Voluntourism is all the rage in the hospitality world these days. From Miami (where guests of the Mandarin Oriental can replant the Everglades) to New Orleans (where Windsor Court guests served meals to victims of Hurricane Katrina), luxury hotels are hopping on the voluntourism bandwagon. Many luxury hotels and resorts are giving perks to guests who volunteer their time while on vacation. Hats off to Six Senses Resorts, which launched a “SLOW LIFE” voluntourism program last year which rewarded guests with free nights when they did volunteer work for community programs. Not only did guests feel good about giving back to the local community, they also got to extend their luxurious vacation.
We hear that the Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, a little piece of paradise accessible only by boat from Nha Trang, Vietnam, is continuing this program on select dates between May to October 2012. In exchange for three days of volunteering (four hours a day), the resort will give you three free nights for free. Help out at the local orphanage on the first day, pick up litter from the coral reef (while snorkeling) on the second day, and pitch a hand in the garden on the third day, learning about the production of essential oils and preparing a raw food/slow life cooking experience. For more information, see the resort's website: www.sixsenses.com/SixSensesNinhVanBay/index.php