YHA rewards sustainable travel with special deals

Staying at any one of YHA’s network of 50 hostels has just got cheaper if you are a cyclist or tramper. It’s part of YHA’s Retro Revival designed to support the carbon-busting efforts of tourists who travel sustainably on self supported hiking or cycle touring trips around New Zealand.

In the good old days to be allowed to stay at a YHA hostel you used to have to arrive by foot or bike.

These restrictions vanished over 20 years ago but with a growing awareness of how individual carbon footprints impact on the environment, YHA is taking a trip down memory lane. The company will be rewarding people who choose to arrive at the hostels using sustainable travel.

The Low Carbon Traveller offer was inspired by YHA’s recent cycle ride “The Ride for Rakiura”. Fifteen YHA staff and board members cycled 550kms from Wellington to Rotorua to kick start the fundraising campaign for the YHA Stewart island project that will see an eco hostel and learning centre built on the island (more info can be found on YHA.co.nz).

Arrive at any YHA hostel on foot or by bike, whether it’s 100kms or 1000kms away and you’ll be rewarded with up to 25% off the overnight rate per person per night. And if you’re not already a YHA member you’ll be further rewarded with a 25% discount off a one-year YHA New Zealand membership.

YHA would like to see more people travelling sustainably and believes if travellers can go the extra mile to make the effort for the environment; YHA can reciprocate by making life a little bit easier through lower costs.

Be warned though you can’t just hop on a bike 20 meters down the road and expect to get this great discount –  hostels are only accepting genuine travellers who are self supported. That means no support vehicles, buses or shuttle transfers (see the yha.co.nz for terms and conditions).

YHA is committed to sustainability and has several awards to show for it –  The Sustainable Business Network awards, Qualmark enviro ratings and the Virgin Responsible Tourism award to name a few. The Retro Revival joins a long list of sustainability initiatives implemented by YHA staff including feeding organic waste to local farmers’ pigs, solar hot water systems and energy saving devices throughout the hostels.

As more and more New Zealanders choose to backpack in their own backyard, YHA offers affordable rates, a diverse range of hostels including modern city getaways and cosy bach style beach retreats, as well as accommodation options from dorm rooms to double ensuites. And, increasingly, the chance to rest easy knowing their holiday is having a minimal impact on the environment.

For more information contact:
Alex Swindells
Channel Marketing Manager
Freephone: 0800 278 299
Email: book@yha.co.nz
Website and Online bookings: www.yha.co.nz