Green Holidays

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We all think that all ‘green’ and ‘eco’ travel definitions are around about the same: but no!

A friend of mine recently got a book called ‘The Ethical Career Guide’ out of the local library only to be surprised by what was in there.  There was no mention of conservation or the environment, and global warming was not even touched on.

Why?  Well ‘ethical’ always refers to working with people to create equality as well as supporting communities and cultures - it doesn’t really have anything to do with the natural world.  So an ethical holiday isn’t necessarily a green holiday or even eco friendly!

So I have put together a simple definitions article for the main words we use to define our holidays and travel so you can be sure to focus on the best one for your requirements and prefered areas of interest.

Ethical Travel:
“Travel to any location that includes offering respect and courtesy to local people, as well as thinking about the long term effects of your actions for the communities that you visit.”

So for example, ethical travel would include supporting the community you visit financially by using local services and buying local goods - and at a reasonable price.  It would also look to not exploit natural resources - or local people, and includes not offering gifts or money to ‘begging’ children but to the places that will benefit the children most, like schools and local groups.

Responsible Travel:
“Travel to any destination in the world - including cruises, luxury villas, skiing and volunteering - can be ‘responsible’ if they can prove that they care about the people they come into contact with and their culture as well as their surrounding environments and it’s wildlife.”

For example, if you travel to a ‘responsible’ African safari lodge, you would expect it to be run by or employing local people and spending some or most of it’s profits and time on helping protect the surrounding wildlife for the future. 

It doesn’t matter if you have to fly across the world to get there and only stay for 3 days (although longer stays can help communities more) - it is what you are supporting while you are there that counts.  And if it is a big step away from mass tourism - it is ‘responsible’.

Eco Friendly Travel:
“Travel to destinations with the intention of reducing your overall impact on the environment, including the avoidance of many of the usual destinations, modes of transport and travel products.”

For example, we know that flying creates higher than average emissions and cruises create more than their fair share of waste - so the eco friendly traveller would try to travel using other means, or would use these modes of transport more wisely by staying in the destinations longer or choosing a more eco friendly company to use.

Eco friendly travel would also include not using products that can damage or put undue stress on the environment they are visiting, so would try to use biodegradable toiletries, wash clothes less, eat local foods rather than expect locals to import things 1000’s of miles in, take all rubbish home with them if no recycling exists and not buy products made from endangered resources - or animals!

This type of travel would also look at certain destinations that are being overcrowded or exploited with the end result of the area/destination/beach/local community being degraded, overused and ultimately destroyed.  Mass tourism destinations would be among the places to avoid, although something could be said for keeping all the ’sun-seekers’ in one place!

Green Travel:
“A type of travel that includes both using modes of transport which reduce or limit the environmental impact of getting from A to B as well as limiting environmental damage while preserving natural resources and reducing pollution and excessive waste.”

Although quite similar to the Eco Friendly Travel definition above, Green Travel really focuses on self control while travelling - enough sometimes to not even travel in the first place!  Eco Friendly looks at still taking a trip but looking for less damaging alternatives - whereas green travellers might look at taking a different trip entirely.

Walking through fields or woodlands off the main footpath wouldn’t really bother any other type of traveller - but a green traveller would think of the potential for localised damage - for example trampling on rare plants or invading areas used by courting mammals and birds.

The Result:
Well, as you can see there is a fair amount of overlap with these definitions, but some are more social and others more environmental.

Yes - the 2 are sort of linked up anyway as if the community are supported they will take better care of their environment, however many travelers want to see the direct link to their personal beliefs and their actions.

For example an eco friendly traveler would take pride in buying all the most chemical-free, animal-friendly, waste reducing and natural products they can to take with them to visit a local community - whereas a social traveler would take more pride in helping a community to support themselves for the next 20 years whether their shampoo was biodegradable or not!

And a responsible traveler wouldn’t mind flying in to a remote mountain lodge on the other side of the world to support a 5* business built up, owned and run by local people - whereas a green traveler would possibly choose to go camping 1* in a nearby woodland with their local scout group teaching them simple field-craft techniques for free!

So, it is your choice really as to which of these you choose to be like when planning your next vacation, because sometimes they will take you to totally different places!

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!

Why not start being a responsible traveller before you even book anything?

Making plans and asking questions is all about being sure that you are happy with the green credentials of your chosen destination and the companies that you use to get there. It’s great to sign up on your green holidays with a reputable company who have taken everything into account for you - but if you want to travel more independently, then there are many things for you to consider before even checking your vaccinations are up to date!

Where Are You Going?
Travelling to a specific place or travelling through a region or country are 2 completely different things. Make sure you know which is more important to you as the impact of your journey to these destinations can be very important. Why charge straight from the airport or train station to the one place everyone else goes when you may be able weave your way through villages and get a feel for the country rather than tick off boxes.

