"I became a person to the company, not just another number
Initially, I made contact with Jon, and then Tony. I immediately felt that I had made contact with a person, not just another organization and I felt I became a person to the company, not just another number and an amount of dollars - this certainly swayed my decision to travel with Serious Fun and would be part of my recommendation to other people.

You include everything and "they" include nothing
I used the Serious Fun website allot. I liked the way it was set up and I could view the itinerary etc. When I looked at the itinerary more carefully, I realized that lots of things were included in the cost. It took some digging to find and understand this and, had I not been intent on being on a "trip" over Xmas and New Year I might not have persevered - very glad I did though!

I think you need to make much more of all the inclusions - the Serious Fun trip looks very expensive and more so than some of the competition. However, when unpicked and unpacked, you include everything, and they include nothing!

I felt I had good contact with the company by email as a person and not just a potential client
I wanted to see the West Coast of the South Island, and do the Routeburn Track. I decided by doing it this way (with Serious Fun) that I could look at the scenery and share it with other people while being drive, rather than driving myself. The Routeburn was a big carrot too, oh and that night on Milford Sound.... wow!

I chose the Best of the South Island tour because the itinerary fitted, dates fitted, it looked like fun, and most importantly I had good contact with the company by email as a person and not just as a potential client. This was really important.

A trip like this almost guarantees a degree of like-mindedness
When I first met the group, they looked older than me and all American! During the tour we discovered senses of humour that matched (or at least people tolerated my warped British humour) and had a really good time! The mix of nationalities actually became beneficial to having fun!

I shall never forget Mark and I explaining the game of cricket at Fox Glacier using cutlery to make stumps and a great deal of laughter... we must have succeeded fairly well as one member of the party became so interested he arrived to breakfast the next day and asked what LBW meant!!!

In many ways we were not a similar group, but the fact that you go off on a trip like this almost guarantees a degree of like-mindedness. These trips are also about approaching it with an openness to learn and make connections. It is often interesting to travel with different people and get their view point - it never ceases to amaze me how people looking at a view will notice completely different things! If you than talk about what you see and listen to the other you find yourself noticing different things the next day and learning from what they see - isn't that all part of living life to the full and making each day count?

I have returned home knowing more about NZ trees than I do about UK ones
Mark was an excellent guide - one of the best I have traveled with. He is patient, tolerant and leads the group to feeling comfortable and relaxed which in turn makes things go more smoothly. His knowledge of NZ seemed excellent and I fear I may have returned home knowing more about NZ trees than I do about UK ones which is a bit sad!

It was two weeks of complete luxury!
Awesome, brilliant, fantastic, thanks! The trip was excellent. All the accommodations were very good and welcome break from dorm beds and camping - it was two weeks of complete luxury! All the activities were good, particularly the Routeburn Track, the night on Milford Sound, glacier walk, and the dolphin swimming - what a privilege to see such wonderful animals in their natural environment - I still can't get over it!!

I wanted to see the real New Zealand through the eyes of New Zealanders and not just the tourist traps as a tourist. I achieved this in many, many ways!!

We do not remember days... we remember moments
Looking back I am certain that coming to NZ was one of the best decisions of my life. Not it is in a sort of bubble that is safe and can't be touched or taken away - I know I was there and I experienced so many wonderful, different things.

I'm reminded of a phrase that Nancy (also a member of the group) sent me recently on a fridge magnet... "we do not remember days... we remember moments" and that seems appropriate.

Arrive a Tourist :: Depart a Friend?
I did make new friends on the trip! How long friendships made traveling last you never can tell, but it is always good to have collided with other people and their lives, had fun, laughed, learnt with them and then to leave with good memories and email addresses!!"