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active-journeys testimonials

lisa - woodinville, wa
Hi John, Sorry it's taken so long to get back to you but I really am a master procrastinator! Anyway, I just wanted to thank you for setting up such a great trip to NZ and Australia for me. I feel like I got to experience most of the highlights on a first trip to these wonderful locations. Everything went off without a hitch. And I really appreciated that as I was traveling solo for the Australia part of the trip. All of the accommodations were more than satisfactory and I liked how we were able to explore NZ by car, plane and train. I'll be calling you when I start planning my next big trip. Thanks!

mike & lois - bremerton, wa
We are regrettably home which means our vacation is over. We thank you for your efforts and want you to know that all the connections and arrangements went off perfectly and we couldn't have been happier with our trip. We only had one marginal meal and place of lodging, however that was in comparison to all the great meals and comfortable lodging that we did enjoy, so the standard was a little high to start with. There wasn't a single stop on our trip that we wouldn't have liked to spend a lot more time at. We certainly hope that we will be able to return for a longer and less traveled trip as this last one and we are certainly happy to tell everyone about the great trip that we had and how pleased we were with your services. You did fail to inform us as to how many pictures we would be tempted to take and to be prepared for gaining some weight. Both of which went to the extreme. Both the scenery and the food proved to be very alluring and habit forming. These were our only complaints.

dylan (auburn ski club) - truckee, ca
The trip was great and everyone that went had a great time, most of them are trying to figure out how to get back there next winter. The team did well, and all in all the Burton Open was real good contest. As for the Heritage Village, they were really nice condos, relatively new, I would guess only a couple of yrs. Old. They are close enough to walk to town but far enough from everything that you can enjoy some peace and quite which is nice if you are trying to enjoy your vacation. Definitely a thumbs up from me. I will forward this on to those who went on the trip and some of them may get back to you with there thoughts. Thanks again, and I am sure that if anyone knows anyone headed to New Zealand you will get the business. I and everyone else really appreciate everything that you did. Thanks.

robert & ross - palm springs, ca
Before we came across John at Active Journeys we hardly knew anything of the Cook Islands, but the more we learned, the more fascinated we became, and decided we had to see it. Now that we have returned, we can’t wait to get back. Initially, the idea of planning a trip to a place that was so new to us seemed a little daunting, and we relied heavily on John to educate us about everything. He planned each detail of the trip. Our faith in him was rewarded by a relaxing and stress-free vacation. Every transition ran smoothly, and every person we encountered was kind and helpful. John’s descriptions of the activities available and of the properties we visited were amazingly accurate, and although he had told us the Cook Islanders were known for their warmth and friendliness, we were still surprised at how welcoming they were. It seemed incredible that any place could be as nice as we were expecting, but, as usual, John was right. Neither of us could think of a more spectacular place.

peggy & family - libertyville, il
Thanks so much John. Our trip was great. Everything ran smoothly, no trouble with the bookings or vouchers. We just loved the country and were glad to have seen all that we did. Comments: Shotover Canyon boat ride was fabulous, exhilarating, better than we expected. We also rode the luge in Queenstown which was great fun. Nevis Bungy...the best. Heritage apartments were GRAND...exceptional view and our hostess was the nicest person ever! Loved the Doubtful Sound cruise - cold but superbly beautiful, great food, great guides. Heritage Villas, Wanaka were lovely. Cute town, the boys loved their rainy bike ride in the Sticky Forest. Fox Glacier was an icy and interesting climb, another great guide. Te Weheka Inn was perfect - great breakfast! Punakaiki Rocks is now called 'Punakaiki Resort' and it was right on the beach beautiful! Awaroa Lodge (in Abel Tasman National Park) was the true grand prize resort - rock star style. Expensive to get to but worth it...our all day kayak was amazing. Everything was so remotely peaceful and spectacularly beautiful and the resort was pure eco- STYLE. Arcadia Lodge in Russell was such a delight. Well situated above the town with awesome views, Brad and David could not have been kinder. They saw to our every need which included the MOST delicious breakfasts. Sally's in the town of Russell was probably the best dinner we had in New Zealand. Although we spent very little time in Auckland, we did squeeze in a Pride of Auckland coffee cruise which was a wonderful afternoon sailboat cruise and the next day a ferry across to Rangitoto Island where we hiked up the volcano. The President's Hotel in Auckland was marginal. I bet there are better. It was very well located but the desk personnel were abrupt, the rooms on the edge of 'seedy'. It was only one night but I wouldn't return. So, there are my comments. I truly appreciate all that you did for us. We had a great time. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

