What to Expect from Dog-friendly Accommodation

New Zealand has some dog-friendly accommodations such as hotels, cottages, guest houses, motels, cabins, motorparks, and bed & breakfast. They usually provide secure and fenced outdoor areas, drinking bowls, supply kennels, and dog walking trails. You just need to follow their restrictions, such as keeping the dog in the crate or on leads within the vicinity of the accommodation. Some accommodations may even have pet sitting services.

Cat-friendly accommodations may be available. They may even provide owners with pet sitting services, cat lodgings, and other related services.

What to Do with Your Pets

Even if the accommodation allows your pets within their vicinity, you still need to keep a few pointers in mind to ensure the safety of your pet and avoid huge fines for violations.

For one, you have to check pet accommodation restrictions and fees. Accommodations usually have rules about the age and size of the pet. Puppies are usually denied entry. Fees may be charged for daily accommodation and refundable or non-refundable damage fees. Ask for a list of their fees related to your pet.

Ask about extra accommodation features for your pet. It could be pet sitting services, dog walking services, special treats and beds, and other pet-centric activities. These are perfect if you have to leave your pet behind to go sightseeing.

A ground floor room is the most ideal room for pet owners and their pets. It is perfect for late-night potty runs. It also helps you avoid elevator rides, which might be stressful for your pets.

Don’t easily trust pet rooms. These are usually worn out rooms or worse, smoking rooms. Make sure to ask the hotel what kind of room your pet will be accommodated.

If you can, just choose apartment living. Your pet might be comfortable in serviced apartments or all-suite hotels. This is an ideal arrangement if you’re staying for a few days in one place. These places usually have a kitchen where you can prepare your food and your pet’s, a bedroom where you can keep your pet to rest with you, and a bathroom where you can put the litter box.

Make sure to pet in a carrier or crate if you leave them alone in the room. Just put a “Do Not Disturb” sign on your door to prevent strange people from getting into your unit and surprising or stressing your pet out.

Don’t expose your pet to too many people at once. If you notice signs of anxiety – excessive panting, yawning, or failing to establish eye contact, bring your pet to a quiet place to wind down and relax.

Be responsible for any damaged property. Own up to what your pet did before you checkout.

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Comfortable Campervan Travel

Campervan trips are quite popular in New Zealand. This means that you can go around the country at your own pace. If you are still good on the road with enough stamina to last through long road trips, then hiring a campervan is a good idea. But you can also choose to travel with your family so you can have the younger ones drive you around. Senior travellers will surely enjoy staying in a camping ground, holiday park or caravan park. You can also move from one island to the next since ferries can carry campervans and cars between islands, from Picton to Wellington.

Climate

New Zealand’s climate is quite pleasant. They have rainy winters and mild summers, nothing too extreme for an elderly’s body. However, the South Island might get too cold during winter. If you are still willing to try some winter sports, the New Zealand mountains have all the snow that you need. The beaches are inviting as well.

Tours

If you still have the adventurous spirit from your youth, you can join an all-inclusive senior tour in New Zealand. You can even find great deals and senior discounts from many tour companies. Just talk to your travel agent about possible discounts.

Wineries

At your senior age, you deserve all the good things in the world, like wine. The Marlborough Valley in the South Island offers some of the best wine tours in the country, but there are many other wineries in the North Island as well. You can drive from one vineyard to the next and sample as many types of wine as you’d like.

Maori Culture

This native Kiwi culture is one of the things that make New Zealand the way it is. You can enjoy their natural blessings, the natural bushes, and their unique culture by taking Maori tours, which usually include half-day treks that will show you the Maori landscape.

Scenery

The biggest reason why travellers love New Zealand is its natural scenery. It has snowy peaks, extinct volcanoes, rugged coastline, barren mountains, and generally scenic drives. You can gape in awe while looking at amazing waterfalls, impressive rock faces, or majestic snowy mountains while driving around the country. If you still crave for an adventure at your age, by all means give in to that desire, provided you are still physically fit to carry it out. Feel free to explore what New Zealand has to offer.

You can enjoy a wide variety of activities in New Zealand. If you are retired yet physically active, you can even travel for less for several days. Just make sure to pack light and be open-minded in taking new adventures with every day that you wake up in the country.

