FrugalMonkey Discount Travel News

Category: Trip Locations

  • Stay at Shanghai’s PuLi Hotel and Spa, China’s First Luxury Urban Resort

    Ordinarily tourists have to travel to the coast or rural areas to enjoy the serenity of resort style accommodation.


    But new resorts, like Shanghai's PuLi Hotel and Spa, are looking to change all that. Located in the heart of bustling Shanghai, the PuLi Hotel and Spa is China's first luxury urban resort. There are 209 standard rooms and 20 suites located across the resort's 26 floors. It's just a short walk from Shanghai's business and entertainment districts, shopping malls and tourist attractions. However, once you're safely inside the resort's walls, it's easy to forget about the hustle and bustle outside. A meal at the hotel's restaurant Jing'An is a great way to relax at the end of the day. It offers a seasonal menu of Western dishes complemented by traditional Asian fare. The 120-seat restaurant is named after its views of nearby JingAn Park. You can enjoy lunch or dinner there, or a few cheeky cocktails at the attached Long Bar.China Provinces map If that hasn't calmed you, consider a soak in the Jacuzzi or a treatment at the city's first Anantara spa. The spa's treatments are a real experience as they use ancient techniques from China, Thailand, and India. Emphasis is placed on the beneficial powers of natural products including moisturizing avocado, purifying ginger, and healing volcanic stone. Personally I can't imagine wanting to work up a sweat with all this pampering around, but if you do you can work out at the state of the art fitness center. There's high tech gym equipment, a sauna and steam room, and lap pool. A night at the PuLi Hotel and Spa doesn't come cheaply, with rates starting from $500 US a night. However, if you want to come away from your vacation in China feeling truly relaxed, it may be money well spent.

  • Affordable South Australian Wine Tours – See Best Wineries with Alfie

    There are many tours designed to introduce tourists to South Australia’s wine regions, but few have the relaxed, personalized service of Alfie’s Wine Tours.


    Alfie leads tours to the state's premiere wine regions: the Clare and Barossa Valleys, Adelaide Hills, and the McLaren Vale. The latter tour sets off every Thursday, whether there's only one keen wine taster or a bus full. My husband and I were lucky enough to enjoy one of those private tours on a recent Adelaide vacation. There was no missing Alfie's bright yellow bus parked outside our hotel bright and early. The 45-minute drive to the McLaren Vale passed quickly as Alfie told us all about himself and encouraged us to do the same. Alfie is a debt collector by trade, but runs the wine tours as a hobby. Clearly he loves his work, meeting people from all over the country and the world and sharing his passion for a good drop. [caption id="attachment_3860" align="alignright" width="150" caption="A Barossa Valley vineyard"][/caption] His tour takes in some of the smaller wineries in the McLaren Vale, which gives wine enthusiasts the chance to taste vintages not available in their local liquor store. Penny's Hill Wines was our first stop, a friendly winery with an extensive range of whites, reds, and dessert wines. After a little early morning tasting some tucker was in order, and Alfie obliged with an antipasto platter. After some cheese and European sausages we were ready to take on Woodstock, a small family owned winery with beautiful leafy grounds and knowledgeable, bubbly staff. We couldn’t resist taking home a bottle of their very pricey, but delicious Stocks Shiraz, along with a few other drops. Australian Boutique Premium Wines was the next stop along the tour. The name sounds fancy, but this is a back-to-basics operation set inside a rustic metal shed. Owner Bob Harrison looks to support the little guy by gathering the best boutique wines from around the country to add to his range.  The simple surrounds mattered not as we treated ourselves to bubbles, stunning whites and red, and some interesting varietals. So much wine quickly took its toll, so it was great to see lunch was next on the agenda. While we busied ourselves with more tasting at Parri Estate, Alfie cooked up a two-course lunch in the winery's parklands. With bellies full it was off to Oxenberry Farm and dessert. There was the liquid kind available, including the beautiful Right Nut Liqueur Muscat, and a fruit platter and chocolate fondue served by Alfie. Needless to say, after all that indulgence we couldn't help but doze on the way back to our hotel! There are many luxury wine tours offering private experiences and limousine travel, but if you simply want to see South Australia's wineries a trip with Alfie is much more economical, and every bit as fun. Tours start from $70 per person, including lunch.

