Melanie Hubber

Owner Operator

House of Travel Ferrymead

Lovely to meet you

I am passionate about sustainable travel for the future.

My entire career of 30 years has been in travel sales and tourism. I have travelled overseas more than a hundred times to over 70 countries and 6 continents for personal holidays, business and leisure.

I've made my home in London, Dorset, Chamonix and Auckland. I settled back in my home town of Christchurch after being away for five years.

I love travel and how it enriches lives and provides a livelihood for people and communities around the globe. I love helping to inspire and inform clients, who care about the impact their choices have on local communities and the environment, and who want to have a great holiday.

Sustainable doesn't mean you can't have luxury! My personal holidays always have a sense of adventure, you will find me on a beach or mountain or taking in a cultural experience to make the most of a destination.

I personally rate train travel one of the best ways to casually explore, there's nothing I love more than checking in at a downtown railway station off to a new destination. I think travel provides new perspectives and respect for different cultures and values are par for the course. We can always find common ground when we are prepared to go out of our comfort zone.

Why book your travel with me? I am a CLIA certified Cruise Master and dedicated to helping you with your travel plans. I have the tools and the networks available to assist with all styles of travel experiences you may be looking for.

Mel

My favourite holiday memories

Italy

Exploring Venice by gondola under the quaint bridges is an incredible way to get your bearings while soaking up the unique atmosphere.
Indonesia

Hunting out insta worthy shots on a family holiday in Indonesia while experiencing the vibrant and exotic culture is so much fun
Fiji

Fiji is my happy place, I love the way you can fly direct from Christchurch and four hours later be in a tropical paradise. It never fails to deliver.
Croatia

Sailing by boat around Croatia and exploring ancient islands and villages while cooling off in the azure waters is highly recommended.
Tanzania

Africa is the place that gets under your skin. Who can resist the age-old magic of this continent. The nature, the people, the animals.
Cruises

I obtained my Cruise Masters qualification in 2018 which means I can help choose the right cruise for my clients. I have personally completed a wide range of both river and ocean cruises and always make the most of every opportunity to go onboard visiting cruise ships so I know the products very well. My time spent working on a luxury sailing yacht exploring Europe by sea also helped me to understand different destinations and what they have to offer.
French Alps

Working in the French Alps based in Les Houches, Chamonix for two winters gave me a huge appreciation for mountain life. There's nothing I love more than travelling with my snowboard to explore new terrain overseas and I can help you find the right experience for a ski or snowboarding holiday.
Africa

I have been fortunate to travel to Africa on a number of occasions and to experience some of the best luxury lodges the country has to offer. From Sabi Sabi in South Africa and self driving the garden route, to a range of &Beyond and Sanctuary lodges in the Serengeti and Masai Mara, I can definitely assist in putting together an African holiday you won't forget.
Egypt, Syria, Jordan & Turkey

Travelling through Egypt, Syria, Jordan & Turkey would have to be one of my favourite travel experiences ever. Timing is everything with these destinations so it's important to have the right advice. Cruising on the Nile and coming into Aswan is a timeless experience and one that you won't forget.

Creating better holidays

Whatever your travel dreams, I will work with you to create the best holiday possible. The holidays I specialise in include:

Cycling
Hiking Walking
Skiing
Adventure
Coach Touring
Small Ship Cruising
Ocean Cruising
River Cruising
Couples Travel
Family Travel
Luxury Travel
Road Trips
Safaris
Solo Travel
Train Journeys

Some of the destinations I have explored

What my customers have to say

Outstanding service. Highly recommend!

Chrissy
Thanks to Mel who has been really amazing. She has been really helpful with managing our travel plans and recommending us the right thing just because of the current covid situation going on at the moment. Would'nt have been possible without her help. Would highly recommend her service to everyone.

Aparna
Mel was so helpful when we had to postpone our trip due to covid I really appreciated the time she spent

Sue
I could not recommend House of Travel Ferrymead more highly. Mel not only organised flights to fit with MIQ dates but checked all quarantine, transit, visa and passport requirements drawing on contacts from all corners of the travel world. She checked in several times throughout the trip to make sure everything was on track. Absolutely outstanding service. Thank you so very much!

Kate

My travel stories

Postcard from Uniworld River Cruise

Melanie Hubber

Uniworld River Cruise.

A fantastic opportunity to cruise from Amsterdam to Basle on their beautiful flagship SS Antoinette on their most popular night itinerary - Castles on the Rhine. Fabulous food, sightseeing and company. This was one of the best cruises I have been fortunate enough to experience...

Postcard from Italy & Croatia

Melanie Hubber

There's something wonderful about having a Eurail pass over a European summer and I took the opportunity for a personal three week holiday to explore places I had only dreamed about, Portofino, Venice and Croatia. I travelled solo and had an Italian rail pass, booking key reservations as it was the peak of summer and flew into Milan and out of Zurich...

Postcard from Kenya and Tanzania

Melanie Hubber

Kenya and Tanzania

Two weeks exploring the Masai Mara and Serengeti would have to be one of the most incredible trips i have ever been on. We did a variety of ''fly in' and road safaris and stayed at a variety of permanent tented camps in beautiful accommodation with &Beyond and Sanctuary Retreats as well as Nimali Lodge in Tarangire...

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