Orbitz Blog

Articles for ‘Eco-Tourism’ Category

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…)

Tags: ,
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…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Business Travel, Eco-Tourism, Sports Travel, Travel Tips | No Comments »

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…)

Tags: , ,
Posted in Eco-Tourism, Hotels | No Comments »

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…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Eco-Tourism, Family Travel | No Comments »

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…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Beach Vacation, Eco-Tourism | No Comments »

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…)

Tags: ,
Posted in Eco-Tourism, Family Travel, Hotels | No Comments »

How 10 travelers spent their Price Assurance refunds

Monday, August 1st, 2011


Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.
By Orbitz Staff

Between flights, hotels, transportation and dining expenses, the costs for a getaway can quickly rack up. Wouldn’t be nice if you had a little extra spending money to help foot the bill? Ten travelers got a sweet surprise when they booked on Orbitz: an automatic Price Assurance refund because another traveler who booked the same prepaid flight or hotel got the deal for less. We issued them a refund for the difference.

To date, we’ve paid out $10 million in Price Assurance payouts. Check out the gallery of this giddy group of 10, and more importantly — how they spent their extra dough. (more…)

Tags:
Posted in Beach Vacation, Chicago Vacation, Eco-Tourism, Flights | No Comments »

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…)

Tags:
Posted in Beach Vacation, Eco-Tourism, International Vacations | No Comments »

Wet and wild tours of the Florida Everglades

Friday, January 7th, 2011

Credit: chaunceydavis818.

By Jacinthe Roy

Confession time: I lived in South Florida for more than 15 years before I ever visited the Florida Everglades. Shame on me — especially since no other excursion has been as wild or ecologically dazzling.

To those of you considering a Florida vacation, consider this: 99.9 percent of the people visiting the rugged, subtropical landscape will never leave the road or boardwalks, let alone get in the water. But the little adventurer in me overcame these fears recently with the help of a small, responsible and fairly unknown company that takes curious folks like me deep into the Florida Everglades and the Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve. I called Meagan at Dragonfly Expeditions and I was soon on my merry way, driving west on the Tamiami Trail.

(more…)

Posted in Eco-Tourism, Florida Vacation | 1 Comment »

‘Tis the season to give back: Orbitz customers donate $50K to the environment

Thursday, December 23rd, 2010

Orbitz customers donating to CarbonFund.org help to support projects like the Amazon Forest Conservation Project. Credit: Batrax.

By Jeanenne Tornatore

With Orbitz customer contributions totaling more than $50,000 sent to the non-profit carbon offsetting organization, CarbonFund.org, the online travel company and its customers have offset over 10 million pounds of CO2 in 2010. But just what does an offset like this mean in real life terms:

(more…)

Tags:
Posted in Eco-Tourism, Travel News, Travel Tips | No Comments »

« Older Entries