Happiness Is Just Around The Bend

The words “sustainable” and “responsible” have become buzzwords in tourism in recent years, right up there with “eco-friendly” as the newest thing to strive for for many tour companies and travel businesses. But sustainable tourism . What is it, really? And why should the average tourist like you or I care about it? When buzzwords like these come up, it's a natural reaction, I think, to tune out. To assume that glazed-eye look and let your mind wander a bit because clearly these sorts of things are for executives and experts to worry about, right? Well, you'd actually be wrong. Sure, tourism boards and tour companies can pledge to more sustainable practices in their businesses. But until we as tourists care about sustainability and responsible travel, the efforts of those executives and experts will only go so far. Before I can answer the question of why sustainable tourism should matter to you, though, I first need to explain what “sustai...

I know not everyone is a fan of guided tours. In fact, among the travel community, many people look down upon those who would choose a guided tour over going it alone, arguing that dependence on a tour guide makes the experience in a place less “authentic.” Well, I’m not sure I agree. Just like with all inclusive vacations and cruises, I think guided tours have their place in travel . Admittedly, they aren’t for everybody, and a good guided tour depends a lot on the people running it, as well as the people partaking in it. Get stuck in an annoying group of insensitive or ignorant tourists (or guides), and nobody is likely to enjoy the tour. But if you luck out and choose the *right* tour, there’s no reason why even the most independent traveler can’t enjoy a guided tour. The Markings of a Good Guided Tour So what makes a tour the right one? Well, what’s right for one person may be wrong for another. It’s all about personal preferences, after all. But there are a few points that ...