Jeddah Attractions tourists are loving – The Saudi Arabian port city of Jeddah is a beautiful place situated on the Red Sea and is known for its business and innumerable commercial establishments.
The city also has an ancient past that can be seen in its many Ottoman-style buildings.
Coupled with its rich past, the contemporary structures of the city along with the ancient ones fully complement each other, so that visitors to Jeddah can expect to see some lovely views.
Visiting Jeddah during the winter months is quite pleasurable as the weather during the period stays pleasant and enjoyable.
In recent years, there has been a renewed vigor among tourists to visit the city.
Jeddah has many attractions for the travelers as discussed here.
Jeddah Attractions
The Old Quarters of the city
A stroll through the old quarters of the city can be quite relieving as one can see the many unusual structures that were built during the earlier era.
The quarters which are situated in the southern part of the city are among the most popular ones among tourists.
There are two beautiful mansions over here known as the Nasif and Sharbatly, which have a stunning decoration inside them.
These mansions were built by noble tradesmen and stand testimony of the times.
The Corniche
Are situated on the northern coastline of Jeddah and is a wonderful place for people who would like to take a relaxing walk along the waters.
It starts from the Hilton, and moving through the traffic area, it goes all the way to the north.
It is an enjoyable place with ample greenery, sufficient landscaping, swimming bays, cafes, and many fast food joints.
The evening atmosphere of the place is buzzing with energy.
Numerous museums in the city
Jeddah is popularly known by tourists as ‘the city of monuments and markets’, and therefore it is not a coincidence that it has many museums that attract a lot of tourists.
Starting with the local Municipal Museum where a large collection of artifacts is present, history lovers can also visit the Jeddah Museum that showcases many archaeological pieces.
Apart from them, visitors can also see the Matbouli House Museum that has some very old gramophones and telephones, and it is housed in a period-era three-story building.
The Al Tayibat City Museum for International Civilization is a private property in a four-story building.
It features pre-Islamic artifacts, old coins, beautiful furniture, the traditional dresses of the kingdom, Islamic manuscripts, pottery, and home interior replicas.
Information is sufficiently displayed through sign panels and a private tour can be availed here.
The exquisite mosques
Visiting Jeddah without going to its mosques would be incomplete.
The city has some stunning mosques that look overwhelmingly charming.
The Al Rahma mosque in northern Jeddah is a masterpiece of architecture, as it literally floats in the Red Sea and that is why it is also known as the Floating Mosque.
The complete structure is made up of marble.
Since it is located on the coast, sea waves keep washing the base of the mosque at all times.
Another breathtaking structure is the Al Shafee Mosque that dates back to the 16th-century and features an Ottoman-style minaret.
The foundation of the mosque is about 1,400 years old, and it has carved redwood doors that lead to its small courtyard.
Naseef House
Everyone may not be as lucky to get access inside the Naseef House.
Hence taking an appointment for visiting this awesome place is very important.
It is one of the old coral houses of the city that has been carefully preserved.
It was the living place of one of the kingdom’s most powerful trading families. and at one point in time, King Abdul Aziz also stayed here.
There is a huge tree on the left of the door and a ramp is also there that was built for the camel-mounted messengers of the king who could go to the upper terrace.
Undoubtedly, the Naseef House is a treat to watch.
Bab-Makkah and Bab-Sharif
Bab-Makkah is a huge three-arched gate from below which pilgrims pass through to the Islam’s holiest city.
The structure was amply fortified during the ancient period.
Similarly, Bab-Sharif is also a type of fortification gate and is among the six gates that completely surround the city.
They hold relevance for the city till today as one can get a glimpse of its royal past through its architecture.
The North City gate is yet another addition to the list of fortifications of Jeddah.
The colorful markets of Jeddah
Visiting Jeddah is complete with a visit to some of its colorful markets.
The Souq Al Alawi is one of the most preferred places for people who want to buy Arabian jewelry, traditional dresses or Islamic art.
This area on the Al Dahab Street is buzzing at all times, but during the sunset prayers, the atmosphere of the place becomes truly stunning.
Fish lovers can head to the Fish Market in Jeddah that is situated very near to the Corniche.
Many different types of fish are seen and bought here.
Even the lesser known fish variants in other parts of the world like hammerhead sharks, squids and parrot fish are available here, and that is why it is a chosen destination for many fish lovers.
Jeddah is a bustling city with a lot of activities to do and places to visit.
Moreover, it is well-connected to most of the major cities in the world.
Additionally, Cebu Pacific booking has further helped a lot of people to visit the place and discover the many points of interest in it.
That is why Jeddah is fast-becoming a tourist hotspot and more people are visiting the city than ever before.
Affordable Car Rental in England – Renting a car in the U.K. can sometimes seem like a daunting process.
It’s easy to worry about getting ripped off or being oversold.
