News Articles
Friday, 19 February 2021 11:30
Freedom to travel is vital for people’s sense of wellbeing
More than 80% of folks surveyed by Trivago somewhat or strongly agreed that travel is a part of a well-rounded life, and most felt that being prevented from travelling freely is one of the worst aspects of the pandemic. Globe Aware staff and volunteers also know that meaningful travel brings about a positive impact to the locations traveled. Trivago poll shows how freedom to travel is vital for people’s sense of wellbeing By Lee HayhurstFeb 19, 2021 Latest polling of British travellers by hotel price comparison site Trivago has found that being unable to travel is one of the worst aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In January, Trivago asked 1,000 adults for their opinions as part of a wider survey that also looked at the opinions of US travellers. More than 80% of Brits surveyed somewhat or strongly agreed that travel is a part of a well-rounded life. Most felt that being prevented from travelling freely is one of the worst aspects of the pandemic (82%) and that because of the pandemic this is the most they’ve ever felt like traveling (61%). The survey also found that people’s definition of what constitutes a dream holiday has changed. Trivago said the typical idea of a big trip is becoming obsolete with travel restrictions and the ability to plan ahead all but impossible. In addition, the isolation and distance of lockdowns has “changed the dynamic of dream vacations as we think of them”, the site said. The top choice for Brits…
Published in Globe Aware News
Friday, 12 February 2021 11:35
Look for big rebound in cruise, air and travel bookings
The pace of Covid-19 vaccinations, consumer confidence and 2022 travel bookings are ramping up. Globe Aware volunteers can feel optimistic about being able to vacation abroad this year. Travel agencies, cruise lines and airlines gear up for rebound in bookings "Many people are already actively planning their next big trip," said one travel expert. "And it is not too early to book for 2022, especially with trip protection." Feb. 12, 2021By Harriet Baskas As the pace of Covid-19 vaccinations is ramping up, so is consumer confidence — and with it, a surge in travel bookings for later this year and for 2022. "Many travelers are feeling optimistic that they will be able to vacation abroad this year. Many people are already actively planning their next big trip — even for trips more than four months out," said Shibani Walia, senior research analyst at Tripadvisor. 2020 was the worst year in history for air travel demand, according to the International Air Transport Association, with global passenger traffic falling more than 65 percent, compared to 2019. The hotel industry also tanked, surpassing 1 billion unsold room nights, according to hotel industry research firm STR. The story was much the same for cruises, attractions and tours, with the World Tourism Organization calling 2020 the worst year on record. But now, with a comprehensive vaccine schedule and pent-up demand for leaving home, vacation planning and bookings are on the rise for late 2021, 2022 and beyond. Spirit Airlines announced Thursday it would start training…
Published in Globe Aware News
Thursday, 11 February 2021 10:52
CDC: Fully Vaccinated Americans Won't Need to Quarantine After COVID-19 Exposure
Fully vaccinated Globe Aware volunteers do not need to quarantine if they are exposed to someone with COVID-19, according to new guidance from the CDC. Currently, that means two doses of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or the Moderna vaccine as well as a two-week wait for their immunity to kick-in. Fully Vaccinated Americans Won't Need to Quarantine After COVID-19 Exposure, CDC Says Travel quarantine rules still apply regardless of whether a traveler has been vaccinated or not. BY ALISON FOX FEBRUARY 11, 2021 Fully vaccinated Americans do not need to quarantine if they are exposed to someone with COVID-19, according to new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The new recommendation, released on Wednesday, exempts those who have received the full dose of one of the approved vaccines from having to self-isolate if they are exposed. Currently, that means two doses of either the Pfizer/BioNTech or the Moderna vaccine as well as a two-week wait for their immunity to kick-in. Individuals must also remain asymptomatic since their exposure but should watch for symptoms for 14 days. However, the CDC recommends Americans only take advantage of this guidance if they have received their vaccine within three months of being exposed because it remains unclear as to how long vaccine immunity lasts. "Although the risk of [COVID-19] transmission from vaccinated persons to others is still uncertain, vaccination has been demonstrated to prevent symptomatic COVID-19," the agency wrote, noting "symptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission is thought to have a greater role in…
Published in Globe Aware News
Saturday, 06 February 2021 12:45
Expect increased international travel by millennials this summer: Survey
A recent BOTT survey shows that 52 per cent millennials are eager to take an international holiday this summer as COVID-19 vaccine ushered in hope that the end to the pandemic is on the horizon. Locations such as Thailand are high on the list of preferred destinations as well, where Globe Aware runs two of our volunteer vacations. 52% millennials keen on international holiday this summer: Survey Feb 06, 2021 Financial Express Things are looking up for 2021, as 52 per cent millennials are eager to take an international holiday this summer as COVID-19 vaccine ushered in hope that the end to the pandemic is on the horizon, according to a survey by BOTT (Business of Travel Trade) Travel Sentiment Tracker. With vaccination drive against COVID-19 gathering steam across the world and restrictions on movements easing gradually, many millennials are keen on taking an international holiday this summer, according to a survey. Things are looking up for 2021, as 52 per cent millennials are eager to take an international holiday this summer as COVID-19 vaccine ushered in hope that the end to the pandemic is on the horizon, according to a survey by BOTT (Business of Travel Trade) Travel Sentiment Tracker. The survey was done online with over 6,000 millennial travellers across the country during January 2021. As per the survey, 75 per cent millennials would prefer to go to foreign destinations with fewer COVID-19 cases while 71 per cent would opt for destinations with defined protocols for the…
Published in Globe Aware News
Monday, 08 February 2021 21:44
How about a Virtual Date Night on Valentines?
COVID-19 hasn’t made dating easy but virtual opportunities have arisen to help couples spend time together. Why not treat you and a loved one to a Globe Aware virtual experience, you can enjoy a romantic date by making cocktails live from South Africa, or even cooking Pad Thai together, live from Thailand! Virtual date ideas for a COVID-19-safe Valentine’s Day Virtual Date Night BY SWETHAA SURESHFEB 8, 2021 COVID-19 hasn’t made dating any easier. As people adjusted to a new lifestyle, relationships and in-person dates around the world have been put on pause. Though Valentine’s day will be different this year, many virtual opportunities have arisen to help couples spend time together. A perk of virtual dating is that it is designed to fit a college student’s budget and schedule, since they rarely involve additional costs or travel time. Virtual tours (museum and world) Confined to the indoors with limited options to hang out, many college students are missing out on the perks of being in New York City. If you’ve missed exploring the Museum Mile hand in hand with your loved one, some museums around the world have got you covered with their online, interactive exhibits. Here are some great ones to check out: Google Arts & Culture allows you to explore artists, mediums, and art movements (including 360-degree videos that capture every angle). The Louvre is offering tours that show off its collections while preserving the architecture and views of the physical location. The Smithsonian National Museum of…
Published in Globe Aware News
Sunday, 07 February 2021 13:51
Which COVID-19 tests are required for international travel?
In an effort to limit the spread of new coronavirus variants, many countries are requiring incoming travelers to show a recent negative test. For our U.S. volunteers, Globe Aware recommends two types of tests. The first is a test that detects the genetic material of the virus or a rapid test that looks for viral proteins called antigens. Which COVID-19 tests are required for international travel? It depends on where you’re going. In an effort to limit the spread of new coronavirus variants, many countries are requiring incoming travelers to show a recent negative test. The U.S., for example, will accept results from either a test that detects the genetic material of the virus — considered the most sensitive type of test — or a rapid test that looks for viral proteins called antigens. The tests must have been taken no more than three days before departing for the U.S. Health professionals usually give more sensitive lab tests via a nasal swab that take a day or more to yield results. Rapid tests have a turnaround time of about 15 to 30 minutes and are increasingly used to screen people at testing sites, offices, schools and nursing homes. For some rapid tests, users can swab themselves at home. With either test, the U.S. requires electronic or printed proof of the negative result from a medical laboratory. That means that even if you plan to get the faster test you’ll likely need to see a health care provider who can…
Published in Globe Aware News
Tuesday, 02 February 2021 16:14
Sustainable Travel 2021
National Geographic Traveler (UK) has included Costa Rica as part of its Best of the World 2021 list, which Globe certainly agrees. One of our most popular volunteer vocation locations, we offer three sustainable programs in this tropical paradise. Best of the World: eight sustainable destinations for 2021 and beyond From carbon-neutral cities in the making to destinations offering a blueprint for sustainable nature and wildlife tourism, these are the pick of the places that aim to safeguard our precious planet’s natural wonders. BY NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC'S GLOBAL TRAVEL EDITORSPUBLISHED 17 NOV 2020, 12:42 GMT 1. Copenhagen, Denmark Europe’s sustainable city pioneer The widespread inequalities revealed by the pandemic have ignited global interest in making cities more resilient, equitable and healthy. One example, Copenhagen, is set to become the world’s first carbon-neutral capital by 2025. “In Copenhagen we insist on green solutions because they pay off,” the city’s mayor, Frank Jensen, says in We Have the Power to Move the World, the sustainable transport guidebook for mayors produced by C40, a network of cities committed to addressing climate change. Denmark’s capital has long targeted sustainability. The city has an efficient public transport network, and all its buses are switching from diesel to electric. CopenHill, a waste-to-energy power plant, meanwhile, produces clean energy for 60,000 families and heats 120,000 homes. In 2019, it opened outdoor play areas to the public. These included a rooftop green space and a climbing wall. Planet-friendly urban planning — such as the cycle paths that over…
Published in Globe Aware News
Saturday, 23 January 2021 11:40
COVID, Bhutan and its Gross National Happiness index
Trying to keep out COVID, tiny Bhutan relies on its Gross National Happiness index, and hopes tourists will return By Natalie JesionkaSat., Jan. 23, 2021 Travelling through the beautiful mountainous Kingdom of Bhutan with its cloud-covered forests sounds idyllic in a pandemic lockdown — a dream being marketed by the tiny landlocked nation whose vital tourism business has been crushed by COVID. With a population of 750,000, the eastern Himalayan kingdom has reported just 850 COVID-19 cases and one death from the virus in early January, and is negotiating the purchase of a million vaccines from India. But there are challenges ahead as the nation begins to consider easing its lockdown restrictions in a bid to reopen. The country is banking on its remote location, COVID response strategy and its unique Gross National Happiness index (GNH) to help guide restoration of its biggest source of employment. Online, there are rumblings on social media and comments on articles in local newspapers questioning the lockdown, and expressing worries over lost livelihoods should the lockdown be extended. And according to Bhutan’s national newspaper, the Kunsel, there is concern about evictions and rent increases, and retail businesses are struggling to make sales with few customers. Bhutan’s economy has contracted 6.8 per cent since the start of the pandemic. But while the economy is an important metric, the country’s Gross National Happiness index, which measures equitable socio-economic development, environmental conservation, preservation of culture, and good governance, is equally important. “The use of the phrase ‘happiness’…
Published in Globe Aware News
Saturday, 16 January 2021 14:23
US Covid-19 test requirement for travelers
Last week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that all air passengers ages two and older must show proof of a negative Covid-19 test to enter the United States. Globe Aware is ensuring you can be tested safely at your volunteer vacation location before traveling back home. The new US Covid-19 test requirement for travelers: What you need to know Shivani VoraCNNJanuary 16, 2021 (CNN) — Earlier this week, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that, as of Tuesday, January 26, all air passengers ages two and older must show proof of a negative Covid-19 test to enter the United States. The new rule includes US citizens and legal permanent residents. Following the travel news, panic and confusion ensued, according to Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst and founder of Atmosphere Research Group. "The order created a lot of anxiety, partly because the timeline from the announcement to when it goes into effect is so short and partly because it was unclear exactly what it meant," he says. Both US residents who are currently abroad or had plans to go abroad and return January 26 or later as well as international travelers who are scheduled to fly to the United States have numerous questions about what they need to do to ensure their entry into the country, says Harteveldt. In addition, some resorts and local governments are scrambling to get prepared to offer testing to US-bound fliers. Questions -- from what kind of negative…
Published in Globe Aware News
Tuesday, 12 January 2021 15:28
Globe Aware shifts gears to survive COVID shutdowns
Dallas Tickle Bar Creates Sensation By Eric Griffey DallasJan. 09, 2021 DALLAS — There is nothing lewd about the Tickle Bar. The website and Facebook page of the new Mockingbird-area business make it clear that illicit activities are strictly forbidden here. Yes, the half-naked woman splayed on a bed whose image is prominently featured on the place’s website appears to be in mid-moan, but that’s strategic, according to owner Kimberly Haley-Coleman. What You Need To Know The Tickle Bar offers experiences, like tracing and scratching, designed to produce endorphines The business does not offer massage or traditional spa treatments The Bar's owner, Kimberly Haley-Coleman, founded the business when the pandemic slowedher nonprofit, Globe Aware New business offers services that benefit children on the autism spectrum “I knew we weren't going to spend millions of dollars advertising,” she said. “So, if I did this with a bit of a wink, we would be able to get more attention. If I’d called this a ‘back-scratch store,’ I wouldn't have had as much attention, and we needed that.” The Tickle Bar is a Mecca for sensory indulgence. The “bar” offers services that include scratching, skin tracing, and other light-touch-induced modes of serotonin-drenched euphoria — all while enjoying a sweet treat or a glass of wine. What you won’t find at The Tickle Bar is a massage package. Haley-Coleman said her model was the Drybar, which focuses only on blow-drying hair with no cutting, coloring, or any other services normally offered by salons. “There's…
Published in Globe Aware News
Monday, 28 December 2020 05:55
App-based COVID-19 vaccine passports may facilitate travel
Coronavirus vaccines are starting to roll out in the US and abroad, and many people may be dreaming of travel, but they may eventually need a vaccine passport application. Globe Aware is keeping an eye on this passport app being a requirement for future volunteer vacations. New apps make COVID-19 vaccine passports possible for travel By Rishi IyengarCNN BusinessMonday, December 28, 2020 Now that coronavirus vaccines are being administered across the U.S. and around the world, several companies are developing a so-called 'vaccine passport.' Now that coronavirus vaccines are starting to roll out in the US and abroad, many people may be dreaming of the day when they can travel, shop and go to the movies again. But in order to do those activities, you may eventually need something in addition to the vaccine: a vaccine passport application. Several companies and technology groups have begun developing smartphone apps or systems for individuals to upload details of their COVID-19 tests and vaccinations, creating digital credentials that could be shown in order to enter concert venues, stadiums, movie theaters, offices, or even countries. The Common Trust Network, an initiative by Geneva-based nonprofit The Commons Project and the World Economic Forum, has partnered with several airlines including Cathay Pacific, JetBlue, Lufthansa, Swiss Airlines, United Airlines and Virgin Atlantic, as well as hundreds of health systems across the United States and the government of Aruba. The CommonPass app created by the group allows users to upload medical data such as a COVID-19 test result…
Published in News Articles
Tuesday, 08 December 2020 15:11
Travel Tips for the 2020 Holiday Season
The TSA released a list of winter travel tips, helping Americans navigate traveling during this holiday season. Globe Aware wants to make sure our volunteers are up to date and safe when it comes to any winter travel. 5 Tips From the TSA to Make Traveling During the 2020 Holiday Season a Little Easier Leave your wrapping paper behind. BY ALISON FOXDECEMBER 08, 2020 The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) released a list of winter travel tips on Monday, helping Americans navigate flying during the COVID-19 pandemic, just in time for a potential holiday rush. With advice from mask-wearing and reducing contact, to more familiar tips surrounding how to wrap gifts for loved ones, the agency focused on how to expedite the security process. The tips come as the agency screened a record more than 3 million passengers at airports around Thanksgiving, despite experts saying people shouldn’t travel. And of course, the tips will help travelers “ensure that you avoid Santa’s ‘Naughty’ list when you get to a [TSA] security checkpoint at the airport," the advice read. “TSA is well aware that many people haven’t traveled in several months, here is what you need to do now to be prepared this holiday season — whether you’re traveling for Hanukkah, Christmas, Kwanzaa or to celebrate the New Year,” the agency added. These are the TSA’s tips for flying during the holidays this year. Tip 1: Don’t wait: download the free myTSA app The agency suggested people download its app before heading…
Published in News Articles
Friday, 11 December 2020 14:33
Optimistic about travel in 2021
