Travel Information: To travel to Wellington, my choice would
be Premium Economy on Air New Zealand’s Boeing 777300ER, the airline’s flagship. These luxurious seats have a
hard shell that doesn’t recline — saving you from smashed
knees courtesy of the seat in front of you. The recline happens
in the softer part of the seat, while the accompanying beanbag
on the floor creates a comfy cushion for fully-extended legs.
The shell shields you from your neighbor, providing a
welcome measure of privacy if you’re traveling alone.
For couples, the dual seats create a kind of love-seat, for
dining and chatting. The personal entertainment center is
state-of-the-art, with movies, music, TV, etc. — and a cradle
for your iPod. Headphones are like those distributed in
Business or First Class; blankets and pillows are cozy and
invite sleep. The food, accompanied by New Zealand wines,
is as good or better than anything I’ve had when flying
domestic Business Class. The final luxury: Air New Zealand
provides a concierge throughout the plane (even in regular
economy), whose job it is to answer questions and provide
those little services that ease the strain of long-distance travel.
There is an abundance of hotels in Wellington. My favorite is
the Museum Hotel (http://www.museumhotel.co.nz/), a
contemporary boutique property with stylishly decorated
rooms featuring all modern amenities, some overlooking
picturesque Wellington Harbor. The residence section of the
property has apartments with kitchenettes and laundry
facilities. As befits its name, the hotel houses an exceptional
art collection. To round out the options for a comfortable stay,
there is an indoor pool (and sauna), a fitness center and a day
spa/salon. The Museum’s premier restaurant, Hippopotamu