Because of this, you might decide to skip renting a car altogether, which can end up leading to a more stressful and complicated trip than necessary. Things To Do With a Kids in London
Affordable Car Rental in England
Whether you live in the UK or are visiting on holiday, read on, and we’ll show you the best money saving tips that you need to know when it comes to renting a car anywhere in the U.K.
Nowadays, it’s easier than ever to check prices of multiple car rental companies at the same time.
By using UK no 1 comparison services, you can compare over 500 suppliers at the click of a button and save significantly.
Keep in mind that many times when you pay for a rental car in advance, it is often nonrefundable.
With that said, it is also typically much cheaper to rent beforehand than doing so at the actual rental office.
Consider these costs before actually putting money down so you don’t end up having any regrets later.
Avoid Renting Car at the Airport
Renting a car at an airport location is definitely convenient.
Unfortunately, many airports will include surcharges and other fees that can make the cost more expensive than renting at a standalone location.
Be sure to do your research beforehand though.
Although this is common, it is not always the case and sometimes the cost of renting at an airport vs renting elsewhere is nearly identical.
And airports like London Heathrow are open 24/7, which can definitely be helpful if you are in a bind and decide you need a car immediately upon arrival.
Also, remember to consider the cost of hiring a taxi or other service to actually take you to the car hire service, as this might end up equaling those airport fees.
Check the Age Requirements For Renting a Car in England
In the UK, rental car companies prefer to rent to drivers between the ages of 25 and 70.
Several companies may refuse to rent to people outside of this age range.
Other services will rent to younger and older drivers but they will most likely throw on some hefty fees too.
Minimum age limits are more common than maximum limits but drivers over 70 should still check beforehand as those extra fees are typically for insurance purposes.
Fill Up Before Returning Your Rental Car
Although it may seem more convenient to simply take the car back and have the car hire service fill up the tank for you, that is also an excellent way to pay way too much in unnecessary costs.
In fact, you could end up paying two, three, or even four times the price of filling up the car yourself when you let the rental company do it.
When looking at those costs, it is rarely worth not taking the extra few minutes and filling up the vehicle on your own.
Leverage Your Memberships
There are many popular international rental companies operating in the United Kingdom.
If you happen to be a member of one, this is definitely the time to see what kind of perks you are able to get.
But it doesn’t just stop at car rental memberships.
Check with your airline and hotel and see if there are any advantages you can get through them as well.
Also, see if the company you work for has partnerships set up.
Look into possible memberships that your credit card company has set up.
Yes, this will require some research and time on your part, but the benefits could definitely be worth it.
Staying in Shape While Travelling – If you are a fan of fitness and are always on the move because of work or leisure, then there are some activities you can perform to keep fit ahead of arriving at your destination.
If you happen to be enthusiastic about working out, you will find the drive and commitment necessary comparable to running a profitable company.
If you wonder about whether it is possible to travel the world and still maintain a healthy body, you should be reassured that you do not have to compromise your fitness to travel.
Staying in Shape While Travelling the World
Here are some tips on how to stay in shape by fitting in workouts and utilizing all available options while travelling by air, land or water.
Always Travel Prepared
Most people who travel for business or pleasure find travelling schedules to be tiresome and exhausting.
When it comes to business travel that requires you to be in different cities in a week, you will find it challenging to be consistent with an exercise program.
To be in the mood for a workout wherever you are, always make sure that you pack your workout attire.
In addition to the usual running shoes and workout clothes, try and carry a swimsuit with you as well as a fitness tracker to keep a record of your daily activities and provide that extra level of motivation to keep you going.
Before travelling, also ensure that you have the necessary supplements.
You can take advantage of offers on 120kgs and other websites that have discounts on their products.
Having your training gear with you might remind you to use it.
Have a Buddy
If you are not planning on a getaway retreat on your own, then it is advisable to travel with a partner that loves fitness as much as you do.
Having a buddy on the road is more than enough motivation to help each other stay healthy and in shape while travelling.
Even though self-motivation does play a significant role in maintaining your level of fitness while travelling, having a training partner will make you more serious about a workout routine because the both of you depend on it to maintain your health.
Mix It Up
While travelling, you may want to find out whether there is an available gym.
Most fitness centers are open on cruise ships and at airports, making it possible for you to gain access to workout equipment for as long as you are there.
If you happen to travel by cruising, then you will find a swimsuit comes in handy.
World-class cruise ships also have jogging tracks, gyms, basketball courts and studios for yoga.
You can make use of some of your free time on the cruise ship by exercising.
Be careful not to fill up on too many delicacies and drinks that are offered onboard.
Stay Productive to Stay Fit for Travel
One activity that you can engage in anywhere and everywhere is walking.
Try and cover as much distance as you can on foot anytime you get to a different city.
Public parks also offer a comfortable environment in which to train at no cost.
One thing is for sure, if you are looking to maintain your fit physique, watch what you eat and what you do.
Then, you will not have to worry about getting out of shape while travelling.
