Cruises

As we celebrate the two year anniversary of Go Green Travel Green, we look back on how we’ve gotten where we are today.

From packing light and hypermiling to travel photos and water bottles, here are some of our most popular posts from 2008 and 2009.

Travel Tips & Tricks

Ultimate Guide to Packing Light: 45 Tips to Lighten Your Load

10 Best Countries for Vegetarian or Vegan Travel

Shades of Green Travel

The Extreme Hypermiling Guide: 450+ Tips to Increase Your Miles Per Gallon and Save Gas

10 Free Ways to Learn a Language

11 Common Foods to Naturally Relieve Illness while Traveling

photo credit: BotheredbyBees

9 Tips for Learning a Language in a Foreign Country

End of Back to School Green Travel Basics: Index of Posts

Find Cheap Airline Tickets: Cheat Sheet

25 Days to Green Travel: Index

Travel Gear & Reviews

10 Christmas Gift Ideas for the Traveler Who’s Not Traveling

Stainless Steel Water Bottle: Smackdown

Ultimate Guide to Thrift Store Shopping: 34 Tips and Tricks for Travelers

How to Choose a (Healthy) Water Bottle: 34 Resources

Eat, Pray, Love Book Review and Favorite Quotes

Travel Stories

Volunteering at Chacra Millalen: The Argentina Organic Farm Experience

Bike & Wine Tour in Maipu: It’s Better After a Bottle

Best Steak Ever: The Argentina Parrilla Experience

Long Term Travel: Too Much Time to Think?

Argentine Cuisine: 17 Foods You’ve Gotta Try

Travel Photos

Monkeys & Exotic Birds: Animals of Tikal National Park in Pictures

31 Reasons to Travel Green: In Pictures

photo credit: art_es_anna

World’s Largest Rodent & Other Exotic Iguazu Falls Animals

Southern Right Whale Watching off Peninsula Valdes in Photos

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

Best of Go Green Travel Green 2008-2009

The nasty weather in the UK through Christmas and the New Year meant many travellers plans were disrupted, with flights delayed or cancelled. There’s not a great deal you can do about the weather but I wish our airports and public transport in general could cope with the bad weather; it is winter after all.

Airline tricks and unhelpful customer support

As you can imagine my inbox was full of stories from consumers, many asking if they were entitled to compensation for being delayed or their flight cancelled. To be honest I was shocked at the types of tricks that the airlines used and how unhelpful some of them were.

I read stories of passengers being delayed for 18 hours, without any assistance from the airline. I shouldn’t write this because it’s going to happen to me now, but I have never been delayed for more than 30 minutes. I’ve put that down to good luck more than anything else.

I remember dreading my flight home from Hobart via Sydney and Kuala Lumpur, hoping that all my connections were on time.

Airlines avoiding their responsibilities

At the moment I am writing a guide about passenger’s entitlements to compensation and assistance when a flight has been delayed or cancelled so I won’t go into the detail here, other than to say that the airlines flying into the EU should be aware of their responsibilities through EC Regulation No 261/2004.

So, what was your worst flight delay and did the airline assist or compensate you?

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This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Share your worst airline flight delays

Two years ago tomorrow, we launched Go Green Travel Green with the goal of making environmentally friendly travel accessible to everyone.

Since then, we’ve been featured on Newsweek, Forbes, Los Angeles Times, MSN Money, National Geographic, PC World, Kayak, and Lifehack. We were even named one of the [London] Times Online’s Top 100 Travel Sites for 2009.

We couldn’t have done it without our fans. Thanks for your support!

As we celebrate our two year anniversary, we look back on the past and forward to the future. With that in mind, tomorrow we’ll post the Best of Go Green Travel Green 2008-2009.

What are your favorite GGTG posts? Let us know in the comments.

photo credit: vmiramontes

Thanks for reading Go Green Travel Green.

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

Happy 2 Year Anniversary, Go Green Travel Green!

Most of us have been guilty of rushing to the airport to catch our flight, or worst still, arrived at the wrong airport. I remember reading a story about a group of Newcastle football fans who had arrived in the city where the team was playing a day early, and were flying home the day of the game.

I am always giving out travel advice, yet, sometimes, I fall foul of my own stupid travel mistakes.

Checked into the wrong hotel

This incident happened last year. I decided to take a long weekend trip to Venice, and all was going well. I found the street where my hotel was located, checked-in, unpacked, had a shower. Then, I looked at the notepad on the bedside table and noticed that it was the wrong hotel!

What was annoying is that I had given the receptionist the print-out and the name of the hotel was clear to see, yet they checked me in. My stupid mistake I know. I explained my situation and that it was the wrong hotel. I couldn’t get out there quick enough. The hotel I had booked was four doors up the street.

Ten mile walk back to the apartment

A few years back I went on holiday to the Greek island of Crete. My brother was relaxing on the beach, so I decided to take the local bus to a village that I heard had a great market, the name I can’t remember. I jumped off the bus, wandered around for a few hours and had a bite to eat.

In the evening I set off to find out that the last bus had left for Bali, the village we were staying at. I had no mobile phone, and I think I left my common sense back home too. Ten miles later, sweaty, sunburnt and stressed I arrived back at the apartment, while my brother sat in a local bar relaxing.

Missed the flight to Berlin

In 2008 I was going to the PhoCusWright @ ITB conference in Berlin. The night before I hadn’t slept too well, and well, slept in an hour longer than I should have. I dashed to the station to catch the train to Liverpool; the train was delayed at Manchester so I missed check-in by 25 minutes.

So, what mistakes or situations have you found yourself in while travelling?

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This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Time to share my travel mistakes

I have just heard that accommodation only company Apartments abroad has today ceased trading. The company sold accommodation all over the world including popular tourist destinations in Europe and the US. They do not appear to be ABTA members, I thought they were though.

Independent traveller protection issues

I am not sure at this point how many consumers will be affected.

Consumers were able to book accommodation via the website but I understand that travel agents also used. The company also owns resort taxis, a specialist airport transfer service. I wanted to post this now in case any consumers are looking for assistance.

The problem is most consumers who have booked through a travel agent will not be aware.

Both the Apartments abroad and Resort Taxis website provide very little in the way of information but they are advising consumers to contact Begbies Traynor who are involved in the liquidation of the company.

Please add your comments and questions in the form below and I will update it with more information soon.

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This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Apartments abroad and Resort taxis ceased trading

On our recent trip to Boston, Elizabeth and I were able to get an excellent rate at a gorgeous historic hotel, the Fairmont Copley Plaza. I don’t stay in hotels often, but when I do, I pay close attention to what hotels are doing to go green.

Overall, I loved staying at the Copley Plaza. Here’s why, from an eco-friendly point of view.

Recycling bins in rooms

The only other hotels where I’ve seen abundant recycling options are Kimptons, so I was glad to see that the hotel recycling bin is catching on. The Copley Plaza’s recycling bin was right next to the trash can.

Elegant staircase makes you want to skip the elevator

Many hotels, especially modern ones, hide the closed-off staircase in a a dark, concrete stairwell. I’ve often stumbled upon dirty dishes and trash stashed in hotel stairwells by housekeeping staff for pick up later. Not so at the Copley Plaza. The grand, open staircase is made of beautiful stone and the bannister is ornate.

Staff don’t wash towels daily unless you request it

Almost all hotels these days have a “save the planet by reusing your towel” sign, but, as Elizabeth pointed out, many hotels don’t adhere to it. The Fairmont Copley Plaza did, which was much appreciated.

Historic building

There’s something that just feels right about staying in a building constructed in 1912 in one of the oldest cities in the country.

Efficient rooms

The rooms at the Fairmont Copley Plaza are by no means austere; in fact, they are quite opulent — ours had a chandelier. But because hotels built in the early 20th century weren’t typically sprawling, most of the rooms are more compact than modern hotel rooms. Smaller rooms require fewer resource, which is greener. But don’t worry. The tall ceilings and historic details make the rooms feel quite spacious.

Excellent location

Our hotel sat across the street from a Copley Square, a lovely green space that is home to Trinity Church. Right across the street is the famous Boston Public Library. Two blocks away is the Boston Common and the start of the Freedom Trail. We walked from the hotel to the Freedom Trail and toured the North End without ever hopping on the T. For further away destinations, there are two T stations less than two blocks from the Fairmont Copley Plaza; Copley Station on the Green Line and Back Bay Station on the Orange Line.

