noel – Page 21 – Transfercar Blog

10 Crazy Forms of Human Transportation

Granted, getting a free rental car or a free campervan is crazy in itself, so at Transfercar we feel we fall into the category of crazy forms of transportation.

However it seems that there is always crazier than crazy, so if you are into the most insane ways to have your body transported, check out those options.

1. Orbit Wheels (featured image above)

According to its inventors, Orbitwheels is a new concept for wheeled sports and the idea is simple: two feet, two wheels…and you’re ready to go! ”A set of Orbitwheels is a cross between a skateboard and pair of inline skates – but with more freedom and simplicity than either”… would be nice to try this to see if it’s true.

2. Segway

segway Segway is a two-wheeled, self-balancing, battery-powered electric vehicle… It’s gaining popularity, although it’s still quite rare to bump into one of those. Looks pretty weird at first glance, but somewhat stylish, right?

3. Elliptigo

Elliptigo is two-wheeler designed to replicate running, without the impact… A cross between cycling and running?

4. Wuppertal Suspension Railway

This electric elevated railway with hanging cars is unique in the world and only exists in the town of Wuppertal in Germany… It looks a little scary, which might explain why no other city wanted to give it a go.

5. Velomobile

It’s not a car, it’s not a bike…a velomobile somewhere in between. Very stable, faster than a bike, and looks pretty good too. You should order one for Christmas.

6. Basket-ride

This one requires you to jump in a wheeled-basket and pay two men with a hat to push you. Sounds awesome, the problem is that you will only find this in Madere, Portugal!

7. Beer-bike

Another German invention… the Beer Bike… It’s not really a bike, but it’s real beer that they’re serving. Interesting concept.

8. Amphibian bus

No, please don’t jump to rescue those passengers, they are doing quite alright aboard this amphibian bus designed to get in the water… yes that’s a cross between a bus and a boat. Madness, uh?

9. Shockwave JetTruck

Jet Truck Is it a rocket, is it a truck? If you go to the US, you might be able to spot this JetTruck that goes over 300 km/h… Just imagine the noise when it passes you. Calm down, don’t try this at home, this could hurt.

10. Zorb

Well yeh, we’ve got something to be proud about in New Zealand… Zorbing is probably the craziest form of transportation ever imagined. Sexy-looking, and very handy at intersections…

How to explore Coastal Queensland in just a few days…

Coastal Queensland contains everything that attracts visitors to Australia: empty stunning beaches, archipelagos of islands and an abundance of national parks, some with fantastic walking trails. The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest coral reef system, can be explored with day trips to its off-shore islands. Boat excursions enable visitors to go diving or to simply snorkel, as snorkelling is very easy there and offers plenty to be seen, including beautiful sea turtles.

You might wonder is this worth the trip if you only have a few days with a car or a campervan? Our answer is unequivocal: Absolutely!

Say you have 7 days of free rental car from Brisbane to Cairns. That would be between 2 to 3 hours of driving per day on average… Come on, ain’t that hard, is it? That leaves you with plenty of time to experience some of the beautiful beaches that are along the way.

Alternatively you can whizz through part of the way to leave more time to spend where you’d love to, and perhaps explore an island of the Great Barrier Reef. This is exactly what we would do if we were you:

Day 1 – Brisbane to Hervey Bay (4 hours drive)

Get up early, pick-up the car as soon as you can and leave Brisbane behind and drive to Hervey Bay to make the most of its 14 kilometers of golden beaches. Its waters are home to turtles and dugongs so you might get lucky. It’s also one the best places in the world for whale watching… You won’t regret spending the rest of the day there.

Day 2 – Hervey Bay to Rockhampton (8 hours)

Drive through the towns of Childers, Gin Gin, Miriam Vale and Calliope to Rockhampton, the heart of beef cattle country. Not mind-blowing but interesting so have lunch there. This is what you could view from your car. Then drive all the way to MacKay. Mackay is surrounded by miles of sugarcane fields, which give the city its title of Sugar Capital of Australia. Have a well-deserved rest there.

