DID YOU KNOW that May 23rd is World Turtle Day, a global observance to help celebrate and protect turtles and tortoises and their disappearing habitats?
On the island of Dominica, the annual sea turtle season is under way in an ancient ritual that dates back to the time of dinosaur and hundreds of endangered sea turtles travel thousands of miles to lay eggs on the protected beach at Rosalie Bay.
During this special time, guests at eco-boutique Rosalie Bay Resort can participate in conservation efforts and save 33% on 4 or more night stays.
Among the conservation activities offered, you can:
Join resort turtle expert for a guided educational walk along the beach.
Help patrol the beach to protect nesting turtles.
Assist researchers in collecting data or watching as they relocate nests that are too close to the ocean to the turtle hatchery.
Or, be “on call” for when baby sea turtles hatch and begin their journey.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
ESCAPE WINTER CHILL WITH GREEN SEASON BOTSWANA SAFARI
Save up to 30% on this 6-night Green Season safari, with rates starting at $3,400 per person including accommodations, domestic flights, meals, game drives and more
Extraordinary Journeys Africa, specialists in luxury bespoke safaris to Africa, is offering an opportunity to trade in the winter chill for an escape to Botswana from November 2012 to March 2013.
During this 6-night safari, visitors will experience breath-taking green landscapes, thousands of animals in the wild caring for their newborn young and millions of birds migrating. With about an hour of rain each day, this “green season” typically attracts fewer tourists, which means a more intimate experience and warm temperatures all at rates that are 30% lower than their peak.
Pricing for this adventure is $3,400 per person for a 6-night stay in Botswana for travel between November 10, 2012 and March 20, 2013*. To receive a quote for dates between December 20, 2012 and January 10, 2013, please contact Extraordinary Journeys.
A 50% discount is available for children 6 to 14 sharing a family room with parents, making this a great option for a family trip over the upcoming holiday and February school breaks.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Keep it all in the family this summer with Nature Air and Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality Family Travel Package.
From young eco-minded adventurers to more senior explorers who like a little pampering, Costa Rica has what it takes to cater to multi-generational families looking for more bang for their buck. During the Green Season (May to December) kids 12 years and under fly for free on any of Nature Air’s 74 daily flights to 15 destinations across the country, AND stay and eat for free at some of the top eco-luxury accommodations in Central America.
Partnering with Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality, a company that manages a number of Earth-friendly lodges, hotels and inns in the Central American region, carbon-neutral Nature Air allows families to economically combine city stays with rainforest adventures, mountain and beach getaways for this summer’s vacation in one of the most popular eco-tourism destinations in the world.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Last minute deal for an African Safari? No single supplement? Too good to be true?
Wildland Adventures offers amazing deal for green season safari to Zambia
For travelers who can pack their bags and take advantage of last minute deals, Wildland Adventures is offering a six-night green season safari to Zambia for just US$2995.00 per person with no single supplement for single travelers, a savings of more than $1,000 per person. The one caveat is that travel must take place prior to March 31, 2012.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Since 2004, Nature Air, based in San Jose, Costa Rica, has been synonymous with a 100% carbon neutral aviation program. Now, from unlimited flight passes, to free flights for kids, and convenient fly-drive packages, they’re offering some pretty tempting wallet-friendly travel deals to help you save big on your next adventure. Read on for details.
Nature Air Unlimited Flight Pass
1 week pass for unlimited domestic flights: $222 with taxes included
2 weeks (15 days) pass for unlimited domestic flights: $399 with taxes included
Special Deals for Family Vacations
Up to two children 12-years-old and under fly free, when traveling with two adults that pay round trip FLEX fare. Save on your entire vacation when staying with participating hotels that are offering free stays for children.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
This summer and fall, leave work and life stresses at home and round up your favorite gal-pal for a Central American girlfriend getaway.
Finca Rosa BlancaFrom now through November 15, 2011, Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality is offering new Girlfriend Getaway Packages at five of its Costa Rican and Nicaraguan properties. Known around the world for their highly sustainable and Earth-friendly ways, the hotels and lodges offer a range of outdoor activities for girls on-the-go with on-site amenities for ladies in need of relaxation including: surf lessons, ziplining over a rainforest canopy, rebalancing the sprit with private yoga, learning to make authentic tortillas, and more.
