Nov 20th, 2009 at 2:00PM: After a year of "travel slumps," "staycations" and other cringeworthy words and conditions, let's plan to get out on the road next year. Hey, economists are saying that the recession's already over, and the job market's recovery can't be too far behind. So, there's your motive. Opportunity? That's your vacation time; you probably have enough. All that's left to pull the perfect trip together are ...Click on a label to read posts from that part of the world.
environmental posts
Five new travel ideas from Intrepid: get off the beaten path!
Nov 20th, 2009 at 2:00PM: After a year of "travel slumps," "staycations" and other cringeworthy words and conditions, let's plan to get out on the road next year. Hey, economists are saying that the recession's already over, and the job market's recovery can't be too far behind. So, there's your motive. Opportunity? That's your vacation time; you probably have enough. All that's left to pull the perfect trip together are ...National Geographic ranks 133 destinations
Oct 30th, 2009 at 12:00PM: National Geographic Traveler has released the results of its 6th annual survey of authenticity and "destination stewardship". The survey, ranks 133 places on earth according to how well (or how poorly) the local governments, businesses and residents are protecting the area from degradation, along with other factors like risk of natural disasters.
437 panelists scored each destination according ...Ship graveyards from around the world
Oct 28th, 2009 at 1:00PM: Eco-friendly website Environmental Graffiti has an interesting story on their site today that details some of the top cargo ship graveyards from around the world. The article also includes some amazing photos of the rusted out shells of former cargo and cruise ships that have been left to rot in a variety of sun baked locations. All told, there are five graveyards on the list, including the ...Underwater cabinet meeting highlights need to save Maldives
Oct 17th, 2009 at 2:30PM: The president of the Maldives and his cabinet met underwater today to urge global cuts in carbon emissions. The Maldives are a beautiful archipelago of more than 1,000 islands in the Indian Ocean, famous for their clear waters, clean beaches, and coral reefs. But with the majority of the islands standing less than five feet (1.5 meters) above the water line, the whole country could disappear if ...Berlin brothel to bikers: ride up and save!
Oct 16th, 2009 at 4:00PM: digg_url = 'http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Brothel_In_Berlin_Gives_Rebate_On_Sex_If_You_Come_On_Bike'; The travel and hospitality industry has tried so many ways to go green – from trying to wash fewer sheets and towels to using organic products in spas – that you might start to wonder if it's running out of options. Well, if that is a concern, it's probably time to look to the world's ...Tourists in Venice urged to drink the water
Sep 29th, 2009 at 2:00PM: Collecting the trash in Venice is no easy feat. After all, it's not like a garbage truck can just drive down the street - there aren't any. Garbage is collected by workers with wheelbarrows and then loaded onto barges and costs about $335 million per ton to remove (compared to $84 million per ton on the mainland of Italy).
In an effort to reduce these costs, the Venetian government is asking ...Maldives President proposes green tax for tourists
Sep 12th, 2009 at 11:00AM: The Maldives, an archipelago of over 1000 islands in the Indian Ocean known for their stunning beauty and expensive, luxurious resorts, aren't exactly cheap to visit. And they aren't about to get any cheaper. The President of the Maldives has proposed a $3 per day "green tax" on tourists.
