Eco Holidays

posted by Catherine on Dec 21

Internal flights across all of Europe are a thing of the past with the fantastic train network!

Even though the UK is an island and separated from the rest of the European mainland by the English Channel - you can still get there by train.

And, no.  There isn’t a great big record-breaking bridge between the 2 - there is the Channel Tunnel to Ashford Railway Station; a straight through train route taking as little as an hour to pass from France to the UK and costing as little as €89!

Train Travel:
Although you may have to fly to Europe in the first place, trains are a great way to see the countries you are visiting - and to meet the people.

Sitting on a plane would normally see you enclosed in your own little space, watching a movie no doubt.  And if you did talk to anyone it would only be the person sitting right next to you or the steward.

On a train, you can see everyone, hear everything and watch the great views pass you by outside.  You won’t need movies and inflight magazines to entertain you: you will have mountains, cities, great rivers and tiny villages.  All a magical part of your vacation experience!

Arriving in the UK:
Just hop on any train from Paris or Brussels that’s heading to Ashford International Station - and the UK is a few short hours away!

Once your high speed train emerges from the tunnel and into the UK, you can visit anywhere else in the country if you alight in Ashford - or maybe consider staying onboard and head straight through to London.

The train carriages are sold as sitting only, so you all have your own designated seat and no standing passengers - meaning the experience is all the better!  Almost luxurious!

If it’s only a fleeting visit, go straight to London - stay a few nights.  Explore the many sights of London and a night at the Theatre, then hop straight back on the high speed train at St Pancras and you will be ordering croissants and coffee in Paris for lunch!

Travel Europe:
There are many travel deals for train travel throughout Europe - like buying a 2 week pass, or a multi-destination ticket - many of which include travel to the UK.

Many international train stations around Europe also include other transport links such as long distance coach and bus stations and indeed airports for your departure flights.

And if you are from the UK itself or have been living there, then why not visit Ashford International’s website for information on departing train times, prices and all other relevant details like parking and connecting trains or buses.

There is no excuse now to fly to the UK when exploring Europe - just hop on board a train!

posted by Catherine on Dec 4

If you have ever wanted to become an eco travel writer and broadcaster - here is your chance!

Every year, the Royal Geographic Society (RGS) offer someone the chance to win the Journey of a Lifetime award, to go travel to and write about a pressing and inspiring story from around the world.

The Award:
The RGS offer a prize of UK£4000 to someone who want to communicate their story - their passion - to the world.  Someone who wants to investigate a location or an event that they feel needs to be brought to a wider audience.

Whether it is about a local village close to your home or on the other side of the world, a small family-run enterprise or a global event, whether it affects a few people in one place or thousands across a continent - it doesn’t matter.

Its your version of ‘their’ story - and they help you make the most of your time too - they offer you radio and broadcasting training from the BBC so that you can best create and record your journey - even recording it for a Radio 4 documentary.

And of course the winner will feature in their own magazine Geographical - with last years winners article in the December 2009 edition.

The Details:
You only need visit the RGS website to read the guidelines for applicants - and you can also learn about previous winners stories and watch their video diaries.

Basically, you need to let them know the outline for your independent journey - and why it needs to be you that tells the story!  And you need to pick somewhere to go that is different to the norm - and some aspect of that journey that makes you unique and your story unforgettable.

You need to be at least 18 years old - and it could be you alone or you as part of a small group of travellers - but it must be something you alone are doing - it can’t be part of a tourist trail or charity event organised by others.

The guidelines make it almost look too easy to apply - there is virtually no previous experience needed to apply, and the first stage is just to send them a brief overview of what you are thinking of covering.  There are interviews later down the line and the 2 finalists play it head to head for the winner - but that is a long way off.

Just put pen to paper now - and it gives you virtually a whole year to think about the final details - the closing date isn’t until September 2010!

If you are enthusiatic about something - this could be the best way to explore it and share it with the world!

Certainly something to think about.

posted by Catherine on Nov 25

There is an opportunity on the horizon to get support for a mass tree planting session!