Nearby local restaurants

While Newbury Street and the surrounding area is best known for being a high-end shopping destination, there is no shortage of local eateries mixed in. We found excellent Vietnamese and Indian restaurants and an ice cream parlor. Venture to the North End and you’ll find an abundance of excellent Italian.

Have you stayed at the Copley Plaza? What was your experience?

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

Fairmont Copley Plaza: Boston, MA Hotel Review

I can’t imagine what the residents of Haiti are going through and when I watch the news I wish I could do more to help. I wasn’t going to write this post but felt I needed to get it off my chest. When disasters such as Haiti we have to come together and help, and it is great that millions were raised so quickly.

Helping Haiti or PR

In the last week though I have seen a number of companies (including a few in travel) promoting the fact that they have helped people in Haiti by delivering some form of aid or donated a chunk of cash. I cannot help but think that this is more about PR, hoping for media attention from their kindness.

Hunting for media attention

It’s great that companies want to help, but why do they need to tell the world that you have donated money or sent aid to Haiti if you simply wanted to help? A lot of what I have read has been on Twitter and Facebook and maybe it is just me but, I cannot understand why you promote your involvement.

Am I being unfair or are companies promoting their kindness simply hunting for media attention.

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This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Companies donate to Haiti for PR or to make a difference

One of my least favourite parts of flying is queuing and going through airport security. It never seems organised. Airport security has been in the news a lot recently and with the introduction of full body scanners in British airports, sometime in 2010, I don’t think it’ll get any better.

Baggage searched at Schiphol airport

This year I will be taking my first jaunt over to the US and I cannot wait to experience the security there. I remember back to when I was 17 and travelling through Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. I must have looked guilty because all of my bags were searched, probably for drugs.

Strict airport security in Sydney

The airport security in Sydney, Australia was pretty strict, arriving from Kuala Lumpur I had my luggage checked and quizzed about my trip, how much money was I carrying and why I had no accommodation booked in Tasmania. Luckily, I was staying with a friend in Hobart, and had her contact details on me.

Even though I was not guilty of anything illegal, I felt guilty.

Your airport security experiences

I think if anything airport security is going to become even stricter, I can see check-in times increasing to allow for passengers to get through the airport. So, what are your experiences with airport security, have you been interviewed, do you get your baggage searched a lot, feel free to share.

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This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Worst airport security experiences

Boston is an excellent destination for the green traveler, as we discovered on our recent trip. There’s fantastic public transportation provided by the T, Boston’s subway system; there’s a rich history; there’s cultural diversity.

But above all, there’s food: from Italian to Indian and ice cream to brunch, Boston provides an abundance of delicious local dining options. Here’s our food journey through the best restaurants in Boston, Massachusetts.

Radius

We started out our Boston eating extravaganza with a celebratory dinner at Radius, one of Boston’s high-end restaurants. I ordered their prix-fixe menu and Elizabeth ordered from their main menu. My seared halibut appetizer was delectable and my poached chicken main course was very good. The parsnip-apple puree went very well with the chicken. Elizabeth’s scallops were delicious and cooked perfectly.

We split two desserts. The dark chocolate and macadamia nut candy bar was divine, and the banana ice cream complemented it perfectly. The second dessert, called Grapes and Cheese, was a delicious combination of subtle yet rich flavors — cream cheese sorbet with tangerines and a port reduction. Overall, a home-run meal.

Website: http://www.radiusrestaurant.com/

India Quality Restaurant

Our extreme disappointment at Uburger (below) led us to wander into India Quality Restaurant right across the street. We had just eaten, yes, but it was a decidedly unsatisfying hamburger experience. India Quality Restaurant made everything okay.

We started off with three appetizers. The dahi papri was interesting and tasty, and the vegetable samosa was amazing. The vegetable pakora was okay, but definitely the weakest of the three appetizers.

We also ordered three types of delicious stuffed bread — keema nan (stuffed with minced lamb and spices), paneer nan (stuffed with fresh home made cheese, coriander and spices), and garlic nan (stuffed with fresh garlic and spices). The garlic was the best, followed by the keema. All of the food at the other tables looked amazing, too. I would definitely recommend India Quality Restaurant.

