Green travel ideas from two environmentally conscious travelers

The Rainforest Alliance has re-packaged Sustainabletrip.org from a database listing to a multi-language sustainable travel search engine.

The site is primarly useful for finding green hotels, tour operators, and restaurants in Latin America and the Caribbean.

Ronald Sanabria, VP Tourism for the Rainforest Alliance, says that “The sustainability claim of each business is verified before it is listed on the site.”

Along with the usual hotel info (room rates, amenities, contact info, etc.), each listing also includes the type of green certification.

The listings also have sections called ‘Making a Difference’ which list the number of local employees and a brief paragraph on why the business is listed as a sustainable travel option.

Currently available in three languages:-
1. SustainableTrip.org (English)
2. ViajeSostenible.org (Spanish)
3. VoyageResponsable.org (French)

UK-based Responsible Travel has launched a new site ResponsibleVacation.com catering to US visitors and destinations in much the same way as the responsibletravel.com site works for European visitors.

Apparently an increasing number of US visitors have been making use of responsibletravel.com, and Americans now account for 10% of their total visitor base.

So they decided to offer a new site with responsible vacations and destinations designed for American travelers.

Responsiblevacation.com currently offers 1,669 vacation choices via partnerships with Gap Adventures, Explore Worldwide and Travel Indochina, and also destination partners such as the Belize Tourism Board.

Most of the options highlighted are for the outdoors, such as hiking in National Parks including Zion and the Grand Canyon, an Appalachian Trail walking vacation, and a Canadian Rockies adventure vacation. 

There’s also a few nice Alaska vacations listed, including camping trips, a wilderness lodge and a tour of Alaska’s most scenic offerings. Would have been nicer, though, if they hadn’t listed Alaska as a whole new country.

Most Americans living below the 49th parallel might agree, but if Sarah Palin finds out, responsiblevacation.com Managing Director Justin Francis would be in serious danger of being field-dressed like a moose.

Related posts:-
Responsible Tourism Award Winners 2009
Walking the Walk: Paying for Environmentally-Responsible Travel

What’s the greenest mode of transportation? There’s no rulebook, but by choosing a roadtrip over a flight, you’re likely helping reduce the footprint of your summer vacation.

Listed below are a few more tips to help you get started on The Green American Roadtrip.

1. Fuel Efficiency - There is no way your roadtrip is going to be green unless you have a hybrid or at least a car that’s not a fuel-guzzler. If your car doesn’t figure on Yahoo’s top 100 green cars list, then you need another vehicle.

Travel light, check your air filter and tires (3.3% improvement on gas mileage), and drive below the speed limit (every 5 mph over 60 is equivalent to paying 20 cents more per gallon).

2. Green Destination - Choose a destination where they understand what responsible tourism means and are committed to making sure that your visit won’t harm the environment. Check out the SustainLane US City rankings.

3. Trip Planning - A little bit of planning goes a long way towards greening your roadtrip. For starters, you won’t get lost and end up in Canada. Secondly, green hotels aren’t advertised on roadside neon.

But they are listed by the Green Hotels Association and on official state and city tourism websites. Ditto for organic restaurants.

4. Offset - Inspite of everything, you’ll still end up with a sizeable carbon footprint. To offset your roadtrip emissions, use Moblu’s Gas Cost Calculator, which not only tells you your gas cost and carbon impact, but also provides directions and the best route for you using Google Maps.

Photo - misterbisson

The Virgin Holidays Responsible Tourism Award Winners for 2009 were announced on Nov 11 at the World Travel Market.

Whale Watch Kaikoura, from New Zealand, was judged to be the overall winner.

Here’s the full list of winners:-

Overall winner - Whale Watch Kaikoura, New Zealand
Best tour operator for cultural engagement - Village Ways, India
Best large hotel / accommodation - YHA Wellington City, New Zealand
Best small hotel / accommodation - Rivertime Resort and Ecolodge, Laos
Best low carbon transport & technology - Alcatraz Cruises, US
Best in a mountain environment  - Upland Escapes, UK
Best in a marine environment - Whale Watch Kaikoura, New Zealand
Best cruise or ferry operator - Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, US
Best for poverty reduction - Guludo Beach Lodge, Mozambique
Best for conservation of wildlife & habitats - Great Plains Conservation, South Africa
Best for conservation of cultural heritage - Selena Travel LLC, Mongolia
Best volunteering organisation - People and Places, UK
Best destination  - City of Cape Town, South Africa
Best personal contribution - Gavin Bate, Founder of Adventure Alternative and the Moving Mountains Trust

For more details, visit www.responsibletourismawards.com/; Photo courtesy Whale Watch Kaikoura

