Frommer's New Zealand from $50 a Day [Paperback]

Elizabeth Hansen (Author), Richard Adams (Author)

Book Description

Series: Frommer's New Zealand from $ a Day | Publication Date: November 25, 1997

A guide to New Zealand that is packed with advice for those who are travelling on a tight budget. Information is provided on sightseeing, restaurants and places to stay, with full, honest descriptions. It also suggests things to do for free, including the best places for simply relaxing.

Product Details

• Paperback: 426 pages
• Publisher: Frommer; 7th edition (November 25, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0028614089
• ISBN-13: 978-0028614083
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,436,622 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

For my complete bio and to access my three travel blogs ("Authentic Luxury Travel," "La Jolla Travel Information," and "Travel: Staying Healthy On the Road"), please visit www.elizabethhansen.net

I love to travel, but I make a lousy tourist.

I want to wander off the beaten path and walk, browse, hike, bike, and kayak at my own pace. I enjoy talking with local people, benefiting from insider information, and dining on regional dishes. I want to savor the beauty of exotic environments in peace and quiet.


Like other authentic luxury travelers, I also want my creature comforts. I appreciate high-thread-count bed linens, room service, and air-conditioning. I am especially fond of clean, well-equipped bathrooms.

Can we have it all?

You bet we can. As the travel editor of Ranch & Coast, a luxury lifestyle magazine, I've learned that the Third World and the Four Seasons are not mutually exclusive. Affluent travelers can have authentic experiences without sacrificing comfort and convenience.

My husband and I have enjoyed the hospitality of New Zealand farmers, "glamped" in Denali National Park wilderness, visited remote Hmong villages in North Vietnam, and watched Kuna Indians making molas in Panama's San Blas Islands.

These real, very untouristy experiences do not require a youth hostel card and a backpack. We happily forgo tours and cruises, but we don't compromise on lodging, meals, and modes of transportation - and we always come home smarter, happier, and full of new ideas.

Authentic Luxury Travel just takes a bit of planning - and that's where I come in. There's nothing I enjoy more than sharing my experiences with others. That's why I write three travel blogs and monthly magazine articles, make available our 60,000+ stock photos via ADAMS / HANSEN STOCK PHOTOS, and do public speaking and consulting. These avenues allow me to relive my favorite memories and share with fellow travelers what I have learned along the way.

On my "La Jolla Travel Information" blog I provide insider information that enables visitors to my hometown enjoy San Diego's favorite coastal community like a local - not a tourist. "Staying Healthy On the Road" provides tips on feeling great while traveling.

Please read my blogs at www.elizabethhansen.net and don't hesitate to contact me if you have questions about creating authentic travel experiences.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good for planning pre-trip, but not as helpful during, August 13, 2000

By 

Jim Carson "http://www.jimcarson.com" (Bellevue, WA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Frommer's New Zealand from $50 a Day (Paperback)

When we were considering what to do during our month in New Zealand, travel agents were pleading with us to have everything lined up before "the Y2k rush." So, being the literal engineering types, we bought a couple of books -- the Lonely Planet NZ and the Frommers for Under $50/day -- and started poring through them.

Our initial impression of the Lonely Planet book was too dense to be useful to us. The Frommer's guide, however, had suggested itineraries based on the time one could spend in New Zealand. Even better, the author, Elizabeth Hansen, was available to "consult" on the trip on an hourly basis. Because we'd be toting our 18-month old, we used her services and pre-booked the entire trip.

Once there, we found the Lonely Planet book much more useful. The Lonely Planet guide excels at providing abundant information about towns, including attractions, restaurants and maps giving a rough layout.

For example, one of the folks at a Visitor center clued us into Farewell Spit, an area we were going to forego because it was well off our chosen route. As it turned out, Tahuna Park, our campground in Nelson was pretty bad (right under an airport takeoff path; lots of people permanently living there; undermaintained kitchens), and we didn't relish the idea of spending three days there as originally planned.

The side trip to Farewell Spit was long and we'd have to find some place relatively nearby to the Spit to make it a reasonable trip. Unfortunately, this is where the Frommer's guide was very weak. It caters more to the B&B crowd, and there isn't that much north (or west) of Nelson. The Lonely Planet book, however, paid for itself by suggesting a lot of options, providing maps of the little towns, and listing restaurants where we might stop at for "snack time."

In summary: The Frommer's book is helpful for initially planning your trip.

The Frommer's book has more of a focus on higher-end accomodations, e.g., motels or beds and breakfasts, and covers a smaller area. This is not such a big deal unless you want to venture too far off the beaten path.

We felt the author's services were worthwhile.

Don't underestimate the value of the Visitor Centers scattered throughout New Zealand. They were generally very good at providing local information. Most will also book special activities for you.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Only guide book I took with me., March 23, 2000

By 

Laura Baker "Voracious reader" (Columbus, IN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Frommer's New Zealand from $50 a Day (Paperback)

I recently spent two weeks in New Zealand. This was the only book I took with me and it was the best choice. I had looked through others but, I would recommend this book to anyone who is planning a holiday there. The pricing was a bit outdated due to the exchange rate, but all the other information was dead on! I did the things recommended in Rotorua, Taupo and Napier and I was well prepared! The for free or nearly free things to do and see were the best. I cant wait to go back!