Tips to keep your travel green

1. Use your do not disturb sign!

Most of us do not change our towels and sheets daily at home, so why should we do that on vacation? If you don’t have a maid cleaning your room every day you will save the resources involved in cleaning the room, washing sheets and towels and vacuuming the floors. (The only excuse not to put the sign up is naturally on a cruise when they make you those cute little towel animals. ;-) )

2. Support vendors with a vision for the planet that is in alignment with yours! Do research; most cities have eco friendly hotels or hotels that are on the path to becoming eco friendly. Also, B&Bs are always an eco-friendly option and you have the perk of supporting a small, locally owned business.

3. Hike, bike and use public transit whenever possible while travelling. In most cities you can do walking tours. If you are physically able to do so, it a very healthy alternative to going on a tour bus or even using public transportation. Use public transit as opposed to renting a car. You can use the internet to figure out which form of public transportation would support you best.

4. Visit CarbonFund.org to learn ways to offset your carbon emissions.

5. Just because you are on vacation doesn’t mean your eco friendly practices should take a vacation too! It can be easy to take a 20 minute shower while you’re on vacation just because you have the time. Let us not forget that we are using the same resources; just because it is on someone else’s dime, environmentally it has the same impact as it would at home. The same goes for leaving lights on in your hotel room or cruise cabin when you leave for the day. If you wouldn’t do it at home, don’t do it on vacation!

For those of you that would like to start supporting green hotels, here are some good questions to ask to gage how much effort the property is taking to be green:

1. Is the hotel locally owned and operated?

2. Is it staffed by local employees?

3. What kinds of recycling programs does the hotel have?

4. Do guests have the option to reuse towels and sheets instead of having them changed?

5. What programs does the hotel have in place in order to reduce consumption?

6. Do they have low-flow toilets and showers?

7. How does the hotel contribute to its local community?

June Blog Series!

Keeping the planet beautiful for future generations is something I am very passionate about, but travel is the greatest love and joy in life. To me there is nothing more amazing than waking up in a strange city somewhere half way around the world….not understanding the language, the people or the culture. Everything is a mystery! I thrive on that excitement when every moment is an opportunity to learn. The problem is, in general travel is not the most environmentally friendly hobby. As matter of fact, cars, planes, cruises and huge hotels create some of the greatest pollutants on the planet. I am committed to caring for and protecting our planet, but not at the sake of my travels. For this reason, I have decided to do a blog series this month on how to make your travel greener! I will be featuring blog entries that will include tips on keeping your travel green, info on which vendors are taking green initiative, and many other helpful topics . My hope is that by the end of the month people will have a better understanding of what vendors are doing to go green and what travelers can do to help.

I hope you all enjoy this series and I look forward to sharing lots of great info with you!

11 Changes in 2011

2011 brought with it some significant changes for both the travel industry and Dana’s Global Travel. Here are the top 11 travel changes of 2011:

DGT NEWS:

1. Dana’s Global Travel Partners with Orbitz Worldwide! Following a partnership with Travelocity in 2010, you can now take advantage of an even greater variety of travel options and prices! Another perk that comes with the Orbitz partnership is personal customer profiles. Store your info for expedited bookings!

2. Expedia and Orbitz no longer feature American Airlines Flights. Unfortunately, this means that DGT will not feature these flights on the website either. However, this does not mean that I will exclude them from my searches for international flights and packages. For the best competitive prices, please contact me directly at danasglobaltravel@gmail.com.

DOMESTIC NEWS:

3. The required TSA pat down. All passengers flying through TSA protected airports must be patted down….if you’ve flown recently, you know what this is…you are essentially hand scanned by a TSA agent in blue gloves!

4. Airport body scanners reveal ALL! Airport large scanners produce stripped down photos of the passengers to assure they are not hiding any weapons. Passengers are chosen at random for both scans and pat downs. While you have the option to protest, it may prolong or prevent your travel plans.

5. San Francisco Airport (SFO) opens Eco-Friendly Terminal 2 in April 2011! It will be the first LEED Gold-registered airport in the USA!

6. Overbooked? Delta says “Name your price!” Instead of passengers bidding how much they will pay for a flight, passengers bid how much money they want for being bumped from a crowded plane. Find out more here: http://bit.ly/i5p0Qz

7. Smoking banned in rental cars. Avis, Dollar, Thrifty and Budget have already banned smoking. Don’t test it, companies charge fees of $250 or higher if you’re caught!

