News flash from our HQ: HostelBookers are launching a groundbreaking competition based around social networking site Twitter!
Facebook may have been the original internet phenomenom, but Twitter (which has hit the headlines of late over the incredibly fast uptake of breaking stories) is now becoming one of the most popular social networks on the web… (Find out more about Twitter here.)
With it’s emphasis on live and interactive mobile experience, Twitter is an increasingly relevant tool in the modern travel community. Stephen Fry is a big fan of “twit-mate recommendations” when on the road, whilst The Guardian Travel have recently been using it for a series of live blogging ‘TwiTrips, relying solely on other Twitterers to help discover the destination.
Offering the chance to win a week in Amsterdam for two, HostelBookers will be running a Twitter ‘Easter Egg Hunt’ from Monday 6 to Thursday 9 April!
A very special (and mobile…) egg will be backpacking around Europe over these four days running up to the Easter weekend, and ‘tweeting’ helpful budget travel tips about the cities it visits on the HostelBookers Twitter page.
The name of the game? Follow that egg and guess which four cities it travels to from the hints and images it adds to Twitter every day! (You can play along here too – we’ll display a round-up of the day’s Tweets on the blog.)
To enter the prize draw for the seven nights’ accommodation at St. Christopher’s in Amsterdam, simply head over to the HostelBookers competition page and send your answers in before midday (GMT) on 10 April.
Although the competition should be entered at the end of the hunt, there’s an added bonus for those followers keeping a close eye on the egg’s progress – at the end of the day, it will be relaxing somewhere in a bar and offering a complimentary drink to the first 10 people to guess it’s final location and head down to join in for a drink!
To enter the competition (and for more info), see here.
We’re well and truly crunched here – fed up with the credit crunch, that is! But no matter how many times the recession is re-hashed in the media, the truth is we are all looking to cut back, especially when it comes to our holidays.
Luckily, with the rise of the ‘flashpacker’ and fancier kinds of hostel popping up all over the place, you really don’t have to slum it nowadays if you want a low-cost holiday. This week, guest blogger (and experienced Flashpacker) Andrea Di Tonto gives an introduction to backpacking with a little extra ‘flash’.
Nowadays everyone can be a Flashpacker. You don’t need a huge wodge of cash - just a will to travel, a spirit of adventure and the know-how to find good deals…
When I first started traveling, I complained to my fellow travelers that although I was traveling the world on my own and on a limited budget, I didn’t want to spend my nights in overcrowded hostel dorms and my mornings queueing for a spartan shower. So I often ended up booking an en-suite single room, but to remain within budget I would search online for good deals in ’special’ hostels.
To which my traveler friends replied, “You’re a Flashpacker! Look at you, you even bring a laptop with you!” A quick search online for ‘Flashpacking’ revealed how there are a lot of people out there with my same needs, enough to actually create a new travel phenomenon…
There are usually two main definitions of a Flashpacker. The first one is a ‘Backpacker who travels with a lot of high-tech gadgets and toys, like a laptop, digital camera, iPhone, etc.’ The second describes the Flashpacker as ‘a Backpacker with a more disposable income, able to afford better accommodation, meals and transportation.’
These two definitions, however, tend to reduce the concept of Flashpacking to having gadgets, lots of cash, or both….
The good news is that thanks to constant innovation and the power of the internet, prices are getting lower for both gadgets and good accommodation. While before a laptop would be expensive enough to decide not to risk bringing it with you on your trip, the new generation of netbooks are now not only extremely cheap, but also very easy to carry due to their small size and weight.
And hostels are no longer just cheap dormitories. They are constantly adapting to the latest Flashpacking needs, offering not only comfort but, in many cases, pure luxury. Prices are still a lot more affordable compared to the ones offered by hotels. The internet makes it super-easy to find luxurious accommodation at very affordable prices. To get you started, check out the pick of Flashpacking hostels here.
So, are you ready to Flashpack around the world?
Andrea Di Tonto is a passionate Flashpacker and Blogger. He looks after The Tux in the Backpack, a blog all about Flashpacking!
Thinking of a romantic city break at Easter? For the next in our series of 48 hour guides, Otto Rich takes us to Paris for a weekend romp on a budget…
Never the cheapest of cities, the soaring value of the euro has put Paris up there with London and Toyko and the world’s most expensive mini-breaks. But whilst a half-litre of beer will easily set you back €7 these days, it is still possible to enjoy a trip to the French capital on a backpacker’s budget.