Travel-Centric Business Should Go Green – We are all familiar with the concept of “going green.”
But how many companies actually follow through with sustainable management practices?
In our personal lives, going green can mean a lot of different things.
Some people might use simple tactics such as:
Starting a compost in the backyard
Recycling more often
Shopping for used clothes
It is easy to implement “green” habits in your everyday life.
You can make simple substitutions and lifestyle changes.
Travel-Centric Business Should Go Green
However, many businesses find it hard to stick to green policies.
Some falsely assume that green policies are costly and inefficient.
However, these misconceptions lead many companies to think going green is a lot more complicated than it really is.
Going green is becoming a popular route for travel companies.
Their businesses are known for using excessive environmental capital like fuel, power, and other resources.
Travel companies know this can lead to severe environmental damage, and they’re starting to make a difference.
If you’re a travel-centric business with a lot of frequent flyer miles, you might want to take notice of travel companies that are leading the way with eco-friendly habits.
They’re reaping the following benefits that you’re missing out on:
Travel Business Should Go Green for Financial Savings
The use of renewable resources saves businesses thousands of dollars in the long run.
Relying on renewable energy sources allows travel companies to:
Reduce energy bills
Avoid price fluctuations of nonrenewable energy sources
Increase overall efficiency and reliability
Improve investor confidence
Even though initial investments in going green initiatives may seem hefty, the payout is well worth it.
Trust Among Clients
Would you want to travel with a company that:
Contributes to air, water, and land pollution
Inadequately disposes of waster
Otherwise harms the environment with their policies or a lack thereof?
People these days love companies that are environmentally friendly.
Earn the trust of your associates and loyal customers by going green.
Green companies are able to share how they work to reduce their carbon footprint and attract others with a similar mission.
Other green companies will be eager to work with you.
It’s easy for PR companies like https://www.8020comms.com/ to paint you in a positive light if you’re following green protocol.
Going green is essential to our environment’s well being.
Every company can take small steps toward our environment, but travel companies inherently have an obligation to make smart choices for the environment as high energy-users.
Set an example and consider evaluating how much energy you spend on business hours- it could lead you to these benefits!
Travel Hacks from Experienced Travelers – Traveling can be one of the great joys of life, but it can also be a stressful event, as well.
A few good travel hacks really do go a long way.
Read on for 10 expert travel hacks that will make your worldwide travels a bit easier, a bit more fun, and help set the stage for truly great experiences while traveling.
Travel Hacks from Experienced Travelers
Pre-Trip Switch to “Private Browsing”
If you’re going to be price shopping online (and you should be), make sure to switch your browser to privacy or private browsing before looking around.
The cookies websites use to determine your location are also used by popular travel sites to raise prices.
The more times you re-visit a site, the more the price rises.
If you’re in privacy mode, you’ll actually get the best available pricing.
E-mail Picture of Passport
This is precautionary.
Whether you take a detailed picture with your smartphone or scan it in, e-mail yourself that picture.
If something happens and you lose it or get it stolen (rare, but you have to take precautions) then you’ll be happy to have that backup picture of it to fall back on and to prove you are who you are.
Buy A Comfortable Travel Hat
Whether keeping the rain or snow out of your eyes or the sunlight from pounding down on your face and head, a good travel hat seems like a minor thing but truth be told, it does a lot of work.
Most basic hiking hats are more than enough and combined with a pair of sun glasses can help make sure you can move around in comfort.
Always Carry A Water Bottle
One, you should never pay airport prices for bottled water.
Two, a filter water bottle allows you to stay hydrated no matter how hot it is.
This also allows you to check out impromptu hiking trails or walk a bit further when off on an adventure.
Staying hydrated is not only good for health but it also helps prevent headaches.
Nothing ruins travel like a persistent pounding head because you’re dehydrated.
When traveling, rolling up clothes into a really tight tube actually ends up being a space saver in most cases.
This means you can downsize your travel bags, pack more, or sometimes both and this is the type of tip that comes from a truly experienced traveler whether going solo or packing for a family.
This keeps your clothes smelling fresher, and if you’re in the middle of a long-term trip they can be a life saver when you need to catch another plane before washing all of your socks from the past week.
While this isn’t a replacement for doing actual laundry, they can absorb a lot of the used clothes smells and sweat stains so your washed clothes don’t pick up these unpleasant scents.
Consider A Dummy Wallet
This is an area-situational one but in many really amazing tourist destinations pick pockets can be a problem.
Hiding your actual wallet well while carrying a fake dummy wallet in your pocket can be an extra layer of protection.
You can even have some fun with it by having a note in the wallet with a face with a tongue sticking out or a rude comment in the native language, if that’s your style.
Minimize Your Packing
Don’t overpack.
Needing to locally find toothpaste, a nice shirt, or shaving accessories can result in talking to locals, finding local resources, and finding neat little hole in the wall places you might otherwise never have found or had any experience with.