If you are flexible about your travel plans, then you can plan to avoid excessive carbon emissions and to limit your impact on certain sensitive areas. Draw up a rough guide of your route and see what’s on the way and what should really be avoided.

For example, you can get to South East Asia on the Trans Siberian Railway rather than fly (and would be a fantastic experience) but it could add a month onto your journey - have you got the time? Or should you fly to a destination in South East Asia and spend that month there volunteering and helping the community?

Avoiding Green Wash:
I found a great company which does fantastic tours of a local mountain range for some large wildlife. They use local accommodation along the way but that’s about it for responsible travel. There is no mention of where the local hotels source their food and drink, or how they power their environment. There is also no mention of whether funds from the trips go into funding local communities or conservation projects - yet the name of the company could lead you believe otherwise: Eco Travel.

Ask these few questions before stumping up the cash to make sure it’s actions are as ‘green’ as it’s company name!!!

1) Have they got a ‘written’ policy regarding responsible tourism? If not, then they probably don’t take it seriously enough, and without anything in writing - guests can’t say whether they are achieving anything with it.

2) Can they supply you with details on the local area, and volunteer projects to support local communities or wildlife. Even if you don’t want to take part yourself - their knowledge of these things can assure you of their ‘green’ intentions, and shows that they are in touch with activities in their locality.

3) Do they use resources - both people and commodities - from within a specific radius of their location. You can’t put a measure on this as it all depends on where they are. I mean, if they are in a mountainous region I’m not sure there would be much ‘local’ food to sustain tourists and staff might be in short supply! If they were in a fertile valley however, then everything should be from much closer - including employees.

4) What are their green credentials and what do past customers think or say about them? Are they affiliated with any local, national or international tourism companies that you can check on, like the World Land Trust or an International Charity Body? Do they have a page on their website for people to comment on, or can you find it on Trip Advisor?

Take Only What You Need:
When planning your trip, take into account the length of the stay and the location you are visiting. Do you really need so many toiletries to go and save Rhino’s in Africa? Do you need to buy loads of new products to take with you up Mount Everest?

If you are only going for a short trip, then you can take all that you need, knowing that you will be bringing it all back with you (as you won’t be leaving all your plastic bottles and used toiletries there). But if you are travelling for a month or more, then you will need to consider buying things from your destination and possibly disposing of it there too.

Make sure that you reduce you reliance on non-essential consumer goods like anti-frizz hair conditioner and anti-wrinkle face cream when planning for long-term stays. Make sure you know what you can reuse on your journey rather than leaving your destination to sort it out. Obviously you won’t be able to bring home all your rubbish from a long trip, so make sure you know the best way to deal with it and what to avoid in the first place.

Don’t just take time to research your location, search your own rucksack!

Learning a foreign language can improve your vacation and help you experience more of the country while travelling.

I’m not expecting you to be fluent in the language of every country you visit, but understanding a few of the basics can really make a difference to your holiday abroad.

Some people find that learning a second language comes naturally - and learning a third or fourth is also easily achieved by a select few. But for most of us - being fluent in any language but our own seems a distant dream!

Your Choice?
My school only offered it’s students French as a welcome into the languages - and I was never really any good at it to be honest. However, if you didn’t pick up the French, you weren’t offered any other languages - it was a dead end for most.

However, if you were good at it, you got a choice of others - which to me is a bit backwards. If you are good a basic French, why turn your back on it and learn basic German as well? Why not stick with it and become an expert? And if like me you were awful at French and not really enjoying it - why not try another instead instead of keep struggling with your verb endings week after week!

I think schools had it wrong and travelling got it right. Find a country you love and then the language will come naturally.

The Future:
I had always wanted to learn Spanish, but was stuck in a rut at school, so had no chance of achieving anything in the ’second language’ department. But now I have travelled around Central and South America, I have heard the words, seen the culture and now enjoy the language. I recently immersed myself in their language for a month and found myself easily talking to the locals.

I even questioned the timing of my washing at the laundrette with the lady there, as she had told us that our washing would be ready for tommorow - however we wanted them done today!!! How’s that for courage! I really felt proud of myself and hope to improve for my return.

In all honesty, there are too many good reasons to learn a foreign language not to. However, I have listed some important ones, which will hopefully get you started on your way. Some are standard requirements and others are a bit more specific to people you meet.

To Undertand Directions:
It’s important that you know your ‘right’ from your ‘left’ otherwise you could end up nowhere near your hotel or bus stop. Knowing the time is also very important for getting to places and understanding opening times and other important locations and services - and this includes ‘later’ and ‘tomorrow’ etc.

To Find Food & Drink:
Make sure you are aware of the essentials, like ‘no ice’ and ‘boiling water’ for you health, and things like ‘with sugar’ or ‘chocolate’ for your pleasure! Local dishes are best explained by guide books - but if you are vegetarian or allergic - you need to pay more attention. This section should also include where to find the bathrooms and hand-washing facilities!

