FrugalMonkey Discount Travel News

Tag: Ecotourism

  • Tips for Traveling Green on a Budget

    I read a lot on travel blogs and in travel magazines about traveling green or low-impact travel. However, did you know that traveling green also tends to be less expensive than more conventional modes of travel? From transportation to lodging, here are some helpful tips for traveling green and saving money in the process. After all, what could be better than that?

    Transportation: Moving Around Ecologically Flights It’s true that flying is not exactly eco-friendly. Do your research before you book to make sure you are flying with airlines that recycle at least some of the waste created when serving food and beverages during the flight.  There are certain airlines like British Airways and Southwest Airlines that maintain a strong commitment to environmental health through a variety of initiatives. An easy way to do your part to help the environment when booking a flight is to use electronic tickets (e-tickets) instead of paper ones. Public Transportation It’s time to start thinking outside the box when it comes to transportation. Instead of automatically renting a car when you travel to a different place, check out the public transportation system in that location. From trains to subways to buses, most cities have the infrastructure to help you get where you need to go while saving the earth and saving money. If you’re worried about getting from the airport to your hotel, call ahead to see if they offer a complimentary van pick-up at the airport. [caption id="attachment_5511" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Biking is an eco-friendly form of transportation that allows tourists to remain autonomous and connect to people and places in deeper and more meaningful ways."]biking vacation photo[/caption] Biking and Rentals Another option is to consider a bike tour. This can be a great way to really see the area you’re visiting and connect with places and people on a deeper level (not to mention the fact that it’s great exercise). In addition to being useful on longer adventures, bikes are a great way to get around a city (European cities are known for their “bike friendliness”) autonomously.  Many cities, such as Paris, now have user-friendly public bike rental programs that allow you to use a bike for as long or as short a time period as you would like. Walking and Hiking Walking tours are a great way to really get to know a city. In addition to going on guide-led walking tours, I’ve discovered many gems on my own by simply walking around a city (things I never would have found if I had been concentrating on driving a rental car). Going for a walk once you arrive at your destination is also an excellent way to stave off jetlag and sore muscles. If you’re into spending time in the great outdoors, considering a hiking trip (or at least make hiking a portion of your trip). Of course, it’s important to respect the local ecological system by not picking plants or wildflowers and staying on the marked hiking paths. Lodging: Staying Green Resorts and Hotels Low-impact lodging has become a buzz phrase in the travel industry. As a result, many hotels and resorts have adapted their daily practices to become more environmentally friendly. Do your research before you book a room to make sure the hotel or resort recycles and participates in energy saving programs. Even if you find yourself staying somewhere that is not exactly green, you can still do your part to reduce your impact on the environment. Let the hotel management know that it is not necessary to change your towels and sheets every day while you are staying with them. Do the same things you would at home to save energy: turn off the AC/heat, lights and TV if you are not using them. Also, if you decide not to use the complimentary bottles of shampoo and soaps, leave them on the counter so that they can be passed on to the next guest. Staying with Friends Of course, few options are more eco- and budget friendly than staying with friends or acquaintances when you travel. And if they happen to be green as well (they recycle, engage in energy saving practices, drive hybrids, etc.), well that’s even better. Camping Of course, camping is generally a low-impact and inexpensive lodging option. If you don’t want to bring all of your camping gear with you, you can always rent tents and such on-site. Only camp in designated camping areas and make sure you leave the campground site exactly how you found it.

  • 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!


  • Most Environmentally Friendly Cities

    We love travel lists. Best Places to Visit, Best Cities for Camping, Best Waterfall Hikes, things of that nature. So we thought we would point out a favorite list of our own: the Most Eco-friendly Cities list! On this FrugalMonkey page you will find the United State’s top environmentally friendly cities. If you’re simply interested in ecotourism, or perhaps planning on relocating to a new city, this is a great resource. For travelers, take a look at which cities have gone green, and if there are any on the list you would like to visit. Let us know-have you been to these cities? How green to they seem?


    Be sure to check out our section on green travel too! You might learn something.

  • 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.


  • Stay at an Eco Hotel

    Are you an environmentally conscious traveler? Do you strive to stay at locations where you know your carbon footprint will be minimal? If so, check out FrugalMonkey’s section on eco-friendly hotels. Our list of the worlds top travel locations include those that rate the highest in terms of sustainability efforts and in minimizing the hotel’s negative effect on the environment. Each eco hotel does something special and unique to earn a place on our list of the world’s top eco friendly hotels. Enjoy a trip to the Bahamas while staying at Tiamo Resrots or stay in Switzerland at the world famous Whitepod hotel. Learn more now!


  • Ecotourism

    Interested in learning more about going green? Want to learn about ecotourism ideals, vacations, and hot spots around the world? Then check out our new section on ecotourism.

    Green travel is becoming increasingly important for vacationers.


