TIPS FOR RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL

When we visit beautiful places it's natural to want our holidays to have a positive impact on local people and their environments.
Responsible travel is about more authentic holiday experiences that enable you to get a little bit more out of your travels, and give a little bit more back to destinations and local people.
All holidays have positive and negative impacts locally. Responsible travel maximises the benefits, and minimises the negative effects of tourism.

Before you book your holiday
* Plan your route to minimise carbon emissions - travel by train and public transport where possible, and minimise internal flights. Try our lower carbon travel holidays, or there are some great ideas for train travel almost anywhere in the world on this web site: http://www.seat61.com/

* Minimise flying time and stopovers - the worst carbon emissions are emitted during take off and landing. For the flights that you cannot avoid, offset the carbon emissions of your flight using our carbon calculator . That way the money is invested in carbon reducing initiatives around the world, offsetting the emissions caused by your flight. Read our view on flying here

* Ask to see the tour operator's policy for responsible tourism. All responsibletravel.com members have to have one. Make sure it explains how they minimise environmental impacts and support the local economy.

* Ask your hotel/accommodation our 10 simple questions to see if they really are eco!

Before you travel
# Read up on local cultures and learn a few words of the local language - travelling with respect earns you respect
# Remove all excess packaging - waste disposal is difficult in remote places and developing countries
# Ask your tour operator for specific tips for responsible travel in your destination
# Ask your tour operator/hotel if there are useful gifts that you could pack for your hosts, local people or schools
# Ask your tour operator whether there are local conservation or social projects that you could visit on your trip, and if/how you could help support them

While on holiday
* Buy local produce in preference to imported goods
* Hire a local guide - you'll discover more about local culture and lives, and they will earn an income
* Do not buy products made from endangered species, hard woods or ancient artefacts
* Respect local cultures, traditions and holy places - if in doubt ask advice or don't visit
* Use public transport, hire a bike or walk when convenient - its a great way to meet local people on their terms and reduce pollution and carbon emissions
* Use water sparingly - its very precious in many countries and tourists tend to use far more than local people
* Remember that local people have different ways of thinking and concepts of time, this just makes them different not wrong - cultivate the habit of asking questions (rather than the Western habit of knowing the answers). For more ideas on deeper and more responsible travel see here.

When you get back
Write to your tour operator or hotel with any comments or feedback about your holiday,and especially include any sugesstions.

# on reducing environmental impacts and increasing benefits to local communities. You will find independent holiday reviews from travellers on many responsibletravel.com holidays.
# If you've promised to send pictures or gifts to local people remember to do so, many are promised and not all arrive!
# Enjoy the memories, reflect on your experience and start planning your next trip !

Source : http://responsibletravel.com/

GO TO TRULY GET AWAY FROM IT ALL

Everyone has different reasons for why they like to travel, and their destinations of choice vary just as much. Some love to visit noisy, bustling foreign cities, others prefer the quiet tranquility of a secluded beach. Then of course, there are the travelers who truly like to get away from it all. They prefer to visit remote wilderness places, far off the beaten path, with few, if any, amenities.

Veteran traveler and adventurer Jeremy Lazell has put together a list of the best wilderness getaways for the Sunday Times of London, spotlighting some of the premiere spots on the planet for those that prefer their journeys to take them to unique, and out of the way places. These are true backcountry destinations, some of which are still very wild and untamed.

All told, there are 12 destinations on Lazell's list, from all corners of the globe, including Mongolia, Morrocco, Patagonia, and more. His personal favorite is a place called Knoydart in the Scottish Highlands, which we learn boasts "85 square miles of Highland heather, mountains and midges". The place has one pub, which requires an 18 mile hike to reach, and the deer outnumber the people 10-1. Paradise for any adventure traveler.

The other places offer a similar level of remoteness, as well as a variety of activites, such as trekking, dogsledding, white water rafting, and camping. Any of these destinations would serve as a perfect escape for the active traveler looking for isolation and adventure in their next vacation.

