Would you be willing to volunteer a half-day of your vacation in order to get 50% off your hotel room?
This week Four Seasons Austin launched its “Pay It Forward” voluntourism package which gives hotel guests a special rate for volunteering a minimum of 3 hours at one of two local projects in Austin. Guests could either help prepare and serve meals in a community kitchen or help with beautification projects around Austin.
The two non-profits participating in the program are Caritas of Austin, which provides housing, food, education and employment services …

Ever wonder if a hotel is truly green or just “green-washing”? Certifications and eco-awards are good indicators, but you”ll need to dig deeper to truly get a sense of their eco-commitments. Travel Market Report gives us six resorts that exemplify some of the best “green” practices.

Looking for a trip by the azure blue sea, white sandy beaches or relax by a lagoon looking out to the vast, crystal clear ocean AND you want to spend some time giving back to the local community during this idyllic tropical vacation?
The Six Senses collection of luxury hotels and resorts has made sustainability and giving back to the community a priority, without compromising the experience and expectations of guests. They want more people to join their efforts. We’ve featured Six Senses’ Soneva Fushi last year as one …

Travelers are all too familiar with leaving behind half-used hotel shampoos and soaps after a hotel stay. Ever wonder “what happens to the reduced bar of soap and unused portion of shampoo at a hotel when a guest is done using it?” Do they go anywhere beside the trash? Could some good come from the leftover hotel soaps?
Clean the World (CTW), a non-profit, charitable organization founded in March 2009, has come up with a savvy social responsibility solution to left-over hotel toiletries. Its operating model is all about sustainability and …

People across the globe have started to adopt “greener” ways of living, including the hotels that they stay in..

BudgetTravel.com unveiled their list of the most affordable new hotels around the globe. We’re not sure what criteria was used for the hotels to make the cut except that all the hotels are under $150. Sometimes it’s difficult to define affordability because to some $150 is very affordable, others not so. Sometimes a cheap hotel is just that — cheap. We reviewed the list and further refined it –  taking into account hotel aura and amenities, location, and cost. We’ve identified 12 hotels on the list, with fabulous design and …

The good news for travelers these days is that you can find tons of hotel deals. Many travel industry experts expect these deals to continue in 2010 and some even think they will persist until 2011. All agree that prices will not go up until there is a solid pick up in demand. Promotions such as buy a night or two and get one free offers are becoming plentiful around the country, with discounts for dining, the spa and even the gift shop. Many hotels are offering incentives that provide …