Eco Holidays

posted by Catherine on Mar 17

Booking your vacation in one step seems like a great deal to me!

When you think about booking your eco holidays – many of you will think that holiday packages are the last thing you should consider – but maybe not. Things are changing out there.

If you are thinking of a separate flight, your own transfers, several hotels and differing meal packages – you are already adding to your vacation plans. Yes, it is nice to piecemeal your activities and cover the things you are interested in – but it can also add up in time, energy and money for you.

So it’s a relief to find out that there is nothing simpler than calling your local travel agent or hopping online to find everything in one place. You just give them your dates and hotel preferences and they can match up everything else for you.

Package holidays are no longer just droves of people all flying to the same built up destination week in, week out – you can select an eco lodge in the mountains or a locally staffed hotel in the centre of a city – all as part of a package.

You can also choose from a variety of alternative and twin centre package holidays to almost anywhere in the World, like a train ride across Australia and a twin centre from the beach to the mountains. There is no need to have everything worked out in your head either, as the choices offered to you online may throw up something you hadn’t thought of doing before – or some destination that you had never considered – or even heard of!

I mean isn’t that what eco travel is all about? Visiting countries to see what they have to offer, rather than being told what to do and see? What if your agent has been there themselves – they can add that little extra to your trip at no extra cost!

And finally – No longer are ‘package’ deals all about just sunbathing and all inclusive food – although you can still have both if you want!

So next time you are thinking about planning your eco holiday or green adventures – think all in one: one agent, one phone call, one payment!

And worry about what fun thing you are going to do first instead…..

posted by Catherine on Oct 3

What easier way to have an eco friendly vacation – than to live it your way!

Buy renting a holiday villa whereever you want to go; like choosing villas in Florida; you can decide what you do and when you do it – there is no need to spend ages compromising on this and that.

The Problem:
Taking a trip these days can be filled with choices between what you want and expect from a holiday – and what you hope will be an eco friendly experience too.

We all know that hotels need to wash their towels for every new person who stays with them; they need to display food in a certain way for meal times; they need to use so much of this or that – but you don’t – and so your Orlando villas can be as eco friendly as you want!

By renting an empty villa in whichever location you desire – you can wash your towels when you want; only cook what you need; turn all the lights off and even supply your own eco friendly toiletries!

The Solution:
Renting a home from home also has other great benefits that you might not think of for your holiday – for example you can bring your bikes with you to get around. I would imagine you would get a pretty odd look if you were wheeling your bikes up and own the hotel corridors!

You can come and go when you want rather than avoiding the room service; have a lay in without worrying about being disturbed; you can eat when you want and you won’t have to give anyone a tip for their trouble!

And there are some pretty amazing properties out there for rent these days – some are simple and some have all the mod cons. You can rent as little or as much as you like – it’s your choice.

And you won’t have to share your facilities with a bunch of other people you don’t know. The basketball hoop or table tennis table; All yours. The pool and deck chairs; All yours.

The Result:
Having chosen one of these holidays for me and my family – I can really recommend it.

There were 12 of us sharing this amazing villa for 3 weeks – and we loved it! There are of course plenty of villas in Orlando to choose from - and we certainly struck lucky. A friend happened to recommend a company that she had used in the States, and we had a look for ourselves.

The price was right, the villa seemed to suit our needs – and to top it off; the service was perfect when we booked.

We are already looking at dates for 2012 to do the same all over again!

posted by Catherine on Jul 21

Why buy one car to suit all your needs – chop and change whenever you can!

Just like buying that house with a spare room just incase a friend comes to stay, or keeping that extensive wine cellar just incase you throw a party – or even buying that hat for just one wedding – why do we need to buy something so short term?

To help save resources and to make sure that you always have exactly what you need only when you need it – hire it instead – and that is a very eco friendly choice, wouldn’t you say?

Well, the same can be said of cars; why have a variety of vehicles for the family that you have to use for everything that you need, when you could hire a more suitable car when you need it.