TIPS FOR PARENT AND KIDS ALIKE

We had been traveling continuously for about fifteen hours, and been awake for at least eighteen since departing from Madrid. After a week in Spain followed by a week in Italy, we were looking forward to just getting back to Vermont, but had to contend with the physical and mental exhaustion of our journey home.

If it had just been my wife, Ruth, and I, we would have simply sucked it up and accepted our fatigue as part of the trip, but one look at our kids, Audrey and Nicholas (ages seven and five, respectively), trying their best to hold it together on the floor beside us, was enough to make our hearts ache. Traveling is hard, but when you travel with young children, the challenges can seem insurmountable.

To compound the matter, we still had about five more hours to go before getting home, including a two-hour flight to Boston followed by a two-hour bus ride to our car, then a half-hour drive home (the unfortunate consequence of living in the country). And, of course, our connecting flight was not only delayed, but a nasty storm had brought with it gale force winds and heavy rain, increasing our level of angst and frustration.

It is during times like this that I often ask myself, why do we do it? Why do we put ourselves through considerable duress, not to mention expense, to get on a plane and travel halfway across the globe, when life would be so much simpler if we just stayed at home and dealt with the many challenges of our daily lives?

As I looked down at our children, patiently sitting on our carry-on bags and waiting to get on the plane, the answer was really right before our eyes. While it's true that travel can be hard and can push us to our limits, we are firm believers that it's also an enriching experience that helps keep our lives in perspective, reminding us to appreciate its seemingly inconsequential moments.

Furthermore, the lessons learned through travel are unique and rewarding, and can have a positive impact on children and parents alike, especially when you experience them together and grow as a family.

Mind you, there are many different ways to accomplish this. We could've made it much simpler by choosing a pre-packaged vacation or gone to a resort, where everything would've been planned and laid out for us. When we travel, however, we prefer to avoid things that are redolent of our home life, embracing what many may view as the negative aspect of travel: the unpredictability of the unknown.

Indeed, a large part of why we travel in the first place is to instill in our children and ourselves the ability to embrace adventure and new experiences rather than fearfully avoid them, and to understand that the world is a wondrous place, worth exploring. After all, life should be a journey of discovery, and not simply a process of getting from point A to B. Along the way, things often don’t go according to plan. But rather than avoid the hiccups altogether, we want our children to confront them head on, both the good and the bad, and know that there are rewards to taking a chance now and then.

When you really get down to it, we work hard in our daily lives in the sensible quest to surround ourselves with comfort and familiarity. No parent would want to compromise that, especially when it concerns the safety and well-being of his or her family. Travel, however, is a great way for us to break free from the routines that can sometimes hold us back and enter into an environment that is both challenging and new.

Consequently, when we operate outside of our comfort zones and try to speak a different language, use a foreign currency, learn new customs, try new and exotic foods where there are (thankfully) no kids menus, or try to navigate an unfamiliar city with kids in tow, we not only experience growth, but we learn to appreciate, even pine for, the banality of our home life.

Now don’t get me wrong. Children need predictability and regularity in their lives. But children also benefit from learning firsthand that while life can be messy and unpredictable, most of our problems, not just in travel, but in life, can be overcome.

Our flight into Boston was a rough ride, with the turbulence wreaking havoc on our nerves. The moment the wheels touched the ground, however, I looked over at Audrey and Nicholas sleeping peacefully next to us and breathed a huge sigh of relief. We were almost there.

We managed to catch the last bus up to Vermont, avoiding, just barely, the need to get a hotel in Boston for the night, and though the ride home seemed interminable at the time, there was the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. Back in Vermont, we were grateful and relieved that our car started after sitting idle for two weeks, and with the kids asleep in back, we headed into the final stretch of our odyssey, gazing fondly at the beautiful Vermont scenery that we manage to ignore in our daily commute to work. Pulling into the driveway, we stumbled in through the front door, greeted our cats, and then whisked Audrey and Nicholas off to bed. Ruth and I retired to the living room, where we built a fire in the wood stove and then stretched out joyfully on the couch that we tend to complain so much about, savoring the delicious warmth that began to fill the chilly room. It sure felt good to be home, and we were looking forward to sleeping in our own beds and waking up the next morning to a good breakfast with the children, in the small town that we love so much. I don’t know about you, but for whatever reason, we don’t manage to feel this way every day.