It’s almost ski season! If you’re a skier, you might have heard about the Ski Area Citizen’s Coalition, a  group that creates an annual report on the environmental friendliness of ten different Western ski resorts in the U.S. Regardless, you’re hopefully interested to find out about the country’s most and least environmentally conscious ski resorts, right? Here’s a list, courtesy of the Ski Area Citizen’s Coalition:

THE BEST:

#      Name                                                                          Grade

1     (A) Squaw Valley USA - California                           89.7%
2     (A) Aspen Mountain Ski Resort - Colorado             86.1%
3     (A) Buttermilk Mountain Ski Resort - Colorado     85.7%
4     (A) Sugar Bowl Ski Resort - California                    82.3%
5     (A) Sundance Resort - Utah                                     82.2%
6     (A) Alpine Meadows Ski Area - California              82.0%
7     (A) Park City Mountain Resort - Utah                    81.7%
8     (A) Bogus Basin Mountain Resort - Idaho              81.3%
9     (A) Aspen Highlands Ski Resort - Colorado            80.3%
10     (A) Powderhorn Resort - Colorado                        79.4%

THE WORST: 

#      Name                                                                           Grade
1     (D) Breckenridge Ski Resort - Colorado                   41.5%
2     (D) Copper Mountain Ski Resort - Colorado           45.0%
3     (D) White Pass Ski Area - Washington                    47.0%
4     (D) Sun Valley Resort - Idaho                                   47.4%
5     (D) Arizona Snowbowl - Arizona                               47.4%
6     (D) Brundage Mountain Resort - Idaho                   49.3%
7     (D) Crystal Mountain Ski Area - Washington          51.6%
8     (D) Las Vegas Ski & Snowboard - Nevada               53.9%
9     (D) Brian Head Resort - Utah                                    54.0%
10     (D) Silver Mountain Ski Resort - Idaho                 54.8%

These ratings weren’t just random - they were based on 16 different factors (they added a handful more factors this year). Check out this article for more detailed information, as well as this page from the SACC website.  Just something to keep in mind as you anticipate your ski season this year - there are ways to make hitting the white slopes are more green experience.

Photo: Joao Maximo

Don’t let any mental pictures of LA’s summer smog cloud your thinking about the city’s commitment to environmentally friendly hotel options. In fact, LA is making many good green choices, and the eco-friendly Hotel Palomar is only one example. The Palomar has a program in place called EarthCare which puts to use over 40 eco-friendly practices in and around the hotel. For example, their website lists:

*  In-room recycling bins
* Energy efficient lighting
* Water efficient fixtures
* Toiletries made from natural ingredients by earth-friendly manufacturers
* Organic food and beverage options in our mini bars
* The restaurant adjacent to our hotel follows the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch’s sustainable seafood guidelines
* We are a 100% non-smoking hotel

I found it particularly interesting that this hotel works with an environmentally friendly restaurant - overfishing our oceans is a large problem, and it’s inspiring to see a hotel and a restaurant working together on this front.

These efforts resulted in the hotel being awarded the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership award by the California Environmental Protection Agency.

The hotel itself is beautiful and classy - don’t neglect to check out the artwork before you leave; it provides an interesting reflection on the area’s Hollywood scene.

Photo: Todd Jones Photography

The best place to look up a destination is often the official tourism website. This is especially true for green travel planning.

The problem is that most travelers are simply not aware of these sites. To help these sites gain some visibility, we’re listing here the official green travel sites of  major destinations in California.

Green SF - The green movement is transforming San Francisco from grass roots to rooftop.

Green LA - LA Inc - It’s easy to mix an eco-friendly experience with your next visit to Los Angeles.

Green OC - Everything that’s green about Anaheim and Orange County.

Sustainable Santa Monica - Santa Monica has been active in the sustainable movement since well before “sustainable” became a household word.

Green San Diego - Primer for enjoying a green vacation in San Diego.

Green Santa Barbara - Helps visitors learn more about the greener side of Santa Barbara.

Unofficial/non-travel green sites for Sacramento, Palm Springs & South Lake Tahoe, since they don’t seem to have official green travel websites.

You might also be interested in checking out these CA state websites:-

California Green Lodging Program - Encourages state travelers to seek out and give preference to certified green hotels.

VisitCalifornia - Eco-Awareness section of the official California tourism website.

Unless you’re kitted out with the right kind of eco-friendly travel gear, it’s futile to even attempt for a zero-carbon day out while you’re on the road. For that, you’ll be needing the right gear, and that’s just what we have for you today.

Here’s a list of travel gear items that might come in handy in your fight against the omnipresent evil of carbon consumption.

1. Solar Charger:- Even President Barack Obama - who is always on the move - has a Solio Classic. Get yours now, while it’s still hip.

