Gadling

Heat-Map Shows Travelers Most And Least Frequented Destinations

Jessica Festa — Fri, 25 May 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Learning, Photos, Stories, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Antarctica, Internet Tools, News, Middle East, Central America, Caribbean

Have you ever wondered what countries are the most and least frequented by travelers? Estonian tech firm Bluemoon has taken data from the photo sharing service Panoramio and created a heat-map based on photos. The map details which countries are the most visited (in yellow), which have a medium amount of visitors (in red) and which are explored the least (in blue). A grey area signifies that no photos have been taken there using Panoramio.

As you can see from the map, Europe is a major tourist destination, as is much of the east and west coasts of the United States and Japan. Certain regions that seem to receive few visitors include Mongolia, India and Australia. Moreover, many areas in Canada and Africa remain unexplored.

They've also created a map of the "world's most interesting remote places." It only looks at destinations away from cities with remote tourist attractions. Some examples from the data show the Greek Islands are touristy (red), the Amazon Basin has almost no tourism (green) and Ladakh falls in the middle (yellow).

For a bigger view of the map, click here.

Heat-Map Shows Travelers Most And Least Frequented Destinations originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 May 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Meet The Man Who Spent 11 Years Walking Around The World And The Woman Who Waited For Him To Return

Dave Seminara — Fri, 25 May 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, News, Middle East, Central America

On his 45^th birthday, Quebec native Jean Béliveau went out for a walk. He crossed over Montreal's Jacque Cartier Bridge in Montreal, where he originally dreamed up the idea of escaping his life as a neon sign salesman nine months before, and kept going for 75,554 kilometers through 64 countries. He burned through 54 pairs of shoes but somehow managed to maintain his relationship with his wife, Luce, who stayed at home while Jean spent 11 years walking around the world. But when he returned to Canada, some criticized the walk as a self-indulgent escape from a midlife crisis since it wasn't done for a specific charity.

Seven months after returning home from what is believed to be the world's longest uninterrupted circumnavigation on foot, Béliveau is being courted by publishers who want the rights to his story. We caught up with Jean to find out more about his motivation for taking an 11-year walk, how he pulled it off without losing his wife and what he's up to now.

Why take a walk around the world?

Jean: I owned a small neon sign factory but when Quebec had a terrible ice storm in the winter of 1998, we lost power for weeks. We had to close the factory and then my wife had to move to Montreal for her job. I had a midlife crisis in the meantime. I began to sell neon signs but I wasn't making much money. I said, 'My God, what happened with my life? I'm throwing my life away.'

I felt like I was working just for money and giving my soul away, and for what? I ran over Jacques Cartier Bridge in Montreal one day and thought, 'I wonder how many days it would take to get to New York. And how many weeks or months or years to get to Mexico, South America, the rest of the world.'

Continue reading Meet The Man Who Spent 11 Years Walking Around The World And The Woman Who Waited For Him To Return

Meet The Man Who Spent 11 Years Walking Around The World And The Woman Who Waited For Him To Return originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 25 May 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

A Challenge: Learn All Of The Countries In The World

Elizabeth Seward — Thu, 24 May 2012 09:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, History, Learning, Stories, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Antarctica, Travel Trivia, Middle East, Central America, Caribbean

While in DC a couple of weeks ago with fellow Gadling writers, a few of us hopped into a taxi on our way to dinner. Our driver was an African man from a country he kept under wraps. He told us that if we wanted to find out which country he was from, we'd have to earn our way to the answer through his impromptu trivia. And so we tried to answer his questions.

"You have to exercise your anthropological and geographical versatility to comprehend my country of originality," he teased us.

"I can guess the continent," one of our writers chimed.

"Oh yes, guessability, no problem, Madam," he cooed.

"West Africa?" she guessed.

"Well," he drew out the word for a few seconds. "I will formally agree but I will formally disagree with you. I am an individual of complexity. You want a clue?"

"Yes," we all answered in unison.

"OK. I am going to give you a complex geographical clue. Let me see. Name me 11 countries in the world that have four letters," he began.

