Eco Holidays

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!

posted by Catherine on Apr 24

Should we visit somewhere degraded but in desperate need of tourist dollars - or leave it to recover?

I was talking with a friend about the need to show (financial) support for locations that are in danger of being destroyed by construction or farming, etc - and that the best way to show that an area is worth money as it is, would be to take a vacation there and spend money on local services.

But then I thought, if the location is very fragile or in an area that is highly volitile - would it be better to stay away and let it recover before demanding tours and accomodation to be found (or built)?

Add to this as well, the fact that if you choose not to visit one of your favourite destinations or to see an endangered animal - it might have been your last chance before it is lost forever.

What I Want:

I myself am torn between visiting certain locations around the world as I am worried that my trip there and intrusion in the area could actually be supporting the very things that are destroying it.  But if I don’t go, I will have missed my chance to see something truly wonderful. 

Whether it is to experience the march of thousands of penguins in the frozen landscapes of Antartica, to marvel at the giant tortoises and marine iguanas in the Galapagos or the chance to see thousands of bats at dusk flying from a cave in Borneo - the very act of my ‘eco’ trip could put stresses on the wildlife or habitat itself by changing their behaviour. 

It could also help sustain or even create a market for hoards of others to follow afterwards or even affect the culture of the people who have lived there for centuries.

However, my needs I suppose are only for my own pleasure, unlike the people and the wildlife involved.  Just because ‘I want’ to do something, should I do it - even if the trip is ‘eco friendly’ and ‘responsible’?

The Alternatives?

If I decide not to go myself - how else could I help?  Well, finding a charity or NGO which was working in the area would be a great start, then donating money or time to them will be of endless help.

Don’t forget you don’t need to offer them directly for that specific location or creature, as all their time and funds are intricately linked.  So offering your spare time to them in your local town will ultimately help them spend money to work in the area you are rooting for abroad!  I mean if they are able to spend less money in 1 country, they can spend more in another.

And by creating other demands at home you can affect change.  Examples include the more obvious ones like choosing not to buy certain products, or products made in certain countries, or by subscribing to eco magazines.  Investing in certain energy suppliers or financial companies is another powerful way of showing businesses where you want to spend money and where you don’t.

Even creating a demand for cuddly toys might change future plans for charities and larger companies.  How?  Well, if more and more people start buying toys and products linked to rainforests for example, then it will be picked up as a national trend and things will eventually happen.

Take for example, the current demand for eco friendly cars.  They wouldn’t be making them if nobody was buying them would they?  If people were not so interested in the environment these days - the cars just wouldn’t sell - and as result, they wouldn’t make any more. 

Imagine if in the 60’s before we knew what ‘climate change’ was, they started making hybrid cars that cost more than ‘normal’ cars - would you buy one?  Do you think there would have been a successful business in the 40’s selling carbon credits?  What if someone today set up a charity to help save seagulls or raccoons - would you donate money to them?

Everything you do today, has a huge effect for tomorrow - so don’t rush into anything to quickly.

posted by Catherine on Mar 30

It felt like being in an Agatha Christie novel - but in a slightly smaller room than they show on TV!

I recently travelled overnight on a train from London to Edinburgh in a sleeper car.  It was a lovely gift that someone had brought me as I was going on about a visit to the city for ages.

However, the journey I made a few years ago to the Cairngorms was a bit more boring and a lot more carbon-emitting! 

I had decided to drive there from Hampshire, and it had taken me over 10 hours of driving up motorways to arrive.  And, of course on arrival, I was so tired that I had a shower and fell asleep - thereby wasting a lot of my first day!

However, on the train - The Caledonian Sleeper - I was able to snuggle up in a cosy bed for the whole night and arrive in the centre of the city bright-eyed and bushy tailed the following morning - ready for a full day of sight-seeing.

The Train:
It was 13 carriages long and still had the 1st class division, but as it was part of the whole adventure - seeing them settling down for an evening meal at their cute little tables didn’t put me off.

We got to our cabin and found a delightfully cheery man waiting to check us in on the platform.  He welcomed us aboard, checked our tickets and then asked the ‘most important question’ - What do we want for our complimentary breakfast in the morning!

He explained that there are toilets in every carriage, as well as a dining carriage if we didn’t want to go straight to sleep or got peckish in the night!  He also explained how the catch on the door worked - but I never managed to figure this out on either journey!

