Author: noel

Cruzing in Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz is known for its delectable moderate climate, the natural beauty of its pristine coastline, gargantuan redwood forests, and alternative community lifestyles. If you happen to pass by this city with your Transfercar free rental, be sure to stop in and take advantage of all it has to offer!

Beach it like a Whale

With 29 miles of sun heavy coastline, Santa Cruz offers some of California’s best beaches. These white sanded beauties offer up the perfect waves for surfing or the softest spot for beach volleyball.  Beaches like Manresa, Mitchell’s Cove and the mysteriously alluring Pleasure Point await you in Santa Cruz. But, if you’re not a sun worshipper, then visit a museum or art gallery, ride a steam train, or hit the wine tours, boozey! You know how they say that the best things in life are free? I’m pretty sure they were referring to the fun things to see and do here in Santa Cruz. And rental cars.  They were definitely talking about Transfercar rental cars.

Boardwalk Empire

Santa Cruz boasts the best Boardwalk in the US. Year-round events at the Boardwalk include summertime Friday night bands on the beach, movie nights, Clam Chowder Cook-Offs, and Chili Cook-Offs. Is that your stomach growling? No, it’s mine… The Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk features the world famous Giant Dipper Roller Coaster (which I don’t actually recommend riding after the chowder and the chilli FYI), and the historic 1911 Looff Carousel for the kiddies. A perfect spot for the young and the old, the boardwalk has something to offer everyone. Riding the rides does cost money but walking around and soaking up the atmosphere are completely free. Be sure to check out the Laffing Sal automaton: you can hear her creepy cackle for free, but the ensuing nightmares will cost you. You’ve been warned.

Have a Beer on the Pier

The Santa Cruz Wharf is the longest wooden pier in California at 2,745 feet and one of the oldest in the state, celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. But, it’s not just about the wood. Lined with groovy shops and restaurants offering up an array of cuisines, it’s a great place to stroll and take in the spectacular views of the bay. If you fancy some sea life, walk to the end of the pier and look down to the lower decks to spy on sea lions basking naked in the sun. Cheeky sea lions! Have you no shame?!

Just Eat It

You won’t find fresher local produce, sustainable seafood and award-winning California wines anywhere else than on the Santa Cruz County restaurant menus. Organic and locally-grown choices offer a unique dining experience. From hip bistros serving modern California cuisine, to neighbourhood cafés loved by locals, there are a number of ways to satisfy your cravings in Santa Cruz.

Are you convinced yet? Well then grab your surfboard and start surfing the Transfercar website to find the best free relocation deal for you. We’ve got you covered, sugar!

 

Kicking Back in Kaikoura

The natural wonders in Kaikoura are simply unbeatable here in New Zealand. This seaside settlement is a winding 2.5 hour drive from Christchurch, 1.5 hours from Blenheim and only 2 hours from Picton. With your free Transfercar rental, getting here is literally a breeze! No longer just a pit stop for peeps travelling between CHCH and Picton, Kaikoura is a top destination for international visitors. Let me tell you why…

New Zealand’s Sea World

Kaikoura is infamous for its wealth of marine activities. From stalking whales to swimming with dolphins, we’ve got all the sea creatures you need and more!  Hey tough guy, why not try catching your own dinner with one of the local fishing tours? Or try scuba diving mad reefs with local dive operators, some of the best and most experienced in the country? If you’re fit enough, kayak out and enjoy the exquisite beauty of our Peninsula or hit the waves on your surfboard. But, if you’re more comfortable on solid ground, there’s plenty to do on land.

Take a Hike

If you want to see the amazing snow dusted Kaikoura Ranges, walk the shore or get lost in the native bush, you can take leisurely thirty minute strolls or half day hikes with the local tour operators. That big mountain range you saw looming in the background while you were flirting with whales has an overnight hut. That is if you’re feeling adventurous enough to climb Aconcagua, one of the largest and most beautiful mountains of the country! The beach walks can take you to NZ Fur Seal colonies but don’t touch! This isn’t a Disney movie! They bite! Also on offer is quad biking and horse trekking. It’s all here in Kaikoura.

Kai in Kaikoura

It’s no accident that the Maori word for food ‘kai’ is found in the name of this delicious city. Your New Zealand cuisine experience is incomplete without enjoying iconic seafood dishes such as grouper, cod, mussels, paua and the God of the Sea: Crayfish! All hail the mighty Cray! Kaikoura’s restaurants have oysters, scallops and whitebait available in season for your belly. On the first Saturday of October since 1995, Kaikoura holds a seafood festival called Seafest, a taste, sight and sound extravaganza for those who enjoy great food and a good time! If you’re not into seafood or you’re deathly allergic to it, Kaikoura has options. From cheap and cheerful takeaways to upmarket restaurants, there’s a wide range of meal choices to cater to any palette. Bon Appetite!

