap Water throughout New Zealand is Safe to Consume and therefore request you to carry an empty bottle with you which you can refill whenever you wish to.

• English is the official language of New Zealand. You'll have no trouble communicating in English. English is widely spoken throughout New Zealand.

• The official currency is the New Zealand Dollar (NZD). You need to change the currency to New Zealand dollars. Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in NE zealand, including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. ATMs are also readily available.
• While it's a good idea to have some local currency on hand, you can exchange money at banks, currency exchange offices, or use ATMs upon arrival in New Zealand for competitive rates.

• Wi-Fi is available at most International airports, Public access areas of Hotels, and trains in New  Zealand. Buses do not necessarily have Wi-Fi. The speed quality and speed may vary.
• Some places may have access to Wi-Fi at a fee.

• Always carry layers, as it might get cold during evenings and mornings. Even in summer the weather is cold for us so do carry proper jackets, woolens, mufflers etc. Don't forget sunscreen, a hat, and comfortable walking shoes. Check the weather for your specific destinations. It is suggested to carry umbrella or ponchos too. 

• Capital City :        Wellington
• Major Cities :         Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Rotorua, Queenstown
• Population :         5 million.
• Languages :         English.
• Best time to visit: Any time is a good time to Visit New Zealand.
• Flying Time :         16 Hrs
• Time Difference:          6:30 Hrs Ahead India

Auckland

• Auckland is the largest city in New Zealand, with 1.7 million citizens and the main arrival point for visitors to the country. 
• It is a vibrant multicultural city, set around two big natural harbors, and ranked as one of the most liveable cities in the world. 
• It is in the warm northern part of the North Island, on a narrow isthmus that joins the Northland peninsula to the rest of the island.

Places to Visit

• Sky Tower
• Auckland War Memorial Museum
• Eden Park
• Viaduct Harbour

Rotorua

• Rotorua is a unique and geothermal active city on the North Island. 
• It's known for its distinctive landscapes, Maori culture, and outdoor recreational opportunities. 
• Rotorua is situated within the Taupo Volcanic Zone, making it one of the world's most geothermal active areas. 
• Visitors can witness bubbling mud pools, steaming geysers, and colorful mineral terraces at various geothermal attractions, including Te Puia, Wai-O-Tapu, and Whakarewarewa.

Places to Visit

• Te Puia  
• Wai – O – Tapu Thermal wonderland 
• Agrodome farm 
• Waitomo Glowworm Caves

Christchurch: 

• Christchurch is on the east coast of South Island, along the Canterbury Plains. 
• It is the largest city on the South Island and serves as the gateway to the South Island for many travelers. 
• The city is known for its proximity to the Southern Alps and beautiful coastal areas. Christchurch has a rich colonial history and is often referred to as the "most English" city in New Zealand due to its historical connections to England. 
• It was severely affected by a series of earthquakes in 2010 and 2011, which caused significant damage to the central city but also led to rejuvenation and rebuilding.

Places to Visit

• Christchurch Botanic Gardens
• International Antarctic Centre
• Canterbury Museum 
• The Avon River 
• Christchurch Cathedral

Queenstown

• Queenstown is on the shores of Lake Wakatipu, surrounded by the Southern Alps. The town is in the Otago region. 
• Queenstown is a picturesque resort town on New Zealand's South Island, renowned for its stunning natural landscapes and a wide range of outdoor and adventure activities.  
• Queenstown has earned its reputation as the "Adventure Capital of the World" due to the plethora of outdoor activities it offers. Activities include bungee jumping, skydiving, jet boating, white-water rafting, zip-lining, and paragliding. 
• The town is known for its stunning alpine scenery, including the Remarkable mountain range and pristine lakes. It's a popular destination for photographers and nature enthusiasts. 
• Queenstown is a destination that appeals to adventurers, nature lovers, and those seeking relaxation in a breathtaking setting. 
• The range of activities and the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape make it a popular year-round destination.

Places to Visit

• Skyline Gondola
• Milford Sound
• Lake Wakatipu
• Arrow town

• Yes, as New Zealand uses Type I electrical outlets and plugs. If your devices have a different plug type, carry a universal adapter.