Source : http://blog.away.com/travel

TIPS FOR WOMEN TRAVELLERS

CHOOSING A HOTEL
Smaller is smarter: you want the staff to be familiar with guests and with you. The smaller the lobby, the more noticeable the loiterers.
Aim for a well-trafficked street (neighborhood restaurants and late-night stores mean traffic, corporate offices mean darkness). Affluent residential areas tend to have more reliable transportation and fewer threatening street people.
If you're still concerned about the area, ask a female employee--not one in reservations--whether she walks around at night. (Call the restaurant, for instance.)

A reception and concierge desk near the entrance, and/or the elevators, is more likely to deter non-guest undesirables.
There should be privacy for guests checking in: no one should be able to overhear a name, room number, or other personal information.
Room numbers should be written on the key envelope, not mentioned aloud or inscribed on the key--this way, anyone finding your key won't have access to your room.
Look for a parking lot that is well lit and secure. Find out if there's valet parking . . . and if it will be available when you need it. Use it, even it costs a little bit more.
Does the hotel gym have an attendant? Being alone and semi-dressed in the basement is not good for your health.
The hotel should have sufficient staff to walk you to your room late at night. Inquire when you book and you'll get an idea of how woman-friendly the hotel is.

ROOM RULES
Request one near the elevators and away from any renovation work. Have your key out when you leave the elevator.
You want to be far from emergency exits (which someone might pry open to avoid using the elevators), and on an upper floor away from catwalks and terraces.
The door should have double locks--one of which is a dead bolt--and a peephole. Bring along a security doorstop for extra protection.
The please make up this room sign tells everyone you're not there. Call housekeeping instead.
Conversely, the do not disturb sign can make the room seem occupied (especially handy if you leave expensive items inside).
Put expensive clothing on hangers under other garments. Robbers usually "shop" what they can see.
Lock valuables in the front-desk safe.
If your bag is stolen from the hotel, recruit management to search for it. Most hotel robberies are committed by the staff, and many properties, especially overseas, don't allow employees to leave with packages; thieves take the money and dump the rest.
Stand near the elevator buttons with your back to the wall; if threatened, push all the buttons at once with your back.

STREET SMARTS
Study a map before going out; once on the street, use a pocket-size guidebook to avoid looking like a tourist. Your hotel's concierge or a female employee can mark any dangerous areas on your map.

Dress down
Avoid jewelry--even a chain that's fake gold can be ripped off your neck. Do consider wearing a wedding ring.
Loop a money belt around your belt loops so that if someone cuts it, it won't fall from your waist.
Be wary when getting off a bus or train, or riding stairs and escalators; that's when pickpockets tend to strike.
Carry just one credit card and photocopies of important documents. Divide money for small and larger purchases so you don't have to expose a wad of bills. (When sharing with friends, keep a kitty for common expenses to make digging for cash in public places unnecessary.) Become familiar with foreign currency before you need to use it.
Have gratuities ready for porters and doormen.
Use prepaid phone cards instead of carrying your card number.
Ask the concierge to make any restaurant reservations, and have him or her say, "Please take care of our guest, she's coming alone and will need a taxi home."
Should a car start to follow you, immediately turn and walk the opposite way.
If you must ask for directions, approach families or women with children. To be extra safe, say, "Where is the --? I'm meeting my husband there."
On sidewalks, keep your handbag and other valuables away from the street side (and on escalators, away from the opposite ramp).
If attacked, run, fight, and yell as loud as possible.

