When in Newfoundland, do as Newfoundlanders do
Rent a car, reserve a room at a hostel and have a beer before you hit the bar
Looking for a vacation destination just three hours from Toronto? Want to see 1,000-year-old Viking settlements, 29,000 kilometres of coastline and exquisite national parks? Newfoundland and Labrador is the place for you.
Canadian travel writer Candice Walsh is originally from Newfoundland and operates the blog FreeCandie.com from abroad. Here are some of her top tips for travelling around her beautiful province for cheap:
Be seasonally flexible: If you have some travel-date leeway, Walsh recommends visiting in late summer or early fall to save on accommodations and flights. “Fall is one of my favourite seasons in Newfoundland — the leaves are turning and the weather is almost always pleasant,” Walsh notes. “September and October are great months, prices are lower and there’s still potential for seeing icebergs.”
Rent a car and camp: Transportation around the island is “insanely expensive,” and Walsh recommends splurging on a rental car and making up the costs with low-budget accommodation such as camping. “It’s almost impossible to see the island without (a car) . . . and plus you can always scale back the money spent on accommodations by getting a tent and camping out in one of the many, many campsites around the island,” she adds. Depending on the location, campsites start at around $20 a night plus a small reservation fee — significantly cheaper than most hotels.
Drink moderately (or at home): Planning on hitting the capital city of St. John’s for a night out? Walsh suggests having a few drinks before you leave home, like the locals do. “If you want a big night out on George St. in St. John’s, don’t show up early. Drinks downtown are expensive, so everybody ‘pre-games’ at home first,” Walsh explains. “I suggest you do the same!”
Hostels all the way: They aren’t just for young Canadians travelling abroad. In fact, Walsh says that many Newfoundland hostels are geared more toward people visiting for the hiking and outdoor adventures, not the party scene. “There are surprisingly quite a few hostels located around the island, even in far-flung destinations like Change Islands,” she notes. “And they’re not your typical party hostels, either . . . They’re not crowded, and they’re rarely loud.”
Check website Hi-Hostel, which advertises Canadian hostels — more international sites such as Hostel World don’t include all Newfoundland locations. You can cut expensive hotel room costs in half with a double hostel room for around $70 per night, or go even cheaper and stay in a dorm for roughly $35 per night.
Do your reading: If you’re spending most of your time in St. John’s, Walsh recommends picking up local indie magazine the Overcast and checking out its free-events section. “St. John’s has an amazing music scene, so take advantage of it,” Walsh urges, noting that many of the best outdoor activities across the province (such as hiking and exploring nature) are also free.
Gros Morne National Park is one of Walsh’s top picks — and next year, Parks Canada is waiving entrance fees to national parks, so you’ll save even more by heading into the great outdoors.
Get to know the locals: Want to get the real feel of Newfoundland and Labrador? Talking to locals is a great way to get budget travel tips — and make friends. “Newfoundlanders are inherently curious about visitors and they’re some of the friendliest people on the planet,” Walsh explains. “It’s easy to strike up a conversation with a stranger and before you know it, you’ll be invited to a home-cooked meal — I promise!”