Baltimore Sun Sunday

HEAD DOWN TO KIWI COUNTRY

- By Phil Marty

Flying halfway around the world — to New Zealand, for instance — tends to be pricey, which is why a package from Travelscen­e caught our attention. The 11-day New Zealand and Fiji Getaway is priced from just $1,899 per person, double occupancy, a sum you could spend on air alone. The package includes round-trip air from Los Angeles, three nights’ lodging each in Auckland and Rotorua, transporta­tion between the two cities and half-day tours in each. There’s also a stopover in Fiji, where you’ll spend two nights. The package is billed as 11 days, but as is common practice, days in transit are counted. The main downside to the package is that New Zealand is a wonderful destinatio­n and deserves more time. That said, the price is quite good, and Auckland and Rotorua, which has interestin­g geothermal features and good exposure to the Maori culture, both merit multiple days. You’ll want to do additional tours in both places, which will boost your cost, and you’ll have to book airfare to get to LA, of course. Info: 800-345-3504, tinyurl.com/z7krmmv

Foreigners are staying away

The recent Brexit vote in Britain to leave the European Union shook up the financial situation worldwide and resulted in the value of the British pound declining against the dollar. But even before that, foreign travel to the U.S. had declined, according to the U.S. Travel Associatio­n. Year-on-year growth in May, the most recent figures available, showed a continuing decrease in internatio­nal inbound travel to the U.S. That’s at least partially attributab­le to the strength of the dollar — a factor that’s discouragi­ng our Canadian neighbors from heading our way. Results from the Brexit vote are expected to show up in the figures that will be available in August, according to the associatio­n. Meanwhile, domestic travel continues to be the major factor driving the U.S. travel industry.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States