Author: noel

Budget Travel: How to Get the Best Deals

There’s nothing better in life than planning a well-deserved vacation and booking your own holiday online. Whether you’re trying to find a last-minute ticket to the nearest tropical island or you’re looking for cheap accommodation when you get there, it can be hard knowing where to purchase flights and make bookings. The internet is like an ever expanding universe when it comes to finding great travel deals. But how do you find the right sights with the best deals? That’s where we come in! Our travel obsessed staff have put together a list of great travel websites to help you get to where you want to go on a shoestring.

FLIGHTS

Flightfox  https://flightfox.com/

Flightfox is the only global marketplace of the world’s best flight experts who are obsessed with customer service. The best thing about this site is that the experts don’t earn commissions on your flights, so getting you the best deal is their main goal. Joining costs a small fee but it’s totally worth it.

FlyinAway  http://www.flyinaway.com/

Flyin Away is a new site that puts pricing directly into the hands of YOU: the traveller and other travellers interested in the same flight. That’s right sugar, this is a competition! You have outbid the other scumbags, er, travellers to get the best deal. So get your game-face on and start ballin’.

Hipmunk https://www.hipmunk.com/

One of the best designed travel sites, Hipmunk can help you optimise your flight for layovers, length and, most importantly, price! And it’s not just about flight deals now that they have an extensive hotel search page as well.

Google Flights https://www.google.com/flights/

Oh Google, is there anything you can’t do?! Welcome to Google’s own flight search, a site perfect when looking for domestic flights in the great U S of A. Drag and drop your route to another location to see the price changes with a nifty map navigator. Keep your eyes on the bar graph view too, to see how fare change over any given time.

Yapta http://www.yapta.com/

The worst thing about booking your own travel is once you’ve bought your flights and then you see that they’ve gone on sale! Argh! But with Yapta, those days of endless frustration are gone. Yapta is like your mom, and she ain’t messing around. Depending on the airline’s policy, Yapta helps you get back some of the cash you blew.

Kayak http://www.kayak.com

If you don’t already know kayak then you must be some kind of hermit/hobbit hybrid who lives in a cave. This site is geared to finding you the cheapest airfares possible searching over 150 airlines and travel agencies that include Travelocity and Orbitz and some of the other big league travel mammoths. Kayak is like a one-stop-shop for cheap travel.

Last Minute http://lastminute.com

Disorganised? A little bit distracted? Just plain lazy? Last Minute is the perfect site for you. This dude shows you all the last minute airfares, hotel rooms and even attractions in an easy-peasy database. Often the cheapest flights are found on Last Minute, so as long as you can pack fast and tidy up loose ends quicker than you can say “Hawaii”, this might be your favourite site in this bunch! Happy shopping!

ACCOMMODATION

Couch Surfing  https://www.couchsurfing.org/

If you’re not too fancy for your own good then catching a night’s sleep in somebody’s couch and saving hundreds of dollars on accommodation costs might be your deal! CouchSurfing is a world-wide community of amazing hosts who offer adventurous travellers a free roof over their heads to help them see the world on a budget. Just sign up and away you go!

Home Exchange https://www.homeexchange.com/

Oh snap! You’re planning on travelling for more than a week or two? Then how about a house swap?! This site offers a huge listing of homes all over the world. You just list your own house, find a house where you’d like to stay and contact the owner to see if they’re up for swapsies!

Hotwire http://www.hotwire.com/

Hotwire offers some of the best travel deals available, both flights and accommodation, and also includes sweet planning tools and tips to ensure that you have the smoothest trip ever.

HOT TIPS

TripAdvisor  http://tripadvisor.com

Trip Advisor is the ultimate site for serious vacation planners. You can book flights, hotels, and get tickets for shows and fun parks here, but the best part is that there’s a huge amount of reviews and trips from real travellers, and not computer cyborgs. Check out the destination guides too, as they’re cheaper than Lonely Planet.

Travel Blogs

If I had a dollar for every travel blog out there on the world wide web, I’d be taking cash baths daily, but how on earth does one find the jackpot when there’s so many to choose from. Check out this sweet site:

http://fathomaway.com/slideshow/fathom-2014-best-travel-blogs-and-websites/

This is where you’ll find the 24 of the best travel blogs that can help inspire you with their far-out destinations (Antarctica anyone?! No?..) and just some excellent writing.

