Green Holidays

Great tips on how to minimise your traveling ‘footprint’ in fragile or little visited locations.

We all love traveling to isolated, pristine environments where we can experience nature as it was meant to be.  We don’t want giant hotels standing on the beaches, or wide, busy roads leading into the wilderness - but if you want to go somewhere special - you need to take precautions.

I’m not talking about those for your own safety and health while traveling - I’m referring to the impact you will have on those environments.  And how you could ruin them before anyone else has had a chance to enjoy them - sometimes without even meaning to!

Here are some simple tips to make sure you really do ‘take only photos and leave only footprints’!

Keep Erosion To A Minimum:
When hiking through delicate ecosystems, try to keep to the paths to avoid damaging plants unnecessarily.  If people all start to walk side by side just because there is room to do so, the path eats away into the location - and can only get wider each time. 

Also, if enough plant material is trampled when you take a short cut, others who visit later may think it is an actual path, and start to enlarge the route - damaging more land.

Pitch Your Tent Eco-Wisely:
Choose a site for your tent that doesn’t cover native plants or flowers.  Always try to find a sandy or un-vegetated area to settle your ground sheet - otherwise you could be squashing or killing delicate ecosystems or slow-growing wild flowers.

In addition, don’t settle somewhere that is too close to water as you could prevent shy animals from approaching their water source.  Or get your belongings washed away after heavy rain!

Deposit Your ‘Waste’ With Care:
If you are outdoors long enough to need to ‘go’ then make sure you are sensible with your choice - and make sure you are off the main path! (however, this isn’t an excuse to violate ’rule 1′). 

In hot climates, make sure it is buried several inches underground - and to the lower edge of the path.  In rocky regions cover it with leaf litter or rocks, and make sure you don’t leave your toilet paper in the wind!  Either burn it or better still take it away with you - as with feminine hygiene products and dispose of in a bin!

Don’t Pollute Rivers:
Goes as an ‘obvious’ really - but not many people take biodegradable eco-friendly soaps and shampoos with them when camping!  Let alone washing up or cleaning products!

Also, try not to use them in the watercourse itself.  Ideally use a bucket or similar, then throw the waste water into the ground away from the stream or lake, so the ground can absorb most of the chemicals instead.

Depending on where you are and in what country - make sure that you don’t upset local communities by splashing around in water that they use for drinking or are trying to fish in - otherwise you could cause possible friction in the future for other tourists in the area.

Cooking Over Flames:
When thinking of starting a campfire - make sure you are legally allowed to do so - never assume that you can start one anywhere as they are by no means harmless!  And never leave a burning fire unattended.

Ideally, you would use an area that is already burned, or an area that is not covered in plant materials either dead or alive - dry or dead plants can act as fuel across the ground.  And make sure nothing is overhanging so make sure it doesn’t heat up and burn.

Only use fallen branches and wood for fuel - rather than dead branches still on trees - they act as an important natural habitat for birds, insects and mammals.  Also, don’t make it larger than you need as wood is a valuable resource in many communities.

Happy Camping!

Taking your pets to the UK has never been easier!

If you live in the UK or wish to travel to the UK when choosing to holiday close to home this year - then why not take your pets with you?

Imagine how much fun your pooch would have paddling in the Bay of Biscay or climbing in the Alps!  Would you cat love sunbathing by your pool in Spain or Italy?  Even the ferret can come too!

Why Is The UK Different?
Well, all countries have regulations about the movement of animals from one country to another and you should check these out whenever traveling with your pets. 

Some are very strict and some are more flexible. 

However, the UK has always protected itself from the threat of rabies with a 6-month quarantine period.

These days, you don’t need to leave your pet in quarantine - you just need to get it a passport and it can visit or return to the UK whenever you want it to.

What’s A Pets Passport?
Basically, the scheme has been running for several years, but not everyone knows about it. 

Taking your pet with you can really improve you holiday fun and it is so easy when you follow some simple steps.

A valid PETS passport allows you to avoid quarantine kennels by vaccinating your pet against rabies in advance.  You still need to wait the full 6 months before travelling to or returning to the UK, but you can do this in the comfort of your own home rather than in a secure kennel.

There is only one way to get your dog, cat or ferret a passport and it takes at least 7 months from start to finish - it could be longer.  But it will never be shorter!

