Sunday, November 02, 2008
Return of the Blog.
So I moved to New York City and intended on taking a brief hiatus from the blog. That brief hiatus basically turned into six months plus, because life got in the way. Recently though, I've wanted to share my experiences with travel again. I recently made it to London and sailed home on the QM2. And so much is changing in the travel world, its worth sharing. So we're back. Coming soon, you'll see a radically different look to the website as well. And a periodic podcast. Lots of great changes are coming, and I'd love to see you join me.
Thanks!
Roger
Thanks!
Roger
Labels: effects of travel, meta
Thursday, March 06, 2008
Hertz goes Green, kinda.
The ecological impact of travel is becoming a hot topic these days, and not just with the granola munching, tree hugging set. With climate change becoming an omnipresent topic in almost everything these days, many travel providers are taking note and taking steps to ensure a product that might offer less impact on the environment. One company taking baby steps to ensure a greener traveling experience is Hertz.
True, you can still drive a Hummer with the car rental behemoth, but the Prius and just about every other hybrid is on the menu too. In fact, according to a release by the company in 2007, over 40% of their fleet is capable of getting great gas mileage in excess of 34 miles per gallon. A full two-thirds of the fleet gets at least 28 miles per gallon. On the whole, that's pretty environmentally friendly. And given the current price for oil, pocketbook friendly too.
Hertz has also introduced "The Green Collection." A fleet of over 35,000 cars that get a minimum of 28 miles per gallon and over 10% of these vehicles are hybrid cars, including the popular Prius. At the New York Times Travel Show, in late February, Elliot Friedman, Hertz' Division Vice President for the Travel Industry was there to crow about how much of a success it has been, saying that since it's inception, the Green Collection has been extremely popular, so much so that the program is still expanding, and doing so rapidly. "We're looking to buy just about any hybrid car that we can get our hands on," Friedman said during a panel on Ecotourism at the Travel Show.
Part of the program's success may have something to do with a guarantee. If you rent a Prius, you'll get a Prius. Too often, rental car agencies "upgrade" clients to cars that may not be what's needed. The 45 mpg Kia might have been on the reservation sheet, but all that's on the lot at arrival is the 20 mpg Pontiac. This will not happen with Hertz' Green Collection. You get what you pay for, period. In another nice touch, $1 from every rental in the collection will go to the conservation of National Parks.
Does this mean that Hertz is going green? Yes and no. Hertz is committed to increasing overall fleet mileage, but within categories and "buckets," according to Friedman. In other words, in an abstract sense, yes. But Friedman says there is no overall goal to improve efficiency of its vehicles by a certain amount. Friedman talked about how there are still a lot of people that want their H2 when traveling and Hertz doesn't want to alienate those people either. The Green Collection isn't exactly omnipresent either, available only at 50 airports across the United States and it does cost more than other rentals within the company, but it is a start - possibly to something bigger.
True, you can still drive a Hummer with the car rental behemoth, but the Prius and just about every other hybrid is on the menu too. In fact, according to a release by the company in 2007, over 40% of their fleet is capable of getting great gas mileage in excess of 34 miles per gallon. A full two-thirds of the fleet gets at least 28 miles per gallon. On the whole, that's pretty environmentally friendly. And given the current price for oil, pocketbook friendly too.
Hertz has also introduced "The Green Collection." A fleet of over 35,000 cars that get a minimum of 28 miles per gallon and over 10% of these vehicles are hybrid cars, including the popular Prius. At the New York Times Travel Show, in late February, Elliot Friedman, Hertz' Division Vice President for the Travel Industry was there to crow about how much of a success it has been, saying that since it's inception, the Green Collection has been extremely popular, so much so that the program is still expanding, and doing so rapidly. "We're looking to buy just about any hybrid car that we can get our hands on," Friedman said during a panel on Ecotourism at the Travel Show.
Part of the program's success may have something to do with a guarantee. If you rent a Prius, you'll get a Prius. Too often, rental car agencies "upgrade" clients to cars that may not be what's needed. The 45 mpg Kia might have been on the reservation sheet, but all that's on the lot at arrival is the 20 mpg Pontiac. This will not happen with Hertz' Green Collection. You get what you pay for, period. In another nice touch, $1 from every rental in the collection will go to the conservation of National Parks.
Does this mean that Hertz is going green? Yes and no. Hertz is committed to increasing overall fleet mileage, but within categories and "buckets," according to Friedman. In other words, in an abstract sense, yes. But Friedman says there is no overall goal to improve efficiency of its vehicles by a certain amount. Friedman talked about how there are still a lot of people that want their H2 when traveling and Hertz doesn't want to alienate those people either. The Green Collection isn't exactly omnipresent either, available only at 50 airports across the United States and it does cost more than other rentals within the company, but it is a start - possibly to something bigger.