Day 3 – Mackay to Airlie Beach via Eungella National Park (1h30)

Eungella National Park is situated 84km west of Mackay and is one of Queensland’s most spectacular parks, with cloud shrouded peaks, deep gorges and lush rainforest. Spend a few hours there before continuing on to Airlie Beach. It’s a popular holiday resort, and gateway to the marvellous Whitsunday islands.

Day 4 and 5- One or two-day trip to the Whitsunday Islands (no driving)
This is when you leave the car behind and board a boat to visit one of the Whitsunday island. There are plenty of operators who enable you to see some of the best spots of the Whitsunday in just a day. Check out the selection of Whitsunday tours here. You also have time to spend a second day there if you wish. Once you’re back on land, spend another evening partying at Airlie Beach!

Day 5 or 6 – Airlie Beach to Townsville (3 hours)
That’s quite an easy and enjoyable drive to Townsville and you can be there before lunch. The other getaway to the Great Barrier Reef. Townsville is in itself quite a nice city offering a more than decent beach. Castle Hill offers a panoramic view of Townsville. Magnetic Island is worth a detour if you can afford it. Reef HQ Aquarium is one of the most popular attractions in Townsville and is well worth a visit with its walk-through underwater tunnel, giving a great all-round view of the coral and the fish. This could be the view from your car.

Day 6 or 7 – Townsville and surroundings (no driving)
Yes that’s a second day without driving, or you could choose to spend two days there to explore the islands without having to drive. We told you this trip is worth it!! You could get to beautiful Magnetic Island or visit another island of the Great Barrier Reef.

This is Queensland! — Photo by @_markfitz #ThisisQueensland

Day 8 – Townsville to Cairns (4 hours)

So you need to drop-off the car this morning… just get up early and drive and you will be there in no time. Not to worry, once you have reached your destination there is no need for the fun to be over…. Cairns is a tropical paradise just begging to be explored with an infectious holiday vibe. There’s plenty of bars, nightclubs, eateries and cafes for all budgets.The lack of a city beach is compensated by the magnificent Esplanade Lagoon.

Featured image by @_markfitz #ThisisQueensland

Top 10 Most Terrifying Australian Animals

With its incredible landscapes and terrain that changes from stunning rainforests to rugged desert plains, the Land of Oz is incomparable if you’re looking for a life-changing adventure. It’s absolutely one of the best places to visit in 2015. There’s a hitch though, and it’s a biggie. Basically, most of Australia is heaving with dangerous animals who would love a piece of you. We’ve compiled our list of the ten scariest looking animals to keep an eye out for on your travels. You’ve been warned…

Fishzilla

fishzilla
Image credit treehugger.com

Why hello there handsome! Take a good look at this mug – it’s the face only a mother could love, maybe. This charming fellow goes by the name of Snakehead Fish – how delightful! The best part about this gross little rascal is that he can actually breathe air meaning he can travel on land and in water to hunt down prey -namely YOU!

Python

python
Image credit http://www.telegraph.co.uk

You know, if youdda asked me who would win in a kill-off between a snake and a croc I woudda said croc hands down. Not so much! This Aussie python took down a saltie in an epic 5 hour battle. Can you imagine how long it would’ve taken to digest a 3 metre croc? Someone get this python a laxative, stat.

Emu

emu
Image credit buzzfeed.com

Yet another beautiful Australian animal…um…NOT. So, Emus aren’t as scary as the other man-eating dudes we’ve looked at but man they aren’t always so easy to look at. While they’re generally shy, emus go craaaazy when they’re defending their young. So keep away from the babies, baby, and you’ll be just fine.

Super Buff “Roos”

super buff roos
Image credit sperlinet

Clearly this ‘Roo is packing ‘roids. Australia’s most iconic animal, the Kangaroo can be pretty bad ass. Buddy is packing some mean claws too, so if the ol’ suckerpunch is a miss, he may just claw your eyes out faster than a feral teenage girl on RTDs. Watchout!

