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Beat the blues at Mardi Gras in New Orleans

New Orleans

Beads, beer and blues music, New Orleans’ Mardi Gras is a chaotic explosion of celebration, with music and mayhem pulsating from every crack in the brickwork.

Mardi Gras is French for ‘Fat Tuesday’ and symbolises the last day of indulging before fasting. This is Cajun country, so get acquainted with lively flavours.

Lock lips with an infamous beignet at Café du Monde in the French Quarter, and descend on the bakeries, open pre-dawn, for a traditional Mardi Gras ‘King Cake’. These gluttonous treats are ring-shaped and frosted. Inside there’s a tiny plastic baby – find it and tradition insists you have to buy next year’s cake

“Wear green, purple & gold and join in one of the Second Line Parades around the city. It's a great way to immerse yourself in the Mardi Gras culture. Just remember to wear comfy shoes as dancing along to the brass band is hard to resist!”

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Sindy Jones

House of Travel New Plymouth

I've been on overland truck trips for months on end, long extended self-drive adventures, ocean cruises and riverboats, coach tours, small group guided journeys and done independent travel, visiting 60 countries in 6 continents along the way.

I'm always looking forward to my next adventure and love helping clients get the most from theirs.

Sindy

Tracey Edgecombe

House of Travel New Plymouth

I liken planning a holiday to baking a cake. It takes several well measured and thought out ingredients for a great result.

I have been lucky to have travelled extensively myself and being a travel consultant for more than 20 years, I use these 'ingredients' - experience and expertise - to draw on to help create amazing holidays and lifelong memories.

It is such a pleasure to help my clients get the best out of their holidays and manage an incredible team of travel professionals.

Tracey

Victoria Wales

House of Travel Christchurch City

Unmatched in her lifetime experience within the conference and incentive travel industry, Victoria heads-up HOT Events and truly delights in delivering fantastic results for our clients.

Making magic happen is Victoria's specialty. She understands what is required to deliver top experiences for delegates and incentive visitors. In high demand by both clients and colleagues alike, Victoria is keen to share her skills and works closely with the team to ensure every part of a programme, from concept delivery, is exceptional .

Although Victoria's hospitality management studies included chief training - it doesn't mean she does a lot of it now - preferring to hunt out the latest wining and dining options in town. She does bring this knowledge to the table when hosting groups on or off shore - ensuring the venue is the ideal place for the specific group's requirements.

"The best part of my job is year after year, hosting many of the same clients - I am challenged to make their experience better than the year before, and I love it!"

With her wicked sense of humour and her reputation as a people's person, Victoria is committed in delivering first class service to her clients.

Favourite place to host an event: Vietnam
Next place on the list to visit: Canada

Victoria