jacob - breckinridge, tx / iraq
To put a few things into perspective for you I had never traveled outside of the state of Texas ever until January 2007. Up until that point I had never even flown on a commercial jet must less a 'prop job' from a regional airport. I got hired on with a military contractor and was bound for Iraq. What a first trip I thought to myself. As the plane taxied down the run way I felt the seat push back and all I could do was grin. Peering out the window watching everything become smaller and smaller…my journey had begun. Please click below to read more...
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jennifer - hillsboro, or
I recently worked with John Mathis at Active Journeys to arrange my dream vacation to New Zealand and Fiji. I had been preparing for my 8 week dream vacation for over 8 years and when it finally arrived, I was overwhelmed with where to start with the actual booking. While I already had a good idea of what activities I wanted to do, John helped me find the best tour providers, packages, hotels and other arrangements to allow me to make my dream vacation a reality. The trip he helped me set up was the perfect blend of independent travel and pre-arranged tours with top quality providers. His tips on the area were invaluable as he made suggestions on what sections I should pre-book, what sections I could play by ear, where I'd want a car and where I could rely on public transportation. He was also very patient and supportive when dealing with me as I planned and re-planned this vacation. My expectations were extremely high and I was not disappointed. I would highly recommend a trip to New Zealand and Active Journeys to anyone looking for an adventure of a lifetime.

john & sheila - portland, or
We are back and too in to the swing of things wishing we were back "down under" The Aitutaki accommodations at Tamanu Beach were great except for the restaurant as it was OK but not great. We were in a lagoon front 1 bedroom unit that was newer but had no cooking facilities. They had kayaks, snorkel equipment and bicycles for us to use. Some of the kayaks were missing paddles and the bicycles were older rusty bikes that did not always shift and they did not always have rear breaks but they worked well enough to get us around the Island which was nice and there were plenty of them available. The people in the office were nice and helpful. Email was available at the office at a reasonable cost but the connection in the islands is slow so surfing the net is out. I understand they are trying to get better connections to the island. We took a lagoon tour which was recommended by the hotel. It was with Actuati Adventures which is run and owned by Puna and his wife. Even though the weather was less than perfect we had a wonderful time and enjoyed listing to Puna's stories and tales of the Islands. They also served a great lunch. We went to the Island Night performance (not the dinner) at our hotel and it was enjoyable. We would highly recommend The Cook Islands as a vacation destination. The weather was cooler than we had hoped for, but we loved the laid-back atmosphere and the friendliness of the people. The scenery is gorgeous and there was enough to do and no pressure to do more than relax. We rode bicycles, hiked, kayaked, snorkeled, ate, drank, and read and relaxed. Thank you for all your help and working with us on all of the details. We will certainly call you next time.

