As the world starts to become more tolerant of other cultures beliefs and religions we see a lot of countries around the world taking part in festivals and celebrations which would normally not be on the countries holiday lists. This could be due to travel becoming more affordable and easier to embark on, or it could also be that more and more people throughout the world now have access to the vast array of videos , media, blogs displayed on the world wide web.

One country which you would rarely hear your family or friends say their travelling to is India. Situated on the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea, India is known as being one of the most populated countries in the world. Gradually we have seen India transform form a developing country and slowly, awareness is catching on that India is the place to travel, with a fast growing economy and great culture there’s no longer an excuse to not visit the wonderful place.

Maybe you’re the type of person that wants to experience culture? Or maybe you’re the type of traveller who is after an adrenaline rush. Either way there is a great festival held annually in Indian in the month of March, which will give any traveller an experience they will never forget. The Festival known as Holi is the religious celebration held in spring throughout the world by the Hindu religion, and lasts up to 16 days.

The exact legend behind Holi is uncertain, it is said there was once an evil king named Hiranyakasipu and he had a son named Prince Prahlad. The Prince infuriated his father as he was considered Holy and would often worship Lord Vishnu instead of worshiping his father. The king is said to have tried to kill his son several ways but failed due to Lord Vishnu always saving the prince. The king eventually ordered his evil sister Holika who was immune from fire to lure his son and take him into blazing flames. It was said that because Holika was using her powers for evil, the gods stripped her of this gift and she perished in the flames. The Prince forgave his evil aunt Holika and celebration of good triumphing over evil began annually, thus the name Holi.

We also see a legend which involved young Krishna who envied his soul mates Radha’s fair complexion, Krishna is said to have gone and coloured Radha’s face with darker colours and today this legend shows the lovable prank of applying colours to love ones faces throughout Holi. This is where we see the fun of the Holi festival; throughout the celebration people throw coloured powders, water bombs and even use pichkari’s which are somewhat similar to water guns.

Locations for Holi

Marthura & Vrindavan
If you want to experience a traditional Holi visit Mathura and Vrindavan, which are approximately 2 hours south of New Delhi. The month before Holi you will see dancers from throughout India come and interpret the story of Krishna and Radha’s legend.

Jaipur
Approximately 4 hours drive south west of New Delhi lays Jaipur. During the Holi season Jaipur offers dancing, elephant beauty contests and parades, foreigners are also regularly seen at this Holi celebration.

New Delhi
To celebrate modern Holi at its best check out the Delhi Holi Cow festival. A celebration of colour, music and people the festival is held a short distance outside of the main city of Delhi. The festival is a mixture of locals, tourist and expats making it a safe place to partake in the celebrations.

Mumbai
If you would rather not partake in the festival but still be able to see and experience the culture check out Juhu Beach or Colaba. Both these locations will be safe if you are just going to watch the as this is a tourist location.

Tips for Celebration Holi in India
•If you are driving your hire car to a destination give yourself plenty of time to get there , there will be a lot of traffic – It would be best if you arrive at the destination a day or two before to avoid missing out

•Definitely avoid driving during Holi’s peak hours

•When driving during the 16 days of Holi celebrations it is highly recommended to keep your car windows closed – to avoid any powder , or coloured water accidently entering your car

•Due to Holi being one of the messiest festivals make sure to wear old clothing, it may be hard to remove certain colours.

•If buying coloured powder try and buy shades of reds – this is because the other colours have more chemicals, better yet try and find someone who is selling natural powder

•Make sure to apply coconut oil or moisturisers to your body to avoid the colours staining your skin.

•It is also best if you wear some kind of eye protection like sunglasses to avoid any mishaps with the coloured powder.

•It is highly recommended that women do not go out and celebrate Holi alone; this is due to safety concerns.

And the best tip of all… is to have fun! The festival is about celebrating culture, history, love and freedom, embrace the traditions and make sure to take lots of photos!!

Are you planning a journey through India? If so take a look at Auto Europe’s discounted prices on car hire from all major airports and cities.

If you’re travelling anywhere close to Germany late September early October it is a must to drop on by to Oktoberfest and experience the joy that one of the world’s largest and well known festivals have to offer. Not only is the entry free of charge, it also provides 17 days of entertainment for the young to the mature.

