The Alternative Travelers Podcast

Today we have a quick update announcing some upcoming changes with the podcast and something we could use your help on!

>>>>>LISTENER SURVEY LINK <<<<<<

Support the Show:
Patreon: https://patreon.com/alternativetravelers

Connect with us:
Leave us a voice note: AlternativeTravelers.com/podcast
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International travel is still a bit iffy going into the summer of 2021. So how do you get more out of your travel this summer even if you're staying a bit closer to home? In his inaugural solo episode, Veren ponders the travel mindset and how we can have more transformative travel experiences in three actionable tips. If you're looking to expand your travel horizons, have deeper and more rewarding experiences regardless of where you'll be this summer (and beyond), this episode is for you! 

Support the Show:
Patreon: https://patreon.com/alternativetravelers

Connect with us:
Leave us a voice note: AlternativeTravelers.com/podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alternativetravelers/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alternativetravelers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alttravelers

The 7 Leave No Trace Principles are guidelines for engaging responsibly with the outdoors. With the nice weather here in the Northern Hemisphere, more people are getting outside to hike and camp. So we thought it'd be a good idea to go over these principles! The principles include how to plan, dispose of waste properly, camp responsibly, respect wildlife, be considerate of other hikers/campers, and more. While these may be common sense to some, it's always good to review so that we can more mindfully engage with our beautiful planet. Happy exploring!

Support the Show:
Patreon: https://patreon.com/alternativetravelers

Connect with us:
Leave us a voice note: AlternativeTravelers.com/podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alternativetravelers/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alternativetravelers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alttravelers

Links + Resources Mentioned: 

• Leave No Trace: The Center for Outdoor Ethics
• Is Biodegradable Littering OK? 
• Backpacking in Bear Country 

We couldn't get our planned full episode up this week due to some technical difficulties and NYC craziness, so Veren recorded this quick update live from Brooklyn. We'll be coming back at you next week with our regular programming!

The summer is here, which means road trips! With the pandemic, road tripping has become even more popular. It's a great way to get outdoors and travel to new places in a safe way.  In this episode, we share stories from our favorite road trip experiences as well as give some of our best road trip tips. That includes how to prepare, helpful apps to use, finding accommodation, and key things to pack.  We also explore the question of how to road trip in a sustainable and responsible way. Happy road tripping!

Support the Show:
Patreon: https://patreon.com/alternativetravelers

Connect with us:
Leave us a voice note: AlternativeTravelers.com/podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alternativetravelers/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alternativetravelers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alttravelers

Links + Resources Mentioned:

• Driving While Black: African American Travel and the Road to Civil Rights  
• AllStays Camping + RV App 
• Grand Canyon Road Trips and Impact on the Navajo Nation 
• The Airbnb Effect
• AlternativeTravelers.com/recommends (all our travel planning/booking resources in one place!) 

Our Alternative Destinations series is back with our long anticipated Buffalo episode!  We've been singing the praises of Buffalo ever since the pandemic put a pause on our nomadic wanderings and we settled in Buffalo one year ago (May 2020). It's been a homecoming of sorts for Sam, who lived here for 10 years, but hasn't been back for 10 years! 

Buffalo is the second biggest city in New York State (second only to NYC), and is known as the City of Good Neighbors and the City of Light. We talk about Buffalo's fascinating history as THE city to be at the turn of the 20th century, why Buffalo is such a multicultural city with a long history of immigration, the city's interesting mix of Midwestern and Northeast coast vibes, and a lot more. 

Of course, we also give you lots of recommendations of things to do, cool neighborhoods to explore, local foods you gotta eat and where (Buffalo is a proud foodie city), and the best ways to explore the city.  This episode is all about why we love Buffalo and why it's a great place for alternative travelers to visit!

