The Travel Snob

Eco-Friendly Advice for Traveling Green. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

(illustration: msnbc.com)

SFGate.com offers these tips for staying green on the road:

• BEFORE YOU GO: Turn down the thermostat & water heater in your home; place a hold on your newspaper delivery.

• PATRONIZE GREEN TRAVEL PROVIDERS: How can you tell if a hotel, tour company or other travel provider has a genuine commitment to environmental preservation? Have them e-mail a copy of their eco-policy, and see if their catalog is printed on recycled paper. If you're booking a tour, ask if accommodations are at chain hotels or locally owned lodgings. A good place to start is Lonely Planet's Code Green which lists almost 100 eco-friendly trips.

• REUSE HOTEL TOWELS & SHEETS: Many hotels now change towels & sheets only upon request. If a towel is on the floor, it will be replaced, while those hanging on the rack are left to dry. Leave housekeeping a note stating that you don't need the towels or sheets changed, and ask that the hotel refrain from from using chemical air fresheners and cleaning products in your room.

• IS YOUR TRIP GREEN...OR GREENWASHED? According to Jim Sano of Geographic Expeditions, many companies present themselves as green when they really are not. Ask outfitters how they select tour operators, whether they support local people, and what they do to minimize impact on the areas they visit.

• BE ECO-ACTIVE In a new city, travel by bus on on foot.  Walking is not only greener but also opens you to fun encounters. Bike touring, whitewater rafting and kayaking can also be green, depending on the tour operator.

• BYOT (BRING YOUR OWN TRASH) If you're in a remote area such as the mountains or the desert, bring as little potential trash along, and pack out whatever waste you create.

• CONSIDER YOUR FOOTPRINT After a day of trekking in the Himalayas, it might be high time for a cold beer and hot shower, but bear in mind that tourist demands can lead to increased deforestation (to heat water) or to the disruption of traditional ways.

For more green travel ideas, check out these resources:

• EthicalTraveler.org
• Responsible  Travel.com
• GreenTraveller.co.uk
• Green Travel Network

- via SFGate.com

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Independent Travellers Heading for Southeast Asia Can Travel Lighter with a Downloadable PDF Guide from Travelfish . TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

This week, down-and-dirty travel site Travelfish launched their downloadable PDF guide to Ho Chi Minh City, the latest in their growing stable of snappy insider guides, and their first for Vietnam. "We want travellers to navigate their way through Southeast Asia's top destinations without being weighed down by out-of-date guidebooks containing way more information than they need," says Travelfish founder and veteran traveller Stuart McDonald about the concise but comprehensive guides; they print out to A4 size paper before the trip or on-the-go at Internet cafes. "Travellers can simply choose Travelfish guides to the places they are actually going -- each usually costing far less than an airport cab in the city they're travelling to."

While heavy, bulk print guidebooks can take more than six months to reach shelves after a researcher has been on the ground, Travelfish guides are up-to-the-minute. "The writing is on the wall for the legacies [traditional guidebooks]. There is a whole new way of travelling for the latest generation of backpackers -- and flashpackers -- thanks to the internet." says McDonald, who spent years backpacking in Southeast Asia and has now lived in the region for a decade. "Travelfish is at the forefront."

Each Travelfish guide is thoroughly researched on the ground by experienced travellers who do their best to conceal their identity and never accept freebies, to ensure their readers get realistic, warts-and-all reviews of hotels, guesthouses, restaurants, bars and sights:

• Cambodia: Siem Reap & Angkor Wat with Phnom Penh launching in two weeks
• Laos: Vientiane, Champasak & more off-the-beaten-track destinations in remote southern Laos
• Thailand: Ko Phi Phi, Phuket, Bangkok; diver's paradise Ko Tao on the way
• Coming soon: 24 titles by the end of 2007, including Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City, Saigon & Central Highlands

For more info, visit Travelfish.org.

- The Travel Snob

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Travel Like an Insider with the New "Let's Travel" Travel Radio Show & Podcast. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

    

TribecaRadio.net's newest show offers an insider's look at trips for people of all lifestyles, budgets, age groups and physical abilities. Host Susan Raphael interviews a vast array of globe-trotters, artists, writers, chefs, musicians and designers from around the world about their personal adventures, cultural perspectives and found treasures! She also shares news of the joyous journeys and secret hideaways of the show's listening audience. An intrepid traveler herself, Raphael has braved the sands of the Sahara in search of the perfect Berber carpet, maneuvered through the moterini of Milan to find the quintessential Italian handbag and scoured the patisseries of Paris for the fluffiest French croissant. "Our show is for people of all means, ages and abilities," she explains. "We want to excite listeners, surprise listeners and send them "packing"!

For the premier show, Raphael visit Italy, the number one destination for returning travelers, and scores tips & trics on everything from securing the most coveted reservations in Italy to the best current travel promotions from Consul General of Italy to the United States, Antonio Bandini, and Dottore Riccardo Strano, director for North America of the Italian Government Tourist Board (ENIT). Upcoming shows discuss looking at architecture when you travel with Joan Blumenfeld & Frederic Bell of the New York City chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA); Morocco & Andalusia with a Moroccan Gnawa trance dance musician and two American filmmakers; traveling for the physically challenged; how to feel "at home" abroad; how to pack and what to take; travel bargains; around the world in 80 meals; doing business abroad; medical advice for travelers; and traveling celebrity style.

