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The Nature is The Luxury: Glamping in Dominica

Nestled between Guadeloupe and Martinique, Dominica, called the Nature Island, is a place where you might just feel like you’re the first to explore this gem. Dominica is much less traveled than its neighboring islands in the Caribbean, and the eastern side of the island even more so.

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If you’re looking for accommodation with easy to access to nearby adventures, yet feels far away from it all, Citrus Creek Plantation in the small town of La Plaine is a great option. Each of their eight cottages are named after the earth, but the one that drew me to explore this spot one afternoon in the first place was the Glamping Safari Canvas Cottage called AMBAZAMAN, amba meaning below, and zaman meaning the almond tree. As you step inside under the canvas tent, you’ll notice you’re walking on wooden floors that peek straight through to the bare earth below.

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“Our concept of luxury is different. The nature is the luxury for me,” says owner Herve as we walked outback of the canvas tent to check out the outdoor shower wrapped in Bamboo. “Cottages are simple. Beds are good.” He should know. Herve and his wife actually lived in it for a whole year, and I can absolutely see where he is coming from. There’s nothing to distract from taking your eyes off the luxury of the nature surrounding you as you step outside to lounge in the hammock with your morning coffee or listen to the sounds of the nearby flowing river literally at your feet as the hot water flows through your fingers in the outdoor shower built into the side of a tree. The Ambazaman sleeps up to four people and the perfect place to spend an afternoon grilling as there is a little BBQ bit in the yard.

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I also visited two other cottages perched up high above the others. The second floor of Avocado has lush skyline views and Banyan boasts the postcard worthy scenes out to the sea with bright green everywhere you gaze. Each cottage is equipped with a kitchen if you desire to cook in with a simple French style breakfast of toast, jam and chocolate provided. If you’d like others they’ll gladly accommodate you.

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For those wanting to laze around, they have a restaurant on property and what some expats describe as the best on Dominica. Riverside Café has a small French creole menu using as many local ingredients, some from their own garden.

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For those interested in creating a souvenir to take home, visit Patricia, a talented French expat who makes Mosaic art and take a class with her. She lives in the loveliest little rustic chic home just on the right as you enter the property. Ring the little bell and Patricia, a lovely petite French woman will come out to greet you.

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When you’re ready to explore the surrounding areas, venture just down the road from to Bout Sable Bay for a photography session, lazy beach afternoon, or a swim depending on the days tide.

You can also get a guide to take you on nearby hikes. One of my favorite on this side of Dominica is the Wavine Cirque. ‘Not for the faint of heart’, you might want to channel your inner Indiana Jones as you use ropes and roots to climb your way to the bottom. The view is all worth it. Other guided day trips are great like Glasse Point and Victoria Falls.

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Many of the guests who stay at Citrus Creek Plantation come from France and Germany. Herve tells me, ‘They have found what they’re looking for,’ as has many of them return year after year. After spending the day at Citrus Creek Plantation, I would say I’d agree that the simplicity is bliss here.

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Firefly Bali: Waking up in a Rice Paddy

As a nomad traveling the world in search of unique accommodations, I’ve noticed that the glamping trend has accelerated partly due to the emergence of short-term rental marketplaces like Airbnb and Glamping.com. These websites enable creative, local proprietors to offer their hospitality on a small scale, resulting in a boom of unique lodgings available across the globe. From used shipping containers, to treehouses, to igloos, you can now find it all depending on where you are. Ubud on the island of Bali is no exception. While visiting the trendy town, we discovered Firefly Bali: a single bamboo hut in the middle of a rice paddy.

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Despite its agricultural setting, Firefly is located surprisingly close to the urban core of Ubud. To access the property you first need to convince a taxi driver to drop you off on the side of the road, alongside an unmarked dirt path leading up a hill and into the forest. The process of communicating these unusual instructions to the driver is an experience unto itself. Then you need to hike about a kilometer through a labyrinth of rice paddies. Don’t worry, you don’t need to figure this all out on your own. Despite being a single hut, Firefly is still staffed, sharing employees with a nearby sister property. One of the friendly hosts helped us direct the taxi driver and met us at the trailhead. From there, he helped us with our luggage and led us through the paddies.

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The hut is unlike any property we’ve ever visited. It was constructed in the local architectural material of bamboo with a grass thatched roof. It has a queen-sized bed, a small amount of electricity for lights and an outlet, and an outdoor shower, but the modern conveniences end there. There is no air conditioning or fan. Instead, Firefly relies on its open-air design to keep things cool. It’s so open, there isn’t even a front door!