And there you have it, some of the best sites online to help you plan your trip on a budget. Of course, there are even cheaper ways to travel, especially if you’re just looking to travel in New Zealand, Australia and America. With Travelcar we hook you up with a free car. Sign up today!

Answer the Phone: Colorado is Calling

Colorado is one of the most picturesque places to visit in the great U S of A. If you’re a fan of Mother Nature, look no further than this mountainous state! From hikes to concerts to big cities and bright lights, Colorado has it all. Here are our top three picks for a stellar outdoors experience in this American gem. All you need to do is pick up your sweet Transfercar rental from Denver and go exploring!

Pikes Peak America’s Mountain

The best way to connect with Mother Nature during your trip to Colorado is to hike up to Pikes Peak, if you’re feeling fit enough that is! This mountain is the most visited in the entire country and is open the whole year round. Take a hike on the 19-mile Pikes Peak Highway or check out the Barr trail. Lassie and Fido can get in on the fun too, as the entire park is pet friendly, but don’t forget your pooper scooper. Rumour has it that one of the best reasons to visit Pikes Peak is to catch a glimpse of the elusive Big Foot. No, I’m not kidding. There have been several sightings of Big Foot since 1988. You just may be the one to capture him on film (and then sell the images for thousands online!).

Fun Fact: On March 25, 1929, Bill Williams, an average joe from Hondo, Texas spent a gruelling 21 days on the Pikes Peak Highway. His goal?  To push a peanut from the base of the mountain to the summit. With his nose. Apparently he went through 3 pairs of shoes, 12 pairs of gloves and roughly 150 peanuts. Did he achieve his goal? Yes. Did it make the world a better place? Not so much, but it’s still an impressive achievement I must admit!

Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre

The Red Rocks Park and Amphitheatre is the ultimate Colorado experience. World renowned as the only naturally-occurring, acoustically perfect amphitheatre, visitors not only get to groove here but they can also discover the region’s different flora and fauna. The summer concert series brings some of the best acts from all over the country. From Sting and The Beatles, to opera stars and U2, every artist aspires to play on this magical, spiritual and emotional stage. In 2015 you can count on seeing Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Kings of Leon, Led Zeppellin and even Drake vs. Lil’ Wayne! The amphitheatre opened in 1941 and is still going strong today. With 9525 seats this is a great concert venue and not something you should miss on your trip.

But it’s not just a great place to catch a concert. The 868 acres of geological wonders, prairie and old dinosaur stomping grounds is where the Great Plains meet the Rocky Mountains. There are a number of recreational options available to you here at Red Rocks, from  hiking, biking, guided tours, and even shopping and fancy dining for those of you who are more at home in the mall rather than nature!

Fun Fact: On June 10, 1971, a riot involving Jethro Tull, led to a five-year ban of rock concerts at Red Rocks. 1,000 people without tickets arrived at the sold-out show and when police directed the non-paying crowd to an area behind the theater, some of the people attempted to enter the amphitheatre by charging at the police line. Then they began lobbing rocks at the police, and well, the police responded with tear gas that the wind then carried over the hill, into the paying crowd and onto the stage. It all ended in tears so to speak. Since then there haven’t been any more riots. Ah the 70’s! Good times…

Rocky Mountain National Park

You may have heard of the Rocky Mountains?! Of course you have silly, who hasn’t?

Adventure seekers shouldn’t miss out on trekking and hiking at the Rocky Mountain National Park. There are activities for every level of fitness here, so don’t worry if you haven’t been hitting your local Cross Fit gym lately, there’s something here for you. You can go skiing, snowshoeing, sledding, fishing, hunting and horseback riding. But if you want something slower paced then just get your shoes on and go for a walk! The stunning views and spectacular vistas are just begging to be seen. If you’re into animals Rocky Mountain National Park offers a wide variety of wildlife. In the higher alpine areas, you’ll find yellow-bellied marmots and pikas. Larger mammals that inhabit the park include elk, bighorn sheep, black bears, mountain lions, mule deer, and moose. Leave your shotgun at home, ok? This is a no hunting zone!

