As we haul ourselves through to the year’s halfway point, vacation season seems dauntingly far away. Thank goodness for these great travel blogs and online articles that encourage us to take little getaways in our minds even when we can’t take time off!

• The Jetpacker – We love the quirky travel stories featured on this fun blog. It’s not updated as regularly as many on the blogosphere, but gems like the recent tale of a woman turfed from a plane for singing Whitney Houston songs make it worth a look.
• Complete Guide to Family Volunteer Vacations @ Go Green Travel Green – We all know volunteering is a great way to see the world and really immerse yourself in another culture. But have you ever thought of taking the kids along? This article details the questions you need to ask to decide whether a volunteering vacation is right for your family, and some great volunteer organizations that can help you make it happen.
• Virtual Wayfarer – Everything on this travel blog is first rate, but the weekly travel photo is our favorite feature. The most recent shows an unfortunate looking street performer caught in a downpour in the historic part of Perugia. While everyone else is huddled under umbrellas, he has no choice but to wait until the storm passes! The image captures a quirky moment in time so beautifully.
• Photo Essay: Faces of Bhutan @ LL World Travel – They say the best way to understand a place is by learning about its people. So it makes sense that travel blogger Lisa has chosen to capture images of the children of Bhutan, rather than the desination’s landmarks, for this moving photo essay.
• The Professional Hobo – Travel needn’t be an occasional thing if you follow the philosophy of Nora Dunn, who’s also known as the Professional Hobo. In 2006 she decided to sell her financial planning business and all her worldly goods to fund global travel. In 2007 she started to explore the world, and she’s been doing it ever since. Learn how she travels full-time in a financially sustainable way in this insightful blog.

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Taking a frugal vacation doesn’t mean you need to face another boring, bland hostel. Read on to discover some of the weirdest and most wonderful backpackers’ stays on the planet.

ArkaBarka Floating Hostel in Belgrade, Serbia

Backpackers can’t ask for better water views than those offered by the ArkaBarka Floating Hotel in Belgrade. This unusual hostel actually floats on the Danube River! All the rooms offer those enviable river views, but the balcony is also a great place to soak up the scenery.

The ArkaBarka Floating Hostel is far enough away from the action to offer peace and quiet, but it takes just 20 minutes to walk to the city center. It’s also close to Usce Park, which is a popular spot for cycling and roller blading. Rates start at 15 euros for a bed in a shared room and breakfast.

Kadir’s Tree House in Olympos, Turkey

Relive your childhood at Kadir’s Tree House in the Turkish coastal city of Olympos. This striking hostel sees guests bunkering down in a real tree house! It’s far more sophisticated than the one you played in as a kid though; Kadir’s has three bars and a nightclub on site! Its staff members also organize plenty of outings to help you make the most of your stay, including treks through the Lost City, sea kayaking excursions, and fishing expeditions.

Dorm rooms are very reasonable, with prices starting from $16, but they jump up to $29 a night if you want your own room.

Carbisdale Castle Youth Hostel in Culrain, Scotland

If you thought staying in a real castle was out of your price range, think again. Scotland’s Carbisdale Castle is a real historic castle that was originally built for the Dowager Duchess of Sutherland! It might be a hostel now, but it hasn’t let itself go. It boasts a large art collection and an array of Italian marble statues. It’s also set in immaculate grounds overlooking the nearby River Kyle.

It’s not the place to stay if you’re at all superstitious though, as several ghosts are said to haunt the manner. Look out for a lady in white, fallen soldiers, and the former gardener roaming the grounds hunting for his long lost daughter. If you don’t mind the spectres, you can enjoy a dorm room from $20 or a private space from $25.

Hostel Celica in Ljubljana, Slovenia

It looks like any other hostel from the outside, but there’s more to Hostel Celica than meets the eye. This hostel proudly bears the tell-tale signs of its heritage as a military prison. Cell bars on the doors and windows of all guest bedrooms remind visitors what it must have been like to be locked up.

Thankfully Hostel Celica is a much more entertaining place now than it was then. There’s an art gallery on site, and the hostel also hosts concerts, workshops, and poetry readings. It’s also conveniently located right next to the Metelkova party district, and a ten-minute walk to the city center. Expect to get a dorm room for a little as $18, and a private one for $24.