Day One Lounge around the Louvre… Start by leaving Châtelet, the city’s busiest metro station, and stroll down the Rue St-Honoré, taking in the architecture and ambience of one Paris’ most ancient and celebrated streets. Although it is a bit of a tourist trap, you should not miss the world-famous Louvre (free on the last Sunday of every month, otherwise €9) – it’s easily one of the most spectacular (and vast) museums on Earth. The tiny Mona Lisa might be a let-down, but this vast former palace houses hundreds of lesser-known and infinitely more spectacular works of art and sculptures. Go for a stroll… Grab a sandwich and relax on a bench in the beautiful Jardin des Tuileries before strolling through the Place de la Concorde to its phallic obelisk, brought back to France by Napoléon’s troops. Then wander along the Champs-Elysées – Oxford Street, Fifth Avenue and Las Ramblas rolled into one – where chic Dior-clad Parisiennes rub shoulders with flustered American tourists and besuited businessmen. Just don’t stop for a drink, unless you want to blow your entire budget in one afternoon! Beer in Belleville…You’ll probably be gasping for refreshment by now, but avoid spending your money in the city’s pricey west end. Instead, hop on the metro and alight at Belleville, traditionally a run-down, working-class district that is now one of the city’s most vibrant and multicultural areas, favoured by artists and students. Have dinner in one of the super-cheap but excellent Chinese restaurants uphill from Belleville metro, and grab a beer in one of the quartier’s numerous basement bars. They come and go out of fashion all the time – ask around and you’ll be pointed in the right direction (and maybe pick up a few ’amis’ on the way). Dance the night away… If you’ve got any energy left, hit Paris’ nightlife. While some of the trendier clubs on the Champs-Elysées will charge you up to €30 entry (and don’t even ask about the drinks), some of the more alternative venues can be fairly reasonable, particularly if you try and arrive early. Try intimate Le Triptyque (nearest metro: Bourse) or thumping Rex Club (Bonne Nouvelle) for the latest in Techno, House and Electro, where you can stomp away till the early hours and beyond. Or if salsa’s more your thing, Favela Chic (République), a club so popular it’s now got a branch in London’s Shoreditch, serves endless shots of tequila while revelers dance on the tables. Sleep in Style…When the time finally comes to rest your head, it might as well be somewhere chic. Head to the newest hostel in Paris, St. Christopher’s Inn (Crimee) in the up-and-coming 19th district.
Day Two Perk up…Recover from the night before with a steaming black coffee and pain au chocolat at the first bar that grabs your fancy. Take it au zinc (at the bar, standing up) as most locals do, and you’ll save yourself up to 60% on the price were you to enjoy it sitting down… Left-Bank chic…Head to the Left Bank for bohemian Montparnasse, traditionally one of the two artists’ ghettos (the other being Montmartre). Although many of the artists were long since priced out of the area by the bohèmes’-bourgeois (champagne socialists) it remains one of Paris’s most pleasant and quirky neighbourhoods for a morning’s stroll.Poke round the cemetery and hunt for the graves of Jean-Paul Sartre, Simone de Beauvoir and Samuel Beckett; or slink off to the little-known red-light district along Rue de la Gaîté that’s less tacky and tourist-ridden than its more famous northern cousin in Pigalle. Tennis, anyone? Continue north and have a (free) round of table tennis in the Jardin du Luxembourg, one of the capital’s most beguiling parks, with its formal gardens and palace that houses the Sénat, France’s upper house of parliament. Grab a baguette (usually only about €1) and some cheese from the supermarket and sit and graze on one of the benches surrounding the marvellous fountain. You could also sneak a quick visit to the church of Saint-Sulpice – made famous in the English-speaking world by the Da Vinci Code, but one of Paris’s most beautiful and serene houses of worship (and far better an experience than the endless queues and tourist scrum that is Notre Dame). Smoke like Sartre…Take a short metro ride to the Latin Quarter (alight at Cardinal Lemoine), so-called because it is home to the famous Sorbonne University where once upon a time all teaching was done in Latin (and not because it is home to a lot of Spanish and Portuguese immigrants, as I once thought!). Le Quartier Latin oozes left-bank, gitanes-smoking sophistication. While you will nowadays be banished outside if you wish to sit under a cloud of nicotine à la Jean-Paul Sartre, you can still smoke from one of the steep pavements leading up to the Panthéon – the awe-inspiring neo-classicist monolith that is part-Church, part-burial place. Hip happy hour…End your day in the Marais, the trendy cobble-street Jewish quarter – which is now also the city’s Gay district – and take a well-earned aperitif. Try any of the bars along the main drag or up one of the side-streets before about 8pm and you should catch happy hour, when you can get a pint of beer or a cocktail for under €5. Head for the hills…Enjoy some dinner in one of the Marais’ excellent value little bistros before heading, with a couple of bottles of cheap red plonk in your hands, up to Montmartre (a bit of a trek from the Marais, I admit, but it’ll be well worth it) – the dreamy village-within-the-city perched atop a hill in the north of Paris (Metro: Anvers). Climb the hundreds of steps up from the metro station and, when you’re suitably tired, take a seat, enjoy the staggering view and sip down your well-earned vin rouge.