To Book Acommodation:
Make sure you know what you get at your hotel or pension. A shower or bath, hot water, breakfast, shared kitchen and extras like tour booking and free internet. Counting nights with fingers can be used, but I got a bit stuck trying to advise them that we would be leaving before their reception opened and wanted to know where to leave the key! Try that one for yourself….

For Your Safety:
Make sure you know what signs mean ‘danger’ or ‘no entry’. And in case something does go wrong - do you know how to describe your pains or injury to a doctor? Do you know how to call the local police or emergency services - do you even know how to use a local telephone?

To Be Polite:
Along with reading up a bit on customs and etiquette, do you know how to say ‘thank you’ to a friend and to someone important - there is usually more than one way to do so. If you can communicate with staff or store keepers they will be more helpful and may even offer you extra advice or products.

To Teach In Communities:
You could also sit and chat to children in the communities you visit, telling them about your journey and where you are from, but also to ask about their lives. Equally so when attending festivals or ceromonies with elders or the whole village - talking (or trying to talk) can really impress them - and work out better for you.

Maybe even become advanced enough in the language that you could teach in schools, run tours, work in the country for several months or even teach TEFL courses.

For Your Trip:
There are many locations in any country where even the staff in the hotels advertising in English did not speak a word of the language - and why should they really - so any part of a sentence can be important and help you on your way!

I don’t think I’m ready for a 3rd language just yet - so I’ll stick the Central and South America for my travels for the time being…….

If you are looking for an easy way to take your green holidays, then you want to look for a company that have plenty of experience - and can offer you an amazing experience.

To save all the effort of researching destinations, then resorts, then hotels and all the individual tours through reputable companies, you can take your first green holiday with the relative ease that someone has done all the hard work for you - and you only need to research them!

This is especially a great idea if you are not 100% up to date with all the green issues surrounding travel and don’t want to end up knee-deep in information that you are not quite sure what to do with.

What Makes Them Green:
Well firstly, they are a non-profit organisation which means that they are not just in it for the money, and secondly a nearly all their holidays involve supporting a community or researching wildlife data.

Examples include working to ‘create a UNESCO Seascape reserve’ in Fiji, and working with Maasai and Quechua communities in Tanzania and Ecuador. They don’t just fly you to these places and leave you to it - they teach you the language and cultures, and then support you throughout your stay.

What They Do:
GreenForce work with many organisations around the world to make sure that they are focusing their efforts in the right places, but also to make sure that they follow agreed code of practices for relevant work and expeditions.

They also make sure that you enjoy yourself as well! Included in most of their expeditions (which can be anything from 2 weeks to 12 months) are trips to the famous sights in that country - for example and elephant-back safari in India or a week in Zanzibar or even a trip to the Galapagos Islands.

They are even carbon neutral - with regards to the flights taken to their destinations.

Where Do They Go:
With worldwide destinations including The Bahamas, South Africa, Fiji, India and Nepal there is something for everyone, everywhere. Prices for expeditions range from £850 for 14 days to £2,400 for 10 weeks - usually inclusive of all food, accommodation and training.

Your green holidays or adventures could include:

• Panda Conservation in China
• Marine Conservation in Fiji or The Bahamas
• Working with the Red Cross in the Andes
• Living and working with the Maasai in Africa
• Teaching in Schools across India and Asia
• Surveying Great White Sharks in South Africa

If you were looking for something particular of something long term, this company can put together bespoke trips to almost anywhere doing almost anything.

You can also offer to work abroad in a paid position for up to a year in Australia or Ecuador for example, and they will support you throughout and assist you in finding work and making contacts.

But Flying Isn’t Green!
No it’s not - and you don’t need to travel to the other side of the world to help a charity or support children or adults in a needy community - but helping kids in an after school club in Wales is nothing compared to teaching English to Nepalese children in the Himalayas.

You want adventure, but you want to be a bit environmentally sensitive about it. And this is where you can do it. GreenForce do not include the flights to the expeditions allowing you to decide how to get there - and for how long you stay.

If you were to sail to South America, travel to Africa by Train or get to Australia by coach (the OzBus) then you could add much more to your adventure. Taking a longer holiday increases you enjoyment of the whole experience and will of course lessen the times you need to travel to different places each time.

Flying to Mexico and then travelling through central America on public transport could save you 5 or 6 separate trips to Belize, Costa Rica, Panama and Guatemala for example - saving long-haul flights. You will see the people, learn the language and get involved in anything you want along the way.

If you then add on a boat to Ecuador or Peru, you could stay there volunteering or teaching for a year or more all for the ‘green cost’ or that one flight.

Worth a look: try www.greenforce.org