• Most public toilets are free of charge for general use. 

• There is a shortage of manpower in New Zealand which makes porter service either very expensive or not available for most hotels.
• Porterage in Any of Tours is not included. It will be passenger’s responsibility to carry their bags to and from the Coach and their room. 
• We recommend you to carry light so you can pull your bags in and out of the rooms on own easily. 

• Yes, Tipping is compulsory in New Zealand. 
• You will have to pay NZD 5.00 per person per day for the Duration of your tour. Kindly pay the same on arrival to the Tour Manager (Applicable on both adult and child) 

• Flamingo strongly advises that you should carry a travel insurance with you, with a minimum of USD250,000 coverage. We will not release any tour documents, unless the insurance copy is submitted to us. 
• Please note the insurance cost is not included in the tour cost. It is going to be additional. 

• Standard check in time is 3 pm and check out time is 11 am. 

• When you book the tour, the sales staff will provide you with the itinerary which specifies all details and is day wise. You last and final updates itinerary with all hotel names and address as well as internal flights (If any) will be shared with you by your sales representative before 7 days of your departure. 

Brochure Accuracy

• All information given in the Brochure / Itinerary / Sightseeing Tours are based on the information available at the time of publication. We reserve the right to change any brochure / itinerary before or after booking your tour due to any event beyond our control. In case if we will know about any changes before your departure we will update or communicate with you otherwise our Tour Manager or Local Representative will inform you of the changes on the tour.

Tipping

• Tipping is compulsory. 
• You will have to pay AUD & NZD 5.00 per person per day for the Duration of your tour. Kindly pay the same on arrival to the Tour Manager (Applicable on both adult and child) 

Baggage 

• On the tour luggage allowance in the coach will be one handbag and one suitcase per person. 
• Porterage in Any of Tours is not included. It will be passenger’s responsibility to carry their bags to and from the Coach and their room. 

Hotels

Types of Rooms & Beds

• Double room is for 2 people sharing 
• Triple room is for 3 persons sharing one standard room
• Child sharing room with parents will be 2 queen beds in 1 room
• Most hotels have more Twin rooms (2 queen beds). 
• Please note that in case child sharing parent’s bed and booked as CNB many times bed size in the room is either Queen size or Twin beds may come. Therefore, we recommend booking child with bed for children above 5 years. 
• Please note that size of the Double and Triple rooms is usually the same. In Triple room, third bed is typically a roll- away bed or an extra bed.

Travel Insurance

• Flamingo strongly advises that you should carry a travel insurance with you, with a minimum of USD 250,000 coverage. We will not release any tour documents, unless the insurance copy is submitted to us. 
• Please note the insurance cost is not included in the tour cost. It is going to be additional. 

Covid Rules

• It is mandatory to follow the Vaccination pre-requirement of each country being visited before &during the tour.

Deviation Charge:

• If you wish to deviate your tour from the group on return to India the same is permitted. You will have to pay Rs. 10,000/- per person per deviation plus difference of airfare as per availability of the date you wish to travel on. Pre tour deviations are not possible on Group airfare. If you wish to go earlier than Group departure date than you are required to pay the difference of individual airfare and Group airfare.

Joining Direct Policy

• International Flight Airfare & Internal Flight Airfare not included. 
• Passengers need to reach to the hotel of first destination on their own. Airport transfers are not included for Direct Joining passengers. 
• Passengers’ tour will end at the hotel in the last city. They need to transfer to airport on their own expense.
• The JD cost does not include the cost of Australia and New Zealand visa.

Tour Manager

• Your tour manager will not be travelling with you in the flights. He / She will meet you directly in the first hotel of your tour / airport (if there is a transfer) 
• It is not necessary that the tour manager travels with you in the internal flights as well. 
• Your tour manager may change the flow of sightseeing for the betterment if need may be. 

