 | Eco tourism, sustainable travel and volunteering are hot buttons right now in the world of travel - people are keen to travel green, so this month's edition of Comet zeroes in on these topics. We've got suggestions, experiences, advice, videos, you name it - get inspired. | Slice 30% off that price tag, baby! More » | | 
 | » Lean and GreenThe times are a-changing. We polled over 24,500 people worldwide in our annual Travellers' Pulse survey and the numbers show travellers want to get sustainable - 84% of respondents said they would consider offsetting their carbon emissions in the future, and 79% of respondents said they would consider volunteering in the future. We've got a wealth of information on responsible travel all over our site - read about volunteering experiences in India, Europe, Cambodia, Costa Rica and South Africa. Get the whole low-down on what to look for and who to approach with our volunteering microsite.  » Free Rugby Guides! Rugby lovers, this is your time. The best of the best are playing across 12 different cities and we've got all the information you need - free. Download these PDFs and you'll be sorted for maps to the stadiums, transport information, accommodation, sightseeing and the best restaurants each city has to offer. There's also a tailored language guide, so you'll be yelling 'quel est le score?' before you know it. | | back to top |  | Bigger, Better Haystack Our online accommodation booking service keeps getting sleeker and shinier as we add improvements. Our new search-results display means information and reviews are more clearly shown, and includes information about the city you're searching in; we've added a new Quick Date search, and a new Calendar search that will also show travellers which rooms don't meet their search criteria and why. Not bad, huh? Eco-friendly Properties: Top destinations of the month: | | back to top | 
| » Hot Off the Traveller's Tongue Here are some great suggestions, questions and answers from the Thorn Tree. In keeping with this month's theme, we've concentrated broadly on responsible travel. This information comes directly from travellers but remember, it's not always verified, so check with the relevant embassy for further details, and go to the Thorn Tree to hear travellers' views. Volunteering programs can be costly - so what kind of volunteering doesn't cost an arm and a leg? The term 'carbon neutral' is well known now but there's still some confusion. Thorn Tree users bat the subject about. | | back to top |  | | Advertisement | 
| Laos Sure, Laos is pretty spectacular - what with those limestone karsts and ancient cities and forested mountains and elephants splashing in rivers and all - but what keeps travellers coming back and back is the people and the pace. This is a strong contender for the most laid-back place on earth, and once you've spent some time soaking up the languid riverside culture of Vientiane, hiking in the wilderness or settling back to watch the sunset over a Beerlao, you'll start to see why. Here're some sights you really shouldn't miss: 
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| FEATURED BLUELIST » Doing Good On Vacation in a Developing Country
By: jcravens42 - 17 Feb 2006 Cautions
In developing countries, what's *most* important to local nonprofits is to serve local communities, not to give you a feel-good moment. Be respectful of the *very* restrictive time of local groups and local people just trying get by. Just Being a Tourist Does Good
You're doing a LOT of good simply by visiting a developing country: spending money on accommodations, food, transportation, local crafts. And your money helps employ local people -- maybe the most important need to be met in the developing world. Research & PrepareBecome familiar with the area before you go. Already knowing the basics about a region's cultural practices greatly enhances your experience locally, & improves your chances of being welcomed to engage in a helpful activity while there. Read More » | | back to top | 
|  » Volunteering on the Road
Lonely Planet staffers Ellie Cobb and Emma Gilmour pulled on their volunteering boots at the Nepabunna community last month. Here's what they experienced: Volunteering can take many shapes and forms. Gale force winds and sleep deprivation were just two of the things we had not expected when we camped at the Nepabunna community in outback South Australia, yet they were just some of the challenges we faced on our volunteering stint. On paper it sounded good: Read in Full » » Other Volunteering Thoughts
Lonely Planet Foundation's manager, Anna, chips in some more information: Have dollars, will give
If your heart's in the right place but you just don't have the time to volunteer then do what can arguably be seen as just as good and give to a non-profit organisation. If you are not interested in a tax deduction then there are so many places you can give to. You need to do your research though because non profits can be a profitable business for some unscrupulous types. So, how do you know a good project? Well do your research before you go; for instance ask friends who work in the non-profit world if they have connections with reputable groups. You can check if the charity is registered. Here's a group Lonely Planet Foundation (link to lp.com info) supports in Cambodia: Cambodian Childrens Fund. It's also registered with the Kingdom of Cambodia as a charity. Get your friends revved up on your post-trip excitement by holding a fundraiser for a group in the country you've just been to: get everyone to bring a donation along to a themed dinner and show them your pics and videos - it's a great way to ease yourself back into the non-holiday world! The important thing is that you help out where you can. |  Compass Competition We've got five copies of the Volunteering Handbook to give away. To win one, tell us where you would find: Casa de la Libertad Museo de la Recoleta Iglesia de la Merced Email your answers here by 30 August 2007. Responsible Travel Tips of the Month Want to bring a gift for local children? Bring nutritious food rather than sweets - it's a good way of learning to bargain at the local market too. Match clothing style with locals - if they cover up, so should you! Respect the community you are staying with. Listen to what they say, hear and share stories and make sure whatever you're doing it's something they want you to do.  Talk2Us is our dedicated team that reads and uses all traveller feedback, so if you've got something to say, especially about your volunteering experiences and recommendations, contact us. | back to top | 
|  » Sign Up and Win BigKeep getting tempted by travel by signing up to Only Footprints, World Expeditions' monthly e-newsletter - you could win a 21-day holiday for two to Cambodia and Vietnam, valued at nearly AU$6000, just by subscribing! Read more » | | back to top | Your privacy is important to us. Read our privacy policy to find out what we do and don't do with your personal details. If you no longer wish to hear from us please click here or contact us at Lonely Planet Publications Pty Ltd 90 Maribyrnong Street Footscray VIC 3011 Australia / tel: + 61 3 8379 8000. copyright © 2007 Lonely Planet Publications | Locked Bag 1, Footscray, Victoria, Australia 3011 | |
