[Jennie & Rob]

We are hoping to be in Wellington on 22nd May and we hoping to rent a serviced fully furnished apt. in the CBD for 8/10 weeks to give us time to rent an unfurnished house and for our stuff to arrive.
I have been in email contact with three apt. companies for over a month about facilities and prices. Just get to the point of reserving one and paying the first week's rent and they tell me that we can stay in the apt. for 5 weeks, then have to move out for 5 days while the Lions tour is in Wellie, then we can move back again.
They knew they were booked for these 5 days all along and thought we would be fine with that.
I am so upset about it. :wah I thought I had sorted everything out (even to finding out the apartment that was the most toddler friendly) I cannot bear the idea of moving out - and where to???? Everywhere seems to be booked. I thought me and the two children could go on holiday to Roturua or somewhere the Lions are not but Rob has a job now and has to work in central Wellington so has to stay somewhere.
Not sure if anyone has any advice but I feel better having got it all off my chest!

And - of course - warning to anyone go to Wellington around 29th June - if you can reserve accommodation - don't hesitate!

[Timbo]

Worth a try;

http://holidayhouses.resultspage.com/search?p=Q&ts=custom&method=and&w=Wellington%2FWai rarapa&regionID=9&locationID=0

[sarahw]

Hmmm afraid I don't have good news - I'd heard that there wasn't a room to spare in the city during the Lions tour from a friend in the tourist industry.

What about moving out to a motel for the week somewhere further out - hubby could drive or catch the train into the city? I can't see places like Porirua, Papakowhai, Mana & Plimmerton being booked up during the Lions tour (equally places in the Hutt Valley although I'm not sure the drive in would be so easy there's always a lot of traffic at the end of the day in that direction).

Good luck - I'm sure something will turn up!

[veronica]

If your husband could explain the situation to his new work people they may be able to come up with a solution, even if its only storing your stuff for a few days and you having a holiday in a place the lions tour isn't.
This is why I posted about the lions tour and accommodation as it is going to be a major bun fight.

[RoadRunner]

Jennie and Rob,
What an awful situation! I hope something works out for you!

Can someone clarify the timeframe for this - are you all saying that there is no accommodation in all of Wellington for the entire period of the Lions Tour? :eek
According to the Wellington tourist site, I think that means from 4 June to 9 July! (http://www.wellingtonnz.com/Events/2005BritishLionsTour.htm)

I ask because my husband and I were expecting to be moving to Wellington permanently in the June timeframe but hadn't made reservations yet (since still waiting on PR). If what you all say is true, then it sounds like we shouldn't even bother trying to move there until July?! :?

Good luck Jennie and Rob!
RoadRunner

[Jennie & Rob]

Dear Roadrunner

No accommodation from 29th June until 3rd July in Wellington.

I think we may have secured an apartment for the whole 8-10 weeks but everything is crossed.

Looks like it would be worth avoiding Wellie until 4th July.

Thanks for all sympathy and suggestions

[veronica]

The Lions tour is what it says it is. and the towns they are playing in will only be clogged up when the tour is there or a day or so each side. the dates for the tour are on the website which I did post previously but escapes me at the moment. try doing a forum or just a general search to find the dates and towns.

[Annierobrigado]

hi everyone

i am so embarrassed, i thought the lions tour meant the Lions Club International. I knew they had international conventions yearly, and I was gonna volunteer to go with the lions philippines so i could go to nz, but it turns out, they're a rugby team! :oops: :oops:

that's why i'm so thankful for this forum, at least i get to learn some things that are as normal as breathing in the UK but are as alien to the East as Henry 8th. (But never Prince WIlls. He could never be alien to us here!) :mrgreen:

good luck to rugby fans! is this anything like american football? i don't understand that either :oops: :?

:cheers
annie

[sarahw]

:laugh Oh Annie that so made me laugh - I bet you were expecting a lot of volunteers staying in NZ - quite orderly rather than a load of drunk British visitors!!!

Well rugby is a bit different to American football (this is where I get pelted by all of the American guys who disagree & hate rugby! :exit ) its a lot rougher - no padding or helmets. Great game - very exciting & well worth going to even if its just to see what its all about.

[jonSE]

I think the Bunfight is over for the Lions tour - everywhere the tour is is booked solid.

Anybody who is thinking of either emigrating here while it's on or within a couple of weeks either side may like to consider thinking again. All those Brits coming for the tour are (according to the press here) extending their stays to see the country. it will be very busy outside the specific dates that the tour visits specific places.

jon