Coach And Coach Captain 

• It is strictly not allowed to eat, drink or smoke inside the Coach. 
• Coach Captains are bound by American laws and restrictions about driving hours per day and per week. All itineraries are planned as per them. Therefore it is absolutely essential for passengers to follow the time very strictly and punctually. 
• In some Coaches an emergency washroom is available. Keeping in mind hygiene standards it can be used only in case of severe emergency. We try to make sufficient stops to ensure the comfort of our passengers. 
• For our tours we do have all sizes of coaches such as 30 seater, 49 seater and 55 seater. We choose coach as per number of participants in the tour and we tend to use full capacity of our coach with no seat or hardly a seat or two empty in the coach. 
• Our coaches will not have any WIFI facilities on board the coach. 

Payment Policy

• initial deposit - Rs. 50,000/ + USA visa fees to confirm you’re booking with us. 
• 2nd Payment –Rs. 1, 00,000 while applying for Canada Visa.    
• 3rd Payment - Rs.  1, 00,000/- 75 Days Prior to your Departure. 
• 4th Payment – Rs.  1, 00,000/- 45 Days Prior to your Departure.
• 100% payment to be made at least 30 Days Prior to your Departure.
• The initial deposit money will be towards the INR portion. 
• The USD component will never be freezed. ROE will be considered on the date of payments given, towards USD portion.

Cancellation Charges Per Person

• 60 Days or more prior to Departure                       Rs.50000/-
• 59 Days to 35 Days prior to Departure                    Rs.85000/-
• 34 Days to 07 Days prior to Departure                    75% of the Tour Cost
• With 7 Days of Departure                                          100% of the Tour Cost

Refunds

• There will be no refund on utilized services. 
• Due to reasons beyond our control such as strikes, heavy traffic, rain etc or you did not use services such as Meals, Entrance Fees, Sightseeing Tour, Hotels, cruises, Optional Tours it is clearly understood that there will be no refund due to any reason whatsoever. 
• Any refund (if due) process will take minimum 30 days or the time taken as per the supplier policy on whose services needs to be refunded. 
• Refunds will be given in Indian Rupees and thru Cheque or Bank Transfers only even though payment by cash. 
• If refund is due in foreign currency the rate of exchange will be considered on the day when refund is made and not the day when the payment was made.

Minimum Participation & Tour Cancellation

• Operations of Groups Tour to USA is subject to Minimum Participation of 35 paying adult passengers 
• Tours specified in the brochure / itinerary is subject to minimum participation of paying participants. If the participants are below the minimum prescribed or any unforeseen circumstances beyond our control or without assigning any reason the company reserves right to amend, amalgamate, alter, vary or cancel a tour without incurring the liability to pay any compensation.  
• Under such circumstances amount paid by you will be refunded forthwith after deducting the actual expenses incurred by us like visa, travel insurance and the like but no compensation is payable. All refunds shall be given in Indian Rupees and thru cheque or bank transfers only. 
• If company decides to operate the tour with participation below minimum stipulated or if the participants are required to travel as “individual traveller” the company reserves right to collect additional amount in case any. Persons travelling as individual travellers such cases will not be provided certain services including that of tour manager and the client may travel in the same itinerary with some amendments such as in coach, airport transfers, which re at fixed times etc. 

Please Note

• Above rates are subject to change without our prior notice. Above rates are subject to availability & confirmation by the airline & hotel. 
• ROE will be considered on the day when you make the payment. 
• Price is valid for minimum 40 Passengers traveling together. Flamingo reserves right to cancel or Change date of departure in case of inadequate members in the Group. 
• Room Rates based on Standard Rooms. Supplement cost will be applicable for Sea Facing /Lake Facing / Deluxe / Suite Rooms. 
• International Hotel Standard Check in time 1500 hrs Check out Time 1100hrs 
• There is No Refund for unutilized Services. 
• All services of the tour including changes in Schedule of mode of travel may have an impact on tour Itineraries and the company reserves a right to change / modify / vary/ alter in the tour Itinerary and/or tour tariff accordingly. 
• Porterage is not included. The passengers have to carry their own luggage from coach to room and rooms to coach on their own. 
• Passengers need to pay baggage handling fees of USD 25-35 per check in bag, per flight for internal sectors, levied by airlines at airport if more than 1 bag per person by themselves. 
• It is advisable to book 60 days prior to the date of departure as the internal ticket rate might increase closer to the departure date, resulting in an increase in the tour cost. 
• Overseas Medical Insurance is strongly suggestible for your travel.