Could you tell us a bit more about ‘SocialBnB’, the platform you co-founded? What is the difference with ‘Airbnb’? Socialbnb is a social enterprise that creates meaningful encounters between travelers and the local population that have a long-lasting positive impact. On the socialbnb platform, travelers can book accommodations (Impact Stays), experiences (Impact Experiences), and tours […]
by Natalie Lefevre, Karen Blansfield, and Jeff Greenwald “Nobody can discover the world for somebody else. Only when we discover it for ourselves does it become common ground and a common bond.” – Wendell Berry For those of us who love to travel, the first few months of 2023 are bringing cause for optimism. The […]
by Karen Blansfield, Jeff Greenwald, and Natalie Lefevre “Travel far enough to meet yourself.” – David Mitchell There’s a sad but wonderful irony in these words from author David Mitchell, whose books, such as Cloud Atlas, have transported us through time and across the globe. During the past year, many of us have not been […]
by Natalie Lefevre, Karen Blansfield, Molly Blakemore, and Jeff Greenwald “As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life — and travel — leaves marks on you.” – Anthony Bourdain Once again, we open our annual report with the words of […]
“It seems that the more places I see and experience, the bigger I realize the world to be. The more I become aware of, the more I realize how relatively little I know of it, how many places I have still to go, how much more there is to learn.” – Anthony Bourdain NOTE: As […]
It’s time for vacation. You might be dreaming of secluded beaches, or bustling cities, or mountainsides lush with foliage. No matter what, you’re skipping town and you’re excited. Of course, there’s a lot of planning to be done before you can hit the road. This is especially true if you’re an eco-conscious traveler who wants […]
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, one of the seven natural wonders of the world, has been marked for destruction. Widely considered the largest coral reef system in the world, the Great Barrier Reef stretches more than 1,600 miles (2,600 kilometers) and consists of almost 3,000 separate reefs. According to the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the […]
Costa Rica—for many of us, just the name brings forth mental images of green rainforests, cloud-shrouded volcanos and, of course, beaches. Costa Rica has successfully branded itself as a sustainable tourism destination for many years, so its wildlife preserves and other natural resources are top-of-mind for many travelers. This fame makes Costa Rica a good […]
Many backpackers are well intentioned when setting out for beckoning distant lands that perhaps they’ve only read about in guidebooks or heard about from friends who’ve made the journey themselves. As these travelers arrive on foreign soil, they boost the local economy by staying at local hotels, guesthouses or hostels and eating at local establishments. […]