Guest poster Otto Rich lived in Paris for six months in 2007, enjoying the view and plenty of vin rouge whilst he was at it…. If you have budget travel tips to share about Paris, or a 48 hour guide to your favorite city, get in touch below!
Viva Las Vegas! With its flashy casinos, palatial hotels, shotgun weddings and all-you-can-eat buffets, Vegas is the real ‘Sin City’ – even the city’s tourist board proudly gives you a get-out clause… ‘What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas’!
The ‘Entertainment Capital of the World’ thrives on glitz, glamor and gambling, but you don’t have to be a high roller to holiday in Vegas. It may be a money driven city, but the mega-resorts are obsessed with putting on a good show, meaning there are thousands of freebies on offer.
It makes for a great budget Spring Break spot, but you can head to a Las Vegas hostel all year round and have a super cheap trip with our top ten free things to do in Las Vegas…
1. Hotel Hop
The hotels in Vegas are an attraction in themselves, and it costs nothing to wander around the mega-resorts and soak up the ambiance. Marvel at the glitzy Wynn hotels (and pretend you can actually afford to stay there) and watch the ubiquitous Elvis performers wander around the casino halls. Walking up and down the strip is also an event in itself (and would take you a whole day, as it’s huge!) as you’re constantly surrounded by flashing neon and people guzzling super-size cocktails in plastic cups.
2. Watch the Wildlife
Not the gamblers teeming at the slots, but the whole host of animals you can find at the hotels….The MGM Grand has an in-house Lion habitat, The Mirage has its own family of White Tigers and aquarium of Tropical fish, and The Flamingo boasts a ‘Tropical island’ with exotic birds and flora and fauna. It’s like a free day out at a very weird zoo!
3. Live La Dolce Vita
Forget the soaring prices and language barrier of Italy’s top cities, in Vegas you can visit for free! The Venetian and the Bellagio offer their own glamorous take on Venice and the Italian Lakes respectively, with a jet-setting clientele to match. Take a ride on a gondola on the Grand Canal, and visit the mini St Mark’s Square at the Venetian, or marvel at the Murano Glass ceiling and wander through scenic courtyards, lakeside paths and botanical gardens at the Bellagio. Caesar’s Palace harks back to the days of the Roman Empire – The Forum Shops are surrounded by temple ruins and statues of Roman nobles who spout history about the days of the Emperors… The life-size replica of the Colosseum is pretty tough to miss, too…
4. Take a Free City Break
Vegas hoteliers seem to have made it their mission to create miniature cities within a city – Paris, Las Vegas and New York are the most famous mock-ups of the clan. Visit Paris for the surreal sight of an Eiffel Tower surrounded by the desert, bistros overlooking the strip, and hotel valets wishing you ‘Bonjour’ as they clutch their baguettes.
New York-New York is a little more hectic – the Empire State, Statue of Liberty and Brooklyn Bridge are all perched over the city’s busiest street, and inside you’ll find Manhattan cocktail bars, noisy delis and hot dog and pretzel stands.
5. Go to the Circus
Not a good idea if you’re clown-phobic, Circus Circus nonetheless houses the world’s largest indoor permanent circus, and a huge five acre theme-park. The impressive shows are all free and run every half hour, so you could catch anything from Russian acrobats to miniature bicycle riders during your day at the Circus. The theme continues at the hotel Rio’s ‘Masquerade Village Show in the Sky’, where lavish floats are suspended above an idyllic fishing village, and performers toss beads and trinkets to the audience. It’s as surreal as it sounds, and totally Vegas.
6. The Ethel M Chocolate Factory
Away from the bright lights of the strip, Las Vegas is still home to some old-fashioned treats, and in Henderson you can take a free tour of this Chocolate Factory, with samples included at the end. Learn how chocolates are made, then wander around the pretty cactus garden nearby.
7. Catch a Show
Forget the expensive spectacles playing at the major hotels, there are also free shows happening all over the city on a smaller scale. The Mirage Volcano and the Fountain Show at the Bellagio still draw crowds every night, and if you can bear the kitsch appeal, the Atlantis Water Show at Caesar’s Palace is a tacky but hilarious sight – moving statues battle in the middle of a shopping center… And then there’s the Sirens at TI – a full-on, swashbuckling Pirate show complete with explosions.
There are also free special events and one-off shows happening all over the city, so check out local blogs like Go Vegas for more information before you head off.
8. Ride the Monorail
Getting from hotel to hotel is a hike, and if you don’t fancy facing the crowds after an all-you-can-eat buffet, take a free tram to your next stop. There are several different trams and monorails that operate along the strip – the free ones connect TI to the Mirage, Bellagio with the Monte Carlo, and Excalibur with Luxor and Mandalay Bay.