Over-packing is one of the most common mistakes even experienced travelers make but you will see more and meet more people by packing just a little bit less!
Take A Cooking Or Craft Class
Why do this?
Because by learning how to cook some favorite local dishes or create a local craft, you will have the skills to do something interesting, and whether weaving a basket or cooking a four dish foreign meal, you’ll be able to remember everything you enjoyed about the vacation as familiar smells, sights, or actions combine to bring back memories of that trip months or even years down the line.
Plus who doesn’t like learning a new skill or dish?
Ask For Extras
This doesn’t mean be a jerk or a pushy demanding tourist, but polite inquiries will often get you more than you would imagine.
There are many cultures which are extremely service oriented, and in these cultures it’s not only acceptable form to politely ask for something, but often times when done respectfully people are extremely happy to be able to make a great impression by helping you to get your perfect vacation visit.
With a very small population, (less than 60,000 inhabitants) Greenland is the world’s largest island.
It includes over 2 million square kilometers.
Therefore, it’s also the largest non-continental island on earth.
Some of the best attractions in Greenland aren’t attractions in the traditional sense.
Likely, you will be going there to experience the nature.
It’s most famous for icebergs floating on a sea of deepest azure and mystical glaciers, cracking and creaking as the ice shifts and expands.
Greenland adventure holidays could be a lifetime experience where icy landscapes turn into green mountains with beautiful wildflowers, hot springs, and crystal clear skies.
When you visit somewhere so unique, it makes sense to go with a tour.
You want to be sure you see everything a tourist would want to see.
There’s nothing worse than coming home from a vacation and realizing you missed seeing something that was “right there” or someplace nearby that would have been easy to have seen.
We learned about Greenland tour packages which include breathtaking fjords, steep cliffs, and clean air.
Greenland is unique in every season so you want to be sure to maximize the time you are there.
Nordic Saga Tours offers many travel deals all year from short breaks to longer tours, guided tours, individual tours, and expedition-like explorer tours.
The Northern Lights in Greenland- Aurora Borealis
Traveling to Greenland in winter one should expect to meet the Northern Lights.
Northern Lights are a classic Arctic experience, but here, they are exceptional.
The uniquely small towns and settlements keep light pollution to a minimum, and most of the time clear sky days mean that the chances to see this fantastic phenomenon are huge.
Greenland Capital
Special attention should be paid to Greenland’s capital, Nuuk.
It is a city of vitality, surrounded by breathtaking nature and filled with vibrant Greenlanders old traditions, modern trends, and diverse influences.
Nuuk is full of experiences not found anywhere else in the world.
Here you will get to experience some of the iconic Greenland food favorites.
How to choose a guide in Greenland?
Greenland is full of extraordinary places and activities.
However, where to go exactly once you are there can be stressful.
It’s likely a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and you’ll want to make the most of it.
Also, what season is the best time to go?
It might seem difficult to decide.
The simple answer is: Trust the specialists.
Whether you want to travel on your own, or as a part of a group, there are Greenland tour packages which you’ll want to consider.
In this way, you will learn from the locals what the highlights are.
In addition, you will learn about little-known facts.
Adventure tours are famous for the experiences travelers get and the standard of the accommodation.
When you plan a trip to Greenland, there is surely lots to consider.
You will have to book your flights and consider how long you will be able to visit.
Afterwards, it may well be worthwhile to schedule a tour.
While green living has become second nature in many ways, sometimes we want convenience. Other times, we don’t know there are sustainable options or earth-friendly products available. And as much as we want to use what we have, we still shop. We are consumers.
The great news is we can shop and still be environmentally conscious. We can buy products which will minimize our impact. There are some purchases which eliminate the need to buy other products. Others extend the life of products.
We will continue adding to this list as we find more innovative eco-friendly products. There are many things we can do to live green. Here are our favorite eco-friendly products for home. Some will be good for traveling as well.
Sustainable paper towels
Bambooee The unPaper Towel
Many of us use paper towels — a lot! While we love the idea of dish towels and cleaning rags, it is often more convenient to grab a paper towel. They are handy for spills, to clean counters and floors, to clean bathrooms and to dry hands.
We tuck them into our kids’ lunch boxes in place of napkins. Sometimes we use them at the dinner table. It’s sometimes more sanitary to use a paper towel than a regular towel.
They’re typically inexpensive so it’s easy to grab one, use it, and toss it… without giving much thought to what goes into making a roll of paper towels.
Unfortunately, we don’t love the waste and the materials and how most of us use them once and then throw them away.
Bambooee makes washable, rayon from bamboo, paper towels. Each roll comes with 20 sheets. Because you can wash and reuse them, a roll with the 20 unpaper towels is the equivalent of 286 paper towel ROLLS!
Wow! We were happy to find this product and anxious to try them. This is what we learned:
Each sheet is 11.5″ x 11″.
Bambooee makes them from a certified organic bamboo source.