According to research, the pandemic has driven a large shift in traveler preferences, and understanding these changes is critical to tourism recovery efforts. Globe Aware is ready to meet the pent-up demand of volunteers, especially since one in two travelers are optimistic about taking a trip next year. An Optimistic Sign for Travel in 2021 FEATURES & ADVICEJANEEN CHRISTOFF DECEMBER 11, 2020 Americans have hope for travel in 2021. One in two travelers is optimistic about taking a trip in the next 12 months, according to research from Expedia. More than half (53 percent) of Americans who usually take a vacation have not done so since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, nearly 31 percent are dreaming of travel and actively planning for 2021. “As the world keeps a watchful eye on vaccine news, and people continue to crave a change of scenery or opportunity to catch up with loved ones, we know the pent-up demand for travel will grow,” said Monya Mandich, vice president of global marketing, Expedia Group Media Solutions. “COVID-19 has driven a seismic shift in traveler preferences and influences, and understanding these changes is critical to recovery efforts and future marketing strategies. The new research provides insights into the steps travel brands can take to reassure and connect with travelers as they begin researching, planning and booking again.” When they do travel again, Americans are looking to safety regulations that will make them feel more comfortable. Seventy-five percent of travelers said measures…
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Monday, 07 December 2020 13:03
Sustainable Tourism after COVID-19
Two experts recently analyzed the effects of the pandemic on travel behavior and found out that people are likely to skip major cities and vacation for longer going forward. Post-quarantine and -lockdown, travelers seem more concerned about sustainability and the need to support local businesses, something Globe Aware programs specialize in! Future Travel and Sustainable Tourism after COVID-19: STUDY by Tea Ceremony Kyoto Maikoya December 7, 2020 KYOTO, Japan, Dec. 7, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Kimono Tea Ceremony Maikoya and Samurai & Ninja Museum, two key experience providers from Japan, recently studied and analyzed the effects of the pandemic on travel behavior in depth and found out that people are likely to skip major cities and vacation for longer going forward. Post-quarantine and -lockdown, travelers generally seem more concerned about sustainability and the need to support local businesses. However, the only lasting changes may come with extra safety precautions and sustainable travel choices, with other aspects reverting more or less back to normal. For example, most travelers think virtual tours and online experiences are no substitutes for real-life activities. Most also have no intention of giving up on shared group activities or museums and prefer traditional accommodation options to AirBnB. Little change is apparent, other than increased demand for premium and safe travel experiences and the potential positive impact of working from home on the intentions to travel abroad. Background Recently, there have been news stories in the mainstream media that travel after the Coronavirus pandemic would change the behavior of…
Published in News Articles
Sunday, 06 December 2020 11:06
Holiday Travel Products Gift Guide 2020
As small business owners have been hit hard by the pandemic-related economic brunt, consider their products and services as holiday gift options. Globe Aware encourages the support of small businesses. Holiday Gift Guide 2020: Travel Products Made By Women By Michele HerrmannContributorTravelAs small business owners have been hit hard by the pandemic-related economic brunt, consider their products and services as holiday gift options. In buying what they make to give to others, it’s a way of giving back by financially supporting them in return. Here are our gift suggestions for travel-related or inspired products by women business owners and entrepreneurs. “The Dining Traveler Guide to Puerto Rico,” $39.95 Food and travel writer Jessica van Dop DeJesus — also known by her brand’s name, “The Dining Traveler” — enlisted documentary photographer Italo Morales to go on a month-long journey across Puerto Rico. The result of their collaboration is this pictorial guide to this island, which transports readers through photography, accounts from locals, and a more in-depth look at Puerto Rico’s lesser-known regions. Customized Road Trip Guides by CrushGlobal Through her travel company, Kristin Braswell has developed a series of U.S. road trip guides focusing on not only places to go to but also emphasizing inclusivity across the travel and hospitality spectrum. Each guide lists businesses that are black, women and/or LGBTQ-owned, recommendations for culinary, outdoor and other personal interests, and notes regarding any safety precautions and COVID-19 mandates. Custom itineraries begin at $299 and can vary based on how many…
Published in News Articles
Thursday, 03 December 2020 11:43
New Dallas spa has a unique draw
‘Tickle Bar’ now open in Texas. No, it’s not a fetish thing, it’s about relaxation BY TJ MACIASDECEMBER 02, 2020 The Tickle Bar in Dallas, TX is open for business. A new Dallas spa has a unique draw that appears to walk a fine line. It’s called “The Tickle Bar” and the owner, Kimberly Haley-Coleman, says it’s about relaxation, not fetishes. The concept came to her when thinking up a new idea to generate income and continue to employ people in Globe Aware, her nonprofit organization that “offers global volunteer vacations that combine personal travel with work assisting foreign communities,” the Dallas Observer said. And yes, the concept is exactly what the name suggests. “I thought, ‘I wish I could get somebody to tickle my back. Why don’t people do that?’ So I decided I’m going to freakin’ do it,” she says. “Who knows if it’s going to work, but I’m going to do it.” According to the Advocate Magazine, “guests can choose from two basic services: hair play or back tickle. The 25- or 50-minute sessions incorporate a variety of shiver-inducing strokes to release tension from the body using fingers, feather dusters, makeup brushes and more. If you’re especially ticklish, try the basic scratch for relaxation with a firmer touch.” The Tickle Bar website, which includes the phrase “Get Tickled Pink,” also features the sound of a woman’s soft giggle. Haley-Coleman told the Observer that she is steering into the skid when it comes to the “prurient interest” associated…
Published in News Articles
Wednesday, 02 December 2020 13:50
There's a Tickle Bar Opening in Dallas
There's a Tickle Bar Opening in Dallas. Yeah, You Heard Us BRITTANY NUNNDECEMBER 2, 2020 Remember the back tickles you loved as a kid, the black magic your mom used to put you straight to sleep? How about the times you almost dozed off while someone played with your hair? Are you relaxed just thinking about it? Kimberly Haley-Coleman wants to sell you that experience with the launch of her new business, The Tickle Bar, and she doesn’t know if her idea is crazy, brilliant or maybe a little of both. “When I tell people I get a really polarized reaction,” Haley-Coleman says. “It’s either, ‘Oh my God, that’s genius, why hasn’t anyone done that before?’ or it’s ‘No one is going to do that. That’s the craziest thing I’ve ever heard.’ That’s when I knew I had to try it.” Haley-Coleman is somewhat familiar with controversy, as this isn’t her first polarizing business. She started a “voluntourism” nonprofit called Globe Aware in Dallas in 2001, which offers global volunteer vacations that combine personal travel with work assisting foreign communities. Despite some people’s perceptions that voluntourism is just a way for rich Americans to stroke their god complexes, the nonprofit thrived in Dallas for nearly 20 years until COVID-19 and the border closures that came along with it brought its operations to a halt. “That’s a big reason why I’m doing what I’m doing,” Haley-Coleman explains. “We really rely on borders being open and planes flying and people feeling up…
Published in News Articles
Thursday, 19 November 2020 10:52
Infectious Disease Specialist Offers Holiday Travel Tips
Two of the biggest travel holidays, Thanksgiving and Christmas, are just around the corner, and travelers are debating whether they should meet up with friends and family. An infectious disease specialist encourages everyone to assess what they consider is an acceptable amount of risk in their lives, and follow precautions accordingly. Holiday Travel Tips From an Infectious Disease Specialist From Getting a Flu Shot to Quarantining Before Gathering, Catherine Le, MD, Says the 2020 Holidays Are All About Reducing Risk Newswise — LOS ANGELES (Nov. 19, 2020) -- With the two biggest travel holidays – Thanksgiving and Christmas – around the corner, many are debating whether they should gather with family and friends as usual. "There is no easy solution," says Cedars-Sinai infectious disease specialist Catherine Le, MD. "When my patients ask me if it’s safe to travel or spend time together with loved ones, I talk to them about risk mitigation and encourage them to find what they consider is an acceptable amount of risk in their lives." Risk mitigation, according to Le, is an individual decision based on preparing for, or lessening the effects of, any type of threat. In today’s world, risk mitigation conversations are centered around being exposed to or contracting COVID-19. "I can never say anything is 100% safe," said Le. "But what I can do is encourage individuals to reduce their own risk and follow best practices, including avoiding interacting with large numbers of people, frequent hand-washing, wearing a mask, staying socially distanced…
Published in News Articles
Sunday, 22 November 2020 12:33
Travel trends for 2021
This year is coming quickly coming to an end, and there are some hopeful signs for travel and Globe Aware volunteers. This includes more widely available testing, safe destination openings without needing travelers to quarantine for long, and new vaccines on the horizon. 11 Trending Destinations for 2021, According to Internet Searches Expedia's 2021 Travel Trends report breaks down the most-searched destinations. November 11, 2020 BY JESSICA PUCKETT As 2020 winds to a close, there are hopeful signs for travel amid the pandemic: Tests for COVID-19 are more widely available, destinations are finding ways to safely reopen without needing travelers to quarantine for two weeks, and a vaccine might finally be on the horizon. Next year, many travelers are hoping to get back out there—and they're already researching where to book. According to Expedia's 2021 Travel Trends report, most travelers are looking for destinations that offer seclusion, sun and sand, and are easily accessible by plenty of flights. Here are the 11 destinations Expedia says travelers are most interested in visiting next year. 11. The Maldives U.S. travelers are more interested than ever in planning a trip to the Maldives, a serene chain of atolls in the Indian Ocean. The island nation is likely trending because it is currently open to travelers from any country (visitors must produce a negative PCR test taken 72 hours before departure). Flight operations to the Maldives have also restarted from the U.S., with top international carriers like Emirates, Singapore, Qatar ferrying U.S. fliers to…
Published in News Articles
Monday, 16 November 2020 12:03
A Covid-19 vaccine will change travel
On November 9 it was announced that one of the candidates for a Covid-19 vaccine, made by Pfizer and BioNTech, was over 90% in preventing volunteers from contracting the virus. This is great news for Globe Aware, our communities & volunteers, and look forward to safe travels in 2021 for everyone. How a Covid-19 vaccine could change travel for good Julia BuckleyCNN16th November 2020 It was the good news that gave the world hope. On November 9 it was announced that one of the candidates for a Covid-19 vaccine, made by Pfizer and BioNTech, was over 90% effective in preventing volunteers from contracting the virus. The beleaguered travel industry immediately got a boost, with airline and cruise company share prices rallying, and tour operators seeing upticks in searches and bookings for 2021. Finally, it feels as if vacations might be in our future. But will travel post-vaccine go back to how things were, or has your vacation been irrevocably changed? For starters, it'll be a while before we know the answer to that, says travel specialist Dr. Felicity Nicholson, lead doctor at Trailfinders Travel Clinic in the UK. "I think it's just a matter of time before things come back to some degree of normality, but it'll take quite a long time," she says. "At the moment, travel is way down the pecking order of vaccination." She says that countries will first be looking to vaccinate the vulnerable, then healthworkers and keyworkers, before making inroads into the general population.…
Published in News Articles
Tuesday, 10 November 2020 09:34
Different Options for Thanksgiving Holiday Travel with US Carriers
Airlines in the U.S. are trying to be as varied as possible. They are offering potential travelers different options to fly during the upcoming all-important holiday season that starts Nov. 23 with Thanksgiving week. US Carriers Offering Varied Options for Thanksgiving Holiday Travel RICH THOMASELLINOVEMBER 10, 2020 U.S. airlines are trying to be as varied as possible, offering potential travelers different options to fly during the upcoming all-important holiday season that starts Nov. 23 with Thanksgiving week. The period between Thanksgiving and New Year’s has always been lucrative for the airlines, and many – United included – are hoping it continues to be just that in the face of a new surge of coronavirus cases across the country. Many carriers are projecting that the week of Nov. 23 will be its busiest since March, according to Fox Business. United, in fact, says it's adding more than 1,400 domestic flights during the week of Thanksgiving. But it's more than that. JetBlue is adding 25 flights from the New York Cita area to Florida, California and markets in the Caribbean including Port-au-Prince, San Juan, Santiago and Santo Domingo. American Airlines told FOX Business Monday that the carrier will also increase its flights from Nov. 24- 25 and Nov. 28 - 30. "During the Thanksgiving holiday, we will increase our flying by approximately 15% compared to the rest of the month, from an average of 3,500 flights to more than 4,000 flights," an American Airlines spokesperson told Fox Business. Delta will also be…
Published in News Articles
Friday, 30 October 2020 13:51
Best Travel Destinations in December
December is the holiday season, and there are plenty of places you can visit to slough off the stress of the year and immerse yourself in feel-good festivities. This includes the Globe Aware location of Puerto Rico. Best Places to Travel in December Destinations to consider for this winter, or to be bookmarked for next year. BY MARK ELLWOODOctober 30, 2020 December is the holiday season, and there are plenty of places you can visit to slough off the stress of the year and immerse yourself in feel-good festivities. If frosted trees and mulled wine leave you cold, there are several warm-weather getaways we’d suggest, including Caribbean nations reopening after closing their borders for much of 2020. If you’re staying domestic, check entry requirements at each state you’re visiting—and what your home state guidelines are when you return. If you're comfortable traveling overseas, make sure to check the CDC guidelines on your destination. Remember, as well, to update your travel insurance, ensuring that the coverage you have will apply during the pandemic, whether it’s a standalone policy or insurance that’s bundled with one of many travel-focused credit cards. And if you’re not quite ready to travel yet, bookmark this list for a potential getaway next year. The British Virgin Islands Three years ago, much of the BVI was devastated by the arrival of Hurricane Irma, the first of two category 5 hurricanes to tear through the Leeward Islands that fall. No wonder, then, that it took more than two years…
Published in News Articles
Sunday, 01 November 2020 11:00
Machu Picchu is now open to national and foreign tourists
Machu Picchu, located in Cusco, will officially reopen its doors to international travelers, under a series of health rules and protocols. Our Globe Aware Peru program offers a separate tour to the famous Inca grounds, but requires booking ahead of time. Peru: Machu Picchu reopens its doors to national and foreign tourists The emblematic Inca citadel of Machu Picchu, located in the Andean region of Cusco, will officially reopen its doors to national and foreign tourists today, under a series of health rules and protocols —after being closed for almost eight months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The expectations caused by the reopening of this tourist jewel was so colossal that it caused entrance tickets —valid for local and national tourists thru November 15— to sell out fast. The emotion —without any doubt— is immense, because tourism in Machu Picchu will officially resume, after a first attempt in July, which was discarded since coronavirus infections continued to increase in Cusco —the region hosting the citadel. Since Machu Picchu opened its doors for tourism purposes in 1948, it had only closed for two months in 2010, when a flood destroyed the railway from Cusco. The numbers registered in Machu Picchu —declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on December 9, 1983— were impressive. Before the pandemic began in Peru last March, between 2,000 and 3,000 people used to enter the citadel per day and in high season up to 5,000. That month, on the last day of visits, 2,500 people were…
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Thursday, 29 October 2020 11:42
Safe Trick-or-Treating During the COVID-19
Globe Aware wishes our volunteers a safe and happy Halloween, whether you choose to stay home or travel. Make sure to follow these safety tips in order to enjoy the holiday weekend. Is It Safe to Trick-or-Treat During the COVID-19 Pandemic? Experts Share Halloween Health Safety Tips CDC health officials have ranked different holiday traditions by risk — and we asked a virologist and a researcher weigh in. BY ZEE KRSTICOct 28, 2020 While the novel coronavirus pandemic has interrupted many of our favorite holiday traditions, it seems many families are dead-set on celebrating Halloween during quarantine. A recent Harris Poll survey suggests that more than 70% of millennial moms are planning to make "the most" of Halloween with their families, with 80% of all surveyed saying that heading out to trick-or-treat is at the top of their list of things to do on Halloween. But is trick-or-treating in 2020 safe? It's a complicated question: Activities like house parties and school dances carry more risk, but trick-or-treating outside (especially in areas where outbreaks are mitigated) is less risky. But heading outside won't eliminate all of the risks you must consider, as health officials at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlight risk factors that can impede your fun even in the open air. "In an area where there's still ongoing community spread [and things] haven't gotten to the point where things are opening up again, I don't think trick-or-treating is a great idea," explains Sandra Kesh, M.D., an infectious…
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Sunday, 18 October 2020 12:57
Some of the Most Haunted Places in the World
Globe Aware volunteers can visit some of these haunted sites on their volunteer vacation! Locations include South Africa, Rajasthan, Romania, Puerto Rico and Mexico! 43 Most Haunted Places in the World That Are Beautifully Scary Even the faint of heart will find something to love. BY CAITLIN MORTONOctober 18, 2019 Nothing beats a good ghost story on Halloween, and our planet is chock full of 'em: UFO sightings in Transylvania, murders on luxury cruise ships, and spirits wandering the halls of British castles. No matter where you're traveling, you're sure to find some sort of haunted site, as well as a ghost tour to go along with it. But even if you're not a fan of paranormal activities, some of the spookiest locations are still worth your time, whether for their beautiful architecture, jaw-dropping locations, or fascinating histories. Here, the 43 most haunted places in the world you'll want to visit any day of the year—not just on October 31. Hoia-Baciu Forest, Romania From the moment a military technician captured a photograph of a "UFO" hovering over the forest in 1968, Hoia-Baciu has gained paranormal notoriety around the world, with some believing it to be a portal that causes visitors to disappear. Those who have passed through the forest without being zapped into another realm have reported rashes, nausea, and feelings of anxiety, according to The Independent. Known as the "Bermuda Triangle of Transylvania," the spooky curved trees that populate the forest just add to the eerie atmosphere. Fairmont…
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Tuesday, 20 October 2020 10:49
Will it be safe to travel during the holidays?
