Eco Holidays

posted by Catherine on Jul 30

Why wash your toiletries into already polluted water ways when you don’t have to!

By investing in biodegradable toiletries and sunscreen etc, for your trip abroad, you can make sure that your hygiene regime doesn’t damage the ecosystem and that your travel products leave the area as naturally as possible.

I mean – why visit a beautiful place if you are going to ruin it!

What Does Biodegradable Mean?
Biodegradable products are those that will break down readily and quickly into virtually natural particles that can be used again by nature. 

These products also have to ‘break down’ readily in a natural environment – for example when mixed with water, buried in the ground or left exposed to the weather.

Products which are not labelled as biodegradable will also eventually break down into smaller particles – but their products will not be ‘natural’ by any means – and can usually not be used in any way by natural organisms.  And these products are normally harmful to the environment and the animals that live in it.

One example would be a plastic carrier bag.  Yes, it will eventually break up in bad weather or if buried under the ground for a few years – but it will only break down into smaller and smaller pieces of plastic until they are so tiny that they can’t be broken down any further.

So in theory, plastic bags are ‘biodegradable’ in the sense that they won’t be plastic bags for ever!

But, obviously this is not what we mean when we think of biodegradable products – so you really need to rely on manufacturers to tell you that their products are made of natural (or near-natural) ingredients.

The Perfect Rainforest

Biodegradable Labelling:
As with so many assumed categories – there is no specific laws that govern the use of the word ‘biodegradable’ on a product. Basically anyone can use it.

In general the term is used for products that will readily break down into natural particles within 6 months of disposal – and even this is a bit vague.

AND as biodegradable products rely on the natural effects of weather, bacteria and sunlight – eliminating these by incorrect disposal can render them trapped in their complete state!  For example without air – only anaerobic respiration can be used to break products down; and photo-degradation only occurs in sunlight.

Take the human body.  It is made of natural particles and will break down naturally in the environment in most circumstances – but bury in under peat, desiccate it in a desert or trap it in a thick layer of ice and it will be virtually intact thousands of years later!  And we have found entire humans with intact skin and hair all over the world because of this.

So, really you need to aim for more ‘natural products’ – but then again, there is no legal definition for labeling a product as natural!  Oil is natural after all!

The Result:
You can see that the theory of using biodegradable products is 100% eco friendly and can help to reduce our impact on the planets waterways and oceans.

However, the practice part is a little more difficult!

The best you can do really is to think about reducing your dependence on excessive toiletries in the first place.  I mean do your need to remove your nail varnish in the middle of the jungle?  Or style your hair so it doesn’t move all day when trekking up a mountain?

And secondly, look at who is making it.  If a big chemical company is making it – then it probably isn’t the most natural product – no matter what they say!  They know that there is no legal definition for certain things so try to ‘trick’ consumers with flowery pictures and ‘natural sounding’ words.

Basically, if it’s a household name and is found in virtually every supermarket – it won’t be good for the environment!

posted by Catherine on Jul 11

Just because you can go faster down hills – doesn’t mean you have right of way!

When you are riding your bicycle, you don’t want to keep stopping all the time to wait for a family to move over, or to get through a gate – but do you know you right of way ‘rules’ and when and where you can’t cycle?

There are different rules for different paths and routes – so make sure you plan your route and know your rights!

General:
Obviously, wherever you cycle, make sure that you are courteous at all times.  Don’t barge your way through crowds ringing your bell or shouting.  Sometimes other traffic has the right of way and if some cyclists are always grumpy towards others then it gives a bad name to everyone else on a bike!

You may come up against walkers, other cyclists, horse riders and wheelchair users – so you need to think ahead as to what is suitable behaviour.  And there may be many path users that are hard or hearing or partially sighted – so never assume that people will move out of your way at the last minute, and don’t rely on your bell alone to warn people of your approach.

And – unless it is legally adapted for doing so – you cannot ride with a passenger on your bike!  No ‘backies’ or other seating arrangements are allowed on the UK roads (or pavements).

Footpaths:
You cannot cycle on a Footpath.  Only foot travellers have a ‘right of way’ over the land that makes up most Footpaths – and so cycling on one is against the law.

Footpath Sign

Therefore if you use a Footpath on your bike (or are even pushing your bike – which is still technically illegal) make sure that you are uber courteous to any walkers you meet and make their journey past you as easy as possible by either stopping or waiting to one side!