  • Fijian Tourist Traps – Tips for Getting the Most from Your Polynesian Vacation

    Fiji is a relaxed island country that embraces foreign travelers. But there are a few tourist traps that visitors should be aware of to ensure they get the most from their Polynesian vacation.

    Fiji lures tourists with the promise of sun, surf, and sparkling white sand, but that ideal doesn’t tell the whole story.


    The truth is, only the beaches in the Coral Coast live up to that reputation. If you plan on spending your days lounging by the ocean avoid the resorts around the rest of the island. Many of them dump white sand over the top of their gray beaches, but that can't change the murky water. On the positive side, these resorts do have lovely pools, and often cheaper prices than their Coral Coast counterparts, so if you're only after a dip they can do nicely. [caption id="attachment_2880" align="alignright" width="150" caption="The national flag of Fiji"][/caption] The advice of tourist information centers should also be taken with a grain of salt. They're notoriously biased, and will try to sway you to frequent the hotels and tours that pay them a commission. Doing your research online before setting off is a much more reliable way to plan your Fijian vacation. Read our blog about adventure activities in Fiji posted recently. Also keep your wits about you at the local markets. While it's always tempting to bring home a souvenir of your stay, steer clear of vendors pretending to sell traditional items. Don't spend your Fijian money on masks and tikis made to look authentic; instead look for carved cannibal forks and Fijian war clubs.

  • Hong Kong Disneyland Celebrates Halloween – Spooky Fun at Family Theme Park

    Halloween tends to be regarded as an American holiday, but Hong Kong’s Disneyland Resort is getting into the spirit with its Haunted Halloween celebrations.

    Maleficent, the devilish queen of Sleeping Beauty, is behind the event.


    She's furious that she's never been invited to a Halloween party, so she's taking matters into her own evil hands. Once the sun goes down each Thursday to Sunday until the end of the month, Maleficent promises to give families visiting Hong Kong Disneyland a thrill. Main Street U.S.A. is ordinarily full of life, but this month it's transformed into a Ghost Town. Specters will walk the eerily lit streets, so look out for those ghostly gatherings! Adventureland's also had a spooky makeover. It's now a tribal burial ground, where zombies and long forgotten tribal warriors are on hand to give their evening guests a chilly reception. Tomorrowland will be jumping though with the Inferno Dance Party. Some of Disney's creepiest villains, including the Queen of Hearts and Snow White's witch, will boogie with the crowds to everyone's favorite retro hits. [caption id="attachment_4416" align="alignright" width="150" caption="The evil Maleficent"]The evil Maleficent[/caption] Even the most famous rides have been touched by Maleficent's hands. The Adventureland Jungle is a little more demonic, and the park's most popular roller coaster has been newly christened Space Mountain Ghost Galaxy. But of course, Maleficent has saved her best work for Sleeping Beauty's Castle. Once the sun goes down, onlookers will be treated to a stunningly spooky pyrotechnic show known as Nightmare in the Sky. The castle will seem to be engulfed by thorns and red hot flames as digital projections, lights, and music come together in one spectacular show. So why only celebrate on October 31? At Hong Kong Disneyland they think the whole month deserves a good scare!

  • Eat Your Way Around Adelaide – South Australia’s Best Restaurants

    The Australian city of Adelaide is a paradise for food lovers, boasting a variety of delicious options to tempt all tastes and budgets.

    Smells from all over the globe will tease you as you walk down bustling Gouger Street.


