Sandy Holmes- Travel Broker

21/07/2026

Homebound tonight after an epic month away in between Singapore, Greece and France.
We saw amazing sites, ate our way around the Med and spent time with precious family and special friends.
France delivered yet again with our last week spent in the Cathars region ( Aude ) close to Spain. We visited castles centuries old perched high up on mountain edges, swam in rivers, and drove around more remote country roads than we wanted 😀

Feeling super grateful for all these times in the memory bank & easily could do it all over again.

Back to work & home life on Thursday. Hope you enjoyed the photos & talk to you soon 💫🙏🌞

09/07/2026

The fun continues...the visit of the Aven Normand was spectacular. There are 401 stalagmites in the cave all up and it is the biggest concentration of stalagmites over 1 meter in the world. The tallest one was 27 meters high. Deep down 100 meters below ground level, it is an out of worldly site and well worth visiting. We couldn't resist the visit of the local cheese making factory close-by :)

Yesterday, we canoed down the Tarn River for 8 hours, cruising in natural and remote landscapes. The region is very quiet ( 600 people live here among 14.000 ewes, it is less populated than the Sahara desert). The local saying is that the vaultours arrive quicker than the firemen 🦅🚒. We have already had two decent bush fires this week. Temperatures are constant around 36-38 degrees. ☀️🔥

06/07/2026

France 🇫🇷

Home at last and that feels good !

We started in my hometown, Le Havre in Normandy. It is an Unesco world heritage town as it was rebuilt after being bombarded and destroyed in WW2 to push the Germans out after the invasion. We then headed to Paris : Eiffel Tower, Le Louvre, Notre Dame and other sites in between...it is always a good time being in the city of Light where it is very lively and sociable, even late at night. We squeezed in a visit to the PSG stadium in Paris well worth the visit for football fans.

We are now with my family holidaying in the Lozere region. It is the least populated region in France, a couple of hours North of Montpellier. There are 2 habitants per square kilometer here so life is slow and relaxing. It is really dry already early in the season - the hay is already being harvested and the high temperatures ( 34 - 38 ) means that the rythm is slow. The days start later and the evenings are nice and long.

River swims are welcome & we don' t tire of the local village life seeking fresh produces daily and sightseeing from local caves to local farms.

Our rental house itself is over 200 years old, the walls a meter thick, the roofs made entirely of stone. It is so hot that the shutters stay close to keep the cooled air trapped in. Even late, the sun is still biting and the stone houses keep the heat so it is easier to go out late afternoon and dine around 10pm. A little siesta in the afternoon does some good at this time of the year.

Tomorrow, we will go exploring a cave ( Aven Armand) deep in the Earth, accessible with an underground train to reach a cavity big enough to fit Notre Dame & over 400 big stalagmites. This is not one of the most visited region but well worth it. It looks like the Grand Canyon in the USA & is also a world heritage Natural site.

The photos will speak for themselves. 😊. A Bientot!

29/06/2026

Paros

The last visit was 29 years ago. I was a young traveller and slept on the beach. I was on a tight budget and couldn't afford accommodation every night. An old man called Dimitri found us on the beach (me and my friend) in the morning while a dog had taken comfort on her sleeping bag. She wasn't going to move fast with a dog on her feet 😁. He gestured to follow him. He must have been past 80 years old and looked like a genuine old man. We trusted him and walked up the hill to his house. We spoke little English then, he spoke only Greek so hand language we had. His house was simple and he went out daily on his boat to fish Octopus and cooked it fresh for us with a Greek salad. We learnt that he had lost some of fingers in the windmill. The bathroom was a simple bucket outside. On one of the three days of our stay with him, his son came over and they had a disagreement...Dimitri explained afterwards that his son managed a hotel and didn't like that his Dad hosted travellers and for free. Dimitri didn't mind as he seemed to like the connections he made. His walls showed a few other travellers who too had stayed. We left after a great local experience and wrote to him for years (pre email days). We kept a beautiful memory of Greece, Paros, and human hospitality. This taught me to pay it forward and be hospitable too when visitors come our way. So my thoughts tonight on our last night in Greece are for Dimitri who created memories hard to replicate and showed us another way to travel.

