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Going Green Travel Tips

2/3/2014

9 Comments

 
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The most important green travel tip is to pack SMART! You will save your back and time, as well as the planet!  Here are a few suggestions that will ensure you travel SMART!


  • Start with research, planning, and sensible luggage.  Research your destination and determine the clothing needed for the climate and activities you plan to engage in during your trip. Select sensible luggage that you can lift without assistance when packed to capacity. This is essential when selecting your carry-on luggage for a flight.  How many times have you experienced a near miss from someone who cannot seem to get their heavy carry-on suitcase up into the overhead compartment.   Also, if you are flying verify the overhead compartment space dimensions.  Be sure to research by checking out TravelNerd’s carry on luggage size chart.  I have boarded many flights where there is crowd of people waiting to tag their luggage and have the ground crew load it into a storage compartment.  Of course, when the flight reaches its destination, these same people are still gathering at the door of the plane awaiting their luggage.  I find it much less of a hassle to check the bag for these flights and avoid clogging the jet way.  
  • Miniaturize when possible.  Select compact items to help save space in your luggage and save you luggage fees. Those squeezable toiletry tubes/bottles are great for packing those necessary items . . . many of which meet the TSA requirements for liquids. I love my pocket camera with an adjustable lens, compact solar battery charger, and multiple memory chips.  A bonus is the waterproof camera cover that allows me to use it in the rain or underwater. An ereader can hold your pleasure reading and games to distract you during your flight.  Additionally you can load up the ereader with  maps and travel guides for your destination.  Another bonus is the long battery life will last through most international flights.
  • Arrange your clothing and other items in your suitcase to minimize wasted space.  Roll your clothing or fold clothing in and around other items to maximize space.  I pack my socks in those little bags the newspaper is delivered in and then stuff into my shoes.  I love the "packing cubes" and compression bags to keep clean clothes free of the odors that may come from soiled clothing between destinations.  I also pack dryer sheets inside the compression bag to keep items smelling nice. Check with the lodging at your destination to see if they provide hair dryers, irons, or other items you might need.  Imagine the space you will save.
  • Right clothes for the climate and season.  For example, pack wrinkle-free, quick-dry, and color-coordinated clothes.  Plan your wardrobe for the trip and lay out the color coordinated outfits you are taking on the trip. Then begin combining items to ensure you can create a minimum of 3 to 5 outfits.  If not, leave the item at home. Research has found that women tend to wear only half of what they pack, so I always cut back by half before packing up the luggage. Please leave valuable items at home.  If you would be upset if it is lost or damaged, then leave it at home. Limit your shoes to one or two pairs of comfortable, versatile shoes. Include an extra pair of socks in your carry-on luggage that can double as slippers on an international flight.  Feet often get cold and airline blankets are not always warm enough (and may not be clean), so I use the blanket on my legs and feet.  A super soft cashmere pashmina wrap is always in my carry-on that can be used to wrap around my shoulders on a flight or walking along the beach after sunset.
  • Tuck a few reusable items in your suitcase to save time, money, and the planet! A reusable shopping bag can be tucked into an outer pocket of your suitcase.  I have found this a real lifesaver on my travels.  A lightweight but strong bag with a wide handle can double for shopping, carrying items for a day of sightseeing, or all those items that do not fit in your suitcase when you return home. An eco-friendly water bottle can be very handy on a long flight or long road trips and you can eliminate the use of plastic water bottles.  Hint:  Since TSA does not allow me to carry a bottle of water through security, I stop by a fast food provider in the airport.  After buying a last minute snack, I fill the bottle with ice and water. Even if there is not a self-service dispenser, I can usually convince a server to assist me for a tip.   Remember water is essential on long distance flights to ensure that you do not dehydrate in the dry cabin air.  

Check back for tips on the debate for checking your luggage versus one carry-on bag,  cruising through TSA check points, and clearing customs.
9 Comments

Utah Tourism Growth Continued in 2012

2/3/2014

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Welcome to Utah
Welcome to Utah where you are invited to enjoy a "Life Elevated"
Although we are still awaiting the data from the 4th quarter of 2013, let us take a few moments to check out the 2012 tourism statistics: 

In 2012 Utah recorded 6.6 million national park visits, 5.1 million national monument, recreation area and historical site visits, 5.1 million state park visits, as well as 4.0 million skier days during the 2012/2013 season.  In 2012, the top international markets included visitors from Canada, France, Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, and China.

If tourism were an export it would be the state’s second largest 
export behind primary metals ($12.2 billion) and well ahead of computers and electronics ($2.2 billion).
 
Salt Lake International Airport
Salt Lake International Airport with the Wasatch Mountains to the east.
Utah Office of Tourism 2012 Facts at a Glance
  • 6.5 million recreation visits were made to Utah’s five national parks during 2012.
  • 5.1 million recreation visits occurred at Utah’s seven national monuments, two national recreation areas, and one national historic site.
  • 5.1 million visitors enjoyed Utah’s 43 state parks
  • Tourists contributed $6.8 billion to the state's economy in 2012
  • This represents a tax relief in the amount of $1000 per household for Utah.

