A lot of people have asked me about how we plan our trips. I’ve just written a few notes just to outline how we do it. basically it doesn’t have to be expensive.
flights
This is the first action. I generally go through Sky Scanner.net click here. This website gives you loads of options with links to airline websites.
car parking
Next I book car parking which seems to have become expensive in Gatwick. I always use the official car parking click here and the most recent trip I used the Valet parking as it was cheapest. It was also the easiest, right to the airport entrance. I photographed the milometer when dropping it off and checked it on pick up – only 3 miles so OK.
Car Hire
I use either a broker or (sometimes better) directly with the local company (good in New Zealand).
I always book a medium size SUV and try my luck at the airport. At the airport desk they will try to sell you everything eg Toll transponder, extra insurances and upgrades. I reckon they work on commission as they push very hard. Ignore all these EXCEPT the satellite radio (Siruis XM) which is brilliant. We paid $50 for a month of advert-free radio. Hundreds of channels including dedicated channels for each decade – brilliant!
Now after negotiating the desk and feeling very tired go to the dispatchers. I don’t think they work on commission as they will give you anything. The last time I was pointed to a row of mid size SUVs and asked “got anything bigger?” “Sure how about this?” I got a large 3.5 litre large SUV for no extra cost at all two upgrades worth); Los Angeles was the best “just take anything you want”
update Australia
It seems in Australia you get what you order. We booked directly with Hertz far in advance (and so quite cheap) so got a good deal. We were simply allocated a car – which did match what we ordered. Also In Texas 2019. Only got a Nissan Qashqai. Nevertheless cheap at £800 for 4 weeks.
Accommodation
I usually use a mixture of cabins and motels though mostly cabins. Costs vary from £50 per night (cheap but good motels) to £100 per night for a large 3 bed rural cabin. I always book in advance, sometimes when on the trip itself.
For cabins I used to use www.homeaway.co.uk click here. Its a good website with reviews, safe payments and contact etc. However, I now prefer Airbnb which has a better payment and review system (landlords review tenants as well). I just make sure the cabin has
- free wifi (for watching TV, listening to radio 2, contacting home via Skype or WhatsApp etc) and
- occasionally a washing machine. We hardly ever eat out and cook/BBQ in the cabins mostly.
The Airbnb site has secure payments.
For motels I use Trip Advisor click here to locate the best accommodation then try everywhere (booking.com, hotels.com etc) to get the best deal.
update Australia
Airbnb is the biggest website in Australia – or Stayz but we stuck with Airbnb and found it good.
Things to see
Again Trip Advisor is best for any area though it doesn’t always have everything listed.
Credit cards
The Halifax Clarity credit card is excellent click here. No charges on transactions and minimal charge on withdrawing cash (though the US banks charge a fee around $3/4 per transaction.
Things to take
- Yorkshire tea bags – a must, they don’t really do tea in the US
- a 6 way extension lead meaning you only have to take one adapter for all that charging stuff
- DVDs for evening entertainment plus a DVD rewriter for the laptop to play them on and a 3metre HDMI lead to plug into their TV. It works well
- Watching British TV? I used a VPN (Virtual Private Network). I use Express VPN for about £70 a year. It is very easy to use and you can watch iplayer, Netflix etc.
- I take a couple of Sainsburys or TESCO bags. Sounds stupid but they are really useful for carrying around stuff.
- This might sound weird but we take our pillows. We have a great down pillow each which pack up small and are light. When you sleep in 9 different beds its great to have your own pillows!