They are soft, absorbent and durable.
With every roll you purchase, they plant a tree.
Bambooee was featured on Shark Tank.
Reusable paper towels
It’s remarkable you can wash each sheet up to 100 times. What does this equate to?
This small roll of unpaper towels is the equivalent of 2,000 paper towels.
What does that really mean? If you use up a typical paper towel roll each week, replacing them with Bambooee will equal almost 5.5 years.
We’ve used them to clean our kitchen counters, stove top, windows, and bathrooms.
In addition, we’ve found them to be ideal to bring on trips. They are easy to wash, hang to dry, and reuse. These reusable paper towels take very little space in the suitcase and are handy to have for whatever comes up. When you want to travel green, it helps to have some easy habits in place. Packing these is easy!
They are sturdy and strong, even after washing. The only downside to these is you have to remember to air dry. So if you put them in your washing machine, be sure to remember how many to find and air dry before putting the items in the clothes dryer.
The other negative is they are made in China. While it’s rare to find products made in the USA, it’s always our preference.
However, these paper towels are innovative and eco-friendly. In addition to being reusable, what makes Bambooee earth-friendly is the rayon from bamboo is grown without fertilizer and pesticides.
Eco-friendly floor cleaner
Bambooee Sweeps
Bambooee also makes sweeps with scrubbing dots. Put one on a floor sweeper and you have a reusable floor mop to use wet or dry.
Just like their Unpaper Towels, these sweeper pads are machine washable. In addition, the rayon is made from a certified organic bamboo source. Each roll includes 15 Bambooee Sweeps. What’s great is these 15 sweeper pads can replace up to 1,500 of the disposable floor wipes and sheets. They are versatile as well. You can use them dry — they do an excellent job of picking up dust and hair — or wet (run one under the faucet and ring it out so it’s damp) — like you use other wet wipes for mopping.
You can wash each sheet up to 100 times in the washing machine. You have to pull them out so you don’t put them in the dryer. They measure 11.5″ x 10.1″ which fits well on regular floor sweepers that use disposable pads and wipes.
In addition, for every roll you purchase, they plant a tree.
We don’t like the disposable, one-time use floor pads because they aren’t sustainable. Plus, they are filled with chemicals. Instead, we were using microfiber cloths on our floor sweeper in an effort to be more environmentally-aware.
However, now that we have Bambooee Sweeps, we are only using these on our floors.
Soap holder extends life of bar soap
SoapStandle
We mostly use bar soap in our home because of the chemicals in liquid soaps. We have found bar soap with safer ingredients but we want it to last as long as possible.
We also like being able to use less soap. In the past, when we used liquid soap, we were using a lot more than necessary which was drying out our skin.
In addition, liquid soap comes in plastic containers which we try to avoid. When we heard about SOAPSTANDLE, we were excited to try it out.
Other soap holders
In the past, we used a soap stand but it mostly served as a placeholder for the soap. It didn’t help circulate air around it.
Also, it was often a gooey mess to clean. It was rather unappealing to pick up the bar of soap from the holder.
After that, we found another soap holder and bought several for our showers. There was a suction cup which stuck to the wall. You put a magnetic disk into the soap and it would hang from the wall. They worked well except you had to really gauge the soap with the holder so it would stay in place.
It helped to dry out the soap which is what we wanted. However, the soap would often fall down if it wasn’t wedged in the soap enough. Other times, the suction would loosen from the wall and everything would fall into the tub. We did like the concept of them because it worked to air dry the soap.
Extending the life of your bar soap
We have bar soaps and shampoo bars in our showers. Before using SOAPSTANDLE, in addition to trying the above holders, we would do a lot of different things to dry them out. We want our soap to last as long as possible and not waste away because it’s sitting in water. We would tip the soap on its side, prop the bar on a cup, or prop it on one side and leave it on a towel.
For our soap bars in the shower, this would mean we would need to take it out of the shower stall/tub and move it to the counter by the sink.
SOAPSTANDLE is a practical and eco-friendly solution. These soap holders help extend the life of your bar soap.
You won’t need to buy liquid soaps which come in plastic — even if you refill them, it still comes in plastic containers. Much of it is water which is heavy and takes up extra room during transport from the manufacturers to the stores.
Eliminates the soap mess
We use SOAPSTANDLE for each bar of soap and for our shampoo bar and conditioner bar. These soap holders prevent the soap scum and goo and extend the life of your soap.
You won’t need to clean the soap holder like you do with other soaps. When you finish the bar, you use SOAPSTANDLE again.
This soap stand makes it much more convenient to use bar soap and will hopefully encourage consumers to not buy liquid soaps which come in plastic containers.
SOAPSTANDLE is made in the USA.
We are very pleased with this simple solution for your soap.
Clothing to help homeless youth
Hippy Feet
This Minneapolis-based company supports homeless individuals in many ways. Hippy Feet helps homeless youth by using a portion from each sale to provide transitional employment through their Pop-Up Employment Program.