Flexible Hire Cars:
We all still need our family car for shopping and school runs, but do we need the spare ‘nice’ car when we want something less ‘family’. And why compromise on a more economical vehicle in luie of those odd holidays; I mean why drive around in a spacious 7-seater every day just so that during the school holidays you can get the scooters and suitcases in the boot!

Hiring cars is no longer such a hoo-haa, and there are varying prices, vehicles and hire periods these days that can help you make the most of different vehicles for your changing needs.

So if you are looking for long term car hire – why not consider all the options – and get the exact car you need whenever you need one.

Why Change?
Well, a sports car doesn’t do the same thing as a camper van. One is perfect for that romantic fast-paced get-a-way but isn’t really suitable for pulling over in a field and making a bacon sandwich! However the other is perfect for that impromtu lunch and life at a slower pace.

Yet you wouldn’t want both sitting on your drive all year waiting for that break!

So just like hiring your wedding dress, a holiday cottage or even a carpet cleaner – hiring a car to suit your needs is the perfect eco friendly alternative – and why not?

photo credit: Land Rover Our Planet

We can’t all afford a minibus, 2-seater or off-roader – yet these might be the perfect vehicle for our short-term needs. And if driven properly and to full capacity, they could be the most eco friendly choice for your needs.

So if you need a vehicle for more than a month and for a specific purpose – consider a hire vehicle which fits the bill perfectly and make the most of your trip or business needs.

No need to stretch your family car to the limit doing something it’s not suited to!

posted by Catherine on Jul 16

Why not celebrate something special as your annual holiday?

More and more these days, you see that people are celebrating everything big. No longer is turning 50 just an excuse for a friend to hang a huge embarrassing bed sheet on a local roundabout with your name on it.

Now we want a massive celebration to say that we have done virtually anything from leaving school, to losing weight, to turning almost any age, and even getting a new pet!

Aren’t we just over celebrating for the sake of it – using valuable resources for bunting, balloons, non-recycleable party novelties and just too much junk food?

photo credit: havankevin

Turn It Around:
If you do want to celebrate virtually anything – why not make it an eco friendly adventure instead?

Rather than having all these little parties and having everyone fill their evening with repeated driving to and from various venues over the year – why not focus it all on one great big event?

Imagine your family and friends renting a huge house in the countryside for a week or two. With enough of you sharing, you could hire out a mansion, part of a castle or a whole farmhouse.

And when you are sharing with 10 people that £2000 a week doesn’t sound to bad – just £200 a person for 7 nights accomodation in an amazing property that you just couldn’t experience by yourself.

Added Bonus:
And with this great big event occuring you can roll all those smaller things into one great big one – and it will probably be cheaper for everyone – and more memorable.

Added to this is the eco bonus that there will be less waste across this one eco holiday – and if it becomes a regular thing – then people might take less holidays abroad as this will count as their 2-week break.

Also, if you are all going to the same place, doing the same things and eating the same foods – you can share cars, buy bulk goods and cook large amounts of the same helathy and local/organic food for everyone rather than buying trashy nibbles and party cakes.

And there needn’t be a party balloon or any bunting in sight!

posted by Catherine on Feb 22

Why not take an extended eco holiday to a part of your past?

These days you can buy yourself a genome-realted DNA test that may well help you to see where your ancient ancestors came from or travelled through on their journey to becoming you!

It is currently believed that around 60,000 years ago the first humans started to move away from their original homeland. Theories still abound as to why they moved and how they managed it – but basically from those first steps – they sowed the seeds for all the thousands or cultures, languages and peoples that we know today.

Some of these groups are still very isolated such as island communites, whereas others are now highly mixed up including many capital cities like London and New York.

Over thousands of years of migration, settlement, working and trade; cultures have met, mixed and moved on. But where does your history come from – where has your distant family been living all this time?

Genome Testing.
It is now possible to buy a testing kit for yourself or a friend that will tell you about the journey of your ancestors as far as we know it.

There have been many studies over the past few decades that have found certain ‘markers’ in human DNA which can be plotted on a map of the world based on where these markers are found within indigenous populations still living in those locations.

