The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) has come up with a whole new way of connecting travelers with inspiring ecotourism initiatives. They have set up the very first online green travel auction site. Called ecoDestinations, this auction site will feature a new eco destination at the beginning of each month.

Once the destination is chosen, TIES will list its best and most eco-friendly vacations, chosen for their commitment to the local community and the protection of the environment. Then the bidding can begin, starting at an unbelievable 60% off it’s retail value.

It’s a genuine win-win. Green travelers get the opportunity to discover and bid on some great eco-friendly vacations, and eco lodges and sustainable tourism operators get promotion for their organizations for one continuous month. Best of all, one community organization from the month’s featured destination will be picked to receive 5% of the ecoDestination’s revenue.

So what are you waiting for? Head on over to ecoDestinations and start bidding.

This month’s destination – Costa Rica.

It’s a fitting choice to launch this new green initiative.

Image: joisey showaa

The post Bid Your Way to an ecoDestination appeared first on EcoSalon.

Got the winter blues?  Feeling a little cold?  Need some sunshine in your life?

Perhaps you need to take a virtual trip to New Zealand. Cause it’s summertime in New Zealand and the living is easy, especially when you have a copy of the latest edition of Organic Explorer New Zealand. Printed on sustainably sourced paper using vegetable inks, it’s the ultimate guidebook for anyone who wants to travel green in New Zealand. Full of information about eco-friendly places to eat, stay and explore, Organic Explorer New Zealand has opened up a whole new world of places for me to visit next time I’m traveling around. It’s even highlighted a few places I never knew about in my own backyard.

Written by Leonie Johnson (who used to be with NZ Organic magazine) and Tony Ward, this beautifully illustrated guidebook takes you on a journey from the top of the North Island to the bottom of the South Island, detailing over 500 places to eat, sleep and play the organic way. New Zealand’s clean, green image has always been a drawing card for travelers. But now, thanks to Leonie and Tony, discovering what’s truly green about New Zealand has just become a whole lot easier.

Order a copy of the latest edition now and if you’re intrigued. I’d offer you mine, but it’s already a looking a little frayed from overuse.

(Or, just click onto their website instead. It’s a comprehensive searchable database providing all the information in the book and more. But be careful, you might just find yourself itching to hop on the next plane to New Zealand.)

The post Travel Green in NZ appeared first on EcoSalon.