9. The Fremont Street Experience
Only in Vegas would walking down a street be an ‘experience’…. In order to tempt visitors Downtown, Vegas spruced up the area known as ‘Glitter Gulch’ by making Fremont Street into a pedestrian mall, with a 27m high ‘Space Frame’ of 12.5 million lights. From 7pm until midnight every evening, watch a free sound and light show with street performers, and go back to where the city of sin began with the first casino Sal Sagev, the towering Cowboy sign ‘Vegas Vic’ and the World’s Largest Slot Machine.
10. Free Gaming Lessons
Some of the Casinos offer free gaming lessons, which are a great hour long-introduction to prevent first-game jitters. They won’t win you big bucks, but learning to gamble is part of the Vegas experience. Excalibur, Circus Circus, Tropicana and Imperial Palace are all ones to try, but go in the morning when the casinos are less busy.
LS – Got any more tips for Vegas freebies? Let us know!
You’d never believe the Lisbon Lounge was the city’s first hostel, with its stylish design and modern art on the walls.
The chicest pad in the Baixa has had a major revamp since moving to downtown Lisbon, but the nine rooms, housed in a historic apartment block, still have a homely vibe.
With a large kitchen, and three ‘lounge areas’ well stocked with magazines and a film projector, it’s like having your own arty apartment in the city center, and the six bathrooms mean you will have plenty of time to pamper yourself before a night on the town…
The ‘Lounge’ keeps its cool credentials with an enviable location close to the Bairro Alto, home to the city’s best nightlife, and the main train and tram system – perfect for a recovery session on the beach the next day.
They pull out all the stops to make your stay chic – there’s a free breakfast, unlimited tea and coffee all day, and even a mini bar for that penthouse feel.
With an almost perfect score from all customer ratings, this hostel puts the boutique in backpacking – and prices start at only €18 per person per night.
Spring has sprung! To celebrate, we’ll all be scoffing chocolates on Easter weekend in honor of the Easter Bunny….
But don’t let the greedy lot at HB put you off – Easter in London is jam-packed with events around the capital celebrating all things springlike, from fluffy lambs and flowers in bloom to hot cross buns!
The humble easter egg is a symbol of new life in the celebrations of Easter across Europe, but no-one takes the chocolate side quite to heart like us Brits.
If you’re stuck for easter ideas, here’s our guide to the best Easter events across London, and tips for an ‘eggs-citing’ easter break. (Ed. – Blame the awful puns on the truckloads of creme eggs in the office!)
Food has become a big part of Easter traditions in the UK (as with most things), so on Easter Morning, start your day the British way with a leisurely breakfast or brunch in a cafe. Traditionally families sit around the table, tuck into a boiled egg and buttered toast ’soldiers’, and exchange the chocolate ones. Or just skip straight to the Easter eggs – what’s wrong with chocolate for breakfast?
Easter Egg Hunts
Who cares if you’re not a kid anymore – an Easter Egg Hunt is a hilarious day out, and a great way to see some of London’s top attractions out in the fresh air. The Imperial War Museum goes for retro cool with an old-fashioned trail through the museum’s historic exhibits, decorating easter eggs and a chocolate treat at the end.
Discover the Easter bunny amongst some beautiful blooms at Kew Gardens – the easter egg hunt is free with entry to the botanical gardens, and a petting zoo and crazy costumed animals (including a giant rabbit, of course) adding a dash of old English eccentricity. Kew’s grand grounds are only a short Tube Ride away from central London.
Hyde Park hosts a bumper crop of easter events, with the weekend-long Easter ‘Skate’ – great for burning off all those chocolates! The easter events range from beginner classes for those first wobbly rides around the park, to the ‘Long Good Friday Night’ Skate for experienced roller-skaters, which circles 18 miles past some of London’s top sites. For a really happy easter, join hundreds of other revelers who don fancy dress for the Easter Bunny Stroll.
The dress code is simple: EVERYONE is an Easter Rabbit, and the thousands of bunnies skating for 5 miles through the park is one of London’s most bizarre sights, but all abilities are welcome – so why not test your balancing skills?
A Great Good Friday
The East End wasn’t always Shoreditch-rave hip – head to The Widow’s Son pub in Bromley-by-Bow for a taste of Good Friday tradition. Hot Cross Buns are a traditional snack eaten on Good Friday, a tea cake sweetened with currents and delicious with butter and jam – stop for a pint at this pub for a bit of hot-cross bun history!
Back in the 19th century, a Widow that lived at the site of the pub put a hot-cross bun in her window to welcome her sailor son home. Her son never returned but every day she put another bun in the window, hoping for his return. The present day pub opened in 1848, but they have kept this tradition alive, with a tasty window display. St Bartholomew the Great Church in Smithfield has a much older history of handing out the buns to the first 21 widows after the Good Friday service – but only children get treated today!