Hippy Feet’s program gives its participants the opportunity to do all the embroidery, screen printing, and packaging for their products. In so doing, they earn a wage as well as learn skills and basic job training. Hippy Feet has a goal to get homeless youth into stable housing and eventually into full-time employment at other companies.
In addition to all of what they do to help homeless youth, all of Hippy Feet’s products are made in the United States using environmentally friendly materials.
Hippy Feet long-sleeve tees for adults
Peace Out
Let Love Grow in green and blue
They sent us a large Let Love Grow long-sleeve tee shirt in the light blue. It’s made with 100% organic cotton.
We machine washed and dried it in the dryer without it shrinking. The organic cotton is very comfortable. It’s fun and easy to wear and runs true to size. This shirt has three small flowers embroidered on the front and “let love grow” is screen printed on the back up near the collar.
Vintage Hippy Tee
This short sleeve t-shirt is made with 100% organic cotton. Homeless youth do the screen printing for each shirt. Check it out on their website — it looks to have a flattering cut and the colors are neutral yet retro and bold at the same time.
Hippy Feet socks for adults and youth
Crew
Ankle
Knee high
Check their website for all of their fun patterns and solids. Hippy Feet makes their socks with eco-friendly materials. Their adult socks include recycled cotton. They make their youth socks with recycled cotton and recycled polyester.
Hippy Feet socks with signature from person who packaged them.
We asked to try their solid black and white socks. They sent an adult pair in S-M and a children’s pair in S-M. We’ve never tried eco-friendly socks before and have been using them for active pursuits. They wick away moisture well. We love them.
It was also interesting to see the company gives their employees additional opportunities to feel proud of their work. On each sock, there is a “Packaged by:” area, and the person who packaged it signs it.
Also, there is minimal packaging made with eco-friendly materials.
Hippy Feet hats
Denim cap
Green twill cap
They sent us the green twill cap which has a great fit and feel. It’s adjustable as well. It’s lightweight and also made with environmentally-friendly materials. The embroidery on it is through a nonprofit that provides job training to youth who are dealing with homelessness.
Homeless youth do the embroidery on Hippy Feet’s products.
This is really a perfect example of an eco-friendly company: Hippy Feet provides transitional employment to homeless youth; they use eco-friendly materials and packaging; and they make everything in the United States.
Sustainable option for beverages
SodaStream
Our family isn’t one for gadgets. We don’t want to have to store extra appliances nor do we have room on our counters to leave them out. That said, we do own a few so that we can make things from scratch, like our bread maker.
Until we learned about SodaStream, we didn’t know you could make soda and carbonated water at home. We don’t buy soda often. Much to our kids’ dismay, we only buy it — mostly in 2 liter bottles — when we have parties.
However, we do regularly purchase sparkling flavored water. We go through a case of 24 cans every three weeks.
After hearing about SodaStream and how it could be an environmentally-friendly option, we did the math. We buy and use approximately 417 aluminum cans a year just from flavored water.
That adds up to a lot of one-time use cans as well as the cost of buying the drinks and the hassle of carrying them home from the store.
SodaStream eliminates plastic bottles and aluminum cans
Sure, cans and bottles can be recycled; however, recycling is expensive and taxing on the environment.
It also takes costly steps and materials to make the cans and bottles. They use a lot of raw materials. It also is a burden on the environment to get the drinks from the manufacturing plants and distributors to the stores. It all adds up.
Also, once you finish the drink from a canned beverage and one-time use plastic bottles, there’s not much you can do with it to reuse or re-purpose them. So at best, you recycle it.
The SodaStream machine lets you make drinks right at home — eliminating the demand for aluminum cans and glass and plastic bottles. They sent us their SodaStream Fizzi One Touch Electric sparkling water maker. We are reviewing the Starter Pack.
SodaStream One Touch Electric
We were happily surprised with how narrow and streamlined the SodaStream is. We can store it easily in one of our taller cabinets.
Also interesting is there are three carbonation — aka fizz — levels. We didn’t realize that would be something that you could customize.
The Fizzi One Touch comes with a one liter plastic bottle which is customized to use with the machine. It also includes a 14.5 oz carbonating cylinder. There is enough CO2 to make 60 liters. For our purposes, this means we can use one CO2 cylinder to make and replace 169 cans of the sparkling water we were buying.
We learned we can bring our empty cylinder to a SodaStream retailer and get a full one for a discounted price. On their website, there is also an easy way to exchange them with a delivery person. You return the empty cylinder, and they trade you for a filled one for what-seems-to-be half the price of a filled one at a store.
The SodaStream is really easy to use. It’s fast too. You just fill the bottle with tap water, place it in the machine, and press the button.
Fun to make drinks at home
It’s also been something fun to do with our kids. We made carbonated water with the SodaStream and added lemons and raspberries to our glasses. Another time we used lime. And the third time we used lime and fresh mint.
