Orbitz Blog

Articles for ‘Eco-Tourism’ Category

Panama welcomes exciting new hotels and attractions

Thursday, December 13th, 2012

The Tryp by Wyndham Panama Centro is one of the newest hotels in Panama City, Panama.

By Mark Chesnut

Panama’s capital, Panama City, is a metropolis on the move. With an expanded international airport, an eye-catching new museum by a world-famous architect and an increasingly restored historic center among its ongoing projects—not to mention the massive plans to widen the Panama Canal—this Latin American hotspot is preparing to welcome more business and leisure travelers than ever. So it’s no surprise that an array of new hotels are rising in the city center, to better serve the needs of a decidedly international clientele. Here’s a quick guide to what you shouldn’t miss. (more…)

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From Steel City to green hub: the new Pittsburgh

Thursday, May 24th, 2012

Perfectly Pittsburgh: The city is upping its array of eco-friendly sites.

By Mark Chesnut

Pittsburgh may have a heritage as one of the nation’s first big industrial cities, but today it’s getting greener and greener. From eco-friendly hotels to good-for-the-planet event venues and attractions, this Pennsylvania city is rolling out the green carpet for business and leisure travelers. (more…)

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Team tours: Where to get your group on in Asheville

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

 

Don't look down: Orbitz Senior Market Manager Robin Gallagher scales a sky bridge over the Blue Ridge Mountains.

By Robin Gallagher

Having just planned a team meeting in Asheville, N.C., I was worried how my colleagues – a diverse group representing several nations, regions and ethnicities – would receive the tiny mountain town. As it turns out, I couldn’t have chosen a better location. (more…)

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Taking the plunge: whale-watching in Punta Cana

Tuesday, December 27th, 2011

Majestic mammals: whale-watching season arrives along the Dominican Republic’s Samana Peninsula mid-January. Credit: Mike Baird.

By Jennifer Olvera

When the holidays become a distant memory, it’s natural to look toward brighter days.  Thankfully, around mid-January, Humpback whale season kicks off — and continues through mid-March — near the Dominican Republic’s Samana Peninsula, one of the world’s most fabled destinations to spot the massive, knobby-headed mammals at a time when they give birth. It’s also when visitors are quite likely to see the active species breach out of the water. (more…)

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Posted in Caribbean Vacation, Eco-Tourism | No Comments »

Less stress: Eco-friendly local transportation options

Friday, December 16th, 2011

Right said F.R.E.D.: A free downtown transportation option in Norfolk, Va.

By Mark Chesnut

Negotiating the congested streets of a busy city can be a stressful part of any trip. But increasingly, the most efficient way to get around town may also be the most relaxing, thanks to an ever-expanding array of eco-friendly transportation options in major cities throughout North America. (more…)

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Biloxi bounces back: Ecotourism on the Gulf Coast

Wednesday, November 9th, 2011

Serene sunsets are a daily reminder of Biloxi's natural beauty. Credit: Andrew Beebe.

By Blane Bachelor

After a rough few years following Hurricane Katrina and the Gulf Coast oil spill, tourism in Mississippi’s Gulf Coast is on the rebound. In Biloxi, an emerging eco-tourism sector allows visitors to get a deeper understanding of the area’s hardships and remarkable comeback, against the backdrop of pristine marshes, white-sand beaches and breathtaking sculptures carved from fallen oak trees. (more…)

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Dia de los Muertos: Cozumel’s celebration of life

Monday, October 31st, 2011

Día de los Muertos art often depicts skeletons with colorful, vibrant whimsy. Credit: DavidDennisPhotos.com.

By Amy Drew Thompson

Don’t let the name scare you. Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) was a holiday before it was a horror movie. Like 3,000 years before. And the venerable Mexican celebration not only honors the dearly departed, but welcomes their spirits back for a joyous visit. Guests at Cozumel hotels this time of year can join in on the experience.

(more…)

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Buffet line to zip line: All-inclusive adventures

Tuesday, October 11th, 2011

In Costa Rica, some days you’re the monkey, some you’re the sloth. Credit: AlphaTangoBravo/Adam Baker.

By Amy Drew Thompson

When it comes to all-inclusive resorts, your inner passive vacationer—plied by luxury (and, let’s face it, laziness)—has a distinctive advantage in the war for your getaway over your inner Animal Planet host. You know, that ballsy little voice that surfaces while you’re on the couch watching some fisherman-cum-biologist battle an epic monster in a primordial lagoon. “I’d totally do that,” it pledges, fearless, “… if I could just get to the rainforest.”

Well, it’s time to put up or shut up, because Costa Rica vacations deliver both. Explore the lush wonders of the canopy all morning. Have three desserts and a massage that night. It’s the ultimate in dichotomous vacationing. (more…)

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4 beach resorts where you can swim with dolphins

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011

Behold the bottlenose dolphins at Dreams Cancun, where guests can get up close for a hug and a kiss.

By Valerie Moloney

In my house, dismissing the opportunity to see “Dolphin Tale,” the fuzzy movie about “Winter,” the bottlenose dolphin whose real life home is the Clearwater Marine Aquarium in Clearwater, Fla., would be the equivalent of canceling Christmas. To skip the movie, which opens Friday, would not be worth the heartbreak of a 7- and 5-year-old. I’m game, if only as research for what I really want to do with the family next spring break: Take a beach vacation that involves a dolphin experience. At these 5 resorts, suit up to swim with the most elegant creatures in the ocean. (more…)

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Australia vacations: Getting your feet wet Down Under

Monday, April 4th, 2011

Stay on the edge of the Great Barrier Reef at the Heron Island Resort.

By Vince Font

If you consider yourself the well-traveled sort but haven’t yet experienced what beach vacations await you “down under,” it’s time to either reassess your estimations or get busy packing. You can find low-cost Australia vacation packages for all of the country’s key destinations, but if you’re a stranger to Oz you’ll likely need a few pointers to make sure your first foray is a success. Here are two of the best top notch hotels to serve as excellent leaping-off points for your Australian beach vacation. (more…)

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