Your guide to travelling on a budget

Even on a limited budget, you can still have a great holiday with your friends or family. You just need to put a little bbqbeachextra thought into every dollar you plan to spend.

Here’s some tips that can guide you while planning a vacation without breaking the bank.

Go on a local holiday

Why not check out some of the local attractions. Sometimes some of the most beautiful places are right in your back yard. You don’t always need to go and book expensive plane tickets. Instead have a ‘staycation’. Go hiking, have a movie night or a barbeque with family and friends. Another great idea is to have night-time picnics: something that’s great on hot summer nights.

Take a road trip

Another example of an inexpensive family vacation is taking a campervan or car and going on a road trip. Here is where relocation vehicles such as Transfercar’s free rental car listings come in handy. They are free and often come with a tank of gas, insurance and ferry crossing if relevant.

sandyfeetAvoid peak seasons

If you’re set on going overseas you can still make vacationing on a budget possible by avoiding peak seasons. Most airlines usually have very high rates during particular months of the year, so you should refrain from booking flights during those times.

Book Early

You’re more likely to save money by booking flights and accommodation early.

Book Online

Often discounts and the best deals will be offered for booking online.

Subscribe

Subscribe to travel related newsletters or websites so that you know about sales before they happen. Often, you can sign up for promotional emails as well. If you sign up for these, the companies will email you with discounts and deals.

Package deals

Book your flights and hotels together. Package deals will save you money.

Fees

Make sure you keep an eye on extra fees when making bookings. More times than not, cheap deals will be compensated with extra fees.

Buy food at the supermarket

Avoid spending large amounts of money on takeaway food and use the best weight loss pills which help as natural appetite suppressants to avoid cravings and save money on food. Buying at the supermarket will not only save you money but will be much better for your health.

Happy and safe travelling!

Transfercar’s itinerary for the ‘Big Day Out’ New Zealand & Australia! January 2011

The Big Day Out

It’s the event of the year for many hard core party goers! People come from all over the world to witness a gathering of extraordinary musicians and some of the hottest and heaviest artists in the world today.

Melbourne, Goldcoast and Sydney are all sold out with Sydney planning its second event. Auckland tickets won’t last long as many will be lining up to see the 34 bands banging out their tunes on the multiple stages within the venue.

For all our Transfercar drivers, keep an eye out for our free relocation cars and campervans heading to event locations around this time!

Transfercar’s suggested itinerary:

  • Request a relocation vehicle in advance for both journeys there and back if you can
  • Have a 5 day holiday cruising in a free car or campervan as you travel to and from the “Big Day Out” near you
  • Arrive at destination – Drop off vehicle
  • Taxi to the event – Taxi to your hotel (SLEEP)
  • Take your new transfercar home/or fly/bus/train if you are feeling a bit jaded!!

Links to the full lineup:

Auckland Fri Jan 21 (MT SMART STADIUM Maurice Rd Penrose. Gates open 11am) Lineup

Gold Coast Sun Jan 23 (GOLD COAST PARKLANDS Smith St Southport. Gates open 11am) Lineup

Sydney Wed Jan 26 & Thu Jan 27 (SYDNEY SHOWGROUND Showground Rd Sydney Olympic Park. Gates open 11am. Event closes midnight) Lineup

Melbourne Sun Jan 30 (MELBOURNE FLEMINGTON RACECOURSE Epsom Rd, Flemington, Melbourne. Gates Open 10.30am) Lineup

Adelaide Fri Feb 4 (ADELAIDE SHOWGROUND Rose Tce Wayville, Adelaide. Gates Open 11am) Lineup

Perth Sun Feb 6 (PERTH CLAREMONT SHOWGROUND Graylands Rd Claremont, Perth. Gates Open 11am) Lineup

TomTom bring its live traffic information service to New Zealand

tomtom-one-3rd-edition-portable-gps-system TomTom is introducing TomTom LIVE Services in New Zealand, available on the new TomTom GO LIVE GPS range and delivers dynamic navigation and route guidance that continuously adapts to changing road conditions.

TomTom LIVE services enables drivers to constantly keep in touch with what is happening on the road and stay informed about conditions ahead. A cornerstone of LIVE Services, TomTom’s HD Traffic enables drivers to outsmart traffic with the most accurate and detailed live traffic information available. HD Traffic constantly adapts to changing road conditions, ensuring drivers are always on the fastest route.

Read the full article courtesy of geekzone.co.nz

NZers can cope with new turning law – instructor

Something interesting for Transfercar drivers!!!

Written By Rachel Morton

The right hand rule is something New Zealanders have lived with for more than 30 years and while it’s entrenched in our driving habits one driving instructor says we’ll cope just fine.

“There will be times in the initial part where they will need to concentrate, so it’s always, if in doubt hang about and think it out,” says Passrite Driving Academy instructor Fred Bardon.

Nobody’s more relieved by the changes than rental car companies who hire cars and camper vans to visitors from overseas who aren’t familiar with New Zealand’s unique rule.

Read the full article care of TV3 News….

New Zealand Interislander Ferry Times

Here’s a basic Interislander timetable for those needing to cross the Cook Strait (between Picton and Wellington) in their Transfercar relocation cars and campervans!

Wellington to Picton

Cook Strait

Timetable for Wellington to Picton
Depart Wellington Arrive Picton

2:25am – 5:35am
8:25am – 11:35am
10:25am* – 1:35pm*
2:05pm – 5:15pm
6:25pm – 9:25pm

Picton to Wellington

Timetable for Picton to Wellington
Depart Picton Arrive Wellington

6:25am – 9:35am
10:05am – 1:15pm
1:10pm – 4:20pm
2:25pm* – 5:35pm*
6:05pm – 9:15pm
10:25pm – 1:35am

0800 802 802
[email protected]

Rugby World Cup Car Rental Fever

New Zealand Rental car companies have joined the multitude of Rugby World Cup hopefuls as the hype and anticipation of this global sporting event continues to rise.

With the RWC looming ever closer (9 September – 23 October 2011), rental car companies are pushing for customers to book cars and campervans early, touting the issue of lack of car availability due to the estimated 85,000 international visitors expected to arrive in New Zealand specifically for the event.

This is a good sign for Transfercar as many visitors are expected to travel around the country during this time with a number leaving their cars at major airport locations. These cars and campervans will need to be relocated back to their place of origin and we will be there ready to fulfill this need…..

For those interested, here’s the RWC schedule:

Auckland

09 September 2011 NZL – TGA
17 September 2011 AUS – IRE
24 September 2011 NZL – FRA
25 September 2011 FJI – SAM
01 October 2011 ENG – SCO
15 October 2011 WQ1 – WQ2
16 October 2011 WQ3 – WQ4
21 October 2011 LS1 – LS2
22 October 2011 WS1 – WS2

Christchurch

10 September 2011 ARG – ENG
11 September 2011 AUS – ITA
18 September 2011 ENG – EU1
25 September 2011 ARG – SCO
01 October 2011 AUS – EU2
08 October 2011 WPB –
09 October 2011 WPA – RUB