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Check out the New Zealand trip report from Fan of Dan

North Island Activities and Attractions
Auckland - boating, hiking, Sky Tower talk, Kosher, Chabad, Hilton & Crowne Plaza Hotels with points.
Waitomo Glowworm Caves - a unique New Zealand attraction.
Lake Taupo - great boating activities, bungee, and a nice Hilton.
Hobbit Movie Set Tour - if you are into that.
White Island - The only active volcano in NZ, has rave reviews.
Tauranga - Mount Maunganui Summit Track, nice beaches.
Tongariro National Park - the first one created in NZ.
Bay of Islands - Beautiful beaches, old town charm in Russell, and great hikes.


Fifth season of "Jet Lag the Game" filmed in New Zealand in 2023, includes visits to tens of attractions from the north tip to the south:
See all the episodes in the Jet Lag the Game thread
« Last edited by YitzyS on June 02, 2023, 05:59:34 PM »

Author Topic: New Zealand Master Thread  (Read 69178 times)

Offline Dan

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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #60 on: October 15, 2013, 04:35:42 PM »
Looks fantastic, really jealous!
The PH SYD is a dream hotel, don't you go down under and miss it.
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Offline MendyP

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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #61 on: October 15, 2013, 04:37:54 PM »
Any way to book the Park Hyatt with Starpoints?

Offline Dan

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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #62 on: October 15, 2013, 04:39:09 PM »
Any way to book the Park Hyatt with Starpoints?
Nope, get yourself some Chase points (22K/night) or Hyatt nights.
Or find someone to trade with.
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Offline MendyP

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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #63 on: October 15, 2013, 04:45:41 PM »
Nope, get yourself some Chase points (22K/night) or Hyatt nights.
Or find someone to trade with.
Hmm... Sorry for all the questions. What's the easiest way to trade? I know points.com allows that, but seems like they usually rip you off.

Offline sky121

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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #64 on: October 15, 2013, 04:46:40 PM »
Hmm... Sorry for all the questions. What's the easiest way to trade? I know points.com allows that, but seems like they usually rip you off.

Easiest way is to find someone who wants your Starwood points and will let you have their Hyatt points.  :)

Hyatt points can actually be transferred from one Hyatt account to another free of charge AFAIK.
Starwood you would either have to transfer to their Airline of choice or book for them. OR let them have access to the account.
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline Dan

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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #65 on: October 15, 2013, 04:48:51 PM »
Starwood you would either have to transfer to their Airline of choice or book for them. OR let them have access to the account.
Or change address and wait 30 days.
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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #66 on: October 15, 2013, 04:52:06 PM »
Or change address and wait 30 days.

I thought about that but I was wondering... If you do that wouldn't you start getting other people's mail at your house? Or yours at theirs?
"Not all who wander are lost"

Offline Dan

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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #67 on: October 15, 2013, 04:55:57 PM »
I thought about that but I was wondering... If you do that wouldn't you start getting other people's mail at your house? Or yours at theirs?
How much mail do you get from SPG?
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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #68 on: October 15, 2013, 04:57:52 PM »
How much mail do you get from SPG?
Now that I think about it..
hardly any.
Just wondering.
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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #69 on: October 15, 2013, 05:14:21 PM »
you can get the visa for australia for free on flyertalk

Offline Ergel

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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #70 on: October 16, 2013, 12:29:23 AM »
Any way to book the Park Hyatt with Starpoints?
Plenty of time to apply for Hyatt card for two free nights or Ink Bold/Ink Plus
Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #71 on: October 16, 2013, 12:38:32 AM »
Plenty of time to apply for Hyatt card for two free nights or Ink Bold/Ink Plus
And Sapphire Preferred as well. 
Or find people selling nights in the Hyatt awards thread.
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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #72 on: October 16, 2013, 12:40:01 AM »
And Sapphire Preferred as well. 
Or find people selling nights in the Hyatt awards thread.
Staying three nights, meaning he will have to buy from multiple people. Doesn't seem as simple
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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #73 on: October 16, 2013, 12:41:53 AM »
Staying three nights, meaning he will have to buy from multiple people. Doesn't seem as simple
Can buy 1 night from someone and use 2 nights that you'll get from any of those 4 credit cards.
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Life isn't about checking the boxes. Nobody cares.

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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #76 on: November 14, 2013, 10:09:27 PM »
wow
+1   But they are very obviously so heavily digitally altered.
FWIW, don't let any pictures of Auckland make you think it's even remotely beautiful in real life.

#TheSoutIslandIsWhereItsAt

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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #77 on: November 15, 2013, 12:19:59 AM »
Ouch! Saturation on steroids!

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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #78 on: December 31, 2013, 12:07:12 AM »
AJK: Did you end up booking? Curious to see what you have on your itinerary...

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Re: New Zealand Master Thread
« Reply #79 on: January 01, 2014, 06:59:38 AM »
AJK: Did you end up booking? Curious to see what you have on your itinerary...

Had to postpone the trip, unfortunately.

Wife has some professional obligations.

But we went to JNB/CPT instead... in fact, I'm on the plane now.

But I look forward to reading your TR.

Please post back with updates!
2015: 116K bkd | 1.6M brnd | F: OZ,NH,AA,EK | J: UA,CA,TK,DL,TN,AF,VA | LIH,NRT,ROR,PEK,CNS,BOB,MEL,TLV & Pacific Hopper