For example, certain markers found in indigenous people living on Island A will be identified as different to all other marker combinations, so if your DNA is found to have most or all of those same markers, then you can almost guarantee that your ‘family’ were there too at some point.

And as humans moved from Africa across Asia, Europe and the Americas, they left a trail of these similar markers – and it is these markers that the DNA test can highlight for you.

These markers can be found for both your maternal linage – through your mother and then her mother and then all the mothers for ever; or paternally through your father, then his father, then all your family’s fathers (however only males can follow their paternal lineage due to the ‘Y’ chromosome – as ladies don’t have one!).

This tracing backwards doesn’t give you a list of all their names and addresses of course, it just tells you whether your markers are found in certain populations over time and in which areas and countries.

Wow!
This is of course something that could change your life. Especially if you have no idea what your ancestry is and find out that most of your past relatives were from a totally different continent to what you thought.

I know skin colour and your direct relations might give you a clue to more recent family ties over the past 100 years (like the last 3 generations of my family were all from Europe) – but they can be hiding a whole host of other relatives over the past 59,900 years that are hidden within our genes!

And finding out that your history is focussed in a whole new landscape could be the very input you needed to find a new path in life. What if you could travel back to that place for an extended period of time; learn about who still lives there and past events.

And if it is still a developing region – there may be volunteer or teaching opportunites close by so that you could actually be helping people still living in that very place who share a similar past to you.

If you are interested in learning more about yourself, then maybe take a look at one such Genome Project and take it from there?

photo credit: Lordcolus

posted by Catherine on Oct 22

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Spring is in the air – and you might not ever have to be again!

One of the largest and most comprehensive adventure travel shows is back on the schedule – and gives you plenty of time to start your own research into your next eco adventure!

If you are thinking about a volunteer Gap Year, a few months independent green travel, starting a career in travel writing or just trying something totally different – then the Outdoor Adventure Travel Show 2011 in London is the place you should really be planning for.

Not only are there travel companies galore to visit, but there are also writing and photography seminars, travel clinics and discount clothing and equipment all waiting in 1 place for you.

Who Can You Ask?
If you are thinking about trying something a little bit ‘new’ or stepping out into the wide world for the first time, then you should really get several opinions on locations, projects and transport from experts.

Not just a travel agent – as they tend to sell package deals and flights only – if you want a real eco adventure or to try out some green travel packages, then you need to speak to the people who specialise in that.

In the same way that a car salesman can’t give you the best advice to drive around the world and an estate agent can only give you a few general tips on how to spot an eco home - a high street travel agent can’t really offer green advice based on experience.

You need to weed out the ‘generalists’ and look for the specialists.

The Plan:
Needless to say – if you just turn up to this event on a whim you will still have a great time and gets lots of great information – but you won’t really be gleaming the best of the best.

As the show isn’t until January 2011 – you have 3 months to get researching yourself.  Find out what possible dates are for travel; which countries or regions you are hoping to travel to – and how you plan to get there.

That way you have a rough plan in mind before you come face to face with the experts!  What if there is a great deal on a trip to Asia – but you hadn’t looked into opportunities in that area before – you might go away feeling like you have to start all over again.

What if you had been thinking about travelling from A to B to C – but then find out that you had the seasons all wrong and it will be the rainy season in the tropics - or the dry season when you arrive at fjords or great waterfalls!

If you have your plan already set out in your head, then you can bend and twist that plan once you have discussed a few things.  If you have no plan at all when you arrive then you could be quite overwhelmed – maybe even coming away from the show with 15 years worth of travel ideas rather than the 6-month trip you were hoping for!

The Dates:
Well, the show isn’t until the end of January, so you have plenty of time to get some of your basics together.

Whether it’s toying with a new language, thinking about a route across the globe or worrying about your carbon footprint – start putting pen to paper (or fingers to keys) and get some sort of structure to your plan.

