[Jameelka]

Morning/Evening All,
Well out trip is coming around very quickly to NZ,we fly out from Manchester to Auckland on the 27th May for 2 weeks.
Just starting to think about money!! and how much to bring etc.. and we wondered if our normal Abbey National card will be accepted in NZ?it's a visa card,and will we be able to withdraw cash from a machine if need be?
We'll take some credit cards as well,pressume they'll be accepted in most places.
It's difficult when you have n't been some where before,but I like to plan ahead!
Just also need to have some sort of idea where we want to visit and do the touristy things! but alot is depending on what days my OH will have chats with protential employers.
Many thanks in advance,your all so good at responding.
:raebanana

[Smiler]

Evening Jameelka

Don't worry I'm a great planner too. ;)

We have Nationwide and Abbey switch and credit and used both on our trip here and when we first arrived. No probs with cash machines or EFTPOS, you just sign if you don't have a pin no. Some places refuse Amex or Diners Club though.

With Nationwide there is no charge for using it abroad but OH thinks Abbey do charge. When we paid our rental bond in cash, we stood at the atm like lottery winners with all our cards. :D

I also told my bank and credit card company that I was travelling and roughly where I would be and gave them up to date contact details. I didn't want them cancelling my cards because of a surge in useage in NZ or US. :uhoh

I'm a bit stuck on what to recommend as I'm not sure where you are going on your trip. i sites are always a good source of info and there is usually one in every town/city and talking to homestay hosts is always good. Leaflets will be available every where too.

Where are you heading for?

[Jameelka]

Thanks Smiler great info.
Not exactly sure where we are heading!!
Pick up the motorhome for 10 days from Auckland,and then the world is our Oyster!! or NZ!!
Just looking at maps and places to visit, anywhere from Aukland/Napier down to Wellington really,open to offers!!??
Still waiting for a few recruitment agencies to get back to us about chats,so that will give us some guide as to where we might have to be some days.
Girls fancy the Auckland zoo,also Napier/Hastings the marine place there,maybe thermal springs and also liked to have gone on the minature railway I saw somewhere,but some things might not be open.
Just one other question for anyone,we have booked flights with Singapore airlines,is their a departure tax when coming out of NZ to head back to the UK?
Thanks again.
:clap

[marcia]

We used travellers cheques, the rates you pay when using credit cards etc can be quite costly, but the travellers cheques from the bank cost us nothing here and the commission rate to cash them in NZ was really low.

Be prepared for the bank tellers to ask you lots of questions, like where have you been, where are you going, where are you staying etc, they are not doing the spanish inquisition as we first thought, just very friendly! :yes

We also rang the credit card companies to inform them of the dates we would be in NZ, and also if you plan to buy anything at any of the airports you stop off at mention them too! They said they didn't need it in writing, but i took the name of the person i spoke to just in case!! If you have a mobile number you will have with you, give that to them too!

Talking of mobiles, we used up to the limit on Kevs contract, so it might be worth ringing your mobile company and asking them to extend the limit for the time you are out there. We also took a spare mobile and bought a NZ sim card and used that when ringing anyone in NZ, worked out cheaper than using our normal mobile, and we can use it when we get there for good (if we get there for good!!!) (we only found a few public phones that were coin not card!)

enjoy your trip and don't forget to give us a 'report' when you get back!

Departure tax is $25 you pay it at the airport before you go through to the departure lounge.

[Jameelka]

Thanks Marcia.
We have booked a mobile through the motorhome company for whilst over there.My mobile is pretty useless and OH's is a work one,so did n't think his work would be too happy paying for our calls in NZ!
Did call Singapore Airlines about this dep tax and they said not,but thought i'd seen some where about it,as long as we know and have the money put aside.
I will let you all know about our trip on our return.It's the decider for us as to emigrate to NZ or not,sure we'll all love it!OH has promised our youngest daughter a pony if we move over,well she'd be there yesterday if she could!!
Thanks again.
:raebanana

[Delson]

Hi Jameelka, we're doing a similar thing to you at the end of July, and we're sooo excited!! You will be able to use your Abbey card, but will be charged for doing so. Like Smiler we have Nationwide debit and credit cards and don't get charged for buying and cash withdrawals abroad - it's great!! We're collecting our motorhome in Auckland and travelling down, on the ferry, quick tour of SI, then back on the ferry and up to Auckland. We've got a basic itnerary but we'll just please ourselves once we're there. Looking forward to hearing about your trip - have a great time!!

[Smiler]

Well give us a yell if you make it to Welly. I'll pm you my number.

Rotorua is fun with the thermal springs and boiling mud etc but smelly :clap Kids will love it.

There is also the Craters of the Moon at Taupo, not up to the boiling mud of RR and less commercialised.

Napier is great if you like art deco stuff. Not sure about Marineland as I think I remember one of the dolphins dying recently.

Botanical gardens in Auckland and Welly are good and so is Karori wildlife sanctuary here.It 5 mins from the CBD but very interesting with lots of info and gentle walks or you can choose a tougher one.

The cable car ride up to the Botanical gardens is only 3 $. On a nice day you can see all over the city from the view point. Tepapa, the museum of NZ is great with lots of things for kids and big kids and you can park a motorhome in their car park for $10 a day. The new Waitangi Park next door is good for them to let off steam.

Good luck with your trip and hope to see you here.

[Jameelka]

Thanks Delson.
How long are u going over for?
For us by the time we get there it will be nearly time to come home! 2 weeks is just not long enough,but think we might have the rest of our lives to explore if the decision is a yes from us all! think we have all agreed even before we go really!!!
It is exciting,bet like us your counting the days!!
:raebanana

[Kim39]

Please be carefull with the Abbey,as we informed them that we were coming over here, and asked if we could use our abbey cards to draw money out and make purchases with, "No problem" was the reply.When I asked if there was a limit, they replied "as long as the money is in the bank then there isn't any limit,we thought great, no rush to transfer any money over, so we made a few purchases as and when we needed and drew cash out along the way, great........until we went to put a deposit down on a car, card was refused, tried to check bank account on line and was given a message to contact customer services as this service was unavailable. Then the nightmare started......... when I contacted customer services and explained my problem, I was told that my card had been reported stolen and was being used elsewhere, when I asked who had reported it stolen as I had it on my person, I was told that it must have been me!!!!!!!!! When I replied that I hadn't, and could they please reinstate my card I was told to contact the fraud squad, which I did. I was told that a member of staff had reported it stolen as it had been used in New Zealand, when I explained that it was us in NZ and asked them to reinstate my card otherwise I would have been left without any money, and no other means of getting any, their answer was that they couldn't do that as the pin had been destroyed and it wasn't their fault. When I asked who's fault it was then, they couldn't answer, and they weren't a bit interested that they had left us without money or means of getting any until they sent out a new card and pin. When we had money go in the account the other week I phoned and warned them that I would be drawing the money out and to make a note on the account so that the same thing wouldn't happen again, they said they would but couldn't gaurantee it wouldn't happen again. So do be aware, they are awful bankers to deal with.

Elaine (Kim's OH)

[Jameelka]

Gosh thanks Kim,seems like even if we call them to advise of our plans there's no guarantee they won't think it's stolen! :raebanana

[marcia]

Do it in writing then and ask for a written acknowledgement, at least then you would have the evidence if they messed up! But would still recommend travellers chqs!