Bridleways:
These paths are usually wider than Footpaths and allow walkers, cyclist and horse riders to pass along them.  However, a cyclist must give way to the other 2 in all cases.

Pavements:
You cannot cycle on a normal pavement – and you can legally get an on-the-spot fine from an enthusiastic (or particularly picky) police officer.  You can however push your bike along by your side on the pavements and of course can cycle in a specific and well marked cycle lane on a pavement surface – but you must stay within the lines.

Roads:
You are allowed to cycle on all roads except motorways (or any other road that is signed as such) - and you must follow the highway code in terms of road signs, junctions and traffic lights!

At night there are rules about how you light your bicycle and specific colour reflectors on the pedals and the bike itself.  And it is recommended that you should always be wearing a safety helmet for your own safety.

It is also recommended that you make yourself as visible as possible on the roads, whether that is by wearing bright clothes, bright accessories, adding further reflectors to your wheels and accessories.  It’s obvious really, but the easier you are to see, the less likely you are to be hit by a car.

Public Transport:
Don’t always assume that you can get your bike onto a train or a bus either! 

Some trains have ‘bike specific’ times – or only allow those city fold-up bike on board as a space saving initiative.  And many country buses just don’t have the space for a mountain bike as they are fully seated inside.

And even attaching your bicycle to your own car needs to be thought out in advance and you need a specific bike rack to be correctly fitted to a suitable vehicle for driving on the road yourself.  Flailing cables and spinning wheels could draw the attention of a traffic officer!

So take care out there!

posted by Catherine on Jul 8

Is it about getting the great shot – or about the welfare of the animal itself?

There is hot debate at the moment in the world of wildlife photography that some ‘wild’ animals are being farmed in captivity to make for ‘better’ wildlife shots!

It is sadly true that there are cages and cages of foxes, wolves, pumas and lynx all just pacing back and forth waiting for someone to pay to see them ‘running free’ in an enclosure.

The irony of it!

So, are there some wildlife guidelines you can follow to make sure that your are not scaring or stressing the wild animals you are photographing – the most obvious being: Don’t pay an established animal farm to use their wildlife for photography unless you completely approve of their housing and handling!

But if you want to keep it natural out in the field, try a few of these tips:

Treat Them As Wild:
The animals you are trying to get an amazing picture of are wild and are therefore potentially dangerous to humans – especially if they are mating or have young close by.

Therefore the best practice here is to get yourself a very long lens and watch from a distance!  Of course you can stalk out the animals in advance to find out where they will be and when to get yourself in position.

Getting To Close:
Just because an animal is letting you get really close – it doesn’t mean that it wants you there.

A very hungry animal may remain near it’s meal while you creep closer and closer because it has tried to catch a meal for so long.  It won’t give it up easily – but it will eventually if you hound it for long enough!

Same goes for mothers with young or an injured animal – they don’t really want to have to move so will let you get closerthan normal – but they will still be very stressed about the whole thing.

If an animal is staring at you – then you have disturbed it or got too close – either way, it knows you are there.

Any Closer And I Could Spoil The Meal

The Wider Angle:
Don’t forget that animals and birds don’t just live in the one spot you just saw them in – they need the wider environment to be successful.

So, don’t thunder through the woods or fields to get to your ‘best ‘spot as you may well have disturbed all your animals prey species out of the area for the rest of the day!  Or scared a predator right into the face of your target species!

Breaking branches, trampling plants and moving things around ‘for a better shot’ can also affect the very animals you have come to see!

The Results:
Well, there are some great cameras out there than can reduce the distance between you and the wildlife to such a great extent that you needn’t disturb wildlife at all.  I know they may cost more than a normal camera but it can be the easiest way of getting a great shot without causing the animal itself any stress.

And by staying away, you can appreciate the wider environment too.  I have found that sitting still is a great way to get animals to come closer to you as you become part of their landscape rather than marching through it.  They will feed and act as normal within feet of you if you were there first!

Great for some perfect wildlife moments!

posted by Catherine on Jul 3

It can be eco friendly to take less medicines on vacation, so pick your destination well!

If you are hoping to go to a far flung travel destination, it’s not all vaccinations and tablets – and in fact these can add to your eco footprint along the way.