BBC Breathing Spaces is trying to break a Guinness World Record for ‘the most trees planted in 1 hour in 1 location’ - and they aren’t aiming low!  The current world record is 18,124 for this record - and they really want to smash it!

It is part of their drive for National Tree Week in the UK, but you can be from anywhere in the world to help them break a more individual record of ‘the most trees planted in 1 hour in any destination’ - currently standing at 653,143!

The Big Planting:
Basically, they will need your group of at least 100 people (and up to 100 helpers) to aim to plant around 20,000 trees (around 3.33 trees a minute) in the specified hour (between 11am and 12 noon on the 5th of December 2009) - so you will need the land (over 5 hectares) and the trees (all suitable for the environment) already planned!

The great thing is that Breathing Spaces will offer advice and support through the whole thing - so if your local group were planning to improve a woodland or parkland, then now would be a great time to do it.

There are of course strict rules governing your planting attempt - as it is a World Record after all - but you will get all the publicity and advice that could make a real difference to your community or local group.

They have prepared a list of guidelines for larger groups to answer all your questions etc, and they would love to help you break the record!

Not Quite So Big?
If you think that 20,000 trees is a bit too much for your group or community - you can still take part in their main event - planting however many trees you want to plant in the same hour.

This way, if you can only plant 500 trees, 50 trees or just 5 trees, they will all count towards the record attempt anyway - without the stress of the full on planting frenzy as described above!

It’s all about improving the environment and encouraging biodiversity - so literally every tree can make a difference. They would rather you plant 10 trees that you could maintain and would improve the environment, rather than rushed in and planted 50 trees that didn’t all survive or were too overcrowded.

So, get yourself onto their website, read all the guidelines and advice - and get pledging!  So far they have had pledges to plant 263,669 trees - way off the current record of 653,143!

Help make a difference - sign up for Tree O’Clock 2009.

posted by Catherine on Sep 6

How can you stay healthy abroad when you try to be eco friendly?

I recently returned from a trip to somewhere a lot warmer than I was used to and I found that I broke nearly all the normal rules of eco friendly living!

We all know that it is not always possible to act as green as you usually do when away from home - but I found myself slipping up on holiday with many basic health issues. And I am a hardened eco girl!  However traveling with no-so-eco people made it harder.

Cold Drinks!
No matter how well prepared we thought we were, we nearly always needed to buy cold bottled drinks when we were out.

We had taken a thermos flask to keep our own drinks cool which we prepared in the rooms before we left - but we were not able to ever carry enough cold materials. This then resulted in us buying bottle after bottle of ice cold drinks.

This had more than 1 thing wrong with it as well.

1) It had to be cold otherwise it wouldn’t stop us from over-heating - so therefore it had to be kept chilled in the stalls and cafes we brought them from.

2) It was nearly always a small ‘handy’ size bottle as they tended not to keep or chill the larger bottles.

3) The stalls didn’t offer many brands that were not international brands. Some were bottled in the country but most weren’t - so we were feeding global companies.

4) There were very few recycling facilities by these stalls so once drunk (straight away as we were so hot) if it wouldn’t fit in our bags - it had to be thrown in the normal litter bin.

Air-Conditioning:
I know how bad using the air coolers are - and I rarely like to use them anyway - but other tourists have demanded them over the years and so they are ever present.

Annoyingly as well, retail customer service also seems to entail that stores leave their doors open to seem ‘welcoming’ so allowing all the cool air to flow out into the streets. Additionally, stores that didn’t have air-con were chilling all the western foods like chocolate (in mini but open fridges) so that we would feel more at home.

It felt awful to have been a part of creating that. However, it was virtually impossible to avoid stores that were using too much energy as nearly every store was doing so - and walking to a more environmentally conscious store to make me feel better would have physically made me feel worse - as it was so hot!

And no doubt I would have had to have brought another cold drink on arrival and then risk my shopping being ruined or melted by the heat while I walked home!