Continue reading A Challenge: Learn All Of The Countries In The World

A Challenge: Learn All Of The Countries In The World originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 24 May 2012 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Expedia Launches Flip Flop Report On Beach Behavior Around The World

Jessica Festa — Fri, 18 May 2012 16:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Stories, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, United States, News, Central America

Have you ever wondered what country enjoys the beach most? Or what culture is most likely to sunbathe in the nude? To help unravel the mystery of beach behavior around the world, Expedia has shared the results of a global study that looked at 21 countries on five continents. Some areas the study examined include what things people look at when choosing a beach, preferred beach activities and what makes people most nervous about going to the beach. Some of the findings from the study include:

The average beach vacation lasts 7.7 days, although this is less true of Koreans, Japanese and Singaporeans, who seem to prefer beach weekends.
For Americans, one of the least important criteria when selecting a beach destination is a desire to find a new location. This is the opposite for Indians, who view finding a new location to be one of the highest priorities.
Germans are the most likely to sunbathe nude, and are also the most likely to spend time at the beach with a stranger.
Fifty percent of travelers keep the presence of sharks in mind when deciding on a beach location. Likewise, 68 percent of beach vacationers admit to not swimming at a beach due to the possibility of sharks.

Click here for the full report. If you're having trouble viewing the infographic, click here for the interactive version.

Expedia Launches Flip Flop Report On Beach Behavior Around The World originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 18 May 2012 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Photo Of The Day - San Francisco Supermoon

Alex Robertson Textor — Fri, 11 May 2012 20:00:00 EST

Filed under: North America, United States, Photo of the Day, Central America

Oh the San Francisco Supermoon. It is so big in this image that it almost looks Photoshopped into this otherwise delicate depiction of the City by the Bay. Flickr user jrodmanjr documents San Francisco's recent encounter with the rare supermoon - the coincidence of the moon's closest approach to the earth with a full moon.

How bright or big is the moon where you are? Take a photo of it tonight and upload it to the Gadling Group Pool on Flickr. We choose our favorites among the pool to be Photos of the Day.

Photo Of The Day - San Francisco Supermoon originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 11 May 2012 20:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Vagabond Tales: How To Pay Off The Police While Traveling

Kyle Ellison — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Stories, North America, South America, Costa Rica, Mexico, Uruguay, Central America, Travel Security

Let's face it: things happen while you're traveling. Although many travels go off without a hitch, occasionally there are unforeseen hurdles, which simply need to be navigated. Sometimes this can be as minor as your bag ending up in Hamburg when it's supposed to be in Berlin, as unlucky as contracting swine flu in Mexico, or as downright scary as ending up in a knife fight in a back alley in Spain (more on those stories another time).

Of all the travel inconveniences I've experienced over years of vagabonding, however, the one which happens with undoubtedly the most frequency is being cornered into paying off the police. Sometimes this is my fault, sometimes it's someone else's fault, and other times it's nothing more than rampant corruption. Either way, I've paid off the police enough times while traveling to warrant mentioning it with some authority.

One thing I want to set straight, however, is that I have never intentionally bribed the police, because that, I believe, is illegal. In every situation where money has exchanged hands between myself and an officer of the law the idea was proposed to me without my offering it first. I don't by any means condone corruption because it's one of the largest social cancers plaguing much of the developing world. Nevertheless, when staring down the barrel of a sticky situation there is often too little time for letting your morals get the better of you.

It's worthy of mentioning that all of these situations occurred while driving vehicles in Latin America. If the idea of confrontations with police officers doesn't rank high on your list of travel plans, perhaps my number one rule of advice would be avoid operating vehicles in Latin America.

If your bucket list includes a surf safari across Central America or driving the length of Highway 1, however, I offer this mini-survival guide for navigating an awkward situation in places where the lines of justice and extortion are frequently blurred.

Continue reading Vagabond Tales: How To Pay Off The Police While Traveling

Vagabond Tales: How To Pay Off The Police While Traveling originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 10 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Popular Guidebooks Go Digital

Chris Owen — Fri, 04 May 2012 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Internet Tools, Central America, Caribbean

Frommer's has a new series of guidebooks out. Nothing new there; that's what they do. Unique to Frommer's new "Day by Day" series though is that they are digital guides, which allow users to search, bookmark and navigate through the content easily.