Traveling is fine if you're willing to be cautious, follow the rules and adapt easily to changes of plan. If you do choose to travel, Globe Aware is taking these precautions, such as wearing a mask and practicing social distancing and good hand hygiene. Is it safe to travel for the holidays this year? Marnie HunterCNNOctober 20 2020 (CNN) — The end of the year is sneaking up, and people are weighing travel plans to join friends and family for the holidays -- all against the backdrop of a surge of the deadly pandemic. Gathering with others -- probably the most universal holiday tradition -- has never required so much meticulous forethought. Should you travel for the holidays in 2020? What precautions will make it safer? Who will be there and how careful have they been? The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that travel increases the chances of contracting and spreading Covid-19, and health officials are reminding people that clusters are emerging from gatherings of family and friends. "We've seen a great deal of community spread from household gatherings," said Alex Azar, US Health and Human Services Secretary, on October 19. Azar said people need to use common sense and assess the circumstances in the community to determine if they should have gatherings over the holidays. CNN spoke with medical experts on how to reduce the risks around holiday travel and when you really should skip it altogether. Should you travel for the holidays this year?…
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Wednesday, 21 October 2020 05:00
Meet Kimberly Haley-Coleman
Meet Kimberly Haley-Coleman | Founder & CEO Globe Aware October 21, 2020Shoutout DFW We had the good fortune of connecting with Kimberly Haley-Coleman and we’ve shared our conversation below. Hi Kimberly, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?When stuck abroad on business over weekends, I sought meaningful, organized short-term volunteer experiences, and just couldn’t’ find any. When I started pulling together my own, I found so many others wanted to do these alongside me, that there was clearly a demand for these programs. Doing good is quite naturally one of the best ways to feel good. Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?Before Globe Aware, there were no organizations that offered short-term organized experiences abroad that were a good fit for most working North Americans. Most were geared toward high school and college students with weeks or a whole summer to burn, and were fairly unstructured, with the thought that you would eventually find out how to use your own time. Our culture is focused on productivity and making the most with the small amount of free time most of us have. This is at odds with the perspective in many cultures, especially those cultures that have less material resources. Therefore the big challenge was to find a way to tailor such experiences that would be provide a meaningful, productive opportunity to give…
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Sunday, 18 October 2020 10:24
Travel Trends Look Positive for 2021
Finally. Travelers are preparing to pack their bags and take to the air, road and sea again, according to travel advisors who said bookings are gaining momentum for 2021 and beyond. Interest in 2021 Travel Is on the Rise CLAUDETTE COVEYTRAVEL AGENT OCTOBER 18, 2020 Finally. Travelers are preparing to pack their bags and take to the air, road and sea again, according to anecdotal reports from travel advisors, who said bookings are gaining momentum for 2021 and beyond. “Interest for 2021 travel began to rise in the past few weeks for myself and for my colleagues,” said Becky Lukovic of Bella Travel Planning, a Travel Experts affiliate. “The requests are still pretty all over the place: Hawaii, Caribbean, Colorado, Italy and Greece. A number [of clients] have started actually booking their plans with refundable arrangements or cancel for any reason insurance.” For Richard Turen of Churchill & Turen, clients’ interest has been increasing over the past three months. “Bookings for 2021 are within 15 percent of ‘normal,’” he said. “The number of guests planning more than one international trip in the 24 months beginning Jan. 1 is very close to the number that just have one trip deposited.” Claire Schoeder of Elevations Travel, a Signature Travel Network affiliate, said she is witnessing an uptick in 2021 business, especially for the summer and fall in Europe. “Clients are optimistic that cases will decline and countries will once again be open,” she said. “Discussion of rapid tests at airports is helping, and…
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Wednesday, 07 October 2020 10:56
Costa Rica Has Re-opened to All U.S. Travelers
Starting on November 1, all U.S. travelers will be welcome to Costa Rica. Globe Aware volunteers from all 50 states will be able to participate in any of three programs in Costa Rica, with proper safety guidelines and precautions taken. Costa Rica Opens to All U.S. Travelers Starting November 1, any American who presents a negative COVID-19 test can travel to Costa Rica. By Michelle BaranOct 7, 2020 On September 1, Costa Rica began allowing international travelers from the United States to fly into the country as long as they were residents of one of the following eight states: Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Vermont, or Virginia, plus the District of Columbia. Starting September 15, travelers from Arizona, Colorado, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and Wyoming were able to join them. As of October 1, Californians could head to Costa Rica, too. And on October 15, residents of Florida, Georgia, and Texas get the green light. But starting on November 1, all U.S. travelers will be welcome. After closing its borders to international travelers on March 18 (other than to those who submitted to a 14-day quarantine order) to control the spread of coronavirus, the Central American country began welcoming international travelers back on August 1. Since August 19, citizens and residents from these regions and countries have been able to enter Costa Rica: the European Union, the Schengen Zone, the United Kingdom, Canada, Uruguay, Japan, South Korea, Thailand, Singapore, China, and…
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Saturday, 10 October 2020 16:55
Essential Workers Can Win Thailand Vacations During Amid COVID-19
The Tourism Authority of Thailand has a giveaway that will send five deserving essential workers and one guest on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Thailand. We encourage Globe Aware volunteers and alumni who are amazing essential workers to participate in this giveaway! Thailand to Award Vacations to Essential Workers Amid COVID-19 DESTINATION & TOURISM LAURIE BARATTI OCTOBER 11, 2020 The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has partnered with U.S. digital media company Matador Network on a giveaway contest that will send five deserving essential workers and one guest on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to Thailand. It’s part of TAT’s ongoing ‘Thailand Gives Back to Heroes’ project, an initiative aimed at returning the kindness of those who have risked their own well-being to work on the COVID-19 pandemic’s frontlines. Now through November 8, 2020, the public can go online to submit themselves or any other eligible essential worker for consideration through TAT’s nomination portal. Nominators must provide a synopsis of their reasons why their nominee deserves to win a free trip to Thailand, describing how this person has made a difference amid the unforeseen challenges of 2020. Essential workers can come from a variety of fields and might include healthcare workers, grocery store staff, police, firefighters, postal workers, teachers and more. “We forever appreciate the selfless commitment of each of the United States' frontline heroes. We know that you deserve this time to rejuvenate your mind and body as we continue to fight against these uncertain situations,” said Charinya Kiatlapnachai, Director, Tourism…
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Tuesday, 06 October 2020 10:57
New Airline Technology on the Horizon
Flying has given travelers around the world great personal and professional travel opportunities, therefore the emphasis has got to be on solving the emissions and the carbon problems. The introduction of hydrogen airplanes and the extent of its environmental benefit could be a game changer. Globe Aware believes in green travel and looks forward to their arrival. Why this space age airplane could change flying forever (CNN) — It looks like a spaceship, runs on fuel that up until a few years ago experts were calling "crazy," and has barely left the drawing board, but in the eyes of one of the world's leading aircraft manufacturers, it's undoubtedly the future. Not even the distant future. Airbus hopes we'll be soaring into the skies on one of its radical new designs in just 15 years, leaving the days of jet engine pollution and flight-shaming far behind us. The blended wing aircraft is one of a trinity of eco-friendly hydrogen-fueled models unveiled recently by Airbus as part of its ambitions to spearhead the decarbonization of the aviation industry. It's a bold plan, and one that just a few short months ago might have seemed fanciful as demand for fossil fuel-powered air travel continued to rise, apparently immune to growing environmental concerns. But the arrival of Covid-19 and its impact on aviation could've inadvertently cleared a flight path of opportunity for efforts to rethink the technology of getting the world up into the air. Airbus has baptized its new program ZEROe. The designs…
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Thursday, 01 October 2020 15:26
The 50 Best Trip Destinations For Solo Female Travel
A global pandemic might not seem like the most ideal time to go on vacation, but solo female travel is on the rise for 2021. The increase is in large part due to the hearty appetite of Americans aged 50-plus for traveling solo and Globe Aware provides the ideal volunteer vacations for solo women travelers. 50 Best Trips For Solo Female Travel (And Why Now Is The Time To Go) Laura Begley BloomSenior ContributorForbesWomenBudgetDirect A global pandemic might not seem like the most ideal time to go on vacation, but solo female travel is on the rise. Witness the explosion in interest that Overseas Adventure Travel has seen: More than 24,000 single travelers have booked trips for 2021, with women-only departures growing in popularity. According to the company, the increase is in large part due to the hearty appetite of Americans aged 50-plus for traveling solo, especially women. “We see solo women, in particular, with a passion to meet and bond with the local people. It's life-changing,” says CEO and president Brian Fitzgerald. And according to research by the travel company Cox & Kings, solo travel could be among the first segments to come back as the travel sector starts to recover. Around a quarter of the company’s recent bookings have come from those traveling alone, says Sue Livsey, senior manager, who reports that their consumers have still retained their sense of adventure: “They want to travel, there’s a hunger there.” Here’s another part of the appeal: There are deals galore right now…
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Tuesday, 29 September 2020 13:03
Virtual Travel Booming as Traditional Travel Lags Due to COVID 19
As the travel industry awaits the new normal, technology has been moving along at its standard exponential rate of growth. Globe Aware has adapted and provided online virtual experiences, live from project countries, providing a means of travel, communication and connection. Zooming Into The Virtual New Norm Of Travel Michael AlpinerTravel As the travel industry awaits the new normal, and hopefully the old normal once again, technology, which in itself requires no mask and is subject to no travel restrictions, has been moving along at its standard exponential rate of growth. From the simplest Zoom meeting to the most advanced virtual reality experience, the irrepressive nature of humankind is once again adapting to its environment. Like the virus itself, the travel industry mutates to allow for its most basic survival elements: communication, connection, and travel. In 2020, the pandemic injured the travel industry, but also gave rise to a new form of adventurous experience - virtual reality. The pandemic did not spearhead VR technology. In fact, many companies and industry leaders were using virtual reality as soon as it became available and applicable to travel. For instance, Royal Caribbean’s Spectrum of the Seas offers Sky Pad, a virtual reality bungee trampoline experience where guests can dress for reality, but also don VR headsets and choose between three immersive games – Jump Rally, Sugar Leap, and Bass Bouncer. Royal Caribbean’s chairman and CEO, Richard Fain, in an interview with the AListDaily, said, “People want their technology integrated, and the ubiquity…
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Tuesday, 22 September 2020 13:06
New App Provides Information, Guidance While Traveling During COVID-19
Peter Wells, the founder and CEO of the DragonSlayer web app, is focused on helping travelers figure out where they can go, what COVID-19-related restrictions they will face, and finding the best destination for them based on a personalized assessment. Essential apps assist volunteers whenever they are on a volunteer vacation with Globe Aware. This App Will Tell You Everything You Need to Know About Traveling in the Time of COVID-19 By Alison FoxTravel + Leisure In December, Peter Wells launched his new app geared at helping discerning travelers find experiences that fit their travel style. But when COVID-19 took a tremendous toll on the travel industry, shutting down borders and putting vacation plans on hold, he had to pivot. a screenshot of a cell phone: “We're trying to make people aware that 'yes' you can travel, but it's going to be on different terms.”© Courtesy of DragonSlayer “We're trying to make people aware that 'yes' you can travel, but it's going to be on different terms.”Now, Wells, the founder and CEO of the DragonSlayer web app, is relaunching — only this time, he’s focused on helping travelers figure out where they can go, what COVID-19-related restrictions they will face, and finding the best destination for them based on a personalized assessment. “What I'm hoping overall... is in a small way we're contributing to getting travel back on its feet,” Wells told Travel + Leisure. “It is so much a part of our fabric as Americans.” The app issues…
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Friday, 18 September 2020 10:52
Low COVID Rates Among In-flight Staff Prove Flying Is Safe: Airline CEOs
The travel industry has identified the fall as when travelers are feeling more comfortable traveling abroad by air. Currently Globe Aware has various international programs open for these travelers. Airline CEOs Say Employees Low COVID Rates Prove Flying Is Safe Airline CEOs are saying that the fact that there are lower rates of Covid-19 among its workforce than in the general population it is safe to fly. Data from airlines shows that flight attendants and other airline workers have lower rates of the virus, despite tight quarters on airplanes, and executives and union representatives believe this proves that safety measures to protect passengers and employees are working and that flying is safe, according to a report on Business Insider. "At United, but also at our large competitors, our flight attendants have lower COVID infection rates than the general population," Scott Kirby, CEO of United, said on Wednesday at a forum hosted by Politico. "Which is one of multiple data points that speaks to the safety onboard airplanes." At the SAP Concur forum Delta CEO Ed Bastian shared similar sentiments. "If the experience of flying was not safe, you'd expect our people to get sick,” said Bastian. "We track the health of our people. Our people are meaningfully less infected than the general population." American Airlines CEO Robert Isom also made note of the data. "The actions we have taken to ensure the safety and well-being of our team and customers are working," Isom said. The current rate of infection of…
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Tuesday, 15 September 2020 14:52
Globe Aware-founder Kimberly Haley-Coleman Profiled by Texas Business Hall of Fame
Name: KIMBERLY HALEY-COLEMAN Scholarship Year: 1995 Professional Background: CEO and Founder, Globe Aware Education: Southern Methodist University – MA, Art History University of Dallas – MBA, International Business Emory University – BA, Art History, French, Marketing, Italian About Kimberly Haley-Coleman and her company: Pairing her business acumen with a passion for international volunteering, Kimberly Haley-Coleman has been a leading figure in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors for more than two decades as she has helped promote awareness and access to volunteering opportunities abroad.