Excuse the slightly seedy name, but one of our London hostels is throwing an Easter bash that will banish any thoughts of innocent lambs and fluffy bunnies. The Generator hostel in London hosts its infamous easter ‘warm up’ on the 9th April – the Rampant Rabbit party sponsored by Midori.
The fun starts early at 8pm, with competitions and free drinks – everyone dressed in green gets a free Midori cocktail, and there are prizes for the best moves on the dancefloor (including an i-pod…). There’s Karaoke and cheap drinks prices throughout the night, so release your inner Easter (playboy)bunny and you’re in for a great Easter night out.
For a little more innocent Easter fun, Clink Hostel are hosting ‘Love’, an Alice in Wonderland and Queen of Hearts themed rave. The ‘Cookie Crew’ and DJ Lovelockdown will be bringing a mix of Electro House, Club Hits, Commercial Hip-hop to the decks.
Chocoholic Heaven
It may have nothing to do with ‘traditional’ Easter celebrations, but we think Easter chocolate should be a staple of any Easter weekend. If you didn’t stock up on Easter Eggs and the shops have run out of Cadburys (sometimes this crisis does occur), then why not take a chocolate tour of London and scoff yourself silly?
The Chocolate Ecstasy Tour will take you on a walking and tasting tour of the finest chocolate shops in the city, where you can watch master chocolatiers hone their craft and stock up on free samples. A ‘Golden Ticket’ for the Mayfair Tour costs £35 per person (complete with goodie bag) and is a must for wannabe Willy Wonkas everywhere…
If that sounds too pricey, Journey’s London Eye Hostel are offering their guests a chocolatey treat. Book a room with them and you’ll get a free chocolate egg, with more Easter treats hidden around the hostel building.
An Ordinary Sunday?
But if you’ve can’t stomach any more Eggs and Easter Bunnies, the whole city isn’t Easter mad. Shops are still open on Easter Sunday for a quick browse, and for a springlike stroll, simply head to Columbia Road Flower Market in Hackney for stalls of fragrant blooms!
LS- Got an Easter event in London to share? Let us know!
Staying on track in Oceania, Justin Boyd takes us on to Wellington, New Zealand for our next 48 hour city guide…
New Zealand may be home to some of the most beautiful places on earth, but eventually all the picturesque mountains, beaches, rivers, fiords, and hot springs will run together…
Wellington, meanwhile, is a compact, easily accessible city with more than enough cafes, theaters, clubs and happy little urban oddities to captivate you for a month or more. It’s not the cheapest city to stay in, though, so if you only have 48 hours or a weekend to spend in Wellington, be sure to check out the following…
Day One
Find a Hostel… Although it is cheaper to stay outside the city, don’t be tempted. The only way to experience it in a weekend is to find lodging in the middle of the action. The large corporate hostels in Wellington, Base, YHA, and Nomads World, are located in the central city within easy walking distance of almost everything.
Wander With a Coffee or Two… It is difficult to walk 2 blocks without tripping over 10 different cafes. Many of them serve quality coffee but it pays to be a bit choosy. Competitively priced coffee and a swanky atmosphere can be found at Gotham, while a more relaxed hipster atmosphere can be found at any of the cafes on Cuba Street. Consider taking your coffee to go and sip the hot caffeine while wandering aimlessly through the Cuba Street District or the Courtenay Place District, soaking up the morning atmosphere of the city.
Check out NZ’s Museum… When people-watching grows a bit tiresome, head towards the water front and check out Te Papa the Museum of New Zealand. Te Papa has a diverse range of exhibits ranging from Natural History to current Art displays. Most of the museum is free and it is easy to lose track of the hours as you wander its densely packed 6 floors.
Although much of Te Papa is geared more towards children than adults, the 2nd floor houses a interactive photo and movie display (entitled Our Space: The Wall) that allows museum-goers to manipulate images and movies (both of which you can take yourself) on a series of massive screen interfaces, 10 feet high and 100 feet long. This alone is worth the trip.
Take in the Harbor… After pulling yourself away from Te Papa, walk along the waterfront and mingle with the business lunch crowd, and the endless stream of joggers, while taking in beautiful views of Wellington’s Harbor. On a sunny day, you may see locals jumping off the piers into the harbor while you are entertained by some of Wellington’s eclectic buskers.
Walk along the water until you run into Kent Street (a.k.a Oriental Parade) and then south for several blocks until the Deluxe Espresso Bar. Look carefully. It can be easy to miss. Don’t allow the birds that will likely be flying in and out of the open French doors, nor the small unkempt feel of the place fool you. This is one of the best lunch places in town with excellent coffee, tasty deserts and a high quality (but often underrated) lunch menu. Eat your lunch at the street tables outside or take your lunch to go and head back to the waterfront.
Head east (away from Te Papa) and you will come across a sandy beach littered with locals and tourists playing in the water and soaking up some sun. Take your shoes off and walk along the beach…after a morning filled with walking, the cool water can feel quite refreshing!