Enabled by Inkling (the interactive textbook people), the Frommer's "Day by Day" digital books retail between $10 and $15, and are available as individual apps or within Inkling's app. Travelers can purchase them once to use them on both their iPhone and iPad. They contain hundreds of maps and thousands of Retina Display-ready photos, which makes it easy to plan upcoming trips on the new iPad.

Said to be far more useful than paper guidebooks, the new Frommer's digital books contain both indoor maps for locations like museums, as well as outdoor maps that point to interesting destinations in their respective locations.

Continue reading Popular Guidebooks Go Digital

Popular Guidebooks Go Digital originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 04 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Top Travel Destinations, How Do We Count Thee?

Chris Owen — Thu, 03 May 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Asia, Europe, North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Transportation, Internet Tools, Travel Deals, Central America, Caribbean, Luxury Travel

Reports and polls determining the top travel destinations in the world come to us in variety of ways throughout every year. Travel related companies tally internal data to make their lists. Government agencies publish the most frequented destinations based on incoming flights, hotel reservations and other criteria. Non-profit organizations have an unbiased tone to ranking top destinations too. Often, it is as important to consider the source as it is the ratings themselves.

Today, TripAdvisor announced the winners of its fourth-annual 2012 Travelers' Choice Destinations awards. TripAdvisor ranks 440 outstanding destinations across the globe, including lists for Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Central America, China, Europe, India, Mexico, the Middle East, South America, the South Pacific and the United States.

"The TripAdvisor community has once again helped pinpoint hundreds of the most amazing and beloved travel destinations of the year," said Barbara Messing, chief marketing officer for TripAdvisor in a Hospitality-Industry report.

"For travelers planning their big annual vacation or just a weekend getaway, these awards highlight awe-inspiring travel locations of all varieties around the globe."

Lets look at their top ten.

TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Destination award winners were determined based on the popularity of destinations, taking into account travelers' favorites and most highly rated places.

But wait. Last month, in "Suspicious About Hotel Reviews? You Are Not Alone," Gadling reported that the United Kingdom Advertising Standards Authority had ruled that TripAdvisor's advertised claim of "trusted advice from real travelers" was misleading because fake comments could be posted without verification.

Continue reading Top Travel Destinations, How Do We Count Thee?

Top Travel Destinations, How Do We Count Thee? originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 03 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Heifer International: Working To End World Hunger, One Llama At A Time

Laurel Miller — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Business, Food and Drink, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, United States, Ecotourism, Consumer Activism, Middle East, Central America, Caribbean

Got an extra $20 burning a hole in your pocket and want to make a difference in the lives of others? Buy a flock of ducks. Eighty-five dollars will get you a camel share, while a mere $48 purchases a share in a "Knitter's Gift Basket (a llama, alpaca, sheep and angora rabbit)."

Since 1944, Heifer International has provided livestock, and animal husbandry, agricultural and community development training to over 125 countries, including the U.S. The goal: to help end world hunger and poverty by improving breeding stock, providing valuable dietary supplements such as milk and eggs, and creating viable business enterprises for commodity products such as cheese, wool, honey, or crops cultivated by draft animals like horses and water buffalo.

The livestock species used to support disenfranchised communities are diverse, but traditional to their respective regions. They include goats, sheep, honeybees, beef and dairy cattle, water buffalo, yaks, horses, donkeys, llamas, alpacas, camels, rabbits, guinea pigs and poultry.

When I was a kid growing up on a small ranch in Southern California, we used to donate our male dairy goat kids (which, if sold here, would most likely be relegated to dinner) to Heifer. Although the program no longer ships live animals overseas (it's easier and safer/more humane to ship frozen semen), the concept remains the same: using top bloodlines to improve the quality and enhance the genetic diversity of herds or flocks in impoverished regions.

