Tibetan pilgrim with prayer wheel at Potala Palace, Lhasa.
Global travel photography can connect and inspire us. Recently, traveling greener has been inspired by explore.org, a non-profit, multimedia organization.
explore.org shoots “films and photos that showcase the natural world – animals, cultures, places, environment.” On LiveTravelMountains, we’ve showcased the site’s photography in 5 Awesome Mountain Photos.
Here are more travel photos from explore.org:
Have you planned a life-changing vacation for 2010?
traveling greener loves UK ethical travel company responsibletravel.com and its diverse selection of life-changing vacations around the world. This ‘travel agent for responsible holidays’ works with 300+ tour operators and 600 villas, lodges, B&Bs and small hotels.
Here are 10 life-changing holidays offered by responsible travel:
1. Northern Lights Winter Holiday In Finland
2. Holistic Holiday in Greece
3. Fitness courses in Kenya
4. Moroccan cooking holidays
5. Cambodia photography holidays
6. Marine conservation expedition in Mexico
7. Teaching English in Guatemala
8. Borneo adventure holiday
9. Family activity holiday in Turkey
10. Rainforest conservation in Ecuador
For more life-changing holidays, check out responsibletravel.com.
Image courtesy of VisitFinland
Furnaslake EcoLodge, Portugal
Are you a traveler who loves staying with locals in their homes? Then you’ll want to check out the site Airbnb.com.
This “online marketplace of space” lets people and companies rent out everything from a castle in Britain to an igloo in Switzerland to a villa in Costa Rica. There are listings from 101+ countries and 1,800 cities with varying nightly rates.
Photo credit: Carrie Kellenberger/My Several Worlds
Is Asia calling? If it is, there are Asia blogs about everything Asia for everyone from travelers, foodies and expats to educators and photographers.
traveling greener loves My Several Worlds and other blogs by Taiwan-based freelance writer/editor Carrie Kellenberger. What we love about her blogs is they’re global cool and eclectic with posts on Taiwan, traveling in Asia, art, culture, education, photography and more.
“I love writing. I love traveling. I love photography. I love Asia. I don’t need any more than this to be inspired,” she says.
Kellenberger launched My Several Worlds to keep her family and friends updated on her travels and adventures in Asia. Since then, she launched another two sites – Taiwan Photographers and Best Beaches in Asia and a third – Lay Your Head Here with her husband.
Says Kellenberger: “My plan for 2010 is to bring it all back home. I’ll still be writing about travel, destinations, cultures, and lifestyles, but I also want to go old school and start writing more about our personal observations, experiences and travels in Asia.”
Need more inspiration? Here are 10 Asia Blogs You’ll Love:
3. EatingAsia
6. Jamie Sinz
7. Annamatic
8. Stickyrice
9. Kunzum
What are your favorite Asia blogs? Share and tell us about them.
Fancy a great American getaway in 2010? Staying at B&Bs can be local, affordable and eco-friendly ways to take a greener holiday.
Online B&B directory and reservation network BedandBreakfast.com is now offering a Winter Getaway Sale. You can save 20% on mid-week online reservations on BedandBreakfast.com. Reservations must include at least one weeknight (Monday-Thursday) and be booked online by March 31, 2010 using the promo code BBWINTER20.
There are also other special B&B travel deals available all for double occupancy, non-holiday periods and not combined with any other promotional offer.
Here are some of the American B& B specials:
Harborside at Forty 1° North Cottages & Suites, Newport, RI (shown above): “Through January 31, stay two nights in the Easterly or Westerly Suite for S150 nightly, and get the third night free; stay in the Red or Seabreeze Cottage for $190 nightly and get the third night free. Book four consecutive nights and get two nights free. All suites and cottages accommodate four guests maximum.”
Affordable wine-tasting at McClelland Priest B&B Inn, Napa, CA: “Through February 10, stay two nights and take 50 percent off the third night’s rate. Visit uncrowded wineries, following a special itinerary; wine-tasting fees are included. Rates start at only $109 nightly.”