Catch a Spot of Culture… Wellington is the center of New Zealand’s art scene and the theaters are filled with locally written and produced works. It is difficult to walk around the city without seeing advertisements for at least 20 different shows but, if you were too busy staring at the people, be sure to check out what is showing at the Bat’s, the Downstage, and the Circa theatres.
Downstage and Circa offer more seats than Bat’s and tend to show more professional and polished shows. The Bat’s theater, on the other hand, is black box indi theatre specializing in more raw productions. All three theaters can fill up quickly so try to buy tickets in advance. (If you have a student ID, each one offers student discounts.)
Day Two
Bakery Breakfasts… Stop in at one of the Asian run family bakeries on Cuba Street for a breakfast pastry and a coffee. As you leave Cuba Street heading north, grab a couple of sandwiches (and perhaps some hummus) from one of the Kaba places. With a full stomach and a picnic lunch in tow, you’re set to walk to the famous Cable Car and take a ride to the top of the hill.
Spend a leisurely hour or so wandering around the Cable Car Museum and take the time to watch at least one of the several short films that rotate every 20 minutes. Wander outside and spend a few minutes enjoying a spectacular view of the city and harbor.
Lunch in the Gardens… Outside the Cable Car Museum, you will find the Wellington Botanical Gardens. To avoid getting lost, grab a map of the gardens from the museum. Locate the Northern Walkway (just look for the signs) and wander until finding a good place to eat your picnic lunch. There are many pleasant places to choose from so you won’t be looking long!
After lunch, travelers with weary feet may want to meander through the botanical gardens before taking the Cable Car back to the city. Travelers seeking a long, pleasant walk, meanwhile, can continue on the Northern Walkway. Proceeding 16 kilometers through the Town Belt, it offers stunning views of the city, as well as the surrounding country side. Although the walk can be a bit steep in some places, it is fairly easy overall. Take the train from Raroa Station back into the city.
Finish with a Beer… After a long day, you deserve a few pints of New Zealand beer… For an upscale dining experience get a bit dressed up and have dinner and drinks at D4 on Featherson. Featuring top quality food and a selection of New Zealand made craft beers, this is an easy place to spend several hours.
Those on a tighter budget should go to the Courtney Place district for dinner and drinks at the Malthouse. Possibly the most famous pub for beer connoisseurs in New Zealand, the Malthouse offers a massive selection of beers. Be sure to try the Yeastie Boys seasonal brew as well as Tuatara’s Porter!
In an effort to boycott the current world recession, guest poster Justin Boyd, and his wife Natalie are on an extended multi year journey around the world. Justin is a contributor at nomadbackpackers.com, which features travel stories, travel tips, and random information for aspiring and current world travelers.
When March arrives in North America, there’s only one thing on the youth population’s mind… Spring Break!
Universities in Canada and USA hand their students a week-long recess (although the exact dates vary from school to school and year to year) that inevitably turns into one great big MTV-sponsored party and a college rite of passage.
But where to head if you want don’t fancy hanging with the rabble in Florida and the underage kids across the border in Mexico?
And, more importantly, where can you enjoy Spring Break on a budget to avoid ringing your folks and desperately pleading for funds to see you through the trip?!
Here’s a few top spots away from the crowds and the prices of the big tour destinations…
Vegas, Baby!
With a recession in full swing, legendary ‘city of excess’ Las Vegas is suffering from tourist nonchalance. Book a Las Vegas hostel on The Strip and party all day and all night to the sound of the slots. If you stick to the huge value-for-money casino buffets and avoid the high-roller tables, a few creditable gambling skills could even see you making a few bucks on holiday.
Many of the city’s famous attractions are also free and budget-friendly – marvel at The Bellagio Fountains (immortalised in Clooney/Pitt flick Ocean’s 11), check out the art in The Venetian, white tigers at The Mirage, lions at The MGM, circus acts at Circus Circus… and a full-scale pirate ship battle outside Treasure Island.
Chillin’ inCosta Rica
Clubs, diving, white sand – it’s easy to see the attraction of Central America, and just why so many hordes of college students end up in Mexico every Spring Break!
But Costa Rica has all the benefits of this part of the continent – cheap beer and restaurants, beaches on the Caribbean Sea – without the crowds. It’s also known for outstanding natural beauty and a range of hostels geared towards eco-travel – all of which offers a more alternative Spring Break experience.
Stay Classy in San Diego
If you’re looking for a relaxing day at the beach and a busy club scene after sunset, San Diego is an excellent budget choice for Spring Break.
Away from the pricey East Coast and Florida, San Diego hostels provide a cheap place to crash, whilst award-winning brew pubs and the trendy bars of the Gaslamp District offer a varied and vibrant nightlife.