The event is held at Theresienwieseb for the duration and provides visitors a chance to participate in carnival games, ride the loop roller coaster or get lost in a labyrinth. If fun and games is not your cup of tea you could always watch the Costume and Riflemen’s parade, sit through the Open Air Concerts or keep an eye on the famous Oktoberfest landlords and breweries entries.

Getting to Oktoberfest may seem the trickiest part with many opting to travel via public transport; however there are opportunities and locations for travelers who will not be consuming alcohol to park on the out skirts of Munich city , and catch the one of the many subway lines to the event. This means you will be able to leave the event faster and be on your way back to your next location in no time. Auto Europe Australia currently is offering a vast array of car rental locations and suppliers throughout Europe, which will be able to cater to most European Holidays.

Oktoberfest 2011 will be held from 17 September up until 3rd October.

If the idea of driving down old English country roads or driving along the French Riviera doesn’t tickle your fancy maybe the Mongol Rally is more your thing. Teams from all around the world get together and take part in this 10,000 mile trip, starting in July from the UK and finishing in Mongolia.

The unsupported rally focuses on the team’s vehicle and distance covered rather than the places visited along the way. Teams will drive through 15 countries, with up to 300 vehicles being involved. Drivers have to battle their way through deserts, down dirt roads and mountains without any help if they break down.

The rules are simple, your car must not be older than 10 years, engine can’t be bigger than 1.2 litres and you must raise at least AUD1, 500 for charity. Participants aren’t given a route to follow or a time limit, you just have to end up in Mongolia.

Does this sound like your idea of a good driving trip? Let us know!

As things start to cool down here in Australia, Europe are happy to be welcoming a warm spring. After months of extreme weather France will be in full bloom as the colour of flowers and the green of trees start to reappear. France is so easy to navigate around with you have a hire car, why not pay a visit to Marche de Franc.

You will find the Marche de Franc in Noyon, close to Amiens. This market takes over the Place de l’Hotel de Ville and the main streets of Noyon. The market originally was used to sell livestock however over the years has turned into a place to buy fruit and vegetables, cheese, wine, fresh flowers and clothes.

It’s a great place to stop for lunch and experience some real authentic French food, make sure to try some of the different cheeses and wine. The Marche de Franc is also well known for its fresh fruit jams and syrups, a great way to take some of Noyon home with you. Not only will you get to try some of the region’s best food but you will also be able to mingle with the locals and even try out your French speaking skills!

Have you ever visited one of the French markets? What did you think? Let us know!

We’ve just seen the end of The FIFA World Cup in South Africa but it’s time to start thinking about the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand! The games are spread over 7 weeks with the best team becoming the 2011 Rugby World Cup champions.

 

This is an excellent chance for Australian’s to get over to New Zealand for a break. Cars will sell out quickly so make sure you book your New Zealand hire car as soon as possible so you know you have a car confirmed.

 

20 nations in total will meet during the event and play between 13 stadiums all over the country. Rugby officials are expecting over 60,000 spectators to attend the games from all over the world.

 

If you are making the journey over to the ‘Island of the long white cloud” make sure you get out there and explore what New Zealand has on offer. Car hire makes it easy for you to travel between the islands and experience the rich Maori culture. Take some time out to relax in some of New Zealand’s thermal pools or get your adrenaline pumping with some of the countries well known adventure.
Are you planning on going to the 2011 Rugby World Cup? What do you plan to see/do between matches? Let us know!

I can already hear it, the sounds of thousands of screaming fans supporting their country and favourite team. Everywhere you go lately you are surrounded by FIFA fever. If you are a little bit behind South Africa are hosting the games this year and it’s sure to be a good one. Games will be played over 9 cities with the competition spanning a month, but there can only be one winner!

I’m sure for most people the journey over to South Africa for the World Cup would be a rare one so if you are going don’t forget to get out there and see what South Africa has to offer. If you can escape the stadium for a few hours its well worth having a look around, you might even be quite surprised.

For those spending time in Cape Town take a trip out to the city’s famous Table Mountain. Just as its name suggests Table Mountain is a flat topped mountain that over looks Cape Town. Make sure you take your camera with you as the mountain offers spectacular views. The cable car takes you up to the top of the mountain or if you are more adventurous you can hike up the mountain where there are a number of activities visitors can partake in such as rock climbing or caving.

