There are 11 optional excursions in total, but we could pay only for 4 (or 5) from here before departing. For the majority of the excursions, we are asked to pay in cash while on tour, and that amounts to well over £300. How much cash do we need to carry with us considering we will need to have Singapore $, NZ $, and GBP! Surely, if you know how much each excursion cost, then we should be able to pay before departing? 

It would have been nice if an afternoon tea at Raffles in Singapore was also included as an optional excursions. Would it be possible to arrange it if some people from the group wanted to do that? We could be asked about it few weeks before departing. We may not get another chance to visit Singapore. 

I wish JY would consider the above mentioned two options.

It took me half hour to type this as the curser didn't move quickly, it happens often. 

Dyuti

Sorry for the delay in coming back to you but hopefully the following information will help...

My colleague has explained why we only take payment for some of these excursions when you are away rather than from here in the UK.

The Rainbow Springs and Walter Peak cruise excursions are in resort only as they cross over with other excursions that travellers may or may not have booked. The Jet Boat ride excursion is in resort only as this is quite a fast high speed ride and it is good for the traveller to speak directly with the Tour Manager before booking.

The following excursions are weather dependant and will not always operate. These three excursions can be paid by credit card: Mt Tarawera Floatplane/Helicopter, Glacier Helicopter, Mount Cook Flights.

I have been advised that if there are any excursions that you would like to take that are bookable in resort, there are plenty of ATMs if you would prefer to withdraw cash while you are overseas rather than taking it with you.

For the afternoon tea (or a SIngapore Sling) at Raffles - the Tour Manager would be able to organise this for you. The team are looking at whether or not we will be able to offer this as an optional excursion in the future, but it would be more likely for 2018 departures.

Kindest regards,

Julia

Unless you have changed the Jet ride I personally did not find this fast at all, I did one in Florida at a later date independantley while on a JY tour and BOY that was fast, and so much fun.

Cindy

I do agree with Cindy's coment about the need to carry large sums of cash. When I  did the New   Zealand tour in 2013,  carry a large amount of cash,  we then found we could have paid for all the optional  flights by card directly to the operators.

Finally, if the flight back to Queenstown  from  Milford Sound is on offer go for it. The arial view  of the Sound, and the spectacular scenery made it worth every penny for me.

I put a post in yesterday about Hobbiton and Rainbow Springs when we are in Rotarua. The brochure says one in the morning, one in the afternoon. Apparently the Hobbiton does not return till later after the Rainbow Springs has departed. As I do not like wine, Hobbiton it is.

The jet boat at Kawarau is a nono as my travel insurance will not let me on with my neck problem 😞 

I have been told to do the helicopter flight to the Glacier and Mount Cook flight, weather permitting.

Reading previous reviews, Raffles was included as an extra with the tour manager. I too would love afternoon tea and would gladly come with you x

Jan

I did this trip last November, so some feedback on the optionals, not sure if they are exactly the same as I had.

Rainbow Springs - more of a kids zoo, 15 mins to go round looking at animals, a ride on a tame log flume and watch some birds doing tricks, we spent more time in the coffee shop, the wine tasting part afterwards was better

Jet boat - we had 2 choices, I did the one that sounded like it had more in that as well as the boat there was walking and 4 wheel drive, those of us that chose this were disapointed as the walk was a short amble through some woods (we'd expected a proper bit of walking) and 4 wheel drive meant the minibus had 4 wheel drive to get across the riverbed to show you a few places where the hobbit was filmed, not a bit of off road 4 wheel drive as we'd expected, those who did the shotover river one had a better experience, just the boat ride and much cheaper

Walter peak criuse - well worth doing

Tim

Hi Dyuti,

Sorry for the delay in coming back to you but hopefully the following information will help...

My colleague has explained why we only take payment for some of these excursions when you are away rather than from here in the UK.

The Rainbow Springs and Walter Peak cruise excursions are in resort only as they cross over with other excursions that travellers may or may not have booked. The Jet Boat ride excursion is in resort only as this is quite a fast high speed ride and it is good for the traveller to speak directly with the Tour Manager before booking.

The following excursions are weather dependant and will not always operate. These three excursions can be paid by credit card: Mt Tarawera Floatplane/Helicopter, Glacier Helicopter, Mount Cook Flights.

I have been advised that if there are any excursions that you would like to take that are bookable in resort, there are plenty of ATMs if you would prefer to withdraw cash while you are overseas rather than taking it with you.

For the afternoon tea (or a SIngapore Sling) at Raffles - the Tour Manager would be able to organise this for you. The team are looking at whether or not we will be able to offer this as an optional excursion in the future, but it would be more likely for 2018 departures.

Kindest regards,

Julia

Thank you, Julia for the explanation. I don't like withdrawing cash abroad as it costs more. Now I have a card just for the holiday, so I might be tempted to do that.

Dyuti

Hope we do get a chance to go to Raffles. There will be 32 in our group, so I am sure many would want to go. 

Dyuti