Heifer teaches the concept of the "Seven M's: Milk, Manure, Meat, Material, Money, Motivation and Muscle." These are the benefits livestock animals provide to people in developing nations. With the training provided by Heifer employees and volunteers, the cycle of poverty can be broken, and families and villages can thrive. During the holidays or for birthdays, I like to make animal gift donations in the name of the recipient, an especially valuable lesson for children (who, let's face it, really don't need another electronic piece of crap to foster their ADD and lack of global awareness).

Never doubt the power of a furry friend to change the world. To make a donation, click here.

Check out this Heifer International gallery of animals and their proud owners from around the world:

Gallery: Heifer International

Heifer International: Working To End World Hunger, One Llama At A Time originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 03 May 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Cheesey Street Foods Of Latin America

Laurel Miller — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Festivals and Events, Food and Drink, North America, South America, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela, Budget Travel, Central America

With the possible exception of Argentina, most people don't associate Central or South America with cheese. Like all of Latin America, these countries are a mix of indigenous cultures, colonizing forces, immigrant influences, and varied terroir, climatic extremes, and levels of industrialization. They possess some of the most biologically and geographically diverse habitats on earth. As a result, the cuisine and agricultural practices of each country have developed accordingly.

The use of dairy may not be particularly diverse in this part of the world, especially when it comes to styles of cheese, but it's an important source of nutrition and income in rural areas, and a part of nearly every meal.

While writing a book on cheese during the course of this past year, I tapped into my rather obsessive love of both street food and South America for inspiration. As I learned during my research, the sheer variety of cheesey street snacks from Mexico to Tierra del Fuego are as varied as the ethnic influences responsible for their creation. Read on for a tasty tribute to queso.

Arepas: These flat little corn or flour cakes from Colombia, Venezuela and Panama may be grilled, baked, boiled, or fried. They're usually stuffed or topped with a melting cheese, but may also feature meat, chicken, seafood, egg, or vegetables.

Anafres: Essentially Honduran nachos, composed of giant tortilla chips, refried beans and melted cheese. Named for an anafre, the coal-fired clay pot the dish is served in.

Pupusas: This Salvadorean staple is similar to an arepa: a thick, griddled corn cake stuffed with meat, cheese-usually a mild melting variety known as quesillo-chicarrones (pork cracklings), or queso con loroco (cheese with the buds or flowers of a vine native to Central America).

Continue reading Cheesey Street Foods Of Latin America

Cheesey Street Foods Of Latin America originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 27 Apr 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Five Things You Can Do On Earth Day To Save Natural Resources

Laurel Miller — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Arts and Culture, Learning, Business, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, Ecotourism, Budget Travel, Consumer Activism, Cruises, Middle East, Central America, Caribbean, Women's Travel, Luxury Travel

Earth Day is upon us, and even if you're not planning to celebrate our planet's making it through another year (what global warming?), there are still some simple measures you can take to show your gratitude. Love your Mother, you know?

Whether you're on the road or at home, the following are smart rules to implement every day of the year:

Do laundry at night, after peak electricity usage hours and only wash full loads.
Use a travel mug when you purchase your morning coffee and carry a reusble water bottle.
Stash reusable shopping bags in your car, purse or backpack and desk.
Turn the tap off while brushing your teeth, washing your face, doing dishes or shaving.
Switch to e-tickets, e-pay, and other paperless forms of commerce; add your name to no junk mail and catalog lists.

[Photo credit: Flickr user kevin dooley]

Five Things You Can Do On Earth Day To Save Natural Resources originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 21 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Holistic Healing Practices From Around The World

Jessica Festa — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Food and Drink, Stories, Asia, Europe, Oceania, South America, Morocco, Singapore, Turkey, Ukraine, Belize, Mexico, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecotourism, Budget Travel, Middle East, Central America

Nowadays, it seems like there's a pill or shot to cure every illness. But do we really know how safe these unnatural remedies are? Throughout my travels and by talking with locals from other cultures, I've learned there are many natural treatments that are also effective in promoting good health. For those who've ever wondered about the holistic secrets of other cultures, here are some answers.