Now I am not saying don’t take medication if it is available and recommended by your doctor or travel clinic – but maybe by choosing your destination with some care – you can avoid the potential for disease and so reduce your chemical uses!

All medications – even the contraceptive pill and paracetamol can leave chemical residues in the environment so lets not be silly here – but if you choose from malaria-free countries, you could have a less stressful holiday too!

So here is just a simple list or the main malaria free holiday destinations by continent that you could consider:

Continental Europe:
Every country in Europe (2010) does not have any malarial risk, including the whole of Russia.

Africa:
The only countries currently listed as malarial-free destinations are Tunisia, Lesotho and Libya as well as the Seychelles.  However seasonal variations mean that many other destinations will be declared ‘malaria free’ for months at a time – as will certain cities which are above a certain height.

The Middle East:
Due to the harsh dry climate, countries like Jordan, Israel, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates (Dubai), Bahrain, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon and Qatar are all declared as malaria-free countries – so no worries here!

Central & South East Asia:
The islands of Japan, North Korea and South Korea are free as well as the expanse of Mongolia, but all other tropical areas and islands are at risk virtually all the time.

However, there are 2 cities in south-east Asia that do remain malaria free amid the jungles and swamps – Brunei and Singapore.

North America:
The whole of North America (including Hawaii) Canada and Greenland are not in any way at risk of malaria – so any vacations here will not require malarial medication.  The area though does still have other illness in the more remote areas – so don’t think any destination is completely safe!

The Caribbean:
The islands making up the Caribbean are as good as free of the disease, apart from the island that makes up Haiti and the Dominican Republic.  But do check for local reports if travelling to swampy areas.

Central & South America:
Unfortunately these areas are dotted with various patches of malaria in all the forested and wetland areas – so you need to be specific about where you travel to.  The only countries in Central or South America that are completely free of malarial risk are Chile and Uruguay.

Other Destinations:
The delightful Maldives in the Indian Ocean are always a popular destination not only due to their dazzling beauty, sandy islands and azure dolphin filled waters – but also because of their malaria-free situation – unlike neighbouring Sri Lanka!

Needless to say; Australia, New Zealand and all affiliated islands are completely risk-free for this disease – but of course have plenty of other things to worry the tourist!

However, bite avoidance is an obvious first step in any holiday destination – as insect bites can pass on many such debilitating diseases! 

Just make sure that you are aware of all the risks in all the destinationsyou are considering before you use this guide to choose your next eco holiday!

posted by Catherine on May 8

Did you know that 27 European Union countries are now using the same emergency services number?

Now, you know that you can call an emergency expert wherever you are on the continent – from France to Finland, Sweden to Spain – it’s all the same number: 112.

Of course, some countries still have other numbers working alongside this, like the UK still uses 999 – but generally, all 112 numbers are directly sent to the emergency services of that country, or are diverted to a place where they can be effectively dealt with!

Why Know This?
Well, when you are backpacking across countries, or travelling by train – you never know quite where you are going to end up that night.  Sometimes you may only be in a certain country for a few hours as you pass through, and others you might turn up in and stay for months!

So, it’s not likely that you will learn and remember all the different numbers – but what if you see an emergency situation like a house on fire, or are involved in an incident?

But, how can you help if you don’t know who to call?
Two things can really help in this type of situation and they are as follows:

1) Your Cell Phone:
All GSM phones are pre-programmed to recognise their local emergency numbers – for example 999 in the UK.  This means that you can get through to an emergency service immediately if you dial this number – even if their is no SIM card in your phone!

It will also let you dial this number when your keypad lock is on or when you dial the emergency number instead of your pin – it is designed to do this to get your call answered as soon as possible and therefore your emergency service to deal with the situation without delay – I mean every second really does count when there are lives involved.

And, because it is registered as an emergency number, it also gets priority over other numbers in the pecking order of networks.  This means that if you witness an accident and call 112 your call will get put straight through, while other callers might be made to wait for a ‘line’.

So, it is worth checking that you phone does this for the countries you are planning to visit for any length of time – so that your calls are taken seriously.

2) The Number 112:
Yes, there are other emergency numbers for a variety of specific services – like coastguard and drugs hot lines in many countries – but you will get straight through to an expert if you dial 112.