Tree Huggers

You’ll find the most unique accommodation at Hapuku Lodge. Remember the tree houses of your youth? Well, forget them, because you ain’t never seen a tree house like this before! Nested at 30 feet above the ground in the canopy of native Manuka grove, each of these spectacular Tree Houses has mind-blowing views of Kaikoura’s dramatic mountains and Pacific coastline. These trees come in one bedroom or family size and are favourites for honeymooners, couples and families looking for an unforgettable tree top stay.

Get in touch with Transfercar today to get to Kaikoura for free!

The Perfect Getaway in Byron Bay

Located on the north coast of New South Wales, Australia’s most easterly point, Byron Bay is quite the destination!  Numerous beaches, untouched surroundings, and the ultimate in relaxed lifestyle, Byron Bay is a popular tourist destination. With average summer temperatures of 21C – 28C, and average winter temperatures of 15C – 21C, locals and visitors are able to take advantage of the various outdoor activities and party the night away at the many festivals throughout the year! Life’s a Beach Byron’s beaches are like a dream come true, which sounds cheesy unless you actually experience them! Look, Australia is known for the beach scene, but Byron’s are some of the best on offer. Stretching between the headlands of the northern New South Wales coast, many of these pristine beaches are sheltered from ghastly southerlies and offer the best waves if you’re a surfer dude. Clean, white fine sand that stretches for over 30km and clear turquoise-blue water that ranges in temperature from 18°C in the winter to 26°C in the summer, Byron’s beaches invite luxurious sunbathing and swimming all year around. Get your bathers! Call me Ishmael Get your Moby Dick on and head to Cape Byron for one of the best vantage points for whale-watching. From the June to August, these huge mammals migrate northwards to calve in the warm northern waters. Then, in September and October, they return with their new babies (cute!), sometimes stopping in the Bay for some whale parties and to teach their pups the laws of the whale. Most whale sightings are of humpbacks, with their distinct spinal shape, but it’s also possible to see other species. You can catch rays, turtles and dolphins, too. It’s like freakin’ Sea World out here! To market, to market! The Byron area is famous for its range of markets filled with produce, new age garb, great food and laid back atmosphere. The Channon and Bangalow have the biggest and best markets on the first, second and fourth Sundays of each month respectively. Beautiful things made by local people using unusual natural materials nestle amongst colourful imports from Africa and Asia. If arty-farty isn’t your thang, fill your bags with freshly-harvested and home-made produce. Food stalls and food trucks offer up a lavish range of goodies for chowing down on site or to take home and enjoy later. Spaaaaaaah! After taking in the surf and sand, the sea creatures and shopping, it’s time to give your aching body the attention it needs. Indulge in a full massage, have your neck and shoulders treated, or go the hippie path with some reflexology. The award winning Byron Spa and Wellness Centre exists solely to pamper YOU.  With its six treatment rooms, a Vichy shower, steam room, spas and relaxation areas, this Spa has earned an international reputation as one of the world’s finest. Sit back and relax… Do Byron on the cheap with a Transfercar free rental car. Get in touch and find your relocation car now!

Things to do in NYC

Post by: Jessica Festa

Need help planning your New York City itinerary? Look no further, as we’ve gathered some top Big Apple experiences featuring both well and lesser-known attractions. The following recommendations are provided by native New Yorker Jessica Festa, who also blogs regularly about NYC and beyond on her websites, Jessie on a Journey and Epicure & Culture. The following experiences will help you have a memorable trip while seeing the city from a local point of view.

1.   Immerse Yourself In Nature

While New York City is technically a concrete jungle, you may be surprised just how many lush parks and gardens you can find in the city. The most famous is Central Park, encompassing 843 acres (3.41 square kilometers) of greenery and outdoor attractions. While you can come here to simply sun and stroll, the park is also home to bird watching at The Ramble, kayaking, theaters, a carousel, a zoo with indoor rainforest and endangered animal breeding programs, sculptures, an inspiring 4-acre Shakespeare Garden with quotes from the author and plants mentioned in his works, a castle, sports fields, free walking tours, bike rentals and loads of free events like concerts, yoga clinics, photo safaris and performances. In Brooklyn, notable greenspaces include Prospect Park — created by the same designers as Central Park and full of flora, fauna and activities — and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden with its loads of themed gardens, guided plant walks and educational family events.