AW – Any great ideas for an alternative Spring Break during the credit crunch? Let us know where you’re headed!
Ok, so this may not be the easiest way to travel, but it sure makes for one original ride!
There’s no better way to see a destination than by getting around the ‘local’ way, and there are a whole range of sensational rides that let you soak up the scenery AND get around on holiday. Forget planes, trains and automobiles or a gentle bicycle ride, we’re talking about an adventure for thrill-seekers, from hot air balloon rides to bizarre boat trips.
Here are the top ten most unusual and sensational rides out there, guaranteed to put your Monday morning commute to shame. But buckle up, these are some wacky ways to travel!
Taking ‘drink-driving’ to a whole new level….They may have been banned ( for having too much fun?) in July 2008, but the Beer Bicycle is back on the road again for a guzzling good time in Holland.
Rent this Amsterdam Bicycle and up to 22 revelers can ride around the city on this bike-cum-bar, seeing the historic streets and scenic canals, with a pint of the local brew to toast you along the way. With a free driver, beer and a booming stereo included in the price, you don’t have to worry about driving under the ‘influence’ around this party-loving city.
Tricycle Ride in the Philippines
This isn’t your average tricycle for toddlers, but a three-wheel mini car. Tricycles are as common as Jeepneys in the Philippines, but a little bit safer – the pickpockets can’t get at your cash when you’re whizzing past! Each tricycle carries up to five without luggage, and two with heavy backpacks. Part of the fun is picking up other passengers along the way!
Traveler Max Erraouhi offers us his tips for taking a tricycle from Manila to Boracay:
‘It is very common for tourists to get ripped off, so tell the driver the destination, and ask for prices before you jump in. On the Islands you should pay a flat rate from airport to port or hotel, but distances are so short, never pay more than 100 pesos. Make sure you don’t have any valuables in your pockets (in case anything falls out) and hang on tight – with no seatbelts, you’re in for a bumpy ride!’
The Coco Taxi in Cuba
If you’re ever in Cuba, make sure you take the three-wheeled Coco Taxi to get around Havana’s hectic streets, named ‘Coco’ because it resembles a ‘Coconut’ in shape! They may look cute but these little scooters zip around the city. Prices should always be charged per ride, not per person, so ask before you get in- but the drivers are usually very honest. It will cost you around 7 or 8 pesos depending on how far you travel.
The best places to go dog sledding are on the snow covered plains of Alaska and Canada, where experienced ’sledders’ will drive you on a sleigh pulled by huskies through the snow. Tours are offered all over Canada, and most take you along the lakeside scenery, with Bridge Lake in British Columbia, Lake Louise in Alberta, and Alongquin Park in Ontario.
Soak up the dramatic mountains and desolate landscape along the Kavik River in Alaska, while you sit back in a sleigh, but wrap up warm – the cold wind feels even sharper when you’re racing along at a dog’s pace!
Camel Rides Across the Desert
Once you’ve mastered mounting a camel and sitting between its humps, it’s the best way to see the desert. For the real deal, head to Tunisia where you can trek on a camel across the Sahara.
In a long procession of about thirty others, you’re not the only novices wobbling in the saddle, and a tour guide leads you across the sand dunes, where you can dismount and watch the sun set. In Cairo, Egypt, there are hundreds of touts promising camel rides around the pyramids of Giza.
Be wary of dishonest guides who will lead you away from the main tourist area and force you to pay a princely sum to get down! Agree a price before you mount, and go in a group or tour party so you wont be led astray.
In Morocco it’s also best to ride a camel into the desert with an organized tour rather than the hop on and hop off rides in the tourist areas. Tours depart from Marrakech to the dunes of Merzouga.
Elephant Trekking in Thailand
Elephants are something of a national animal in Thailand, and feature heavily in local legends and folk tales. There are plenty of the graceful creatures wandering around in their natural habitat, but elephant trekking is a great way to explore Thailand’s lush jungles from on high.
The main tourist areas in Phuket and Pattaya are packed with short elephant tours, where two or three passengers are safely strapped in a wooden saddle and ride through a woodland trail. For a true trek in the jungle, Chiang Mai in the North of Thailand is the place to visit, where there are elephant training centers and camps. Make sure that on whatever tour you take, you are accompanied by a trained elephant handler.
You’ll really see the world from the giddy heights of a hot air balloon. There are hot air balloon festivals all over the globe, where the skies are packed with colorful balloons in all shapes and sizes, but the best way to start is to buy a ride with an experienced ‘pilot’, and marvel as they take you higher and higher.
In Melbourne, you can take a balloon ride at dawn over the scenic city, before flying over the lush vineyards and hills of the Yarra region, with kangaroos darting down below.
See Paris, the ‘city of lights’ from above, and the Eiffel Tower won’t seem so small! The smaller balloons are ideal for a romantic trip to the skies, taking place in a field 50km south of the city, with a champagne reception.