Published in Globe Aware News
Tuesday, 15 September 2020 15:29
Thailand prepares to welcome back tourists
Thailand will start issuing special visas to foreign tourists starting October, easing a more than five-month-old ban on visitors. Globe Aware provides two volunteer vacations in Thailand is excited move forward with this new travel update. Thailand Moves a Step Closer to Welcoming Back Foreign Tourists Bloomberg Natnicha Chuwiruch and Suttinee Yuvejwattana Bloomberg September 15, 2020 (Bloomberg) -- Thailand will start issuing special visas to foreign tourists starting October, easing a more than five-month-old ban on visitors to revive the nation’s ailing tourism-reliant economy. Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha’s cabinet approved a proposal to issue visas to tourists planning to stay between 90 and 280 days in Thailand, according to government spokeswoman Traisuree Taisaranakul. The tourists will undergo a mandatory 14-day state quarantine on arrival at partner hotels or hospitals and follow health and safety regulations, she said. The government expects about 1,200 visitors to avail themselves of these visas each month, generating about 1.2 billion baht ($38.5 million) in revenue. The easing of border restrictions may boost the nation’s pandemic-battered tourism industry and cushion the blow to an economy projected to contract 8.5% this year. The news of cabinet approval for special visas triggered a rally among hotel and travel operators in Bangkok. A measure of Thai tourism and leisure stocks jumped 4.5%, the biggest gainer among the Stock Exchange of Thailand’s 28 industry groups. It was also the index’s largest increase since May 26. While Hotel operators Erawan Group Pcl and Central Plaza Hotel Pcl surged more than 8%,…
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Sunday, 16 August 2020 14:36
The Emotional Toll COVID has had on Many Travelers
Travelers are seriously missing vacations abroad amid the pandemic—so much so that it’s begun taking a real emotional toll on them. Many cited travel as one of the activities that they’re most yearning for. New Study Finds Consumers Miss Travel So Much It's Taking an Emotional Toll on Many BY LAURIE BARATTIAUGUST 16, 2020 In a new Amex Trendex report, American Express found that U.S. consumers are seriously missing travel amid the COVID-19 pandemic—so much so that it’s begun taking a real emotional toll on them. Nearly half of those surveyed (48 percent) reported that the inability to travel at present is causing them to feel anxious and stressed, and three out of four respondents (78 percent) cited travel as one of the activities that they’re most yearning for. With summer drawing to an end and no end to COVID-19 in sight, Americans nonetheless remain reluctant to take up traveling again, with only ten percent of those surveyed saying they plan to travel over Labor Day weekend. Only one in five (20 percent) said they’re currently planning to travel for Thanksgiving. In terms of their considerations when planning future travel, some key consumer insights also emerged from the study: When restrictions are finally lifted and it’s actually considered safe to travel again, 67 percent said that they’d still prefer to travel with members of their households, with whom they’ve been cooped up at home for several months, to going by themselves (ten percent). While four in five consumers (77 percent) prefer…
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Sunday, 09 August 2020 12:47
Dallas-Fort Worth is Currently the Busiest Airport in the World
For the first time, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is now operating more flights than any other on the planet. Many Globe Aware volunteers fly from or through this airport when heading to their volunteer vacation abroad. How Dallas-Fort Worth Became the Busiest Airport in the World The Texas airport is operating more flights than any other hub on the planet. BY JESSICA PUCKETT July 30, 2020While the air travel industry is facing numerous declines during the pandemic, one unexpected upturn has surfaced: a new busiest airport in the world. For the first time in recent memory, Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport is now operating more flights than any other on the planet. In fact, for three months in a row the Texas hub has had the most takeoffs and landings around the globe. Starting in May, the airport climbed to the top ranking, with 22,831 airline takeoffs and landings, according to data from the Federal Aviation Administration. That was enough to edge out some typically busier hubs in the U.S.—including Atlanta, Denver, Charlotte, and Chicago O'Hare—for the number one spot. DFW topped those same airports in June with 25,294 takeoffs and landings, according to the FAA's data. "I’ve connected through DFW a few times during the COVID outbreak," says Ryan Ewing, founder and president of Airline Geeks. "Early on, I found DFW to be noticeably busier than some other hub airports. Plenty of concessions were open. At one point in April, I had to wait for a few of the Skylink…
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Tuesday, 04 August 2020 11:48
Italy missing American tourists this summer
Traveling to Italy has become a summer vacation hot spot for Americans, but unfortunately this year the plans of many vacationers have been cancelled. Globe Aware staff look forward to visiting Europe again soon, and feel its nice that we are missed. Italy Misses The "Laughter And Infectious Curiosity" Of American Tourists This Summer AUG 4, 2020 8:30 AM Traveling to Italy has become a summer vacation hot spot for Americans. From taking a ride on the gondolas to strolling with a gelato in hand, Italy is absolutely alluring. In fact, six million American travelers choose this European country as their vacation spot each year, according to the Italian government’s statistics bureau. Unfortunately, this year is a lot different for us all. If you’re anything like me, your summer travel plans to Italy have been canceled indefinitely. Italy was hit hard by COVID-19 and the country is slowly making its way out of the emergency phase. International borders are closed with the exception of a select amount of countries being added to a safe list for essential travel. With the borders being closed, comes a struggle in the tourism industry, with the loss of millions of US tourists this year. According to Italian press outlets, American travelers brought in almost €3 billion to Italy last year. In Rome, Italy’s most popular city for tourism, hotels have been losing about $115 million per month, as 90% of properties remain closed. “The majority of our clients are from the USA and the…
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Friday, 03 July 2020 11:34
Find out which tourist destinations are re-opening to tourists
Popular travel destinations are beginning to ease their Covid-19 lock down measures and are moving toward welcoming tourists back. If you're one of many Globe Aware volunteers eagerly awaiting news on where you can travel to this year, here's another updated guide to the top destinations making plans to reopen. Which international destinations are reopening to tourists? Tamara Hardingham-Gill, CNN • Updated 3rd July 2020 (CNN) — Although many governments are still advising against "nonessential" international travel, a host of popular destinations are beginning to ease their Covid-19 lockdown measures and border restrictions and are moving toward welcoming tourists back. On July 1, the European Union announced it would be reopening its external border to 15 countries outside of the bloc in a bid to boost its travel industry. Algeria, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, Montenegro, Morocco, New Zealand, Rwanda, Serbia, South Korea, Thailand, Tunisia and Uruguay are all included in the list, along with China, provided it agrees to lift restrictions on EU citizens. However, the United States, which now has the highest number of confirmed Covid-19 infections in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center, was not included. Meanwhile the UK has formed "travel corridors" with 59 different countries, while Caribbean islands like Jamaica have already opened their doors to foreign visitors again. "Travel bubbles" are also becoming more popular, with the likes of Fiji, Australia and New Zealand considering following the lead of Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, who have lifted restrictions for…
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Wednesday, 17 June 2020 15:32
Staying safe and comfortable while traveling this summer
Traveling during the Corona pandemic isn't the same as it was before all of this began. Globe Aware volunteers must be prepared with the right essentials to stay safe and prevent any further spread of the virus. Traveling this summer? These 12 things will keep you safe and comfortable Amanda TarltonReviewed.comJune 17, 2020 As states lift their stay-at-home orders after months of quarantine, more and more people are beginning to venture out. But they aren't just heading to the grocery store or the gym—some people are starting to travel again, as well. Whether it be for business or pleasure, traveling during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic isn't the same as it was before all of this began. Not only are airports, airlines, and other public transportation companies instituting new rules and cleaning procedures, but travelers themselves must also be prepared with the right essentials to stay safe and prevent any further spread of the virus. If you have plans to travel in the near future, we've rounded up 12 things to help you stay safe and comfortable. Our advice comes from guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), advice from experts, and even suggestions from people who have already been traveling amid the pandemic. From the necessary face mask you'll need to wear from point A to point B to products that will help you sanitize your hotel room, these are the things to take with you on your next trip. 1. A face mask The CDC…
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Sunday, 14 June 2020 13:16
Countries are re-opening as lockdown restrictions are eased
As lock down restrictions are eased in many countries, borders are being opened up again too. Many countries rely heavily on travelers during the summer therefore it is vital for the economy to get tourists vacationing back in their country again. Where can I travel this summer? Countries open for tourism June 15, 2020 The coronavirus has forced several countries to close borders and airline companies to ground flights but what countries can I travel to this summer? The coronavirus continues to spread in some areas of the world and is fluctuating in others from week to week. As lockdown restrictions are eased in many cities and countries, borders are being opened up again too. Many countries rely heavily on tourism during the summer with Spain, for example, relying on the tourism industry for €159 billion a year and 2.65 million jobs. Therefore, it is seen as pertinent to the health of the economy to get tourists back into the country. According to the New York Times, “Approximately 100 million travel sector jobs have been eliminated or will be.” They say passenger travel is down 95% compared to last year and loss of revenue are expected to be more than $300 billion. In the middle of the first wave of coronavirus, it was believed all summer holidays would be cancelled, but things have changed rapidly since then. It is now seen as 'under control' in some countries. The European Commission wants its members to come together to provide a list…
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Thursday, 11 June 2020 12:27
Globe Aware volunteer recognized for community service, awarded scholarship
Globe Aware volunteer recognized for community service will share in a Lions Club scholarship as she prepares to attend Duke University. Saratoga Lions Club Awards 2020 Scholarships THURSDAY, 11 JUNE 2020BY SARATOGA TODAY SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Saratoga Springs Lions Club Scholarship Committee proudly presents $32,500 in academic awards to seven Saratoga Springs High School Seniors. All seven seniors are pursuing four-years + in academic programs with diverse fields of study. It is disappointing that the annual Lions awards luncheon was unable to be held this June, however, we are anxious to share these students and the honor they receive for their hard work and perseverance during this difficult senior year.
Published in Globe Aware News
Saturday, 06 June 2020 12:15
How the Travel Industry Can Do Its Part in the Fight Against Racism
Racism, like in many other sectors of society, has been built into the travel industry. Globe Aware, a nonprofit that specializes in volunteer vacations, takes their responsibility to be anti-racist seriously. How the Travel Industry Can Do Its Part in the Fight Against Racism ALEX TEMBLADOR JUNE 02, 2020TravelPulse.com One of the first features I wrote about the subject of race and racism in the travel industry, a travel executive reached out to me to ask me who or what had made me so angry to write the piece. As a brown woman of color, he was essentially inferring that I was an “angry brown woman,” a stereotype that has long been used to highlight women of color who discuss controversial topics such as racism. To say that I wasn’t surprised by his reaction is accurate. The travel industry tends to think of itself as a space of leisure, fun, and escape where such things like racism are left behind for good times. The problem is, for black individuals and people of color, escaping racism is not something they can do by taking a vacation. Racism, like in many other sectors of society, has been built into the travel industry, both knowingly and unknowingly. It’s the travel industry’s responsibility to do something about it. I can showcase the pervasiveness of racism in the travel industry through study after study, through anecdotes of racial attacks on planes and racial biases in hotels or cruises. I can provide interviews with black…
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Wednesday, 03 June 2020 15:05
Is it safe to travel now?
