Comments on: 10 Conscious Choices to Make on Your Next Trip http://thetravelersnotebook.com/top-10-lists/10-conscious-choices-to-make-on-your-next-trip/ Featuring insider destination guides and how-to articles from the matador travel community. Our focus is sustainable travel, cultural immersion, plus work, study, and volunteer opportunities worldwide. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:45:29 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: francetales.com http://thetravelersnotebook.com/top-10-lists/10-conscious-choices-to-make-on-your-next-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-629 francetales.com Mon, 03 Mar 2008 17:04:28 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to-guides/10-conscious-choices-to-make-on-your-next-trip#comment-629 Great list, I agree with them all. If I could add an 11th, take a dance class or go dancing, wherever you are. For many cultures dancing is another form of socialization and you will miss out if you don't. I've been dancing in Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, France, Portugal, and maybe nowhere else but I would not have been exposed to certain things if I had not gone. Even if you don't like dancing go. Noone will remember you don't worry about looking stupid go anyway. Great list, I agree with them all. If I could add an 11th, take a dance class or go dancing, wherever you are. For many cultures dancing is another form of socialization and you will miss out if you don’t. I’ve been dancing in Brazil, Cuba, Mexico, France, Portugal, and maybe nowhere else but I would not have been exposed to certain things if I had not gone. Even if you don’t like dancing go. Noone will remember you don’t worry about looking stupid go anyway.

]]> By: Jenny http://thetravelersnotebook.com/top-10-lists/10-conscious-choices-to-make-on-your-next-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-74 Jenny Wed, 21 Nov 2007 19:02:39 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to-guides/10-conscious-choices-to-make-on-your-next-trip#comment-74 Hi Melissa, Thanks for the comment. I agree that travelers--especially if you're female and/or going solo--should use good judgment when it comes to hitchhiking. I always hitchhike with a buddy, and have turned down rides when I wasn't comfortable with the situation. Then again, I've met some wonderful people this way, and some of my best memories involve a chance pickup by a stranger... Hi Melissa,

Thanks for the comment. I agree that travelers–especially if you’re female and/or going solo–should use good judgment when it comes to hitchhiking. I always hitchhike with a buddy, and have turned down rides when I wasn’t comfortable with the situation. Then again, I’ve met some wonderful people this way, and some of my best memories involve a chance pickup by a stranger…

]]> By: Melissa Barton http://thetravelersnotebook.com/top-10-lists/10-conscious-choices-to-make-on-your-next-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-72 Melissa Barton Wed, 21 Nov 2007 18:31:12 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to-guides/10-conscious-choices-to-make-on-your-next-trip#comment-72 I have to say that as a usually solo female traveler, I do not feel that hitchhiking is safe in many countries--I did it once, in Iceland (which is known to be very safe for hitchhikers), out of desperation, but it's not a choice I would recommend for most people in most circumstances. There are places where hitchhiking is pretty safe, and there are a lot of places where it really isn't. Of course, hitchhiking in pairs or groups is a different matter. I have to say that as a usually solo female traveler, I do not feel that hitchhiking is safe in many countries–I did it once, in Iceland (which is known to be very safe for hitchhikers), out of desperation, but it’s not a choice I would recommend for most people in most circumstances. There are places where hitchhiking is pretty safe, and there are a lot of places where it really isn’t.

Of course, hitchhiking in pairs or groups is a different matter.

]]> By: BNT’s Best Of The Week 11/03/2007 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/top-10-lists/10-conscious-choices-to-make-on-your-next-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-25 BNT’s Best Of The Week 11/03/2007 Sat, 03 Nov 2007 16:39:09 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to-guides/10-conscious-choices-to-make-on-your-next-trip#comment-25 [...] The fine folks at Matador have launched a new travel zine called the traveler’s notebook. Check out 10 Conscious Choices To Make On Your Next Trip. [...] [...] The fine folks at Matador have launched a new travel zine called the traveler’s notebook. Check out 10 Conscious Choices To Make On Your Next Trip. [...]

]]> By: Gaijin http://thetravelersnotebook.com/top-10-lists/10-conscious-choices-to-make-on-your-next-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Gaijin Fri, 02 Nov 2007 21:11:26 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to-guides/10-conscious-choices-to-make-on-your-next-trip#comment-21 Great list Jenny: but lets not forget to try for the unexpected. Get lost a little, Mix it up a bit, let your hair down. Your in a new place that unless you've lived many years isn't home to you. Their is no way you can do everything perfect so as to fit in without any exploitation. So don't forget to loosen up and get a little scared. You never know what or who is going to be around the corner to take that fear away, and replace it with Awe. Great list Jenny:

but lets not forget to try for the unexpected. Get lost a little, Mix it up a bit, let your hair down.

Your in a new place that unless you’ve lived many years isn’t home to you. Their is no way you can do everything perfect so as to fit in without any exploitation. So don’t forget to loosen up and get a little scared. You never know what or who is going to be around the corner to take that fear away, and replace it with Awe.

]]> By: Jenny http://thetravelersnotebook.com/top-10-lists/10-conscious-choices-to-make-on-your-next-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-20 Jenny Thu, 01 Nov 2007 18:25:07 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to-guides/10-conscious-choices-to-make-on-your-next-trip#comment-20 Hi Eva, Thanks for the comment. You're right that many long-term ex-pats are wonderful contributors to their local community, and often provide great role models for other sustainable businesses. I suppose one would have to take each company on a case-by-case basis. If a business owned by a foreigner has ethical practices and gives back to the local economy, I would certainly support them over a locally owned business that exploits labor or resources. Plus, sometimes "foreigners" have been living for 30 or more years in a community--one would be hard pressed to describe them as anything other than a local! Best, Jenny Hi Eva,

Thanks for the comment. You’re right that many long-term ex-pats are wonderful contributors to their local community, and often provide great role models for other sustainable businesses. I suppose one would have to take each company on a case-by-case basis. If a business owned by a foreigner has ethical practices and gives back to the local economy, I would certainly support them over a locally owned business that exploits labor or resources. Plus, sometimes “foreigners” have been living for 30 or more years in a community–one would be hard pressed to describe them as anything other than a local!

Best,
Jenny

]]> By: Eva http://thetravelersnotebook.com/top-10-lists/10-conscious-choices-to-make-on-your-next-trip/comment-page-1/#comment-19 Eva Thu, 01 Nov 2007 17:17:44 +0000 http://thetravelersnotebook.com/how-to-guides/10-conscious-choices-to-make-on-your-next-trip#comment-19 Hey Jenny, great list! Really well explained. I was just wondering if you meant to include small businesses run by transplanted westerners as "foreign" businesses? "It can be tough to avoid foreign-owned companies altogether, especially when some of the sweetest hostels and watering holes are run by ex-pats." I think a little dive bar run by an old Aussie scuba instructor is pretty different from a Starbucks... In many cases ex-pats are fully committed to their new homes and active in the local economy. Hey Jenny, great list! Really well explained.

I was just wondering if you meant to include small businesses run by transplanted westerners as “foreign” businesses?

“It can be tough to avoid foreign-owned companies altogether, especially when some of the sweetest hostels and watering holes are run by ex-pats.”

I think a little dive bar run by an old Aussie scuba instructor is pretty different from a Starbucks… In many cases ex-pats are fully committed to their new homes and active in the local economy.

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