Great White Shark

Great White Shark
Image credit geekologie.com

What list of the most dangerous animals would be complete without Jaws?! The Great White shark, also known as White Death, is known for its size: 6.4 m (21 ft.) in length. Of all shark species, the Great White shark is responsible for the largest number of recorded shark attacks on humans, with over 272 documented unprovoked attacks. Aussies punch sharks in the nose sending them running/swimming back to their shark mommas. #thuglife

Saltwater Crocodile

saltwater crodile
Image credit rotorama.com

Damn! This Saltwater Croc is smiling because he knows he’s eatin’ well tonight! Each year there are 1-2 known deaths from our toothy friends here. Known for their viciousness and aggression, the largest ever verified was 6.4m (21ft) and weighed more than 1000kg. If you come across this scaly sucker it’s bad news: due to their power, size and speed, surviving a direct attack is pretty much impossible. The good news? None.

Sydney Funnel Web Spider

funnel web spider
Image credit www.independent.co.uk

This spider’s bite is a doozey: just check out that grill! Initially very painful due to the size of his massive fangs (bigger than a Brown Snake’s!) penetrating your delicate skin, you’ll feel the early symptoms of envenomation like goose bumps, sweating, increased salivation, watery eyes, and elevated heart rate quite fast. As the venom works its way through your system, you’ll start to writhe with muscle spasms, be short of breath and vom a bit before reaching the final stages of unconsciousness and sweet, sweet death!

Coastal Taipan

coastal taipan
Image credit www.freerepublic.com

G’day Taipan! Found along the east coast from northern New South Wales to Brisbane and northern Western Australia, Coastal Taipans have a sweet tooth and can be spotted in the sugarcane fields. Packing the longest fangs of any Australian snake at a whopping 13mm, Coastal Taipans are the largest venomous snake with the third most toxic venom. If they freeze up, they’re about to strike, so don’t be fooled!

Mystery Snake Eating Spider

snake eating spider
Image credit pikdit.com

I want to tell you what spider this is but I can’t. I have no idea but hey! It’s eating a freakin’ snake! Lets move on..

Koalas

koala
Image credit worth1000.com

Not usually known for packing heat, Koalas are tree hugging vegetarians who don’t really want to eat you. However, their hands and feet are built to curl around your neck, (or tree branches) very tightly. Oh yeah, they’re pretty into mating, like you are no doubt, but they often have chlamydia, so don’t go there. Don’t. Go. There.

In Conclusion

And there you have it, a list of ten predators you want to make a point of not seeing while you’re exploring Australia. For more info on all kinds of other creatures that are out to get you in the Outback, download the Australian Museum’s ‘DangerOz’ app. Or to take a joy-ride and find some animals of your own, book a free one way rental car here.

How to Save Money on the Road

Yes! You can save money while travelling! Just look at how much money you’ve saved with your free Transfercar rental. And then follow these rules and you’ll save even more money…

Food Rules

Most travellers spend way too much money on drive-thru food. Not only is it expensive, but it’s going to make you feel tired and sluggish, two things you don’t want to feel while driving a Transfercar! Bring a cooler with you so that you can make grocery runs along your trip. Bring the necessary cutlery and treat yourself to nice cheeses, salamis and breads while you’re on the road, instead of spending your money on average food from diners on route. If you’re absolutely desperate for a cooked meal, veer off the main road and into small towns for cheaper, and often better, meals.

Snack Attack!

Snacks are an absolute killer on road trips, especially when you’re stopping for gas. Before you leave town, pack your car with snacks from the grocery store. You can easily make your own treats and store them in your cooler. Fruit stands on the side of the road are always great in summer, too.

Mean Gasoline

Following a few simple gas-saving tips can help you save a lot of road trip money:
Turn off the AC: just open the window!
Ease off the pedal well before a stop sign and coast to a stop; take off in a mellow manner. Burning rubber burns gas needlessly.
Inflate tires to close to max — carry a teeny tire gauge and read the tire’s side.
Avoid cruise control.
Don’t speed. Wastes gas and one ticket can destroy a summer road trip budget.