    From traditional options like Chinese, Indian, and Greek to unusual fare from Argentina, Korea, and Vietnam, if you love to eat more than your standard meat and three veg Gouger Street has you covered. The Chinese is particularly good at Star House, which boasts the largest live tanks in all of Adelaide. There’s something a little unsettling about watching your dinner ripped from its home, but once it's brought to your table steaming it’s easy to recover. It's also worth making the trek to the far end of Gouger Street to sample the authentic Japanese delicacies of Matsuri. You can eat at tables as with any Western restaurant, or sit at the low Japanese tables in the back. Just remember to remove your shoes! The sushi boats are legendary, and it's hard to go past the tempura prawns.australia map There are also some hidden gems in Adelaide's entertainment venues. North is tucked away in the bottom of the casino, but you'd never guess you were so close to the slot machines. The service is friendly, the atmosphere vibrant, and the food flawless. Crisp pork belly, succulent kingfish croquettes, and the garlic and mascarpone-stuffed chicken breast all feel very luxurious indeed. Regatta's Bistro in the bottom of the Convention Center is another low-key dining destination that delivers. The views of the Torrens River go perfectly with a good glass of wine, delicate quail, and old fashioned fish and chips. The menu is so diverse that whether you're after an old favorite or a culinary challenge you should be impressed. But why stick to the CBD? Adelaide also has a host of great restaurants on the city's outskirts. A regular bus service can take you to Hahndorf, a German styled town nestled in the Adelaide Hills. Most restaurants embrace this European nation, particularly the German Arms Hotel in the center of town. Regular Aussie pub grub is served up alongside Bavarian fare like the German Wurst trio, the Rindsrouladen, and the massive kransky hot dog. If you'd rather head to the beach, catch the tram to Glenelg. A strip of restaurants along this bustling tourist town serves up fine fare with views to match. The tasting plates at Zucca Greek Mezze are a great idea if you can't decide just what you feel like, or you want to try a little bit of everything! I returned home from a recent trip to Adelaide with an emptier wallet, a very full belly, and lots of memories of amazing meals. I can't wait to return to taste all the other restaurants I haven't tried!

  • Surf, Snack, and De-Stress at Samudra Retreat in Western Australia

    If you want to detox, de-stress, and recharge your batteries a vacation to Samudra Retreat in Western Australia’s Margaret River may be just what the doctor ordered.

    The retreat is three hours drive from Western Australia’s capital city, Perth, but it feels a world away from the big smoke. It helps to center its guests with three key things: surfing, yoga, and food.


    Don't feel daunted if you’ve never tried any of the physical activities before; there are classes for beginners as well as seasoned surfers and yogis. Samudra founder Sheridan Hammond leads the Astanga yoga classes, passing on all he learned while practicing in India. He runs hour-long classes twice a day for guests to calm their minds and flex their body. Women's surfing champion Lisa Archer leads the surf classes at the local Smiths, Yallingup, and Indijup beach breaks. Surfing may seem very different from yoga, but Archer insists there's a natural synergy between them. She spends time teaching beginners the techniques they need on the sand before hitting the waves.surfer Once you've worked up an appetite head to Samudra's café, helmed by head chef Danny Angove. He dishes up vegetarian dishes which are much more luxurious than rabbit food. All meals are made on site using organic and biodynamic ingredients grown in Samudra's own garden. This is food that's good for your taste buds and your body. Samudra's guests stay in beach shacks at Smiths Beach Resort. Despite their rustic names, these shacks are quite luxurious. Each has outdoor barbecue and dining areas, and stunning views of the Indian Ocean. A six-night yoga and surfing retreat at Samudra starts from $2245 per person. It might sound expensive at first, but that price includes twin-share accommodation, all food, activities, and local transport. It's rare to take a vacation without all those sneaky extra expenses after all!

  • Dine in Style at Melbourne’s Colonial Tramcar Restaurant

    Melbourne’s trams are the backbone of the Victorian capital, a unique public transport system which ferries locals and travelers to the main streets and tourist sites in Melbourne’s inner city and the suburbs. But these cable cars don’t just move people about; they also provide an unusual dining opportunity at the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant.

    This quirky restaurant delivers a moving meal in more ways than one. It departs several times daily from the #125 tramstop on Normandy Road and travels around the city and suburbs as diners enjoy their meals. From $77 diners can enjoy between three and five courses, depending on the time of day they travel, and beverages from the restaurant’s fully stocked bar.

    A set menu of local gourmet cuisine is offered on each journey, including Tasmanian ocean trout, seared kangaroo loin, and Victorian farmed beef fillets. The delicious food, all-inclusive drinks package, and unique atmosphere help to justify the high costs of an evening on the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant. It’s certainly not an everyday dining option, but it would be a great way for tourists to see the city, or locals to celebrate a special event.

    A meal on the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is a fun way to experience Melbourne’s public transport history while enjoying fine contemporary cuisine.

