“…Loved Japan and can’t wait to go back!”
Hi Shona
I just want to say that we absolutely loved Japan and can’t wait to go back 🙂 We were incredibly lucky with the weather, sunshine every day in Tokyo and both bluebird days and fresh snow in Hakuba. Below is the view from our fantastic room in Hakuba.
A Sail – Christchurch
30 March 2018
“..A very enjoyable holiday”
Dear Shona
Just a short note to thank you for organising what proved to be a very enjoyable holiday.
Coast was not flash, but comfortable and had everything we needed. It was ideal for the children (pretty hard to imagine easier ski in/out), and the staff there were great. We had good luck with snow, skied every day, and had probably had enough by the time we left.
All the connections were easy.
Thanks once again. I’ll be in contact when the bank balance recovers!
S Brew – Auckland, NZ
31 January 2018
“..It was perfect for a family holiday”
Hi Shona,
Just a quick email to say how much we enjoyed Panorama. It was perfect for a family holiday and the on-piste accommodation worked really well for us. Great snow coupled with no lift queues are an unbeatable combination.
Finances permitting we would love another ski holiday in 2018 so please keep us posted for any deals.
M Ingram – Auckland, NZ
08 February 2017
“..A stress-free holiday”
Thanks for all your good advice and care in looking after our arrangements. It made for a stress free holiday ( from a travel & accommodation point of view) We will definitely get you to organise our next trip!
D Thomson – Auckland, NZ
15 February 2017
“..Best skiing ever in my life”
Hi Shona….now a distant memory! But….WOW what an amazing place, totally recommend! Luckily the temps came back to around -10 before we arrived and we got a couple of great snowfalls so we were on fresh powder mostly, no queues in fact, it seemed really quiet! Simply the best skiing ever in my life, tempted to go back every year. Thanks for all your help it’s been excellent.
T Palmer – Taupo, NZ
15 February 2017
“..Big thanks for an awesome holiday”
Just wanted to say a big thanks for an awesome holiday to Japan. Had a great time and everything was very easy having transfers, flights, lift passes all sorted!
Many thanks,
S Sherlaw – Wanaka, NZ
31 January 2017
“..Well organised, and superb trip”
Thanks Shona for organising an amazing trip to Argentina for us. One of the best experiences we have had snowboarding in the Andes. The people were great, the snow was excellent, and Argentina was just fantastic. Well organised, and superb trip!
S Vujcich – Auckland, NZ
13 September 2016
“..Awesome to deal with”
Shona has been really great to deal with, we had just a basic idea but she put us on the right track and gave us great advice about Colorado, awesome to deal with someone who has obviously spent a lot of time over there and loves what she does. Always quick to reply to emails and easy to work with. Would definitely
J Sinnamon – Auckland, NZ
22 June 2016
“.. Everything from flights (with plenty of leg room) accommodation and transfers was flawless”
Hi Shona
Just want to thank you and your staff for sorting our recent trip to Japan. Everything from flights (with plenty of leg room) accommodation and transfers was flawless, allowing us to get on with the business of having a awesome time. With little or nothing to worry about. We just chilled and took our time to take in all that we’d set out to do. (My 5 minutes of planning was not in vain)!
Once again thanks for all your help!!
P Smith – Auckland, NZ
12 March 2016
“.. Your support and advice was much appreciated”
Hi Shona and a happy belated New Year to you.
Just to let you know we all had a wonderful ski holiday to Breckenridge. Snow conditions were absolutely incredible. We skied every day with surprisingly some fine quite warm days and some colder days with light snow falling. The town centre was awesome and an easy walk from our accommodation at The Village of Breck. Snowing in the town with all the coloured lights on was surreal.
Shona many thanks again for your services. Your support and advice was much appreciated. Hopefully we can revisit Colorado again.
L Lumsden – Christchurch, NZ
07 February 2016
“.. We were extremely impressed with everything”
As you will know, we are now back in NZ. I just wanted let you know we were extremely impressed with everything! From the streamlined pickup after our arrival at Chitose, to the smooth transfer to our apartment, and return. The quality of the apartment and the help ski Japan gave us when I mucked up the safe code and locked our stuff in there and when all the electric sockets stopped working. It was great having a 24hr service there and they were all so friendly and helpful. It was also nice having the cleaners pop in every couple of days. Not to mention the skiing that exceeded expectation.
