Let me keep my towel to help save our planet!

We visited Turkey for a few days. We chose to stay in an independent hotel in the centre of Antalya. In our bathroom, there was a note saying 'to save our environment, please try and use your towels more than one day. If you wish to have a clean towel, please place used towels in your shower tray'.

I thought this was a great ecotourism initiative. We followed the iınstructions but unfortunately our towels were changed every day until we made a request to keep them. It was obvious that the staff were not aware of this practice.

How can we do our bit if travel organisations do not follow their own rules?

How can we turn green liviıng and ecotourism into a reality and not just into a box ticking exercise?

Independent travellers: the importance of research to enjoy ecotourism

Part 1: Have you done your research?

You have just booked your ticket to a new exotic destination. You have never been there before but you cannot wait to get there.

Before you cross the border, have you done your research? Are you aware of the local currency and the exchange rate? Do you know if you need to carry cash with you or if payments by credit card are possible? Do you know what the temperature is going to be like? Is public transport available? If so, how much does it cost? How do you purchase a ticket? What are the interesting sites to be explored (particularly the ones off the beaten track)? Will maps of the area be readily available? Will you have access to the internet once you get there?

If you do not want to do the research yourself, you can always speak to a travel agent. The research will be done for you but you will not have the chance to discover the country fully. My view is that to experience the life of the people living in this new country, it is best to try and use their facilities. Your journey will be so rewarding. And this is what I call ecotourism.

Duty Free - the last place for ecotourism

Your last chance to shop before heading home


Photo: Resonants/IStockphoto

The last time I travelled from France, I flew back from Marseille. I wanted to buy a few local goodies for my family and my work colleagues.

The south of France is famous for all sort of specialities: its nougat from Montelimar and its calissons from Aix-en-Provence. You can also fınd an amasing brand of chocolate called Valrhona.



Easyjet terminal in Marseille is tiny. The Duty Free section is even smaller. And guess what was on offer: great brands of chocolate readily available in the UK. I will not name any as I am sure you have guessed which one they are.

Unfortunately, there was only one type of nougat and nothing else from the region. How disappointing!!!

I would love to know how products get selected for Duty Free shops.

Is this not the perfect place to promote local produce?

Tiptoe Traveller in: Valensole, South East of France

Living with the locals

In the summer, my husband and I went to a small village in the south of France called Valensole. The region is called Haute Provence, only 45 minutes drive from Aix-en-Provence. We stayed for a few nights in l'Atelier du jardin, an eco-friendly gite. Écogîte© is a Gîtes de France certification for green building holiday homes.

Viviane and Jean-Nicolas were great hosts. Breakfast was all home made (yogurts, cakes, pastries, bread, jams etc..) and served in beautiful potteries made by Jean-Nicolas.

There is plenty to do in the area. Les Gorges du Verdon are definitely a must see site. They are just stunning!

The nearest airport is Marseilles or for the eco-friendly option, you could travel with the Eurostar and use French public transport. But hiring a car is recommended if you want to explore the area.

We would love to go back because we didn't managed to explore the whole area in 4 days.

Welcome

Welcome to THE TIPTOE TRAVELLER, an informative blog created to raise awareness of the impact of travel on our lovely planet and to share useful eco tips with fellow travellers. Travelling green does not have to be hard work. We can all do our bit while enjoying our well deserved breaks away from home. So please feel free to comment on my posts and let's all travel a little bit lighter.