Hedonisia Eco-Hostel in Hawaii, United States

Kadir’s Tree House in Olympos, Turkey

You’ll feel a little like Tarzan when you stay at Hedonisia Eco-Hostel, a sustainable backpackers’ stay nestled in the tropical rainforests of Hawaii’s Puna region. This area is far quieter than tourist traps like Honolulu and Waikiki, so it’s well worth exploring. And few other hostels boast a giant volcano crater, a guava hut, and a remodeled schoolbus all on site! This hostel is also perfect for eco-conscious travelers, as everything you’ll find at Hedonisia is made from recycled or locally-sourced materials.

As with so many green travel options though, Hedonisia is a bit pricier than your average hostel. You can stay in one of the shared indoor tents in The Barn for around $34, or upgrade to a private room for around $62.

So why stay at another forgettable hostel? This is just a taste of the affordable establishments that have upped the ante.

[Image Source: Elena Pleskevich/Flickr]

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With the weather warming up, we’re all spending less time online and more time enjoying the sunshine. But that’s no excuse for failing to check in with some of the best travel blogs and articles online. So you don’t need to spend hours wading through them, we’ve rounded up some of the best.

• Hostelling with Kids in Germany @ Travel Mamas – Farrah Ritter reminds us that backpacking isn’t just for college kids on gap years and aging hippies with this informative article. Read about her experiences staying at hostels in Germany with her brood in tow. Her tips for finding the right hostel for your family are priceless for frugal travelers. Who would have thought backpackers’ hostels could be so family-friendly?
• Migrationology – Get your tastebuds watering at Migrationology, a blog which focuses on the best street food from around the globe. Creator Mark Wiens is based in Thailand so the blog features many dishes from this nation, but it also touches on other local delicacies from Asia and the rest of the world. A recent post about catfish curry made us salivate, but we’re not so sure about the fried tongue!
• Travel Taiwan: Shalun Beach in Danshui, Taipei @ My Several Worlds – We love a story about a hidden vacation gem. Veering off the tourist path is a great way to save cash and avoid the crowds. After reading Carrie Kellenberger’s article, we can’t wait to catch some waves at this local Thai secret.
• MomsMinivan – Laurel Smith bills herself as the Road Trip Mom, a frugal traveler who loves hitting the road with her kids in tow. Of course, taking the brood on vacation isn’t always easy, but her travel games, activities, and tips should make your next journey run a little smoother!
• Budget Travel for Girlfriends – Traveling on the Cheap @ Traveling Mamas – Julia Rosien of GoGirlfriend.com recently wrote a guest post for Traveling Mamas to promote GoGirlfriend.com’s budget travel month of April. It’s so convenient to have these great posts rounded up in one handy entry. We particularly liked the information on staying cash positive on vacation and the hidden costs of cruising.

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The marketplace is flooded with gadgets claiming to enhance your travel. Many of them are expensive, and most fail to deliver on their promises. Read on to discover five clever travel gadgets that cost less than $50.

Satisfy Your Hunger with the RoadPro 12-Volt Sandwich Maker

It seems our tummies only rumble when the next truck stop is hours away. And when we get there, the food is inevitably overpriced and unsatisfying. RoadPro puts an end to driver’s frustration with its 12-Volt Sandwich Maker. Just pack a simple sandwich with your favorite fixings, and this sandwich maker will turn it in to a tasty toastie. This clever car appliance powers up when you plug it in to your vehicle’s cigarette lighter. It does take a while to heat, but it can do the work while you’re searching for a picnic spot. You can get yours for $29.99 from Overton’s.

SteriPEN Traveler Sterilizes Your Water

At $49.95 the SteriPEN Traveler is one of the more expensive items on our list, but it’s so practical that it’s worth a little splurge. This clever pen uses ultraviolet light to deactivate the germs in your water. In less than a minute you’ll turn the contents of a suspect bottle into deliciously drinkable water. This is the ideal gadget for anyone who loves exploring South America, Asia, the Middle East, or anywhere that water quality can’t be relied upon. Get yours from the SteriPEN website.