Our western culture could learn a lot from the Japanese, that’s for sure!
So, thanks again, we will certainly return.
Linda H – Auckland, NZ
17 February 2016
“.. You did a great job & had so much patience with all our friends”
We had such a FABULOUS time. We keep saying the best thing we did was to go to Fiji to get married & our honeymoon. If we had it in NZ it would have been over in a blink of the eye & no time to take it all in afterwards. Darling thank ”YOU” for everything you did. You did a great job & had so much patience with all our friends, family & of course US!!! I know it was no easy task.
M Larmer – Auckland, NZ
31 August 2015
“.. Due to your untiring efforts there was not a single hitch”
A very big thanks for arranging my recent ski trip to Telluride. Due to your untiring efforts there was not a single hitch. Flights from Wellington to Auckland to Los Angles and onto to Montrose, the road transfer from Montrose to Telluride and then to my superb hotel just paces away from the Gondola. All trouble free. And my nine day ski pass at Telluride was ready and waiting. Similarly the journey home was likewise efficient and smooth.
It was indeed a pleasure dealing with you – nothing was too much trouble and I’m most impressed with your pleasant and easy going manner. You delivered what you said you would with the minimum of fuss and I will ask you again to arrange my next years trip to Colorado and Utah.
W Wilkey – Wellington, NZ
27 February 2015
“.. Great trip, really awesome!”
GREAT trip, really awesome. We were super lucky with snow at Sun Peaks, which made up for Pano. We couldn’t believe it was snowing on our last night! We really enjoyed sitting in the hot tub with snow piling up on our heads though. Sun Peaks is such an amazing place, so much to do and such a great mountain.
C Rowlands – Auckland
09 February 2015
“… takes the time to find out what you want in a holiday and her suggestions are spot on”
Shona takes the time to find out what you want in a holiday and her suggestions are spot on. Her organisational skills and attention to detail make for a very smooth holiday. Thanks Shona!!
Monica Gyoery – Australia
27 January 2015
“… Holiday of a life time. Highly recommended!”
Shona Bracey and AMPED Ski Adventure are a fantastic team to organise the Holiday of a life time. Highly recommended!
Esther Burnie – Rotorua
27 January 2015
“… thanks so much for putting it all together for us at short notice!”
Just wanted to thank you for the excellent arrangements you made for Peter and Finn’s travel and accommodation to the South Island to ski. They loved their lodge, and found the food and accommodation excellent value.
Thanks so much for putting it all together for us at short notice!
Moya – Auckland
04 September 2014
“…thank you so much for your expert advice and travel plans, it was beyond our expectation!”
Just a quick note to let you know Ross and I have returned all in one piece from our Canadian ski holiday. Thank you so much for organising it for us everything was just perfect, could not have gone any better than it did. Loved all 3 resorts and definitely plan to go again, can’t pick a favorite as they were all fantastic.
Ross’s conference in San Diego went well and gave me a chance to relax before heading home. As the conference is a tax deduction for Ross could you please let me know the cost of his air fare return to Los Angeles, if possible? I’m sure you gave me a break down of costs but I have misplaced them.
Also I have passed on your email to a friend who will be traveling to LA in April, as I was so impressed with your organisation she wanted to contact you and discuss her travel plans.
Once again, thank you so much for your expert advice and travel plans, it was beyond our expectation! I am happy to recommend you to anyone interested in traveling and will definitely contact you again when we plan our next adventure.
Samantha – Sydney
27 March 2014
“… Thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip thanks very much…didn’t want to come home!!”
We had a great trip thanks !! Lots of fresh snow while we were there so the skiing was great. Really enjoyed Silverstar…really laid back place!!! The accommodation` was good at both the sundance and the silver creek lodge.
Some of our gear did not arrive at Kamloops but was at our hotel by the morning so wasn’t a problem. On our transfer from Sun Peaks to Silverstar the shuttle drops you at a motel in Vernon and then a taxi picks you up and takes you up to Silverstar…It didn’t bother us at all but the shuttle driver said some people get quite upset over it, maybe its worth letting people know ?
