For anyone on your flist who might travel to New Zealand one day: In NZ backpacking hostels stardards are quite high. You can get a bed in a dorm from NZ$17 (that's like five pounds if you're coming from the UK!!). Double rooms tend to cost around $50 for the room, maybe a bit more if you want an ensuite. Join BBH (http://www.bbh.co.nz) to get the best deals. DON'T join YHA/HI! BBH have more hostels, and they're cheaper. You can use the website to read comments ppl have left about the hostels. Ignore the 'staff are rude' comments (because in my experience they're usually left by ppl who were caught with drugs, or other such behaviour. Also keep in mind most hostel staff are international travellers who have never worked in hostels before, and for a large percentage english is their second language). If you want to save more money, secure a hostel job before you leave: http://www.bbh.co.nz/travellers/billboards.asp?b=1 Most hostels will ask you to work 2-3 hours per day for your bed, for 3 hours they usually throw in free laundry and free internet use as well. You'll either work morning or night, so it's always easy to fit a paying job in (should you have a visa). You don't need a visa to do exchange work.
And there's WWOOFing! http://www.wwoof.org/ Work on a farm, almost anywhere in the world. You work a few hours each day, and get a bed, all your meals, and whatever else the owner of the property throws in. No visa required!
I know most ppl don't want to work while on vacation, but if you want to save a LOT of money it's great. And it can actually be fun. You get to immerse yourself in the culture by living with families, and hostel life is a blast. Plus you end up with more money for touristy activities, or you can just stay longer - or stop off somewhere else on the way home.
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Date: 2008-08-30 01:03 am (UTC)For anyone on your flist who might travel to New Zealand one day:
In NZ backpacking hostels stardards are quite high. You can get a bed in a dorm from NZ$17 (that's like five pounds if you're coming from the UK!!). Double rooms tend to cost around $50 for the room, maybe a bit more if you want an ensuite.
Join BBH (http://www.bbh.co.nz) to get the best deals. DON'T join YHA/HI! BBH have more hostels, and they're cheaper. You can use the website to read comments ppl have left about the hostels. Ignore the 'staff are rude' comments (because in my experience they're usually left by ppl who were caught with drugs, or other such behaviour. Also keep in mind most hostel staff are international travellers who have never worked in hostels before, and for a large percentage english is their second language).
If you want to save more money, secure a hostel job before you leave: http://www.bbh.co.nz/travellers/billboards.asp?b=1 Most hostels will ask you to work 2-3 hours per day for your bed, for 3 hours they usually throw in free laundry and free internet use as well. You'll either work morning or night, so it's always easy to fit a paying job in (should you have a visa). You don't need a visa to do exchange work.
And there's WWOOFing! http://www.wwoof.org/
Work on a farm, almost anywhere in the world. You work a few hours each day, and get a bed, all your meals, and whatever else the owner of the property throws in. No visa required!
HelpX is a similar idea: http://www.helpx.net/
I know most ppl don't want to work while on vacation, but if you want to save a LOT of money it's great. And it can actually be fun. You get to immerse yourself in the culture by living with families, and hostel life is a blast. Plus you end up with more money for touristy activities, or you can just stay longer - or stop off somewhere else on the way home.