The tax would help fund the President's plans for fighting climate change and for making the Maldives a ...Chicago City Provisions organic farm dinners
Aug 25th, 2009 at 11:00AM:
It's Green Travel Month here at Gadling, so to get into the green spirit, I booked a special dinner with Chicago's City Provisions Catering and Events, an eco-friendly catering company. City Provisions works with local farmers and suppliers, sends its organic waste back to farmers for composting, and sources all of its ingredients from organic and sustainable providers. The company offers ...Nominees for Planeta.com's Ecotourism Spotlight Award announced
Aug 23rd, 2009 at 1:00PM:
Planeta.com, a website dedicated to ecotourism and encouraging environmental conservation through tourism, has announced the nominees for its Ecotourism Spotlight Award. The Award honors the tourism boards that promote ecotourism through their websites, both by highlighting their own efforts and by helping travelers connect to independent tour providers who operate using sustainable practices. ...Seven trends that will change business travel
Aug 10th, 2009 at 8:00AM:
tweetmeme_url = 'http://www.gadling.com/2009/08/10/seven-trends-that-will-change-business-travel/'; tweetmeme_source = 'Gadling';
Obviously, the recession is changing the travel business. You've heard it all before – and if you've flow or stayed in a hotel lately, you've undoubtedly seen it. Sometimes, the big issue of the day can mask others that will be important down the road. Travel ...Finnish trash cans talk back
Jul 10th, 2009 at 3:00PM: digg_url = 'http://digg.com/odd_stuff/Finnish_Trash_Cans_Thank_You_in_6_Languages_For_Using_Them'; This summer, the garbage cans of Helsinki will have something to say ... to you ... in six languages. The strange people who brought you wife-carrying contests and team berry-picking (you just can't make this stuff up) are happy to present the talking trash receptacle – which comes with a ...Ecoventura vows to eliminate fossil fuels
Jun 8th, 2009 at 2:00PM: Environmental tour company Ecoventura has promised to stop using fossil fuels on its vessels by 2015. Ecoventura runs environmentally conscious boat tours to the Galapagos Islands, a unique ecosystem that is under threat by climate change and tourism. "The Galapagos Islands rank right up there with the Amazon and the Serengeti as one of the richest and best known, yet fragile and threatened, ...The hard truth of green luxury travel
Jun 3rd, 2009 at 3:00PM: "Green" has become yet another upscale offer for hotels and resorts around the world. The concept allows a premium to be charged – and justifiably so, given the increased expenses that come with minimizing environmental impact. Guests get to feel good when they indulge, and the hotel makes a few extra bucks. Everyone wins, right?
Well, it isn't that simple. Any environmentally friendly ...Champagne and rub-down in Jackson Hole
May 19th, 2009 at 7:30AM: Before you skip this as "just another travel deal" – as I almost did – consider the combination of mountain air, spa treatments and the taste of champagne. The "Ultimate Chill" package from Hotel Terra Jackson Hole includes all this within a LEED-certified eco-boutique, so you don't need to feel guilty while enjoying this touch of pleasure.
Get your weary arms, legs and back rubbed ...Give a little to get a little at RockResorts
May 16th, 2009 at 2:00PM: Is it really goodwill if you're getting something in return? Well, maybe we'll call it a fair trade, then. This summer, RockResorts is offering a "Give & Getaway" package across all nine of its resorts. In exchange for an incredibly low room rate, you just have to chip in some time to help the environment. Projects include trail restoration, working with sustainable local farmers, and ...Family Package at Naples, FL Ritz makes luxury attainable
Apr 30th, 2009 at 8:00AM: I love the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. I spent a weekend down there just shy of a year ago, and it's become my mission in life to get back there. Until that happens, though, you may ant to see it for yourself. Even if you don't play golf (personally, I hate the game), there is plenty to enjoy.
The Family Summer Package, which starts at $239 a night, is available from the first day of May to the ...Jalousie Plantation resort brings solar golf carts to St Lucia
Mar 28th, 2009 at 10:00AM: Okay, it's not exactly a cure for cancer, but any initiative that does cut down on fossil fuel reliance still resonates with me. So, I was pretty excited to see that the Jalousie Plantation has adopted a hybrid solar-powered golf cart to move guests around on its 192-acre property ... with no carbon emissions! This is among the first of these environmentally-friendly golf carts in the Caribbean, ...A&K and Fairmont Earth Hour ideas will have tangible results
Mar 23rd, 2009 at 1:30PM: Earth Hour is on Saturday, March 28 at 8:30 PM. The hospitality and travel industry seems to have embraced this commitment to environmentalism. There are plenty of noteworthy initiatives out there intended to show support for a planet that could probably use our help. Of course, some are more interesting than others. I'm pretty interested in what's going on at Abercrombie & Kent and Fairmont. ...Inn by the Sea to cut rates, benefit Habitat for Humanity
Mar 20th, 2009 at 1:00PM: Inn by the Sea, an eco-luxury property in Cape Elizabeth, ME, is dropping prices 50 percent Sunday through Thursday this spring. The goodwill go guests is wrapped in a larger act of conscience – guests taking advantage of this rate will write a $35 check to Habitat for Humanity. The "Hospitality for Humanity" program is sponsored by the Maine Innkeepers Association (MEIA), which raises cash ...Eco-spas: Feel good while feeling good
Feb 23rd, 2009 at 3:00PM: There's nothing quite like getting your tight back muscles kneaded into something resembling a soft, warm mattress. Environment be damned! Whatever it takes to bring relaxation is worth it, right? At The Ritz-Carlton Spa in Orlando, FL, you won't have to choose between unblemished satisfaction and the planet your children (ironically, the source of your stress) will inherit. The "rooftop ...