Keep Rocking with Strontium AUTO USB Drives

Of course every vacation needs a great soundtrack. CDs take up too much space and they’re targets for car thieves. Nifty gadgets like this small Strontium AUTO USB Drives are much smarter of option. They’re available in four sizes: 4GB, 8GB, 16GB, and the monster 32GB model. With the 8GB one holding around 2000 songs it should be enough to satisfy the tastes of all your traveling companions! These gadgets won’t work with older vehicles, but you should find the USB ports you need on any newer cars. Prices start at $5 for the 4GB model, which is impressive considering that Strontium sells the device with a limited five-year warranty. Find them at the Strontium website, gas stations, and major retailers.

Charge the Eco-Friendly Way with Mushroom GreenZero Wall Travel Charger

We all leave our cell phones and laptops to charge overnight, secure in the knowledge they’ll be ready to go the next morning. But this isn’t the ideal situation for sustainably-minded travelers. Bracketron’s Mushroom GreenZero Wall Travel Charger is every bit as eco-friendly as it sounds. It just stops the charging once your device is full. It’s really so simple that we wonder why no one came up with it before! You can also plug it into technology with 30-pin or mini-USB ports for extra versatility. You can also use it at home too to slash your energy consumption. This green device retails for just $27.95 from Bracketron.

Keep Wine Safe with the Wine Skin

So perhaps the Wine Skin is more of an invention than a gadget, but it’s an important addition for anyone planning a wine tasting vacation. We all love to bring a few souvenirs of our wine tasting trips home, but those precious bottles can be difficult to transport. The TSA won’t let you keep them safe in hand luggage as they exceed the liquid allowance, and they often don’t fare much better in the trunk of your car. The Wine Skin allows you to stop stressing and keep your wine safe. It’s basically a bottle-shaped, bag made out of bubble wrap which creates an air-tight seal. The bubble wrap finish minimizes breakages, and if the worst does happen that merlot won’t leak through your clothes. You can buy a bag of five for $11.95 from Wine Skin.

So don’t waste your money on overpriced items you’ll use for five minutes. These goodies are the real deals!

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May is almost upon us, but we’ve still got time for one more Web Wrap! Read on to discover the great travel blogs and frugal vacation articles that revved us in the last two weeks.

• FoXnoMad – The diversity of this travel site is what makes it extra special. Anil Polat’s striving to visit every country in the world, and writing about his adventures along the way. But this blog is more than simply a travelog. We love the thought-provoking articles, including a recent entry profiling travel books that transformed the writers’ lives, and will do the same for you.
• Ramen Yushoken: Great Ramen, Best Gyoza! @ Calvin’s Hub – Few meals offer as much bang for your buck as ramen. If you’re ever in The Philippines, the noodles at Ramen Yushoken sound like the ones to try. Calvin tells us that sharing your portion will leave space for the eatery’s excellent gyoza.
• Plum Deluxe – Plum Deluxe isn’t strictly a travel blog, but its philosophy of slowing down and experiencing all life has to offer should appeal to frugal travelers. A recent article which celebrates San Francisco’s tourist highlights beyond the Golden Gate Bridge is a great example of this blog’s commitment to unearthing great experiences.
• A Guide to Boston’s Out of the Box Festival @ As We Travel Blog – With all the sadness surrounding Boston in the wake of the city’s recent bombings, it’s refreshing to see a more positive piece. This article shines a light on the annual Out of the Box Festival, a celebration of music, dance, theatre, and more cultural pursuits. Best of all, the events are all free or close to it!
• Twenty-Something Travel – Stephanie Yoder doesn’t think you should wait to see the world. As a twenty-something blogger she doesn’t exactly have a lot of cash, but she makes it work for her as she explores the globe. Her solo travel adventures on the cheap should inspire jetsetters of any age.

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It’s Friday, and so many workers around the world are starting to watch the clock and anticipate that first drop of weekend wine. You could have another get together with the girls, the same old bottle of sav blanc, and trashy reality TV, or you could do something different this weekend and go wine tasting. Wine tasting sounds like a posh activity for the well-to-do, and it can be, but it’s also an excellent way for frugal travelers to pass the time.

