Long after the adrenaline rush had worn off from flying through the canopies on “Superman,” one of Mexico’s longest and fastest zip lines, the image of the Fisher Price shopping cart and toys inside a dilapidated dwelling we passed on the way there remained. There were no doors on the house, allowing me to see inside as we drove past. The floors were made of dirt. The children were soiled and didn’t have shoes on, yet they wore big smiles on their faces and waved to us as we drove by. My kids had the same toys and the same smiles, but geography made our family very different from this one. They lived in poverty, earning the same amount of pesos in an entire day that I would later drop on a froyo for an afternoon snack. It was humbling, to say the least.
Rich or poor, young or old, the people make the place everywhere I’ve traveled. Sure, the architecture was amazing in Rome. But it’s the boisterous butcher in the small shop in Bellagio who made us laugh and the 80-year-old woman who walked the steep steps in the lakeside town every day, stopping to chat with us on her way to get groceries, I remember best. It’s the third-generation Zimbabwean who spent weeks away from his family at a time to take us on safari and share his love of the land with us. These people inspired me to do more while on vacation. Give back and kick back with these ideas.
Pack For a Purpose
The premise of this nonprofit is simple: use some of the extra room in your suitcase to pack and donate supplies needed to support worldwide initiatives, then use that same space to bring souvenirs home. Initiatives include education, health, child welfare, animal welfare and socioeconomic development. There are Pack for a Purpose partners all over the world—including a handful in the United States.
If there isn’t a lodging provider or tour operator participating where you are traveling, you can still make a difference using the same idea. Before heading to Puerta Vallarta, I did a little research and found the Manos de Amor Children’s Shelter near our resort and packed some items from its wish list. We also had the opportunity to play with some of the children while dropping off our donation. Their joy was overwhelming.
Use Charity Miles
Maybe you visited Haiti and saw the need for better prenatal care first hand or you melted at the sight of a child’s smile in Mozambique, despite her cleft lip. You can still help these people without any medical knowledge. Or help preserve our National Parks. Or donate clean drinking water to people in developing countries. Simply download the Charity Miles app, create an account, select the organization closest to your heart and use it every time you leave your hotel room. We tend to walk more while on vacation than we do in our regular lives and by using Charity Miles, you help earn money for the charity of your choice for every mile you walk, run or bike.
Support Small Businesses
I’m not going to lie: I love Starbucks. But when I saw the chain’s storefront in the middle of Downtown Durango, a nationally registered historic district, I was appalled. Instead of seeking out the familiar while on vacation, look for the little shops and support their livelihood. You’re probably going to enjoy that macchiato made by the owner of the local coffee shop better (and she’ll get your name right, too).
The same goes for restaurants—skip the chains and find a hole-in-the-wall place where you not only get a great meal but also learn more about the unique personality of the owner and the neighborhood. Food walking tours are a great way to step off the typical tourist path, support local businesses, learn about the history of the city and pleasure your palate. (Just remember to launch Charity Miles before you start the tour!) This was how I ended up in wine cellar 150 years older than the Colosseum typically off-limits to the public in Trastevere, Rome, eating a succulent lamb stew that I’m still salivating over.
Don’t Bargain Too Much
From beach vendors to artist villages, there are plenty of opportunities to bargain while traveling. In fact, it’s expected in many places. But before you bust out your killer negotiating techniques to get a rock-bottom price, consider the cost. Can you spare the extra dollar those 20 pesos equals? What could that money do for the person you’re bargaining with? I’m not suggesting you totally overpay for a souvenir, but rather supporting locals by paying a fair price.
Volunteer Your Time
Voluntourism has exploded in popularity over the past few years. Most people think of building homes or schools in third-world countries when they hear this term, but there are several other ways to donate your time while on vacation. Programs available throughout the United States run the gamut from from spending half a day sharing your skills at Give Kids the World in central Florida by teaching kids how to fish, assisting with photography, scooping ice cream or a host of other duties, to spending a week building and maintaining trails in picturesque places across the country with the American Hiking Society. Just be sure to do your research beforehand to make sure the voluntourism organization you choose is reputable. Give.org is a good place to start, offering standards for accountability and financial information.
Wherever you travel, there are ways to leave it better than you found it.