Exploring New Zealand by road is very popular, either by hire car or motor home, allowing you the luxury of exploring this beautiful country at a leisurely pace.
 
Make sure you leave plenty of time to drive around New Zealand as the country is larger than the UK, the roads often winding and most of the highways outside of the cities consisting of just one lane in each direction. There are many small islands sprinkled around New Zealand, which compromise of two main islands; “North Island” and “South Island”. 

Driving in New Zealand couldn’t be easier – they drive on the left!  Like in the UK, when the traffic lights are red, you must stop, and give way to the right.  The speed limits however, are kilometers per hour. The minimum age to rent a car is 21 years and seat belts must be worn in the front and back of vehicles.

To combine stunning white beaches and dense forests, take a tour of the north of the North Island. Start in Auckland, and visit the Bay of Islands region, a beautiful area made up of 144 islands and quiet bays where you may go marlin fishing or seek whales, penguins or dolphins. The beauty of the Coromandel is just 90 minutes from Auckland, rich in history, rainforests and long pristine beaches. To enjoy a little Maori culture and European history, head to Roturua.

The South Island is best known for its glorious Alps and Fjords. Start in the capital of Christchurch, and take the TranzAlpine train to Greymouth, one of the world’s most scenic routes. From here you could then drive along the west coast to the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers.  Inland is the Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park, New Zealand’s highest mountain. Enjoy the exhilaration of a Shotover Jet ride speeding down the Shotover River or the normality of historic Arrowtown.

There is a huge selection of New Year breaks and New Year holidays in the UK to choose from.

Hire a car with easyCar and drive to a comfy country bed and breakfast for a quiet New Year break, or stay in one of the Warner Leisure Hotels for 3 or 4 nights including New Year’s Eve, and enjoy the party, evening meal, live entertainment, a piper and fireworks.

If you want to simply relax, or celebrate the festive season in full party style, there are plenty of hotels offering New Year Breaks in the UK to suit every requirement. Choose a secluded country house or a city centre hotel, a quaint rural Inn or a hotel spa resort which offers activities all through the year.

Celebrate the arrival of 2010 on a New Year Break in the Cotswold countryside, amongst the Welsh hills, on the edge of Lake Windermere in the Lake District or overlooking the south coast from Brighton.

Enjoy a two night New Year Break arriving on 28 December at Centre Parcs in Longleat Forest or five nights arriving on 30 December at Whinefell Forest where you should wrap up warm and experience a whole assortment of indoor and outdoor activities over the New Year period.

Greet the New Year with traditional Hogmanay celebrations in one of Scotland’s Hotels of Distinction such as at the Four Seasons Hotel in St Fillans, Perthshire or Ruttlets Country House Hotel in St. Andrews, Fife. 

The New Year celebrations in Edinburgh are renowned worldwide. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party is a programme of music, lights, dancing and midnight fireworks to see in the new decade. Stage events start at 9pm on Princes Street and it is worth pre booking tickets to the various events to avoid disappointment!

As Big Ben in London tolls midnight on December 31st 2009, hold hands with the person next to you and sing…

“Should auld acquaintance be forgot and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot and auld lang syne
For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,
We’ll take a cup o kindness yet, for auld lang syne.”

Happy New Year!

Montpellier is located in the south of France and is the capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region and Herault department. Situated close to the Provence boarder, Montpellier is the ideal location to either enjoy many days on the long sandy Mediterranean beaches of the Languedoc or exploring the glorious countryside of Provence.

Montpellier – Mediterranean Airport (MPL) is just six miles from the coast and five miles from the city, with excellent road links to Nimes which is 30 miles away and Marseilles, a further 125 miles.  Flights from the UK to Montpellier depart from London Gatwick and Stansted with a flight duration of just over two hours.

There are seven car rental companies based at Montpellier Airport with easyCar offering cheap car hire deals in just a few clicks.  When you fly into Montpellier Airport, having cleared customs and collected your baggage, make your way to Hall 4 on the ground floor which is where the car rental desks are located. Once your paperwork is completed having shown your full valid driving licence, passport and paid the usual car hire deposit by credit card, you will then be directed to your hire car in the rental car compound. Remember to drive on the right and make sure you are comfy and confident with the controls before leaving the airport.

Driving in France is very easy, and the roads easy to navigate.

If you’d prefer to rent a car from central Montpellier, there are also collection points at Montpellier rail stations and downtown Montpellier.

The Languedoc region of France is often forgotten by the Brits, but having holidayed here on numerous occasions with and without family, I can’t understand why!  The beaches are glorious, the countryside sensational, the local wine delicious and the towns and villages, simply fascinating.  Knowing a smattering of French helps outside of the main towns, but the local people are helpful and getting by without being fluent, is easy.