Fun Fact: The oldest rocks in the park are metamorphic, and estimated at 1.7 billion years old, making them some of the oldest rocks within the National Park System. That’s some old rock! If you know any geology nerds, make sure you save a seat for them in your free rental car as the geological wonders of the Rockies will blow their minds!

Ugh, enough about nature for a minute. Let’s talk about the capital city of Denver. With a population of 2,697,476 people, Denver is Colorado’s largest city and the 22nd most populous city in America. Once you’ve natured-up in the Rockies head into this fabulous city and catch a show at the Opera House or spend some hard-earned cash at the 16th Street Mall, a pedestrian and transit mall that runs along 2km of Denver’s 16th Street! In the summer there are heaps of festivals to watch out for such as The Great American Beer Festival (hello! Glug! Glug!), the Dragon Boat festival in July, and the Moon Festival in September. For foodies, Denver offers the best New Mexican cuisine America has to offer, so pack some Pepto Bismal for the aftermath of spice!

Getting to Colorado is easier now that Transfercar has free rental cars available to you year round. Have you registered yet?

The Hoover Dam

The Hoover Dam is a breathtaking place to visit, and is a must for anyone road-tripping around the West Coast of the USA. The Dam is an incredible feat of engineering, and everyone should visit the architectural wonder at least once in their life time.  Transfer car has compiled a list of fun facts so you can wow your travel companions with impressive trivia about the dam. Prepare to get wise!

1.  The Hoover Dam was initially called the Boulder Dam, because it was originally going to be built in Boulder Canyon. However, Geologists decided it would be better to be built in Black Canyon, where it is now located. The name stuck, and it was called the Boulder Dam until 1947.

2.  The purpose of the Hoover Dam was to try and end the Great Depression. President Hoover started many public projects to increase jobs and try and provide much needed economic stimulus, the Hoover Dam project was one of the biggest.

3.  When the Dam was finally finished and opened in 1935, over 12000 people attended the opening ceremony! That’s a lot of people at one party!

4.  The dam only became The Hoover Dam in 1947, when President Roosevelt controversially renamed it after former President Herbert Hoover.

5.  The Dam is astounding architecturally and from an engineering perspective. President Hoover was an engineer, and was very involved in the plans and designs for the Dam. The concrete wonder is an arch gravity dam, so every section of the dam is stable regardless of what is happening to other sections, and the curve faces upstream so water is forced to the sides, compressing the dam.

6.  The Hoover Dam is one of the largest producers of Hydroelectric power in the world, and can create enough energy to power 1 million homes! That’s a lot of lights!

7.  The biggest part of Lake Mead, Boulder Basin, is right next to the Hoover Dam. Lake Mead has lots of great water sports, like boating and fishing.

8.  If you stand on the Hoover Dam and look over the lake, you can see a lot of white rings around the edge of the lake. The ‘white bathtub rings’ are created from the falling water levels of Lake Mead.

9.  96 people died during construction, but that was out of 21000 workers! That is a lot of people to work on one dam!

10.  The Hoover Dam is a movie star, featured in Hitchcock’s film Saboteur, and also in the film Superman where it bursts dramatically (not in real life, they built a miniature version to show all the destruction!)

That is a lot of awesomeness all found in one spot! It is such an amazing creation to see, everyone should make the journey there. An epic road trip is the best way to get there, and Transfercar has your back. Check out our latest deals on car and campervan relocations to get yourself to the Hoover Dam and beyond cheaply!

Backpacking tips for the student traveler!

At last! There is a decent break between study long enough to do some travelling! What better way to see the world this holiday season than to pack a bag and head off to backpack around some astounding places? To have a good backpacking trip, it is vital that a few key things are decided before you go. So here are some great tips on how to backpack when you are a student.

The Backpack

You’re about to get your backpack and heft it onto your shoulder, and then stride out the door to become as free as a bird! There is just one problem; half your stuff won’t fit, and the stuff that does is causing back problems; you feel like an elderly person already! Here is the best packing order ever so you can stride with purpose and grace, instead of shuffling with pain and agony.

1.  At the bottom, pack your sleeping bag and mat. Your bag will have a zip to open the bottom, so you can access these easily.