2. Water Bottle:- Stop buying bottled water and get yourself a nice and clean water bottle which you can fill up soon as you get off a flight or reach a reststop. TIME.com has a a nice list of the top 5 eco-friendly water bottles, which includes our personal favorite - Klean Kanteen (no BPA).

3. Food & Snacks:- Don’t feel safe unless you’re packing food? It’s your body, but our earth - so remember to use eco-friendly reusable wraps or pouches (wrap-n-mat), and stock up on your favorite brand of organic snack bars and drinks.

4. Camping:- If you’re going camping and want to be absolutely zero-carbon, then here’s what you need, in addition to all the aforementioned gear.

1. Solar Tent - These are your choices for currently available solar powered tents -  Eureka Solar Intent Tent (LED lighting and battery charger), WingnutGear (heavyduty - includes solar powered airconditioning).
2. LNT Products - Leave no Trace (think of it as potty training for campers) is the latest in eco-etiquette for the outdoors. Way it works is that you pack the necessary gear - including biodegradable ‘no trace’ bags and tissue, and avoid polluting fresh streams and causing the denizens nearby to gag on the foul odor. Get your LNT training before you set foot in the wild. 

We’re not going to extend your pain by adding the usual stuff like eco-friendly luggage, hippie clothing and biodegradable towels & soap to this list. It is expected that a self-respecting eco-conscious citizen such as you will already be sporting all the latest eco-chic fashion accessories.

Photo credits - Solio charger by Uncleweed; Sigg bottle by hirotomo; Solar tent by One Village Initiative

Traveling with a pooch? As someone who does often, I was interested to see that Loews hotels, already known for their green policies and commitment to the environment, are now offering a “Grrreen Dog” package.

Rates start at $119/night, but the actual rate depends on the hotel you choose.

What might this include? Well, you get a specially crafted room service meal for your pet which contains ingredients that all come from local farms. Vet-approved, of course, so your night in the hotel room with them won’t be a bad one.  You also get a 100% organic cotton bandanna made by Doggie Go Green as well as a Zogoflex Huck dog toy, which is apparently not only indestructible, but it floats and bounces, too. This seems to be a very hand toy to have in a hotel room when you leave your pet alone; coming back to a chewed up bed or sofa would be a touch stressful.

Cute? Yes. But on a more serious and significant note, this program is just another way that this hotel chain is demonstrating their commitment to making every part of their guests services more environmentally friendly. It would be easy to provide low-grade dog food and toys made out of non-biodegradable materials. But, Loews went the extra mile, and I like that.

You can book this package until December 19, 2009.

In 1535, Tomás de Berlanga, the Bishop of Panama, accidently discovered the Galápagos Islands. 300 years later, in 1835, 26-year old Charles Darwin landed up in Galápagos, and that led to the ’Origin of the Species.’

But evolution took a deadly turn somewhere in between 1835 and 2009, and now - we’re talking about the last tourists who will bear witness to the extinction of the species in Darwin’s Lab. Tourists visiting Galapagos want to ’see it before it disappears.’

Nothing wrong with wanting to to see prehistoric marine iguanas and monster turtles before they go extinct. But there’s no reason why you should be an accessory to the crime. To achieve this delicate balance, extensive travel planning is required.

1. Acquaint yourself with the Galapagos National Park rules - this includes keeping out all manner of foreign insects, seeds, soil and anything which could take root and create havoc in the fragile ecosytem.

2. Condition yourself to make do without the usual travel luxuries. The more help you need locally - things like transport, food & drinks, bug repellent, sunblock, etc. - that much more the danger to, and degradation of, the environment.

3. Find a green travel company for your travel and tour needs. Here’s a few options - NatHab, Responsible Travel, Ecoventura (cruise).

Another option is a voluntourism project with the Galapagos Foundation - you work alongside local fishermen who are hired to assist with environmental conservation.

4. For additional carbon credits to compensate for your flight, cruise, local transport, etc., opt for a local Ecuadorian company like CanopyCo Carbon Offsets, which plants native trees to absorb carbon dioxide emissions associated with tourist travel to Ecuador.

Inspite of all this, your trip will still have many carbon holes and pitfalls. Go over the trip step-by-step with your travel agent, and make sure the logistics are planned in a way so as to minimize consumption and avoid possible harm.

And lastly, remember that a trip to the Galápagos Islands isn’t just another vacation. You’re going there to see it before it disappears, but when you come back, it should be with more knowledge about this primeval evolutionary struggle, and a conviction that it doesn’t have to disappear.

Photo credits - maveric2003, James Preston

Recommended Reading:-
Galapagos Conservancy
Darwin Foundation
UNESCO World Heritage Centre
Galapagos Park
Ecotourism and Sustainable Development: Who Owns Paradise? - by Martha Honey