There are few lovelier words in the English language than "free" and "travel". Combine them and you have a blockbuster of a phrase. Here are a few of the good deals--all very different from one another--that we've found this week.
Cheaper New Zealand, with Free Car Rental and Free Hotel Night
Tourism New Zealand apparently wants to drum up some business. So it has teamed with Hawaiian Airlines for a package that includes round-trip air from the West Coast, a week's car rental and a free hotel stay on your first night in country. What makes the deal particularly delightful is that all of these elements together are coming in below the cost of the air alone (which seems to average around $1300 from most gateways). So what is the cost? Just $1210, including taxes, from 10 gateways, including Seattle, San Francisco and LA. Travel must be booked by Sept 30 with travel either by Oct. 3, or between Oct 19 and Dec 18 or Feb 1-April 23. For all the details, go to http://www.newzealand.com/us.
(Few places in the world are more beautiful than New Zealand; photo by Kay Adams/Flickr)
"Oh Room Service, can you send up a head of cabbage, some carrots, ziploc bags and a Stouffers frozen dinner?"
Though that may sound like a strange order for a hotel, apparently an increasing number are offering free grocey shopping services for guests in lieu of regular room service, according to USA Today. Among the chains now offering the service are Residence Inns and Homewood Suites. For complete info click on the link above.
Free Lighthouse Visits in Maine
Admittedly, this is a short-lived freebie, but this Saturday, across the great state of Maine (where leaves are already turning in some areas, I hear) 21 historic lighthouses will be opening up their doors to visitors, and waiving all admission costs. For full info, click here.
Free Hotel Night in Sydney for Social Butterflies
This last one's a bit silly but here goes anyway. According to the Guardian newspaper, a hotel called The 1888 in Sydney will give away a free night to anyone who has over 10,000 followers on Instagram...and promises to post a photo of the hotel on their page. If they'd only kick in the airfare, too.....
