FrugalMonkey Discount Travel News

Category: Green Travel

  • Stay Somewhere Unique in the Hunter Valley – Eco Friendly Accommodation in New South Wales

    We all want to stay somewhere unique, so why not Somewhere Unique in the heart of Hunter Valley wine country?

    This originally named eco-resort is just two hours away from Sydney, Australia, but it feels like it's a world away from the big smoke. Somewhere Unique is the perfect place for a romantic getaway, as there are only two private retreats set on 20 acres of bushland. Each is fully self contained, so you need never leave your room, but if you do want to venture out the township of Wollombi is only a few minutes' drive away. The villas have been cleverly designed with four distinct areas. There's the pleasure zone, with its plush king-sized bed, valley views, and reverse-cycle air conditioning and ceiling fan for comfort. Few things calm you like a good night's sleep, but the relaxation zone ensures you stay chilled when you're out of bed. The large bath is perfect for soaking with that special someone. The private bushland views mean you'll be in no rush to leave the tub, but when you do the thick cotton towels and plush bathrobes will be waiting.earth plant The entertainment area is state of the art, with a stereo system, LCD TV, DVD player, and iPod dock. The comfy lounge and gas log fireplace are perfect for enjoying the selection of DVDs and CDs provided. The villas are lovely, but don't forget to step outside and enjoy the private deck and courtyard. Each retreat has its own gas barbeque for cooking up a feast, or you could hop on one of the bicycles provided and enjoy dinner at one of Wollombi's famous cafes. A stay at Somewhere Unique is reasonably priced for such private pampering, with rates starting at $220 per night. This rate includes a complimentary bottle of local wine, chocolates, a breakfast hamper, and use of bicycles, picnic gear, and entertainment provisions.

  • Eco-Friendly Indulgence in Daylesford – Green Romance at Frog Hollow Estate

    For a romantic Aussie getaway that won’t hurt the planet, consider a stay at Frog Hollow Estate in the Victorian country town of Daylesford.

    The former gold mining town, located 115 kilometers north west of Melbourne, is becoming a popular destination for tourists looking to enjoy life at a slower pace.

    The streets are lined with fine dining restaurants and cafes, and the stores full of original fashions and quirky homewares. You can indulge in a mineral bath or spa at the local retreats, or a few choice drops in the nearby Macedon Ranges and Sunbury wine regions. That is, of course, if you want to venture out of Frog Hollow. This eco-friendly estate was once a stone and timber workshop, but today it enjoys spoiling its guests without harming the planet. The hot showers use collected rain water, and the appliances and eco-friendly lights green power. All villas are equipped with a corner spa for luxuriating with your love, a cosy gas or wood fire for snuggling up at the end of the night, and air conditioning for the summer. With all this romance in the air, it's unsurprising that the folks at Frog Hollow Estate love a wedding. The staff will happily take care of the arrangements, including accommodation for your guests, leaving you free to attend to more important matters. You might even like to return to reminisce on your first anniversary! Accommodation at Frog Hollow Estate in Daylesford starts from $250 a night and includes a gourmet hamper, featuring the best local produce, on arrival.

  • Our Jungle House, Back to Basics Eco-Friendly Accommodation in Thailand

    Thailand’s Our Jungle House invites travelers to escape the hustle and bustle of the big cities and get back to nature.

    The setting of this eco-friendly accommodation could not be more idyllic. The resort is set on 25 acres of private rainforest near Khao Sok National Park. These parklands, majestic with their limestone peaks, are a thriving habitat for Thailand’s tropical flora and wildlife. The sounds of the native animals, including lemurs and civet cats, only add to the atmosphere of Our Jungle House.

    Our Jungle House’s bungalows and tree houses were built to complement the surrounding rainforest rather than disturb it. All natural building materials were used and environmentally-friendly practices made the Jungle House the area’s first green resort.Lodging sign with arrow

    The rooms are neat but not overly luxurious, delivering guests what they need without the frills. Many tourists may be disappointed by the lack of air conditioning, but there are fans to help keep you cool. The lack of hot water is also disappointing, but at least drinking water is made available. The mosquito coils and nets also come in handy during summer. Free WiFi is also on hand so you won’t feel completely cut off from civilization!

    The resort’s staff are friendly and attentive to all your needs. You need not worry about a language barrier either, as staff members are trained to speak English and German.

    As the resort is somewhat isolated, you’ll probably enjoy many meals at Our Jungle House’s restaurant.

    The cooks specialize in authentic Thai cusine, but fussy appetites and young children are not forgotten. The menu also includes vegetarian dishes and western options including fried chicken, spaghetti, and homemade French fries. If you'd like to venture out, the resort has vans, cars, and motorcycles available for hire. A cheaper alternative is to use the public buses. Staff can provide free transport to the bus stop, so you need only pay a small fare. There's plenty to do around the resort though, whether you'd like to laze on the nearby River Beach, explore the surrounding area on your own, or enjoy one of the organized activities. These tours include jungle treks on the back of elephants, canoe excursions down the Sok River, scuba diving, and nighttime wildlife safaris. Our Jungle House may not offer much in the way of luxury, but its back-to-basics accommodation might be just what you need to recharge your batteries.