DISNEY NEWS:

8. Disney Cruise Lines introduces the newest ship in its fleet, Disney Dream. The Disney Dream will sail 3-, 4- and 5-night cruises to the Bahamas beginning with its maiden voyage on Jan. 26, 2011. All cruises will depart from Port Canaveral.

9. Walt Disney World commences the expansion of the Magic Kingdom! The expanded area called Fantasy land will nearly double the Kingdom’s size and offer 9 new rides, show, restaurants and other attractions! They will start opening in phases in 2012.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS:

10. Cuba travel restrictions lowered for students, religious and cultural groups only. American tourists are not yet able to visit.

11. Europe lodging and dining now more affordable. Ireland, Spain, Portugal and Greece are the best in 2011. Unfortunately, international flights are less competitive due to the steadily increasing costs of fuel.

What to check out in Minneapolis

Walker Art Center & Sculpture Garden

Walker is one of the most praised contemporary art centers in the country. They have a world-renowned collection of contemporary art which includes 11 galleries and special exhibitions! In the warmer months be sure to check out the Minneapolis Sculpture Garden! It is one of the largest urban sculpture parks in the United States, featuring works by leading American and international artists, including the monumental fountain sculpture Spoon Bridge and Cherry.

Mill City Farmers Market

Be sure to check out the farmers market’s on Saturday mornings. They have a wide variety of local food vendors as well as the art work of local artists! Nothing like eating some fresh dumplings and wandering through the farmers market! Don’t miss it! It’s located next to the Guthrie Theater, which in itself is worth seeing!

Nicollet Mall

A pedestrian only street in downtown Minneapolis filled with great restaurants, trendy shops and hoppin’ bars! It’s definitely worth a stroll. It seems as though all roads in Minneapolis lead to Nicollete, so you’ll have no trouble finding it.

Fun on the Water

Minnesota is after all the land of 10,000 lakes, so it would be just a pity not to check out some of them! Lake Minnetonka is a great day trip, but there are also many lakes within the city itself! There are several small lakes in the city; the larger of the small lakes are Cedar Lake, Lake of the Isles, Lake Calhoun and Lake Harriet. I recommend Lake Calhoun where you can walk, bike, or jog around one or more of the lakes! I packed a picnic and sat and ate a lakeside lunch with an old friend! It was magical!

I hope you learned some fun facts about Minneapolis and are ready to see it for yourself. I loved it so much I might just move there! So be sure to look me up ;-)

Where to Stay in Minneapolis

W-The Foshay

The Foshay itself was once the tallest building west of the Mississippi, now it’s one of the smaller buildings in the city, but has held its dignity and charm nonetheless. It is now home to the uber posh W-The Foshay hotel. With its low lights and ultra modern décor, the W certainly is a spectacular hotel. The ultra modern rooms are very clean and the atmosphere truly creates a unique experience! The location of the hotel is fantastic as well. It is within walking distance to many great attractions including Tennepin Theater District, Weisman Art Museum, Walker Arts Center and Sculpture Garden, Nicolette Mall, and others. I stayed here on my first night in Minneapolis, and it was phenomenal- I plan to stay there again!

Tip: For a great view, visit the Foshay’s observation deck, or a few floors below check out the Prohibition - the Foshay’s trendy cocktail bar! I enjoyed sipping Cava and seeing the spectacular view of the city!

I stayed at the Foshay for $123 per night. This is significantly less than the average rate which falls around $240. If you are interested in staying at the Foshay- contact me for low rate details!

The Depot Renaissance

This classically beautiful hotel was once the train station of the Milwaukee Road Line. Opening in the late 1800’s, it was bustling with activity from the get go. The depot reached its prime in 1920 when it had nearly 30 trains a day departing. In 1971 the last train left the station, and it was later converted into an elegant hotel complete with high ceilings, beautiful trim and the feeling of being in a grand railroad station. It stands as a reminder today of this classic travel experience; The Depot is a fantastic place to stay in Minneapolis. As if the spectacular architecture isn’t enough, they have plenty of fun things to do on property, including a 15,000 square foot indoor water park, a full service bar and restaurant, and an enclosed seasonal ice skating rink! It’s within walking distance to many fantastic Minneapolis attractions including: Guthrie Theater, Nicollet Mall, and Saint Anthony Main!

Insider Tip: Book in advance and you can stay at this beautiful hotel for only $99 per night! Far less than the normal rate that falls around $200.