Support the Show:
Patreon: https://patreon.com/alternativetravelers

Connect with us:
Leave us a voice note: AlternativeTravelers.com/podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alternativetravelers/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alternativetravelers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alttravelers

Links + Resources Mentioned: 

• Explore Buffalo (non-profit with walking + biking tours) 
• City of Light (historical fiction book) 
• Buffalo History Museum 
• Albright Knox Museum 
• Birchfield Penney Museum 
• Darwin Martin House 
• Betty's Restaurant 
• Sun Cuisines (Burmese restaurant) 
• Letchworth State Park 

In this deep dive (pun intended) into cruise travel, Sam looks at the cruise industry from all angles. Why do people love this method of traveling? What are the impacts of cruise travel on the destinations, people, economy, and the environment? What about the humanitarian component of cruise ship workers? Is sustainable, responsible cruising possible? While this episode is a critical look at the cruise industry, we also recognize why people choose cruise travel. We're not here to shame anyone, but rather to educate travelers to be able to make more informed choices. So whether you are curious about cruise travel, have friends and family who love to cruise, or just want to know more about this popular method of travel, this episode is for you!

>>>>>We need your support to keep this podcast going! This is a community run podcast, just like public radio. Join us (and get goodies!) at Patreon.com/AlternativeTravelers<<<<<<<<

Connect with us:
Leave us a voice note: AlternativeTravelers.com/podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alternativetravelers/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alternativetravelers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alttravelers

Links + Resources Mentioned: 

• Impact Travel Alliance (mention my name, Sam Anthony, when signing up to get free months) 
• Cruise Report Card 
• Uncruise 
• Lindblad Expeditions 
• Hurtigruten 
• Ecoship Peace Boat 

We're now (gratefully) fully vaccinated, so this episode is all about the Covid-19 vaccine! 
We talk about:

• the side effects we experienced getting the Moderna vaccine,
• common vaccine concerns and hesitancy (mRNA vaccines, fast rollout, etc.) 
• why vaccines are important for a return to normalcy 
• vaccines + travel (vaccine passports, etc) 
•  the Seychelles as a cautionary tale 
• and more! 

Support the Show:
Patreon: https://patreon.com/alternativetravelers

Connect with us:
Leave us a voice note: AlternativeTravelers.com/podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alternativetravelers/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alternativetravelers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alttravelers

Links + Resources Mentioned:

• World Coronavirus Tracker Map: Vaccine Rollout and Access (Reuters)
• The Story of MRNA Vaccines
• Why the world’s most vaccinated country is seeing an unprecedented spike in coronavirus cases
• Global Vaccine Equity is More Important than Vaccine Passports

What is tourism leakage and why is it important to understand? In this solo episode, Sam dives into this under-discussed phenomenon, including what tourism leakage is, where it occurs, how travelers can spot tourism leakage, and what we can to do avoid this when traveling.

Support the Show:
Patreon: https://patreon.com/alternativetravelers

Connect with us:
Leave us a voice note: AlternativeTravelers.com/podcast
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alternativetravelers/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alternativetravelers
Twitter: https://twitter.com/alttravelers 

Links + Resources Mentioned: 

• Reimagining Travel Means Preventing Tourism Leakage 
• Import Leakage vs Export Leakage (UN Atlas of Oceans) 
• Tourism Leakage in Jamaica 

Humans eat 3x+ per day, meaning that our food choices are a key place to start when looking to live a more mindful lifestyle. We simply can't talk about  sustainable travel without looking at what's on our plate! In this episode, we talk about the variety of ways to make more sustainable choices through food. As we'll mention throughout the episode - remember that change of any kind is a process, and it's all about progress over perfection. We'll also talk about how implementing more mindful eating habits will be positive for you as well! 

Support the Show:
Patreon: Patreon.com/alternativetravelers

Connect with us:
Leave us a voice note: AlternativeTravelers.com/podcast
Instagram: Instagram.com/alternativetravelers/
Facebook: Facebook.com/alternativetravelers
Twitter: Twitter.com/alttravelers