travel like a pro

Some people are seasoned travellers. They seem to know all the tricks about visiting the right places, getting the best deals and all without any hassles. Then there are those who feel their holiday or business trip falls short of what they hoped for or expected.

The hotel room might not be quite what they had thought it would be. Or, the restaurant they dine at leaves a lot to be desired in service and taste. These are the people who need a little help in travelling like a pro and getting the most out of their time away.

Choosing a hotel

Have you ever booked a hotel online and been greatly disappointed when you arrive? Confused, you recall the pictures online and they looked nothing at all like what is before you.

Any number of issues can arise for travellers with hotels, especially for those who choose budget friendly accommodation. The rooms are smaller, the décor and furniture is old and tattered, the kitchen facilities are miniscule and some find the bathrooms are not cleaned well.

Sadly, some establishments are now writing fake reviews on their accommodation supposedly by travellers who have stayed there and were happy with the experience. This can contribute to a traveller being disappointed so here is some advice to spot a fake review.

If you have read over a few reviews for one hotel and they seem to be written in a similar style from different people this may be an indication of a false review. A sudden increase in positive feedback for a hotel that had previously not been well rated could also be a sign.

One of the best ways to be sure is to check a couple of trip advisor sites and sources with reviews on the same hotel rather than just the hotel site itself.

Technology improving travel experiences

Smart phone technology and the apps that come with them offer many benefits, including travelling. There are a few mobile apps that are fantastic if you find yourself stuck in a city due to a cancelled flight that you didn’t plan to be or if you are just after some advice about what is nearby.

NearMe is perfect for an unplanned stay in a city. Using your location you can easily find bars, restaurants and more that are nearby and it will show you how to get there. TripGems is full of personal recommendations about cafes, hotels, restaurants and more all over the world.

TravelMate is perfect for those on a road trip. All you need to do is put in your start and end location and TravelMate will provide you with the route options available and places to see. If you want to make a detour, just change the details and the itinerary will update.

Tourcaster provides audio guides and podcasts to gain a local perspective. Divided into interest and destination types you can find anything from driving tours to walking tours. If you want to find the best price for your desired trip, then Pintrip is for you.

You can set up alerts that will advise of travel specials to your chosen destination. Pintrip uses Google Chrome to search; however, you will have the use of Firefox and Safari as support soon.

Choosing a car

If you will need the use of a car on your holiday then a budget friendly, reputable choice is in order. Alpha Car Hire offers this and more. Budget friendly car hire is just one of our good points.

For years at Alpha Car Hire we have been providing our clients with high quality service, great prices and near to new cars that are clean and reliable. It doesn’t matter if you are single, a couple, a family or a group of friends.

We have a great range of vehicles to suit most needs and optional extras to make travelling easier such as GPSs. Travellers from overseas and interstate can easily fly in and collect a hire vehicle from us as we have offices across various locations including airports in all major Australian cities.

Australia has many beautiful locations and tourist spots to see. Road trips are popular amongst locals and backpackers alike and hiring a vehicle makes perfect sense. You can check out the specials we have online or make a phone call to talk to one of our friendly team.

It’s wise to ensure you understand all the hire terms and conditions when hiring a vehicle with us. If you have any questions, we are only too happy to answer them. Should you require any further advice on great places to visit or even places to avoid, we can help there too.

It is our business to make sure you travel safely and in comfort and that your experience with us is nothing short of fantastic.