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You can drink the water in NZ

If you are traveling around NZ then you do not have to buy drinking water at all because tap water here is potable. That should save you a lot of money already. Many travelers do not think about this when they travel. Do your research about the quality of the tap water in your destination. If water is unsafe, by all means buy your drinking water. What use is saving on water when you end up in a hospital with diarrhea? But if water is potable, spend the money elsewhere.

Spend on your lunch, not dinner

When you are in New Zealand, never deprive yourself of good food. There are plenty of restaurants in the country that would make your trip worthwhile, no matter how short it is. Instead of having a fancy dinner, choose to have a sumptuous lunch instead on a popular local restaurant. Lunch are often more affordable than a fancy dinner. Never be content with bread and jam when you are in a country known for good food. It just does not make sense.

Pursue smaller towns than big cities

Big cities offer more entertainment, shopping, and dining options but it can also mean it is more expensive if you consider the money you have to shell out every day just to stick around the big cities in New Zealand. As you plan where you want to go in NZ, think about this. There are many scenic places in the country located outside its urban centers, besides NZ is known for its wonderful countryside sights and sounds. Go for hiking, surfing on the beach, or camping outside the city limits. If you have to experience big cities in NZ, stay on hotels not necessarily at the center of the city. You would not believe how much you will end up saving for a few kilometers of commute.

Book when in the country

You do not have to book everything online even before you reach New Zealand. Sometimes it is best to just book on the go. This gives you spontaneity in your sightseeing or accommodation options when you are already around NZ. You are not only allowing yourself to be flexible in your trip, you will also save money because online booking often costs more unless of course you are booking in advance for hotel promos.

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Confused when to come?

If you have a multiple dates in mind and cannot seem to decide which might be the best time to come over to NZ then you need to think about these facts:

1. The warmest months in NZ are from September to April.
2. The hottest months (summer) start in December and ends in February.
3. Spring starts at September and peaks in November.
4. Fall is from April to May.
5. Winter is June until August.
6. Daytime temperatures can go as high as 15 degrees (Celsius) to more than 30 degrees.
7. Winter can be as cold as 18 degrees (Celsius) all the way down to 5 degrees.
8. The busiest tourist season in NZ is from the middle of December until the last week of January. This coincides with the school summer vacation in the country.
9. The big cities in NZ can still accommodate you even in the busiest times of the year but for cities like Queenstown, Taupo, Wanaka, and Nelson (known tourist spots) accommodation can be a bit tricky so book in advance.
10. Easter holidays in New Zealand is also a busy time for NZ tourism so mark your calendar accordingly.
11. If you are coming over for the skiing then you must book in advance your accommodation in ski resorts around Methven, Queensland, Ohakune, and Wanaka. Skiing peaks early July and ends until the last weeks of September.

Other NZ travel considerations

Travelling to NZ should not be stressful provided you have a plan on how to go about your time while in the country and knowing about the following travel pointers:

1. You do not need a visa to come to New Zealand provided your country of origin has a visa waiver agreement with NZ.
2. You can drive around New Zealand on a rented car or camper if you have a valid driver’s license from your country of origin. You can also use an International driver’s permit while in New Zealand for up to a year.
3. How much money you will need to shell out everyday while in the country?

• The bulk of your expenses when vacationing in NZ is from the accommodation you will be requiring for yourself. If you want to travel cheap consider backpacking around the country and opting to stay in small inns that may not be too fancy. Backpacking can cost you up to NZ$100 everyday. This does not include the expenses you will be incurring from the sightseeing and other activities you will be doing.
• 4 star hotels in New Zealand can cost you up to NZ$400 per night while luxury hotels or lodges can cost you up to NZ$2000 per night.

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New Zealand is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. With miles and miles of scenic coasts, a handful of national parks, lakes, and other natural attractions, coming over to this place is surely a once in a lifetime experience. But because of its distance and the many things you can do here, vacationing to New Zealand can carry a hefty price tag. However by following some simple tips you can shave off a lot from the expense of enjoying this country.