Turkey

In Turkey, the trick to staying healthy is mesir paste. The concoction was invented in Manisa during the Ottoman Empire, when the wife of Sultan Yavuz Sultan Selim and mother of Suleyman the Magnificent became very ill. No doctor was able to find a cure, until one created a unique spice blend that seemed to bring the woman back to life. The mixture is a blend of 41 different spices that form a thick paste, and is used as a general cure-all and tonic. Some of the paste's ingredients include black pepper, cinnamon, licorice root (shown above), coconut and orange peel. The country is so proud of their natural remedy, they celebrate a Mesir Festival in Manisa each year.

Continue reading Holistic Healing Practices From Around The World

Holistic Healing Practices From Around The World originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 15 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tour The 'Untamed Americas' With National Geographic This Spring

Kraig Becker — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, North America, South America, Video, News, Central America

The National Geographic Channel has announced an ambitious new miniseries set to air later this spring that explores the wild spaces that stretch across North, Central, and South America. The four-hour long show, entitled "Untamed Americas," was shot entirely in high-definition and will be narrated by Academy Award-nominated actor Josh Brolin.

The project, which has been in production for nearly two years, promises to take viewers on an epic trip from the snow covered peaks of Alaska to the wind-swept extremes of Patagonia. Along the way, they'll witness wildlife encounters unlike any that have been seen on television before and visit remote destinations well off the beaten path. While filming "Untamed Americas," the production crew braved rocky Peruvian cliffs, dense Ecuadoran cloud forests, shark infested waters and more. They also endured temperatures that ranged from sub-zero arctic conditions to triple-digit heat - and even managed to survive a surprise hurricane.

The miniseries will debut globally on the National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo Wild and Nat Geo Mundo, although dates for when it will begin airing have yet to be revealed. Keep an eye on NatGeoTV.com for updates on the status of the show and in the meantime, check out the "Untamed Americas" preview clip below.

Tour The 'Untamed Americas' With National Geographic This Spring originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 13 Apr 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: 'Somewhere' Time-Lapse Video

Elizabeth Seward — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Photos, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Antarctica, Video, Ecotourism, News, Middle East, Central America, Caribbean

"Somewhere" from miadox on Vimeo.

"Somewhere" is the first installment of a time-lapse video series. Covering both natural beauty and man-made wonders, "Somewhere" is a fantastic start for an ongoing project. If the rest of the videos in this upcoming series are anything like this time-lapse, then we all have worthwhile time wasting via film-watching to look forward to in the near future. Created by Miadox, this video features stunning images - the kind that make you tear up a little bit at your desk and think positive thoughts about what a beautiful place planet Earth is. Crashing waves, skylines, sunsets, gigantic machinery, racing clouds, headlights and sparkling stars all make appearances in this juxtaposition-centered video. Enjoy Earth.

Continue reading Video: 'Somewhere' Time-Lapse Video

Video: 'Somewhere' Time-Lapse Video originally appeared on Gadling on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Photo Of The Day: Copan Carpet In Honduras

Jeremy Kressmann — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Honduras, Photo of the Day, Central America

This Sunday marks the Easter Holiday in much of the world, and worshippers everywhere are marking the day with uniquely local traditions. As evidence check out this photo taken by Flickr user Aldaberto.H.Vega in Honduras. As part of Semana Santa locals lay out brilliant "carpets" on the streets composed of colorful sawdust and flowers documenting the Stations of the Cross. The Gadling team liked the eye-catching visuals of the scene so much that fellow blogger Meg Nesterov used almost exactly the same image in a photo during Easter 2011. Seems like quite a sight to see, whether you're a practicing Christian or simply curious about the world.

Have any great photos to share from your own travels? Why not upload them to our Gadling group on Flickr? We might just pick one of yours as our Photo of the Day.