Smitten with the Twins

The Twin Cities that is! I just travelled to Minneapolis and St. Paul for the first time, and I am loving’ it! On my first day I spend the day and an overnight on the beautiful Lake Minnetonka. Minnesota has 10,000 lakes and I decided, to see a few of them! Then I spent the next several days exploring what the Twin Cities have to offer and thus far I have discovered this…Minneapolis (the hip and modern twin) can rival any major city in poshness, its far cleaner than LA or NYC and the people are significantly friendlier than those in most major cities! In addition to great art venues, good eats, and fabulous shopping Minneapolis offers a variety of outdoor activities as well! There are actually several lakes in the city! I had a picnic at Lake Calhoun yesterday! On a Thursday afternoon the paths were filled with runners, bikers, walkers and roller bladders! Then myself the picnicker and dozens of sun bathers soaking up the sun and celebrating the start of summer! St. Paul (the quant & quiet twin) is a beautiful riverside city that has a great mix of classic architecture and history combined with a chic and modern flair! The city is filled with small shops, awesome independent restaurants and lovely parks!

Over the next several days I will write about the sites, sounds, grub and love that can be found in Minneapolis!

Beautiful Boone

I just returned home from a lovely week in Boone visiting my honey. Shortly after I arrived, I lay down to rest, and awoke 20 minutes later to the sound of rain. Through the window I could see the most spectacular view of the rain falling on the mountains, and I knew I had to share some details on this amazing vacation spot with others.

For those of you not familiar, Boone is a small town in western North Carolina, located in the heart of the Appalachian Mountains. In addition to being the home of Appalachian State University, it also has an adorable downtown, and endless outdoor activities.

Where to Stay

Camping

For my budget travelers, camping is a great way to stay in Boone! The weather here cannot be beat; you don’t have the sweltering heat of the NC lowlands, and here in the high country you can wake up to cool mountain air and a spectacular view: check out www.koa.com for info and rates on their campground in Boone, or try the Flintock Family Campground http://www.flintlockcampground.com/. Both are great places to camp!

Broyhill Inn

For those that prefer to be in town and around the action, try the Broyhill Inn, situated in the mountains and on the campus of Appalachian State University. Continental breakfast is complimentary to guests. The hotel is located right next to ASU’s wind turbine and it is assumed they receive much of their energy from this source!

Country Inn & Suites

This property has a fantastic location, great view, and many amenities! It is similar to many of the other chain hotels in the area, but for about $20 less per night! So if you want a name you know- this is the hotel for you! Included in the rate is a full breakfast buffet! Rates run around $110 per night.

Where to Eat & Drink

Hob Nob Farm Café

This restaurant uses the freshest and finest local, regional, and organic foods! They have a very diverse and eclectic menu and everything is made fresh to order! Menu ranges from sushi to Jamaican rice and beans. The food is delish. For me, no visit to Boone is complete without their Tempeh Gouda Taco! Located on King Street, you shouldn’t miss it. They are open breakfast, lunch and dinner and have both indoor and outdoor seating.

Vidalia

Vidalia is really unique because it is both casual and upscale. They serve American cuisine with a unique twist to it! Vidalia changes their menu a few times a year in keeping with the seasons, so you are guaranteed freshness! They also try to keep it local whenever possible. Great for date night and celebrations, you should definitely check out Vidalia on your next trip to Boone. Visit their website for more info: http://www.vidaliaofboonenc.com/index.html

Eating out in Boone on a budget?

No worries! Many of Boone’s restaurants have daily specials that help you save when eating out, here just a few:

Taco Tuesdays at Boone Saloon- right on King street, you can grab a taco for $1.25

Beer & A Burger are just $4 for lunch on Thursday’s at Galileo’s Bar and Café. Galileo’s also has $6 all you can eat baked ziti on Tuesdays!

What to do & See

The high country has a plethora of outdoor activities available to visitors. I have just listed a few of my favorites. There are many other places to hike, see waterfalls, zip lines, kayaking, tubing, etc.!

Hebron Rock Colony

For a spectacular view and a load of fun you must visit Hebron Rock Colony! There is a beautiful, long slope of humungous boulders, great for crawling, climbing and jumping (if you are the risky type). The river cascades down the rocks, so there are several small waterfalls and dozens of sweet little swimming holes.

Elk River Falls

This is one of the High Country’s most beautiful waterfalls! When the weather is nice, there will be a crowd, but it’s worth it to see the 60-foot falls!

King Street

It’s great for taking a stroll and stopping in some of the fun shops along the way! Don’t miss Artwalk! It is three floors of local and regional art. There are also a lot of restaurants along King Street.

Day Trip From Boone

Blowing Rock

Blowing Rock is a charming town about half an hour from Boone. It was a beautiful old down town area with shops and great eats. They also have some spectacular views! Its a bit crowded in the summer, but worth a visit!!