Green travel: Searching for ethical places to stay
Today is Earth Day. And when it comes to travel and holidays, there are many sources of information if you’re a traveller or holidaymaker who wants to ensure your holiday has a positive impact on the rest of the world.
Choosing a place that uses solar-powered electricity, or serves local, seasonal and organic produce or one that supports local community projects could be your way of making sure that you travel green.
Here are some suggestions from Your Travel Planner for researching a greener holiday:
Set up in 2001, responsibletravel.com is a good place to start researching holidays that make a real difference to local people and the environment. The site covers over 270 operators and 100s of villas, lodges, B&Bs and small hotels around the world. Each holiday has personal reviews as well as an explanation of how it makes a difference.
This site is a great way to search and make an online booking for destinations, accommodation, tours and activities from local providers and operators, mainly from the developing world.
A unique feature of the WHL network is that each destination booking site is owned and operated by locals. You deal directly with local people in the destination you are travelling to and they say that “unlike other global booking sites, the people you book with will be there when you get there.”
- Green Places to Stay, Alastair Sawday
If you prefer a guide book, Alistair Sawday’s “Green Places to Stay” gives the very best of eco-tourism accommodation around the world. The Alastair Sawday team have sought out and visited people with a passion for the local culture and environment, from the heart of Borneo to the African savannah. The aim is that each place featured provides tangible benefits to local communities and minimizes the impact of holidays on the environment. See www.sawdays.co.uk or Amazon.
If you would like help planning a greener holiday, please contact me at Go2 Holiday Research. As a member of the Fringe RT Networking group, I can help put you in contact with other members who provide responsible, sustainable or eco-friendly travel.
