The recent surge in eco-friendly products and things has extended its reach into the travel arena. Tour operators can be found throughout the U.S. and abroad that will assemble an eco-friendly trip. The overriding philosophy of an eco-trip is that you can travel with minimal impact to your environment and maximum impact to the community you will travel to. You bring money and new perspectives to the experience, while you are enriched in a way outside of the normal hotel/flight experience of travel. Responsible Travel is one of the most comprehensive companies offering eco-friendly trips from a variety of tour operators.
Hop-on/hop-off buses and standard city tours are not the only way to explore a new place. There are many off-the-beaten path adventures to be found. Want to do a movie location tour of Central Park in New York? You can even play detective for the day and receive a set of clues to solve a make-believe mystery on the streets of Los Angeles. Both tours are offered through an innovative tour operator called Xperience Days.
Who said a train, plane and car are the only way to get around? Why not hit the ground, then get off the ground and up on a horse in a guided tour around your new city? Think of any activity that you and your family love and find a tour operator in your next vacation spot that specializes in it. Visit a winery, take a haunted houses tour, enjoy a historical guided tour. Not only do you get to enjoy your favorite pastimes, but you'll meet like-minded people and potential new friends.
Standard travel agencies usually offer standard trips. If you want something more personalized from experienced people who have been there, look no further than your own city. Larger cities that have a Chinatown, Korea-town, Little Italy or any concentrated cultural area often have travel agencies specializing in their home country. Chinatown in New York for example, has a host of tour operators specializing in China. Not only are their services typically below cost compared to mainstream tour operators, but their staff tends to have first-hand knowledge of the country you want to visit. You don't have to live in a big city to take advantage of them: Just call!