  • New Zealand for Movie Buffs – Film Locations Around North and South Island

    Many fantasy loving tourists make a pilgrimage to New Zealand to see the sights from the epic trilogy Lord of the Rings. But you might not know the country was home to many more movie blockbusters.


    Here are many places to explore if you like your flicks without Hobbits. Peter Jackson returned to New Zealand to film his ape spectacular King Kong. Much of it was shot in a Wellington studio, but for the breathtaking scenery Jackson turned to the country's iconic countryside. Skull Island was shot in both Lyall Bay and Shelly Bay, right near Wellington. For the on-ship scenes the crew sailed to the Cook Strait, the waterway that runs between the country's North and South Islands. You can see it for yourself when you catch the ferry from Wellington to Picton. And even the New York scenes were shot in the Land of the Long White Cloud. Auckland's Civic Theatre made an excellent stand in for the New York Theater, while Seaview, Lower Hutt made a passable Big Apple. And if New Zealand can pass as the United States, why not Japan? Uruti in northern Taranaki was the ideal substitute for 19th century Japan in Tom Cruise’s 2003 film The Last Samurai. The creators simply added the image of Mount Fuji into the background once filming wrapped! The film didn’t set the world's box offices alight, but Uruti locals don't seem to care. They've recreated many of the sets, and encourage tourists to join them on guided tours of the key movie locations. The magical world of Narnia wasn't filmed inside a wardrobe, but around New Zealand.

    Fans of the epic Chronicles of Narnia series will find that mountain biking around the Woodhill Forest isn’t very scary without the White Witch camping there. If you’d prefer to see where the forces of good dwelled, visit Aslan's Camp in the Waitaki Valley’s Elephant Rocks. The great lion king also spent some time at the Vanished World Center near Duntroon, which isn’t too far away. Fans of the first movie also shouldn't miss Flock Hill in the Southern Alps, which was the site of that epic battle. Whale Rider is one of those rare Kiwi-made movies that attracted attention around the globe. Keisha Castle-Hughes earned the Oscar nomination, but the East Cape of the North Island was almost as big a star. The film was shot around the small town of Whangara; it may not enjoy a lot of action but it's worth visiting for those ocean views. So who needs Hollywood? New Zealand offers a much more picturesque alternative for film buffs.

  • Berlin (Germany) on a Budget

    A haven for writers, artists and other creative types, Berlin is one of the most financially accessible cities in Europe. As a result of the city’s political instability over the last decade, there are many areas in Berlin where it is possible to find cheap places to stay, eat and visit.


