The word eco-tourism has become one of the great buzzwords of the travel industry. What’s funny is that if you ask 100 people exactly what eco-tourism is, you’ll probably get 100 different answers! A simple definition of eco-tourism is travel to sensitive natural environments that focuses on sustainable travel by respecting the environment and preserving local cultures.

As demand for eco-tours and responsible travel have exploded, many adventure travel companies simply repositioned themselves as eco-tourism companies. But there’s more to eco-tourism than just a name. To Austin-Lehman, eco-tourism involves making substantive changes in operations which means keeping group sizes small, staying at real eco-lodges, and working to keep dollars flowing to the local economy.

Small group sizes reduce the footprint in sensitive natural environments and local cultures. There’s no way you can run tour groups of 25 people to the same places day in a day out and not have a massive impact on the environment and the culture. Austin-Lehman chooses to focus on small group and only doing most itineraries just a few times a year.

Using lodges built with local materials, in harmony with nature. Lodges like Casa Corcovado, Casa Turire, and Pacuare Lodge on Austin-Lehman’s, Costa Rica, Wilderness & Wildlife are carefully selected for their use of of natural wood, local materials, local labor, and harmony with the natural environment. Oh, and some of these lodges really are luxurious– just because it’s eco-travel, doesn’t mean it can’t also be luxury travel.

Eco-tour operators also have a responsibility to help grow the local economy of the places they impact. It’s important to keep as much money in the hands of the local businesses as possible. By using local tour in-country tour operators and suppliers, Austin-Lehman is able to distribute to really help developing local economies.

By focusing on small groups, staying in real eco-lodges, and working with local businesses, Austin -Lehman is actually doing something many companies aren’t — they’re making a difference.

Glen Spencer is the Managing Editor at InsidrInfo.com

Christmas is right around the corner. That means Christmas trees, presents, family, and well. . . snow. With it shaping up to be an El Nino year in North America, you can expect lots of snow– especially in the West. If skiing is your thing, then great, you’ll be in luck this year. If you need a family getaway and just can’t bear fighting the lift lines at Vail or if you get bored to death sitting on the beach in Hawaii, perhaps this year, it’s time for a Christmas Family Vacation in Costa Rica.

Without a doubt, Costa Rica is the jewel of Central America. Lush jungles teeming with exotic wildlife, wild rivers, volcanoes, quaint villages, and yes, beautiful sandy beaches, with great surfing and snorkeling, make Costa Rica the ideal destination for a Christmas family adventure vacation.

While your neighbors are shoveling the snow from their driveways, you could be rafting Costa Rica’s Reventazon River with your family, zooming down a zip line through the lush canopy of the Los Angeles Cloud Forest, or watching the look on your child’s face as they see their first green tree frog on a nocturnal jungle nature walk.

Looking for great beaches? Costa Rica has that too. If you’d like to learn to surf, the Central Pacific Coast of Costa Rica is ideal, especially at Christmas time, when the waves are smaller. Likewise, the gentle surf conditions at Christmas time at Manuel Antonio National Park, offer snorkeling appropriate for the whole family.

Austin Lehman’s alternative Christmas trip, Coastlines to Cloud Forests, hits all these spots and gives families the ideal balance of fun, adventure, and relaxation. It’s up to you this year. . . snow shoveling or Costa Rica?

Glen Spencer is the Managing Editor at InsidrInfo.com

When is the right time to exchange currency for my vacation?

Money always tops the list of concerns when planning a vacation in another country. An accurate vacation budget can be the difference between a great vacation and a difficult one, especially in today’s fluctuating currency market. One of the main ingredients in a good budget is understanding when and how to exchange currency, so you get the maximum value from each exchange.

Waiting until you arrive in Amsterdam or Rome for a European vacation of a lifetime to exchange money in today’s economy could destroy your budget if the Euro has gotten stronger over the course of a few days. Just a 1450 point difference could cost you an extra $145 plus the exchange fee if you are exchanging U.S. Dollars for Euros at the airport. That could be the difference between having lunch in a quaint Dutch or Italian bistro everyday and eating a Big Mac at the local McDonald’s.