Travel is slowly starting up again and people locked down for months want to go out, whether its a road trip or international volunteer vacation. Learn how you can safely explore the world without endangering yourself or others. Is it safe to travel now? It depends. Here are the best practices for getting on the road without endangering your health—or anyone else’s. BY JOHANNA READ PUBLISHED MAY 28, 2020 ALTHOUGH MANY RESTRICTIONS are still in place, travel is slowly starting up again. People locked down for months want to stretch their legs, see something other than a screen, and boost the economy. Restaurants and some tourist attractions (Florida’s Universal Orlando Resort, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston) are opening for local and domestic travel. A few countries (Greece, Italy) are starting to welcome international travelers. But how can you safely explore a world of potentially deadly encounters with friendly people who might infect you (or who you might expose to the virus)? Is the airplane really a soaring petri dish? Is visiting a national park possible while social distancing? And if you choose a seemingly safer road trip, can you stop to use a public restroom? A poll by National Geographic and Morning Consult finds that just 2 percent of 2,200 Americans said they’d jump on a plane now, and only another 8 percent would consider it later this summer. That’s wise with travel advisories still in place, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)…
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Wednesday, 03 June 2020 14:41
Thailand Reopening after COVID-19
Once Thailand opens to international tourists, they'll likely only be able to visit certain vacation spots. This will be beneficial for both tourists and local residents, Globe Aware will continue to track when volunteer vacations can resume in their Thailand locations as well. THAILAND REOPENING TO TOURISTS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW MAY 29, 2020 TREVOR KUCHERANTRAVEL NEWS The Thailand Tourism Authority has said that tourists will have to wait a few more months before visiting. The Governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand said that tourism could return in the fourth quarter of this year. Here is everything you need to know about Thailand reopening to tourists and what to expect when one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world opens their border. "It is still dependent on the outbreak situation, but I think at the earliest, we may see the return of tourists could be the fourth quarter of this year." Yuthasak Supasorn, governor of the Tourism Authority of Thailand told CNN Even then, there will likely be restrictions on who can visit and where they can go said Yuthasak. “We are not going to open all at once,” he adds. “We are still on high alert, we just can't let our guards down yet. We have to look at the country of origin [of the travelers] to see if their situation has truly improved. And lastly, we have to see whether our own business operators are ready to receive tourists under the ‘new normal'.” Similar…
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Wednesday, 20 May 2020 16:13
New corridors between countries may allow for safe travel
With the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastation to tourist destinations such as Mexico and South America, it’s time to consider creating “travel bubbles. Volunteer vacation destinations closer to the U.S.’s proximity may be more likely to open for travel. U.S. 'Travel Bubbles' Would Let Us Fly Safely and Bring Back Millions of Jobs With the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastation to tourist destinations in Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America, it’s time to consider creating “travel bubbles. Andres OppenheimerMiami Herald (TNS)May 26, 2020 With the COVID-19 pandemic’s devastation to tourist destinations in Florida, the Caribbean, Mexico and South America, it’s time to consider creating “travel bubbles” — or corridors — between countries. That’s what Australia and New Zealand have just done, and it should be done everywhere. Granted, it may be too soon to expect a significant resumption of international travel in the Americas. But it’s time to start planning for it. Italy and Spain gradually are reopening tourism destinations; Orlando’s Universal theme park has announced it will reopen in early June; Miami Beach plans to reopen its beaches and hotels on June 1. It makes sense to plan for a gradual normalization of international flights in July or August, and save millions of tourism-related jobs. Virtually no other part of the economy has been as crippled by the coronavirus pandemic as the travel industry. According to the London-based World Travel and Tourism Council, a private-sector group, about 100 million tourism jobs worldwide have been affected by the ongoing crisis. In the Caribbean,…
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Monday, 25 May 2020 12:29
Everything you need to know for safe travel in Mexico during coronavirus
Mexico, one of the top ten countries in the world for travel and tourism plans to reopen its doors to travelers starting in June but not all at the same time. Globe Aware is closely monitoring as the country opens regions in stages. (CNN) — Mexico, one of the top ten countries in the world for tourism according to the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), plans to reopen its doors to travelers starting in June -- albeit not all at the same time. Similar to other nations globally, Mexico has been on lockdown due to Covid-19, forcing hotels and restaurants to temporarily close their doors and putting pre-booked tours on hold, such as cenotes snorkeling trips, Mexico City food tours and excursions to Mayan ruins. "The plan for the country is to open in stages and by regions," says WTTC CEO Gloria Guevara. "The target is domestic travelers first, followed by travelers from the US and Canada and then the rest of the world." There is still a Global Health Advisory (Level 4: Do Not Travel) in place, advising all US citizens not to travel internationally due to the coronavirus. And most international flights into and out of Mexico's major airports have been suspended or greatly reduced. In a recent press release, however, Delta Air Lines announced an uptick in flights beginning in June, "While the June schedule is significantly reduced in comparison to last year, customers will see the return of several major routes, both US domestic and…
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Thursday, 14 May 2020 14:55
What does the future hold for tourism? The answer may lie in Asia
For most countries, staying isolated is not an option they can afford long-term, and experts predict it's just a matter of time before other countries create travel bubbles of their own. Countries are searching for pair-up partners, that appear to have their outbreaks under control, Globe Aware will be staying updated with this information as well. The future of tourism in the coronavirus era: Asia may hold answers to what's ahead Julia Hollingsworth and Kocha OlarnCNNMay 13, 2020 Bangkok, Thailand (CNN) — It's a sunny day on Bangkok's most famous tourist street, and shopkeeper Cletana Thangworachai is open for business. Her Khao San Road shop is crowded with shiny magnets, brightly colored elephant key rings and the patterned cotton pants that have become an unofficial uniform for backpackers in Southeast Asia. But for now, there's no one to buy them. The coronavirus pandemic has had a devastating impact on travel, with the UN World Tourism Organization estimating that international tourism could decline by up to 80% this year over 2019, putting at least 100 million jobs at risk. In Thailand, where tourism makes up 18% of the country's GDP, the Tourism Authority expects visitor numbers could be down 65% this year. Many, like Cletana, are struggling to make ends meet. Before Covid-19, she could make $300 a day. In April, Thailand banned all international flights into the country, and now, her daily earnings are down to $2 -- sometimes even zero. But the 45-year-old, who has been selling souvenirs on…
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Sunday, 26 April 2020 12:24
Coronavirus will reshape travel
Coronavirus will change your next volunteer vacation because you may be paying less for travel, and there will be more flexibility. Larger gatherings like festivals and concerts will not be at the forefront of many people's travel plans. Coronavirus will reshape your next trip, for better or worse. Here's what to expect Christopher ElliottSpecial to USA TODAY Henry Perez' summer vacation will be a little different this year. In addition to packing his swimsuit and camera for an Eastern Caribbean cruise this August, he's also planning to bring plenty of masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant. "I will now personally sanitize my whole stateroom," says Perez, who works for an extermination company in Boston. "The attendants do a good job, but I want that extra layer of security." Perez' behavior may have seemed odd before the pandemic. But it underscores one of three key concerns – and possibly changes – that will define travel in the future. "The travel industry needs to do a better job communicating with guests to assure them of hygiene and safety," says Xiang Li, director of Temple University's U.S.-Asia Center for Tourism & Hospitality Research. How coronavirus will change your next vacation You'll pay less. Look for lots of deals and better values. Your ticket will be more flexible. Change fees and refund rules will stay away for the rest of the year, maybe longer. Your vacation will be cleaner and safer. Your airline, cruise line and hotel will emphasize their hygiene and safety. "All three…
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Thursday, 23 April 2020 15:30
Thailand's rare sea turtles make a comeback
While the number of tourists on Thai beaches have fallen, the number of rare sea turtle has grown! Coronavirus lockdown boosts numbers of Thailand's rare sea turtles Largest number of nests of leatherbacks found in two decades as beaches emptied Reuters Thailand has discovered the largest number of nests of rare leatherback sea turtles in two decades on beaches bereft of tourists because of the coronavirus pandemic, environmentalists say. From wild boars strolling through the Israeli city of Haifa to deer venturing into London suburbs, lockdowns are drawing wildlife into many emptied areas. In Thailand, with 2,792 infections and 47 deaths as of Monday morning, travel curbs ranging from a ban on international flights to an appeal to citizens to stay at home have resulted in a collapse in tourist numbers, and freed up the beaches for wildlife. The 11 turtle nests authorities have found since last November were the highest number in 20 years, said Kongkiat Kittiwatanawong, the director of the Phuket Marine Biological Centre. “This is a very good sign for us because many areas for spawning have been destroyed by humans,” he said. No such nests had been found for the previous five years. “If we compare to the year before, we didn’t have this many spawn, because turtles have a high risk of getting killed by fishing gear and humans disturbing the beach.” Leatherbacks are the world’s largest sea turtles. They are considered endangered in Thailand, and listed as a vulnerable species globally by the International…
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Wednesday, 01 April 2020 12:24
Explore Art & Culture During Quarantine
You Can Now Tour 2,500 World-Famous Museums From the Comfort of Your Own Sofa By McKinley CorbleyGood News NetworkMar 17, 2020 If you have suddenly found yourself confined to your home during the COVID-19 shutdowns, Google has launched an ingenious new service that allows art lovers to get their culture fix from the comfort of their own home. Google Arts and Culture has partnered with more than 2,500 museums and galleries around the world in order to offer virtual tours and online displays of their collections to internet surfers. The “tours” allow users to wander through the interiors of the world’s most famous museums similarly to the Google Street View feature. Users can also download Google’s free Arts and Culture iOS or Android app for a much more immersive museum experience. In addition to offering the tours, many of the museums are also offering up detailed online collections of their masterpieces just in case you want to get up close and personal with one of Vincent Van Gogh’s self-portraits. The tech company has partnered with such prestigious institutions as the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, the Rijksmuseum in the Netherlands, the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the Uffizi Gallery of Florence, and the Guggenheim Museum in New York—just to name a few from Google’s top ten shortlist. If you’re still looking to get an artistic fix from your smartphone, you can also use the “Send Me SFMOMA” texting service from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. The service…
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Monday, 30 March 2020 12:05
Keep dreaming & planning your meaningful travel
Coronavirus: a message from GoAbroad’s founder to travelers Dear Travelers & GoAbroad Community, We are still here. Our employees are working from home, but they are still hard at work to help make meaningful travel possible. We have heard from many of you, and know that some of you are still traveling somewhere in the world, some of you are still planning to travel in the future, some of you have postponed your travels, and regrettably some of you have had to cancel your trips. We understand that there are many challenges the COVID-19 pandemic has caused. In this time of uncertainty, global suffering, and sacrifice I am reminded of Mr. Rogers’ famous quote, “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping’.” GoAbroad is a community of helpers. We are millions of individuals who already identify as part of a global community, a family of humanity separated only by distance and political boundaries. Today, the world needs everyone to sit and wait and collectively as a human family, curb the spread of COVID-19. When this has passed, the world will be there and there will be an infinite number of opportunities to travel and to become helpers once again. If you are currently abroad or are preparing for a trip in the near future, we strongly encourage you to listen to the people who have spent…
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Monday, 16 March 2020 13:11
These pups will add cheer to your St. Patrick’s Day
A little Irish cheer on this St. Patrick’s Day thanks to some rescue pups and a coffee shop. Enjoy! This Coffee Company Helps Save Rescue Pups — And They Have St. Patrick’s Day Goodies, Too By Morgan SmithMarch 16, 2020People When’s the last time you skipped the long line at a coffee shop and brewed your own cup of joe at home? Or hit snooze to sneak in a few extra minutes of cuddling with your pet before work? Grounds & Hounds, a California-based coffee company, is encouraging people to do just that. Jordan Karcher, 32, founded the company in 2014 after adopting his “sidekick” Molly, a sweet 9-year-old dalmatian. The company donates 20 percent of all its profits to help fund rescue programs in animal shelters across the United States. Their Rescue Roast donates 100 percent of its profits to a new rescue organization each month. Through April 15th, that’s Pandas Paws Rescue, an organization that rescues and rehabilitates animals with serious medical issues and/or special needs. I got to sample the Rescue Roast, and it was fantastic. The medium roast has a nutty, bitter flavor with subtle sweet notes of caramel and dark chocolate. A 12 oz bag of whole beans or grounds costs $14.99. Since Grounds & Hounds introduced the product on their website in 2018, they’ve raised more than $45,000 to help support rescue organizations throughout the country, according to Karcher. Those organizations include the Marley’s Mutts Pawsitive Change Prison Program, which pairs incarcerated men with shelter dogs…
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Friday, 13 March 2020 14:35
Oliver the hiking ferret has climbed more mountains than you!
A light story about a world-traveler and her pet ferret. Enjoy! This hiking ferret has summited 11 of Colorado's highest peaks Oliver enjoys camping, kayaking, touring national parks and napping (when he's not stealing pens and socks). March 13, 2020By Jen ReederSource: TODAY When paramedic Lauren Smith “impulse-bought” a baby ferret in 2015, she didn’t know much about ferrets. She just knew she wanted a pet and felt it wouldn’t be fair to keep a dog or cat alone in her apartment while she worked 12-hour shifts. “Somebody mentioned that ferrets sleep 18-20 hours a day, and I was like, ‘That’s perfect,’” she told TODAY. Little did she know that while awake, young ferrets are extremely energetic. Her ferret, Oliver, would run straight into the wall or try to dive under the TV stand and miss and hit his head. He also engaged in his natural instinct to burrow. “He destroyed my couch and I was like, ‘I’ve got to do something to get this energy out of this little critter,’” she recalled. Her solution? Head out together on outdoor adventures. Lauren Smith and her ferret, OliverTo help Oliver burn off energy, Lauren Smith started taking her ferret on outdoor adventures.Courtesy of Lauren Smith They started at Caprock Canyons State Park, which wasn't far from their home in Lubbock, Texas. Oliver wore his little harness — not a problem since she gave him so many treats while training to use it — and everything was fine until an ant bit…
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Wednesday, 11 March 2020 11:25
Volunteer vacations to bridge the generational gap
Grandparents have little in common with their grandchildren, or so it seems. It may just take a shared experience such as a volunteer vacation in Guatemala to brdge the generational gap. Memories worth making The gap in relating with grandchildren has grown so much wider in the last couple of decades due to the domination of technology in the younger generations. Some grandparents may struggle to relate to the world their grandchildren now live in. Despite this gap in understanding each other, there are still ways to come together, share experiences and make memories that will bring them closer together. One way of bridging the gap is through travel and more specifically through volunteer travel. In recent years, volunteering abroad has become a way to explore and learn about other cultures. This isn’t the Peace Corps volunteering of yesteryear however. This is an opportunity for multi-generational families to travel abroad, explore, learn and work together. One way to assure your volunteer abroad will be exciting and full of wonderful memories is to choose a nonprofit organization that has been accredited by the International Volunteer Programs Association (IVPA). By choosing an IVPA approved volunteer abroad program, you can have peace of mind that your family’s experience will be fulfilling, safe and filled with long-lasting memories. That is what grandparents Renee and James did when they chose Globe Aware to celebrate their grandson’s Zeth’s 16th birthday by visiting and volunteering in Guatemala. Cell phones and laptops were left behind in favour…
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Monday, 09 March 2020 15:39
How did Vanuatu become one of the happiest countries?