2.  Then in go the shoes (not your walking boots)

3.  Then goes the stuff that you doubt you will look at, but need to have; like very thick jumpers.

4.  Gadgets and breakable souvenirs should go in next, nestled in safely.

5.  Then CLOTHES!! To save space, roll your clothes. And have your ‘unmentionables’ in a drawstring bag…or you will wear the same pair A LOT as the rest will be lost to the depths of the bag.

6.  Have a second drawstring bag for dirty laundry, and try not to confuse them!

7.  Then place the cooking pan (with stuff crammed inside it) on top of the clothes and laundry.

8.  Finally, your rain jacket, for easy access

9.  In the top pocket place everything small, that would otherwise hide and not be seen until the great unpack after the trip; lip balm, sunscreen, first aid kit, tissue, hat etc

10.  Remember, pack into the corners stuffing them with things that are unlikely to be used; like the hat and gloves you packed just in case Egypt got snow…

Who should you travel with?

Who are you going to backpack with? Are going to be a solo Stanley, head round the world with your best mate, or are you wanting to go in a big group of all your friends? There are pros and cons to all. Solo means you don’t have to worry about other people, if you love a city, then break out the spontaneity and just stay a while longer. The feeling of freedom can be awesome. However, it can also be more expensive, and as a student, low cost travel is much better for those loans… Heading off with your best mate seems like a rockin’ idea, it will be cheap, you can split the cost of rooms and food between you. Plus there is an added safety bonus; they have your back.  If your best friend is the stay at home type, or wants to travel but you have different ideas of where to spend the holidays, then you could join a bigger backpacking group.  If you get a group big enough that entire dorms are booked out at the hostel by you, and you can get group discounts at museums and tourist spots, then this is a great idea. But, it requires A LOT of planning!! Everything has to be booked way in advance, and you have to stick to the schedule.

Where should you stay?

Where are you going to stay? A hostel is great fun, you get to meet loads of people and make friends from all over the world. They can also be a great, cheap option for the student traveler. It’s a good idea to have your sleeping bag ready, just in case they don’t provide sheets (or you don’t want to use them) and  in a hostel you won’t’ have much privacy.  If you do go with the hostel option, always dibs the bottom bunk as ladders are hard to navigate after a few beers at the backpacking bar. A campervan is great if you are travelling with a small group of friends and you can all split the cost. In a campervan, you won’t have to worry about thieves or ‘that guy’. You can often get amazing deals on travelling with campervans especially with Transfercar, so keep your beady wee eye out for them.  Just make sure you can cover the cost of petrol. Camping is another option, and is good for if you are walking across a country or something similar, just make sure there are good, safe, camping spots dotted all over where you plan on strolling.

How will you travel?

How are you going to get there? Planes are fast, but expensive and you don’t get to see the countryside. If you have a campervan, you are already covered, but for other situations a car might be best. Backpacking and road trips is an awesome combination and definitely worth considering. Bikes are also good if you are not planning on going a million miles in one day.

Where will you go?

Finally- where are you going? There are many amazing places to backpack or to travel around cheaply if you do it right. Just remember to balance it, for one expensive city you can probably see three non-expensive cities, so maybe go to  Los Angeles, and then check out the secret places in California . Head to  Australia and drive through the Outback.  Other options can be to pick a cheaper place, like Dunedin or Adelaide and just spend a long time there, you will get such an amazing knowledge of the place, and phenomenal experiences.

However you decide to travel this holiday season, Transfercar can help you. We have great campervan deals, and great car deals to get your where your need to go! Transfercar will help get you to the best backpacking destinations on the planet. So enjoy your gallivanting round the world!

Budget Travel: Travel Agents Vs. Do-it-Yourself

Look, I’ve got to be honest: before writing this blog I didn’t even know people still used travel agents. Is that still a thing? With the birth of the almighty Internet and the way it has turned every go-getting tourist into their own travel agents, it’s really surprising that travel agents are still making the monies! But they are! Who knew?! They did! Read on to see which method suits your travel needs.

Travel Agents: Who Are They?