    Protecting and conserving the places we visit is an important part in preserving the world for our children to enjoy. Take Machu Picchu for example – the wear and tear these ancient ruins experience due to tourism each year is ruining this ancient relic.

    So much mismanagement has occurred in regards to Machu Picchu that the Peruvian government is considering closing the monument all together in order to conserve it for history. This same negative effect of tourism is occurring all over the world!

    Find out more about ecotourism, how you can travel responsibly, as well as information on other locations in the world that are in need of large conservation efforts. It’s all about responsible travel! Check out our section on locations in danger and educate yourself on ecotourism through our new section on FrugalMonkey.

  • Tips For Green Travel

    It seems that everyone is doing their part to travel more responsibly. Visiting new places and being environmentally conscious about how you travel is a new term coined ‘green travel’. It essentially applies to the ideals of ecotourism; a way for people to travel that is safe for the environment. On our tips for traveling green page we outline some easy ways that you can do your part! They include booking green hotels and eco tours and supporting green businesses and efforts in the places that you travel. We also discuss green cruises and ways to travel that will improve your sustainable efforts toward the environment. Learn more about green travel with our tips for traveling green!


  • Great Flights and Eco Vacations to Costa Rica

    Want to take an unforgettable vacation? Want to swim in crystal clear waters, go hiking, backpacking, and sea kayaking on your trip? Want to experience the ultimate adventure vacation while taking in some of the most gorgeous views of your life?


    Then we have the vacation for you. The best part is, you can enjoy all of this and more while you rest easy knowing it’s cheap and environmentally friendly as well. We’re talking about a vacation to Costa Rica!

    Costa Rica is one of the top vacation destinations for North American travelers visiting Central America. Its beauty is legendary and its cities are equipped with enough modern luxury and metropolis savvy to entertain city-lovers, while being utterly close to an unparalleled wilderness. Traveling to Costa Rica is nothing less than breathtaking, exciting, beautiful, romantic, enjoyable, and amazing.

    Costa Rica is also known however, for being incredibly environmentally conscious and is one of the most notable eco friendly countries in Central America. Where most of Costa Rica’s neighbors have poorly managed tourism and their natural resources, Costa Rica has done the opposite. Ecotourism in Costa Rica is an important part of the tourism that drives their economy. As such, you can expect to take some of the best eco tours of your life while on vacation in Costa Rica. It also has a number of environmentally friendly parks and eco lodges as well. They are also highly ranked for the amount of land protected by the government meaning that while you’re on vacation, you simply must visit one of the National Parks in Costa Rica, for an up close and personal experience with local wildlife.

    Although booking your trip ahead of time is a guaranteed way to find low flight prices, there are some last minute flight deals that certainly deserve a second look. Right now you can consistently find flights to Costa Rica on most major airlines for as little as $235.


    Although most of them come in closer to $350, this is an incredible travel deal that simply begs you to book! Also, if you want to enjoy Costa Rica in the lap of luxury, book the Paradisus Playa Conchal Resort. It’s only $159 a night for this all-inclusive experience and that’s 50% off previous prices!

    If for some reason a trip to Costa Rica is a little too far to travel, don’t forget about the number of summer travel deals to places like Hawaii and Mexico that are readily available. Both of these locations offer many of the same attractions as Costa Rica and are more accessible from the United States with many more flights to and from. Regardless, keep in mind that the summer vacation of a lifetime is right around the corner. We’re simply suggesting you consider a FrugalMonkey favorite: Costa Rica!

  • Our New Section on Green Travel

    Traveling green is becoming of more and more concern to environmentally conscious travelers.


    Learning about ecotourism and the ways in which it can help sustain the world’s best travel destinations, like Machu Picchu, is part of a growing trend that helps educate travelers about how tourism can have both a positive and negative effect on remote locations. In our new section on Green Travel, we outline the benefits and disadvantages of ecotourism as we examine the ideals behind green travel. Find out more about ecotourism and sustainable travel with FrugalMonkey’s free online guide. In this section you will learn about:

    – What ecotourism is
    – Advantages and disadvantages of ecotourism
    – Ecotours
    – Volunteer vacations
    – Tips for green travelers

    More and more people are trying to travel using ecotourism ideals and methods. Find out about sustainable tourism and how you can do your part. Learn about the cruise ship industry in addition to our profiles on locations that are in danger, along with those that are at the top of our list for green travel destinations. Learn about eco friendly hotels and accommodations and what type of accreditation is being used to ensure that hotels, hotels and guesthouses are in fact making a minimal impact on the environment.

    By taking an eco tour or seeking out places that are green travel friendly are just a few ways green travel helps the environment. Get more green travel ideas in our new section and learn about: Belize, Alaska or even Africa.Lastly, in our new section find out which hotels around the world rank highest in terms of eco-friendliness and rest easy knowing that your travel needs aren’t coming at a large cost to the environment.