2.   Try Something New

There are so ways to do something quirky or novel in NYC. If you want to get active, hone your aerial acrobatics skills at the Trapeze School of New York/ or head to Bryant Park for a free Petanque lesson. If you’re a foodie, sign up for an excursion with Freegan Info to learn more about the culture of dumpster diving and salvaging wasted food. You can learn the art of sultry dance at The New York School of Burlesque, practice rock climbing at Brooklyn Boulders, taking a cooking class at the Institute of Culinary Education and more. You may also want to check sites like CanaryHop and Vayable to see what kinds of unique experiences are being offered by locals.

3.   Explore NYC, For Free!

There are a number of excellent tour companies in New York City offering insider knowledge and memorable experiences; however, for those on a budget FREE Tours By Foot offers complimentary walking, biking and bus excursions, typically lasting about two hours. While this list is by no means exhaustive — there are so many different tours offered — some suggestions include a “Subway Art Tour,” “2014-When We Were Idiots (A Comedy Walking Tour)” and “Ghosts Of Greenwich Village.” Every day of the week they offer about 10+ different excursions, so there’s always something to do. Just remember to tip your guide, as they only make what you give.

4.   Eat Sweets

My favorite neighborhood for sweet treats is the West Village in Manhattan, home to an array of high-quality bakeries and chocolate-focused venues. While Sockerbit sells Swedish candies with unusual textures and flavor combinations, Molly’s Cupcakes allows you to make your own cupcake or purchase one of their freshly-made treats in a whimsical space with swingset chairs and board games. At Sweet Revenge one can opt to pair decadent homemade cupcakes with wine and beer, at Popbar offers artisanal gelato on a stick dunked into gooey dips and coated with toppings, and Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar serves up delicious dessert pizzas and chocolate martinis.

5.   Take In A Beautiful View

Along with popular sites like the Empire State Building and Top of The Rock, there are loads of lesser-known places to take in a beautiful view. Head to Upstairs at the Kimberly for innovative farm-to-fork tapas, craft cocktails and front-row views of the Chrysler Building. For a free view of the Statue of Liberty, nothing beats the Staten Island Ferry. Walking or cycling over the Williamsburg or Brooklyn Bridges offers water-enhanced skyline vistas, while the DSW Designer Show Warehouse in Union Square allows for a unique vantage point of the Empire State Building, Metropolitan Life Insurance Tower and the Fuerza Bruta Theater.

What’s your favorite thing to do in New York City? Please share in the comments below.

Thing to do in NYC

post by: Jessica Festa

Need help planning your New York City itinerary? Look no further, as we’ve gathered some top Big Apple experiences featuring both well and lesser-known attractions. The following recommendations are provided by native New Yorker Jessica Festa, who also blogs regularly about NYC and beyond on her websites, Jessie on a Journey (http://jessieonajourney.com) and Epicure & Culture (http://epicureandculture.com). The following experiences will help you have a memorable trip while seeing the city from a local point of view.

  1.  Immerse Yourself In Nature

While New York City is technically a concrete jungle, you may be surprised just how many lush parks and gardens you can find in the city. The most famous is Central Park, encompassing 843 acres (3.41 square kilometers) of greenery and outdoor attractions. While you can come here to simply sun and stroll, the park is also home to bird watching at The Ramble, kayaking, theaters, a carousel, a zoo with indoor rainforest and endangered animal breeding programs, sculptures, an inspiring 4-acre Shakespeare Garden with quotes from the author and plants mentioned in his works, a castle, sports fields, free walking tours, bike rentals and loads of free events like concerts, yoga clinics, photo safaris and performances. In Brooklyn, notable greenspaces include Prospect Park — created by the same designers as Central Park and full of flora, fauna and activities — and the Brooklyn Botanic Garden with its loads of themed gardens, guided plant walks and educational family events.