Photo Of The Day: Copan Carpet In Honduras originally appeared on Gadling on Sun, 08 Apr 2012 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Tubohotel Takes Exotic Camping To The Next Level

Jessica Festa — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Mexico, Hotels and Accommodations, Camping, Ecotourism, Budget Travel, Central America

Just when you thought you'd seen it all - tree hotels, salt palaces, undersea lodges and enormous boot-shaped bed and breakfasts -- something new comes along that tests the limits of accommodation possibilities. Located in Tepoztlán, Mexico, is the Tubohotel (shown right), a unique experiential property that allows guests to sleep in massive tube pipes stacked like pyramids.

In line with ecotourism, the tubes are made of recycled tube pipe materials. While this may sound like you'll be sleeping in a sewer, the company claims the experience is actually very comfortable. The rooms each come with a queen bed, fan, desk light, storage compartments under the bed, a towel rack with towels, a plush comforter and soft sheets. Furthermore, the tubes are apparently quite warm. Or, as Tubohotel says, the rooms maintain a "comfortable, almost tubo-licious temperature during the day and night."

While you won't be able to bathe in the room, the property boasts two clean, spacious bathrooms with hot water, private showers and toilets, although you will have to bring your own robes and slippers.

No matter how nice the rooms at Tubohotel are you're not going to want to spend all day sitting in a pipe. Luckily, the hotel also has an onsite Infinity pool and can arrange for cultural cooking classes with celebrity chef Ana Garcia. Nature activities like mountain climbing, hiking and biking are also abound. Not to mention, a bar and restaurant are coming soon to the property.

Prices start at 300 pesos (about $24) per night, based on double occupancy. Click here to learn more or make a reservation.

Tubohotel Takes Exotic Camping To The Next Level originally appeared on Gadling on Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Whole Foods To Ban Sale Of Unsustainable Seafood: The Global Impact

Laurel Miller — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Business, Food and Drink, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, United States, Chile, Ecotourism, Budget Travel, News, Consumer Activism, Central America, Caribbean

In a landmark move, Whole Foods has just announced that starting on April 22 -- Earth Day -- it will no longer sell seafood from depleted or otherwise unsustainable fisheries, or species harvested with ecologically damaging methods such as trawling. The industry ratings for these species are determined by the Blue Ocean Institute and California's Monterey Bay Aquarium, which produces a popular "Seafood Watch Recommendations" pocket guide and phone app for shoppers. Say bye-bye to Atlantic halibut, skate, octopus and sole.

It's a bold move for the world's largest, most powerful green grocery chain to defer customer demand for better buying practices, but according to Whole Foods' seafood quality standards coordinator Carrie Brownstein via an AP article, "In the long term, what we're really looking to do is help reverse trends of overfishing and by-catch, so that really we can move the industry as a whole toward greater sustainability."

So how does what you eat here at home have a global impact? Depletion of any fishery always has a negative effect on the food chain because of a ripple effect. Foreign fisheries may also employ unsound fishing methods that increase by-catch (think dolphins and other aquatic species, albatross, etc.). You may love Chilean sea bass (it's actually Patagonian toothfish) but it has long been a fishery on the verge of collapse and by purchasing it at the store or ordering it at a restaurant, you create demand for that product. Once a species is extinct, it can seriously throw a marine ecosystem out of whack. Plus, you know, extinction kind of sucks.

It's harder for world travelers to be on top of what's sustainable and what's not, especially if, like me, you love street food. In developing nations, especially countries with a coastline, fishing is usually a key part of the local economy. But saving our rapidly depleting oceans trumps putting a few pennies in local pockets: they're not looking at the big picture, which is the more seafood we consume, the less there is to sell.

Order something besides seafood unless you're positive it's caught in a non-environmentally degrading way, from a healthy fishery. Go to the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch Recommendations site for a global guide to what's sustainable and what's not. It offers alternatives, so odds are, you can travel and have your lobster dinner, too.

[Photo credit: Flickr user Eneas]

Whole Foods To Ban Sale Of Unsustainable Seafood: The Global Impact originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 31 Mar 2012 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Travel magazines target the 1%

Dave Seminara — Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, South America, Hotels and Accommodations, Budget Travel, Middle East, Central America, Caribbean, Luxury Travel

An image of a striking, leggy blonde standing in the shadow of a seventeenth-century church in Mykonos graces the cover of the March issue of Condé Nast Traveler. She's wearing a short, silky dress and, as we find out on page 122 in the magazine's "where to buy" segment, it costs $6,900.

