“You have to try the Starbucks sakura-themed drinks - they are an acquired taste but has to be done!”
Smell the cherry blossoms in Japan
Japan
Japan’s pastel pink cherry blossoms smell as good as they look. While the trees seldom bear fruit, the blossom flourishes every spring, and with it comes an intoxicating floral scent.
The Japanese celebrate Sakura (cherry blossom) with Hanami, literally “flower viewing” celebrations which take place in March and April.
Locals organise flower appreciation picnics under the blooms, sitting beneath the bubble gum petals and sipping on ‘Sakura’ Pepsi. For a limited time, even the cola’s pink!
Maia Holdem
House of Travel Northlink (formerly Northlands)
Travel brings joy, and I’m passionate about helping people create incredible memories! I love turning travel ideas into exciting, memorable experiences and making the journey from dreaming to booking as easy and enjoyable as possible.
Travel has been a huge part of my life for as long as I can remember. Having grown up travelling regularly and now visited 21 countries (and counting!), it felt like a natural step to turn my passion for exploring the world into a career where I can help others experience it too.
I specialise in travel across Australia, Southeast Asia, the USA, the Pacific Islands and cruising, bringing firsthand knowledge from both my time living in the USA and my recent month-long adventure through Europe. I love discovering destinations both on and off the beaten track and using my own travel experiences, combined with my industry knowledge, to create holidays that are perfectly suited to each client.
Some of my most memorable travel experiences include island hopping through Greece, exploring Mexico on a Contiki, travelling through Southeast Asia with my best friend, and discovering the beautiful Pacific Islands closer to home.
Whether you’re planning a family holiday, romantic getaway, cruise, solo adventure or once-in-a-lifetime trip, my goal is to make the planning process easy and enjoyable while taking care of the details along the way. I love creating personalised itineraries that match your travel style, interests and expectations, and I’m here to help from the initial planning through to those special insider tips that can make your trip even more memorable.
Share your dream holiday with me, and together we’ll make it a reality! Let me take care of the details so you can relax, enjoy the journey and make memories that last a lifetime.
Maia
Kelly-Ann Thomas
House of Travel Lower Hutt
Travel ignites the fire in my belly, daily and I'm lucky enough to turn holiday dreams into unforgettable experiences.
I specialise in family travel, group getaways, solo adventures, and special interest trips, helping clients craft memories that last a lifetime.
A recent highlight was travelling to New York with my sister, followed by Japan, and a Christmas in Bali with my family.
Whether I'm working with long-time clients or meeting new faces each week, I'm always excited to bring personalised travel dreams to life.
Passionate about what I do, I'm always ready for the next adventure - both for my clients and my own family.
Kelly-Ann
Suzanne Andrews
House of Travel Palmerston North: The Square
I've travelled extensively all over the world and I now want to make your travel dreams come true!
I've worked in the travel industry for many years and I now want to share my experience and passion for travelling with you.
Suzanne
Carmel Layton
House of Travel Nelson
Hi, I’m Carmel Layton. Travel has been a huge part of my life from my first trip overseas as a 6 year old to travelling independently in my twenties and I have travelled to over 72 countries around the world, it has always been a key ingredient in my life.
I am an experienced and passionate travel professional with over 15 years in the industry. From a short South Pacific getaway to a trip around the globe, I look forward to helping you realise your travel dreams.
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