How to Find Cheap Hotels in Queenstown, New Zealand

Famous for its appearances in the "Lord of the Rings" film trilogy, Queenstown, New Zealand is a beautiful region that caters generously to the tourist population and provides an array of cheap accommodations. Queenstown is very popular with people interested in extreme summer sports and skiing in the winter.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer with Internet access

Choose Your Accommodations in Queenstown, New Zealand

1. Call Tourism New Zealand at 011 ([phone] for more information about accommodations in New Zealand, or visit its Web site (see Resources below).

2. Save money by staying in a hostel. There are a multitude of hostels and backpacker inns in Queenstown. Individual costs for dorm-style rooms tend to run about $15 per person, while double rooms are around $35 a night and work out great it you have a traveling companion.

3. Consider renting apartments for larger travel groups or families. If enough people are in your vacationing party, splitting the rent on a temporary apartment may prove to be a cheap alternative to a standard hotel.

4. Opt for mid-range hotels over expensive international hotels. Booking far enough in advance at these accommodations can get you even better rates.

5. Try camping to experience the real landscape of New Zealand. The amenities are minimal, but the prices can't be beat. In addition to standard tent camping, there are campsites that provide cabins.

Know Your Destination

6. Travel during spring from September to November and get cheap off-season rates. This is still a great time to visit with a jazz festival to attend and smaller crowds to contend with.

7. Be prepared for Queenstown's thriving tourism industry. It is often called "Vegas by the lake."

See Popular Attractions in Queenstown

8. Fans of Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy can use the money they save on their cheap accommodations to go on the "Lord of the Rings" tour, showcasing locations in the Queenstown area where the films were shot.

9. Bungee jump from the Kawarau Bridge-one of the most famous jumps in the world.

Tips & Warnings

• Using courtesy shuttles and traveling by foot can save you a great deal of money. There is a cheap shuttle that goes from the airport to the O'Connells Shopping Mall.
• Tourists interested in seeing Queenstown's famous Bra Road will require a car that can drive past the fence full of the undergarments of passers-by.
• Phone numbers include the United States international prefix "011." When calling internationally from outside the United States, check which international dialing prefix to use. All country codes are within parentheses and begin with a "+" sign.