Learn more by reading the 2012 Utah Tourism at a Glance and check out the following commercial entitled "The Mighty Five." 
14 Comments

To Check or Not to Check Luggage

5/16/2013

9 Comments

 
PictureTo Check or Not to Check Luggage
I am leaving for a last minute trip to California for just 4 days and there is always the consideration, do I check or not check? My choice varies according to the purpose and length of the trip and the amount of electronics I need to take with me.  I use to always use the overhead bin, but it has become a real zoo getting even a small bag on board a flight.  Therefore, I have developed a check list for deciding whether to check versus not to check a bag when flying.  

Check a Bag:

  • Traveling for a long business or pleasure trip of 1 or more weeks . . . the longer the trip the increased need to pack more clothes. 
  • Weight or size of bag exceeds the limits for carry-on luggage.
  • Preference for personal toiletries (special shampoos, etc.) or lodging at destination will not have toiletries (i.e., safari, camping, backpacking, etc.)
  • Assigned a late boarding group . . . even if you are sitting in the front of the economy seating if you are in the Group F, those boarding passengers before you will store their roller bags in overhead bins near your seat.
  • Airplane type for one or more segments of my flights do not have adequate overhead compartment bins available. If I need to wait for my luggage to be brought to me at the gate, this eliminates the convenience and time factor of what I might save by carrying-on luggage.
  • If traveling alone and there will be a lengthy time period between flights, then I will not want to drag my carry-on luggage to and from every shop, bathroom, restaurant, or Internet Cafe in order to comply with TSA guidelines for unattended luggage.  
  • Frequent flyer status, membership, credit card used to book flight, first or business class ticket eliminates the fees for checking luggage.
  • If checking luggage, I will purchase a separate travel insurance package that covers lost or delayed luggage. Do not depend on the airline to provide compensation for delayed luggage or assist you immediately upon arrival.

Carry-on Bag Only:

  • Traveling for a short business trip of 3-4 days. 
  • If traveling for an international or longer trip and I want to pack a change of clothes in case my checked luggage is lost or delayed.
  • Minimal number of clothes & shoes needed.
  • Weight or size of carry-on bag falls within the size requirements for carry-on luggage. 
  • Need to save time by avoiding the luggage carousel and connecting with ground transportation in order to meet a scheduled appointment.
  • Hotel at destination has shampoos & other toiletries that might be needed. (If I do plan to pack any liquids, the bottle must not exceed 3 ounces and all bottles must fit within a sandwich bag.)
  • Guaranteed early boarding or Priority Seating to ensure that you have access to the overhead bin near your seat.
  • Verified that the airplane type for each segment of my flights have adequate overhead compartment bins available.  Yes, you can Gate Check your carry-on, but this eliminates the time saved by not checking a bag.
  • Verify that I can lift the carry-on bag over my head to place in the overhead compartment.  I should never expect someone to help me load or retrieve my luggage.
  • Avoid luggage fees for checking luggage . . . just make sure that you do not exceed weight or size limits.
  • Returning from an international destination where I may be buying items that are fragile or valuable, then I will want to pack these items in a carry-on for the return trip. (Check out a folding carry-on bag to pack for extra space enroute.)
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An example of a folding carry-on bag that can be packed for use enroute or on the return flight.
A folding carry-on bag is a great space saving and time saving item to use on extended international flights. Even if I am checking luggage, if I may need a carry-on bag during an international trip then I always pack a folding carry-on bag.  I tend to enjoy shopping for unique gifts . . . not the typical T-shirt but wonderful treasures that will evoke memories for many years to come.  Yes, you can always buy a cheap bag at a store at your destination but I tend to think this is a waste of our world's resources.  Be responsible and do what you can to avoid excessive waste.
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Check out the Resort Manager's Digest

4/24/2013

6 Comments

 
 Lily Tomlin
The top news story for April 24th features Lily Tomlin "speaks for elephants."

Check out the Resort Manager's Digest Today
no registration required ~ Free!

Promo
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TripAdvisor Launches GreenLeaders, Just in Time for Earth Day - Find more articles like this at the Resort Manager's Digest.
More features in today's edition from:
  • National Geographic
  • Travel & Leisure
  • Disney Parks
  • Walt Disney World
  • Guardian Travel
  • TechCrunch
  • Nasa
  • and many more
6 Comments

Teton Science Camp

3/15/2012

4 Comments

 
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Guest Blog by Alexandria May

My junior and senior years of high school I was lucky enough to go to the Teton Science School for a week with a group of my classmates. The Teton Science Camp is located in the Grand Tetons of Wyoming, just a few hours drive away from Yellowstone. Every year one of our teachers, Mr. Angelo (a former park ranger at Yellowstone), selected a group of students to spend a week in February at science camp. Both years I went I had an amazing experience and will remember it for a long time. 