Thoroughly enjoyed the whole trip thanks very much…didn’t want to come home!!
Mark – Nelson
30 March 2014
“… a great trip with lots of boarding”
It was very good Shona. We had lots of fresh snow (7 days) and found Copper a great resort. Sounds like we hit the jackpot with all the locals saying it was the best season for 10 years. The terrain was great and we never got the urge to go anywhere else.
The village was a wee bit too small we felt and a needed a bit more entertainment in the evenings but we knew that would be the case when we went there, it was a double edged sword, quiet resort meant no queues (ever) but meant for limited stuff to do at night. The accommodation was great, even the yogi bear carved wooden table lamps – I think next time some cooking facilities would be useful.
Overall a great trip with lots of boarding.Would definitely head overseas again but not to Copper (for a while) – maybe Japan we think.
Jon – Auckland
27 March 2014
“… Thank you again for organising our trip. Will definitely recommending you guys to our friends”
Vail was fantastic. Thank you very much for organising all aspects of our trip. Everything worked out great!
The Lifthouse Condos were fantastic. I would strongly recommend them to you for you other customers, especially for students or anyone who doesn’t want to spend crazy money, especially in a place like vail. I know The Lifthouse was a little more expense than a few of the original places we had talked about, but it was well worth it!
The reason why we loved it was location!!! For anyone looking to stay in Lionheads Village it is perfect, right in the middle of the village and 2 minute walk from the gondola. Loved it!
The Lifthouse itself was great. All the staff there were so helpful. Check in process was easy and they were so welcoming. They helped us with whatever we needed.
The room was nothing modern. It was dated. However saying that, it was very cozy and comfortable. The bed was great, bathroom great size, the little lounge/TV room area was separated from the bedroom by a stand in wall which was nice, adding some separation to the condo. The kitchen area was good too. Really only the stove and a small area to cook on however it was all we needed for the week.
Unfortunately, an incident did occur (not with lifthouse). First afternoon I was pushed over skiing sustaining a pretty bad knee injury, leaving me bed ridden for 3 days in the condo.. Quite unfortunate for the skiing holiday however spent a lot of time in the condo.. Last 2 days I recovered and managed to get back on the slopes.
All in all, really happy with our stay at Lifthouse, aside from the unfortunate and annoying incident!!
Thank you again for organising our trip. Will definitely recommending you guys to our friends and hopefully will be in contact for future trips.
Kind Regards,
Chris – NSW
07 January 2014
“…we really appreciate your professional manner and the way nothing was too much trouble”
We had a wonderful time in Silverstar – it was just the pace we needed. The weather and skiing was great – people were friendly but not intrusive and very well mannered (which felt weird compared to Australian ski fields). Everything went to plan and there was never any confusion over bookings. The accommodation in Vancouver was fine for a short stay but probably wouldn’t want to stay there for a long period as there was no window in the living area. The accommodation at Silver Star was beautiful and very comfortable and we would certainly stay there again. Oh and Air Canada was a great airline to travel with too – they couldn’t have been friendlier and they don’t overheat the cabin (as many airlines do) making it easier to sleep. Brian was so impressed he emailed them to let them know.
All in all it was a really good trip – thank you for organising it – we really appreciate your professional manner and the way nothing was too much trouble.
Jane – Sydney, NSW
29 January 2013
“…we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday. Everything went according to plan…”
Hi Shona. No doubt you have gathered from Steve and Bruce that we thoroughly enjoyed our holiday. Everything went according to plan – the flights were all on time, the Laurelwood was excellent to stay at and the location could not have been more perfect for ski in ski out. The snow was good and even better on the powder days we got. Your recommendation to go to Aspen because of the variety of ski/board terrain was backed up by the reality. Even though the girls chickened out of the Highlands Bowl (the visibility was poor and we didn’t fancy the walk as the snowcat was delayed) the guys lived through it to tell their tales. I’ve attached some pictures to show you! Snowmass was definitely our favourite (cruisey blue runs and challenging tree glade blacks), then Highlands. Not so fussed on Aspen and we didn’t get to buttermilk. We are all talking now of planning another trip for 2015 using you guys as it was such a good experience. Once again, many thanks
Kate – Gisbourne, New Zealand
10 January 2013
“…Thank you again for organising such a brilliant holiday!”
