Before you pack and fly, you have to book your trip. It takes money, annual leave and time to plan. More and more New Zealanders are choosing to ‘vacay now, pay later’ by taking advantage of the Deferred Payment Scheme. Is it a good idea? Financial experts debate the pros and cons and give their verdict.
If you’re on a tight budget, you could try planning a cheap getaway with ChatGPT (don’t take our suggestions with a pinch of salt) or head to some of the destinations Kiwis can currently visit and travel to on the cheap.
Speaking of destinations, a cabin with no electricity or gas sounds dreamy for a couples getaway, but what if you have kids? Head to the cabin with baby in tow to see if it’s still just as ideal a place.
Rolling clothes instead of folding them saves space and reduces wrinkles, making them a preferred method among professional butlers. Photo / 123rf
packing
Now it’s time to pack. What do you pack? No matter where you’re going, we’ve got the essential traveler’s list for every trip, plus six techniques to make the most of your suitcase space.
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If you’re determined to travel with a carry-on, you might want to try the “333 Method,” said to be the ultimate way to shrink your luggage.
If you’re taking a long-haul flight, be sure to bring these five items with you to make your flight feel like a luxury one (even if you’re just lounging around in economy class).
Flying
Feeling tired and dazed is not a good way to start your holiday. Luckily, this premium article details why jet lag happens and practical ways to minimise its effects, so you can start your holiday feeling refreshed and excited.
Heading off on a family trip? A new dad takes his 12-week-old daughter on a domestic flight and shares the essentials and tips for new parents, from costs to packing lists.
Once the excitement of flying wears off, boredom sets in, and back pain is normal. But back pain doesn’t have to be, according to the director of the Scoliosis Reduction Center in Florida, who offers Herald readers some simple steps to avoid back pain while flying.
If reclining your seat makes you more comfortable, what about etiquette? It’s a debate as old as time, so our travel team weighs in on when and how you should recline, and what passengers are allowed to get mad about.
Reclining is fine, as long as you follow certain unspoken rules. Photo / 123rf
Airplane turbulence has been in the news lately, causing various accidents and serious injuries, so we spoke to experts about how to stay safe, identify the most turbulent routes in the world, and TikTok hacks you should never try when it’s especially bumpy.
Going by sea instead? We explain why floaties (and other unexpected items) could get you kicked off the ship, and how to save as much money as possible when booking a cruise.
trip
When we think of “culture shock,” we tend to think of dramatic examples: a language, clothes, cuisine that’s completely different from anything we’ve ever seen before. But as one journalist discovered, it’s often the places that are similar to our own country that trip us up the most. After traveling in the US, they share the money rules that New Zealand travelers should know, from hidden taxes to hotel tipping.
Speaking of hotels, a flight attendant revealed why shoes are key to avoiding a travel mistake made by even seasoned travel editors.
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Even the most experienced travellers often lose their passports. Photo / Getty Images
The internet is full of advice for travellers suffering from stomach aches or other gastrointestinal upsets in Bali, but what if you’ve recovered and are still feeling unwell once you return home? We spoke to an expert gastroenterologist about what to do after getting sick abroad, and which gut health advice is a waste of money.
Still wanting more tips and tricks? Someone recently asked travelers to share their tips that they think no one else knows, and they got 2,600 replies. Here are some of the best answers.