There are balloon rides offered all over the changeable landscape of the USA and snowy mountains in Canada, from the tropical Keys of Florida’s coast , to the desert plains and city lights of Las Vegas, Nevada.
Bangkok Boat Express
The easiest way to get around Bangkok is to take to the water and avoid the traffic-congested main streets. The Bangkok Boat Express runs along the Khlong Saen Saep river, with two lines that run past many of the busiest shopping streets.
Gab Le Gona, a recent visitor to Bangkok says, ‘The Bangkok Boat Express is the easiest, cheapest and fastest way to explore the city’
Cable Car in San Francisco
San Francisco is California’s coolest city, with its hippy heritage, vibrant gay community and multi-cultural residents. But it’s also home to some of the steepest hills we’ve ever seen, which take their toll on your feet after a hard days sightseeing. So thank the Golden Gate Bride that Cable Car is still around!
This quirky tram is an ‘experience’ in its own right – the San Francisco Cable car is iconic, and the three main routes snake through the city’s most interesting neighborhoods – bustling Chinatown, scenic Nob Hill and the bay at Fisherman’s Wharf. Tickets cost $3 for a single ride, but buy a pass if you’re planning on sightseeing across the city – a One Day Pass is $9, and allows unlimited rides on buses, street cars and cable cars.
The Wheels on the bus go round and round…and all night long on the London party bus, where from £25 per person you can party on board a traditional red double-decker bus.
The Party Bus rides through the streets of London, pumping out music, and you can pick from a range of themed ‘routes’, from a tour of London’s top clubs and bars to a 70s disco on board with fancy dress and food. Forget stumbling home after one too many, hop back to your London hostels from the Party Bus…
LS – Have you been on any original rides on your travels? Share your craziest trips with us below!
We try to avoid blowing our own trumpet over here at the HB HQ, but…we’re really excited to have scooped an award from Wanderlust, one of our favourite UK travel mags.
HostelBookers picked up the Silver Award for ‘Top Travel Website’, with an overall 94% score based on customer satisfaction.
And seeing as the Oscars aren’t too long gone… here’s a weepy acceptance speech…
A big thanks to everyone who nominated and voted for us. (And for giving us an excuse to celebrate down the pub – Ed.) There were so many other great travel sites in the running (a whopping 420!) that we’re really pleased to have come 2nd and, more importantly, to know that what we’re doing makes you guys happy!
Now we’ve got a taste for the limelight, we’re figuring out how to go for gold next year! Not that we’re competitive or anything…
A very special (and mobile…) egg will be backpacking around Europe over these four days running up to the Easter weekend, and ‘tweeting’ helpful budget travel tips about the cities it visits on the HostelBookers Twitter page. 
To enter the prize draw for the seven nights’ accommodation at St. Christopher’s in Amsterdam, simply head over to the HostelBookers competition page and send your answers in before midday (GMT) on 10 April. 
You’d never believe the Lisbon Lounge was the city’s first hostel, with its stylish design and modern art on the walls.
The ‘Lounge’ keeps its cool credentials with an enviable location close to the Bairro Alto, home to the city’s best nightlife, and the main train and tram system – perfect for a recovery session on the beach the next day.
Who cares if you’re not a kid anymore – 
Hyde Park hosts a bumper crop of easter events, with the weekend-long Easter ‘Skate’ – great for burning off all those chocolates! The easter events range from beginner classes for those first wobbly rides around the park, to the ‘Long Good Friday Night’ Skate for experienced roller-skaters, which circles 18 miles past some of London’s top sites. For a really happy easter, join hundreds of other revelers who don fancy dress for the Easter Bunny Stroll. 
The East End wasn’t always Shoreditch-rave hip – head to The Widow’s Son pub in Bromley-by-Bow for a taste of Good Friday tradition. Hot Cross Buns are a traditional snack eaten on Good Friday, a tea cake sweetened with currents and delicious with butter and jam – stop for a pint at this pub for a bit of hot-cross bun history! 
Excuse the slightly seedy name, but one of our 
But if you’ve can’t stomach any more Eggs and Easter Bunnies, the whole city isn’t Easter mad. Shops are still open on Easter Sunday for a quick browse, and for a springlike stroll, simply head to Columbia Road Flower Market in Hackney for stalls of fragrant blooms!
Walk along the water until you run into Kent Street (a.k.a Oriental Parade) and then south for several blocks until the Deluxe Espresso Bar. Look carefully. It can be easy to miss. Don’t allow the birds that will likely be flying in and out of the open French doors, nor the small unkempt feel of the place fool you. This is one of the best lunch places in town with excellent coffee, tasty deserts and a high quality (but often underrated) lunch menu. Eat your lunch at the street tables outside or take your lunch to go and head back to the waterfront.