    As is typical when artists enter an area, developers have already started the gentrification process in certain neighborhoods. So visit soon for the best deals! Also, see our piece about eating cheaply in Paris, which was published last week. How to get around: Between the buses and the underground, Berlin’s public transportation system is excellent. Bus Number 100 makes takes a large circular route that hits most of the city's major tourist sites. Berlin's U-bahn/S-bahn lines are very efficient and inexpensive. There are a variety of City Tour Cards or City Passes that allow you unlimited travel on Berlin’s public transit for a specified amount of time (from 48-hours to 1 month, depending on the pass). These can be purchased throughout the city, but the easiest place to buy yours is right at the airport when you arrive. If the weather’s nice, consider renting a bike to transport you around the city (Berlin is an incredibly biker-friendly place). What to eat (heaven for foodies on a budget): [caption id="attachment_4357" align="alignright" width="300" caption="From street food to free entertainment, I describe how to take a budget-friendly trip to Berlin."]travel to germany picture[/caption] There are few places with as many excellent street food choices as Berlin. Stick with street foods like puddingbrezels (a sweet pretzel filled in with custard and sprinkled with rock sugar) or the “national dish” currywurst (sliced, hot pork sausage--“wurst” in German--covered with a combination of ketchup or tomato paste mixed with curry and served with a crusty roll or fries). Berlin is home to one of the world's largest Turkish populations outside of Turkey itself. Look for food stands marked with the sign "Imbiss" where you can get gyro-like sandwiches for low, low prices. Another delicious option is one or several kebabs (“kebap” in Turkish) covered with fresh greens and spiced sauce. Another way to enjoy your kebab is in a thick pita with greens and yogurt sauce (this more portable option is called a döner kebap). Of course, you’ll need something to wash down all of these delicious eats. Beer would be the obvious choice, but give Gluhwein a try as well. It’s a hot, spiced red wine, typically prepared with cinnamon sticks, vanilla pods, cloves, orange peel and sugar. Fruit wines such as blueberry wine and cherry wine are sometimes used instead of grape wine. I like mine best “mit rum” (with a shot of rum). Where to stay: Berlin boasts a variety of economical hotels, hostels and rooms for rent. There are literally hundreds of smaller boutique hotels that offer comfortable accommodations and breakfast for less than 80 euros a night. If you know people living in Berlin, ask them for ideas. It’s relatively easy to find someone willing to rent you a room in their home for a few weeks. What to buy: Berlin’s fashion boutique culture has grown considerably in the past ten years. Though it’s fun to browse in these shops, stocking up on gifts and souvenirs here will surely empty your pockets. For unique, handmade or vintage finds, consider checking out one of Berlin’s many flea markets (flohmarkts). You can find more than just “old stuff” at Berlin’s flea markets; this is also where artisans and craftspeople come to sell their wares. Here are some of the most popular: Flohmarkt am Mauerpark  market is open each Sunday and located near to the Friedrich-Ludwig-Jahn-Stadion M10 tram stop (formerly Oderberger Straße) and is a short walk from the U2’s Eberswalder Straße (Station). Euroflohmarkt is open daily (9am – 6pm; Wed. 3pm – 6pm). Located in Pankow. Nearest U-Bahn station: Vinetastraße (U2); Tram: M1, M13 (Bornholmer Straße / Schönhauser Allee). Straße des 17. Juni Flohmarkt's opening hours are Sat. – Sun. 11am – 7pm. The closest U-bahn stop is Tiergarten. Flohmarkt am Arkonaplatz is open Sun. 10am – 5pm; in winter until 4pm. The closest U-bahn stop is Bernauer Strasse. Another good option for shopping is the cultural market at Alexanderplatz or the weekly artist market on Museum Island. If you’re there during Christmas market season, then you’re in luck. There is a huge one at Alexanderplatz where you’ll be able to stock up on holiday goods from the last weekend in October- December.
    What to do: There is plenty of free entertainment available in Berlin. I suggest heading to the parks. For example, musicians and artists fill the expansive Tiergarten park near the city center. Grab the fixin’s for a picnic lunch and enjoy the lovely scenery and, if you’re lucky, live music. Many of Berlin’s historical sites and memorials are free as well. Explore one neighborhood at a time (on foot) and you’ll be pleasantly surprised by all of the things you find to do on the cheap.

  • Weird and Wonderful Cosplay in Japan – Anime Culture in Tokyo’s Akihabara District

    There are many wonderful but weird things in Japan, and they don’t get much weirder than the Cosplay culture of Tokyo’s Akihabara district.

    Every Sunday the main street is closed to cars and taken over by the wildly dressed locals. Cosplay, or Costume Play, brings together fans of the Japanese comics and animations known as manga and anime. Through their distinctive dress they celebrate their favorite characters and entertain passers-by.


    Akihabara is one of the few places around the world that curious onlookers can learn about the world of Cosplay. Ordinarily enthusiasts only don their costumes for conventions and other gatherings, away from the prying eyes of the public. While the parade happens on the weekend, Akihabara still offers plenty to Cosplay enthusiasts and the curious through the week. Most large department stores have Cosplay floors dedicated to the wacky fancy dress favored by Cosplay fans. Other smaller boutiques like Cosmate and Cospa Shop Akihabara also specialize in these flamboyant costumes. They're certainly worth browsing, and a few trips to the change room, even if you don't intend to take any of the attire home. [caption id="attachment_4328" align="alignright" width="150" caption="A Cosplay maid in Tokyo"]A Cosplay maid in Tokyo's Akihabara district[/caption] And then there are the Cosplay restaurants, a phenomenon which began in Akihabara but has now spread around the world. The wait staff dress as anime styled French maids, and in some rare circumstances butlers. They play their roles well, making customers feel that they are not regular diners but the employers in their private home. Of course you'll be fed, but a meal here is about entertainment as much as filling your belly. So give yourself over to the fantasy, and explore a world unlike your own in the Akihabara district.