Check on the Adventure Show website and see what’s on offer and which lectures or workshops might be of use to you in advance and start to give your eco holiday a backbone.  Maybe even set out a budget in advance and plan to buy the things you need at bargain show prices!

posted by Catherine on Oct 20

Skiing can be a great eco holiday choice if you go to the right places!

Obviously, if you have a ski resort close to your home – then it will be a far better eco holiday choice than one in the sun on the other side of the world!

It’s far better to go to a ski center that is only a drive away rather than a flight; such as an Oregon ski trip for those in the States.  Rather than travel all those carbon miles to Europe or Chile – stay home! 

An eco adventure in the snow is also more likely, as there are animals and birds that you might not see if you travel to warmer climates – or travel to other continents even.

The Wildlife:
Some wildlife species that live in colder climates or up at high altitudes don’t get so many visitors and admirers as say dolphins and turtles – but they are equally important for biodiversity and the environment.

By visiting these areas on your vacation – you can be indirectly helping to make sure that they stay there. And this goes for plants and trees too!

There are certain plants and trees in and around ski resorts that are necessary to actually create the ski resort in the first place! Without certain land formations, plant cover and wildlife habits – the snow may lay differently, not settle on mountain sides – or be trampled before you get on the slopes.

And the fresh snow is great for finding animal footsteps!

photo credit: razvan.orendovici

The Resorts:
Some ski resorts do get a bit of bad press about the stresses that they put on the local area – but other smaller or less ‘tourist hotspots’ locations can give you equally great skiing – but without the eco disaster trail!

By searching for local ski centres, as well as discount ski vacations in your area (as new or expanding companies like to offer promotions), you could find a real gem of a resort or location – that is under-crowded!

Also, they may well be only just starting to make their business eco friendly – and you could help them with that! By making suggestions and acting responsibly – you could help shape their policies with regards to their eco activities.

By asking about their waste and recycling facilities, and showing a keen interest in the local landscape and nature – you could infact encourage them to offer certain services in the the future.

I mean if you ask then to show you the local geysers/mountains/forests/wolves/bears/waterfalls/etc are – then they will know that this is an area where they could improve the customer services they offer in an eco sense. And to offer a wildlife service – you need to make sure that the wildlife is there!

Needless to say – if you offer a whale watching tour you want all the whales to be healthy to make a living – so you might make sure that the water isn’t polluted and no new mines or factories open up in the area. The same can go for all wildlife – people keep an eye on them to make sure that they are OK!

The Equipment:
And finally – all that ski equipment you need. Well most great ski resorts – like in Oregon – have plenty of ski shops – crammed full with different equipment.

Whether you want to buy your own eco-label goods when you arrive, or whether you want to hire the larger items (to save the hassle of transporting them to site) – you can.

Obviously there are plenty of other services available at these resorts – and you can be as eco friendly as you want to be while you are there.

Whether you try to eat only the local foods and fresh caught game or whether you plumb for self catering and supply all your own foods is entirely up to you. Heated rooms by flame or by electricity – again – it’s all down to you.

Just remember that a holiday close to home is already more eco friendly than any other holiday – regardless of what environment you are in.

posted by Catherine on Sep 23

Could eating insects be the best eco friendly move you make this year?

When you see those cooked crickets or giant squidgy bugs for sale at the market next time you are on your holiday – maybe you should try them for the sake of the planet!

We all know that there is a food crisis at the moment – what with climate change, food and energy demands and a growing population, but shouldn’t we all try something new if it could do some good without really putting us out too much.

I mean only the most extreme eco advocates would want to give up all their worldly possessions, electricity, fridge, meat, instant communications and go live in a tent with no running water!

The rest of us want to make a difference – but without to extreme an attitude.  And this new concept regarding food could be one of the things you try.

Eating insects may not appeal instantly as an alternative to a fresh salad or some fries for example, but it could be the answer to some of the planets current woes.

Land Requirements:
Farming cows is a topic that isn’t very popular with many people across the globe today.  Not only do they require a seemingly endless supply of land to graze and roam about on – which was possibly a dense rain forest 6 months ago – but they also require supplementary feeding by crops grown on yet more land.