Labels: ecotravel, effects of travel, green travel, hertz, rental cars, travel
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Norovirus and Holland America:
Over 100 passengers were sick at sea on the latest cruise on the Holland America Ryndam. And it isn't because of the waves, but the dreaded norovirus. News goes in cycles and it seems like two years ago, you couldn't swing a cat without hearing about the latest virus attack on a cruise ship. The news isn't as prevalent these days, but these outbreaks still happen and on a regular basis. The Ryndam herself has had four confirmed outbreaks since early 2007 of the nasty stomach bug. So why do they hit cruises so hard? There are a few reasons that these problems hit cruises, and one big way to help you avoid getting sick at sea.
Norovirus and other illnesses have "epidemic" effects on cruise ships for pretty simple reasons. The biggest reason: thousands of people share the same limited space for days at a time. The sickness is probably shared just as often at restaurants, hotels and other public places. But people generally aren't together for long periods on an airplane. The longest flights last 14 or 15 hours. In many cases, people who stay at hotels and eat at restaurants have different destinations and when sick see different doctors in different parts of the world. On a cruise, people eat in the same dining room, they are served by the same people, and see the same doctors when they are sick. Norovirus becomes an epidemic on a ship because the same doctors are able to spot the outbreak as it happens.
Is the virus lying dormant on the ship? Maybe, but that's less likely than most would think. When a norovirus is suspected, the ship is literally coated in anti-viral disinfectant. Cruise lines are aggressive in getting rid of these illnesses, because in a competitive world nobody wants have the buzz of being "Stomach Flu Cruise Line." Some passengers tell stories of how when a virus is suspected on the ship, they take away any shared items on the table. Salt and pepper shakers? Gone. The waiter will salt your dish for you to taste. Passengers are quarantined to their cabin for long portions of the cruise as to avoid infecting other passengers. Once in port, the ship is often held in port longer to disinfect cabins and public areas thoroughly before the next passengers are allowed on the ship.
If this clouds your opinion of whether to cruise or not, don't let it affect your decision. Stomach flu happens everywhere. The truth about norovirus is that it's annoying and makes you sick, but it won't kill you. It generally doesn't have any lasting effect beyond a couple unpleasant days of bowing to the porcelain gods and dehydrating the sick. But it can be avoided. The best way to fight it? Hygiene. Washing hands regularly. Using the hand sanitizer provided before and after visiting the dining rooms. Sometimes the bug still gets through, but its a fair bet that those who are careful about cleaning will stay healthy.
Norovirus and other illnesses have "epidemic" effects on cruise ships for pretty simple reasons. The biggest reason: thousands of people share the same limited space for days at a time. The sickness is probably shared just as often at restaurants, hotels and other public places. But people generally aren't together for long periods on an airplane. The longest flights last 14 or 15 hours. In many cases, people who stay at hotels and eat at restaurants have different destinations and when sick see different doctors in different parts of the world. On a cruise, people eat in the same dining room, they are served by the same people, and see the same doctors when they are sick. Norovirus becomes an epidemic on a ship because the same doctors are able to spot the outbreak as it happens.
Is the virus lying dormant on the ship? Maybe, but that's less likely than most would think. When a norovirus is suspected, the ship is literally coated in anti-viral disinfectant. Cruise lines are aggressive in getting rid of these illnesses, because in a competitive world nobody wants have the buzz of being "Stomach Flu Cruise Line." Some passengers tell stories of how when a virus is suspected on the ship, they take away any shared items on the table. Salt and pepper shakers? Gone. The waiter will salt your dish for you to taste. Passengers are quarantined to their cabin for long portions of the cruise as to avoid infecting other passengers. Once in port, the ship is often held in port longer to disinfect cabins and public areas thoroughly before the next passengers are allowed on the ship.
If this clouds your opinion of whether to cruise or not, don't let it affect your decision. Stomach flu happens everywhere. The truth about norovirus is that it's annoying and makes you sick, but it won't kill you. It generally doesn't have any lasting effect beyond a couple unpleasant days of bowing to the porcelain gods and dehydrating the sick. But it can be avoided. The best way to fight it? Hygiene. Washing hands regularly. Using the hand sanitizer provided before and after visiting the dining rooms. Sometimes the bug still gets through, but its a fair bet that those who are careful about cleaning will stay healthy.
Labels: effects of travel, health, holland america line
Monday, February 25, 2008
Caluclating your Tourist Footprint
Forbidden destinations for Americans have been all over the news recently. Cuba's had a change in leadership at the very top. North Korea is opening up Pyongyang to the New York Philharmonic. These countries which, like many others, have had a genuinely poor record of human rights and afford their population a significant lack of freedom. Although the governments are oppressive and generally undemocratic, the allure of these relatively undiscovered and truly and completely foreign lands is undeniable. Although these countries are difficult (and generally illegal) to visit, it is possible, provided the cash and the willingness to jump through a few hoops are there.
But is it right to spend your money in these places? Will your hard-earned dollars go to feeding the masses? Or will it just strengthen the ruling cadre in Country X? There's an ethical equation involved here.
"Ecological Footprint" is a term that is bandied about a lot these days. Referring to the sustainability of your lifestyle or action, determining a "footprint" can be a good guide to determining whether the positives outweigh the negatives in a certain situation. The time may have come to look at the "Tourist Footprint" that travelers leave after a visit.