So, before there were sites like Kayak ( here you can find the best fishing kayak), Expedia and Last Minute Travel, there were travel agents. Planning your own travel can be both a thrilling experience and a type of personal hell, depending on your disposition for DIY. If you don’t have a lot of time to plan your holiday, then travel agents could be a valid option; but it’s going to cost you. Travel agents always take a few commissions of some kind, which is totally above board and definitely worth your while, as the good ones often go above and beyond what’s normally required of them to provide you with the best trip.

Deal or No Deal

Travel agents are holiday advocates. It’s their job to find you the best prices and if things get cray they can help sort it out. Travel agents take the stress out of holidays. Imagine the freedom of not having to worry about arranging the right flights, hotels, meals, and excursions! Travel agents can often get you special deals or upgrades on cruises or hotels. Although plenty of agents charge fees to book airline tickets, cruise lines often pay the agent, which then ends up costing you nothing. Cruise lines often also give top agents a discount, which they can pass on to you. Agents who belong to trade groups can pass on free airfares to their clients. In some foreign hotels, great agents can get you such upgrades as free breakfast or drinks! Clearly there are plenty of perks! However, there’s a pretty big thrill in booking your own thang. When you find a good deal online there’s plenty of fine print. If you decide to book your own deals, do so with your eyes wide open.

Also find out: Why Jungle Vista Inn Is The Best.

Friends with Benefits

Word on the street is that planning a trip really can be super time consuming. It can take more than five hours to search and book travel online. If you don’t think you have the time to spare then you might want to hand the job over to a travel agent who has chosen to make a career out of easing the travel planning pain. They can take away the stress of trawling through the countless options out there, making finding you a deal their priority. Sometimes you can actually save anywhere from $500 to $1,000 on airfare if you have the right agent! Whoop!

Show Me Da Money

In the past, planning a holiday meant calling a travel agent to book all your flights, hotels and activities. With the dawn of the Internet, it’s more common for travellers to book holidays themselves because there are so many great websites available that make it easy. When you go with a travel agent, you pay a little extra for the convenience. Online booking shows you the prices of tickets at the moment, but prices are constantly in a state of flux. Some travel websites allow you to create a package by booking hotel, airfare, excursions and car rental together, but again you need to have the time to do it right. Online companies don’t necessarily offer the lowest price. Airline ticket prices change depending on the day of the week or time of the day and the season, and hotels change their rates often.

Ask the Experts

If you’re booking a complex trip it can be helpful to talk with an experienced agent. The right agent can guide an inexperienced traveller through dangerous foreign travel or exotic destinations. While the Internet is heaving with websites filled with information, you can’t necessarily trust the source. Some travel agents may have more knowledge of travel in areas where tourism is less developed. When you’ve found a good agent, you’ve got someone to turn to with all of your questions. If you aren’t familiar with the destination, a travel agent can advise you on everything from visas to sightseeing.

But…

Although some travel agents can save you money with deals, you can often find a cheaper deal online. Certain travel providers often pay agents on commission which means your agent isn’t motivated to get you the lowest price, if you know what I mean.

That Said

If you’re looking to save time when you’re planning your trip then going through a travel agent is advisable. Look at it this way; Travel agents are like any other professional that offers you a service for a fee. For instance, take your hairdresser. You choose one, build a rapport and the relationship is often long-lasting. The same can be said for travel agents. There are still plenty of travel businesses operating like Flight Centre. Go and meet with individual travel agents and tell them what you’re looking for. You might find someone that really gets you and who will do their best to help you plan a memorable and stress-free trip. On the other hand, if you have plenty of time and you like trawling through the web, hop online and start scouring through the vast multitude of travel sites that exist to serve you! When it comes to travel, the world really is your oyster. And once you’ve reached your travel destination, maybe we can help. Our free rental car service is something you can’t afford to overlook. Transfercar currently operates throughout New Zealand, Australia and now the US. If you’re really looking for the ideal holiday, the answer may be in booking a free road trip!

Best Vacation Spots

At this time of year, with the glorious holiday season happening soon, it is time to start planning the perfect getaway; whether you are wanting a ravishing romantic weekend, or a trip away with your mates,  or a fun family foray out into the world.  Sometimes, there are so many options it is hard to know where to go. Luckily for all, Transfercar has you covered and we have found some amazing spots for you to travel to!