ricko - lihua, hi
We had a trip of a life time ! Everything we did was fantastic ! Here is a rundown on our experience: Air: Easy flight from Auckland...happened that there was a nasty storm that shut down the airport in the morning...we had the great fortune to be traveling more mid-day...we only had an hour delay while the airline staff waited until weather cleared...otherwise we would have been flown into Invercargill and driven up to Queenstown. So if this happens it may be good that people know it is a possibility...but it would not have been the worst thing Hotel: The Rydges was very comfortable, service was good, great views...If we are able to go back I would consider staying at the Novotel....walked by it several times on the way to the gardens and it too has a great location and views Cardrona....such a funny story...we get picked up right on time...the driver was great…when we got to the mountain it was a complete white-out....could not see 2 feet in front of us...lift chairs were swinging in the wind! Would be good to know that due to distance shuttle drivers drive you up and wait until around 4 pm so you have to go up and down as scheduled regardless of weather....if this matters then a private shuttle may be good option. Milford Sound with Real Journeys...all I can say is WOW what a organization!!!! They were SO on top of everything...they were right on time for pick up, driver was very personable and knowledgeable about the area and the country loved to share information...the tour of Milford Sound was breathtaking and as soon as we stepped off the boat we were whisked away to the plane back to Queenstown...of course the weather was once in a lifetime...not 1 cloud in the sky ALL DAY everywhere we went...a drastic change from the blizzard the day before Snowmobile (with Nevis Snowmobile)...Now I know what it feels like to be on the top of the world...what an incredible experience and the guides were such fun!!! They ride Sea-Doos which are very user friendly for those who don't ride all the time...In Colorado many tours offer Hondas and larger snowmobiles which for women are much more difficult to deal with. I felt so privileged to have gotten to see the area we were in. Thursday was Ron's birthday and we are still talking about that day...the jet boat was the most fun ever!!! Everything we hoped it would be...Great little hop to the rafting on the heli...going heli allowed us to see just a bit more of the area which was great...the rafting was a blast!!! The guides obviously LOVE what they do…very safe but very fun! That was a truly perfect day. Due to the Monday experience skiing we elected to just stay in Queenstown on Friday and walk the town, go up the gondola etc...the luge was very fun too....incredible views…that is a must especially for those who don't walk a lot We ate at The Cow, Little India (2 times we liked it that much), Fergburger, Lick (gelato) all were great would go there again Not 1 problem, I can not thank you enough for helping us put this trip together....New Zealand is a true gem, the people are so special we would go back in a minute!!!! Aloha, Ricko

joe - mountainview, ca
The trip was fantastic. I thought the hotels were good in general and the itinerary was superb. The balance between having a car and not having a car, being in the city vs. in the country, and the choices of things to see, were great. In Sydney, I liked the fact that we had a car after 2 days. Tasmania stands out for its nature (Wineglass bay and the 8 hour hike) and the most memorable was its wildlife (we loved the Tasmanian devil, wombat, and other natives). Melbourne is my favorite city, it was good you did not let me cancel out of this place for the fear of boredom. I like this place so much that I contacted 2 realtors and had some viewing at the Dockland. Many thanks for a great vacation. We will go back to Australia. Joe Loa

kin-kee - sunnyvale, ca
Thank you for checking back with us. We had a great time in Australia! As far as accommodation goes, I liked the Medina Executive in Sydney the best, it was modern and clean. I definitely would like to go back to Australia some time in the future to see Queensland and more of the outback. Regards, Kin-Kee

starla - yakima, wa
Our trip was spectacular...only one canceled flight (Christchurch to Auckland to Rotorua) which was rebooked as Christchurch to Wellington to Rotorua...which was actually less air time...all other flights went smoothly. The Active New Zealand guides we had were top notch...we were sad to part after our two weeks together. Thanks so much for booking everything...it was a trip to remember, as you must well know...Sincerely - Starla

jessica & dennis - grand rapids, mi
Hi John! I wanted to tell you that the trip was amazing. We both had such a great time. On most of our tours there were less than 8 people (probably the time of year) so it made them even more special. We really felt we got a lot of attention and everyone was very informative. We both really love the caving and kayaking in New Zealand. In fact on the kayaking it was just the two of us - so that really made the experience that much better. All in all it was AMAZING! I truly think we will return one day. We only got a small taste of the South Pacific and we both would love to see more.

judi & marlene - evanston, il
Our trip to French Polynesia was truly wonderful. Active Journeys made putting together the perfect combination of sightseeing and relaxation very easy. A representative was waiting for us at every stop or picked us up at our hotel so we always knew where to go next. There were no problems or delays anywhere. Everything ran like clockwork. I will definitely use Active Journeys for our next adventure! Thank you for a fabulous vacation!