Insects can live in tubs – all stacked on top of each other in the same barn.

Food Requirements:
And this is where it gets sticky – that land was growing crops that could have been fed to humans instead.  Rather than feeding nutritious food to cows (which are basically more food) it could be used to lower food prices and feed millions of humans rather than shipped across to American or European restaurants as prime T-Bone steak for the very wealthy.

Insects require only small amounts of food – none at all for eggs and grubs!

Living Standards:
Cows also need specific land in which to thrive – and lots of it.  If they don’t have lots of it, and are farmed intensively – then they need tonnes of supplementary food (grown on the land the cows don’t have); supplementary medicines and vitamins to maintain optimum health; and more farmers to watch over them incase of injury, trampling or other problems associated with bored, stressed, confined large animals!

Eggs and larvae won’t even know they are in a small space – and need no food either!

In Summary:
Obviously there will be some ‘grey’ areas to insect farming that I haven’t covered in this article – but in general: farming grasshoppers does seem to have the eco edge over farming cows.

Whether or not insect farming on a scale to feed all 6.87 million of us will be achieveable on a local or at least national scale is something we can only aim for – but in terms or land use – this could be a huge step forward!

So, next time you see a local farmer when on your eco travels selling his locally sourced and locally grown beetle larvae – then maybe you should support him in his work (and for not farming something illegal or destructive – or from America!).

Enjoy your lunch!

posted by Catherine on Jul 25

These free events on the very street of your holiday destination couldn’t be more real!

Most families take their kids out all day on vacation to a park or a zoo – then it’s home by 5 and off to bed. But what if the night was better than the day?

There are many local parades and free evening events happening all over the world and at all times of year. Just because it’s winter back home or there are no calender events in your part of the country – it doesn’t mean that there won’t be a great parade or celebration elsewhere!

Why A Parade?
Well, it is well known that many parades are run and organised by local people for the local community – and that’s great for your eco adventures; supporting the very place and people you are visiting!

If you pay to get into a adventure park or zoo and then have to buy all of their food and goodies – it doesn’t necessarily benefit the local schools and stores – but an event on the very streets of the town will go straight into the right pockets!

As you and your family walk through the streets, you will get a real feel of the place and be able to experience far more than during the day. As the event is planned in advance and has appeared in local advertising and other parade schedules – local people and businesses will be making a special effort to impress.

You will find store opening hours extended and new products offered – and maybe even free samples. There will be temporary stalls on street sides and in parks, face painting, local foods, musical entertainment from local artists and so on. You will get to be entertained by real people – not paid staff!

Parade Schedules:
So how do you find out about all these events? Well, there are plenty of websites about parade schedules – filled to the brim with parades all over the world – or closer to home – and you can make sure that you visit one if you are close by.

There are also other things to look for in local parades and that includes the route for forward planning, as well as the best hotels to stay in on the route – as well as the best viewing spots: as you could get an amazing view of it passing by from a few floors up!

Websites these days can tell you all about the event, the history of the event, it’s sponsors, and local supporters – so it is worth reading about the parade as well – so you get the best out of it and know who your donations are going to support and any charities involved.

Planning the whole holiday just for a festival is very common these days if the event is well known, like the Mardi Gras Parades – where you can explore the surrounding areas on the days either side, but the focus is on the evening entertainment!

But there are plenty of people who have planned their vacation already – and then manage to find out about a carnival or other parade while already there.

Either way is fine – and you really should make an effort to get to as many as possible, as they are such lively and interesting events – and each one has it’s own character!

And if you are worried that the kids might not like it – then maybe start with one of the friendly Disney Parades.  Although the eco credentials won’t quite be the same, you will know that the kids are happy and safe and at the same time find out about their likes and dislikes.  What if they don’t like certain fireworks, certain foods or whatever, you can’t know until you go! 

So, just click one of the links in this article to be taken to an information-packed website to get you started on your parade hunt!  And don’t forget your camera for some one-time-only photographs!

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!