Largley rural with an agricultural economy, the small South Pacific island nation is a happy nation. Despite being prone to natural disasters, this Pacific archipelago's unique combination of sustainability and tradition makes it one of the happiest places in the world. By Bill Code10 February 2020BBC Travel One of the happiest places on Earth sits in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. Vanuatu, a slingshot-shaped country that comprises more than 80 islands nearly 2,000km east of Australia, ranked among the four happiest nations in the world – and the happiest outside of the Americas – according to the Happy Planet Index. The rankings take into account a nation’s wellbeing, life expectancy and inequality levels, along with its ecological footprint. What makes this tiny nation so happy? Since its independence from joint French and British rule in 1980, all land in Vanuatu belongs to the native ni-Vanuatu population and cannot be sold to foreigners. A 2011 survey by the Vanuatu National Statistics Office (VNSO) indicated people with access to land are, on average, happier than those without it. Today, about three-quarters of the country’s 298,000 residents live in rural areas, and the majority of islanders have access to land where they can live and grow their food. The same survey found that goods such as pigs, yams and the South Pacific crop kava (a kind of pepper plant sometimes used to relieve stress and anxiety) are easily accessible and exchanged in Vanuatu without money. Another source of happiness is the…
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Thursday, 05 March 2020 13:03
Top-trending Travel Locations 2020
India has many wonderful, magical travel destinations. Globe Aware offers volunteer vacations in this diverse, culturally-significant country. Kochi or Cochin was voted the year’s trending destinations in the TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards 2020. By Clinton Moodle Feb 27, 2020Source: IOL The city in southwest India's coastal Kerala state saw the biggest spike in reviews and ratings on the travel website. And, judging by its many attractions, there’s plenty to keep you occupied. TripAdvisor revealed why travellers were enticed by this Indian city: “A blending of several small villages on the southwestern coast created the current incarnation of Kochi (or Cochin), where sunset strolls, sampling fresh fish from seaside vendors and boat rides through the islands just offshore top visitors' to-do lists. “Art centers showcase the traditional dance, Kathakali. European influences are seen in the 16th-century Portuguese-built churches and forts, while the mark of early Chinese traders is visible in the unusual fishing nets dotting the shoreline.” (sic). One of the popular tours is the 'funny and helpful Tuk Tuk Tour in Kochin' for only R158. The guide shows you some of the famous places in Kochi with a bit of humour to the tour. Then there’s also experiences for foodies. If you are interested in learning about the city’s food story, you can book a class to cook Kerala inspired dishes with a local host. The tour, around R260, provides insight on how to prepare dishes like chapati round bread, dosa, ghee rice, vegetable dishes, fish fry or chicken curry.…
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Tuesday, 04 February 2020 13:09
Spain's Popularity as a Tourist Destination Soars
Spain is a popular tourist destination, second only to France. This country’s tourist arrivals hit a new record high in 2019 - can you guess where? TOURISM is a key element to every country's infrastructure, providing an opportunity to increase revenue and awareness to what the country has to offer - and one particular location reached a tourism record high. By LEAH SINCLAIRExpressFebruary 4, 2020 The number of international visitors to Spain hit a record high of 83.7 million in 2019, Industry and Tourism Minister Reyes Maroto said last month. According to Reuters, tourist arrivals rose one percent last year. Spain is officially the world’s second-most visited country after France. “We address 2020 with optimism, because we have a strong and consolidated sector, capable of tackling the challenges ahead of us,” said Maroto. The minister added that one of Spain’s main priorities will be to lure visitors from new countries along with working to have visitors all year long and not only in the summer season. The Secretary of State for Tourism, Isabel Oliver said: “This magnificent data allows us to face 2020 with solid foundations and with the confidence that we have a strong sector capable of maintaining Spain as a world leader in tourism competitiveness." Britons still represent the highest proportion of tourists visiting Spain, with 18 million Britons choosing Spain to visit in 2019. However, this was a half a million less than in 2018. Additionally, Spain has seen more visitors from Asia and the United States…
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Tuesday, 25 February 2020 10:56
Visa Travel Rules Changing for Travelers to Turkey
To encourage more visitors from the European Union and Western Europe, Turkey is relaxing its Visa rules by abolishing associated fees. By Simon CalderTravel CorrespondentThe Independent February 20 2020 One of the most popular countries for British holidaymakers will abolish its current visa rules for UK tourists from next month. At present, British travellers must apply online for a permit to travel, which costs US$35 (£27). The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Ankara announced: “As of 2 March 2020, Turkey has decided to exempt visa requirements for the members of the European Union Schengen area, Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland as well as the United Kingdom citizens for touristic travels to Turkey for every 90 days within 180 day period. “This step aims at increasing our tourism potential with these countries as well as further developing our trade, economic and cultural relations.” More than two million Britons travelled to Turkey in 2019. Turkey has applied fees to British visitors for decades. Until recently, UK tourists had to pay £10 in cash to enter the country. The move has been welcomed by leading travel figures. Steve Heapy, chief executive of Jet2.com and Jet2holidays said: “The removal of Turkish visa charges is fantastic news for British holidaymakers, as it means more money in their pockets. “Turkey is one of our most popular destinations, and this news makes it much easier for hard-working British families to enjoy a well-deserved holiday to this beautiful country.” Ted Wake, director of Kirker Holidays, called the…
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Thursday, 20 February 2020 10:45
Travelling to a Disaster Zone
Considering a vacation to a country or region recently damaged by a natural disaster? Here are some of the ethical questions. Australia’s recent bushfires are the latest in a spate of terrifying natural disasters across the planet. Can tourists help more by visiting or by donating? By Tim McDonaldBBC - TRAVEL19 February 2020 Lorena Granados and Gaspar Roman have set up a temporary leather goods stall by the edge of the road in Mogo, a bushfire-ravaged town in New South Wales, Australia. It sits in front of their old store, which was reduced to warped corrugated iron and ashes when the fires tore through this tiny tourist town of about 300 on New Year’s Eve. “We can continue to have a purpose in life and get up in the morning and have something to do,” Granados told me. The next few months will be a grind, they said. They’ll be seeking government assistance and dealing with insurers and depending on help from family and friends. The small stall won’t replace their large store and leather workshop. But it’s a start. And every purchase is a step towards returning to normal. Their message is clear: Mogo is safe, and tourist dollars are badly needed, so please visit. Australia’s recent bushfires, which started raging in September, are the latest in a spate of terrifying natural disasters across the planet. The fires were particularly devastating in New South Wales and Victoria, killing at least 33 people and destroying thousands of homes. More than…
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Monday, 17 February 2020 10:55
Global tourism and the coronavirus
What impact will the coronavirus have on tourism in 2020? Some predict the effects will be felt globally, into 2021. The Coronavirus’s Effect on Tourism Will Carry Into 2021, Experts Say And it won’t just affect China, either. By Nikki EksteinFebruary 13, 2020Blookberg Coronavirus May Affect Tourism Into 2021 Earlier this week, even as infections of the novel coronavirus seemed to be slowing, the effects of the epidemic on the global tourism industry were accelerating rapidly. The impact of the pneumonia-like disease caused by the virus, called Covid-19, is already being felt across the Asian continent, where leisure and business travel contributed $884 billion to gross domestic product in 2017, the most recent year for which data has been compiled by the World Travel and Tourism Council. (Projections for 2018 are about $1 trillion.) For China alone, inbound tourism brought in $127.3 billion in 2019, according to the country’s tourism bureau. But as diagnoses tick upward again, travel agents, operators, and hoteliers are bracing for at least months, if not a full year, of economic disruption from the outbreak, with long-term effects that may ripple well into 2021. “The numbers of trip cancellations—not just to China but to the entire continent of Asia—is growing every day,” says Jack Ezon, founder and managing partner of luxury travel agency Embark Beyond. “People are put off. Sadly, a lot of them are just saying, ‘I don’t know if I want to go anywhere right now.’ Or, in many cases, ‘I’ll just go next…
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Saturday, 01 February 2020 13:42
Travel and Tourism Challenges of Coronavirus
Coronavirus is posing a challenge to the global tourism industry. The health sector and tourism and industry groups are working together to protect the global travel industry as concerns and questions mount. The Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre is rapidly emerging as a new and important to go organization for the global travel and tourism industry in times of challenges. Leadership and coordination are needed to protect this global industry, and the Center is ready to work with everyone, but urges it’s time to act now. UNWTO issued a very general statement today, WTTC CEO Gloria Guevara addressed coronavirus when talking to eTurboNews saying don’t cancel flights yet, don’t close your airports, ETOA CEO Tom Jenkins said: Coronavirus fear is a powerful deterrent to tourism. The African Tourism Board answered the question if you should you still travel to Africa? PATA CEO Mario Hardy is convinced there is a lot of misinformation and said: Destination and tourism marketers will need to play a critical role in correcting the vast amount of misinformation surrounding the ongoing Novel Coronavirus outbreak that is hurting travel and tourism businesses across Asia. Today the Global Tourism Resilience and Crisis Management Centre center calls on the action by the private sector, academia, public sector, and multilateral agencies to act now, as the situation of protecting Anthropocene Earth is impatient of Time. The man behind the Center, Minister Bartlett just 3 days ago said the recent threats of global pandemics and the frequent occurrences of…
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Wednesday, 22 January 2020 11:07
Canadians Seek Meaningful Travel Pursuits
Travel is a way of life for many young people, including many Canadians. However, finding the ideal, unique and life-changing destination and adventure is difficult. Instead of lounging on a beach, drinking to excess and being herded about with hundreds of other tourists, the goal, for many, is to take the road less traveled and experience other countries and societies while immersed in local communities. CANADIANS SWAP “FLY AND FRY” VACATIONS FOR MEANINGFUL TRAVEL PURSUITS By Michele Sponagle January 22, 2020 Source: YouAreUNLTD Magazine Many Canadians in their teens and 20s travel as a rite of passage between finishing school and getting serious about career, family or both. Later in life, the motivation changes. Having been there and done that, mature globetrotters are moved to explore by a bigger purpose, whether it’s to learn, to volunteer or to pursue newfound passions. For Anita Draycott, 68, from Stouffville, ON, travel means hitting the links: “I took up golf late in life and have been addicted to the game now for about 25 years.” She’s turned her passion into a pursuit and is now a professional golf writer who has played more than 500 courses on six continents. Because the season is short in Canada, she and her husband, William, bought a timeshare in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, 12 years ago. “Our one week in the sun has morphed into three months every year,” says Draycott. She still travels internationally to feed her wanderlust. “I love to experience new places, customs, cuisine, etc.,” she…
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Thursday, 09 January 2020 17:22
Safe travel advice when visiting the Middle East
Recent events in the Middle East have put travelers on edge. Here are some tips on staying safe if you plan on travelling to the region in the near future. ‘Maintain a high level of vigilance’ — travel security experts advise caution when traveling to the Middle East Jan 8, 2020 By MEERA JAGANNATHAN and ANDREW KESHNER The State Department says Americans should maintain ‘situational awareness’ in the region following the Baghdad airstrike Tourists at the Khazneh, or Treasury, in Petra, Jordan. The popular destination is in a region of the world where tensions can be expected to rise after an U.S. airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq, killed a top Iranian military official. Iran and Iraq are obviously not destinations for most U.S. tourists, but experts say U.S. citizens should exercise caution when traveling to other countries in the Middle East following the U.S. airstrike that killed Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani at Baghdad’s international airport last Friday. Iran, which has several armed allies in the region, retaliated Wednesday by firing a volley of ballistic missiles at two American military bases in Iraq. The Federal Aviation Administration banned U.S. airlines from flying over Iran, Iraq and waters of the Gulf of Oman and Persian Gulf, and Reuters reported that a number of non-U.S. airlines, including Emirates and Lufthansa, had canceled flights around Iraq and Iran. Meanwhile, a Ukraine-bound Boeing 737 BA, -0.77% operated by Ukraine International Airlines crashed Wednesday after taking off from Tehran, killing all 176 people on board. Ukraine’s embassy…
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Friday, 10 January 2020 12:48
Awesome Solo Travel Ideas for 2020
New year, new travel opportunities. Volunteer travel and volunteer vacations are but one unique solo-travel opportunities you can take to experience new countries, cultures and communities. Here are some other destinations to help you map out travel in the new year. 50 Awesome Solo Travel Destinations To Visit In 2020 From Slovenia to Ecuador, these spots offer a variety of activities for solo travelers. 10/01/2020 By Caroline Bologna HuffPost US Many people take the month of January to look at the year ahead and set travel goals. One of the most powerful ways to explore a new place is to take a solo trip. From the freedom and flexibility to the stress relief and boost in self-reliance, there are endless benefits to solo travel. And there are many exciting places to make it happen. Of course, it’s always important to research current conditions in your desired destination to stay safe when traveling, especially for solo trips. But fortunately, there are precautions you can take, and tons of backup options if needed. We asked travel bloggers and other experts to share the solo travel destinations they recommend for 2020. Keep scrolling to read about 50 places that will surely inspire your wanderlust. Vancouver, Canada “If you enjoy spending time in nature, Vancouver is a great place to add to your solo destination list for 2020. Canada as a whole is a very safe country to visit, and Vancouver has so much to offer. The city itself offers beautiful views of mountains…
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Thursday, 26 December 2019 13:06
Tips on traveling abroad for the first time
Traveling to a foreign country for the first time can be both exhilarating and anxiety inducing: have you considered all the required information, devices, social protocols and social etiquette? How about finances, security and insurance? Much to consider. Here are some tips on how best to navigate. 10 Things You Need to Know About Traveling Abroad for the First Time DECEMBER 26, 2019 By Megan GrantParade Remember that one time I went to Paris and brought my blowdryer so that I could look #fabulous while strolling down the Champs-Élysées, but forgot that the outlets are different and I couldn’t use it so my hair was a giant ball of frizz for eight days? Fun times. There are so many details we forget when traveling abroad—some minor (see: the great hair frizz of 2018) and some much more crucial. If you’re planning on boarding a plane and adventuring to a faraway place, here are 10 things you need to keep in mind about traveling abroad. 10 Things to Know About Traveling Abroad 1. Figure Out How You Can Pay for Things Beforehand“Uh, I’ll just swipe my card, yeah?” Maybe. But maybe not. Michael Turtle of Time Travel Turtle tells Parade.com, “When you’re in a different country, you may not be able to pay for things in the way that you’re used to. I normally always just tap my credit card at home, but there are quite a few countries where you still need to use your PIN, so make sure you…
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Thursday, 17 September 2020 12:09
Looking for travel inspiration?
