Where the streets have no name
New Zealand, we said a couple of weeks ago, is where all the action is. The youngest country on earth—as it likes to call itself because of the ongoing geothermal and volcanic activity—is also a spectacular destination for adventurous drivers. Imagine miles of traffic-free roads, wide open spaces and all kinds of conveniences for road travellers and you’ll just be scratching the tip of the pyramid of reasons to do NZ by road.
Port of call: The MSC Fantasia
To make the idea even more irresistible, Thomas Cook takes out the drudgery of flight bookings, car rentals and insurance by bundling them in a new package. Focused on South Island, the six-night/seven-day deal kicks off in the city of Christchurch and then plots your way through Mount Cook—NZ’s highest point—adventure capital Queenstown, the scenic route of the West Coast and into the glacier township regions of Franz Josef and Fox. Perhaps more than any other country in the world, NZ is geared to gift visitors with unforgettable experiences—and whether it’s bungee jumping in Queenstown or cruising in Lake Wakatipu that gets your adrenalin flowing, the freedom of being able to do it at your own pace will make it a truly unforgettable holiday.
There’s a catch of course: The package is available for just three more days, till 31 March. And it can be availed of only this May. The six-night/seven-day self-drive package costs Rs69,990 per person and includes ex-Mumbai return economy airfare on Singapore Airlines, New Zealand visa fees, three-star accommodation with breakfast, car rentals and insurance.
Best of all? Your Indian driving licence is valid in New Zealand. And they even drive on the left of the road. For further details, contact Thomas Cook on 1-800-2099-100.
The bag on your back
You’ve been hearing about it: that this is the best possible time to “do” Europe, when continental currencies are floundering and the rupee is relatively rock steady. Yet you’re not quite in the mood to splash out. Ever thought of backpacking? Suchna and Yogesh Shah, the wanderlust-y couple heading The Backpacker Co., have a brand new summer itinerary that’ll encourage you to brush up your basic history and Hungarian. Based on the concept that travellers need guidance and not obsessive handholding, they plan a basic schedule and then leave plenty of time in which you can do your own thing. So, if you’re repelled by the idea of visiting the human-bone church at Kutna Hora and just want to read a book on a park bench, you can, without fear of sour looks and short-changing.
The tour covers Prague (Czech Republic), Olomouc (Czech Republic), Auschwitz (Poland), Krakow (Poland), Zakopane (Poland), Budapest (Hungary) and, somewhat anti-climatically, Zurich (Switzerland).