  • Green Thailand Stay at Evason Eco-Friendly Resort in Phuket

    Luxury and an eco-friendly ethos go hand in hand at Evason Resort in Thailand’s tropical paradise, Phuket.

    It was even built inside the unused shell of an old building, making its creation the ultimate in recycling! The 64-acre property was designed to make the most of Phuket's natural surrounds. It's set amongst tropical parklands and gardens, while the luxury suites capitalize on the views of the nearby Andaman Sea. The deluxe environmentally friendly accommodation focuses on sound waste and water management, energy efficiency, and social responsibility. The resort has its own environmental staff member, who oversees the property's organic gardens and energy consumption, and liaises with the community about environmentally-friendly practices. The rooms are located in five low-rise buildings scattered around the resort's gardens. There are 260 rooms in all, ranging in price from the standard guest rooms to the honeymoon villa at Bon Island. Each has a private balcony, while most have a unique open-style bathroom. [caption id="attachment_3258" align="alignright" width="150" caption="A pool villa at Evason Resort in Phuket, Thailand"]Resort in Phuket Thailand[/caption] There is so much to do at Evason that you don’t really have to leave the resort. You can take a dip in one of three swimming pools, play volleyball or tennis, unwind in the spa, or browse the WiFi-equipped library. If you do feel like venturing out you can take the shuttle bus to Phuket Town or Patong Beach, or explore the area at a more leisurely pace with a bike tour. Evason is family-friendly, but you don't need to have the rugrats hanging off you all the time. The kids club is designed to give mom and dad some private time, with activities and games for four to 12-year-olds. Evason was South-East Asia's first Green Globe certified resort, and the recipient of the Wild Asia Award for Responsible Tourism in 2006.

  • Swim with Whales in Tonga – South Pacific Adventure with Gentle Giants of the Sea

    Many coastal tourist destinations around the world invite visitors to swim with seals and dolphins, but you’ll need to travel to Tonga if you hope to swim with whales.

    The South Pacific nation is known as The Friendly Islands, and its humpback whales are just as genial as the natives. More than 160 of the marine mammals return to Tonga's calm waters each year to mate. They stay there until their babies are born, nursing them in the warm Pacific waters before returning to polar oceans. WhaleSwim is Tonga's premiere whale experience company. Owner Rae Gill was inspired to create the business after meeting her first humpback whale off the coast of the Dominican Republic. Along with a team of conservationists, a marine biologist, and wildlife photographers, she leads three, four, seven and nine-day snorkeling tours. This crew of ecotourism experts ensures the expeditions are run with whale conservation in mind. During the tours you'll learn a lot about the humpback whales, both from the guides and from your own up-close interaction with them. You'll hear their famous songs through a hydrophone on the tour boat, and take home video footage of your time on the tour as a souvenir. This is the kind of footage you'll want to show your friends! [caption id="attachment_3007" align="alignright" width="150" caption="The magnificent humpack whale"]The magnificent humpack whale[/caption] The tours are a little expensive, with the short three-day option costing $600 AUS. However, with expeditions restricted to a maximum of 12 people, and five on the photography expeditions, you are guaranteed to receive a quality experience. This price also includes airport transfers, all meals and accommodation at the Hilltop Hotel and Blue Lagoon Resort. WhaleSwim Adventures conducts tours between late July and the middle of October.

  • Eco-Friendly Treehouse Rooms at India’s Vythiri Resort

    The treehouses of Vythiri Resort in North Kerala, India, capture the magic of childhood for the environmentally conscious world.


    The resort has two treehouses in 500 acres of private forest. The rustic elevated dwellings have two stories, with each floor housing a double room. Each has a bedroom, a bathroom, and a terrace which allows you to appreciate the view. At 90 feet above the ground, this vista is pretty incredible.

    You access your treehouse using a primitive elevator fitted with a sack of water for a counterweight. It takes around 15 minutes for the water to fill, but in rural India no one is in a hurry. The basic facilities mean there is no electricity either, but the kerosene lamps cast a romantic glow over the rooms. Contemporary luxuries aren’t completely forgotten though. The hot water showers and flushing toilet should please those who appreciate mod cons.

    The buildings are designed with green practices in mind. The integrity of the trees is preserved, with no nails actually penetrating the bark.

    The eco-friendly resort’s grounds are so large you could easily spend a few days exploring. If you want to rest your feet, the resort’s friendly elephant Ammu will give you a ride. He only asks for bananas as payment! If you’d rather relax you can take a dip in the swimming pool, indulge in a spa treatment, or feast in the resort’s traditional restaurant.Lodging sign with arrow

    The resort is isolated, but staff are happy to collect guests from the city of Vythiri in their all-terrain jeep. It’s pricier than many accommodation options in India, but that added cost buys you a unique accommodation experience and all the luxurious solitude of the great outdoors.

  • Go Green with a Cycling Vacation Through Vietnam

    biketourIf you want to see the real Vietnam, forget the tour buses and get on your bike! While the motorized excursions zoom through the countryside on the way to major tourist centers, an eco-friendly cycling journey allows you to stop and smell the paddy fields.

