Category: Travel Tips

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!

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!

Transfercar: the ideal travel buddy

Attention money-starved travellers! Have you heard of Transfercar yet, the successful Australasian car relocation company?! No?! Well, listen up because here are the deets. Transfercar has officially launched in the US this August to the delight of poor travellers from Texas to Cali. Transfercar provides an online service that facilitates contact between rental car companies that need to relocate their cars and YOU, the cash-strapped travellers eager to drive these free rental cars all over the place. The system is super simple: Rental operators list their relocation cars on the Transfercar website where registered drivers (that’s you, remember?!) view and request these cars. How can free rental cars be so easy?!

This innovative business model offers a real win-win scenario where lucky drivers get a free car to help them with travel expenses and rental car companies save on steep relocation costs. A lot of the free rental cars come with various perks depending on the car. Transfercar can set you up with free insurance, free ferry rides and free gas! It’s like Christmas! And the variety of cars you can choose from seems infinite. If you’re looking for a campervan for the entire family or a basic Sedan for just you and a mate, Transfercar has the ideal vehicle you’re looking for.

Regular rental cars can be really expensive, especially if you’re travelling at short notice. With Transfercar you save the money you’d normally spend on pricey rentals, leaving you more moolah for travel essentials like eating at diners and high rolling it at the Casino! Our campervans can save you considerable money on accommodation, too. It seems too good to be true, but there is absolutely no catch here. Registration is free. The rental car is free. But your undying appreciation for being able to travel for less money is rather priceless, don’t you think?

Transfercar is leading the way in this brave new world that’s embracing a sharing community. We share our free rental cars with you, and at the same time we’re helping rental car companies. It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, doesn’t it? So, what are you waiting for? These free rental cars open you up to a world of possibilities: wherever you want to go, Transfercar can take you there. You’re welcome!

For more information contact www.transfercarus.com

How to Pack for a Road Trip – Pack it Up, Pack it in

You’ve got your mates, maps and a sweet rental, but if you don’t pack right for your road trip, it could end up costing you. Here are some packing tips from some of our experts.

Make a List

You’re not an elephant, which means you’re going to forget things, important things that will ruin your life, well, maybe just your trip. So, get all Martha Stewart on your bad self and make a list of everything you’re going to need like sunglasses and sunscreen to extra undies. By planning in advance, you won’t miss any travel necessities. At the top of your awesome list should be proper documentation, navigation materials, and mobile phones and chargers.

Ring the Alarm

Make sure your car is kitted out with a spare tire, a jack and some jumper cables. Have a set of spare keys on hand too, in case you accidentally lock them in the car, stupid. Bringing along the basics like ibuprofen, antacids, bug repellent, a small first aid kit, and hand sanitizer will make your life easier if the situation gets real.. Oh, if you’ve got anyone in the car that’s prone to motion sickness, let them off at the first gas station. Or bring some Dramamine if that seems too harsh.

Muzak

This is probably the most important thing. Ever. I’m going to assume that you and your pals have somewhat similar tastes in music, but it’s a good idea to set up some musical boundaries. Like, no Britney. No Cher. ABSOLUTELY NO NICKELBACK. Get everyone to bring their own iPods and make sure there are enough earphones to go around, that way if not everyone’s into your 1980’s hip hop remixes, they can escape.

All the Foods

Do you want to gain 5kg on your road trip and be mistaken for a beached whale at the beach? No? Then be sure to pack all the fruits and veg. Prepping in advance can save you money and pounds. Bring along Ziploc bags of cut up carrots and broccoli, and keep some healthy dips in your cooler. Because you have to bring a cooler, yo. Not for beersies, but for water. Pack some sammies for your first day on the road, and go nuts on sides: chips, pretzels, and granola bars all travel well. Bring some mints or gum for after.

Playtime

Yeah your smartphone is super awesome, but there’s no ‘us’ in Candy Crush. Well, actually there is, but bring a Frisbee or a ball anyway, or a deck of cards for some Crazy 8’s action. If you’re traveling with spawn, bring some kid friendly activity gear like a portable DVD player, laptops and iPads unless you want to hear the eternal chorus of “Are we there yet? Are we there yet?”  Books are cool too, and they make you look smart.

Features of Transfercar: Your Relocation Alerts

Since re-launching our website we’ve reviewed the features and improved things to make it simpler for you to use. With that in mind we’re feeling the need to share the best features with you to help you get the most of your Transfercar online account!
Continue reading Features of Transfercar: Your Relocation Alerts