Perks of the Girlfriend Getaway Packages vary at each of the Cayuga Sustainable Hospitality properties:
Lapa Rios Ecolodge
Costa Rica’s Lapa Rios Ecolodge is set on a private nature reserve spread over 1,000-acres of Central America’s last remaining lowland tropical rainforest. This property’s Girlfriend Getaway Package includes five nights accommodation for the price of four, three gourmet meals per day, transfers to and from the Puerto Jimenez airport, a sustainability tour of the Lapa Rios property (includes participating in your own Plant a Tree program) and an on-site, guided tour (choices include bird watching at sunrise, a local medicine walk and exploring the rainforest). The five-night Girlfriend Getaway Package starts at $2,175 US. For more information or to book, visit www.laparios.com.
Finca Rosa Blanca Coffee Plantation & Inn
Come stay at the first certified sustainable hotel in Costa Rica, and the only property to achieve a perfect score on the Sustainable Tourism Certification program. This property’s Girlfriend Getaway Package includes three nights accommodation, three gourmet meals per day, transfers to and from the airport, a tour of the inn’s organic coffee plantation, a rainforest massage and a head-to-toe massage. The three-night Girlfriend Getaway Package starts at $1,843 US.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Guests can experience the Cayo District’s diverse environment and save 15 percent on their trip to the Lodge at Chaa Creek this summer by booking the new Eco–Tourism Vacation Package.
The three–night package includes accommodations, meals and unlimited onsite eco–activities such as hikes through the rainforest and guided tours of an organic Maya farm. Prices start at just $200 per person, per night for guests traveling between now and July 31, 2010.
For more information, visit www.chaacreek.com.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Discover the inner reaches of the Hawaiian Islands and Mexico’s Sea of Cortés with exclusive savings from America Safari Cruises.
An American Safari yacht cruise is one of my all-time favorite travel experiences. I’m not alone. Each time my husband and I have sailed with them (4 voyages), a majority of our fellow passengers are repeat guests experiencing their third, fourth, tenth, ASC cruise. Now, thanks to an extended season in Mexico’s Sea of Cortez and inaugural Hawaiian Island sailing, you can experience the magic for less. Charter the 12-passenger Safari Spirit for a family getaway or group of friends by March 12, 2010 and save 25% off the full charter price. Or, sail aboard the 36-passenger Safari Explorer for the inaugural Hawaiian Island season beginning October 26, 2010 and save $500* per person.
American Safari Cruises are designed for active adventurers who want to escape to unknown harbors without sacrificing comfort. Their exclusive itineraries remain “below the radar” because larger vessels simply can’t get you there. The world is certainly vast, but it’s best experienced in small doses — up-close and yacht personal. And unlike most cruise ships, the 36-guest Safari Explorer, 22-guest Safari Quest and 12-guest Safari Spirit cruise during daylight hours only, maximizing your opportunities to truly experience nature.
All-inclusive amenities available on every voyage include:
All-inclusive amenities available on every voyage include:- Gourmet meals - View sample menu (PDF)
- Premium wine, beer and spirits - View sample wine list (PDF)
- Kayaking and shore boat exploring
- Snorkel gear (Mexico and Hawaii)
- Fishing (Alaska)
- Exclusive shore excursions
- Onboard Expedition Leader/Naturalist or wine expert
- Airport transfers
- Port Charges, taxes, fees
- Massages (Safari Explorer )
- Visits with local residents - “talk story”
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
To help celebrate the New Year Terra Incognito Ecotours are offering special discounts on two of their most popular destinations. Anyone who now enrolls in either their May 2009 Gorillas in the Mist tour to Rwanda or their China in Search of the Giant Panda trip this November will receive a $250 discount off the ecotour price. Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Mark the beginning of the Charles Darwin anniversary year with unprecedented savings of $2,300 per person on select Abercrombie & Kent Galápagos departures between January 8 - February 5, 2009 including Wonders of the Galápagos, Wonders of Peru & the Galápagos and Signature Peru & the Galápagos journeys. Independent travellers may apply these savings to any Tailor Made journey to the Galápagos.Commemorate the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his seminal work On the Origin of Species in the same places that inspired him. January is the time of year when land birds are nesting and green sea turtles come ashore to lay their eggs. Adult marine iguanas become brightly coloured in preparation for mating season. Experience the natural world just as Darwin did — to a degree that’s virtually impossible anywhere else.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Has this ever happened to you? You visit a website, see the trip you’ve been dreaming of, but the price is a bit too high.
That’s where custom trip specialists, Myths & Mountains, come to the rescue. Talk with them about your budget and they’ll work closely with you. They’ll change hotels, alter travel dates, turn a 17-day/16-night trip into a 15-day/14-night journey. You name it, they’ll do just about anything to make your trip fit within your budget.