We stepped into our cabin and although it was a bit snug, it had everything you would imagine for the journey.  It had 2 bunk beds decked out with crisp white bedding, 2 fluffy pillows and a bedside light each as well as the main cabin light.  There were plenty or coat hangers on the wall for your clothes (with their own little seat-belts to stop them flapping about).

Each bed had a table flap coming out of the wall about mid way down and a solid shelf along the end of the beds to put your bags on - and in my case some overnight nibbles, drink and a good book!

The lower shelf was wider as it had a flap that lifted up to expose the sink with complimentary soaps and toothbrush sets as well as 2 hand towels!  There was also a full length mirror, a button to call the attendant and a window.

All in all it was just what I was hoping it to be!  And I couldn’t wait for the return journey either!  It felt as though - even though we were leaving Edinburgh - that there was still a whole part of the trip to look forward to!

And, it was my first holiday of the year, and it was eco friendly! I’m definately starting as I mean to go on!

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 Nov 5

It doesn’t have to be an Eco Holidays Show - but there are people there to answer your questions!

These large-scale travel shows are a fantastic place to get some real info on eco holidays and adventures! But also to get some opinions out there.

Not only will you have all day to wander around asking all the eco questions you ever wanted to ask, and to buy some fantastic gifts or equipment at discount prices, and to speak to people who have already been there - done that, but you will be able to make one huge contribution to the eco holidays movement!

What’s that you ask?
Well, if all the big names in holidays are here in one place, listening to consumers and offering their services - then what better place for you to voice your opinions and concerns about the way holidays impact the environment, tours affect communities and the way profit is spent!

If the companies at the show hear person after person asking about their eco credentials and how their packages and tours support the people and wildlife they visit - they will start to improve on those areas to keep the customers?

Imagine if a person approaches ‘Company A’ and asks them whether or not they employ local guides on their tours. If they don’t, then they will find themselves in a sticky situation, but could still answer you politely enough for you to carry on at their stall and that might be the end of that. No one else gets to hear of it.

But what if 50 people ask that same question?

How will that company feel after a day of saying ‘no’? I’m sure that there will be some serious re-thinking of their tactics for the next day - and I can almost guarantee that this feedback will get back to the people who make decisions. Hopefully spurring some change.

Now imagine the positive buzz around those companies that can answer ‘yes’ to that question.

We all know that the companies which survive are those that offer what their customers want or need. So, if they offer holidays that encourage eco tourism, habitat conservation and community development - they will get your eco dollars!

If they can’t answer your questions positively or they blatantly offer tours or cruises that offer no benefits at all to the destination - then they won’t see your money - and hopefully they will have empty seats on their trips!

If people don’t ask for things - they won’t get them.

So, get your questions ready and make a difference!

posted by Catherine on Sep 30

Staying on a working farm that promotes wildlife has got to be good!

I recently stayed in a holiday cottage in the Weald in Sussex, England for 2 weeks, more out of urgent necessity than anything else (we needed to move in tonight!)

Therefore, my eco wants and needs were rather pushed to one side with the need for somewhere to sleep in the south-east of England with Internet access!

We called one place that looked adorable but was full for most of the 2 weeks, but the owner very thoughtfully and totally of no gain to herself, recommended a friend of hers that was just starting out so would no doubt have spaces! 

I called them hesitantly, knowing that my first concern was the Internet, then availability then price.  In that order.  (Some of the cottages are so highly priced that even if they came with free food the whole time you were there and a complimentary pony, it wouldn’t be worth it!)

Anyway, I called up a friendly man who answered all my questions and gave me his website address to view the cottages.  We had been viewing others and had found that a great many were just large sheds in some-one’s back garden - not ideal really in terms of the freedom to wander about and come and go as you please without the curtains twitching!  However, his cottages were in the middle of the countryside and a delight to look at, so we called back and said we’d be there by 5!

The Cottage:
It turns out that these 3 cottages are part of a rescued 150-year-old barn on the farm (now a fully functioning equestrian center), and had been very thoughtfully renovated up to a high standard and carefully furnished.

They all had a countryside feel to them, with paintings and pictures or the local art and landscapes.  The inside was spacious and showed the beams of the roof space and had a mezzanine bedroom on top.

There were some eco features including a half-bath, reclaimed furnishings and furniture and all modern appliances including an efficient microwave, condensing boilers, gas stove, nicely they had limited electronics but plenty of books magazines and board games instead!

