The Travel Snob

NYC's Moderne Hotel to go Green by Fall 2007. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

Starting June 1, The Moderne will be getting a full-fledged green makeover. Using the guidelines recommended by the Green Hotels Association, by fall 2007, the building will be made environmentally friendly with energy efficient lighting, bulk dispensers for shampoos and soaps, recycled biodegradable paper products, 100% bamboo unbleached linen, and no smoking in the entire hotel.

"Converting The Moderne into a Green, non-smoking hotel is not enough," notes Stuart Podolsky, the real estate developer behind the greening of the 34-room boutique hotel - in partnership with Jay Podolsky. "We wanted to add an additional touch to it and begin serving a 100% health conscious breakfast that will include wheat grass, fresh juices, organic and soy products, buck wheat pancakes, basically a non-fat high fiber breakfast."

For more info, visit NYCHotels.com.

- The Travel Snob

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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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Escape Winter on a Yoga Retreat in Tulum, Mexico April 14-21. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

Families tired of winter can make a break for sunny Tulum from April 14-21 for a fun and mythology-filled yoga retreat. While grownups practice yoga, kids are kept busy learning about Mayan mytholody, storytelling, Spanish & yoga. "This is a family-enrichment vacation where children and their parents can experience the culture first-hand as well as enjoy the area's natural beauty while bonding together through yoga and story," explains Christine McArdle-Oquendo, an Anusara-Inspired yoga instructor and co-founder of World Family Yoga.

This year, they have teamed up with kids' yoga specialist, storyteller and author Sydney Solis for an unforgettable family enrichment vacation which includes the Mayan Tulum ruins, some of the world's nicest beaches, scuba diving, snorkeling, horseback riding, and mucho hammock lounging.  More info at WorldFamilyYoga.com.

- The Travel Snob

(photo: wikipedia.org)

The Nature Conservancy Teams up with Abercrombie & Kent to Offer Luxurious Conservation Adventures in Cool Places. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

 
For 2007, The Nature Conservancy and Abercrombie & Kent journeys include:

• Brazil’s Pantanal (May 14-26)
• the remote highlands of Papua New Guinea (June 17-29)
• mainland Ecuador and the Galapagos Islands (August 11-21)
• Southern Africa (September 23-October 4)
• tropical rainforests of the Peruvian Amazon (October 19-November 1)

A portion of the proceeds from each trip directly benefits The Nature Conservancy programs in that region. Program participants automatically receive a one-year membership to The Nature Conservancy and subscription to the organization’s award-winning magazine. More at Nature.org  & AbercrombieKent.com.

- The Travel Snob

Enjoy Your Africa Vacation Without Damaging the Environment on an Eco-Friendly Tour. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

      

Although it's a fundamental source of income for almost every country in the world, many areas are now moving away from the traditional resort-based attractions of the past and towards a model that supports a region's economy, the local environment and community.  The days of the self-contained hotel complex, owned by overseas companies, are fast losing their appeal. 

BAOBAB Travel is a UK-based specialist eco-tour operator, born out of a combination of a love of Africa and travel, and a desire to actively work with and support local communities in the Developing World. Their philosophy is to promote an ethical and responsible form of tourism that benefits both the economic and environmental sustainability of its local surroundings, while offering original and more satisfying vacations.

To find out more about the impact of eco-tourism, visit BaobabTravel.com.

- The Travel Snob

Have You Slept Underwater Lately? Head 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea to the Jules Undersea Lodge. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

Featured on Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous & the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, the research habitat named for Jules Verne in Key Largo, Florida, is now open to normal folk.

Although it's still a functioning lab, the good news is that it's been sexed up with air conditioning, hot showers, a stereo, fully stocked galley - and unlimited diving for certified divers.  Entering through a tropical mangrove 21 feet beneath the surface, via an opening in the bottom of the cozy, cottage-sized structure - it's like discovering a secret underwater clubhouse.  Large 42 inch windows provide a 24/7 live show starring the local inhabitants, which include angelfish, parrotfish, barracuda, snappers, anemones, sponges, oysters, and feather duster worms.

Your underwater adventure awaits at JUL.com.

- The Travel Snob

Slow Global Warming While You Save $$ on Your Next Trip through Green Pleasures. TRAVEL SNOB TRAVEL BLOG

A lot of people talk about reducing global warming, but one enterprising scientist is actually doing something about it.

Eric Woodroof, Ph.D, has created Green Pleasures, a program that allows travelers to not only save thousands of dollars on exotic trips, but offset the  the average emissions they generate by driving, traveling and just everyday living through carbon emission credits. For, say, a week-long vacation, Green Pleasures will purchase 4,400 lbs of carbon credits (equivalent to planting nearly one acre of trees) which more than offsets the carbon emissions impact of the entire trip. "This is a new vacation concept," explains Woodroof. "Our clients love it because, while on vacation they are helping to slow global warming." To date, the program has helped a variety of organizations save millions in cost-reduction programs.

For more info, visit GreenPleasures.com.

- The Travel Snob