Check out some of their most popular journeys listed below. For a complete showing of all trips, visit www.MythsAndMountains.com
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Discover the Galapagos For Less This Fall With EcoVentura’s Discounted September Promotion
The small ship, travel company, Ecoventura is doing what it can to soften the blow of rising fuel prices. On its Sept. 28-Oct. 5, 2008 departure the company is waiving the usual $125 per person fuel tax surcharge.
Value-minded travelers might also be pleased to know that late September and October also coincides with lower off-season rates on international flights to Ecuador as well as flights from the mainland to the islands.
An Ecoventura spokesperson, Doris Welsh, notes that this week is a prime time to visit the islands. Late September falls into the garúa season, or dry season, that continues from now to November. Wildlife activity is up and temperatures are on average 10 degrees cooler with highs in the mid-70s.
Aside from our money saving promotion, the benefits to visiting this time of year include being present as sea bird chicks (including boobies and waived albatross) are hatching; sea lion pups are being born and the marine mammals are active, says Welsh. There is a good chance you will see whales and dolphins.
The Galapagos Penguins continue to delight swimmers and snorkelers with their antics at the surface and torpedo-like movement underwater. Sea lions are in estrus stage and harem-gathering males are barking and fighting on the shore. Most species of sea birds remain quite lively at their nesting sites, notes Welsh.
While enjoying an Ecoventura cruise, guests also travel with the peace of mind that their carbon footprint is being completely offset through company actions.
In 2006, Ecoventura became the first Carbon Neutral operation in the Galapagos (and Ecuador). Carbon emissions from the company’s four yachts (and offices including business travel) are reduced and then offset by contributions to a portfolio of projects through the US-based company NativeEnergy.
Ecoventura is a family-owned company based in Guayaquil, Ecuador, with sales offices in Quito and Miami. In operation since 1990, the cruise company transports 3,000+ passengers annually aboard a fleet of three expedition vessels; identical, superior first-class 20-passenger motor yachts with 10 double cabins. The company also operates the Sky Dancer, a 16-passenger dedicated dive live-aboard offering 7-night weekly itineraries visiting the northern islands of Wolf and Darwin. All of its vessels have been purposefully retrofitted to meet or exceed the highest possible environmental standards.
To reserve a cabin on the special September departure or to receive a copy of Ecoventuras 2008 catalog call toll-free 1.800.644.7972, or e-mail info@galapagosnetwork.com. To access current rates, schedules and itineraries you can log onto www.ecoventura.com/.
Source: Widness & Wiggins
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Sunrise Springs Resort Spa, Santa Fe’s premier green resort , announces a new 3-day overnight special: Stay 2 nights and get the third night at $100 off! Daily continental breakfast at the award-winning Blue Heron Restaurant is included. Other amenities include complimentary wifi, newspapers, bottled water, in-room coffee, cedar sauna and outdoor hot tubs.
Combining the graciousness of an inn with the amenities of an eco-resort, Sunrise Springs Resort Spa sets a new standard for travel. In addition to the Blue Heron Restaurant renowned for its natural, local and organic cuisine, the 70 acre compound also features Spa Samadhi and its unique spa treatments, as well as the Sages Arts Center, with an art gallery and pottery studio, yoga and tai chi class offerings.
The buildings at Sunrise Springs are in many cases constructed of adobe, reclaimed wood and straw. Guest rooms feature locally made amenities, pressure-reducing showerheads, energy-saving light bulbs and eco-friendly paint. The fireplaces in public areas and the restaurant burn firewood gathered from around the property. Built around two spring-fed ponds and organic gardens, this desert oasis is the ultimate choice for relaxation and pleasure.
Santa Fe Eco-Getaway Details:
Available December 1, 2007 through January 31, 2008.
Rates: Garden View room at $169 per night, and get the third night at $100 off. Upgrade to a Private Casita at $215 per night, and get $100 off the third night. Rooms are based on availability. Taxes, gratuities and resort fee are additional.
To book: Call reservationists directly at 800 955 0028. Ask for the Santa Fe Getaway special.
SOURCE: Ballentines PR
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Who said money doesn't grow on trees?
Check out the KEEN Footwear Hybrid.Stand contest to see how you could win up to $25,000 for your ideas on how to change the way others see conservation.
Visit www.keenfootwear.com/stand to learn more about how to Stand Up, Out and For sustainability and have a chance at a piece of $150,000. Registration ends 11:59 p.m. on 12/31/07.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".