One of the nearest beaches to Montpellier is La Grande Motte seaside resort, with its busy yacht lined harbour and long soft sandy Mediterranean beach. The main town is modern but much consideration has gone into the development of La Grande Motte with its miles of footpaths and cycle tracks, extensive woodlands, three golf courses and streets lined with trees.

Montpellier is also on the edge of the Camargue which is the largest river delta in western Europe. A Parc Naturel, the Camargue is awash with fantastic flora and fauna, and is a habitat for the pink greater flamingo.

A USA Fly Drive holiday is the perfect way to explore the States, either by staying in one location and discovering the surrounding area, or by booking hotels and motels in multiple towns and venturing through the American countryside and exploring the many sights and attractions.

If driving in the USA for the first time, it is important to understand that the country’s states are vast in size and may take many hours or even days just to drive from one side to the other. To drive from New York on the east coast (Atlantic) to Los Angeles on the west coast (Pacific) will take a minimum of five days with stops.  Drive on the right and be aware that in many US states, you can turn right at a red traffic light, unless otherwise stated.  Also be aware that road laws can differ from state to state.

Fly into your chosen US airport and make your way to the car hire desks where you will be asked for your car rental booking details, full valid driving licence and a credit card for a deposit.

The most popular USA fly drive location for Brits travelling abroad is Florida which is one of the smaller states. Fly drive into Orlando and you are only 85 miles from Tampa but fly drive Miami, and Tampa is about 250 miles away.

A very scenic journey is fly drive California between Los Angeles and San Francisco. Travel for speed along the I-5 (green route) or for a slightly more interesting route travel for 430 mile on the US101 or black route.  However, by far the most beautiful of routes is driving your hire car down the blue Coastal Route along the Pacific which can take about 10 hours and can only really be enjoyed by stopping off over night on the way.

When on a USA Fly Drive holiday do consider how far you are travelling when choosing which model of hire car to book. If you are travelling for hours at a time along straight empty roads, look at hiring a car with cruise control so that you can set the speed and take your foot off the accelerator (do check you know how to turn it off!). Otherwise, choose a car with enough baggage space.  For shorter journeys, for example if collecting a hire car at Orlando airport and driving to your accommodation and then onto the theme parks, then you just have to consider space for the passengers and baggage between to and from the airport.

The Italian island of Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean with over 1,500 miles of coastline and located about five hours west by ferry from the mainland of Italy.

The three main Sardinia airports to fly to from the UK are Olbia in the north east, Alghero in the north west and Cagliari in the south, with flight durations from 2 hours 30 minutes.

Costa Smeralda or the Emerald Coast is in the north east; a world famous holiday destination. Particularly well known are the areas of Porto Rotondo with its yacht fringed harbour, and the seaside resort of Porto Cervo. Dramatic granite mountains drop down to small beaches and promontories, with manmade bathing platforms perfect for a dip in the cool azure sea. When on holiday in Sardinia, a boat trip to the Tavolara Island Marine Reserves and National Park Maddalena’s Archipelago, should be top of your list. There are many good beach resorts on the north coast of Sardinia including Badesi, Valledoria and Isola Rossa.  A quieter resort about 90 miles from Olbia is Cala Gonone, with is peaceful beaches and the caves of Blue Marino.

The north west coast of Sardinia is home to many pretty and popular seaside resorts, and a dramatic coastline which includes fantastic sandy beaches and scenic jagged cliffs.  Historic Alghero with its cobbled lanes and fortified walls oozes charm, but if you’re looking for popular seaside fun and sweeping beaches too, you won’t have far to travel (Maria Pia beach). Alghero is the ideal base from which to explore the north east during your Sardinia holidays with a good choice of hotels and self catering accommodation, many fine restaurants and pizzerias, and a selection of stores. Do visit the provincial capital of Sassari with its boulevards leading to sun soaked squares and huge number of shops, and 12th Century cliff top Castelsardo with its narrow steep paths leading to spectacular views of the Mediterranean.

In southern Sardinia, Cagliari is the island’s capital. Overlooked by mountain ranges, the southern beaches are stunning and lapped by clear azure waters, perfect for many lazy days in the sun.  A busy port town, vibrant Cagliari is dominated by its castle and surrounded by the medieval walls.  An area popular with hikers and bird watchers is Pula with the salt hills and Sulcis mountain range, although its long sandy beach draws in the majority of visitors. The town comes alive at night with its open air cafes and restaurants and late opening shops. For beaches, head to Nora Beach near Pula, and if staying at the Forte Village, St Margherita. One of the best beaches in Europe is Chia with its sand dunes and plenty of refreshments. Take out a kayak, swim or surf but head to Molentes beach and snorkelling is the preferred sport.