What To Eat?
While we did try our hand at the local foods and the local restaurants, we were self-catering and so had the opportunity to eat what we wanted - however not being at home or having the luxury of our normal kitchen equipment, we found ourselves buying small packets of pre-packed items rather than larger and fresher bulk items.

We also ate out a few times, only to find ourselves looking for the most frequented destinations - which happened to be filled with other tourists.

And to a certain extent the local products had no ethical buying chain that I could check out. I mean buying a locally made pizza slice could have a whole ‘bad’ process behind it.

For example, I had no way of finding out if all the ingredients were imported and if so where from. How were they cooked, stored or transported? How were the animals treated before they were used for my topping? Was it better to buy a western brand that I knew was flown across the globe but had acceptable preparation standards - or buy unbranded foods that could have been created with meat that was not ethically sourced, for example?

My Eco Dilemma continues in a few days with Part 2

posted by Catherine on May 17

Get your Kids Involved With the Wildlife In The UK, by joining one of the National Societies!

There are so many wildlife and nature groups in the UK, that there is always a reason to take you vacation locally and teach your kids about the very place they live in.  And as everyone is staying closer to home thie year - why not make the most of it and join a national society to get some great goodies and free entry for great days out!

Kids need to learn about the animals in the world - and it’s all fair and well teaching them about lions in Africa and Emu’s in South America - but what about the animals they get to see almost everyday!  Shouldn’t they know about those first?

Well, below are 4 great nature clubs that the family can become a member of to get to grips with where red squirrels live and what Robins eat.

RSPB - The Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.
There are over 100 RSPB reserves in the UK - and each one offers a perfect insight into local bird species as well as the mammals and invertebrates that share their habitat.

They have a Wildlife Explorers Club for the youngsters, meaning that they get magazines, information, posters and stickers as well as free entry to all the sites and member events.  You can join up to 3 children from the same address for just £25 for the year - and they get a free gift depending on their age group.

The WildLife Trusts Across The UK.
There are 47 Wildlife Trusts covering the British Isles with over 2,226 reserves - most with visitor centres offering maps and advice - and all are free to enter.

However, you can actually join with your local wildlife trust rather than a national membership, and get regular updates on their reserves and their Action Diary of events.  You can join the Family Watch membership group where your children can attend events and win merits for their actions - learning more all the time.  You can even encourage your child’s school to join as well!

You don’t have to join just your local Trust - you could select one where you normally take a holiday - and volunteer while you are away.

The Woodland Trust. 
1,000 woods covering 20,000 hectares - all completely free!  You can take you family to any of these sites for a great day out, including those with restaurants, large open areas and information stations.

Kids can join the Nature Detectives Club which gives them related information about the woodland habitat and regular competitions to enjoy.  There is also the opportunity to get their Teacher involved with a special membership package, where they get equipment to use in their classes.

WWT - Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust. 
With only 9 sites in the UK, this is a charity that you won’t regret joining!  Not only do you get to see an amazing array of both British and migratory wetland birds at close quarters - you also get to see some exotic and endangered species face to face as well!

Kids can feed the birds from their hands, follow the trails across boardwalks and through woodlands as well a pond dip for bugs and shellfish.  All sites have an amazing amount of information for the family to enjoy, with large sculptures dotted around - and of course the famous nene geese that the founder saved from extinction!

Our wetland areas are also declining far too fast for some species and so joining this society will be making sure that the country has something left for your kids future!

Stay Local & Enjoy Local!

posted by Catherine on Feb 10

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For a great eco adventure - why not consider joining a charity trek or cycle.

Many companies and charity offer great tour holidays to destinations across the globe where you raise some money for your chosen charity and then start training for some tough challenges!

Finding the Right Trip:
Firstly, you need to decide whether you want to do one closer to home, or whether you are prepared to travel by plane to a distant location. Depending on the charity you choose, the type of trip and the impact on the destination, only you can decide whether you think you should travel that far.