The currency exchange is always changing, so it’s a good idea to exchange small amounts of money at different times while you’re planning the trip. By averaging your exchanges you know exactly what each exchange costs, so you can use exact values in your budget instead of estimates. Averaging offsets any currency surges that could ruin your trip. If you’re planning an extended vacation averaging is especially important; you need more money to cover expenses.

Where should I exchange my money?

Banks seem to be the first place people go when they need to exchange money. Banks do exchange currencies, but they add a fee to each exchange and they may only post one or two rates a day which means you may not get a real time rate. Some people like to use credit cards to exchange money. Credit card companies love to exchange your money; they use their own rate which includes their profit, plus they add a surcharge to every travel purchase, so you never know how much the trip actually costs until you get the statement. Airport exchange merchants may add a hidden fee to the rate and that means you have less money to spend on the trip.

If you use a reliable currency trader you can average your exchanges while planning your vacation and that strategy eliminates hidden fees, surcharges and phony exchange rates.  A professional can help you by giving you the real time rate every time you exchange money, which adds value to every trade.

Other travel ideas

Some countries have a limit on the amount of cash they allow through custom checkpoints. It’s a good idea to know what that limit is, because if you’re caught carrying more than the limit an official can confiscate your money. Cash should be carried in a hidden pocket or a money belt that’s secure and out of sight. Wallets and purses should only have enough cash in them to purchase incidentals. Hotel safes and other security precautions should be used when you arrive at your destination and it’s good to remember that common sense is your best security tool when you use it.

For a step by step guide to fundamental analysis of the currency market please visit ForexTraders.com.  Your ultimate source for currency exchange and forex information.

The newspaper has been full of stories on what a big year it’s been for National Parks. With travelers looking to control expenses and stay closer to home, U.S. National Parks saw 4.5 million more visits in the first half of this year alone than last year. While that sounds like a lot, In reality, that 4.5 million visitor increase at National Parks was just a 3% increase in visitors over last year. Even in the busiest parks, there’s still plenty of room to get out and explore.

Here are 5 good reasons you should consider a National Park Vacation:

1. Great Hiking Trails. National Parks are know for great, scenic, well-built hiking trails. Great trails let you focus more on the scenery and wildlife and less on tripping! Trails like the Death Canyon Trail in the heart of Grand Teton National Park, Half Dome in Yosemite, or the hike to the bottom of the Grand Canyon on the Bright Angel Trail are absolute classics.

2. Real Adventure. National Parks are home to some of the most adventurous fun you’ll find anywhere in the U.S. Trekking in Zion’s Virgin River Narrows, (rated 5th on the list of best 100 Adventures by National Geographic Magazine), rafting the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park, or learning to rappel in the shadow of El Capitan in Yosemite are some great adventures you can have in our National Parks.

3. Amazing Scenery. There’s a reason a National Park is a National Park. It’s beautiful. There’s no way you can stand at the rim of the Grand Canyon, or the top of Bryce Canyon, the top of Angel’s Landing in Zion, or gaze up with wonder at the jagged Teton range and not get just a little goose-bumpy.

4. Family Fun. National Parks are great places for family adventure and fun. Biking down a path in the shadow of the Tetons together or wading in a creek in Yellowstone and watching the wonder on your children’s faces as they see their first moose wander by are unforgettable family experiences.

5. Surprisingly few Crowds. Sure, you’re going to watch Old Faithful go off with hundreds of other people and you’re going to have a hard time getting a car campsite at Jenny Lake in Grand Teton on the 4th of July. One of the funny things about our National Parks is that few people stray from their cars. There are literally hundreds of unvisited geysers in Yellowstone. Away from the John Muir Trail, Yosemite’s backcountry is empty much of the year. Few people really see the best of our National Parks.

Great hiking trails, real fun, amazing scenery, family adventure, and surprisingly few crowds make America’s National Parks a great option for adventure travel.

Glen Spencer is the Managing Editor at InsidrInfo.com