These last few days in Paros were quite different...family travel is. But equally, we will go home with another imprint of beautiful times here. 🩵

27/06/2026

Naxos

Golden beaches, dramatic mountain landscapes, charming whitewashed villages, and thousands of years of fascinating history, Naxos captures the true spirit of the Greek Islands. Add in warm local hospitality and delicious food, plenty of cats 🐱 , a few donkeys🫏 and life is good. 🇬🇷✨

23/06/2026

Athens has been a wonderful start to our Greek adventure 🇬🇷

We loved the ancient Acropolis, exploring the Acropolis Museum, and wandering through the picturesque streets of Plaka and Monastiraki.

We've enjoyed some fantastic food, discovered hidden laneways, soaked up the vibrant atmosphere, and clocked up plenty of kilometres on foot along the way!

Athens is a beautiful blend of ancient history and modern energy, and we've all enjoyed it.

Now it's time for the islands! ☀️🏛️🇬🇷

21/06/2026

Holiday time!

What a fantastic time exploring Singapore! 🌿✨
We spent the day wandering through the stunning Marina Bay area and the incredible Gardens by the Bay. From the futuristic Supertrees to the beautiful waterfront views, every corner was impressive. A perfect mix of nature, architecture, and family fun.
Singapore continues to amaze us with its beauty, cleanliness, and vibrant atmosphere. 🇸🇬.

17/05/2026

New Product on AIR NZ

The 787-9 now experiences the Economy Skynest™

Now available to book for travel from Thursday, 24 December 2026

Economy Skynest™ is available exclusively on the ultra-long-haul flights between Auckland and New York on the new 787-9 (v5) aircraft.

The world-first Economy Skynest™ is a six-nest sleep zone, offering lie-flat rest sessions for Economy and Premium Economy customers.

Each customer gets their own fully lie-flat space for a four-hour session, complete with bedding and amenities, allowing them to rest, recharge mid-journey, and arrive feeling refreshed.

A Skynest session is priced from $495 NZD per person, and there are two sessions per flight.

11/05/2026

Lyon & Provence Cruise - Regional River cruise in style

Explore the beauty of southern France on an 8-day Rhône River journey with Viking, sailing between Avignon and Lyon (or reverse). Selected departures, including 8 November, are now available from AUD $2,395 per person, with offers valid until 30 June.

This immersive itinerary brings you through the heart of Provence, where you’ll discover remarkable Roman landmarks like Arles Amphitheatre and the iconic Pont du Gard. Wander through historic Avignon and visit the impressive Palace of the Popes, before continuing to Lyon, widely known as the culinary capital of France.

Along the way, enjoy authentic local experiences—from joining a traditional truffle hunt to learning the art of crafting chèvre cheese.

Contact: Sandy / [email protected]

Book your 8-day Lyon & Provence itinerary from Avignon to Lyon in 2026.

30/04/2026

It’s been a busy few weeks behind the scenes, with the Middle East situation requiring a lot of quick thinking and rerouting to keep everyone travelling smoothly. I’m pleased to say that, thanks to a bit of creativity and flexibility, disruptions have been minimal — with only one cancellation.

The good news is that travel to Europe and many other destinations remains strong, and there are still plenty of great options available.

On a sunnier note, if Fiji has been calling your name… you’re in the right place. I’m a Fiji Specialist and have been fortunate to visit nine times, exploring the beautiful Mamanucas, Yasawas, and most recently Savusavu. I’d love to help you find the perfect island escape.

If a getaway is on your mind, feel free to reach out anytime ✈️🌴
Contact: 021 762 272 / E: [email protected]