If you want to do things on the cheap, forget about private tours. Sure you might enjoy the intimacy and a ride in a luxury vehicle, but these tours can cost hundreds for every person in the party. Look for small wine tour operators that drive larger buses. With more people on board, these guides can keep the costs down.

If you want to cut costs even further, consider asking a non-drinking friend or one of your pals’ teenage kids to play chauffeur. Chip in for their gas and a little extra for their trouble, and it’ll cost you next to nothing. You’ll miss out on the expert knowledge of a qualified guide, but you’ll have the flexibility of planning your own itinerary. Most wineries have comprehensive websites which display the details on their range of wines and cellar door hours so it’s easy to plan your own route.

Wine tasting costs around the world vary significantly. In Australia, you’ll rarely pay to taste wine. In New Zealand, a small tasting fee of a few dollars is common, but you will usually recoup this if you buy a bottle or two. In America, small wineries will often offer free tastings while larger wineries tend to charge between $5 and $50 to taste their wines. Others also have a cap on the amount you can taste for free. In Europe many wineries charge between five and ten euros to taste, while others offer complementary tasting sessions.

All that drinking is fun, but it’ll go to your head if you forget to eat. Many wineries have restaurants attached to their cellar doors, but they can be pricy. Taking a picnic lunch is a more affordable option. The world’s wineries have some beautiful outdoor areas just waiting for you to relax and refuel amongst the vines.

Touring a vineyard and attending a wine tasting can be a fun, educational part of a custom culinary tour on a budget.

While wine tasting is affordable and sometimes even free, you shouldn’t think of it as a cheap way to get liquored up. Wine makers put their heart and soul into their vintages after all. If you enjoy the wine you taste, make sure you take home a bottle or two. It’s a great souvenir of your wine tasting trip, and an excellent way to make your vacation in the vineyards last a little longer.

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As we haul ourselves to the end of the working week, we can’t help daydreaming about a getaway. We’d much rather be sunning ourselves on a tranquil beach or hiking a majestic mountain range than facing another nine to five. If you have itchy feet too, look to these great travel blogs and articles for inspiration.

• Best Places to Find Free Entertainment and Cultural Activities in Hawaii @ Go Visit Hawaii – Frugal travellers often resist the lure of Hawaii’s beaches because the tropical state has a reputation for being expensive. However the Go Visit Hawaii blog assures us there are plenty of places in the state to find free entertainment and soak up some local country. We love the way the article clearly lists free attractions from each of the most popular islands.
• Hole in the Donut – Don’t make us pick just one recent entry that’s wowed us. Frankly everything about this blog makes us want to pack our bags, whether it’s Barbara Weibel’s photos of French artisan cheeses or her tale of leaving behind a successful but soul-sucking career to go backpacking.
• Jaipur – The Pink City @ Go Backpacking – We love the images of Jaipur in this informative article. The rosy Hawa Mahal and half-submerged Jal Mahal look especially impressive, and we’re sure they’re even better in person. It seems there are enough historical sites in Jaipur to entertain any frugal traveler. After all, it’s often free or close to free to visit such landmarks! This is definitely a city we want to discover more about.
• Uncornered Market – If your dream destination is one you haven’t discovered yet, Uncornered Market is worth checking out. Rather than visiting popular tourist hotspots, husband and wife team Daniel Noll and Audrey Scott prefer exploring underappreciated offbeat locations. Recent posts showing some major love to New Zealand will inspire you to visit the Land of the Long White Cloud.
• Free and Affordable Foodie Experiences in the Napa Valley @ Peter Greenberg.com – The Napa Valley is another destination that frugal travelers usually give a wide berth. While the Michelin-star restaurants and high-priced vineyards can drain your finances quickly, Peter Greenberg alerts us to some more money-savvy options that are just as delicious. The thought of Solbar’s slow-roasted pig shoulder, which is made for sharing at $38, is making us drool.
• Celebrating a Greek Easter: Candles & Fireworks @ Europe UpClose – Ruth Kozak reminds us that Easter isn’t all bunnies and chocolate eggs with her look at the Greek traditions alive on the island of Patmos. Now this is a place we want to celebrate the holidays!