Many people think that they can ‘buy’ a PETS passport when they find a stray dog in Spain or wherever and bring it straight into the UK.  But a passport doesn’t avoid the 6-months quarantine, it just changes where the pet has to be during that 6 months.

The Process:
There are 4 main steps in the process by which you can obtain a PETS passport which you can do at any time, and one further step just before entering the UK.

However, in a few cases several of these steps need to be repeated - and at the expense of the owner!

If any of the first 4 steps are not completed - the passport will not be issued in the first place.  And if you miss step 5 or let the passport expire - your pet will not be allowed to enter the UK other than straight into quarantine!  So please make sure you understand the process!

Step 1 - Day 1:
Your dog, cat or ferret must be micro-chipped. 

These tiny ‘chips are uniquely identified by a series of numbers.  When a microchip scanner is passed over the embedded chip the individual code will appear on the screen.  This unique code will be linked through the existing database to the owners details, thus identifying this individual animal.

This makes sure that the animal that is being imported/exported is the animal that has been issued the PETS passport in the first place.

Step 2 - Day 1 onwards:
Your dog, cat or ferret must be vaccinated against rabies.

Your local vet will be able to inject your pet with the rabies vaccination at a routine appointment.  This will send anti-bodies against rabies around your pets body, which in turn should help your pet kill off the rabies virus if it becomes infected.

You can have the vaccine at the same time as the animal was micro-chipped.

Step 3 - 2-3 weeks after Step 2:
A blood sample taken and tested for rabies anti-bodies.

You need to return to your vets around 14-21 days after the vaccination (or as advised by your vets) to have a blood sample taken to make sure that there are sufficient anti-bodies in your pets blood to protect it from the rabies virus.

This blood test must take place at an EU approved laboratory.

If there are not enough anti-bodies in the sample then the blood test will need to be done again later, or Step 2 and 3 repeated.

Step 4 - After Step 3 blood test has been passed.
Only when anti-body levels are deemed high enough, will the animal be checked over one final time, the chip checked and the passport issued.

The passport will become valid for travel to the UK 6 months AFTER the blood test with acceptable anti-body level was taken.  Not a day sooner!

The passport however, will be valid for travel TO any other EU country 21 days after the rabies vaccine was given (if coming from the UK).  Check with the EU country you get your PETS passport from if outside of the UK as several countries have slightly different requirements.

Your PETS passport is only valid while you have rabies cover, so you must get your pets re-vaccinated against rabies before the current one expires.  If you are even 1 day late for the vaccination, the passport becomes invalid and you have to start all over again from Step 2, and wait a further 6-7 months before you can return to the UK  (without quarantine).

Therefore, if you maintain the rabies vaccines after your original passport is issued, you will have continued cover for as long as your pet is alive.

Step 5 - Tick & Tapeworm Treatment:
Must be applied by a vet 24-48 hours before entering the UK.

There are several things that the UK wants to avoid apart from rabies, and they are a certain tick and a potentially fatal (to humans)tapeworm.

The required treatment is quite specific and needs to be applied by, or the application of the treatment witnessed by, a qualified veterinary surgeon.  This vet then needs to complete a section on your PETS passport to confirm the times, as if your flight or ferry is delayed - it will ‘expire’ and have to be re-applied.

Needless to say, this treatment will need to be applied by a vet that may not be your own - so you will need to make sure you find a suitable vets and get an appointment with them within a day of your intended travel to the UK.

The Cost?
Well, it is difficult to quote an exact price as all vets will charge different fees for different procedures, but you should be looking at the following price range:

Step 1: Microchipping - £10-£25
Step 2: Vaccination     - £45-£55
Step 3: Blood Test       - £50-£60
Step 4: Final Issue       - £20-£30

Step 5: Treatment       - £20-£40

Total: Between £145 and £210

AND: You also have to pay for your pet to travel with you in the first place.  There are only certain routes that will accept pets through the PETS scheme, and this cost will need to be factored in to this just as with your own travel costs.

Visit DEFRA’s factsheet for more indepth details!

The scheme has allowed thousands of pets to travel abroad with their owners every year virtually hassle free - or at least no more trouble that traveling with kids!  Why don’t you become one of them?

Planning Your Volunteering Green Holidays needs to start somewhere - and these 5 tips should help:

Many people these days are planning to take a longer-then-usual break from work.  There are so many opportunities out there for all sorts of people and all sorts of activities!  There is surely something for everyone and some are just a few weeks long to fit into even the tightest schedule!