Find out about the company that are organising the trip (not the charity that are advertising it). This way you will be able to read up on their eco policies and company ethics regarding tourism. Many companies have been running for years - but their success is no guarantee of their eco savvy! Make sure you are happy with the way they plan to do things.

Choose Your Charity:
Make sure you pick a charity that you believe in. Not only will this make your funds go even further for you, but it will also help you to raise the money in the first place, and make you feel better about the whole trip and your reasons for wanting to do it.

If you find an advertised trip you like, but the charity isn’t one you would support, then find an independent company like Discover Adventure. This company organise trips all the time for large or small groups - and you can choose any charity you want to donate your money to - even a small charity local in your community that isn’t internationally famous. It doesn’t matter to them - it just needs to matter to you.

Raising The Money:
Before committing to anything, make sure that you are prepared to raise the funds and/or chip in yourself. Some tour holidays require you to raise up to £3500 - others will obviously cost less. Can your employer help? Are you friends with a local restaurant/bar manager or can a local school help you?

How much of the raised funds actually go to the charity? What happens if you can’t raise it all in the time given - where does the money go? Can you extend your stay at the destination therefore making the flight less of an impact? Can they suggest any volunteer work out there for you to move on to after the trek?

Preparation:
Does the trek offer you advice about health and training for the trip or do they just assume you will manage to train yourself. Remember that if you aren’t fit enough for the adventure - you may not enjoy the trip at all, and possibly injure yourself.

Do they offer you information about the culture you will be experiencing and tips on learning a few words of the language and some customs of the local people? Make sure they advise on the dos and don’ts for the trip and you have the right equipment for the terrain and weather you will encounter.

The Trip Itself:
Make sure you enquire about the impact that your trip is going to have on the people and the wildlife you are going to encounter. Will the trek be employing local people as guides or porters - if so are they getting a fair deal out of it? Will the hotels or other accommodation be locally run, and the food locally sourced?

Will you have a chance to speak with local people and get to experience their communities and culture? Many offer several days in the location before or after the trek/cycle to taste the country or region. Make sure that you try local dishes and drinks while there as well - using local transport and spending local money.

Enjoy Yourself:
By all means sign yourself up to one of these trips - either a short cycle in your local area, or a full 2 week trek in some far-away destination - but make sure you do your homework first.

Don’t just go for the one that is heavily advertised and accept whatever comes with it - make sure you are happy with their ethics and they practice responsible tourism. Don’t be embarrassed to ask questions that concern you - remember their are dozens of companies competing for your attention, so make sure you let them know how you feel by voting with your feet.

By choosing the most ethical trips with the most eco friendly companies, you will be helping to weed out the worst and improve the competition - and of course have the best time on your eco holiday and adventure!

posted by Catherine on Dec 7

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I thought I would start off with an article about the basic things to look out for when booking your eco holidays and adventures.

Obviously there are extremes for the most eco friendly holidays out there, but I am just offering a few of the essentials that can make all the difference to the environment you are travelling to and the wildlife and people who you will be sharing it with.

1) Choose a destination you care about.
If you make sure that you are travelling to a destination that you know a lot about or want to explore for the first time, then you will be spending your well earned money supporting eco holidays in that area - ultimately making that people working in that destination treat tourism (and their environment) with care. 

It’s the whole demand circle - if loads of people want cheap sun and sand, then you get a Cancun (loads of high rise hotel blocks crammed onto a sandy peninsula).  If people demand (and pay a bit extra for) ecologically and environmentally friendly small destinations - then that is what they will supply.

2) Consider a recommended location.
Ideally, you would travel to a location that had been recommended by a friend or other trusted source.  Not only does this save the destination from having to advertise their location to thousands of potential holiday-makers, but it keeps the feeling friendly - and lets the staff and managers there that they are treating their customers with great customer service - so they will repeat that for your holiday, hoping that you too will pass on the good word.

3) Select your agent well.
If you are booking your eco holidays through an agent, make sure that they offer flexible packages and are not sending huge numbers of people to the same locations.