We have only made carbonated water so far with it. The next time we go to Target or Bed Bath and Beyond, we will look for the Drink Mixes to make soda. Each small bottle of their soda mix makes up to nine liters. This small bottle will be a lot less wasted plastic than the 2-liter bottles we usually buy. We hope to find their root beer and ginger ale. (They also sell bottles of Fruit Drops in lemon, orange, cucumber, watermelon, etc., but we plan to use whatever fruits we have on hand.)
We are looking forward to our kids using it as something to do with their friends when they have play dates. We are also thinking it will be a hit when we have parties. Our friends and family will really enjoy making their own drinks.
Already we are planning to have it out for our Summer Solstice party with our neighbors and will include a lineup of fruits so they can customize their beverages. And we know our kids will be proud their friends will be able to make their own soda as well. (We will update in June!) We plan to have a “bar” set up with cucumbers, mint, rosemary, lemon, lime, pineapple, berries, oranges, etc. It will be perfect for the summer.
Instructions for SodaStream
Again, it’s really easy to set up and easy to use. It was interesting there wasn’t a written instruction manual but rather an easy-to-follow insert with illustrations.
Sparkling water maker choices
We have the “middle model” which is the One Touch Electric. It comes with a one liter plastic bottle.
There is also the Fizzi Classic which is more compact and also cordless. It comes with a one liter plastic bottle as well.
The Aqua Fizz comes with dishwasher-safe glass carafes. We really love they are glass instead of plastic. However, according to the website, these carafes are .62 liters (620 ml) instead of the liter the other two models come with.
Sustainable option for beverages
Think of the cans and bottles of specialty drinks you buy. For the most part, these 2 liters of soda, and 12 and 24 packs of soda are used once — you drink it — hopefully recycle the bottle or can — and that’s it.
The waste from these receptacles — even if you recycle — really adds up as far as the raw materials used to make them and the cost to transport them and then to deal with them in the landfills or the costs involved with recycling them.
We love our SodaStream and how it will eliminate us buying one-time use bottles and cans.
Sustainable undergarments from a company that gives back
Here’s a perfect example of eco-fashion — underwear!
Marc Skid
Did you know you can buy sustainable underwear using organic Pima cotton and water bottles? The elastic from every pair of Marc Skid underwear is made from one plastic, recyclable water bottle.
Also, each pair of Marc Skid underwear is made with organic Pima cotton. It’s grown on family farms and is non-GMO. According to their website, less than 2% of the world’s cotton is Pima cotton. And just .0005% is organic Pima cotton.
In addition to being made with environmentally-friendly materials, this eco-unders company supports non-profits.
Marc Skid donates $4 from each sale of underwear to a charity. Depending on which pair you purchase, there are three non-profits you can choose to support. These charities are in three groups: feeding, curing, or saving. They support nine non-profits in total. And just by going to their website and entering your email address, they will donate $1 to a medical clinic in Honduras.
Cure the World Joan Bikini
Marc Skid sent us their Cure the World Joan Bikini underwear. They are soft, comfortable and hip in a bright orange/red. They held their color and shape after washing them and putting them in the dryer. In addition, they are true to size. They seem like they will wear well and last a long time.
Marc Skid supports charities
You will be able to choose to support the charity based on the color of underwear you purchase.
Feed the World
Choose green and will get to choose to Feed the World. You will be able to support one of these charities: Action Against Hunger; feedONE; or The Hunger Project.
Cure the World
Orange/red is Cure the World. You can choose to support one of these organizations: Catholic Medical Mission Board; Concern Foundation; or Project C.U.R.E.
Save the World
Blue is Save the World. By choosing blue, you will get to select to donate to: Amazon Conservation Association; Carbon Fund; or Water.org.
Open World
White is Open World. When you choose underwear in white, you get to select to donate $4 from the purchase price to any one of the nine charities.
Donating $4 from each pair
Something different about Marc Skid is that not only are they donating from every pair you buy, they tell you how much they are donating.
Many companies who donate often state they are donating “a percentage” from every sale. But what does that mean? How much is it? You won’t have any way of knowing how much that amounts to. Even if they state they are giving “1% of the profit” to a cause, how much is that?
In addition, the nine charities Marc Skid supports are fully vetted by Charity Navigator. In this way, you know they are responsible charities who are making a huge impact in the areas they serve.
They offer three styles — Joan Bikini, Laurinda Hipster, and Philip Boxer Brief — in green, orange/red, blue, and white. Their John Boxer pair is available only in white.
Organic, sustainable underwear
As you learn more about environmentally-friendly clothing, you may learn how manufacturing clothing uses many man-made resources which contribute to burdening our environment.
Choosing organic cotton underwear — even better: organic Pima cotton underwear — becomes an easy choice.
Best earth-friendly products
Be aware of companies who make green claims. Dig a little deeper to find out in what ways their products are sustainable, low impact, etc.
