Holiday 2015

SueD - Hope you have a great time! Any tips for a first-time visitor to New Zealand? I'm looking at motels compared to campervans - have you tried either/ both? Tegan and rubylady, we've had many happy budget holidays over the years. I only mentioned the cost because I am rather shocked at how much it is costing, but obviously there are lots of people out there who pay a lot for special holidays and I just wanted a bit of re-assurance

When we went 6 or 7 years ago we hired a campervan. If we were able to repeat the trip for choice we would go with a car, preferably 4x4.

We'd thought there'd be places where we could pull off the road for lunch or maybe the odd overnight stop, but really there weren't, the van rather advertised our tourist status and there were several places with warning signs about break-ins to RVs, and a car is more comfortable and covers more ground. The main reason though is there's no problem with accommodation. We didn't realise this. Loads of B&Bs even in small hamlets. And campsites like Top Ten which are a very good standard. ( https://www.top10.co.nz ) with different levels of accommodation.

Have a wonderful trip. It's a fantastic country - and much bigger than you think!

GrandmaKT - we have done both. The camp sites in NZ are of an excellent standard and the roads are mainly good. Motels are generally clean and reasonably priced and very often have cooking facilities. However last trip was mainly B & B and with one exception were excellent. Yes, a car is more comfortable and parking, petrol etc easier and cheaper. Hire cars are usually very well maintained. Shop around for prices - there are some good deals available.
Having said all that we are doing three house swaps this time in addition to spending time at our friends home in Christchurch and the odd few nights in Hotels and a rented cottage at Twizel. The first is in Omaha Beach - North of Auckland and not far from Warkworth; the second is in Blenheim a stones throw from the wineries and the third is a two house exchange involving a holiday home at Hampden and a home in Invercargill. The NZers are returning later in the year to us. One is coming in August when we shall be at our holiday home inIreland, the second is coming to Ireland in September (when we will return to our home in Somerset) and the third is over for the Rugby in October. Not sure what we shall do then but I'm sure we'll find something/somewhere!

In March we travel to the Red Sea for a month to snorkel, can't wait.

In June, although I haven't booked yet we will be going on an activity holiday to Turkey mainly sailing.

We have just arrived back in mid December from a 3 month trip, love traveling and spending the kids inheritance.

Life an be short so have to make the most of it.

My God SueD you must be a logistical expert! I thought it was complicated booking flights, transport and hotels; your trip sounds like military manoeuvres lol
Seriously it sounds absolutely fabulous and I'm sure you and all your fellow 'swapees' will have a great time. Thanks for the help. I've booked the car hire and ferry now and two nights' accommodation in Auckland. We'll book further hotels as we go along.
Have a lovely holiday.

In May we're off to Boston for a few days, hopefully including some whale watching. We then pick up a car and drive down to Cape Cod for 6 days. I've always wanted to go to places like Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket and I can't believe we're actually going to to be staying in these lovely places. Back to Boston for a night before catching train to New York where we'll be for 5 nights. I seem to spend most of my time now on forums on Trip Adviser but that's all part of the holiday for me. If it's going to be a 'Big Trip' I love doing lots of research. DH is happy just to turn up at the airport, while I'll be there with my little book[s] of notes.

When you have 3 dogs as we do (springers), whatever you spend on a holiday for yourself can be doubled with kennels.
So, we are putting our (luxurious!) tin tent on a farm on Anglesey, as we have done for the last 8 years. The dogs are free to roam, it's peaceful and we go there as often as we can - most weekends if we're lucky, as it's not too far away.
More often than not we are the only people there.
It's bliss!

Rosiebee you will love Nantucket and Cape Cod, and Boston is lovely. Stand on the beach at Cape Cod, and wave, then, when you go to the west coast of Ireland, as we did, take another photo of yourself waving back; we did, how sad is that?

Ariadne that isn't sad at all. Sounds lovely and what a good excuse for having a holiday on the west coast of Ireland. We've looked at areas around Cape Cod on Google Earth and took the little man for a walk around. Even my husband was impressed. Our hotel on Martha's Vineyard overlooks a small lighthouse and beach. It looks so quiet and peaceful.