Tips before you make your trip to New Zealand

It is easy to book a flight to New Zealand and you can do all the activities available to tourists or go to all the places the country has to offer to its guests. But the truth is doing that can easily eat on your vacation budget. The secret is to vacation with intention. Here are some key pointers:

• Do not come on peak season – you are not the only one looking forward to visiting New Zealand. Even locals are up and about during the summer season (December to February) which makes hotel reservations and airline tickets at record high prices. It also makes tourist spots crowded so that can also affect the quality of your visit. Come over in spring time up to halfway of fall. Book your flight and accommodation in advance that way you can save on promos and use that money on other vacation expenses that can add on to the quality of your local experiences.

• Plan your trip to the last detail – the problem with having no plans at all is that you will probably incur more costs as you pick activities in random and choose to visit places spontaneously. The more specific and focused your itinerary, the better. For example you can choose to explore the North Island for now thereby cutting the length of your stay and cutting local transportation costs. This also allows you to know New Zealand better as you take your time exploring one island at a time. Maybe on your next trip you can visit the South Island.

Tips while you are in New Zealand

As you land in New Zealand you can make simple choices that can save you tons of money. Here are some examples of those money saving decisions.

• Decide on your mode of transportation – because you have planned for your itinerary beforehand you can decide better how to go around the country. You can rent a car if you like but this can be costly if you plan to drive around for extended periods of time. A better option would be to buy a car (some companies offer a buy back guarantee so that you can recoup your investment of the car after your vacation) or rent an older car from local car rental companies. You can also choose to rent a campervan and save on accommodation costs. This is ideal especially when you want to exploit New Zealand’s scenic camping sites. You can also ride buses which offers destination that can easily cover your planned itinerary.

• Exploit local offers – you just have to be a discount hunter to do this. Use the same tour company on your trip so that they can offer discounts on your passes. Visit a local I-Site office which has staff that would be willing to give you money-saving heads up on local deals. You can also secure city passes that allows you to visit local sites at discount rates.

 Your New Zealand excursion does not need to be expensive. All you have to do is to have some advance planning, prioritization of places you want to go to and things you want to do, and make some off peak reservations on plane tickets, hotel rooms, and local sights and sounds passes.

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Skotel Alpine Resort

The Skotel Alpine Resort is one of the best accommodations in Mount Ruapehu wherein you could enjoy the view of the mountain and the beautiful, clear waters of Tongariro National Park. After skiing, you could relax inside the resort’s facilities such as a bar and restaurant, lounge and spa pools. The resort’s wonderful wood décor would undoubtedly make you feel at ease. Avid skiers opt to stay in Skotel Alpine Resort because of their knowledgeable and accommodating staff. The resort’s staff is always there to give a helping hand to their precious guests about the activities available in the park such as skiing.

Terrace Downs Resort

Terrace Downs Resort is in close proximity to several ski fields. You could enjoy skiing all day and head straight towards the resort to have a rest. Terrace Downs Resort is also a favorite of many since it is close to Mt. Hutt. Aside from skiing, you could go trekking the mountains or explore its famous Rakaia River. If you seek for more adventures, you could also try horse riding, jet boating and even fishing. Fishing is a popular outdoor activity because the river is abundant in salmon and trout. Are you up for some grill? All these activities are covered by the Terrace Downs Resort.

Cardrona Hotel

On the other hand, if you are headed to Wanaka, you could lodge in the Cardrona Hotel. In fact, Cardrona Hotel is one of New Zealand’s oldest hotels. Despite being old, it has captivated the hearts of many tourists, especially skiers because of its Cardrona Ski Field. The hotel is in close proximity to several local attractions such as Treble Cone, Coronet Peak and The Remarkables. The hotel itself is also a wonderful sight. It consists of stunning hotel rooms, fabulous beer garden and a great bar and restaurant. Grab yourself a cup of tea or coffee every morning before setting out to ski with the hotel’s tea and coffee making facilities.

Swiss-Belresort Coronet Peak

If you are spending a skiing holiday in Queenstown, then Swiss-Belresort Coronet Peak is a good place to go. It is one of the best accommodations that help you escape the harshness of the city. The resort is in near proximity with hiking trails, biking trails, rivers and mountains. The facilities offered by the resort are a bowling centre, swimming pool, sauna and spa.

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Olive Restaurant. Olive serves breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner. Olive serves Mediterranean types of food. Also, you can find delicious mix of cakes to dine in or take away. If you love eating tapas, Olive also serves them, too. People like Olive’s simple way of cooking and make them feel at home. Olive also has a beautiful, sunny garden. For sure, you’ll enjoy eating your brunch there.