And if you like dresses that cost ten times the per capita GDP of Haiti, you'll love Condé Nast's suggested nine-and-a-half hour day trip in Mykonos, which will set you back $3,140, not including accommodation.

I like to indulge in the fantasy world of glossy travel magazines as much as anyone else. But I've always disliked how many of these publications cater to sybarites who stay in hotels that charge more for one night than most people pay in a month's rent -- the kind of people who view travel as nothing more than an excuse to go shopping. It can be fun to see how the other half lives, but it can also be depressing.

I can't help but feel poor every time I read Afar, Travel & Leisure, Condé Nast and other magazines. Let's face it, the pages of most glossy travel and city magazines these days are awash in conspicuous consumption - eat, shop, drink, spend, consume. For every nugget about the people the writer met, there are ten about all the expensive places they ate/drank/slept/shopped.

I've been a compulsive traveler for decades and the question I always get from friends is, "How can you afford to travel so much?" But in nearly 40 years of traveling around the world, I have never, ever spent more than $200 per night on a hotel. Maybe I'm missing out, but I don't feel that way.

I understand that these magazines are trying to lure high-end advertisers and are targeted toward people who have more money than me. It's also undeniably true that $800 per night hotel suites and $78 entrees look more appealing on a page than Motel Six and diner food. And I don't fault anyone who likes to travel in style or treat themselves to $7,000 dresses.

If you've got the cash, go for it. The global economy is built around consumer spending so we need you to get out there and do your thing. But the relentless focus on luxury in the travel media contributes to the false notion that travel is for the rich.

I reviewed one recent issue of six national travel magazines and made some calculations on the cost of recommended accommodations. This is not a scientific study but I think it gives a pretty accurate snapshot of the lifestyle that's being promoted on the pages of these magazines.

Below you'll find the median starting price for recommended hotels along with general observations about each magazine.

Continue reading Travel magazines target the 1%

Travel magazines target the 1% originally appeared on Gadling on Tue, 20 Mar 2012 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Video: a road trip from Rhode Island to Costa Rica

Jessica Marati — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Stories, North America, Costa Rica, United States, Video, Camping, Budget Travel, Central America

"In the fall of 2004, three friends were given a choice: get a job to pay off student loans and settle down, or fix up an abandoned pop-up camper and take a drive from Rhode Island to Costa Rica."

It's a pretty easy decision, at least for us here at Gadling. The boys of Gnarly Bay Productions apparently agreed, and they documented their trans-continental adventures in //finding forever//, a highlight video posted two years ago on Vimeo but recently rediscovered by our friends at the Nomading Film Festival.

The short film showcases snapshots of life on the road, from time-lapses of the natural splendor of the Americas, to cut-away shots of laughter, breakdancing, headstands, surfing and drinking. At times, the guys play up the "bro" factor a bit too hard, but otherwise, it looks like they had a great adventure. If you need motivation for your next road trip, take a peek.

Now about those student loans...

Video: a road trip from Rhode Island to Costa Rica originally appeared on Gadling on Sat, 17 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Travel full time for $17,000 a year

Elizabeth Seward — Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arts and Culture, Learning, Stories, Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Oceania, South America, Antarctica, Hotels and Accommodations, Budget Travel, Internet Tools, Middle East, Central America, Caribbean

If you were told that you could travel full time for $17,000 a year, would you believe it? If you had only, I repeat, $17,000 to spend on everything (transportation, lodging, food, recreation, etc.) while seeing the entire world, could you make it work? An enterprising traveler named Nora Dunn has done just that. She's been traveling on this budget for five years now and according to Dunn, she's spending less money traveling the world than she spent while staying put. In an article published on WiseBread.com last month, Dunn details for readers just how they can travel as inexpensively as she has been traveling. Her tips are excellent and her approach is nothing short of inspiring. Read the full article here.

Continue reading Travel full time for $17,000 a year

Travel full time for $17,000 a year originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 16 Mar 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments