Archives for January 2023

January 26, 2023

Volunteer opportunities at the elephant and Sloth bear Wildlife SOS Rescue Facilities in Mathura, India.

Wildlife SOS was established in 1995 by a small group of individuals inspired to start a movement and make lasting change to protect and conserve India’s natural heritage, forest and wildlife wealth. Today, the organisation has evolved to actively work towards protecting Indian wildlife, conserving habitat, studying biodiversity, conducting research and creating alternative and sustainable livelihoods for erstwhile poacher communities or those communities that depend on wildlife for sustenance.

Volunteering with Wildlife SOS, your time will be split between their Elephant Conservation & Care Centre (ECCC) and their Sloth Bear Rescue Facility (ABRF) near to Agra.

Volunteering at the Wildlife SOS Rescue Facilities will provide you with a truly rewarding experience, allowing you to gain a real insight into the organisation’s work with bears and elephants, all rescued from lives of abuse. The Bears were rescued by WSOS from a cruel life as Dancing Bears, the elephants from providing tourist rides, begging, temple and festival use.

You will be making a major contribution to the welfare of these animals. The majority of the programme fees go directly to the centres, thus providing a critical source of funding for their ongoing work. Working alongside the local community and the inspiring people who run Wildlife SOS truly is an opportunity of a lifetime!

No previous experience is required, but you will need to be willing and enthusiastic! The work at the centres is physically demanding at times and can be very hard work in the heat and dust. It is possible to do lighter duties, please feel free to contact them if you have concerns as to the programme’s suitability for you.

Some of the jobs you can expect to do for the elephants include: unloading of fruit and vegetables from the truck; weighing, washing and cutting up of food and distribution into each elephants bucket; cleaning out their pools and enclosures; filling hanging baskets with fodder (this is exercise for the elephants, both mentally and physically); weighing and delivering of fodder by cart to the various enclosures; painting enclosures; evening walk with the elephants and their caregivers.

Some of the jobs you can expect to do for the bears include: preparation of food; delivering, by cart to each bear’s den, their freshly made porridge; building enrichment platforms and structures; scrubbing/cleaning out the pools; painting enclosures.

Charitable Travel can help you plan your next trip to India and can tailor your stay to allow time for you to get involved in this project, which you will need to arrange directly via the link below.

January 19, 2023

As responsible travel becomes increasingly important to travellers, we have conducted exciting new research revealing which elements of a holiday travellers most frequently choose to make their trip more sustainable and what other options could be considered to help you plan the perfect responsible escape.

Whilst sustainability is considered as important to 66% of those we surveyed, 17% of those do not make more sustainable purchases as they are unsure how to do so. For those who do invest in more sustainable options, selecting a hotel with an eco-certification is the most popular and easiest option, with 20% of respondents stating this is often a deciding factor in choosing where to stay.

17% try to shop locally to support the local economy when travelling and 16% avoid over touristed destinations for a more relaxed experience, as well as to ensure their tourist money has more of a positive impact. Whilst 14% seek out the greenest form of transport, including considering no-fly options and 13% will purchase an eco-tourism package holiday from a specialist operator.

To help you embrace more sustainable approaches on your next holiday, we’ve put together a step-by-step guide which you can refer to when booking your next trip:

1. Consider each step of your journey – for each purchase ask the question is this the most responsible option, is there a better way?

2. Consider travelling in low season to minimise possible over tourism and support local communities when income is least

3. Speak to and book through an expert – our travel experts have a wealth of knowledge and fresh ideas for making the most of your experience and to ensure a positive impact

4. Getting there and around – consider all the transport options not just the easiest and if you must fly, seek out the flight with the lowest carbon emissions (eg by using Skyscanner which tracks emissions) or if you need to hire a car, go electric

5. Where to stay – look not only at eco-certifications, but also at what the accommodation is doing to support the local community

6. Support local – get off-the-beaten track and spend your tourist money with local independent businesses

7. Use less resources in your destination – take reusable tools such a straws, shopping bags and refillable bottles, ask for less bedding and towel changes, say no to bathroom minis or choose ice cream cones over cups

8. Educate along the way – asking restaurants and local businesses to refill your water bottle and saying no to plastic straws will help them understand what consumers really need and encourage them to change what they offer

Our founder and CEO, Melissa Tilling had this to say about the research and the exciting new trends in travel:

“It’s encouraging to see so much good intention from travellers to be more sustainable and have a more positive impact, the next step is to take action and find ways to incorporate being more responsible into every element of the journey. Actions which are practical to each individuals’ needs will also enhance the holiday experience.”

Feeling inspired? Get in touch with our travel experts today to book an incredible sustainable trip for 2023 and donate 5% of your holiday price to the charity of your choice at no extra cost!

January 18, 2023

Luxury Travellers, you may think that once you start a family, your travelling days are over, at least for now. This is most certainly not true! Having lived in Hong Kong when my babies were very young, I can assure you that this is the easiest time to fly with little ones. Babies can be put in the cots, called bassinets, right in front of you and they usually sleep like, well, babies! They might need a little help on take-off and landing, but a feed usually works a treat. Once they start walking, you might find yourself pacing up and down the aisles for a while before they tire themselves out and fall asleep, but most people love a baby or toddler and I always received a lot of help from the flight attendants and encouraging smiles from fellow passengers. Many airlines offer activity packs for children, with puzzles and things to colour in and inflight entertainment for those old enough to enjoy it.

Once you get to your resort, things are much the same as being at home, especially if you opt for a villa or apartment with plenty of space. You might want to think about a one or two bedroom hotel suite if you’d like a bit of peace in the evenings. Or a large room with a balcony, so you can enjoy a drink and a bit of adult conversation once the little ones are down. The difference is, though, that you can enjoy the warm weather during the daytime and maybe take the little ones to family restaurants in the evenings. You can get your baby swimming with flotation aids from just a few months old and you and your travelling companion can take it in turns to watch the kids while the other one does a few lengths of the pool or has a snooze in the sunshine. If you feel comfortable doing it, there are many hotels that offer babysitting both during the day and the evening and the nannies are trained to a very high standard. Once they are old enough, the children can make new friends in the kids clubs and this is, apparently, very good for their social skills.

As far as safety is concerned, you should always opt for a swimming pool with an alarm or one that is totally enclosed by a fence, especially once the little darlings are more mobile. Many hotels have fantastic playgrounds these days. So good you will want to join in yourselves! You also need to be mindful of the potential danger of balconies. Make sure your balcony doors are child proof and NEVER let the kids out there on their own! All common sense precautions that you would take at home. Lots of hotels also provide all the equipment you need, so you do not have to lug it with you on the plane. I’m talking bottle sterilizers, blenders, cots, etc. Good hotels will be happy to blend up delicious fruit and vegetables for your little ones, too.

One hotel I stayed at which offers amazing baby and children’s facilities is the Almyra Hotel in Paphos, Cyprus. Take a look at all they can provide and their warm baby pool is lovely, too.

If you are nervous about travelling with the offspring, start with short haul holidays to mainland Europe. Then maybe branch out to the Caribbean, the Middle East and even Mauritius and the Maldives. True, you may not be ready to trek around South East Asia yet, but there are options in most countries for parents who do not want to give up their love of travelling. In general , everyone loves babies and children and you will see babies being pushed around in their prams late into the night, something you would not find here in the UK.

I have either visited child friendly hotels myself or have clients who have been to them, so I have a list of the best hotels to travel with your precious little ones. Oh, and babies travel free on airlines up to the age of two years old! Then you have another ten years until you pay a full adult fare on most airlines, so take advantage of these savings while you can!

Feeling inspired? Book your next getaway now. Get in touch with Lizzi by emailing [email protected] to book your 2023 family escape!

January 12, 2023

When you think of Holland your mind might automatically be drawn to images of windmills in undulating fields, the quaint canals of Amsterdam, and impressive European architecture in the Hague and Rotterdam. Away from its metropolitan areas however there’s another Holland to be explored. This other Holland features incredible artistic attractions, stunning countryside, rich history and culture and has had an outsized cultural influence on Europe as a whole. We’ve put together a fantastic three day itinerary to explore this incredible country with a few options focused on culture, but with so much to do know that our travel experts can help you tailor your trip to your exact requirements.

Day 1

It’d be impossible to discuss the artistic legacy of Holland without a mention of the incredible Vincent Van Gogh. Van Gogh was born in 1853 in Zundert in the Netherlands, and many of his artistic works can be viewed at the The Kröller-Müller Museum. Admirers of Van Goghs post-impressionist style will love this museum, which features the second largest collection of his works in the world along with incredible paintings by Claude Monet, Georges Seurat, Pablo Picasso and Piet Mondriaan. Those who are into sculpture can also view works by Barbara Hepworth, Jean Dubuffet, and Marta Pan in the outdoor scultupre garden while architectural enthusiasts can enjoy architerctural exhibitions in the main museum as well.

