Search Results for: blog a new resort for eco tourists

Travel Tidbits: Where to See the Grinch on Ice and the Eco-cup Revolution

Tis the season for snow and ice… sculptures. The holiday season is when many (if not all) major hotels and resorts deck their halls with spectacularly festive creations. One company in particular has a long-standing tradition of displaying the most amazing ice sculptures. This year the three Gaylord hotel and conference centers (in Nashville, near Dallas and in Kissimmee, Florida) are featuring their traditional ice sculpture extravaganzas, and the Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville is incorporating a familiar storybook character in its display. In honor of the 50th anniversary of the late Dr. Seuss’ book How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, … Continue reading →

Eco-Coffins

What are presentable, environmentally friendly, burn faster than cardboard, and are currently being offered to the family’s of the deceased? “Eco-coffins.” Many say they may just be the solution to long wait-lists at busy crematoriums. The new creation is taking off in Hong Kong where health officials there want to introduce the green coffins– made of corrugated cardboard and said to speed up the cremation process from two and a half hours to an hour–to alleviate traffic at crematoriums. Speaking to news reporters Hong Kong government officials said: “With less time required for each session, we can arrange more sessions … Continue reading →

A New Resort For Eco-Tourists

With all the media coverage surrounding the death of Steve Irwin I immediately thought of the “Crocodile Hunter” when I heard about this next travel item. I recently found out (through family members who work for the county of Hawaii’s Planning Department) that famed ocean explorer and environmentalist Jean-Michel Cousteau is lending his name and expertise to a resort proposed for the Big Island of Hawaii (the island that I was born and raised on). According to planning documents, the resort, which has yet to be named, will be designed “in the style of a historical plantation town and offer … Continue reading →

Are You a Green Traveler?

Forget about toting burlap bags and recyclable water bottles to environmentally-friendly vacation spots, I talking about the basics: Do you think twice about leaving the lights on in your hotel room while you’re throwing back Cosmos during Happy Hour in the lobby? Do you spend an hour singing in the shower because you’re not paying for the water? Do you fall asleep with the television on, and then leave it on because you can’t find the remote and don’t want to get out of bed to look for it? Bottom line: How much do you really care about conserving water … Continue reading →

Insurers Begin Assessing Damages From Hurricane Irene

How much damage did Hurricane Irene do? Insurers have used software from Eqecat, a catastrophe modeling company, to find the answer to that question. Overall, the total costs seem to be more than $10 billion so far. Each state was affected by Hurricane Irene in individual ways. The NationalClimactic Data Center says that Hurricane Irene is the tenth weather related disaster that ended up causing $1 billion or more in damages in 2011. This means that 2011 had the highest annual number of big weather related disasters in the past 31 years. Insurers have started trying to assess the total … Continue reading →

Ways to Save While in Hawaii

As I mentioned in a previous blog finding travel deals to Hawaii is a challenge. But it’s not nearly as difficult as finding bargains while you are in the Aloha State, which is why the following deals are so noteworthy. From now through the end of the year (December 31, 2008) you can take advantage of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa’s new Golf & Spa Escape Package. The luxurious beachfront resort sits in the heart of Waikiki (on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu) and is within walking distance of first-rate shops, restaurants, and other popular Honolulu attractions. … Continue reading →

Hotels: How Green is Too Green and Living Like Indy

I’m all about saving the planet. I recycle and do what I can to conserve of electricity and water. And whereas I have never stayed at an eco-friendly resort, I know they exist and applaud their efforts in preserving the Earth. However, I recently ran across an email sent to me from someone who has contact with the Green Hotels Association and I began to wonder: How green is too green? The eco-friendly lodging group has a few tips for travelers like you and me. They recommend that “beyond demanding green services, we well-intentioned travelers should call ahead to request … Continue reading →

Travel Update: Trouble for Villa Trapp

So much for the happy Hollywood movie ending… The hills are no longer alive with the sweet sound of music–plans for an Austrian vacation villa created from the same home that once housed the famous von Trapp family immortalized in the blockbuster hit movie “The Sound of Music” has hit a roadblock. Actually, it’s more like a neighborhood block. Residents whose homes border the famous property are irate that the landmark is being turned into a tourist attraction and fear visitors will create traffic jams and become nuisances in their quiet neighborhood. “We will fight this with all means at … Continue reading →

Alaska By Sea

Touring the 49th State by land is incredible in and of itself, but if you want access to sights that will absolutely take your breath away you should seriously consider taking an Alaskan cruise. If you are working on a travel budget now is the time to book your high seas adventure. Several major cruise lines are currently offering amazing deals for fall departures. The catch: you only have until the end of the month to lock in the price. Take a look: Coral Princess CruisesOnly is offering a weeklong journey to the Gulf of Alaska for just $634. The … Continue reading →

Travel Tidbits: Royal Viewing and Happy Hybrids

I admit I was a die-hard Princess Diana fan. My mom woke me up at 2 a.m. Hawaii time to watch her fairy tale wedding to Prince Charles. I used my allowance to buy special editions of PEOPLE magazine whenever she was on the cover and I went gaga when her boys were born. So when it was announced that a dozens of Diana’s gowns were going to be displayed at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tampa in Florida, for a split second I considered making the trip (then reality hit and I remembered that I can barely … Continue reading →