Website: http://www.indiaquality.com/

JP Licks

There’s a reason JP Licks is a Massachusetts favorite for homemade ice cream. Get the chocolate chip cookie and peanut butter swirl frozen yogurt. Hands-down, the best frozen yogurt I have ever tasted. The ice cream looks fantastic, too.

Website: http://www.jplicks.com/

Maria’s Pastry Shop

Don’t be overwhelmed by the extensive menu at this famous pastry shop, which is located in the North End’s Little Italy. Pretty much anything you get will be good. I highly recommend the ricotta filled cannoli. Amazing.

Website: http://www.northendboston.com/marias/

Uburger

There’s not much to say about Uburger, except that it is decidedly not one of Boston’s best restaurants. I ordered a burger with mushrooms and cheese, with fries on the side. It was okay. A couple of steps above McDonald’s, but far below a really amazing burger. The bun especially left something to be desired. Don’t waste a Boston meal at Uburger — there are so many better places to dine.

Website: http://www.uburgerboston.com/

Tremont 647

We went to the pajama brunch on Sunday. The restaurant has a nice atmosphere and fast service. The cheese grits were pretty good for the East Coast (being from Texas, I’m picky about grits). The biscuits and gravy were excellent, though the gravy could have used more pepper. The frittata was fine, but unremarkable. Overall, a very satisfying meal. Next time, I want to try the brioche french toast.

Website: http://tremont647.com/

Did we miss an amazing Boston restaurant? Let us know in the comments.

originally posted at Go Green Travel Green

Eating Our Way Through the Best Restaurants in Boston

I recently had a credit card copied while holidaying in China. Blissfully unaware of the problem until the card company contacted me on my return I was equally surprised several months later when the cancelled card was used again. Second time, I was billed and successfully contested the transactions.

Here are some lessons I learnt from the experience.

Watch your credit card

Be aware of where you credit card is and what people are doing with it. It’s when you’re making payments that it’s most vulnerable to being copied. I had no idea my card was copied until I arrived home and the card issuer contacted me (my next statement hadn’t even arrived).

Use cash when in doubt

If you’re going somewhere with a reputation for card copying, have an ample supply of cash with you. Use cash if you’re in any way uncomfortable handing over your card. I had been using cash throughout our trip to China and had used the card sparingly.

The card was only used the card at the end of the trip as I didn’t want to have a wad of currency which I couldn’t use in Europe. The card was out of my sight one, as far as I can recollect, but wasn’t suspicious at the time. With hindsight, I won’t be dining there again.

Check your statements

Even though credit card issuers have processes and systems in place to catch credit card fraud, sometimes they fail. The card company had contacted me the first time about the fraud but, somehow, fraudulent transactions appeared on my statements several months later.

Fraud can happen again

Just because you blocked your card, doesn’t mean the card can’t be used. I was surprised that my cancelled card was used again and I got billed for it – several months later. Once a card is blocked the card company will usually have to acknowledge the fraud and you will not be liable.

Keep checking your statements.

Document the problem

When I spoke to the card company the second time, having complete information to hand (card numbers, statements with the dodgy transactions etc.) to hand was indispensable. It helped them and me to resolve the problem quickly and easily.

Talk to your card issuer early and before you pay the bill

The sooner you talk to your card issuer, the sooner they can block the card and any liability you may incur will be minimised. As I spoke to the card company before I paid them – they simply cancelled the transactions and gave me a new balance eliminating the hassle of claiming for a refund.

I’m no lawyer, but paying the full amount could be construed as my accepting liability.

Don’t get angry with the person on the phone

I didn’t (obviously) but they’re human too. If the holiday fraud is clear, you will receive a sympathetic hearing if you’re calm, clear and to the point. Always take care with your credit cards but do not forget to enjoy your holiday.

Your tips and advice on credit card fraud

Thanks to Mark Sukhija who writes on Mark Travel Notes for sharing his experiences with credit card fraud. Have you had a similar issue? What tips would you give holidaymakers who plan to take their credit card with them on holiday.

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This post was syndicated from the Travel Rants Consumer Blog.

Lessons from holiday credit card fraud