The museum is in the gorgeous Veluwe region which is one of Hollands most beautiful and includes rolling forests, ample cycle and walking trails, a rich variety of local wildlife, the Hanseatic Towns of Harderwijk, Elburg and Hattem and so much more!

While taking a break during your museum visit you’ll find plenty of green spaces to explore on the expansive grounds and to sit down to have a picnic. You’ll spend your first night at a nearby hotel in Arnhem where you can explore historic sites from the Battle of the Bridges including John Frost Bridge which was named after a British soldier.

Day 2

On day 2, your cultural exploration of Holland continues with visits to the Musée Lalique and the Castle het Niljenhuis. The Musée Lalique celebrates the life and work of famed glassmaker Rene Lalique who was an influential artist who played a big role in the Art Nouveau and Art Deco movements and is based in the town of Doesburg. The museum features his work and is a great place to spend a few hours discovering his unique style and mastery of technique.

After your visit to the museum and a brief stop for lunch at one of the many excellent restaurants and cafes in the town, your next stop is the Castle het Niljenhuis. This superb manor house dates back to 1382 and features a number of gorgeous gardens, while the house boasts a varied collection of international art. While on the grounds you can also explore a sculture garden which features eccentric and abstract styles from a number of different artists, totalling 75 different sculptures. The sculpture garden forms one part of the Museum de Fundatie, the main part of which you will visit on your final day tomorrow. End your stay in a hotel in nearby Zwolle.

Day 3

Your third and final day will be based in the city of Zwolle, where you’ll have the chance to explore the fantastic Fundatie Museum, before having the rest of the day to explore before returning home. Before you even enter the Fundatie Museum you’re sure to be struck by its unique design which features an artisitic glass dome on its roof. The museum has a collection of modern art including fantastic exhibitions which include a range of different styles. It feautures paintings by Chagall, Mondrian and Van Gogh. The perfect place to spend a few hours and leave feeling culturally enriched.

The rest of your day can be spent at leisure exploring Zwolle at your leisure with the whole city traversable by bike. Here you’ll find a well preserved medieval Hanseatic city centre, interesting museums, gorgeous canals and plenty of places to eat and relax.

Feeling inspired? Book your next getaway now. Get in touch with our travel experts to book your 2023 Holland escape!

January 10, 2023

New Year, new travel habits? Make a change to how you travel in 2023 and leave a positive impact with these top tips...

1. Buy responsible luggage

Madlug bags are sleek, durable, and made in Belfast, and for every bag sold, this certified B Corp donates a bag to a child or young person in care. There are over 90,000 ‘looked after’ children and young people in the UK, many of whom are moved from placement to placement frequently without luggage to carry their possessions in. Madlug founder, Dave Linton, spoke of one looked-after person telling him that they had to carry all their belongings in a bin bag. Find out more, and buy a bag with a heart at madlug.com.

2. Choose green hotels

Many hotels have eco-friendly processes in place, such as refillable toiletries in the bathrooms, reduced linen services, and providing carafes or reusable water bottles instead of plastic ones. Eco Hotels has information on many hotels worldwide with their eco practises, and their green accreditations.

Other ways to know if you’re making the responsible choice include the menu options – is the produce advertised in season and locally sourced? Are the staff local and paid fairly? Does the hotel have any community outreach programmes that you can get involved with? Take a look at staybeyondgreem.com for more things to look out for when choosing your accommodation.

3. Support Local communities

Make sure you tip! Hotel staff, drivers, tour guides, restaurant staff etc., sometimes rely on tips from tourists. Another great way to support communities is by hiring local guides, these people will have a wealth of knowledge about the area that you’ll be hard-pressed to find yourself and can show you less visited spots to really make your friends back home jealous.

Invisible Cities is a UK social enterprise that employs and trains people who have experienced homelessness to become tour guides for their cities. The high-quality training provided includes soft, transferrable skills to help the recipient with pursuing other roles in hospitality. The walking tours available with Invisible Cities often have a niche theme and are a fantastic way to support the in-destination community and explore a new area. Find out more about Invisible Cities, and book a tour of a UK city near you here.

4. Make the journey part of the trip

Consider jumping on a train to get to short-haul destinations. There are some incredible views to be witnessed along the railways of Europe that you’d miss out on by flying, and that’s without mentioning the dramatically decreased levels of CO2 emitted by train travel compared to air. For example, Travelling by Eurostar from London to Paris emits 93.2% less CO2 than travelling by plane per passenger. Find out more about your emissions at ecopassenger.org

5. Shop local/ responsible

Buying souvenirs is a key part of any holiday – but try to stay away from anything that looks mass-produced as sometimes the people making these items are not treated well. Look instead for handmade items using local techniques – these make for authentic, responsible purchases.