Before jumping in to a great adventure however, make sure that you have got yourself covered for some simple things, and make sure that you are going with the best possible company.

It’s easy to just want to get up and go when the travel bug hits you - but you want to make sure that everything is as green as you would like it before you pay a dime!

1) Length of time:
It is better for the environment and the communities you are going to support if you take a longer than average time out there. 

Flying to Asia for 2 weeks - which includes a few days to yourself - means that there is hardly any time for you to make a difference.  It also shoots up your carbon emissions.

However, 2 months in your chosen location can give you time to experience their culture and actually get to know all the people involved while you are there.  It also shows that you and you chosen company mean business - rather than in and out with no real lasting effects in their lives.

2) Company Experience:
Make sure the company you are travelling with has years and years of experience in their locations and in the travel industry. There are many new companies popping up - but can they deliver the goods or are they jumping (late) onto the ethical bandwagon??

Not only will experienced companies be able to prove that their packages are excellent and their community work long lasting - but it also shows you that they mean business and know how to do these things. 

For an example of how not to book your gap vacation, read on…. I recently went to an organised talk where a ‘travel guru’ was talking about her company - and she said that last year she couldn’t find anyone offering advice about gap travellers - so she set one up herself! 

If she was looking for help last year - what on earth would make you trust here for advice just 12 months later?  What type of advice could she really offer you about travelling, volunteering, teaching and living abroad if she has barely done it herself???

If this is your ‘once in a lifetime opportunity’ and you are taking time of work or leaving your job - please don’t risk it.  Make sure you put yourself in the hands or a real and proven expert - even if you have to pay that bit extra!

3) Company Ethics:
There are many companies out there offering these fantastic vacations - but where does all the money go and who are they helping?

Check with your short-list of companies what projects they support and where your ‘fee’ is going.  Some companies charge a lot of money for your trip and pocket a large proportion of the money in admin.  Others will clearly advertise that a contribution goes to a charity working locally or to community projects for the long term.

Some trip organisers send huge numbers of volunteers to the same places - not so fair on the other communities and a bit to overwhelming on that one.  Better companies will share out the visitors and limit the impact of it’s travellers.  You are there to help the local people, not socialise with dozens of other travellers from your home country!

Also, make sure that they have a clear responsible travel policy and are a member or at least 1 ethical travel association - the more the better, really.  If you want to be sure you are travelling responsibly with them and that they have considered all their green alternatives for their trips - then don’t book if they can’t answer your questions politely and with answers you are happy with.

4) A Job Well Done:
Ideally, the travel company will make sure that you are suited to the trip you are booking!

By this I mean that they will check your experiences and your aims and will try to send you to the right location in terms of your skills and their needs.  It’s ok to choose your destination - but if your skills are better suited to another project on a different continent than a good volunteer firm will let you know.

You might have your heart set on the Andes - but if they are in desperate need of your skills in the Himalayas they may well see if they can twist your arm a bit.  They would never force you to go somewhere you don’t want to go - but if you are in this for the experience and to help others, then it is certainly worth considering your options.

5) What’s Left Behind:
If you are taking a longer break for your volunteering (a month or more) - make sure that what you leave behind is still in order while you are away.

Cancel or put a hold on magazines and subscriptions so endless amounts of mail don’t sit in your mailbox.  Not only will this show that you are away - it also means that you will have too much to read on your return and possibly waste these resources.  Check dates on all foodstuffs so that nothing is wasted and nothing goes out of date while you are away.

Set up online accounts for everything you can (so you can check it all wherever on the globe you are) and this also allows you to cancel paper billing for most accounts - you can check it all on the Internet - saving endless amounts of paper and postage!  You can even pay bills online though your bank account without having to go home or send the neighbor around!

Make sure that your appliances and electrical goods are unplugged - not on standby!  Buy a timer for your lights if you are leaving the house empty - or consider renting it out to friends for the duration to fund your trip and protect your home - and pets if you have any.  Check your fire alarm batteries and any alarm systems to make sure they are in perfect working order before you leave.

Check your mortgage and insurance papers to make sure you are covered if you are not living there - and make sure that you travel insurance covers the full time you are away - some annual policies only cover 3 months in total over any 1 year!

And Finally:
Enjoy yourself and have the time of your life - coming back a more experienced and more relaxed person!