    During our time at camp, we lived in cabins, one for the boys and one for the girls. Each morning we woke up and went to the main cabin, and each of us was assigned a chore for the day. Some of these chores included setting up for meals, taking the weather, or measuring the amount of snowfall. We then went to the hall for breakfast, and then prepared our lunches to take with us out into the field. One aspect of meals at the camp was called the "ort bucket". The rule was, never take more food than you can eat, and any leftover food on your plate went into the bucket. The goal was to have 0 ort at the end of the week. One of our teachers even encouraged me to eat the apple cores! 

    After breakfast, we then had a lesson of the day. Some memorable lessons to me were learning about animal tracks and scat, differences between black bears and grizzly bears, how to read a snow pack, and about seratonous pine cones. Then came time to get ready to go out in the field with our assigned groups.



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My group senior year. We named ourselves "Team Steez on Skiis in the Trees"
To get to our location we either cross-country skied or snowshoed. The land around the camp was a large meadow on one side, mountains in the back, and wetlands on the other side, so there were plenty of different ecosystems to study. We would have a lesson out in the field that pertained to the earlier one that morning, so we could see what they actually meant, and see first hand what was going on. After we came back from the field, we had a few hours break and then it was time for dinner, and then a nightly activity. 

    The day everyone looked forward to, however, was Yellowstone Day. My first year I went to the camp, I was so excited because I had never ever been to Yellowstone and was really looking forward to the experience. We piled into vans and began our journey to Yellowstone. After a few hours drive, we got out at the entrance to the park, and then had to get into giant Snow Cats to take us to out final destination. Outside of the Snow Cat at one point was a giant bison just a few feet away from us! I was in awe of how massive they were, and terrified at the same time. 
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Bison right outside our Snow Cat. This picture does not do justice to the sheer size of the creature.
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When we finally got out, we put on our cross-country skis and began a 4 hour trek to Old Faithful. Seeing all the wildlife around and being completely surrounded by nature was an incredible experience. It was a nice sunny day out and I remember vividly all my senses going wild. The end of our skiing journey was Old Faithful. I was so anxious to see it go off, I was counting down the seconds to its next eruption, and I was more than disappointed when it was 3 minutes late to erupt. However, when she finally did go off, it was the perfect end to an absolutely wonderful day. We were all so exhausted on the trip back to the camp, I'm not sure even one word was uttered. 

    Both of my times at camp were so much fun and a great learning opportunity. I learned so much about sustainability and being a responsible traveler out in nature. The "ort bucket' was a great teaching tool, and we also were taught to never ever leave anything out in nature, no wrappers, no food, no nothing. Also, if we had to go to the bathroom while we were out in the field, we brought along biodegradable toilet paper. The best lesson I learned however, was to leave the place as close as you can to how it was when we got there. Another valuable lesson was to follow all posted signs. If one of us was caught doing anything against a posted sign, there was hell to pay with the instructors.

    Teton Science Camp taught me a lot about how to act responsibly when on a vacation out in the wild. I take those lessons with me wherever I travel, and I have some fabulous memories to go along with them. 

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Old Faithful
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River on the grounds of Teton Science School
4 Comments

Look for Companies that Care about Customers

1/23/2012

9 Comments

 
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Deer Valley Resort in Park City, Utah
Guest Blog by Eric Hull - an undergraduate student in Dr. Ralston's International Tourism course (Spring 2012)

How do you choose a destination over another?  I would choose the destination that had a higher quality operation! 

In the US, we have two great and different types of vacation destinations that are always on the top of the lists for places to visit, either during the summer or winter.  This is just my opinion, but those two destinations are the Disney Resorts or Deer Valley Resort.

Disney: The reason for their success over the years is that they care about their employees, they take the time to lay out their park by optimizing the use of their land, they train their employees to answer all questions that could be asked of them and finally they care about what you see when walking around the park. 

Deer Valley Resort: The reason for their success is that the same people have owned them since their beginning. Having the same ownership has allowed the resorts to have same policies in place over the years. Other resorts have changed ownership many times over the years. Deer Valley has tried to be like Disney in the way they treat their employees and guests by providing the highest quality of respect. One other nice thing that Deer Valley does is that they train their employees to know answers to any questions that may come their way 

I love these two resorts because they have similar qualities in how they train their employees, and how they care about the look of their resort. At either business you will always see an employee pick up trash no matter what condition that piece of trash is in. I also love these two destinations because of the time they put into training their employees to be respectful, well mannered and to know everything about their company they work for.

In my opinion, if I had to pick a place to travel to during the winter it would be Deer Valley Resort and in the summer it would be one the Disney Resorts.

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Linda's favorite Disney Resort is the Yacht Club at Disney World. Wonderful service, comfortable rooms, great hospitable staff, and easy access to Epcot/World Showcase and Disney Studios.
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    Author: Linda Ralston

    This blog is authored by Dr. Linda Ralston with the intent of educating tourists on how to be responsible and sustainable in their travel experiences. Check out the latest news with the Resort Manager's News . . . a free paper updated daily.

    Check out my other blogs:
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    Linda Ralston

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