Did you know that you can give back on vacation? There are actually volunteer programs that you can participate in while you are on vacation! Some examples are helping at animal shelters in other countries, or helping a child learn to read English in another country.
One of the vendors that I work closely with for shore excursions on cruises has a number of volunteer opportunities for you. In addition to their own volunteer activities the vendor has recently joined forces with a non-profit organization, based in California, which, also has a number of volunteer-based activities already setup throughout the Caribbean.
Have you ever wondered what the heck to do in Cozumel? What about volunteering for a few hours at a local animal shelter? There is an excursion that will allow you to do just that! Here is a brief description of how you can help:
Volunteer opportunities:
• Animal Care
• Grooming, bathing and feeding animals
• Walking dogs
• Assist moving animals to different areas of the facility
This facility is about working to help the animals in our community and we have been doing just that since 1996. This clinic, which opened in April 1996, began with two rooms, no electricity, 24 kennels, one vet and one kennel worker. Today, they have 14 employees and care for over 300 animals per month, either found astray or given up by their owners for a variety of reasons. The staff does their best to care for them and place them in good, loving homes.
Are you stopping in Belize and not really in to the water sports? What about giving back through community development? We can set you up to volunteer though a reputable association in a well-respected facility for just a few hours.
Volunteer Opportunities:
• Soup Kitchen
• Information Education Communication in schools and other community based organizations
• Fire Victims Support
• Feeding and taking care of elderly
• Protected Schools Brigade (First Aid and Disaster Preparedness and Response in Schools)
• Cleanup Campaigns
• Children Home Visit, Reading and Donations
Although some charities are often envisioned on an all-encompassing scale, this volunteer opportunity provides you the chance to experience it at its ground level. This association is a firm believer that their extraordinary efforts are made possible by potential volunteers like you and are gracious of any contribution no matter the size or effort. No matter what your skill set is, we will place you with a memorable experience at our facility!
Sandals, the parent company of Sandals, Beaches, and Grand Pineapple resorts has The Sandals Foundation. The Sandals foundation gives back to the islands through a variety of programs. One of the ways that you can help is through the Sandals Reading Road Trip when you are staying at one of their resorts.
Take a Journey to help:
- Children between the ages of 5 – 7 years to improve their abilities in listening, comprehension and reading skills
- “Give back” while on vacation
- Extend the philanthropic work of the Foundation through the educational focus of its mandate
- Available to guests staying at Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts ages 8 years and up, Reading Road Trip is a two-hour program that takes you into the community to one of the Foundation’s participating adopted basic and primary schools in Saint Lucia, Antigua, the Bahamas, Turks & Caicos or Jamaica to engage small groups of children in active reading strategies. Facilitators will be on hand to guide participants on how to engage and encourage children during this visit.
Reading Road Trip is offered every Thursday from 9am until 11am when schools are in session, September through mid-June. The cost is US$20 per person, which covers round-trip transportation and all supplies. Children 8-12 years of age can participate at no charge but must be accompanied by an adult. Volunteers are encouraged to bring along a favorite new or gently-used book to donate to the library of the school they visit
Volunteerism does not have to be difficult and is no longer limited to your local boundaries. If you ever want to give back while you are traveling, let me know!
Safe Travels,
Spending precious time working out how to get from A to B with your head buried in a guidebook can feel like a waste. Pre-set and guided itineraries remove the hassle of planning your own route and leave you with more time to achieve what you set out to do: explore. Plus all travel – whether it’s by coach, ferry or train – is included. Many of the popular tour companies offer a value much better than what you can find by piecing your trips together. Some companies offer a more budget minded experience, such as Trafalgar Tours worldwide CostSaver guided tours.
Working with a professional travel concierge will insure your vacation experience meets your expectations. Most couples want to have their trips planned to their exact specifications. Many couples want special activities or events planned during their vacation. How about that romantic dinner on the beach? Or that private, personalized guided tour in your destination? Are you not the “shuttle bus” kind of person – How about private transfers? Perhaps you are a honeymoon couple or a landmark anniversary couple and want to be recognized as such during your honeymoon or anniversary trip.
Antigua is an island in the middle of the Leeward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean. This island paradise combines magnificent resorts, impeccable service, bursting hotel nightlife, and pristine, aqua-blue waters combined with lustrous sands and soothing trade winds.
What if you know you are going to miss a flight for reasons beyond your control? If you are on a cruise, the first thing to do is contact your travel agent and / or your travel insurance carrier to advise them of the situation and ask how to best proceed.
When it comes to Celebration travel (such as Destination Weddings, Honeymoons, milestone birthday or anniversary celebrations), planning your travel in the appropriate time frame is of the utmost importance to maximize your vacation experience and your value.