Month: July 2018

Here’s a quick warning about driving a car on your visit to New Zealand

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I wish someone had warned me.

I typically drive at or right around the speed limit, and I’d never gotten a speeding ticket before.

That is until a moment during my recent visit to New Zealand, when I went 38.5 MPH in a 31 MPH zone (62km/h in a 50 km/h zone), oblivious to the camera on a pole catching me in the act.

Back home about a month later, I got the surprise 80 NZD souvenir in the mail.

The ticket noted that I could email the police department for a photo of the infraction, so I did that and got this a few days later: Continue reading →

Ranking the 4 major points hotels on NZ’s North Island

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Outside of Best Western and Choice Hotels, New Zealand doesn’t have a ton of points options for chain hotels.

Why stay at a chain hotel though?

Loyalty status can get you free meals and upgraded rooms, and using points can make those rooms free.

Sure, you could always use bank points such as Chase UR points to book almost any hotel you want using those points, but this post is looking at four hotels you can book with hotel points.

Which hotels?

InterContinental Wellington, Hilton Auckland, Crowne Plaza Auckland, and Hilton Lake Taupo.

You might be surprised at what ended up being my least favorite of the four: Continue reading →