Travel has been an integral part of my life for over 20 years, and I can't imagine pursuing anything else. This year, I proudly celebrate my 17th year with House of Travel Papamoa, where I truly love being a 'hottie.' Our store boasts a fantastic team culture that makes coming to work a joyful experience every day.
I find immense satisfaction in crafting bespoke itineraries that transform my clients' dreams into reality. While the USA remains my favorite destination, my travels have also taken me through the stunning landscapes of New Zealand, the enchanting South Pacific, vibrant Australia, diverse Europe, and picturesque Canada and Alaska. This year (2024), I had the incredible opportunity to experience the magic of South Africa, where witnessing wildlife in their natural habitat is nothing short of breathtaking. Being on safari brings you so close to majestic animals, just meters away, creating unforgettable memories.
Remember, your holiday begins the moment you step through our door. I invite you to share your vision of the perfect getaway—how it looks and feels, any research you've conducted, and your essential must-haves. The more we delve into your aspirations together, the more extraordinary your holiday will be!
Charlotte
Whatever your travel dreams, I will work with you to create the best holiday possible. The holidays I specialise in include:
I LOVE the USA- been numerous times and have lived in the mid-West for a year as a teenager. The country is so vast that you really could go every year for 50 years to explore every state and have a great time every time. Favourite destinations are Hawaii, Alaska, the mid-West, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and New York and I've also been to Las Vegas and San Francisco.
Hawaii-There' s something about Hawaii that I just love. I don't know if it's the warmth (not too cold, not too hot) or the beautiful waters or the shopping or the relaxed vibe but whatever it is just keeps me coming back. I've been out to a couple of the outer islands and explored by car and then back into Waikiki for some retail therapy!
River Cruises- Want luxury - try a river cruise! There is absolutely nothing like a cruise along the calm waters of a river, visiting unique and cute destinations every day. I was lucky enough to sail the Rhine with Uniworld and honestly I can't rave about it enough. Truly a boutique experience with every little thing taken care of. The ships are beautifully decorated, the beds super-comfortable and the food onboard is divine. I was particularly impressed by the thoughtfulness of my male cabin steward to replace my make-do vase full of tulips with a real vase and on day 3 the bar staff asking me if I wanted a vodka or bubbly for my pre-dinner drink having had bubbly the first night and vodka and cranberry juice the next night.
Alaska- the last frontier - bigger than Texas even! This is an amazing state to visit and I'm not just talking about cruising. I've been lucky enough to travel from Anchorage via Denali to Fairbanks and experienced lots of sightseeing in all three places including up to the Arctic Circle and driving back on the same road the Ice Road Truckers take. I've also organized an amazing fishing trip for a client on the Kenai that he wants to repeat one day and an overland trip from Anchorage through to Skagway via Denali, Fairbanks, over the Top of the World Highway to Dawson City, down to Whitehorse to finish in Skagway. It was great fun to plan this with him and work out how and where to stay in each place.
AFRICA: South Africa
ASIA: Singapore | Thailand
AUSTRALIA: Adelaide, South Australia | Brisbane, Queensland | Gold Coast, Queensland | Hobart, Tasmania | Melbourne, Victoria | Perth/Kimberleys, WA | Sunshine Coast, Queensland | Sydney, New South Wales
MIDDLE EAST: Dubai, UAE
NORTH AMERICA: Alaska | Canada | Hawai'i | Mexico | USA
SOUTH PACIFIC: Fiji | Rarotonga, Cook Islands | Samoa | Tonga
UK/EUROPE: Austria | Czech Republic | Germany | Ireland | England | France | Italy | Netherlands | Scotland | Switzerland | Wales
Busy and unique - the city state of Singapore is worth more than a quick stopover. Check out the Gardens by the Bay during the day and at night for the light show, visit Chinatown and be brave - try the durian, it's not as bad as you think!
Stuck in New Zealand for a few years so we took the opportunity to discover our beautiful South Island over two trips totaling around 6 weeks in winter of 2021 and 2022.
Oh wow, South Africa! As a first-time visitor, it truly exceeded all my expectations. I had the incredible fortune of exploring Kruger Park from a private conservancy, where we were able to venture off the beaten path in our jeeps. It was such a privilege to witness an animal sighting with only one other vehicle there. There's nothing quite like watching majestic lions feasting or a playful baby elephant mimicking the adults, complete with those adorable flapping ears and an excitedly lifting trunk! |
Let's make holidays better, together