Most reputable tour operators will fly you scheduled to your destination, keeping travel groups to a limited few (no more than 12 really).  They will normally also offer an English-speaking guide or escort to be with your group at all times, and have everyone travel together on internal transfers.

Many specialists such as Audley Travel and the Kuoni Group can even offer individual travel, basically your group only throughout the trip.  They also offer a personal service for any extras that you may require, such as tailor-made specialist trips.

If you book an ‘eco-holiday’ with companies that normally offer package deals or cheap vacations, then the destination may well be only eco-friendly on paper.  Even if the hotel is in ‘the jungle’ and uses recycled rainwater and grows a lot of it’s own fruit - with 500 paying guests at a time running around the chlorinated pool with a fountain splashing down a rocky slope - it’s not actually an eco-friendly destination.

4) Contact your choices in advance.
If you have selected one or two locations that you like, make sure you contact the owners/managers in advance.  They should respond to your email, phone call or letter promptly and answer any questions you have.

Ideally, they would also offer you advice that they feel will make your vacation even better or your travel plans run more smoothly - even if you didn’t ask for it.  This shows that they have great experience with tourists and have found that certain things work and other things don’t, and they want your trip to visit them to run as smoothly as possible.

5) Go independent.
Make sure that the hotel you select is run independently and preferably by a company that is resident to the country your are visiting.  This way, your host will not only know more about the location and places of interest, but they will have made a network of other suppliers and local tour operators that they will recommend to you as necessary.

The money you spend in the resort will therefore go to benefit the local area and families as and when they are employed by guests or the hotel itself, but your money will not leave the country and fly back home before you as with many package destinations and all-inclusive resorts.

Although such destinations do employ local staff, they are not benefiting local people or the communities they are located in.

6) Research the location and resources of the Hotel.
Many companies like the attention that being ‘eco-friendly’ attracts, so make sure you check their credentials before you book with them.

Where are they located exactly, and does their building or complex fit into the environment well (are they all below the canopy level?, are they made of local materials? where does their sewage and litter all go?) 

Are they located close to the kind of environment you want, for example are they in a cloud forest, on a beach, in the mountains?  Don’t let the name of the lodge or hotel confuse you in this as destinations will often use key words to attract guests (such as monkey lodge, rolling waves hotel, canopy cottages), but could not actually offer that item - or are about an hour away from it….

Do they use all their own energy supplies, like solar panels, recycled river or rain water, composting toilets, limited lighting and wood burning stoves or bio-fuel?

Do they grow their own food supplies and farm animals?  If not, is all food from local suppliers?  If they offer specialist diets such as gluten-free alternatives etc, are these imported - if so do you personally pay for that privilege or does the hotel (and environment)? 

Do they ask you to take all your own litter away with you, or offer sensible alternatives to waste?

7) And finally - Is there anything you can offer them?
Not a necessary part of anyones holiday, but fun none the less. 

Has you hotel or lodge got a local school or project that you could help out with while you are there?  Could they link you up with an environmental group who are doing some work in the local area?  Are they associated with an educational establishment that you could offer your skills to or you could learn from?

If you are there becasue you love that location and that environment, then why not offer to help out and improve what’s already there - at no extra cost to you but of huge benefit to them.

Hope you have a great time!

posted by Catherine on Dec 4

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Hello and welcome to this new, fantastic blog about eco holidays and adventures. It will fill your hearts with joy at the wonders of eco living and traveling.

Not only can you now take your eco holidays in style, but you can also take them on whichever continent you wish and at a reasonable price. And we are here to help.

This blog hopes to cover all the greatest eco destinations, the most exciting eco adventures, tips on finding the best eco holidays for you, and advice on planning and extending your adventures wherever you are and whatever you are doing!

Choices include underwater adventures, cultural community-living, wildlife-friendly safaris, reclusive rain-forest lodges, snow-covered mountain retreats or even just a great weekend away in your nearest National Park.

So, from here on in, there is nothing but great holiday ideas, tips for responsible tourism, helpful contacts and facts, facts, and more facts!

Enjoy.

TravelCat