So rather than either panic and try to find someone to help or guess at a number to call, you can at least try 112 first.  And if it’s not the first choice number of the country you happen to be in – at least it will be a trained emergency service person that you speak to. 

For example in Norway, 112 will get you straight to the Police, whereas you need to dial 113 for an Ambulance – however at least you know that the Police will be more help to you than a farmer you happened to find down the road!

Other Tips?
Make sure that you take out travel insurance before you travel.  I know the emergency services will come to your aid, but medical treatment, helicopters and other rescue services could well charge you thousands!  And make sure you read the policy details before you go too – as not calling them before getting treatment could void some policies completely!

Also try to take a Basic First Aid course before heading off on longer journeys or at least get a medical tips book to cover all the basics.  I mean knowing the simple cures and treatments for common holiday woes could save you a lot of wasted time – and make sure that you buy remedies locally rather than taking a whole pharmacological first aid kit with you from home!

And finally – if you accidentally dial this or any other emergency number – DO NOT HANG UP.  The person on the other end of the phone may think that you are incapacitated or unable to continue with the call due to some type of emergency!  And we don’t want them to waste time finding out…….

So, stay on the line and explain why you no longer need them – otherwise they could be wasting money and resources trying to locate you again to help you out – when in fact you are just now carrying on along your journey without a care in the world!

Take Care!

posted by Catherine on Apr 11

Thinking ahead and adding up the pennies could really make a difference to some companies!

When you are thinking of traveling off somewhere for several months, you may not want to keep paying rent on that little flat of yours at home – so you give it up.

But now you need to change your addresses for everything to a friends house of whatever until you get back.

Now – do you know how much that costs the business and charities that post you things?

It All Adds Up!
Firstly, you need to contact the charity or business and tell them about your new address.  So, you call their admin staff with the changes and they then update your file and it’s all fine.

However, just for you it might take only a few minutes, but it will cost around 35pence (or 40cents) in wages, not including the electricity used – and some companies will want to confirm this is writing.

You might think I am being a bit petty about this as it’s such a small amount – but when you come back from your travels, you are going to want them to change it again.  This time from your friends address to your new flat, so you have clocked up just under a £ or a $ for both changes.

Now think of all the other people that are moving address short term too.  Just imagine one national charity having 1 person a day changing their address - that’s £365 or $’s that charity has to spend on admin rather than their cause.

However, if you had set up a redirection, your address stays the same, but the mail goes to your friends instead.  Then when you come back and get your own place – and it’s long term – then you change all the addresses just the once. 

Not Just Charity Money:
And, it’s not just the charities that will save money – it’s you too.

Don’t forget that businesses need to make money, so if your electricity firm or bank need to keep employing loads of staff to process address changes all the time – they are going to put up their fees!

That means you pay more for everything you are already paying for!

All in all then, if you are the type of person to keep moving here and there – maybe think of your eco impact before updating your short-term addresses.

I mean we must all have at least 20 – 30 companies that use our addresses for delivery of information or bills – now imagine the combined environmental cost of updating all of them!

posted by Catherine on Mar 7

Going on a riding holiday can throw up a few uncertainties for you.

Rather than just book anything and turn up with just your suitcase, you really need to consider a few important things before cantering off along the beach!

So the following 10 tips might answer a few of your questions:

1) The Horses:
Make sure that someone you can trust has either been there themselves or has seen or heard about the horses used.  You really don’t want to be funding an organisation that doesn’t care for their horses as you would care for your own.

2) The Human:
Make sure that you haven’t over estimated your ability and comfort zones!  Could you really sit on a horse for hour after hour crossing mountains or rivers?  Can you keep up with everyone else if they are going to be galloping up hills and around the edges of volcanoes?

It’s not just the horses that have to be fit for these adventures!

3) The Weather:
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to check the weather for your destination as people do better in certain environments – and getting wet isn’t any fun either.

Will you get sunburnt the higher you go up a mountain?  Will you get sand blown on your eyes if you are cantering across a desert?  Will it be raining or misty when you head through the cloud forest?  Make sure you are prepared for it all…..

4) The Facilities:
Depending on where you want to go riding, there will be different facilities – and you need to be happy with this – as rather than releasing in a nice hot bath after 6 hours racing through the wilderness – you might only get a warm shower and a night in a tent!