Make sure you share this article via your social network contacts, who are probably struggling through the week every bit as much as you are!

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Saving money on vacation doesn’t mean you have to skimp on the experience. Read on to discover ways you can conserve your finances and enjoy an enriching trip.

1. Spend More Time in Fewer Locations
Many travelers want to cram as many locations as they can into their vacation, but this approach isn’t necessarily the most enjoyable, or the most economical. You won’t have time to really immerse yourself in your destinations, and you’ll spend a lot of money in transit. When you slow down and smell the roses you’ll start to shift from acting as a tourist to one of the locals. You’ll learn about a city’s true beauty. You might even earn a discount for staying in your accommodation longer!

2. Talk to the Locals
Talk is indeed cheap. In fact, it’s free! Chatting to the locals is one our guilty pleasures when we’re vacationing. It’s a great way to discover the best restaurants and other hidden gems. You might even make a new friend! Asking someone for their advice or directions is a great way to break the ice. If you’re traveling abroad, make an effort to learn a few key phrases too. Even if your pronunciation is off, the residents will respect your attempts!

3. Try the Local Food
Life is best lived when you get out of your comfort zone. You can have meals from global takeaway chains any old time. You’ll save money, and perhaps even discover a new favorite, if you eat the local cuisine. What you’ll find on the tourist strip is likely to be a watered down, tourist-pleasing version, so make sure you dine a couple of streets away from the main drag. Street food from local markets and vendor carts is another great option. These affordable dishes are cooked right in front of you, so they’re always fresh and delicious.

4. Get Up Early
Many of us feel that sleeping in is part of a vacation, but when you do you’re not getting bang for your buck. Becoming an early riser ensures you make the most of your time away. You’ll get the jump on the other tourists and enjoy your destination without the crowds. Gentle early morning light is ideal for travel photography, and a sunrise is always a little more beautiful than a sunset!

5. Walk Your Way Around a City
You can miss so much en route to tourist attractions and other local sites. Setting out on foot ensures you don’t miss the pieces in between. It’s a great way to absorb a city’s atmosphere, find new places to explore, and it’s always free! We love to set out without a plan and see where our legs take us.

6. Travel Light
Traveling light doesn’t just help you avoid excess baggage fees. It also allows you to travel without feeling weighed down. It’s liberating! When you save some space in your suitcase, you’ll also have room for a few affordable souvenirs and gifts for family and friends back home.

7. Make it a Working Vacation
A working vacation allows you to stay in your destination longer and really become a part of the community. You’ll get to know the locals and their culture, and you might even some learn some new skills you can use later in life. Making a wage doesn’t just give you the luxury of time. It also frees up a bit more cash so you can feel more comfortable making the occasional splurge.

As you can see, traveling frugally isn’t just for misers. It’s also for tourists who want to get the most from their vacations.

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As we race towards Easter, it’s the perfect time to stop and reflect on the world around us. And for us here at Frugal Monkey, that means taking a look at some fabulous travel blogs! Read on to discover what’s made our latest Web Wrap!

• Available Light @ Canada’s Adventure Couple – Deb and Dave don’t just know a thing or two about adventure traveling. They’re also very skilled photographers. In the latest in their series of travel photography tutorials, they show us how to make the most of the available light in our locations. Use their tips and you’ll have impressive looking vacation snaps without paying for a professional’s services!
• Fluent in Three Months – We’re intrigued by Benny the Irish Polygot, a jovial jetsetter who does his level best to learn the languages of his global destinations in the shortest time possible! His latest challenge is learning Polish in just five hours. Can he do it? We’ll be tuning in to find out!
• The Most Amazing Church I’ve Ever Seen & Can’t Show You @ Wandering Earl – If there was ever a post to pique our curiosity, it’s this one. Church rules forbade Earl from snapping any more than the exterior of the Church of San Juan. Without any photos, he does his best to describe the church’s incredible interior. He does well. And now we want to see it for ourselves.
• Travel with a Purpose @ Wanderlust & Lipstick – Angela Dollar serves up a travel blog that isn’t afraid to tackle the big issues. She’s an environmentalist, a feminist, and an altruist, and that might just be skimming the surface. Her opinionated posts have such drive; they’ll really make you think.
• Photo Memories from the Grand Canyon @ Gone with the Family – Lisa and her brood have us wanting to head to Arizona after this photo-heavy post. The images of the rugged American natural wonder are simply stunning, and the bullet-point facts at the bottom of the article are really useful.