First up on the list of awesomeness is Krabi, Thailand. This is the perfect romantic getaway, it is quiet and draw-droppingly beautiful with paradise at your feet. There is also lots of sunshine (providing you don’t opt to go in Monsoon season). There are endless empty beaches, many with legendary beauty, where you and your Significant Other can stroll and swim in relative seclusion.  You are bound to enjoy the phenomenal jungle walks and treks. There are so many activities to do, with scuba diving and rock climbing for the adventurous, and local shrines and idyllic white beaches for those wanting to relax. There are a gazillion pristine islands to either stay on or visit, and the Tiger Cave Temple is a must see by all.  For those wanting an amazing place to unwind from the hectic year, or those who are thinking New Years is a good time to propose- then this is the place to be (and yes, you can ‘claim’ full credit for the idea when it goes well).

Next up on the list is the phenomenal Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada. The Valley of Fire is the oldest state park in Nevada, located only 50 miles from Las Vegas. The area has seriously cool geological and historical sites for you to look at, all are unique and highly interesting; from petrified trees to 3000 year old petroglyphs.  Also, telling anyone you are going to the Valley of Fire makes you sound awesomely daring and adventurous. However, the name actually comes from the color of all the unbelievable rock formations, rather than any daredevil lava spouts.  The area is only six miles from the gorgeous Lake Mead where you can swim, fish and go boating.  With lots of fantastic hikes and walks, this is a brilliant place to go camping. The fall, and also spring, is the perfect time to go with very pleasant temperatures. If you decide to go in winter, be prepared to wrap up warm.  A great place to head with a group of friends, some beer and some smores making ingredients.

Milford Sound and Fiordland National Park in New Zealand is a beautiful place, with great things to do for the whole family. From kayaking out on the sound, to hiking through Fiordland National Park and taking cruises and scenic flights. For all the hikers out there, Fiordland has walks for everyone- from mild and mellow 30 min strolls to the epic Kepler Track, a 60km, four day, mega trek. Because of all the wonderful water, there are an abundance of seals, dolphins and penguins- great for any budding marine biologists! There is also phenomenal diving, as a layer of fresh water on top of the salty, allows divers to see creatures that usually live much deeper in the ocean! There are also amazing glow worm caves that look so magical they will inspire the young ones and delight the old. Make sure you take all your wet weather gear though, as it is one of the rainiest places in New Zealand!

For those of you thinking the holidays are best spent partying, Darwin is a brilliant place to go this holiday season. The Drinking capital of Australia, this is a great place if you are looking for a good time, with multiple great clubs and bars! Make sure you learn the can system before you go, just say ‘red can’ or ‘blue can’ or another color, each colored can gives you an awesome different beer! If you want class and sophistication, then Darwin is the perfect climate for fruit cocktails, with lots of plentiful sunshine. If you don’t know where you want to go, then just take a stroll down Mitchell Street to find your place to party, this street is located in the city center with bars and clubs to suit everyone.

Onwards with the list! What is the polar opposite of the desert in Nevada? ‘Why, it is the gigantic Californian Redwoods’, I hear you cry! Seeing the Redwoods is a humbling experience that will inspire you and reconnect you with nature.  The trees will fill you with an inner silence and acceptance – the perfect holiday for a back to nature retreat, maybe even a solo sojourn. You should note, that if you go at this time of year you will have plenty of rain so bring lots of hot chocolate, good books and prepare to just absorb the wonder around you, while you wait for the sun to shine and hikes to begin. Even in snow, this is an epic holiday, and if you do decide to make this an awesome family experience then snowball fights will be awesome with the tree trunks as natural forts. Just watch out that you don’t pelt any bears by mistakes! Possible wildlife to see is elk, mountain lions and if you go between the spring and in the fall there are black bears; and even more exciting is the fact that if you go along the coastline, you may even see grey whales!

The whole world has so many wonderful and unique places to see, these are just our current favorites! So pick a spot and prepare for an awesome vacation this holiday season, whether you decide to become a beach babe or nature buff, your getaway is well deserved! Wherever you go, Transfercar can help you get there, so make sure you check out our awesome cars to help get you from A to B and beyond. Happy travelling everybody!