And, make sure the clothes and toiletries you pack take this into account to – and throw in some extra first aid supplies too!

5) The Agenda:
If you are going to spend your money on your perfect holiday, then make sure you only settle for what you want rather than something that looks ‘ok’.  For example, if you want to ride from one accommodation to the next every day rather than returning to the same place day after day, then don’t settle for something else because the rooms are nicer or the price is cheaper.

You might only get one holiday like this for a year or 2, so spend the extra and get what you want out of it.

6) The Room Mate:
Is your accommodation going to be for just you, with a friend or with a complete stranger.  Maybe it is is bunk beds shared with everyone!

Check these things out in advance – as for a small amount extra you could plan alternative arrangements before you arrive.  However, if you don’t realise this until you arrive – it could be too late to make changes.

7) The Food:
If you have dietary requirements that stray from the ‘I’ll eat anything’ rule, then make this clear when booking your trip.

Most companies can be flexible with food and make vegetarian options almost as standard, but never assume anything and make sure you check the alternatives or nearby restaurants you could use instead!

8) The Equipment:
It is always recommended that you take your own riding hat, as although these will be supplied by the riding centre, they may not be certified to your home countries high standards if you are riding abroad – but even riding at home could mean wearing a hat that isn’t quite the right size, but was the best fit at the time!

Your own riding clothes and gloves are essential for your own comfort, but crops, reins and spurs may or may not be accepted.

9) The Insurance:
It might be worth checking out the riding centres insurance policies with regards to any injuries to the horse.  If you are riding a horse when it becomes injured, are you free from all costs – or should your insurance cover this? 

Have you even checked that your holiday insurance covers horse riding without exclusions?

10) The End Result:

 Make sure that this is really what you want to spend your money on!  There will be a lot of things to consider on a vacation like this, so make sure that you want to even start with a long trip, especially if a) you have never used this company before, and b) if this is the longest horseback trip you have been on in a while!

Use your holiday time and money wisely, and you can make even a great holiday even greater!

posted by Catherine on Feb 13

Eating out when abroad needs a little extra caution than when eating at home!

You can’t always trust other peoples cooking and levels of hygiene especially when you are in a different country – as they have different levels of acceptable practices.

Even if you find a restaurant that seems clean out front and has other customers in there you can still act with caution on certain foods as they are more likely to cause your tummy a problem!

Ask For It Rare!
If you are ordering steak that is ‘well done’ how do you know that it wasn’t an old steak that had already been cooked some other time, and by overcooking it for you, you will never know!

Monday Munchies!
The first day of the week will normally mean that ‘fresh’ ingredients like fish will not be that fresh as there are not usually deliveries over the weekend.

And most of the popular ingredients and wines will have sold out over the busy weekend so may not be available on the Monday leaving you to eat what wasn’t so popular!

The Food Of Love?
Ordering oysters may be romantic or ‘exotic’ but the bacterial gut infection you are likely to get from eating them is neither!  People who have to deal with the result of their consumption never do!

I Don’t Like It!
Never send something back to the chef just because you don’t like it.  If the chef has made a safe and hygienic meal for you and you personally think it is too spicy or whatever – you can’t expect him to accept responsibility for it.

And asking him to cook it for you again or if you order another dish, he may not be too pleased to serve you up his best – and the waiters will get the brunt of his comments about you!

Wash Your Hands!
If you are in a pretty decent restaurant, but the toilets are disgusting – think about what hygiene they expect in their kitchens!

Some smaller cafes and out-of-the-way places don’t even have toilets – so just look at the people going in and out of the kitchen and think if you would like them to touch your food and plates!

And The Sauce?
It is well known that sauces and gravies can be used to cover up the appearance of foods, so do be careful when ordering creamy or stew-like dishes.

And the Hollandaise sauce and others that need refrigerating back home could really let you down abroad.  And many sauces are not made to order so have been stored somewhere and in something.  Can you be sure of the hygiene of either?

Bon appetit!

posted by Catherine on Feb 1

Use the MOT test requirements to check your car’s road worthiness for your vacation!

The annual MOT car test for cars covers a whole list of things to check that make your car safe to be on the road. So you can use this before heading off on a long journey like a vacation to make sure that you and your family will be safe.