Sneaky Tips

A prepaid credit card can help to keep you within your budge. Just make sure it doesn’t have excessive fees associated with it.
To avoid going into debt, save money with a detailed budget for what you’ll spend on lodging, meals, activities and gas.
Carry some cash with you in case you need it.
Limit your time away to less than 10 days.
Pack the right necessities.
Book accommodation in advance.
Book a free Transfercar rental car.

We don’t want to toot our own horns, but travelling with a free rental car is obviously going to save you more money that paying for one. Also, if you’re looking for an even cheaper trip, why not rent an RV or campervan, thus eliminating the need to pay for exorbitant hotel rooms especially if you’re travelling as a family?! Some of our deals even come with ferries and a free tank of fuel, which means you save even more money! I know it sounds too good to be true, but thousands of travellers all over the world have cracked onto our services, saving money as they ride with us, and making their trips last longer. If you haven’t registered, you’re not saving money. So get amongst it. And let’s hit the road.

The World’s Top 10 Most Dangerous Roads

We’ve traversed the earth to bring you ten of the most scary, interesting, beautiful and down right dangerous roads on the planet. Thanks to our research and the awesome powers of the internet you can relax and explore these places from the safety of your own couch. Enjoy the ride.

Zojila Pass, India

zojila Pass, India

If you can make this pass through the blustering winds and heavy snowfalls, we salute you. But watch out for the sheep! Even when the sun is shining on your curry-stuffed belly, the roads are ridiculously narrow with barrier-free steep drops. Consider some hard-core meditation (or medication) to keep you relaxed for this ride.

Source: http://bit.ly/1c6QLGB

Atlanterhavsveien (Atlantic Ocean Road), Norway

atlanterhavsveien

In Norway, known for its pickled Herring, this particular drive will have you rethinking dining before hitting the road. While it looks rather treacherous in bad weather conditions, Atlanterhavsveien is one of the most beautiful roads to travel in the world, with epic curves that can rival those of the top Scandinavian models.

Source: http://bit.ly/1zT4Txn

Podgorica–Kolašin, Montenegro

Podgorica–Kolašin, Montenegro

Say hello to Montenegro and to a white-knuckle ride of a lifetime while driving along the Podgorica–Kolašin road through the Morača Canyon! Riddled with countless cliff-side bends and tunnels, this road is basically out to get you, but if you survive you’ll be blown away by the beauty of the landscape that surrounds you. Good luck (you’ll need it)!

Source: http://bit.ly/1wBdrI5

Halsema Highway, Philippines

Halsema Highway, Philippines

Known as the highest of all highways in the Philippines, the Halsema Highway takes a whopping six hours to traverse so bring some light reading or some serious sleeping pills. Its bark is worse than its bite: it’s got a relatively low number of deaths considering its extreme altitude and zigzag design.

Source: http://bit.ly/1rbu6kO

Guoliang Tunnel, China

Guoliang Tunnel, China

Fancy a ride through a tunnel that looks like it was handmade?! Well we’ve got one for you. This beaute is a mere 16 feet tall and 13 feet wide, and was built by villagers in 1972. Many of the Guoliangers died during its five-year construction, and judging by the incline, can you guess how?

Source: http://bit.ly/1GLEXWm

Passo dello Stelvio, Italy

Passo dello Stelvio, Italy

We bet you’ll be saying a massive “Grazie” once you’ve made it to the other side of Italy’s Stelvio Pass! At 9045 feet, this road is the second highest paved mountain pass in the Alps, but it’s the most dangerous.

Source: http://bit.ly/1x12uhE

Dades Gorge Road, Morocco

Dades Gorge Road, Morocco

This snake-like road can be found up in the High Atlas Mountains at the edge of the Sahara Desert. You may be able to beat the heat of the Sahara but can you handle driving along the 1600 ft cliffs and weaving through 30 ft fissures?

