Thousands of visitors to Greece seek that “hideaway village” of their dreams. It's usually a place they have read about or dreamt about.
Now, specialist small group tour operator Toursgallery has packaged a holiday which includes lesser-known corners of Greece.
Years of research has given them a file of hidden treasures including must-do archaeological sights along with picturesque rural areas, villages and natural wonders.
In Zagoria they visit photogenic locations like, near Monodendri, a walking track cut into the side of a vertical cliff (pictured).
There are also ancient arched stone bridges, dense forests, snow capped mountains, deep gorges, cobbled donkey paths and tiny old villages.
Another destination is Pelion, seldom visited but known for its apple orchards and secluded beaches.
Toursgallery has a September tour priced from $6770.
To avoid “single supplement” the operator can assist single travellers in finding a rooming companion.
For details call 1300 307 317.
Tutt-Tutt Tony
Don't get too carried away
If there was an award for understatement Cathay Pacific Airways chief executive Tony Tyler would be a hands-down winner.
His company had just chalked up its third Airline of the Year Award in a global poll of 16.2 million travellers but it was sufficient only to educe Mr Tyler's ever-so-British reaction: “It is very pleasing”.
Pleasing? Lesser beings in lesser airlines would have had their spin people doing cartwheels with superlatives.
Cathay received its latest honour in the London-based Skytrax World Airline Awards at a function in Hamburg where it also picked up the Best Airline in Asia title. (We can only guess Tyler found that equally “pleasing”.)
Skytrax CEO Edward Plaisted was a tad more enthusiastic, calling Cathay's success “a great achievement”.
Cathay was Airline of the Year in 2003 and 2005 with special mention of its sensational Trust Me Hong Kong lounges and inflight products. They took Best First Class title following the introduction of their new cabins.
Tyler was more anxious to share the glory with a “dedicated, professional team which had worked hard to develop a world-class international network”.
Earlybirds catch Hertz NZ ski bargains
With “them over there” bracing for another big ski season the Hertz people have come up with two bargain Early Bird ski deals to some of the top alpine resorts on the South Island.
You simply book one of the popular HertzSki or HertzSki Flexi rental packages for a minimum period of seven days, before April 30, and you get one of those days free of charge.
The free day includes car rental, snow chains, ski or snowboard rack and, depending on the package booked, a HertzSki or one NZSuperpass voucher. Both packages are valid for travel between May 1 and October 30 this year.
The HertzSki package costs from NZ $136.13 per vehicle per day, including a late model car, snow chains and a ski or snowboard rack, one HertzSki voucher for every day of rental, redeemable as an adult lift pass at one of the participating ski fields - Cardrona, Coronet Peak, Mt Hutt, The Remarkables and Treble Cone.
The HertzSki Flexi package is priced from NZ$144 per vehicle per day and features NZSuperpass vouchers valid at over 100 top attractions and activities in Queenstown, Methven and Canterbury.
It also includes a late model Hertz vehicle, snow chains and a ski or snowboard rack and a NZSuperpass voucher for every day of rental.
Vouchers offer activities ranging from a soothing massage to the excitement of jet boating, and can be redeemed at over 13 South Island ski fields (excluding Cardrona).
Check it all out at www.nzsuperpass.com
Hawaiian weighs-in to add value
Value-added extras are an important part of international airlines' battle for ever-tighter travel dollars.
Hawaiian Airlines has added weight to the contest with a significant free baggage allowance of two 32kg items per passenger on Hawaiian flights from Sydney to Honolulu and beyond to the US mainland.
It will be a drawcard for the many visitors to the US who include big-brand bargain shopping to their things-to-do-on-holiday list.
Hawaiian's allowance of two 32kg pieces is one of the largest and most convenient offered by any airline operating from Australia.
Hawaiian has three weekly non-stop flights from Sydney to Honolulu with onward service to the neighbour islands of Hawaii, and 10 destinations on the US mainland.
See an AFTA travel agent or call, toll-free on 1300 669 106 for bookings.
Party time in Queenstown
And the deals are on tap
Queenstown is preparing for the southern hemisphere's biggest winter party (June 26-July 5) with some great early bird ticket deals.
The American Express Queenstown Winter Festival tickets are already on sale and those quick off the mark can enjoy more fun for less with discounts available on tickets purchased
before May 2.
For more Early Bird Ticket Information visit www.winterfestival.co.nz
Warriors to the fore
Grand Park Xian is promoting a golfing adventure at China's ancient capital, better known these days as home of the Terracotta Warriors.
There is a round of golf at the acclaimed Xian Ya Jian International Golf Club complete with caddy, lunch and return transportation.
Valid from now until October 31, it also incorporates two nights accommodation with a daily buffet breakfast buffet at the Grand Park Xian and airport transfers.
The course is set amid breathtaking scenery at the foot of Mount Zhongnan and has been a venue for world-class golf championships, including the National Amateur, Sheraton Trophy, BMW International and Volvo competitions.
There is easy access to the city's cultural attractions including organised day trips to the Museum of Terracotta Warriors.
Grand Park Xian, with its towering atrium lobby, is a luxurious five-star property, opened in 1993 but extensively renovated last year.
For more information please visit: www.parkhotelgroup.com or email: rsvn.gpxa@parkhotelgroup.com. | 