Obviously, there are parts of the MOT that are not something you can check – like you cars emissions – but that isn’t a safety feature anyway…….

So here is a quick checklist of things to do or look out for on your car before heading away from home (and away from car mechanics, garages and motor stores!):

Seat Belts:
Make sure that all seat belts fit securely into their holders even if you are not planning to use them – as you may need them at some point! Make sure that when sharply pulled they jam up as they should. And all seats should be able to be secured in the upright condition to allow the seat belts to work properly.

Mirrors:
All the mirrors in your car are clean and not cracked. It is not illegal in the UK to drive with a damaged or missing passenger mirror, but obviously inhibits your ability to drive as normal, and could cause you to look behind you when driving to check for other cars.

Boot & Bonnet:
Both of these need to be able to close securely as do all the doors on the vehicle – which also need to open freely as well for exiting the vehicle safely.

Lights:
Check that all your lights are working either with a friend watching in the evening, or by reversing close to a window or mirror in the dark to see that everything is in order. If someone can’t see you are braking or want to turn left or right, they could come right into the back of you!

Windscreen:
Obviously there needs to be nothing on this that restricts your view forward and the windscreen wipers need to clean the entire windscreen and the washer fluid must exit freely. Obviously, a large crack in the windscreen on the drivers side is very dangerous – and that a small crack left untreated could cause the entire pane to crack at any time!

Tyres & Steering:
Your tyres have a minimum tread allowed before they are illegal and too little tread will mean that they will not grip the road safely, especially in difficult weather. So make sure that they are fully inflated as per your guide book and that they have ample tread depth.

If tyres are not properly inflated they will make steering a little bit harder and will also damage the tyre itself and the frame itself. Steering can also be a problem if there is too much ‘pull’ to one side or the other when driving at speed, so make sure this is all checked before you head off on the motorways.

Brakes:
It goes without saying that your brakes need to be responsive to touch otherwise your vacation could be cut very short indeed – so judge for yourself if they could do with being checked before you head off – as a car loaded up with people and belongings can take a lot longer to stop at speed than and empty one!

And finally…..

Recovery Services:
Ideally before you set out on a long journey or if you drive regularly, you should make sure that you a a member of a roadside and recovery company. That way if anything you can’t check for above goes wrong – someone will be at hand to help fix it or to take you to a garage that can!

posted by Catherine on Jan 25

All your outdoor and adventure needs and resources under one roof!

And it will actually be filled with real life adventurers who have travelled to the North Pole, the South Pole, across the Sahara and having rowed the Atlantic! Including Ranulph Fiennes, Simon King and Ben Fogle.

Not only will you be able to listen to these great explorers talking about their inspirations and future plans – you will be able to indulge in some activities you have been meaning to get around to for some time!

And as the Outdoors Show is at the end of March this year, you have plenty of time to research the types of travel and outdoor experiences you want to find the most our about – therefore making the best use of the resources available.

What’s There?
Well, if you have ever wanted to use a climbing wall – you won’t be short of opportunities here, there is also abseiling, slacklining (a bit like tight-rope walking but with a wobbly flimsy line to walk on instead(!)) and even using crampons for some ice climbing too!

And it’s not all about far flung destinations – and for those who like to stay closer to home you can enjoy the careers zone focussing on your 5-year plan (basically seeing what type of things employers you like the look of are looking for in a new recruit and aiming for them with courses and real-life experiences).

Add to this the Wilderness section, where you can get hands on advice about bush-tracking, cooking, and camping whether you are at home, in the Arctic or the desert!

Many UK tourist boards will also be found pitching the outdoor appeal of their part of the country to you!

If you are like me, then you will be wanting the opportunity to take advantage of some of the retail offers – I am looking for new walking boots and a nice fitted waterproof coat.  So, I can find out the best styles and prices beforehand – and hope to get a great deal at the show!

Why Go?
Well, if you have any sort of adventure in your heart and need a tiny bit of a push to really get excited – then there could be no better place.

Yes, there are other travel shows going on around now but this one should really get to the ground roots of eco adventures.  Other will talk only of far-flung places, whereas this show is all about advenutres at home as well.

The UK is a great country and can appeal to all sorts of people – and so why not find out what landscapes and cultures we have here before heading across the world to see what they’ve got!

And, you might just meet someone famous along the way…….