Source: http://bit.ly/1ClIISG

Skippers Canyon, New Zealand

Said to be as scary as it is beautiful, this 22km long scenic gorge, just a short drive north of Queenstown is a mostly one-way, narrow route featuring epic vistas as well as neck-breaking drops of several hundred meters. Known as one of New Zealand’s most scenic roads, some rental car insurance companies don’t feel the same love as the Kiwis do and won’t cover you on this trip! If you have problems you can find a Public liability insurance online by clicking the link.

Source: http://bit.ly/1wcIjcK

James Dalton Highway, Alaska

James Dalton Highway, Alaska

This 414-mile gravel road heads straight through arctic tundra to the farthest north reaches of Alaska. It may look like a Winter Wonderland, but it’s not a road for the faint of heart, or those of you who cherish your car! As it’s the main supply route for the Prudhoe Bay oilfields,you’ll be sharing the road with mammoth tractor-trailers kicking up rocks. Kiss your windshields and headlights goodbye!

Source: http://bit.ly/1JFK3pw

The Highway of Death, Bolivia

The Highway of Death, Bolivia

Remember that song ‘Life is Highway’? Well, it really is when we’re talking about the La Paz ‘Highway of Death’ that leads from Bolivia into the Amazon. Formerly known as the ‘World’s Most Dangerous Road’, this death-defying 38 mile long trip comes with no misnomer: an estimated 200-300 unlucky travelers die annually attempting this infamous route.

Source: http://bit.ly/1E0pOTa

Need a rental car this summer, check out our home page to see our available vehicles – just promise us you wont take any of these routes!

Hostels: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Fun Fact: Good hostels can be hard to come by. Places can be very hit or miss and often the reason a hostel is great has more to do with the location more so than anything else. When trying to pick a good hostel there are a few things to consider

Price

Budget travellers have a natural preference to go for the cheapest accommodation but that can sometimes bite back. Many cheap hostels are unclean, the showers are filthy and the pressure is terrible, and the place could be rife with bed bugs! The lower the price usually means the lower the cleanliness.

Check Out Time

The best hostels have 11 A.M. check out times and the excellent ones let you checkout at noon. Sleep is priceless on the road because you’ll rarely get enough of it, if you’re travelling correctly!

Safety

A good hostel comes with good lockers. Lockers in rooms are an absolute must and a safe at reception is a major draw-card. Building security has got to be taken seriously, so make sure you check out the level of security before you book.

Common Area

If your hostel doesn’t have a bar, leave. Kidding. But it should have a big common area. The best hostels have a place where travellers can hang out and socialize with each other. Common areas facilitate interaction and help solo-travellers have an easier time meeting people. They’re almost as important as…

..Staff

Oh man, is there anything worse than bad service at a hostel? The staff at a great hostel must be friendly, helpful and welcoming as well as knowledgeable about the city and its surroundings. The best hostels have natural people pleasers as staff, often fellow travellers themselves, or at least former ones, who can give good advice.

Fun Times

Even if the hostel you choose is clean and safe, you’re going to leave unsatisfied if it doesn’t provide a range of activities for guests. Tours and trips around the city, and special events at the hostel are great activities for fostering relationships between travellers. Parties and barbecues are an even better way for travellers to meet and greet each other, swapping stories of brews and burgers. Many good hostels have a games room for rainy days, ranging from board games to pool tables.

If you’re pressed for time and can’t bother going through the multitude of hostel websites out there to check out individual facilities, you can just hop online at TripAdvisor where heaps of travellers leave honest, sometimes too honest, reviews of hostels from around the world. If you’re travelling in your free Transfercar rental, you might want to check if the hostel has secure parking. If you’re looking for a way to save money, check out our deals on free RVs and campervans, where the room is clean and comfortable! Just check out our routes and with a few simple clicks you’ve got yourself accommodation on wheels for free! You can’t beat that!