It definitely gets a little old listening to all the doom and gloom that accompanies a weakening economy. Everyone is scared, whether you’ve been laid off or not. The fact of the matter is that no one knows when it could happen. But there’s a silver lining around this oversized economic cloud: big deals, and lots of them. Deals can be found in the housing market, at the mall, and most recently in the travel marketplace.
Even if you’re feeling the pinch, traveling on the cheap can be pretty hard to pass up, especially for eco-globetrotters. These days, the hospitality industry is rewarding those willing to hit the road with reasonable hotel rates, cheap plane tickets and other deals ripe for the picking.
“There are some great deals to be had right now,” said Liz Wessel of Green Concierge Travel LLC. “Your greatest expense is the airfare but by traveling on shoulder season (before or after the holidays) you can find very reasonable flights as well.”
Wessel recommends minimal eco-resorts where the main attraction is the spectacular backdrop of nature like Maho Bay Resort (photo at right) on St. John, which continues to be very popular. Maho Bay Camps offer canvas platform lodges nestled next to the National Park on St. John for about $80 per night. The roomy tent-cottages are nearly entirely hidden by the lush foliage. Eco-design features, including translucent fabric on wood frames, screened windows, and open air terraces, take advantage of the cooling island trade winds. Each has a separate sleeping area with comfortable twin beds and an extra mattress behind the sleeping-couch in the living area.
Summer is also a great time to hit Canada. Check out Cree Village Ecolodge (photo below) at the south end of James Bay in Ontario. Try arriving by way of a northern train called the Polar Bear Express. The Cree Village Eco-lodge is a 20 room facility featuring 17 deluxe rooms and three suites. All of the room rates are based on a flat rate from single to quadruple occupancy. Cots are also available for an extra $15 per night.
If you want a more traditional eco-destination, Hawaii is still pleasing those travelers who yearn for sublime weather and dramatic scenery.
“Green travel to Hawaii can be far from typical with alternative accommodations like the organic coffee plantation bed and breakfast, Edge of the World Bed and Breakfast on the Big Island and Hale O Nanakai on Kauai with its solar hot water system and voltaic system for electricity,” said Wessel.
Tours that give back
Eco-tourists can also get quite a deal on their travels if they’re willing to volunteer. Sustainable Harvest International offers tons of tours that provide patrons with an opportunity to give back to local communities through volunteer work and donations.
For example, join Sustainable Harvest for an adventure in the Nicaraguan Jungle. Trip participants will work with local families on projects promoting sustainable agriculture, reforestation and poverty alleviation. The cost for the week long trip is $1,500 per person. Trip costs include project materials and supplies, liability insurance, flights between Managua and Bluefields, and all other in-country transportation. Also included are rustic accommodations with a host family at the work site, double occupancy hotel accommodations at tourist areas, as well as meals, guide, and translation services. In addition, $200 of your program fee is given as a direct donation to the local program.
The Nature Conservancy also has tons of opportunities all over the world, but volunteering with the Mukwonago River Project promises to be a rare experience. The staff at Mukwonago experiments with new ways to manage the land in an effort to return it to its pre-settlement condition. This means that volunteers have the opportunity to be involved in brand new stewardship practices and actually influence the future of land management in the Mukwonago River Watershed.
Farmers’ market tours
Think about doing Europe by way of the farmers market. Italy provides great examples of “agritourismo” — down-to-earth tourism experiences that focus on the land. Il Cucciolo, which is set in the Umbrian Hills, provides an idyllic get away and kitchen experience. Walk with the owners in the hills to gather mushrooms, go to the local market to learn about and purchase ingredients, and return to the property for a cooking lesson and delicious meal.
The easiest way to fully immerse yourself in a culture is through your palate. Former caffeine junkie and architect Carolyn Centeno, decided that she wanted to provide eco-travelers with a “taste of life’s little pleasures” and so she founded Food For Thought Tours. The Real Riviera Tour takes travelers straight to the source, visiting local winemakers and sampling the best olive oils, vinegars and French cheeses. Stay at a “hôtel au naturel,” an eco-hotel committed to ecological responsibility. The cost of a five-day tour is around $1,500 and includes accommodations, tours, dinners, tastings and cooking classes. Tours are currently planned for Provence, Argentina and Upstate New York.
Even in economic turmoil, for those adventurous travelers out there the world is waiting. Book a flight, hop in your Prius, or grab a train; however you get there, just hit the road.