If you can’t find anything suitable in destination – goodtrip, a UK social enterprise, produces responsible and sustainable souvenirs for worldwide destinations, and a percentage of every sale is donated to tourism charities that benefit people all around the world! Find out more and shop the collection at goodtrip.org. (Ps, if you use this link, 5% of your purchase will be donated to the Charitable Travel Fund.)

6. Make green flight choices

Take time to compare airlines, know your flight’s climate impact and make a qualified choice. You can find flights which use less CO2 with search engines like Google Flights and SkyScanner. You can also use Atmsofair to offset your flight’s carbon footprint, but many airlines offer this on their flights already.

7. Pack with a conscience

Fill your responsibly purchased luggage from Madlug with school and medical supplies, clothes, toys, and period products to donate to communities in the destinations you visit. US-based 501(c)(3) organisation, Pack for a Purpose has a wealth of information available for travellers to find places to donate, and what sort of items are sought-after.

Once you’ve made your donations – you’ll have more room in your luggage to pack your handmade souvenirs. It’s a win-win-win!

8. Volunteer while away

Here at Charitable Travel, we’re passionate about helping our customers leave a positive impact on the world when they travel. So we built a hub full of incredible opportunities to get stuck in and Volunteer while you’re away. With projects all over the world, you can get involved in beach-clean ups, caring for animals in rescue centres, and supporting research in conservation centres! Find out more in our Big Holiday Help Hub!

9. Book with an agent

Make the most of your holiday by booking with an expert travel agent. Not only will you be supporting a small or local business after an extended period of uncertainty, but you’ll also have access to a huge amount of knowledge and advice, ATOL, ABTA and financial protection to protect your money and holiday plans, and help to plan your perfect break.

10. Support charities with your holidays

Book your holiday with Charitable Travel! We’re a one-of-a-kind travel company that lets you donate a portion of your holiday price to the charity of your choice, completely free!

As a not-for-private-profit social enterprise, we sacrifice part of our commission to allow you to support the causes you care about while you book the holidays of your dreams at prices you’ll love. We’re an independent travel agent with the ability to sell holidays from almost 200 suppliers, so we have the perfect trip to suit everyone’s needs.

Find out more about our social purpose here.

January 5, 2023

There is more and more talk about Internet Fatigue among holidaymakers. Consumers can only cope with six or seven web pages before reaching their “tolerance levels”. There is never a box online that says “are you sure that’s a good idea?” and mistakes can so easily be made on the web. The trend is a move back to package holidays and a desire to speak to a real person. As the selling price for seats on no-frills carriers has risen, due to high oil prices, the competitive advantage of DIY travel is eroding. If you are looking at prices for the summer and are alarmed at the cost, get in touch and you may be surprised at the alternatives we at Charitable Travel can offer.

However, if you are reading my Luxury Page, you are probably used to travelling in style. Or maybe you’d like to get used to it?! So, how do you decide where to go this year? Perhaps you’ve been watching the TV travel ads over Christmas and thinking that nothing is inspiring you? Do you have the feeling that you’d like to do something different? I’d like to suggest a few alternatives to the tried and tested, switching the familiar for the not-so-familiar.

For example, have you been to Barbados, Antigua and St Lucia? Try one of the other islands such as Nevis, St Kitts, Domenica, Grenada and Jamaica. If you’ve been to Dubai and are wondering if its neighbours are as good, let me reassure you that they are, although all are different in their own right. Try Oman, Ras al Khaimah, Ajman, Fujairah.

Have you been to the Canaries more times than you can count? Switch to Cape Verde or Morocco. Have you been on safari to Kenya or Zambia? Try Tanzania, Botswana, and Uganda. Have you been to India and loved it? Try Sri Lanka, Kerala, and Goa.

Wherever you have already been, there is an alternative. The world is your oyster, as they say. For inspiration, you need look no further. I am never lost for ideas and suggestions, whether you are looking for a beach holiday, an adventure, a wedding abroad, a spa break, or a ski holiday. So, don’t waste your time trying to find that needle in a haystack. I have years of experience in the travel industry and can pull the proverbial rabbit out of the hat, saving you time and stress. Of course, all Lizzi’s holiday ideas are luxurious, stylish and best of all, by booking your luxury holiday through Charitable Travel you can donate 5% of your total holiday to charity, free of charge!

Feeling inspired? Book your next getaway now. Get in touch with Lizzi by emailing [email protected] to book your 2023 luxury escape!

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