If nature isn’t really your thing but shopping is and you’re in the Durban area you definitely need to pay Gateway Theatre of Shopping a visit. Modelled on the Mall of America, Gateway Theatre is the largest shopping centre in South Africa! Considering this isn’t your run of the mill shopping centre there are bound to be some unusual attractions such as bumper cars, a skate park, indoor rock climbing, theme parks and adventure golf.

Animal lovers will want to visit the Addo Elephant Park in Johannesburg. Perfect for families or anyone wanting to get out in the open away from the crowds. Here you will be able to see Elephants, Buffalo, Rhinoceros, Lions, Great White Sharks and Whales. Getting around the park is easy with the options of walking, hiking, horse riding or driving.

This is just a sample of what the hosting cities have to offer. Make sure you do your research so you get the most out of your trip and see the gems that South Africa has to offer. If you’re not going to the World Cup hopefully this will inspire you to get investigating and put South Africa on your must see list.

Let us know…are you going to show your support this year at the FIFA World Cup? What’s your favourite team?

If you’re one of the lucky travellers and sports fans that are off to South Africa to watch the FIFA World Cup this June, you will be in for one almighty trip. You’ll have football galore with the best of the world’s players vying for the World Cup trophy, all played in first class stadiums. The nation is dotted with fantastic cities and towns hosting the matches, such as Durban, Nelspruit, Johannesburg, Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.

Although the main focus for football fans is to watch the soccer, there are a few sights along the way that you won’t want to miss. So when you’re driving from stadium to stadium or you have some spare time between matches, allocate some time to soak up some true South African experiences.

Nelspruit – visit the Lowveld National Gardens, or take a trip to see the Sudwala Caves outside of the city.

Pretoria – See the National Botanical Gardens in Pretoria, or explore the Groenkloof Nature Reserve

Polokwane – Capital of the Limpopo region, this is the gateway to Kruger National Park and the essential South African wildlife experience, where you can explore the Valley of the Olifants and Waterberg. Get those hiking boots on and see some of the countries best game reserves.

Rustenburg – As it’s centered in the North-West Province you can visit the resort town of Sun City or see the Big Five at Pilanesberg National Park.

Johannesburg –For some culture, go to the Johannesburg Art Gallery or otherwise visit the Lion park north of Johannesburg.

Bloemfontein – See the best of agricultural South Africa around the Free State region, visit the Basotho Cultural Village or do some rock climbing on the huge sandstone cliffs in the Golden Gate National Park.

Durban – Go hiking in Drakensbergen, the highest mountain range in South Africa, or explore the World Heritage listed Isimabgaliso Wetland Park.

Port Elizabeth – Hit the beach! Follow Marine Drive to experience some of South Africa’s best beaches and natural home to pods of dolphins, or check out the elephants at Addo National Park.

Cape Town – Climb Table Mountain, visit the V&A Waterfront, take a picnic to Cape Point or explore the vineyards around the Western Cape Province that produce world class wines.

Plus you’ll be treated to amazing hospitality by some of friendliest people on earth, with a chance to experience fantastic and authentic culture.

So while you’re sure to enjoy the world game, make sure you take the time to enjoy the world class sights, sounds and delights that are ready for you to explore.

Here we are in February, and there are just over four months to go until one of the world’s greatest sporting events kicks off. How time flies!

With almost half a million people expected to attend, the world cup is an event that will see more visitors in South Africa at one time than ever before.

Teams from 32 countries around the world along with their legions of fans will converge here for a month unlike anything else the country has seen.

Although a fun and exciting time to be in the country, it will also be the busiest for local businesses, especially those in the travel industry, meaning that booking your accommodation, car rental, tours, etc etc, well ahead of time is vital to make sure you don’t miss out.

With plenty of time between games to do sightseeing and explore the many wonder of South Africa, planning your trip is a must as most tours and packages will sell out in no time at all.

Luckily for those with a rental car, exploring the sights and getting around will be much easier than for those relying on tour guides or charter buses, so if you haven’t booked your hire car yet now is the time!

For more information on renting a car or for help with choosing the right type, contact our helpful reservations team on 1300 656 601 or email us on reservations@autoeurope.com.au.