If you think anyone you know would love to read these great articles and websites over the Easter weekend, make sure you share them via our social networking buttons below!

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For many of us the arrival of children signals a change from luxury vacations to more modest trips. Perhaps the expansion of your own family is what brought you to the Frugal Monkey blog! We’ve already looked at ways to save money on family vacations, but conserving the bank balance isn’t the only thing we need to worry about. What about your sanity? Traveling with children can be challenging, but we’ve got plenty of tips for helping you survive, and even enjoy, your next frugal family vacation.

Embrace the off season
Your kids get a few months’ vacation over summer, so it makes sense to take advantage of that time off and see the world, right? Wrong. That’s the idea everyone else has. And that drives the price of airfares and accommodation sky high. If it’s at all possible, consider yanking your kids out of class and traveling during the school terms. You could save hundreds of dollars, which you can of course inject back into your vacation budget.

Pack it right
A family can quickly put together a load of luggage. But no one wants to be swamped with stuff, or pay hefty excess baggage charges. You can cut down your suitcases by choosing simple clothes that can be mixed and matched to create several outfits. Make sure you check your kids’ suitcases too; they’ll typically include far too many things they don’t need and forget other items that they do!

Location, location, location
Choosing the right place to stay can make or break your family vacation. Look for accommodation in safe areas that’s close to local attractions or at least public transport. Make sure it has all the beds you need to fit your family comfortably. A place with a pool or games room can keep your little ones entertained. Ask nicely and you might receive an upgrade to a larger room or a discount for staying multiple nights.

Money matters
Set a budget for each day of your travels and stick to it. If you want to splurge on a good restaurant meal, arrange to see a free museum or festival during the day. Being conscious of your finances is the best way to avoid a blowout.

Vacation as a team
You probably figured this out once your little bundles arrived, but life isn’t all about you anymore. You’ve got new little people to consider, and when it comes to vacations, their opinions matter. We’re not suggesting that you stick to a child’s schedule, but making time to see the attractions that pique their interests will ensure they stay happy. And as we all know, happy children make for a happy holiday.

Stop and smell the roses
When we’re footloose and fancy free we want to cram everything into our vacation that we possibly can. But traveling at a rapid pace is a recipe for a few cranky kids. Make sure you account for time spent napping, snacking, and using the restroom for the umpteenth time. Slow things down and you’ll all feel a lot less stressed.

Remember those toilet breaks
The age of your children will determine how relevant this point is to you. But if you’ve got young ones in tow, ensuring they have regular toilet breaks is crucial. Whenever you spot a handy toilet, make sure you ask if they need to go. Otherwise you can be sure they’ll feel urgent when a bathroom is nowhere in sight!

Maintain your routines
This one might seem like a pipedream, but it’s worth the effort. Read books or play board games before bed, and tuck them up with their favorite toy at the same time they’d sleep at home. This is the best way to avoid hyperactive, overtired terrors!

Expect the unexpected
This point might seem to contradict the last, but stay with us. You can insist on regular bedtimes and good meal habits, but there’s only so much you can control. Traveling isn’t always a walk in the park, and sometimes things will go wrong, particularly when you add the unpredictability of children to the mix. Keep a positive attitude and this will flow through to your children, making any challenges much easier to deal with.

Happy girl at Hong Kong Disneyland

Hold on to the memories
Family vacations are all too rare, so make sure you remember the ones you have. Take plenty of photos, and buy your kids cheap digital cameras so they can do the same. Purchase travel journals and encourage them to write stories and draw pictures about the time they’ve had. These all make wonderful keepsakes to look back on years later.

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