And it turns out that the cottages aren’t the only thing that the landlord thinks are important.

Nature Comes First!
Since taking over the farm, the owner has focused on keeping it preserved.  Based in the Weald - an area of outstanding natural beauty (AONB) - and with centuries and centuries of history behind it, there was a good basis for him to start from.

His ancient hedgerows divide his 80 acres of pasture and woodland, and many were almost 1000 years old from my estimations of noticeable species present (oak, hawthorn and ash to name a few).  He also leaves a good 6 feet of untreated land on each side of the hedges to promote their use as a wildlife haven and hasn’t removed any of them at all - I found his farm on a map from 1880 and they were all still there today.

He had also banned hunting on his land - which has got clear traces of pheasant farming and many a spent shot gun cartridges from the past.  In fact he does the opposite - he helps release animals back into the countryside from his farm. 

He has already released whole families of badgers and hedgehogs, has re-homed a flock of battery-farmed chickens (of which he gave us plenty of tasty eggs from) and has re-homed 2 lovely dogs and 4 feral cats into his clan!  However the 2 owl boxes in the main barn haven’t yet been used permanently - but the pair of tawny owls in the woods make up for that!

A Work/Life Balance.
Being a working farm, he has of course, got plenty of farm machinery all about the place and no doubt his isolated location brings many large vehicles some distance from towns to run a successful business - but I think it is worth it.

Most guests here no doubt never traipse around the countryside like we do, and so all of his land hardly gets disturbed by man - and how frequently we saw fallow deer and how close we were able to get to them before they crashed off through the woodland shows that they are at home here - they like it here!

He has created a veritable British wildlife reserve here, and so what if he hasn’t got composting toilets or a wind turbine?  He has ’saved’ this little piece of the countryside for the next generation, creating a safe corridor for wildlife travelling around this area which include Ashdown Forest to the north and the South Downs National Park to the south.

And anyway, does ‘eco’ have to mean completely self sufficient?

If you are in this area and want a great place to stay for wildlife and peace and quiet in a beautiful landscape then use this link to get more information on this farm stay.

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 Jun 17

This amazing and secluded eco retreat is the perfect haven for those seeking to get back to nature or just to get away from everything. A perfect eco holiday!

Nestled in a valley and surrounded by great mountains is the Kw’o:kw’e:hala eco retreat. This eco retreat will no doubt be a world away from where you are at the moment!  Surrounded by wooded hills and Indian Reserves on the Coquihalla River and just across the US border on Highway 1 - you won’t have to fly here - your journey being park of the vacation.

What Makes It ‘Eco’?
Their theory of ‘back to basics’ is a great starting point for this resort, as it suggests that there is a stepping back if you like from the compulsive and consumer world that we face everyday.  There is very little here to stress you out!

They also offer the chance to live in an environmentally friendly way as everything you require on your vacation has been chosen specifically for it’s eco-credentials.  You don’t have to worry about the consequences of this or that - they have done all that for you.  You know that you can relax and enjoy yourself without destroying the very place you are visiting.

Food is another pleasure here.  They offer slow food, whole food, simple food - all organic of course and much grown on site!  With their chefs working for you - all the meals are not only good for the planet - but healthy for you too!

They even offer vacation packages that include your choice of ‘learn a new eco skill’ courses.  For example, a course on how to make home-made gifts, how to grow your own vegetables and how to make jams and jellies!

What Can You Do There?
Well, the main attraction could be to do absolutely nothing there!  Just to relax in this isolated location beside the creek and away from anything disruptive or noisy.  The resort only has a handful of buildings here so it has a low impact on the area and guests can only hear to sounds of the forest rather than hoards of other guests charging around!

The relaxing Wood-Fired Sauna which stores it’s heat for days is included in most of the packages, along with the wood-fired hot tub.  There are riverside hammocks, shared washroom block, central kitchen and dining area.

The Accommodation:
There are 3 main cabins around the grounds, as well as the shared buildings.

Forest Cottage is surrounded by trees - as it’s name suggests, and is the most private of the 3 cabins here.  It is actually an entirely recycled building so to speak having been moved from another site and upgraded using unwanted wood from a nearby mill.

Homestead Log Cabin is the largest cabin and is in an open area to allow you the views of nature and everything passing by.  The cabin was built nearly 100 years ago and has quite a local history!