New year, new travel adventures. Looking for a unique destination and fresh adventure can be a challenge. You can always take a volunteer vacation which will immerse you in a community and culture completely new to you. Or you could travel to a destination you had preconceptions about only to be amazed by discovering an untapped world of wonder. Here are a few suggestions from travel writers that may pique your interest. See Ya There! Here Are 10 Places That Travel Influencers Recommend Visiting in 2020 DECEMBER 17, 2019By Jessica SagerParade If you made a New Year’s resolution to travel more in 2020, get packing! From stateside locales to foreign lands that haven’t gotten much tourism yet, we’ve asked the experts where the best places to travel in 2020 are—and some of these options will surprise you. Whether or not you have a passport or wanderlust beyond our own borders, we’ve got a place for you. Here Are 10 Places That Travel Influencers Recommend Visiting in 2020: Hilton Head Island, South Carolina The Traveling Newlyweds can’t get enough of Hilton Head Island, S.C., whether for a vacation or a staycation. It’s just a 45-minute drive from Savannah, Ga., and about two hours from Charleston, but has all the trappings of a tropical getaway—white sand beaches, warm temperatures, 12 miles of breathtaking coastline, 50 miles of scenic trails, 250 restaurants and numerous award-winning resorts. There are a ton of family-owned eateries and businesses and a lot of live music and dining…
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Sunday, 01 December 2019 12:28
Surviving Holiday Travel
Holiday travel is hectic: busy airports, overwhelmed airline staff, weather delays, high ticket prices are but a few of the challenges. Katherine Parker-Magyar writing for Forbes shares some collected wisdom from popular travel writers on how best to survive and thrive during the Christmas and holiday travel season. 15 Travel Writers Share Their Best Tips For Holiday Travel Katherine Parker-Magyar, Contributor Travel It's the most wonderful (and chaotic) time of the year. As hordes of travelers descend upon airports nationwide to journey home for the holidays, the prospect of December travel strikes both excitement and anxiety in the hearts of many. We decided to consult the experts for travel advice for the upcoming season (including tips on how to make your economy ticket feel like business class.) To that end, 15 travel writers shared their hard-earned wisdom on everything from travel rewards programs to appropriate-airport attire. ("Air travel is a horrific slog, it's every man for himself, and you should wear whatever makes you feel most comfortable," Todd Kingston Plummer offered on the latter.) To check or not to check, that is the question. Or, one of the questions, at least. And while some writers we interviewed were vehemently against such profligate packing habits ("the cardinal sin of traveling," according to Leila Najafi), there is something to be said for the mantra that more is more. Often, the things we're likely to forget are those that are most obvious. (I surely am not the only one who has found myself in…
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Saturday, 30 November 2019 11:58
Tips on Preventing Lost Luggage
If you are taking a volunteer vacation, a family trip to Disneyland or a Mediterranean cruise, few things put a damper on events like lost luggage. Lost clothes, toiletries, medications and electronics can drastically impact plans and enjoyment. Aimee Robinson, writing for Express Newspapers shares some tips that will help your bags arrive at your destination at the same time you do. Luggage: One simple passenger mistake makes lost luggage more likely - do you do this? LUGGAGE going missing is a traveller’s worst nightmare, however, it seems there are some passenger mistakes that make this unfortunate scenario more likely. Are you guilty of doing this on your travels? By AIMEE ROBINSON Lost luggage is a nightmare for many travellers. While often this means passengers are left without their baggage for days at a time, causing chaos for holiday plans, a worst-case scenario can see their bags lost forever. It turns out that while airport and airline staff are sometimes at fault for this, there is also a chance that one simple mistake by passengers can be the reason their luggage goes missing. The problem can arise long before passengers even get to the airport. One travel expert revealed the small oversight, which they said is often why bags don’t make it onto the right aircraft. On a post in Reddit, the expert explained: “Not a secret, just common sense; the reason some bags miss their flight or get misrouted is because passengers don't remove old tags. “It confuses handlers as…
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Thursday, 28 November 2019 13:00
Travel safely
Safety is always paramount when considering a travel destination. There is a lot of turmoil in the world and minimizing exposure to violence, crime and public unrest - especially when travelling with children and loved ones - is very important. To help in trip planning, Lonely Planet has released its list of safe destinations. The safest countries in the world for travel in 2020, according to a new report The Nordic nations of Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Norway and Iceland are some of the safest countries in the world to visit, according to a new report from security specialists at International SOS. The organisation released its 11th annual Travel Risk Map, an interactive map which predicts the safest and most dangerous places to travel in 2020, as well as the biggest issues travellers will face. Countries were ranked in different risk categories: insignificant, low, medium, high and extreme. The Nordic nations were grouped in 'insignificant', along with Switzerland, Greenland and Slovenia. The US, Australia, New Zealand, Canada and most of Europe were rated as having a "low" level of travel risk, in addition to Argentina, Japan, China and Namibia. According to International SOS, criteria was based on "the current threat posed to travellers by political violence, social unrest, as well as violent and petty crime." Other factors include transportation infrastructure, industrial relations, the effectiveness of security and emergency services and susceptibility to natural disasters. Those ranked as having a "medium" risk level include Russia, India, South Africa, Costa Rica, Saudi Arabia,…
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Friday, 01 November 2019 13:46
Life-changing Volunteer Vacations
For many people, family vacations create the longest lasting, happiest memories that are carried and shared for a lifetime. A family volunteer vacation has the added element of a new country, community and culture and changing personal outlooks as families give back while receiving a profound, eye-opening experience. Here is a fantastic article in a recent edition of Chesapeake Family Life Volunteer Vacations that Give Back November 1, 2019 Taking a family vacation can be a great way for families to relax and reconnect. But what if your family wants a more meaningful experience than the annual trip to the beach or a theme park? Enter volunteer vacations, a popular alternative to the traditional vacation that allows families to give back while also getting away. Volunteer vacations have been on the rise for the past decade, and volunteer tourism or “voluntourism” is now an almost 200-billion dollar industry. It’s a trend that continues to grow as more families search for ways to make a concrete impact on the world around them. “I think more people are seeking this kind of vacation because they have a personal desire to connect with a cause they support,” says Kimberly Haley-Coleman, Executive Director of Globe Aware, a nonprofit organization that pairs families with volunteer vacation experiences. “We are living in such a digital world that it can be hard for kids to gain perspective on the world around them, and parents want to give their children the experience of making a difference in a direct…
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Tuesday, 29 October 2019 10:52
Changes to Cuba-U.S. Flight Rules
The current U.S. administration announced Oct. 25, 2019 that all flights to Cuba would be stopped to any city other than Havana. Globe Aware's volunteer vacation programs are based in Havana and will continue to function.
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Tuesday, 15 October 2019 11:42
Turn PTO into Life-Changing Volunteer Vacation
The workplace is changing. Employees in some companies are enjoying greater flexibility in work scheduling, planning days off and personal time off. Here is a great NASDAQ article profiling several companies who are leading this trend and offer employees an ideal opportunity to take a life-changing volunteer vacation.
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Friday, 26 July 2019 11:02
Social media a key motivator for Gen Z Travelers
Determing the next great trip and adventure can be a challenge: finite money and time must vet seemingly infinite travel opportunities. Generation Z travelers are turning to social media to help them in their due diligence, finding the next-best-destination, trend and activity. Allie Jones in a recent article for Conde Nast Traveler examined the trends and motivators sending the newest generation of travelers around the world. Gen Z Are Starting to Travel—And Instagram and YouTube Determine Where They Go By ALLIE JONESJuly 29, 2019 Experts differ on the exact confines of America’s newest generation, Gen Z, but for the purposes of this article, let’s say that it includes anyone born after the year 1995. That means that Gen Z’s oldest members are now in their late teens and early twenties—the time of life when, if you’re lucky, you get to start traveling on your own. Like many of her peers, 18-year-old influencer Kayla Kosuga has documented her early travels on social media. Kosuga, a recent high-school graduate, has 550,000 subscribers on YouTube, where she’s posted videos about her “morning routine,” her boyfriend, “being grounded,” and other relatable aspects of teen life for the last two years. Last year, she recorded a vlog during a family trip to Washington, D.C.—the classic boring educational vacation. But this year, she informed her followers she was striking out on her own in a video titled “TRAVELING WITHOUT MY PARENTS FOR THE FIRST TIME.” (She went to Beautycon, an influencer conference, in New York City.)…
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Thursday, 29 August 2019 12:31
Volunteer Programs Helping Companies Connect Globally
Corporations of all sizes have international suppliers, manufactures, agents and customers. Learning about the countries, communities and people is important in understanding how best to manage these business relationships.Kimberly Haley-Coleman of Globe Aware has decades of experience leading groups around the world on short-term volunteer experiences and creating and managing volunteer abroad solutions for groups and companies of every size. Managing Risk and Reward When Volunteering Abroad Nearly every public company in the world, and an increasing number of smaller companies, have some level of international engagement linked to their core business. It's part of the globally connected present. Industries ranging from medical, tech, import-export, energy, and finance to agriculture, production, construction, manufacturing, marketing, executive and risk management need to be alert to how geopolitical events could affect their people, product and profit. At Stratfor, we believe success in working internationally can be developed with the application of geopolitical know-how: understanding the implications of historical, social and cultural mores, business practices, geography, politics and infrastructure of the countries where you choose to do business. Tracking and managing those geopolitical risks can be nearly unmanageable for smaller companies, unless they have strategies and partnerships in place to complement what they can do themselves. Kimberly Haley-Coleman has firsthand knowledge of what's at stake. She is founder and Executive Director of Globe Aware, a non-profit company that develops short-term volunteer programs in international environments. The company's goal is to provide an immersive volunteer experience for busy professionals who want to make a difference…
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Monday, 26 August 2019 12:18
Volunteer travel to Lake Peten Itza, El Remate, Guatemala
A family’s tradition of sending grandchildren, once they reach the age of 16, on trips to introduce them to different cultures and people and around the world continues. Here is a travelogue entry by Zeth to Guatemala with Globe Aware. Previous grandkids selected volunteer work in the Andes mountains of Peru, with the Roma people of Romania and in a small rural village in the West African country of Ghana. Day One: Lake Peten Itza, El Remate, Guatemala Moments like yesterday are why I’m a travel junkie. The guys still asleep, I took an early walk along a small road where we’re staying. What a treat! No city noise, only the idyllic sounds of nature: tropical birds unlike we hear at home … the occasional cry of a monkey, perhaps chiding her youngster … insects buzzing … and the crunch of my footsteps along the gravel-dirt road. After a while a small older man walked in my direction, and I offered my best “Buenos dias, senor.” He offered me a mostly toothless smile and gently reached out toward me – but not his right hand, as if to shake hands, his left hand. He held onto my hand and we had this wonderful nodding and eye-to-eye exchange while he said something I couldn’t understand. Had he been an American in the U.S., I would have likely averted my eyes and pulled back thinking, “Why is he still holding onto my hand?” But he just continued to smile with old soul…
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Wednesday, 07 August 2019 15:11
Volunteer travel experience in Peru with Globe Aware
A Fresno State lacrosse player shares her eye-opening volunteer travel experience in Peru and living with and learning from the Cuzco community. Enjoy! Two weeks in Peru with Lauren Kiszely 7/24/2019 12:00:00 PM | By: Savannah Stoeckle / Communications Assistant FRESNO, Calif. - For many college students summer vacation is a prime opportunity to visit with family and friends, go on vacation, attend concerts, make memories and escape from the books and mile high piles of lecture notes.
Published in Globe Aware News
Sunday, 14 July 2019 15:17
Travel Anxiety: Survival Tips to Enjoy Your Trip
Use these strategies to calm your mind as a traveler with anxiety. By Elaine K. Howley, ContributorThis article is based on reporting that features expert sources including Indra Cidambi, MD; Moe Gelbart, PhD; Sanam Hafeez, PsyD Anxiety is the most common mental illness in America, affecting about 40 million people, or more than 10% of the population, according to figures from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America. Anxiety can occur in any number of settings – day-to-day worries and generalized anxiety disorder are common. But it can also result from more specific, short-term reasons, such as getting ready for a big trip. As with other types of anxiety, “when we talk about travel anxiety, it’s important to understand that it’s real," says Dr. Indra Cidambi, the medical director at the Center for Network Therapy, who’s double board-certified in general psychiatry and addiction medicine. Learn how to implement the following tips into your travel prep plans. Tips to Ease Travel Anxiety Acknowledge your anxiety. Learn more. Make a plan. Write a list. Bring light, inflight distractions. Avoid coffee and other stimulants. Carry a paper lunch bag. Chew on ice cubes. Splash your face with cold water. Eat Ayurvedic spices. Download a relaxation app. Try cognitive behavioral therapy. Consider hypnotherapy. Discuss medications with your doctor. Although “most travel is elective and designed to be fun and good, there’s a host of A to Z potential stressors” you’ll encounter along the way, says Moe Gelbart, a psychologist in private practice and founder…
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Thursday, 11 July 2019 12:52
Volunteer Travel to Vietnam: Promoting a green message with recycled treasures
by Huyền Phương & Lê HươngJuly, 11/2019 Driftwood, broken fishing nets or flip-flops may be rubbish to many people, but through the skilful hands of Hồ Công Thắng, who resides in An Bàng Village in Hội An, this detritus is transformed into unique objects. When he was younger, Thắng realised he had a passion for turning rubbish into useful objects. He could spend hours working on his creations. In 2016, he returned to Việt Nam after three years working in Japan as a shipbuilder. He chose Hội An to settle down as he thought the tourism destination would be a good market for handmade souvenirs. He soon opened a shop named Art Garden Décor, offering decorative items made from rubbish and recycled materials. His workshop is filled with old light bulbs, bottles, jars, boxes and bits of household appliances. The old bottles can be painted and used as plant pots, while old wooden doors have been carved into decorative fish. Sometimes, customers suggest ideas for his latest product. The craftsman has sold thousands of wooden fish over the last two years, proving the popularity of his designs. Yet each product takes many hours to design by hand. “Though I make many products according to the same design, each item has unique details,” he told Quảng Nam newspaper. “When it comes to decorative objects, industrial production lines kill creativity,” he said. “If we know how to use and recycle waste and create new objects, it will save our natural resources,” he…
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Wednesday, 15 May 2019 15:56
It’s winter; any idea where your legislator is?