Each show is podcast the following Tuesday so stay tuned at TribecaRadio.net

- The Travel Snob

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(photo: digital-photography-school.com)

For Sightseeing or Traveling Light, a Celi Bag is Designed Around Your Gadgets & On-the-Go Necessities. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

Ideal for days when all you want to carry is essential items (cell/pda, lipstick, money, id, passport, ipod, etc). This clever case can be carried as a clutch, clipped to a belt, worn like a purse, or looped through belt - or just to keep the important stuff organized inside your purse or carry-on bag. Available in 18 colors, in plain leather or with a croco texture, and there's even a removable money clip on the back.

Available at CeliCase.com.

- The Travel Snob

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Live Vicariously Through Expedition 360 as they Circumnavigate the Globe, Solely by Human Power Alone. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

All aboard the good pedal boat Moksha.

In a bid to become the first team to circumnavigate the world solely by human power - no sails, hot air balloons, planes, trains or automobiles allowed - the Expedition 360 team has used feet, rollerblades, and most recently, a pedal-boat. They are currently  crossing the Indian Ocean from Mumbai to Djibouti aboard the Moksha,  avoiding pirates, fighting difficult currents, and struggling with water-maker failure. Despite failing equipment, fatigue, and diminishing food supplies, they are entering the final stretch of a 40,000 mile odyssey which began at the Greenwich Meridian in July 1994, a journey so difficult, no one has yet completed it.

In addition to circling the world by means of human power alone, the team has hoped to use the adventure as a classroom-learning tool (their blog is updated daily via satellite phone), encourage world citizenship between cultures, and promote environmental responsibility and to live fully and enjoy the experience. "We're proud to sponsor an expedition that is not only setting records, but also providing an opportunity for educators to use the experience as a teaching tool," says Kevin O'Neal, President of Travel Insurance Services, one of the trip's sponsors. "It's taking adventure travel to the next level." 

If Expedition 360 succeeds (hopefully by late summer), their journey will be honored with an entry in the Guinness World Records, ranking with similarly great achievements of early explorers like Magellan and Sir Francis Drake, who circumnavigated by sail.

Read more about Expedition 360 at Expedition360.com.

- The Travel Snob

The New "Secret Scotland" Website Unlocks the Hidden Gems Off the Beaten Tourist Path. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

Eilean Donan Castle near Kyle of Lochalsh. (photo: Loch-Ness.org.uk)

The best way to visit a place like Scotland is to make sure that the major touristy places don't dominate the agenda. And the recently launched Secret- Scotland.com wants to keep this from happening. Specializing in hidden, offbeat gems, they customize budget-friendly itineraries that also avoid the pitfalls of traditional guides which often cause the misinformed to try and see Inverness, Loch Ness and Skye in a day. Instead, their guides are logical, day-to-day, easy-to-follow sequences of route directions, punctuated with recommendations for sightseeing, including attractions away from the beaten tourist trails. 

"The idea for Secret Scotland came about as a result of helping friends discover just how much there is to see and enjoy in our small, but unique, nation. The market place was crying out for a new style of easy to follow tour guide, but, importantly, a tour guide with sufficient flexibility to allow visitors to create really bespoke itineraries," says Mike Peddie, a native Scot who started the site with his French partner,  Aurelia Reymond-Laruinaz. "Of course we will help people to see the main attractions in Scotland, but it's a pity that all too often they leave our country without seeing many of the varied and special places tucked away around every corner. We have spent the last two years meticulously researching every aspect of our guides to ensure that, when a tour is selected, a really successful visit to Scotland is likely to ensue. We also believe that our guides are second to none when it comes to offering value for money."

In order to find out what tourists actually needed, Peddie went right to the source. "Some French tourists were telling me how misled they felt by their guidebook. They had spent £6.50 each to get entry to Urquhart Castle and discovered that the Castle was mainly a ruin. In our guides, we advise people to take a picture from the car park!" Adds Reymond-Laruinaz: "We pride ourselves on our 'local' knowledge base of Scotland. We really do know where to find the scenic spots, quiet side roads, great pubs and eating places that other guides never mention because they only have space to focus on the major attractions".

More info at Secret-Scotland.com.

- The Travel Snob

Find a Travel Needle in a Haystack with Lonely Planet's Newest Accommodation Booking Website. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

If you're the adventurous sort who enjoys your travel off the beaten path, but still digs excellent accomodation, Lonely Planet's Haystack is serving up a unique 'invitation only' booking service that features only properties that have been chosen, visited, reviewed and recommended by a Lonely Planet author.