There are many ways to think about eco-friendly products.
Sometimes they are products you can use again and again. They use sustainable materials and often eliminate the need for consumers to buy replacements. Other times, environmental products may extend the life of a product you use and cut down on waste.
In addition, environmentally-friendly companies may make a difference in their communities and contribute to non-profits.
This is important to remember even when you travel. If you enjoy buying souvenirs, try to buy something that is made locally and supports the local economy. Also, depending on where you are, you will want to be sure whatever you buy is sustainable.
We have choices in how we want to shop. Likely, there is a company who is offering a better solution, making less of an impact, and making a difference in the world.
Overall, consumers have become really good at recycling and reusing. Now it’s time to think of other ways to lessen our impact and to do good. These product are among the best earth-friendly products available.
Guide To Environmentally Friendly Travel – Travelling is one of the most environmentally damaging practices that is completed every single day.
In the society that we live in, it is impossible to not travel whether this is away on a holiday, or your daily commute to and from work it is unavoidable for several people.
Before you grab your ehic card and hop on the next flight, read our guide to environmentally friendly travel below.
Use Public Transport
One of the ways that you can travel greener is to use public transport.
By travelling around major towns and cities using public transport you are reducing your carbon footprint as you are travelling from A to B with multiple people.
This then reduces the amount of fuel that you are burning as there will be fewer trips made to one destination.
Guide To Environmentally Friendly Travel
This is particularly beneficial in cities such as London that have an expansive network of bus and train routes to help make your commute easy.
Travel Light
Another way for you to be eco-friendlier when you travel is to reduce the amount that you are traveling with.
Not only is it easier for you to travel around with, but it will then take less energy for the plane and will, therefore, burn less fuel.
If everyone follows this very simple rule, flights will be able to make twice as many trips in the same amount of fuel making this a much more efficient way to travel in the long term.
Although this is also dependent on the length of the flight that you are taking, this the perfect way to begin reducing our carbon footprint as we travel.
Avoid Transfer Flights
Another way to reduce your carbon footprint is to travel without the need for connecting flights.
Although this is often more expensive as a result a single flight will burn less fuel and make your travel plans far more eco-friendly.
Although this can sometimes not be possible depending on where you live in the world, finding a flight that is direct is the perfect way to reduce the stress of traveling whilst reducing the number of carbon emissions that you produce which is beneficial when it comes to reducing the effects that this is having on the atmosphere.
Another way to reduce the number of emissions that you create whilst on your travels is to opt for local food that is near to the hotel.
This not only allows you to find some hidden gems with some of the best food, but it also allows you to walk to and from your hotel every night.
This is perfect for those that love to travel as you are likely to see more when travelling on foot and are also bound to lose some weight as a result of the walking.
Regardless of which of these you choose to incorporate into your holiday, you can be sure that you will have an amazing time away whilst doing your bit to help repair the environment and begin caring for our planet.
Best Ways to Make Money While You Travel – More and more people are choosing to travel through “gap-year experiences”; that is they are choosing to travel for months or even years to fully get to know a place instead of just stopping in for a few days or weeks.
However, to do so it is often wise to keep some sort of income coming in so you are able to travel as long as you want to.
Here are some of the best options available to you.
Best Ways to Make Money While You Travel
Online Games
Do you like playing online games?
There are many amazing slots out there which allow you to have fun while also potentially earning a little money.
These sites also often have great deals like free spins which can help you grab even more for your money.
Just make sure that you are aware of gambling laws wherever you happen to be.
If you are in a country with some extremely strict gambling restrictions, you won’t be able to earn money this way.
Blogging
Many people choose to fund their travels and adventures by starting a blog.
Whether you choose one of the traditional blogging sites like WordPress or you go for one of the more modern opportunities like Instagram, there are plenty of ways you can blog online.
Focus on your adventures or collating travel tips for others.
If you get enough traffic, you can even begin to host guest spots and build up affiliate links.
There are many ways to monetize your travel blog and your travels easily.
You will get a certain number of hours a week you can work and certain jobs you can fulfill.
It can be extremely useful if you find an area which you fall in love with.
You will be able to throw down some temporary roots for a little while and get back to a more regular style of living before you head out on the next leg of your adventure.
Teach English
Before you leave your home country, consider looking into TEFL, or Teach English as a Foreign Language.
There are many short-term courses which will give you all the skills you need to go away and work with classes of all sizes.
The more professional an environment you want to teach in, the more qualified you will obviously need to be, but you can teach in summer camps easily.
This would allow you to get away and try somewhere new for a little bit before setting off again for more travelling.
Backpacking often brings to mind the image of someone counting their coins no matter where they are along their journey.
However, you need not travel like that.
So long as you are sensible with your money and your plans, you will find that there are many opportunities for you to earn money all along your chosen route.
Get ready to see what is out there, you are going to have an amazing time on the road.
Image: Pixabay
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