Just wanted to let you know that we had an absolutely FANTASTIC time on our holiday. Everything went smoothly and our accommodation at the Terracehouse Condominiums was fabulous. The location was brilliant, 50mtr walk to the slopes and about 100mtrs to the village. We had such a good time that we are already planning to return in January 2015, so we will be in touch.
Thank you again for organising such a brilliant holiday!
Steph, Sydney – NSW
January 2013
“…Everything, and we mean everything, went without a hitch…”
Just a quick email to say thank you so much for all your hard work booking our trip. It was fantastic!!!
Everything, and we mean everything, went without a hitch and it was all smooth sailing or should that be skiing! The hotel in Hawaii was great and they were true to their word with an ocean view – we had a great view of Waikiki Beach and the headland beyond it. The weather too obliged and we had only one day of rain (a couple of hours one morning).
All the transport arrangements were great including seats on our flights and your surprise bottle of wine at Antlers was a lovely surprise and a lovely bottle of wine too. Magda at Antlers was lovely and she was pleased to know that Jeff and I were returning for a second visit with so many friends. The snowfall even obliged considering it was a bit lean when we arrived in Vail. We had about 3 – 4 inches on the Thursday of that week and then another 10-12inches from Sunday thru to Tues/Wed while in Snowmass.
So thank you again. All your hard work was very much appreciated.
Brenda – Wellington, New Zealand
12 February 2013
“…We had an awesome time and hope to go back, maybe 2015…”
Thanks for arranging our holiday to Copper Mountain, we had an awesome time and hope to go back, maybe 2015.
Passage Point was great accommodation, and I believe we had one of the best rooms, ground floor by the hot pools. I really wouldn’t consider staying anywhere else.
All travel was great, and the free buses about Summit County made visits to Frisco and Breckenridge really easy.
Vivienne – Gisbourne, New Zealand
23 February 2013
“…My trip to Lake Tahoe was fantastic. I had such a great time…”
My trip to Lake Tahoe was fantastic. I had such a great time. The flights and transfers all worked out, there was no stress or hurry along the way. The accommodation at the Lakeshore Lodge & Spa was spacious, clean and comfortable and the view from the room was just amazing. The shuttle to the gondola was really convenient and pretty much everything was within reasonable walking distance.
The skiing was great even though there wasn’t much fresh snow. Heavenly’s huge! I’m really glad I went for 2 weeks instead of just 1. I think I had a bit of altitude sickness for the first few days, headaches and fatigue, so it was nice to have that second week while I was firing on all cylinders.
Thanks so much for organising it all. Now I just need to start saving for the next one!
Toby – Auckland, New Zealand
27 February 2013
“…Thank you for your input and suggestions – it was fantastic skiing and the accommodation was lovely…”
I am just back after a lovely holiday and wanted to thank you for your input and suggestions – it was fantastic skiing and the accommodation was lovely. Tokyo and Hiroshima were amazing and the hotels were good – thanks.
The Japan Rail Pass worked well, although I did elect to pay for the Airport Limousine Bus service from the airport to the Hotel as it was door to door and the task of negotiating the subway/train system after the flight was daunting and I’m glad I did because having to change trains off the airport system onto the JRail system with luggage at rush hour would have freaked me out – It was bad enough the next day trying to work out how the system worked just to get to Tokyo station!! In future I would probably use the Limousine Bus + 2 day Metro Pass option as it gives access to more places than the JR line pass did + it gets you to and from the airport to your hotel with no hassle.
The other thing I found is that the JR Pass is not valid for the Nozomi trains – so the train that was recommended for my return trip could not be used on the pass – I did use the HYPERDIA website to find an alternative set of trains to get to the airport on time. It may also be worth letting people that they can reserve a seat on the fast trains at no additional cost.
Anyway – thanks again for your recommendations, I will probably do it again next year – the snow was amazing!! So Ill be in touch!!!
Richard – Nelson, New Zealand
8 April 2013