Combining travel with a higher purpose can elevate a traditional vacation into an opportunity to make the world a better place.
Sometimes a traditional vacation just isn’t enough. Many of today’s responsible adults aim to combine travel with a higher goal. One of the fastest growing niches in the travel industry is related to this concept. People take journeys to faraway places in order to pitch in on environmental cleanup projects, build homes for the needy, volunteer their time for worthwhile causes, lead tour groups, and raise money for hundreds of different causes.
If you find yourself wondering about what kinds of things to do on your next trip, consider one or more of the following options, all of which are among the most popular choices for people who want to make the world a better place.
Environmental Cleanup
You won’t have to look far for a cleanup opportunity near oceans, rivers, lakes, forests, remote highways, and national parks. Hundreds of environmental organizations are always on the lookout for people who want to contribute their time to this kind of work. The best part of joining a cleanup crew, besides the rewarding feeling of helping make the planet a safer, better place, is that you can choose from local and international opportunities.
Building Homes
There are several large charitable organizations that recruit volunteers for home building projects in third-world nations. Most require you to pay for travel, and about half also ask participants to cover the cost of accommodations while on the project location. Volunteering for a construction work crew can be a pricey proposition for team members, especially when the site is in a remote place.
However, people who take part in these types of projects often return year after year because of the good feeling they get from helping homeless people acquire safe, clean places to live. You can cover the costs before you leave by taking out a loan from a private lender. Then, you’ll be able to participate with mind and body as you undertake your special vacation.
Volunteering in Areas of Need
There’s no end to the need for volunteer workers in disaster areas because there is always some area of the world that desperately lacks hands for projects like hurricane relief, cleanup after earthquakes and floods, assistants for medical teams in blight-stricken locations, and more.
Connect with a local social service agency to find out where there’s a pressing need for help and sign up as a volunteer with the next group out. This can be a way to travel without paying for it while simultaneously doing your part to leave a place better than you found it and doing good in the world.
Lead a Tour Group
If you have special knowledge about a city or town, volunteer to take visitors on walking tours. Nearly every major city uses teams of unpaid helpers to escort tourists who want to learn more about local customs, food, historic buildings and more. Consider focusing on a neighborhood or district that you know well, and then do additional research to round out your knowledge base.
To Raise Money for a Cause
Create your own fundraiser by soliciting donations for an unusual challenge, like running a marathon, swimming the English Channel, hiking a famous peak, or walking from one national border to another. Millions of individuals have raised massive amounts of money, for example, by taking part in long-distance bicycling trips.
Tips for Trip Success
Book Your Flight
Find an inexpensive flight by using CheapOAir, a favorite of ours because it regularly returns less expensive flight options from a variety of airlines.
Book Your Hotel or Special Accommodation
We are big fans of Booking.com. We like their review system and photos. If we want to see more reviews and additional booking options, we go to TripAdvisor.
You Need Travel Insurance!
Good travel insurance means having total peace of mind. Travel insurance protects you when your medical insurance often will not and better than what you get from your credit card. It will provide comprehensive coverage should you need medical treatment or return to the United States, compensation for trip interruption, baggage loss, and other situations.
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