TRANSPORTATION
Use covered luggage tags. Instead of your home address, write that of your office.
Lock all suitcases. If you make a lot of purchases on your trip, and your bag becomes full, secure the bag with strong tape.
In public rest rooms, use the corner stall.
On overnight flights, keep an eye on your valuables. A good idea is to put your valuables in a security waist pack (versus leaving it in your stowed carry on) and wear it while sleeping. When you go to the lavatory, take your purse/valuables with you.
Talk to female passengers and flight attendants on the plane about the safety of your destination.
In a busy area, if you deposit your belongings on your car's passenger seat, lock the door before walking around to the driver's side.
Don't exit a taxi until you're sure you've arrived at your destination. Pay while still in the car so that you can be sure you've gotten the proper change.
Stay close to your valuables when passing through airport security.
If you place your carry-on bag on the floor when sitting in a restaurant or other public area, put your foot through the strap; don't leave it loose.
Tear your name and address off magazines before leaving them on the plane. Why announce to the world that you're away?
So you won't get lost when leaving a tricky airport, hire a taxi to lead your rental car to the expressway. Don't use an unmarked taxi; if necessary, take public transportation to a city center.
Rent a mobile phone or bring your own. And put the police on speed dial.
On the road, if someone tries to get your attention or your car is bumped, don't stop until you arrive at a well-lit and busy area, or lacking that, stay in the car and blow the horn until someone comes to your aid.
If suspicious about "phony" police, don't open the window. Instead, hold your license against the glass.
In your car, keep items out of sight (especially maps and guidebooks). Hatchbacks leave your luggage in plain view.
When possible, park so you won't have to back out. It makes for a speedier departure.

GENERAL ADVICE
Don't just check the weather at your destination; also make a note of when the sun rises and sets.
Log onto an Internet chat room to obtain safety info about a place you're planning to visit.

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM A POLICE DETECTIVE ABOUT SEXUAL ASSAULT
I have to share some things I have learned in my job with you. In my job, I have read hundreds and hundreds of files, and have taken note of some of the mistakes women make. Let me preface this by saying that a woman is NEVER EVER EVER at fault for being raped or attacked, but there are definitely ways to reduce your risk of being a victim.
Here are the most common mistakes women make that could result in them getting kidnapped, attacked, and/or raped:

1. Getting into the attacker's car when he pulls a gun and orders you to get into his vehicle.

Most attackers don't want to shoot you ... they want you to get into the car so that they can drive you to a deserted place and torture you. Don't comply. Run screaming. It is MUCH more likely than not that he will just move on to an easier target.

2. Pulling over when a man drives alongside of you pointing at your car pretending something is wrong.

If this happens, drive to the nearest well-lit and populated gas station and look the car over yourself (or ask an attendant). Never pull over. Believe it or not, many women have fallen for this for fear of their car spontaneously exploding in the middle of the road. Not likely.

3. Not locking your doors while driving.

I have read several cases where the attacker simply walks up to a woman's car while she's at a traffic light and jumps in with his gun or knife drawn.

4. Opening your front door when you have not positively identified who is there.

If you don't have a peep hole, get one. I've seen countless cases where the attacker gains access to his victims simply by knocking on their door.

Don't let an attacker get into your home. He then has a private, relatively soundproof place to attack you.

5. Not being alert in parking lots.

If you go to the grocery store at night, don't be shy about asking for an escort to your car. Too many women are abducted from parking lots or even raped in the parking lot.
Look in your back seat before entering your car. Cars provide endless hiding places for attackers, both inside them and in between them.
Be aware of your surroundings by looking to the left and right and behind you with your head up all the time. You may appear paranoid and look funny to others, but an attacker will think twice about approaching someone who appears so aware of what's going on.

6. Trusting a clean cut, honest looking stranger.

I see mug shots of every sex offender. They do not look like monsters. They often look like they could be your friendly grocer,
bank teller, waiter, neighbor, clergy, doctor, etc. They are every age between 15 and 90, and probably beyond. Only a small minority actually look scary.