ingrid & jeff - jonesville, mi
Hi John, We had a fantastic time and I so appreciated all your help and advice! Everything went pretty smoothly; we did end up missing the flight to Rotorua from Auckland but we just got on the next flight an hour later or so, so that wasn't a problem. But in the whole three weeks, that was the only glitch, so that's not bad. =) We LOVED Air New Zealand--it was so nice to fly on an airline where they treat you so well. For the most part, we enjoyed all the hotels, especially the Aspen in Queenstown and the Fox Glacier Hotel. The bed and breakfast in Christchurch was great, too. As far as tours, we had a great time in Waitomo with the cave rafting and then absolutely loved the kayak tour in Doubtful Sound. That was gorgeous and we even had sunshine! We definitely enjoyed the train rides and renting cars was a fun way to really experience the countryside. Sydney was fun, too. The Citigate was a beautiful hotel and close to everything. New Year's Eve was crazy down at the harbor, but that was totally worthwhile. Thanks again for all your help--this was definitely one of the most enjoyable vacations we've ever had. Best, Ingrid and Jeff

mimi - philadelphia, pa
Hi, I just wanted to let you know - my vacation was wonderful!!! All the accommodations were nice. The Ultimate Hikes people were great also. I would recommend them to anyone who wants to hike without carrying a lot of gear. There are usually 50 people in each group - there were 32 in the group I was in. There are 4 guides - and they were all great people. The accommodations on the track are nothing fancy - but very clean. The hang gliding was great also - very nice guys and it was very easy to do. Thanks! Mimi

janet & joan - afton, va
The trip was great and you did a great job planning it. The hotel in Sydney was good but it would have been better if there had been some place to eat. We did not expect all of Sydney to close up for Easter weekend. We had Easter dinner at McDonalds one of the few places that were open. I would recommend that you sent everyone to the Sydney Aquarium and the Wildlife World. The best way to see the wildlife up close, we loved it. We got there by Monorail which was close to the hotel. Qantas should give lessons to the rest of the airlines, their service was excellent. The Outback Pioneer Hotel was just what we needed and nothing more, first hotel room I have stayed in that didn't have a closet but we weren't unpacking so it didn't really matter. The room was clean and the location was just right. I loved the tours and we booked our own camel ride for the morning we had off. The hike at Kata Tjuta was more strenuous that we expected but it was well worth the effort. We have recommended you to everyone who asks about our trip I only wish we had had longer to stay. If I can find a way to go back you will be the first person I call, thank you so much.

jennalee - prairie du sac, wi
Hello John, I just wanted to shoot you an e-mail letting you know how grateful I am for all your help with my travels for my December to January trip to Australia. The travel documents made travel nice and simple. Knowing everything was taken care of prior to leaving was so helpful and made travel an ease. I had a very eye opening experience thanks to you. I can only say wonderful things about you and your company. I spread the word to many of the people I met whilst overseas and hope that they will reach out to you for their travel needs. I am thinking about traveling again over the summer and will obviously keep in touch for future travel. Thanks again for everything. Jennalee

avi & david - fort collins, co
Hi John - We had a great trip and thanks for all your invaluable assistance. You made the whole process easy for us. As to the details, New Zealand was fabulous. We loved the scenery and the hiking, etc. The Charlotte Jane was particularly luxurious. Active New Zealand provided a nice tour. We would suggest that you recommend it only to folks who don't mind more rustic accommodations. Still, they were organized and friendly and always upbeat. I'd recommend the tour to the right people. As to Fiji; we liked, but didn't love, Treasure Island. The accommodations were a little run down - like we had a mouse in our room that we told them about the first day and they never came to fix the hole!! I don't want to be negative though, the island and the south pacific were gorgeous and the food was good. Again, thanks for your help – Avi and David

lisa & roberto - san carlos, ca
John was very proactive and specific when aiding with our trip planning. He has a great knowledge of New Zealand and listens to the customer. I don't like canned vacation getaways and set agendas and he worked with me on this. My husband and my trip was a pleasure.

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