Ski and Stay at Bayview Terrace Inn, Petoskey, MI: “Through March 31, stay two weekend nights in a standard room and also enjoy two daytime or evening lift tickets to Boyne Highlands or Boyne Mountain, dinner for two at the Terrace Inn, and two logo keepsake Terrace Inn mugs for $349 per couple.”
For more info, check out BedandBreakfast.com.
Image courtesy of BedandBreakfast.com
What will be the Top 5 Travel Trends in 2010?
Adventure and luxury travel website iExplore predicts these 5 travel trends:
It’s All About Value. “Bargain hunting will still abound in 2010 as consumers have been trained by the deep discounting of the past two years to seek out the lowest prices—however, in 2010 consumers will be willing to spend if they feel like they are getting a unique experience at a good price.”
Ecotourism Here to Stay. “Not a new trend, but will still continue to play a part in consumer’s travel decisions in 2010—consumers are looking for hotels and resorts that are eco-friendly as well as destinations like Panama, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Belize that offer the opportunity to explore the rainforests, jungles and get back to nature.”
Baby Boomers Taking Experiential Trips. “Over 75 million Baby Boomers in the United States continue to shape trends. This is an active and affluent group and instead of just passing down their money, they are choosing to create lasting memories and spend the inheritance by taking their kids and grandkids on cultural and experiential vacations—hiking the Machu Picchu Trail, African Safari’s and Alaskan Adventures.”
Travel: Not a Game of Risk. “Due to the uncertain economy and insecurity about jobs and investments, many more travelers are taking out trip insurance in advance of big trips.”
Unique and Customized Itineraries. “The customization trend that is so popular and prevalent in other consumer categories has hit travel. Consumers want truly unique and off the beaten path itineraries that cater to their passions and hobbies—for example: trips to Southeast Asia that focus on photography, cooking classes in Italy or fishing in Argentina with a private guide.”
Happy New Year! What are your 2010 travel destinations and inspirations?
traveling greener was thrilled to be recently honored by Off Track Planet. The site kindly included our green travel blog in its story “The 9 Most Successful Travel Bloggers of the Year”. Read the full story here.
Image courtesy of Off Track Planet
What is your favorite green Christmas gift you’re giving this year? Throughout December, traveling greener has highlighted green gifts we might be giving this Christmas.
Here are our Top 10 Green Christmas Gift posts:
1. Amazon’s Hottest Green Gift
2. Adopt A Koala For Christmas
3. Lonely Planet Christmas Sale
5. Responsible Travel Winter Getaways
6. Cool, Eco-Sporty Gift Ideas
8. Sustainable Travel Gift Cards
9. 10 Green Travel Gifts Ideas
Image courtesy of Amazon
More and more online eco stores are making greener travel easier for adventure to luxury travelers. traveling greener is a huge fan of UK online shop Nigel’s Eco Store and its eclectic selection of green products.
Here are 10 of Nigel’s Eco Store’s solar gift ideas for all types of travelers:
1. Sun Jar Solar Light (shown above)
2. Solar Camp Shower
3. Power Monkey Explorer
4. Solar Tent Light
5. Solar Powered Shaver
6. Mini Solar Radio
7. Solar Cool Cap
8. FreeLoader Globetrotter Kit
9. Solar Car Battery Charger
10. POWERplus Stingray Mini Solar LED Torch
For more green gift ideas, check out Nigel’s Eco Store.
Image courtesy of Nigel’s Eco Store
Lonely Planet Guidebooks is having a Christmas sale! The company is offering 3 for 2 on all print titles, a free Lonely Planet magazine for their UK customers (RRP £3.50) and 10% off all pictorials. Digital chapters are also discounted with 45% off on purchases of 5 or more chapters.
The ‘3 for 2′ discount covers all hot new titles, including the top-selling ‘Australia’ guide, Lonely Planet’s ‘Best in Travel 2010′ at £9.99 (with FREE ‘Best in Travel 2009′, worth £15.99), ‘1,000 Ultimate Experiences’, updated ‘Guide to Travel Photography’ and recent editions of popular India and Thailand guides.
For more info, check out Lonely Planet online.