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This open layout pairs with the hut’s land site, carved out of a working rice paddy, to make the Firefly experience so unique. You naturally settle into the surrounding environment without disturbing it, which in this case entails observing the paddy workers beat the bushes to scare away crop-eating birds or simply enjoying the unobstructed view. The terraced rice paddies were particularly spectacular at sunset.

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As Firefly warns guests in advance, its alternative accommodations will not suit everybody. Despite this, Firefly’s one of a kind outdoor experience set in an authentic Southeast Asian environment seems to be in high demand. The little hut was booked solid for two months following our stay and only by sheer happenstance was a night available during our time in Ubud. Demand is so strong, in fact, that Firefly’s creative proprietor is currently constructing a new bamboo eco-structure about 500 meters away. The new property is slated to hold four bamboo micro-units stacked on top of each other, targeted towards budget travelers seeking a minimalist natural experience in Ubud. Similar to Firefly, but even more alternative. As the Balinese locals would say, “same same but different.”

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Affordable Luxury That Feels Like Home

I cozied up legs crossed on the floor taking in all of the warmth of the crackling fire that I could handle while spoon-feeding myself Vermont-made ice cream in a room adorned with vintage snowshoes, skates, traps and trinkets hung from the three surrounding walls. As I got up to throw another log on the fire, I noticed the snowflakes were still gracefully making their way to the ground. It was the first big snow of the season for the small town of Waterbury, Vermont. I could have stayed forever.

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In fact, many of the guests who have come to stay at Moose Meadow Lodge in Waterbury have done just that. They’ve gone and bought property after their stay. Once you’ve experienced the hospitality of owners Greg and Willie, you’ll not only fall in love with their quaint B and B, but the entire Green Mountain State.

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While this property must be just as idyllic in the warmer months, there is no shortage of a nice balance of serenity and adventure throughout the winter. We bunked up for two nights in the Sled Room, one of four themed rooms in the lodge each equipped with their own balcony or patio. Breakfast was on each morning at 9 am including local Vermont Cabot Cheddar over eggs, french toast and maple bacon with maple syrup tapped from the trees on their very land.

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With 86 acres of private property to explore, snowshoeing after morning coffee was at the top of our list. With several different paths to choose from, we listened to the sounds of nature and crunching of the snow under our feet as we made our way to the top stopping to enjoy the picturesque views along the route. If you hike all the way up to the top, you’re in for a beautiful surprise: a simple fully enclosed gazebo with large windows shielding you from the elements where you can reflect, relax, and take in the aerial mountain views. There’s even a heater if you wish to stay a while!

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Once we were back at the lodge, I stepped into the bathroom barefoot on heated floors to warm up and had a nice twenty minute steam on the bench in the shower. There is also a jacuzzi tub in the basement! It’s really easy to get too comfortable in the lodge and not even leave the property during your stay, with the option to use the kitchen to make dinner. If you do decide to venture out, there’s so much to do for the epicurious traveler.

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For a taste of Waterbury, venture just down the road and taste the world at Vermont Liberty Tea Company, sip small production, family owned, and naturally produced wines at Cork, enjoy small plates at Prohibition Pig, and dine at Hen of the Wood. Not far down the road, the food scene in Stowe is just as exciting. We enjoyed innovative apps at Doc Pond and the classic underground dinner scene at Harrison’s. Vermont also has a huge influence in arts and culture and I especially loved making a trip to the West Branch Gallery and their outdoor Sculpture Park.

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Speaking of sculpture, every detail back at the Moose Meadow Lodge was done by hand and all of the Maple and Birch inside of the house is from the property. For those looking for a more secluded escape, book a stay in the Treehouse out back. Open the three warmer seasons of the year, this feel like a kid again beautifully hand crafted room has all you could ever need including an outdoor shower and overlooking the fully stocked pond, perfect for paddling out or fishing.

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An affordable luxury escape that feels like home, don’t forget to remain young and adventurous at heart as you plan your next escape in Vermont. A great retreat for all types of travelers including the solo adventurist, couples, or entire family or friends weekend retreat, experiencing a stay at the hidden gem that is Moose Meadow Lodge will leave you refreshed, restored, and curious for more childlike wander.