7. Trusting people to be alone with your children.

This is a difficult one, because child molesters end up being the LAST person the parents would believe is the molester.
Most of the child molesting cases I see involve the stepfather, the uncle, the sister's boyfriend, the mother's boyfriend, the grandfather, the baby-sitter, the neighbor, the family friend, the youth camp director, day care worker, etc. Although rare, even women can be molesters.
In every case, the perpetrator is a nice guy, trusting, good with children, and the family is baffled or even in disbelief that the person could be abusing their child.
When it comes to your children and grandchildren, be suspicious of everyone, no matter who they are. And pay attention to what your child says and how he/she reacts to the mention of different people in their lives.
I didn't mean to make anyone uncomfortable with this. I have the dirty job of reading all these files, and it makes me feel good to know that I can share some inferences from what I have learned. This is not an exhaustive list of what not to do, but just some things that I have observed more than just a few times.
Pass this on to the women in your lives.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU SUSPECT YOU ARE BEING STALKED
If you think you are being stalked, phone or visit your local police immediately no matter how trivial the harassment may seem. This will enable them to record your complaint, log, monitor and build a profile of the offender. Ask for the name and serial number of the officer you see or speak to.

To assist prosecution:
Keep a record of all events, telephone calls etc., noting as much detail as possible including time and date of incidents.
Try to get photographic or video evidence of your stalker’s actions.
Do not throwaway parcels or letters. Try to handle them as little as possible and if possible place them in plastic sleeves or envelopes to preserve them.
You should read any mail you receive in case it contains threats or indecent / offensive language.
Get to know your neighbors so that they can keep a record of sightings and notify you of anything they may see or notice. Inform work colleagues about the harassment so they will be able to support and protect you (i.e. prevent calls from reaching you and prevent your stalker from gaining access).
Try to alter any daily routines, if possible ask friends to accompany you and always try to let someone know what your plans are and when they change. Although it may be hard, try to show no emotion towards the stalker, do not confront them and do not agree to meet them. If you do come into contact, aim to get away and ideally into a busy public place. Consider buying a mobile phone. It will give you greater confidence and in an emergency.

Consider improving home security measures by asking your local Crime Prevention Officer to look around your property and offer free advice. If you receive malicious or threatening calls, try to keep calm and show no emotion. Do not answer the phone with anything more than "hello". If the stalker continues to ring, answer the phone but place the handset to one side for a few minutes and walk away then replace the handset - you do not have to listen to what the caller has to say.

Source : www.kevincoffey.com

HOW TO CHOOSE A HOTEL

Check Independent Hotel Ratings
Well, the first step you can take is to visit hotel search engines for guest ratings for hotels represented by the search engines. In addition to pre-negotiated rates with individual hotels, most agents ask for ratings and comments from previous guests. Reading their comments will give you a fair idea on what to expect from the hotels located in your destination. Be sure to read a few comments in order to get a fair overview. Certain incidences described may only be rare occurrences that may already have been corrected.

Hotel Chains and Facilities
Are they part of an international hotel chain? Most international chains have stringent standards that are adhered to as well as a standard theme across all chains. They may have similar facilities (health clubs, spas, business centers, etc) which are important to maintain the hotel’s high standards. Other things you can look out for include concierge, shuttle services to the city, airport transfers as well as good laundry services.

Location
Perhaps one of the most critical things when selecting a hotel is its location. Hotels that are near to shopping areas, train stations or the city center charge higher rates as compared to those located elsewhere. Analyze a map of the area before you book to determine the nearest shopping areas or access to trains which will give you much convenience in moving around. Also, check with the hotel if they have any large tour groups coming in at the same time. Hotels charge higher rates during high occupancy periods and do not have the flexibility of late check-outs. These are important aspects which, if overlooked, may affect your tour schedule as well as your impression of the hotel’s level of hospitality.

Rates and Discounts
Hotel rates are a huge factor when it comes to choosing a hotel. However, paying more does not necessarily mean that you will receive an equivalent level of service and standards. One of the ways to maximize on prices would be check if they are part of an alliance with flights or car rental companies, which offer discounts to customers of their allies. Sometimes, credit card companies offer their cardholders exclusive rates to special hotels which can be pretty attractive. Additionally, if it’s possible to use your frequent flyer points to redeem hotel discounts, this could help reduce hotel costs as well.

Boutique Hotels
Finally, apart from chain hotels, boutique hotels may are great alternatives for romantic getaways for couples or families seeking hotels of a more distinctive theme. Many boutique hotels have fewer rooms but offer more value added services such as spas within the bedroom, breakfasts in bed or even in-room massages. In the end, your choice of hotel really depends on what you want out of your holiday.