Impressed with Australia arrangements

My wife and I took a 6-week trip to Australia and New Zealand, Sept. 9-Oct. 22, 2007.

We are experienced travelers, both at home and abroad, and our preference and most common approach is to travel independently. For our trip, I planned the itinerary as usual, but when I attempted to implement it, I was repeatedly stymied by the logistics and complexity of travel arrangements in Australia, a problem I had never faced on previous trips. It wasn’t that I couldn’t do it; it was that the cost far exceeded our budget.

That’s when I turned to the Internet for answers and found out about Andrew Haffenden and Nature Travel Specialists (1817-D Woodbrook Circle, Alabaster, AL 35007; 877/285-1170, www.naturetravelspecialists.com).

Although they can help with travel to other places, I was particularly interested in what their Australian Natural Adventures division could do. I was so impressed with the outcome that I am taking time to share it with you.

Andrew spent hours — in person (meeting us at a central location for an entire afternoon!), online and on the phone — patiently answering questions and providing solutions. He is a native Australian and worked for years in the travel industry there, but now he has been working for several years near Birmingham, Alabama.

Andrew not only dealt with the logistics problem, he came in well under budget, saving us substantial money in the process. The total came to about $11,000 per person, including international flights, ferry to Tasmania, The Ghan from Alice Springs to Coober Pedy, nearly all lodging, tour arrangements, guides and transfers. Car rentals were extra.

Fortunately, I decided to allow him to arrange our accommodations also. These proved to be much better located and upscale than those I would have chosen, yet his contacts made it possible for us to stay there at rates far better than I could get on my own.

Anyone considering travel in that part of the world would do well to at least check him out. I think you will be very pleased, even those of you accustomed to making your own arrangements.

RON SANDEFER

Paducah, KY