Laundry. This little yet funky establishment lets you grab delicious burgers for brunch. They also have a sunny courtyard wherein you can enjoy eating toasty and creamy pies, as well as crunchy tacos. Laundry is one of the favorite hangouts of people in Cuba Street.

Plum Café. Plum Café serves great tasting contemporary Kiwi food. Are you up for a classic fish and chips with a twist for your brunch? In fact, Plum Café is voted in the top 10 summer destinations of the Dominion Post. Plum Café also serve delicious burgers, soups, steaks, bacons, eggs and many more! Why don’t you eat outside the café and have a fantastic view of the Bucket Fountain? If you also love people-watching, then having your brunch outside can fulfill your hobby.

Midnight Espresso. Though they only have a few window seats wherein you could stare at the streets of Cuba, Midnight Espresso is the best place in town that offers affordable foods at any time of the day. It is an all day and late night café that offers a wide range of mostly vegetarian menus. Here, you can enjoy a standard all-day breakfast. You can have fresh slices of fruits and vegetables, as well as aromatic coffee or fruit juice.

Sweet Mother’s Kitchen. If you love eating brunch dishes which are inspired by Mexico and New Orleans, then you should head towards this place. You’ll get to experience their frost juices, bacon sandwiches, and their ever famous curly fries which are served no matter what time of the day. So if you only want to grab something not-so heavy, Sweet Mother’s Kitchen can accommodate your cravings.

Floriditas Café and Restaurant. Floriditas is one of Wellington’s greatest café and restaurants that is known for its delicious wines. If you also want a little wine served in your brunch, Floriditas is the good place to go. They have a wide range of wines in which you can choose from. Floriditas is also known for its delicious cupcakes and cakes. If you have a sweet tooth, grab a bite in Floriditas.

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Wine

If you and your family love to taste different kinds of wine, then you should buy some for them. Among the top brands of wine in New Zealand are Cape Campbell, Amor-Bendell, New Zealand Fruit Wine, Quartz Reef and Foxes Island. For delicious domestic wines, you should visit Hawkes Bay, Gisborne, Waipara, Waiheke Island, Wairarapa, Omihi Hills and a lot more! Drinking wine is best with a munch of sliced fruits and cheese. Wouldn’t it be great to drink wine in your veranda when you go back home? Tell a lot of stories to your family and friends while drinking the renowned wine of New Zealand.

Spa items

New Zealand is also popular for its thermal and volcanic activities which is why there are also several spa houses and inns that cater to the relaxation needs of foreign and local tourists. Hence, you can buy some spa items that your family and friends might love like thermal mud baths, bath salts and aromatherapy products. These products will surely make your skin smoother and softer.

Greenstone

Greenstone can also be a good souvenir item. You can find lots of it in South Island. There are several products made from greenstone like pendants, earrings, Maori figures and brooches. Its lovely green color will surely make your clothing stand out even more. If you have fashionable family members and friends, then you should buy them each. They will be happy to add a new item in their jewelry boxes.

Woolen goods

Believe it or not, some tourists book for an accommodation in New Zealand just to see sheep and buy quality woolen products. Yes, New Zealand is also popular with its amazing sheep population. Woolen goods are also great souvenir ideas which can be available in the forms of sweaters, gloves, hats, scarves, blankets, cushions and rugs. Woolen goods keep you cozy and warm especially if you live in wintery cold areas of the world.

Maori crafts

The people of New Zealand make good crafts. The Maori people are the original inhabitants of New Zealand consisting of different tribes. They make a living through creating several types of Maori gifts such as wood carvings, bone carvings, jade jewelry, Maori dolls, silver jewelry and many more. It’s great to buy something native and place it inside your humble home.

Visit New Zealand and have the best accommodation you can afford. See places and do a lot of fun activities. And don’t forget to buy souvenirs or else your family and friends will nag you about not bringing any!

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What’s great in Gisborne

Gisborne is quite an isolated place in New Zealand but if offers a unique appeal among the tourists since it has a nice geographical location on the East Coast. The Kiwis and even international tourists highly speak of this place because Gisborne exhibits a comfortable lifestyle, full of beautiful beaches, lots of fishing activities and even sailing. It is the perfect place for barbecues and grills. Wouldn’t you feel great if you’re the one who catches your food for dinner? Have a tasty and juicy barbecue grill of meat and fish tossed with sumptuous fruits and vegetables.