  1. Try Something New

There are so ways to do something quirky or novel in NYC. If you want to get active, hone your aerial acrobatics skills at the Trapeze School of New York (http://newyork.trapezeschool.com/) or head to Bryant Park for a free Petanque (http://www.bryantpark.org/things-to-do/petanque.html) lesson. If you’re a foodie, sign up for an excursion with Freegan Info (http://freegan.info/what-is-a-freegan/freegan-events-in-new-york/) to learn more about the culture of dumpster diving and salvaging wasted food. You can learn the art of sultry dance at The New York School of Burlesque (http://www.schoolofburlesque.com/), practice rock climbing at Brooklyn Boulders (http://www.brooklynboulders.com/), taking a cooking class at the Institute of Culinary Education (http://www.ice.edu/) and more. You may also want to check sites like CanaryHop (http://canaryhop.com/) and Vayable (https://www.vayable.com/) to see what kinds of unique experiences are being offered by locals.

  1. Explore NYC, For Free!

There are a number of excellent tour companies in New York City offering insider knowledge and memorable experiences; however, for those on a budget FREE Tours By Foot (http://freetoursbyfoot.com/) offers complimentary walking, biking and bus excursions, typically lasting about two hours. While this list is by no means exhaustive — there are so many different tours offered — some suggestions include a “Subway Art Tour,” “2014-When We Were Idiots (A Comedy Walking Tour)” and “Ghosts Of Greenwich Village.” Every day of the week they offer about 10+ different excursions, so there’s always something to do. Just remember to tip your guide, as they only make what you give.

4. Eat Sweets

My favorite neighborhood for sweet treats is the West Village in Manhattan, home to an array of high-quality bakeries and chocolate-focused venues. While Sockerbit (http://sockerbit.com/) sells Swedish candies with unusual textures and flavor combinations, Molly’s Cupcakes (www.mollyscupcakes.com/) allows you to make your own cupcake or purchase one of their freshly-made treats in a whimsical space with swingset chairs and board games. At Sweet Revenge (http://www.sweetrevengenyc.com/) one can opt to pair decadent homemade cupcakes with wine and beer, at Popbar (http://www.pop-bar.com/) offers artisanal gelato on a stick dunked into gooey dips and coated with toppings, and Ayza Wine & Chocolate Bar (http://www.ayzanyc.com/) serves up delicious dessert pizzas and chocolate martinis.

  1. Take In A Beautiful View

Along with popular sites like the Empire State Building and Top of The Rock, there are loads of lesser-known places to take in a beautiful view. Head to Upstairs at the Kimberly (http://upstairsnyc.com/) for innovative farm-to-fork tapas, craft cocktails and front-row views of the Chrysler Building. For a free view of the Statue of Liberty, nothing beats the Staten Island Ferry. Walking or cycling over the Williamsburg or Brooklyn Bridges offers water-enhanced skyline vistas, while the DSW Designer Show Warehouse in Union Square allows for a unique vantage point of the Empire State Building, Metropolitan Life Insurance Tower and the Fuerza Bruta Theater.

What’s your favorite thing to do in New York City? Please share in the comments below.

Transfercar: the ideal travel buddy

Attention money-starved travellers! Have you heard of Transfercar yet, the successful Australasian car relocation company?! No?! Well, listen up because here are the deets. Transfercar has officially launched in the US this August to the delight of poor travellers from Texas to Cali. Transfercar provides an online service that facilitates contact between rental car companies that need to relocate their cars and YOU, the cash-strapped travellers eager to drive these free rental cars all over the place. The system is super simple: Rental operators list their relocation cars on the Transfercar website where registered drivers (that’s you, remember?!) view and request these cars. How can free rental cars be so easy?!

This innovative business model offers a real win-win scenario where lucky drivers get a free car to help them with travel expenses and rental car companies save on steep relocation costs. A lot of the free rental cars come with various perks depending on the car. Transfercar can set you up with free insurance, free ferry rides and free gas! It’s like Christmas! And the variety of cars you can choose from seems infinite. If you’re looking for a campervan for the entire family or a basic Sedan for just you and a mate, Transfercar has the ideal vehicle you’re looking for.

Regular rental cars can be really expensive, especially if you’re travelling at short notice. With Transfercar you save the money you’d normally spend on pricey rentals, leaving you more moolah for travel essentials like eating at diners and high rolling it at the Casino! Our campervans can save you considerable money on accommodation, too. It seems too good to be true, but there is absolutely no catch here. Registration is free. The rental car is free. But your undying appreciation for being able to travel for less money is rather priceless, don’t you think?

Transfercar is leading the way in this brave new world that’s embracing a sharing community. We share our free rental cars with you, and at the same time we’re helping rental car companies. It makes you feel all warm and fuzzy inside, doesn’t it? So, what are you waiting for? These free rental cars open you up to a world of possibilities: wherever you want to go, Transfercar can take you there. You’re welcome!

For more information contact www.transfercarus.com