    As cycling is the locals main form of transportation, it’s a great way to interact with the natives. While their grasp of English may be limited, particularly in the country areas, locals are friendly and always willing to chat with tourists. Trips through rural communities allow you to meet the rice farmers and their buffalo at work in the fields, while rides through the cities let you experience Vietnamese life at a faster pace.

    Traffic in Vietnam can be daunting, so it’s important to keep your wits about you. Remember that the Vietnamese always drive on the right side of the road, so if you stay there you won’t get into trouble.

    As cycling vacations require you to carry your luggage with you, it’s clear that you’ll need to travel light. Thankfully clothing and other basics are inexpensive in Vietnam, so you can easily buy what you need along the way. In many cases, it’s actually cheaper to buy new than have your clothes laundered.

    You should make room in your travel bag for basic bicycle tools. While local repairmen will happily fix your bike, the repairs will often be below Western standards. If you’ve got the means, it’s often easier to do the job yourself.

    You can happily explore Vietnam on your own, but guided tours are also available. These expeditions generally provide bikes which are of a higher standard than many available locally. They also provide a support vehicle, which can be a welcome relief when your legs get tired. Meals and an English-speaking guide are just a couple more perks. World Expeditions runs 15-day cycling tours, which travel from Hanoi in the north to Ho Chi Minh in the south, while Grasshopper Adventures takes a slightly different route. Its 13-day adventure starts at Hanoi and weaves down to Saigon.

  • Volunteer Vacations

    We’ve mentioned before how volunteering can be a great way to spend your vacation time. It not only provides you with the opportunity to help people and experience new cultures and places, but volunteer experiences are a great way to boost up your resume for colleges, grad schools, and jobs.


    We also see volunteering as an amazing experience to travel and experience the world. If any of these things strikes your fancy, then read on and learn a little bit more about volunteering and travel!

    In recent years, there has been a growing trend towards volunteer vacations. Some of these vacations last months at a time, some last years (think Peace Corps), and others last just a week or two. On several of our FrugalMonkey pages we feature travel opportunities that surround the idea of volunteer vacations. Take some time to learn if a volunteer vacation is right for you, and get excited about unique and valuable vacation opportunities.

    If you want your volunteer vacation to have a ‘green’ approach, then consider learning more about an eco volunteer vacation. These types of vacations situate volunteers with organizations and areas that are showing a special focus on ecotourism, or sustainable ideals for that particular region. For example, there are vacations in Latin America where volunteers help to clean up villages and show locals how to live in a way that is not only better for the village but also in sustaining the environment. These types of experiences are great for those that are interested in sustainable agriculture, ecotourism, and the green effort that is sweeping the globe. On our volunteer vacations page within our ecotourism section, we provide a number of links to organizations, like the American Hiking Society, that provide opportunities of this kind to travelers.

    Although it is nice to have a narrow focus, like ecotourism, to your volunteer vacation, there are those that choose a much broader type of experience through a volunteer job abroad. Perhaps the largest number of opportunities of this kind exists through universities and non profit organizations. In fact, the largest demographic of volunteer job employees are college-aged students. The types of volunteer vacations that provide an opportunity to work with a cool organization and experience travel are practically endless. While most people think about non profits like the Peace Corps, there are thousands more that place people in volunteer positions abroad that last only a few weeks, or months at a time. Volunteering has an endless amount of positive outcomes for those who volunteer as well as for those who are on the receiving end of the volunteer effort.


    Find out more about volunteering abroad through a job with an organization overseas and expand your horizons both through travel as well as through the experiences you will entertain as a volunteer. In this page we highlight government agencies, and technical information like procuring a visa or work permit.

    Also, consider working abroad if you want to travel and gain valuable work experience. There are always paying jobs available through organizations that will allow for travel, even if they may be more difficult to uncover. Also consider a teaching job. You may know already that one of the most popular jobs abroad are teaching English abroad jobs, an experience that anyone who is willing to train can procure successfully. Find out more about exciting work opportunities through pages like this through FrugalMonkey.

  • Eco Tours in Kenya

    Take an eco tour in Kenya this fall and nail yourself a truly unique and exciting vacation. Kenya has one of the riches bio diverse regions in the world when it comes to African wildlife and ecotourism has recently become a big focus there. Kenyans understand the value of their country’s natural resources and wildlife and have begun increasingly adding protected land to their many wildlife parks and natural areas. If you want to see the world, and travel responsibly using green ideals, do some research and check out eco tours in Kenya. It’s a great way to enjoy green travel!


  • Green Travel Ideas

    Are you on the ecotourism band wagon? Do you want to find out how you can travel green, and the types of vacations you can take in order to really contribute to the ecotourism effort? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, then take some time to peruse FrugalMonkey’s new ecotourism section on green travel. Here you will find all the latest and greatest green travel ideas and locations. Find out about eco tours, travel to Costa Rica, visit Africa and see incredible wildlife, and learn about the world’s top eco-friendly lodges.

    So you want to do your part and travel green? Find out how.