Othello Cottage is the final cabin - but no less eco!  Made from building from the old Kettle railways in the early 1900’s with it’s original Shakespearean name!

It overlooks the river and has an eco toilet and outside solar shower facilities to tempt you outside! 

There is also the The Riverside Nest, which is a large tented ‘room’ outdoors where you can sleep under the stars - day or night - just you.

Anything Else?
The resort has won a Responsible Tourism ‘Ethical Escape’ excellence award, and is part of the WWOOF Canada association of organic farming and outdoors.  Recently, the Organic Earth Magazine voted Kw’o:kw’e:hala as one of the ‘5 Best Eco Getaways’ in Canada and it has also been awarded 5 Stars by Eco Hotels Of The World.

On a more personal note, they offer advice to all guests on the use (or the non-use) of electrical appliances like hair dryers and straighteners - and also over zealous toiletries and perfumes!

There is also the added bonus to those seeking peace and quiet that it will be children-free!  Unless the whole site is booked by 1 family or group - children are not allowed on site - all 7 acres of it. 

Quiet.

posted by Catherine on Apr 14

What makes an Eco Lodge an Eco Lodge?

Most people would reply: A log cabin in the middle of a rain-forest clearing, with huge verandas and a river nearby. It would run on solar power and grow all it’s own food on-site. No doubt, monkeys and other animals would be wandering around outside and the local hosts would be teaching you the lingo!

However, we need to be a bit more realistic about what eco accommodation is, and where it is can make all the difference. Not only will the country you are heading to change the variables - but in what setting it is in can also alter the way it can be compared to other ‘eco’ properties.

For example, if the hotel is crammed in a busy town center, it cannot change its percentage land use or have extensive areas for wildlife to live and breed. However, if it is set within acres of rain-forest it can afford to have vast areas ‘untouched by development’.

In addition, if it is an existing accommodation being transformed into a more eco-friendly location it can only do so much with what it has - as demolishing it and rebuilding might be more wasteful than just modifying what it has! However, a new development has an empty canvas - so it can immediately have a beneficial impact on the environment.

However, is a new build resort that eco-friendly in the first place? Did it need to even be built when that land could have been left un-developed and a brown-field site used instead?

So many factors…….

Where to start:
I think you can only really set your own standards depending on the type of accommodation and the location you are hoping to travel to.

If you are visiting a city, then your expectations will need to be reined in and comparisons can only be made with other city accommodations - also less individual travel as the airport/bus station will be close.

However, if you want isolation and low impact countryside living, then development, alternative power, local impact and wildlife disruption need to enter the equation! And don’t forget the distance you have to travel on top of your international flight or bus journey to get to the middle of nowhere…..

You also need to decide whether the impact of your journey there is worth all the fuss - for example if you were to camp nearby to your home that would be a real ‘eco holiday’ (less travel, less resources, less impact) - but it really wouldn’t be an adventure.

However, if you want to impact positively on distant communities and experience different cultures then you must breach the whole ‘carbon emissions’ dilemma of getting there in the first place!

Comparisons:
Basically, whenever searching for accommodation for your eco holidays, make sure you take a good look at whats out there before booking.

Don’t be too hard on yourself to find the ultimate eco destination otherwise you could be taking all the fun out of your trip! However, make sure you set your lowest factors before searching (for example - no all inclusive packages or no international hotel chains, etc) and go upwards from there.

Making your impact there can be just as important. If you go to a city and select an eco hotel and then hire a car and eat in Burger King then why take ages choosing yourself an eco hotel?

At the other end - you could book yourself into a hotel that does the basic eco activities and then make your actions more ‘green’ For example you could stay longer, volunteer within the community, shop ethically, eat locally with local establishments, don’t drop litter or leave waste and use resources sensibly - more than making up for your accommodation using mains electricity.

The End Result:
Don’t forget that it is a holiday after all - so if you aren’t going to enjoy yourself - there is no point in going.

If the most eco friendly hotel isn’t in the place you wanted to go then you need to make a choice. If the hotel you love has everything you want and need but doesn’t recycle - again, the choice is yours.

I’m sure your house back home isn’t the most responsible house in the world - but you have done your best with what you have and what you think is important. Your hosts may have done the same.

Also - should you only support those companies already offering the best eco solutions or should you help fund those companies still trying to achieve them? Your money as a guest can make all the difference to a growing firm improving the whole area not just over-booking the one resort.

Don’t stress about it to much - vacations are for enjoying!
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