By MARTY TRILLHAASEMay 15, 2019 It’s admirable that Sen. Mark Schoesler, R-Ritzville, and Reps. Mary Dye, R-Pomeroy, and Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, compiled a perfect attendance score in Olympia this year. But when you’re following strict rules, it’s easier to be diligent. Schoesler, Dye or Schmick operate under a less-than-forgiving system: If they don’t show up to vote, their constituents back home in the 9th Legislative District will hear about it. Not so in Idaho. Spending time in the Legislature interfering with your business? Get yourself a temp. Legislative service interfering with your vacation plans? Hire a sub. Want to get an early jump on campaigning for office? Appoint a fill-in. You can’t find a more lenient system anywhere else. It’s almost as if the legislators wrote this law for themselves — which, of course, they did. After all, this is same group that had to be dragged kicking and screaming before relinquishing a lucrative public pension perk. This is the same collection of politicians who won’t submit to outside ethics reviews or disclose minimal financial conflict of interest information about themselves. In Congress and in most state legislatures, you vote or you don’t. You either resign or you don’t. Even grave illness is no excuse. For instance, the late Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., stayed home while he was suffering from terminal brain cancer last year. When Brenda Erickson, a senior research analyst at the National Conference of State Legislatures, looked into this a few years ago, she found a handful…
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Monday, 29 April 2019 13:05
A profound volunteer travel experience
Idaho Senator Brent Hill shares the profound impact a Globe Aware volunteer vacation he took to Vietnam with his sons had on him. What Vietnam taught me about Idaho By Sen. Brent Hill | Guest columnist Apr 25, 2019 Vietnam. The very word sent chills down the back of every young man facing possible military draft during the sixties. It summoned to the mind other words like guerrilla warfare, Vietcong, communism, casualties. Over a quarter of a million American families lost a loved one in the Vietnam War. Four times that many Vietnamese were killed. As a boy growing up in the 1960s, I never expected to visit Vietnam — at least not for peaceful purposes. But earlier this month, three of our sons and one of my brothers traveled with me to an island in Vietnam. We were there to conduct service projects in a country still recovering from decades of war. Through an organization called Globe Aware, we spent long days working at a school for deaf children, building a home for an elderly widow, teaching English and other activities. Because Idaho’s legislative session persisted longer than expected, I finally asked Eric Erickson of Rexburg to fill in for me for what I assumed would be the last day or two, so I could keep my other commitment in Vietnam. Mixing mortar with shovels and laying brick in 95-degree weather with 88 percent humidity was difficult compared to sitting in airconditioned committee meetings at the statehouse. But it…
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Friday, 26 April 2019 15:16
Volunteer vacations a growing trend
10 News, Tampa Bay's and and Sarasota's CBS station, recently looked at volunteer travel and volunteer vacation trends and their growing popularity. Volunteering on vacation is a fast-growing trend You can help others while seeing the world is a new trend! Author: Jenny DeanPublished: 11:00 AM EDT April 25, 2019Updated: 11:00 AM EDT April 25, 2019 TAMPA, Fla. — A vacation often means rest and relaxation, but more and more people are looking at traveling as an opportunity to help others and give back. "I've been up the Amazon River, I've been to Vietnam, Romania, Guatemala, Haiti, several places in the United States, Puerto Rico, all over the Caribbean," said Don Germaise. Germaise is a familiar face to many in Tampa Bay, but this former TV reporter's life has changed a bit. "In the TV business you see the best and the worst the world has to offer, and at some point, it just occurred to me: I just gotta do something to make the world a better place," he explained. He now travels the world, volunteering his time to help others. "Here's the best part about a volunteer vacation, you're not stuck at a dumpy hotel doing tours that everyone else does," Germaise said. "You're meeting regular people, living with regular people and helping regular people all over the world." Travel Writer Joe Miragliotta says that's exactly why more people are spending time volunteering on vacation. "Travelers, especially millennials like myself, are becoming more socially conscious when it comes…
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Thursday, 21 March 2019 09:03
Five points to consider when volunteering abroad
This article in Christian Science Monitor gives some great tips about what to think about when planning an overseas volunteer experience. How to volunteer abroad: five points to consider MARCH 20, 2019 By Pamela Hawley Some 1.6 million people serve in places of need each year, according to a 2008 study. One popular country is Morocco, where volunteers are working in orphanages or assisting at schools. Thailand is also popular. One thing volunteers can do with an organization called Globe Aware is help preserve elephant habitat. There is so much good to do in the world! If you are planning a trip, here are some pointers to make your volunteer opportunities the greatest. 1. Prepare in advance. Make sure you take time to understand the host country before you go. Find out what languages are spoken, any cultural norms that should be followed, and any issues of which you should be aware. For example, Brazil is often thought of as a luxurious vacationing spot. Yet the country’s murder rate has risen. It can be a dangerous place. You must have a heart to serve, and also know how to be careful. 2. Find a reputable volunteer opportunity. Make sure the volunteer opportunity is vetted. Too often, volunteers’ time is wasted. It’s important that the opportunity is valuable and has a positive effect on the world. How can you accomplish vetting? Well, UniversalGiving can help! We assess overhead, other financials, leadership, and terrorism. Our proprietary Quality Model ensures that when you…
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Tuesday, 19 March 2019 13:00
Volunteer service experience opportunities
For those looking to have a career in nonprofit industry, one of the best ways to get experience and build your resume is to get in lots of volunteer service experience, whether domestically or abroad. This article explores this topic and gives additional information on what else is needed. LEARN MORE
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Wednesday, 13 February 2019 11:59
Volunteering and Healthy Living
Using hard earned-vacation or paid time off to volunteer may not resonate with everyone right off the bat. Understanding how volunteer travel and volunteering both domestically and internationally creates a healthier lifestyle, while also helping and learning from others is important. Working together as equals with host communities is a major focus in all Globe Aware programs. Read more and find out where to begin with Globe Aware’s volunteer abroad programs CLICK HERE
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Tuesday, 05 February 2019 10:45
Many different reasons for a volunteer vacation
There are many different reasons to volunteer, some of the obvious being that your efforts are good for the community and it makes you feel great. This article discusses how volunteering abroad on a volunteer vacation with groups like Globe Aware is also particularly great for your health and well-being. As a way for clearing your mind and refocusing, putting yourself into a new and interesting culture while giving back can be as powerful as a yoga retreat. Read here for more on how service abroad can be good for your body and mind: CLICK HERE
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Friday, 01 February 2019 13:44
Preparing for Volunteering Abroad
One of the most common questions we hear from potential volunteers is, What shots or vaccines do we need before traveling to our destination? In many cases, there are no mandatory shots or vaccines, but we always recommend checking with your general practitioner and referencing the US Center for Disease Control’s website. It’s important to be aware of any recommendations that are not necessarily mandatory for entering a specific country. It is also wise to know about your host community’s geographic location. For example, mosquitos may be prevalent in some parts of a country while in other areas with a higher altitude, they may not be a problem at all. For more information on how to better prepare for a volunteer vacation, visit https://www.abroaderview.org/prepare-volunteer-vaccinations
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Thursday, 17 January 2019 13:54
Student Volunteerism
Exposure to new places, cultures, and ideas is vital to broadening the world view of our students and a key component of Globe Aware’s mission. Volunteer vacations are also a great way to develop lifelong skills and passions that may not be realized in other avenues. Read the attached article for insight on these benefits and others involved with student volunteer travel. LEARN MORE
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Monday, 07 January 2019 12:53
Tourism to change for the better in 2019
As major tourist destinations become overrun with tourists searching for the perfect photo for social media, many are turning to alternate ways of exploring new destinations. Volunteer vacations are a fantastic way to not only see the major sites, but also learn from the local people and culture. Working side by side with local experts on a variety of community driven projects will open your eyes and heart in a way that is incomparable to travel as a typical tourist. The sharing of thoughts, ideas, customs and beliefs will leave a long-lasting impact. Check out this article on predicted travel trends this year and reach out to Globe Aware to help plan your meaningful travel adventure. LEARN MORE
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Friday, 28 December 2018 12:31
New Year Resolution? How About Volunteer Travel
As 2019 quickly approaches many people are starting the process of setting goals for the new year. One common goal is to be more intentional with giving back and volunteering. To make this resolution happen this year it is vital to assess interests and strengths in order to foster a rich experience for both the volunteer and the recipient community. Globe Aware offers an array of international volunteering experiences that can focus on individual’s skills or strengths. Read this article to see some of the benefits of volunteering abroad and locally. The importance of volunteering in the community Volunteering connects you to others By Reggie ConnellThe Apopka Voice One of the better-known benefits of volunteering is the impact on the community. Unpaid volunteers are often the glue that holds a community together. Volunteering allows you to connect to your community and make it a better place. However, volunteering is a two-way street, and it can benefit you and your family as much as the cause you choose to help. Dedicating your time as a volunteer helps you make new friends, expand your network, and boost your social skills. Volunteering as a familyWhile it might be a challenge to coordinate everyone’s schedules, volunteering as a family has many worthwhile benefits. Children watch everything you do. By giving back to the community, you show them firsthand how volunteering makes a difference and how good it feels to help others and enact change. It’s also a valuable way for you to get to know…
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Sunday, 09 December 2018 14:14
International Volunteers day supported by Globe Aware
Many marked International Volunteers day with celebrations this week. Globe Aware supports the same vision in this article and reinforced by the State of the World Volunteering Report released last week, that this kind of unpaid service supports peace and social cohesion that helps everyone. Here is a great article in the Samoa Observer, on how volunteers celebrate with games, fashion parade. Volunteers celebrate with games, fashion parade By Sapeer Mayron 09 December 2018 With the formalities done on Wednesday, International Volunteers Day took on another flavour yesterday at One U.N House in Tuanaimato. Volunteers from Japan, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and other far flung places gathered to be pampered with speeches, good food, and sports out on the field. They even treated each other to a fashion show, to display the Samoan workwear and accessories they’ve acquired on their journey.
Published in Globe Aware News
Monday, 03 December 2018 17:07
Volunteer Travel and Other Strategies for Raising Generous Kids
Globe Aware is one of the few organizations that offer opportunities to families of all ages to participate in our volunteer travel programs. It is important to understand the growth and emotional capacities of children during these vital years and the effect that has on them as adults. How do you raise children to become caring, philanthropic centered adults? Read more here on how to foster a sense of compassion in your children. LEARN MORE
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Wednesday, 28 November 2018 14:45
Corporate volunteer travel opportunities abound
Corporate volunteering is a great way to build teamwork and company cohesion while giving back The corporate world is changing, and many employees are unaware of the amazing benefits that their employers offer them when it comes to volunteering. Volunteer time off and corporate matching are just a couple of ways in which employers are encouraging their employees to give back. Globe Aware works with these companies to maximize the impact of your time and charitable donation on a volunteer vacation. Check out this article to see how these companies are promoting volunteerism in their local communities and beyond. 7 employers with great volunteer benefits
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Monday, 05 November 2018 12:05
Volunteer Tourism Has Enormous Impact on Travelers and Communities
Inspiring Volunteer Tourism Participation Volunteering has an incredible impact for both the volunteer and the community being served. It might be hard to measure in numbers, but Morven Maclean takes a unique approach at assessing this and lays out tools for both volunteer tourism organizations and volunteering groups at large. Take a look at this article for helpful tips on increasing volunteer participation and securing funding. Volunteering has a crucial impact - so prove it! Volunteering participation in Scotland has remained largely static over the last ten years, with just 28% of adults volunteering in 2017. If we’re serious about driving participation rates and inspiring new audiences to volunteer, we need to start shouting about the incredible impact that volunteering can have, on volunteers, on our organisations and on wider society. In order to do this, we need evidence. As volunteering professionals, we often lament that we’re not listened to, our departments are not invested in and that volunteering is undervalued by our organisations. But what are we doing about it? Are we demonstrating to our senior leadership teams how volunteering helps achieve our organisations’ strategic objectives? Surely that would grab their attention and put volunteering on the map? As volunteer programme managers, we should spend less time on day-to-day transactional work and more time evidencing the impact that volunteers make. Until we do that, we won’t achieve the profile and investment that volunteering deserves. Volunteering is crucial, not only to organisations but to achieving the outcomes of a better…
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Sunday, 14 October 2018 11:43
A Volunteer Vacation Is A Great Travel Option After Retirement
Volunteer Vacations for Retirees Many people struggle with balancing a meaningful lifestyle after reaching retirement age. Voluntourism trips are a great way to connect with a local community, see the world, and learn from incredible people from all walks of life. Check out this article that dives a little deeper into traveling and volunteering once retired and steps you can take now to ensure a fulfilling experience. How to Travel the World After You Retire PATRICIA DOHERTYOCTOBER 14, 2018 Hitting the road after retirement, whether by vehicle or plane, train, or cruise ship, is the goal of many people contemplating a work-free future. Both retirees and those years away from retirement look forward to relaxation, travel, family time, and leisure activities, according to a survey by Prudential Financial. And another study by Bank of America indicated that 95 percent of retirees would prefer to have enjoyable experiences over buying things. Travel is a way to achieve this — whether visiting out-of-town relatives or vacationing together. Travel and Retirement FinancesFunding travel along with basic living expenses on a fixed income is a concern for many retirees. In this age of increased longevity, costly health care, and declining availability of pensions, many retirees find that their savings and investments are not adequate. “While working and preparing for retirement, it’s important to take full advantage of savings options including catch-up contributions to IRAs and 401(k)s. That is critical in creating a nest egg,” Chief Financial Analyst Greg McBride of Bankrate.com told Travel +…
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Monday, 20 August 2018 17:55
11 Family Summer Vacation Ideas For Every Type of Family
Summer is here and that means family vacation! Many families prefer resorts and all-inclusive experiences, while others prefer a good hiking and camping trip. While there are dozens of family summer vacation ideas, we want you and your family to find the right trip for you! Check out these 11 Family Summer Vacation Ideas For Every Type of Family to inspire your next family adventure: For the Outdoorsy Family Does your family love to be outdoors? The opportunities for your family are endless. How about spending a few days in a fancy tree house? Out n’ About Treehouse Treesort in Oregon is a family run business, sure to suit your every need. Not only will you be staying in the trees, but there are plenty of activities too! Ziplining, hiking, river rafting, and horseback riding! For the All Inclusive-Loving Family There are times when we all need to be pampered and spoiled on vacation. All-inclusive vacations are available in so many destinations. I think the best bang for your buck is probably an all-inclusive resort on an island. Beaches all-inclusive family vacations offer all-inclusive vacations in the Caribbean. There are unlimited land and water sports, as well as several dining choices. You can search between all-inclusive vacations for preschoolers and toddlers, kids, tweens, teens, and parents. There’s a Kids Scuba Program that is new and fun for the little ones, but it’s available for adults too. Or how about a cruise? All cruises offer packages to pay for alcohol before…
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Monday, 20 August 2018 17:50
Globe Aware Trip to Cambodia: The Impact of Volunteering for a Family
A family’s week-long volunteer vacation in Cambodia harvested a new global perspective for their four children, ages 10-17. For their volunteer project the Vlaisimsky family spent time building a well for the community, assembling and distributing wheel chairs to landmine victims, and teaching English at a local non-governmental organization providing schooling for disadvantaged children in Siam Reap. It was during their time at the school that the family became intimately acquainted with the richness and reality of the Cambodian culture.
Published in Globe Aware News
Wednesday, 07 February 2018 11:09
Have fun! Help People! Teaching in Cambodia
It all started with a Facebook post. 'Anybody want to join me for a 1-week volunteer trip to Cambodia...?' Well, sure I do! And thus began a life-changing adventure! On the Wednesday night before Thanksgiving, despite the holiday madness, my friend Mira Wooten was gracious enough to drive me up to SFO. There I met my friend and co-pilot on this adventure, Kyle. Kyle and I have been friends for almost 30 years. He and his husband travel extensively and often ask for friends to join them. I always wanted to say yes and the time was finally right! At 5 minutes after midnight, while turkeys were defrosting all across the US, our Singapore Airlines flight took off for Cambodia, by way of Hong Kong, and Singapore. We arrived in Siem Reap, Cambodia around 10 o'clock in the morning on Friday and were met by our Global Aware coordinator, Alin. Globe Aware, a nonprofit 501 (c) (3) develops short-term volunteer programs in international environments that encourage people to immerse themselves in a unique way of giving back. Alin introduced us to our tuk-tuk driver, Mr. Raht. We were delivered safely to our guest house where we checked-in and freshened up from the 24 hours of travel. We spent Friday through Sunday sightseeing with an extremely knowledgeable and somewhat crazy tour guide. He had us trekking the road less traveled as we explored the famed temples of the region. Angkor Wat was of course, breathtaking. Baphuon and Ta Prohm were incredible.…
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