The "Tourist Footprint" is probably difficult to calculate. One visit may not accumulate to much in the broad scheme of things but it might lead to a number of different things. So when making plans for the next exotic destination, there are some things worth considering.
1. Who Does the Trip Benefit?
Some countries have strict rules for travel. By limiting the contact a tourist has with ordinary citizens, there are limits to where that dollar goes. Most of the money spent probably goes straight to a government that might be repressive to its people, or discriminates against people in a way that might not jibe with your points of view. The few hundred dollars that one person might spend may not amount to a whole lot, all things considering, but it is the principle. Better to miss out on a rare experience than support something awful in the process.
2. Where Does the Money Go?
When staying at a new destination, does the money stay in the economy? Or does it line the pockets of someone overseas? For example, in Managua, Nicaragua, you can stay at the Intercontinental Hotel or you might decide to stay at the Backpacker's Inn Hostel. Beyond the obvious differences, the money spent in the hotel is most likely not going to anyone in Managua. The hotel is owned by El Salvadorans and the American chain is getting their slice of the pie. Chances are the only Nicaraguans lining their pockets directly from the money you are spending have a last name of Ortega.
On the other hand, the Backpacker's Inn is a small family style hostel run by a person who funnels profits of his hostel into various development projects in the Managua area. There are also plenty of nice, locally owned and operated hotels and guest houses too.
3. What about the Culture?
So what about the culture? This is probably a more esoteric measure. The more someplace gets frequented by tourism, the more a culture caters to it... even if the taste of that culture moves on to something less colloquial and more cosmopolitan. There's a trade off here. The more other people visit another area, the less unique that culture becomes. As our world has grown smaller, the differences between many places shrink and shrink. In many ways, a day in Chicago isn't different than a day in New York. This wasn't the case forty years ago. But cross pollenation has made us more the same, even if there still are differences to celebrate.
Learning is a part of travel. But teaching is too. What a tourist learns about a new culture, he often teaches as much about his own to the people he meets on the road. That thought alone keeps me from reverting to the Ugly American role when things get a bit hairy somewhere.
All in all, this is an easy lesson to learn and even easier to forget. Actions have consequences, positive and negative. By figuring out the "tourist footprint," it is a lot easier to remember that even on vacation, everything has an effect. Personally, I feel that being conscious of it only makes the travel experience more rewarding.
But is it right to spend your money in these places? Will your hard-earned dollars go to feeding the masses? Or will it just strengthen the ruling cadre in Country X? There's an ethical equation involved here.
"Ecological Footprint" is a term that is bandied about a lot these days. Referring to the sustainability of your lifestyle or action, determining a "footprint" can be a good guide to determining whether the positives outweigh the negatives in a certain situation. The time may have come to look at the "Tourist Footprint" that travelers leave after a visit.
The "Tourist Footprint" is probably difficult to calculate. One visit may not accumulate to much in the broad scheme of things but it might lead to a number of different things. So when making plans for the next exotic destination, there are some things worth considering.
1. Who Does the Trip Benefit?
Some countries have strict rules for travel. By limiting the contact a tourist has with ordinary citizens, there are limits to where that dollar goes. Most of the money spent probably goes straight to a government that might be repressive to its people, or discriminates against people in a way that might not jibe with your points of view. The few hundred dollars that one person might spend may not amount to a whole lot, all things considering, but it is the principle. Better to miss out on a rare experience than support something awful in the process.
2. Where Does the Money Go?
When staying at a new destination, does the money stay in the economy? Or does it line the pockets of someone overseas? For example, in Managua, Nicaragua, you can stay at the Intercontinental Hotel or you might decide to stay at the Backpacker's Inn Hostel. Beyond the obvious differences, the money spent in the hotel is most likely not going to anyone in Managua. The hotel is owned by El Salvadorans and the American chain is getting their slice of the pie. Chances are the only Nicaraguans lining their pockets directly from the money you are spending have a last name of Ortega.
On the other hand, the Backpacker's Inn is a small family style hostel run by a person who funnels profits of his hostel into various development projects in the Managua area. There are also plenty of nice, locally owned and operated hotels and guest houses too.
3. What about the Culture?
So what about the culture? This is probably a more esoteric measure. The more someplace gets frequented by tourism, the more a culture caters to it... even if the taste of that culture moves on to something less colloquial and more cosmopolitan. There's a trade off here. The more other people visit another area, the less unique that culture becomes. As our world has grown smaller, the differences between many places shrink and shrink. In many ways, a day in Chicago isn't different than a day in New York. This wasn't the case forty years ago. But cross pollenation has made us more the same, even if there still are differences to celebrate.
Learning is a part of travel. But teaching is too. What a tourist learns about a new culture, he often teaches as much about his own to the people he meets on the road. That thought alone keeps me from reverting to the Ugly American role when things get a bit hairy somewhere.
All in all, this is an easy lesson to learn and even easier to forget. Actions have consequences, positive and negative. By figuring out the "tourist footprint," it is a lot easier to remember that even on vacation, everything has an effect. Personally, I feel that being conscious of it only makes the travel experience more rewarding.
Labels: effects of travel, philosophy of travel, travel
