The Global Basecamps Blog

cc licensed flickr photo shared by Claus Rebler

Last week, we talked about community outreach being a fundamental attribute of sustainable hotels. This week, we consider the direct impact of sustainable hotels on their local environments; specifically, the physical construction and location of the hotel.

Have you ever walked into a hotel and wondered where everything came from--the flooring, the ceiling, the walls, even the furniture? Or have you wondered what it looked like before the hotel, the roads, and all the people arrived? If you haven't, you were probably just distracted by the modern architecture, impressive lobby, and the excitement of being in a foreign place. And if you have, you're probably worrying way too much, but at least you have an eye for sustainable site management, or how a hotel impacts the environment before any of the guests arrive.

A sure way to soak in the culture of a destination is to head straight to the local market. There you'll get a visceral snap shot of daily life that includes everything from what's on the butcher's block to indigenous art. The markets also often provide the cheapest, most authentic eats and an enormous selection of souvenirs. So, here's a look at Global Basecamps' favorite markets around the world.

1. Oltavalo Market, Ecuador

cc licensed flickr photo shared by *D a r i n k a*

A mecca for outdoor enthusiasts, Nepal offers some of the best trekking in the world. However, Nepal is much more than just beautiful mountains! This fascinating country offers everything from elephant safaris in the National Parks to some of the finest whitewater rafting in the world. Private helicopter trips to uninhabited mountain valleys, cultural tours to the historic cities of Patan, Kathmandu and Bhaktapur and sightseeing excursions to Nagarkot, Dhulikhel or Sankhu are just a few of the many exciting adventures that Global Basecamps can arrange for you. In this video, Meagan, travel specialist who conquered Nepal's famous Annapurna trek herself, gives expert advice on how to make the most of your travels to Nepal.

Although sustainable hotels are often only scrutinized by their environmental impact, at Global Basecamps, we believe a sustainable hotel should not only be energy efficient and ecologically responsible, but also help sustain its local community.

In this new series of blog posts, we will be investigating what makes a sustainable hotel, from green building techniques and design innovation to conservation efforts and community outreach. Because sustainability is so wide-reaching and complex, we’re breaking down the sustainable hotel into its simpler parts and explaining the criteria for great sustainable hotels.

If I'm not traveling, talking about travel, dreaming about travel or eating, you'll likely find me up to my neck in research - and by research I mean stalking my favorite travel bloggers. You see, for many in the travel industry, "travel writer" is a highly coveted job title. Who wouldn't want to get paid to explore the globe, even if it meant eating insects and mystery meat à la Anthony Bourdain? Travel Channel pipe-dreams aside, the hardworking travel bloggers of the world (many who make little profit for their efforts) are changing the way we wander the globe. Find a travel blogger you identify with and you've essentially got a personal test pilot exploring the world for you and reporting back on what you'll love and what you can live without. With this in mind, Global Basecamps has decided to seek out bloggers who represent some facet of our travel philosophy and get them to share insider tips and knowledge they’ve gained on their global escapades.

Our first featured blogger is Matt from LandLopers.com. He describes himself as "a typical Gen-X professional who has a passion for all things travel." What we most love about him is the fact that he's not a backpacker nor traveling in the lap of luxury. He's found a way to be a global landloper (a.k.a. wanderer or adventurer) without breaking the bank, and is eager to make travel more accessible to all.