It does not only boast of its oceans but it is also a popular destination for green forests, blue lakes and white streams. You can go hunting, hiking, canoeing and the more adventurous white water rafting. Gisborne is a sanctuary of natural beauty. See the spectacular forms of wildlife in the forests and don’t forget to capture them with your camera.

For sure, you will love exploring the region of Gisborne. It has warm summers and a not so cold winter. Most of the locals grow kiwifruits, maize, citrus, grapes and other subtropical fruits. You will be enjoying exploring its wine industry as well because it is huge and vibrant. Do you know that Gisborne is one of New Zealand’s biggest grape growing areas? Most vineyards of the region are dedicated to the production of Chardonnay, a very great tasting wine. It has a rich full flavor, a wine that you won’t forget. Tourists make sure that they don’t miss tasting this heavenly wine.

Your bed and breakfast accommodation

What’s great about a bed and breakfast accommodation is that it is one of the best ways to enjoy Gisborne’s temperate climate. And what’s more, it’s one of the inexpensive yet wonderful accommodation options in Gisborne. Wonderful because it exhibits a relaxed and a friendly environment. It is the best way to explore the place’s wonderful areas, culture and people.

A bed and breakfast accommodation in Gisborne gives you a home-like environment. You can expect to have a clean and comfortable bedroom, hot drink making facilities, a television and a telephone for communication. As for the bathroom, you can choose either ensuite, shared or private. What’s spectacular about a bed and breakfast accommodation is that the dining areas are mostly shared. You get to know other travelers from around the world and have a nice chat with them.

If you want to know about other people’s culture, having a bed and breakfast accommodation is the best way to connect. In fact, this type of accommodation is becoming popular among tourists and travelers. It’s cheap. It’s home-like. It only provides you your basic needs. And it helps you open and see the tell-tale stories of different cultures.

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If you’re up to a wonderful tour in New Zealand, then Fox Glacier should be included in your must-see attractions. But before anything else, here are some ways on how you can pull out the most of your Fox Glacier trip:

Choose the most fitting accommodation. Since Fox Glacier has become a major tourist attraction, the number of accommodation options also increase every year. There are motels, hotels, apartments, backpackers, lodges, bed and breakfast rooms, and many more. Choose an accommodation that fits your taste and budget. However, it is advised to do an early booking since more and more people are being captivated by the beauty of the Fox Glacier.

Wear thick layers of clothes. When visiting the Fox Glacier, it is best to follow the layer approach. This general clothing rule involves the wearing of three to four layers of clothes. The first layer can be a light shirt, the second layer can be a heavy wool garment and lastly, top it off with a wind-breaker.

Don’t wear jeans. Wearing jeans for a Fox Glacier trip is not recommended. Jeans become heavy and cold when they get wet. And a Fox Glacier trip is not a dry trip. You will only feel uncomfortable during your glacier exploration if you wear jeans. Instead, wear long cotton pants or track pants. These types of pants are light to wear and much more comfortable.

Wear the appropriate footwear. Hiking the glacier will be a little slippery so wear the proper footwear. But most guided Fox Glacier tours will provide you the right footwear. They might give you socks, boots and crampons. Other clothing freebies are waterproof raincoat, over-trousers, fleece jacket, woolen mittens and hats.

Why do we recommend you to get ready for your Fox Glacier trip? Maybe you are thinking on what’s so wonderful about looking a lifeless form of ice. Maybe you will change your thoughts when you see the actual Fox Glacier. It is not lifeless as you think. If you’ll be there, Fox Glacier exhibits a magical atmosphere.

If you also love to take an ice-hiking adventure, you can always arrange one with your guide. Or if you want to explore the glacier above the sky, you can also arrange a sightseeing flight. You see, there are many ways on how you can appreciate the beauty of the glacier.

Other astounding attractions nearby to the Fox Glacier are Mount Cook, Lake Matheson and glow worm caves. The Fox Glacier is also situated in a town filled with good choices of cafés and restaurants. So if you are already starving, you can always have a bite in these places.

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