"Whenever you go checking places out grumpy hotel owners say "Why do you guys come at such difficult times?" and that's exactly why we do it. We want to see places at their best and worst," explains one of Lonely Planet's intrepid authors. "First thing in the morning when people are checking out is always a good time to see how people handle being busy, plus there's always a helpful cleaner who might let you see a room that you might not otherwise have caught on the grand tour. The most important thing is to avoid the "official tour," where the people at the desk get the manager and you get shown how light switches work or invited for a cup of tea. Sometimes this can mean sneaking around the front desk or talking to people who are staying there or even just breaking up that tour by saying "What about these rooms?" You have to review against what you're being shown, which often means being pretty annoying to hotel staff." Adds another of their authors: "I don't really jump on beds, but I do look closely to see that the bedspreads are clean (I hate gunky-looking patterned bedspreads), suss out the bathrooms for water pressure and mould, test the windows to see if they can be opened and open wardrobes to look for wire coat hangers (yuck!). I often check minibar prices to see if they're extortionate, and I like to look at communal areas to see how guests and guests of guests are treated. I like to say hello to the people who clean the rooms to, you can tell a lot about a place by the greeting that's returned - and I think everyone in a hotel/motel or wherever should be happy to be there, even if it's for work."

In fact, many of their properties were not previously bookable online through any other service. "We are inviting our favorite properties from around the globe to join the service -- whether it's a backpackers in Sydney, an eco-resort in Yap, or a boutique hotel in Rome," says Dan Christian, Lonely Planet's Haystack Product Manager. "Haystack is a unique service in that every property listed is recommended as a great place to stay. Every property review is 100% independent and written by an experienced travel writer." Currently, Haystack boasts over 1000 properties in more than 58 countries, and more are being added all the time. "Haystack will continue to grow daily as more destinations and properties are added to the site throughout 2007 and beyond."

For more info, visit Haystack.LonelyPlanet.com.

- The Travel Snob

ShermansTravel.com Uncovers the Web's Best Deals for Winter Beach Getaways. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

If the frigid weather is simply unbearable, ShermansTravel.com has what you seek: the best six beach deals of the season:

1. Bahamas for $499: Escape to the Bahamas' beachfront Paradise Island Harbour resort with this unbeatable deal from CheapCaribbean.com. The five-day package includes lodging, meals, drinks, and all non-motorized water sports.
2. Hawaii for $527: Experience world-famous Waikiki Beach for five nights at the family-friendly OHANA Waikiki Malia with this package through PandaOnline.
3. Belize for $880: If you can bear to wait until April, Tara Tours is offering a seven-night jaunt to the Banana Beach Resort on Amergris Caye, an island renowned for its stunning beach and first-rate snorkeling. Want to leaver earlier? Winter departures are just $200 more.
4. Florida Keys for $914: This Orbitz deal includes a three-night stay at the luxurious Hyatt Key West Resort & Marina and airfare from Atlanta to Miami. Winter rates at this hot spot usually go for at least $350/night.
5. Cancun for $1089: Balcony suites run up to a wallet-busting $800/night during peak-season, but this extraordinary deal from Expedia includes a four-night stay at the upscale Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach and airfare from Los Angeles. This offer is only valid for one departure date - March 1st.
6. St. Croix from $1143: Spoil yourself at The Buccaneer, St. Croix's top-rated, four-star resort for four-nights. This extraordinary deal represents a more than 50% savings since the average winter rate is a whopping $840/night

To find editor reviews of each of these winter beach getaways, including pricing and booking information, visit ShermansTravel.com. The site's Top Ten Easy Winter Weekends Abroad has other winter getaway ideas, including both warm and cold weather destinations such as Collingwood, Canada, Isla Mujeres, Mexico, and Isla Taboga, Panama. In addition, they also feature the top 25 deals each week in their free Top 25 e-newsletter, while their  The Luxe 15 covers the best smart luxury values.

- The Travel Snob

Enjoy Your Fellow Travellers in Action on Travelistic, a YouTube Devoted Solely to Travel Videos. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

Whether it's watching a thirsty traveler partake in an ancient Druid ceremony & quaff way too much honey wine, or the day in the life of a Buddhist monk, this is the place for cool travel videos. Check it out at Travelistic.com.

- The Travel Snob

For a Really Superior Camera Bag on the Road, Try the Award-Winning Rotation360° - TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BAG

A panel of 15 judges--all of whom are practicing professional photographers--deemed this bag from Think Tank Photo worthy of this year's Hot One Award for the the industry's best new camera bag for professional application. Within seconds, a beltpack can be rotated from inside the backpack to the front of the body, allowing instant access to the gear stored inside without having to take off the entire backpack to change lenses and accessories at a moment's notice. The bag also features an innovative method for mounting one or two SLRs on the front of the shoulder straps and transferring their weight to backpack's padded shoulder straps, removing stress to the neck and shoulders. 

"We're honored that Professional Photographer magazine chose to name the rotation360° the best new product in the camera bag category," says Doug Murdoch, Think Tank Photo founder and lead designer. "Our business is based on listening to the needs of professional and serious photographers and creating innovative gear that serve their needs. The rotation360° breaks the barrier about which photographers in the field constantly complain: that they have to remove their backpack in order to access the contents inside."

Check it out at Rotation360.com.

- The Travel Snob