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:
By Danielle Nierenberg and Bernard Pollack, Borderjumpers
World Cup soccer fans in Cape Town, South Africa. Credit: flowcomm.
For those in South Africa for the 2010 World Cup or those headed here for the final games, you may have noticed that prices are at least double what they normally are — whether that’s a hotel room, a tour, a rental car, or basically anything for sale here. (more…)
By Whit Honea
The Marriott CasaMagna Puerto Vallarta Resort & Spa has something more to offer than what you’ll find on the typical sun-filled, beach-bumming, margarita-sipping Mexico vacation. Visit the CasaMagna from June through early December and you’ll get a chance to participate in the unforgettable “Secretos del Mar” Sea Turtle Rescue Program.
Baby sea turtle on its way to the sea. Credit: Franco Pecchio.
by John George
The George family takes on Colorado's Arkansas River!
Some years ago, I was on a South American vacation that included a white water rafting trip on the Urubamba River in Peru. What an experience! And when my wife Jenny was twentysomething and single, she went white water rafting in Australia. She and her friends went seeking adventure, and they sure found it on a wild ride rafting the Queensland River.
Years later, as parents, white water rafting conjured up images of almost losing our then ten-year old son, Zeke, to the rapids of a mighty river. So, we steered clear of rafting-focused family vacations… until recently. (more…)
By Bernard Pollack, BorderJumpers
At the Cape Coast Castle in Ghana they call it “the door of no return” — the final exit for thousands of slaves on their way to America and Europe. While in the castle, you can’t help but feel overwhelmed by the look, smell, and feel of the place. And standing there is a moment we’ll never forget.
Behind “The Door of No Return”
In the not too distant history, two million people arrived here from all over West Africa, some walking for hundreds of miles, many dying on the way. All of them crammed for weeks or months into dungeons — as many as a thousand were packed into a space the size of a small living room, without toilets, and without light. Many were raped or killed.
We understood immediately why President Obama and Michelle Obama made Cape Coast a trip here last July. It was humbling as Americans to stand here, face to face with our complicated history, unable to comprehend our decisions of the past. Yet, the thought of our President, an African-American, standing here, in this very spot, filled us with both pride and shame, something too difficult to explain with words.
BorderJumpers bloggers, Bernard Pollack and Danielle Nierenberg
Today we’re celebrating Earth Day by kicking off a new weekly series from Bernard Pollack and Danielle Nierenberg. They call themselves “BorderJumpers” and they’ll be sharing stories of their travels around the world, starting here today with the continent of Africa.
On this day that is as much about inspiring environmental awareness and appreciation as it is about celebrating the innovations that move us closer toward energy efficiency, sustainability, and a greener economy, we’re especially excited to share this series. That’s because Bernie and Danielle are traveling with a green purpose: they’ll be highlighting innovations across the world that offer sustainable ways of reducing hunger and poverty.
They’ve set out to tell stories of hope and success. They’ll be meeting with farmers, community organizers, workers, non-governmental organization, development agencies, and policy-makers to collect their stories, some of which will be shared here.
The first stop in our series? Cape Coast, Ghana, where Bernie and Danielle face “The Door of No Return” and experience the friendly flavor of Ghana.
For more about Bernie and Danielle and the important work they’re doing together, check out www.borderjumpers.org.
InterContinental Nairobi
By Carolyne Matseshe-Crawford
Growing up in the Chicago area as a Kenyan immigrant, we took a family vacation to Kenya almost every year. As a mother of three daughters, ranging from 4 to 15 years old, I continue that tradition — albeit not at the same frequency.
For anyone making this trek with their family, here are my best tips on where to stay and what to do:
Finding fantastic, centrally located hotels can be a challenge when traveling to any country. Upon arrival in Nairobi, we prefer to base ourselves out of the InterContinental Nairobi Hotel. It is centrally located, has the best concierge services, and is well known by any family from more remote areas of Kenya who want to spend time with us. (more…)
By Joanna Wiebe
When he was 14 months old, in 1981, my son David took his first family vacation to Guatemala to visit his great-grandparents and see the sights.
With only a large red backpack, a hand-woven woolen Guatemalan bag, an aluminum-frame baby backpack and a cheap folding stroller, my husband and I took Dave all over Guatemala, on public buses, hitchhiking and walking.
Dave swam in the Pacific, hiked in the mountains, climbed the steps of Mayan ruins, and made friends everywhere. In our backpack we had two sleeping bags, a woven fiber mat which served as a clean area for Dave to play or sleep on, small Coleman stove, a set of nesting pots, six cloth diapers, all our clothes for hot and cool weather, and a little bag of miniature toys and books. (more…)
Grand Cayman
By Lena Katz
Honest disclosure: As a female, I fully believe that most Caribbean vacations — actually, most vacations in general — should be mixed-gender. Women make things more fun, plus, we always are the ones who remember the sunblock.
But if you’re planning on four solid days of spear-fishing or survival training or anything that gets dirt/fish scales under the fingernails, I pass. You and your backpack-heaving buddies have my blessing to hit any of the amazing, remote, outdoorsy Caribbean vacation destinations below, have fun, take pictures, try to avoid major bruises, and I’ll see you when you’re back to civilization.
Cayman Islands
If you’re the type who likes to spend the morning jumping off a dive boat and the afternoon lounging on the beach with beers, the Caymans are just about perfect for a beach vacation. With more than 250 dive sites and 40 dive boat outfitters, this island nation offers access to a whole new underwater world. (more…)
Alaska is one of those places where people go to seek adventure. Its fierce beauty, overwhelming silence and lack of luxury hotels makes it a natural spectacle. Once you get off the main roads and into the wilderness, a whole new world opens up: raw, magnificent and still. But most places in Alaska are not even accessible by car, so I decided to make my first trip there by taking a cruise.
As a child I knew that Russia had sold Alaska to America back in 1867 for a mere $7 million. But it wasn’t until I saw Alaska that I felt how foolish the Russians were.
Alaska is massive. Its coastline is more than double the length of the entire U.S. coast, and it’s a fifth of the size of the United States. But with population of only 686,293 people, it is pretty much deserted.
Cruising is probably the best way to see Alaska for the first time. As our cruise ship, Crystal Harmony, was slowly gliding through Glacier Bay, passengers gathered on every inch of deck in silence, like in an amphitheater before a symphony was about to start, granite peaks surrounding the ship, echoing sounds from the wild as we passed. (more…)
We love to travel, and we love to talk about it. The Orbitz Blog is another way we can share our expertise, advice and the occasional random thought.
Check back often for fresh insight from Orbitz staff and contributors about cool places to visit, fun things to do and smart ways to save.
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