Australia Travel Planning

I would like to second David Sutcliffe’s praise (March ’07, pg. 81) for Gayle and Michael Hawker of Tasmania Travel Planning and Australia Travel Planning (4428 E. Willow Ave., Phoenix, AZ 85032; 800/830-8999, www.australian.com or www.tasmania.com).

I discovered Michael and Gayle via their advertisement in ITN. Upon calling, I told them that if they did well by me they would have me as a client for several years to come, as I was seeing Australia and New Zealand in bits and pieces.

Gayle and Michael now have planned three different trips for me. One was a cruise along the Murray River in 2003 followed by a 12-day tour of Tasmania. Another was a week-long cruise to the Great Barrier Reef in February ’04.

During the third, Jan. 21-Feb. 9, 2007, they had me on a wonderful 12-day cruise from Auckland to Milford Sound, New Zealand. The cruise cost, with single supplement, was about US$10,000. The ground package — including two stays in Auckland, transport to and from airports in Queenstown and Auckland and a flight from Queesntown to Auckland — added about US$2,000.

While visiting friends in Mesa, Arizona, I had a chance to meet Gayle and Michael socially. They are great hosts, real characters and lots of fun to be with. I can’t praise them for their services enough!

GERALD POWERS

Jamaica Plain, MA