Travel Wires

You know what: People are awesome. A guest staying at Pohara Beach Top 10 Holiday Park in Golden Bay (which has has been named New Zealand’s most hospitable holiday park) was disappointed to find she had arrived outside the whitebait season. A staffer who overheard the situation went home after work, retrieved her frozen whitebait and gave it to the guest, along with a family recipe.

Listen up

It pays to listen to the airline crew when they say, “Please put your phone into Flight Mode.” One traveller found himself $300 out of pocket when he failed to turn off the signal and roaming on an Aer Lingus flight and it connected to the plane’s in-flight network. Virgin Atlantic warns: “The charges are almost the same as they would be if you were roaming from another country. The calls and texts will be added to your mobile bill after you’ve flown.” Passengers who don’t want to be caught out should turn on Flight Mode on as soon as they board a plane and leave it on until they land. Free onboard Wi-Fi can then be used safely without any additional charges.

The down low

While we’re on the subject, here’s how to keep roaming charges to a minimum: Turn on Flight Mode. It turns off all wireless connections, including your mobile data. Ensure Data Roaming is turned off or ask your mobile network to block Data Roaming. Use your data only when you know you’re using free Wi-Fi. Ask your network about Data Roaming packages that will reduce costs.

Good people

Pohara Beach Top 10 Holiday Park in Golden Bay has been named New Zealand’s most hospitable holiday park. Judges commended the park for its willingness to go the extra mile for guests. Example: a guest was disappointed to find she had arrived outside the whitebait season. A staffer who overheard the situation went home after work, retrieved her frozen whitebait and gave it to the guest, along with a family recipe. “The friendly, relaxed and happy environment we have at Pohara Beach is simply down to the team that works here,” says owner-operator Del Clarke. “They all do a great job of looking after our guests.” The rest of the best: All Seasons Holiday Park, Rotorua; Belt Road Seaside Holiday Park, New Plymouth; Ohakune Top 10 Holiday Park; Whangateau Holiday Park, Rodney.

Away with the birds

Airbus has developed a small-scale aircraft that mimics the flight of an albatross. The carbon-fibre AlbatrossOne concept plane has flapping wingtips to help reduce drag and weight and combat the effects of turbulence and wind gusts. The aircraft was inspired by albatrosses, which can travel hundreds of miles without flapping their wings, a process known as “dynamic soaring”. Last month Airbus unveiled another concept that looks like a bird with feathered wings. It’s a hybrid-electric, turbo-propeller aircraft inspired by the mechanics of a bird of prey.