Thank you both! I’ll have my husband (who is the ski expert) evaluate the online inventory to help us decide. It doesn’t means a whole bunch to me - but I know what I like when I try on boots and talk to people in the store. Thanks!
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Definitely if buying boots ya gotta try them on. When DS bought on line he was getting powder skis. That said, the past several years we have rented and each year get the new stuff in their inventory, and the boots have all been very comfortable (not like the old days!!)
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I think you will want a good all mountain ski. This one below is actually a really good price.
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Thank you both! Husband is a former expert skier (who is taking it slower for now) - I think he knows what he wants?
I’m a relative beginner - but read that I should get a ski that transitions into intermediate so I don’t outgrow it (seems like I gotta talk to someone to figure that out? ChatGPT directed me to very bigger skis which I don’t think I want lol)
That ski you shared looks really great tho!
I have similar Rossi all mountain skis (from a few years ago). I am short (5’2”) and got the 150cm demo deal that was available. I lucked out - same exact skis/bindings I had demo’d but new equipment ($500 package). That means I have demo bindings, a bit heavy to carry. But… plan is to get lighter ones in a few years when they age out (and I am older/weaker).
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Question about all the safari posts above.
I’m intrigued but concerned about:
Length of flight (I don’t like flying)
Required immunizations
Safety on safari
Being in a small truck with other travelers who might talk too much for my comfort level (has happened on other confined-space tours). I would probably go by myself or possibly with a friend who has done the tour before and would like to go again.
Would appreciate any thoughts!
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My friend’s husband went on an Africa safari a few months ago - absolutely loved it (was a bucket list item). Lots of immunizations and other health precautions but he had a great time and didn’t get sick.
He is also a quieter type person and didn’t say the people were overly boisterous or anything like that…
When we went to Africa we had to go to a specialty doctor for immunizations. He did the health precautions briefing. Mostly about eating safely, water safety, and preventing mosquito bites. The vehicles were Toyota Land Cruisers with open windows and a pop top which was open most of the time. Easy to ignore others since everyone is looking for the animals. It was the trip of a lifetime.
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My sister and BIL went on a safari last fall.
Flights: they flew from home to London, spent time there, and then flew onto Africa (Kilimanjaro airport).
They used Roysafaris.co.tz and were very happy with the experience. Not cheap, but the guide was just for them - no one else in the truck. Stayed in some wonderful places and saw so many animals
They had to be current on number of immunizations, and it seems to me that if they’d been in an area with outbreaks of something, they were either restricted from entering or had to prove immunization status.
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That’s cool- to have a private guide, but may not be necessary. The guides in the jeeps are doing most of the talking so, at least in our jeep, there wasn’t a lot of yakking. Plus the jeeps have open /pop up roofs and the windows are open except maybe when doing a long drive so its hard to hear “idle conversation”, at least as I recall. In our (6 passenger) jeep there was one person who had been a hunter, and as much as I am not a fan of hunting, he was incredibly helpful at spotting animals. So some talking was good!
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My daughter did Kilimanjaro last year and then a Safari. They flew from Denver to Turkey which I think was 14 hours and then to Kenya which was another 9. LONG flights. She hates shots so it was a sacrifice for her to go and have to get the shots.
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Has anyone done of the Lord of the Rings filming sites in New Zealand? We’re thinking of going on a tour of the South Island, and adding on a few days on the North Island to see Hobbiton, which is apparently a must see. We will also be going to Queenstown, to see many of the filming sites there.
Just wondering if there’s something that can’t be missed.
I have a couple of friends who went to Hobbiton and said it was terrific.
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I have read it is amazing. Makes me wonder if we want to visit it before our tour starts, and after also, because the airport we’re flying in and out of isn’t too far. But I’m curious if there’s other “must see” places, also.
We did this tour out of Queenstown and had a wonderful time.
This was my review: Our Half Day Tour of Middle Earth; leaving from Queenstown. Wonderful tour whether you’re a casual viewer of the movies or an in-depth aficionado. The tour was part in-depth visits to LOTR movie locations, and part wonderful scenic tour of the greater Queenstown area. Our guide Benji was informative and accommodating and made the tour a delight. We went to numerous places in a relatively short amount of time. Benji basically had all the movies memorized and could quote any scenes. He also had tons of backlot stories about the filming and actors. One of the highlights of the trip.
We tried to add Hobbiton to our day in Rotorua but it was completely booked.
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Thanks! We have a free day in Queenstown, but the other day they have a “Safari of the Scenes” tour. I’m going to try to find out what exactly we see on the booked tour, and try to see something different on the free day. I’ll definitely look at this one.
D1 and SIL went to Hobbiton on their honeymoon 2 years ago and loved it.
This was one of the wedding gifts they had on their list and her cousin and family got it for them.
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A nice thing about this tour was that it’s a small van and I think he drove us places no tour bus could ever attempt. So that was part of the sightseeing bonus of the trip - sweeping vistas from various high points. And the guide had big photos from the movie so at various times, he would hold the photo up so we could see how it fit into the movies. We also had a half hour on our own in Arrowtown since various scenes were filmed in that area.
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That sounds amazing, we will definitely check it out!
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We used Zealandier Tours. We did their 6.5 hour cruise ship tour from the port of Tauranga, but their website says they also do tours from within NZ. Visit Hobbiton - Zealandier Tours
We had a great time. We met the van in the car park just outside the port security gates. It took about 1 hour 15 minutes to get to Hobbiton from the port. Our driver/guide did a good job narrating the drive. We got to Hobbiton about noon and had 40 minutes to get lunch in their cafe, check out the gift shop and use the toilets. Then we boarded one of the green Hobbiton buses for a tour of Hobbiton led by one of the Hobbiton guides. DH was surprised by how much he enjoyed this since he isn’t the biggest LOTR fan. After the Hobbiton tour we met back up with our Zealandier driver/guide for the return trip. On the way back we stopped at McLaren Falls where we walked on a short easy path to see the waterfall.
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