Travel-booking Web sites are starting to offer information, assistance and even discounts and grants for volunteer vacations.
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The Web site is also awarding $5,000 grants for volunteer vacations through its "Travel for Good" program. Two awards will be offered every three months to customers, and one will be offered to a Travelocity employee. The next deadline for applications is June 30. Details at http://www.travelocity.com/travelforgood.
CheapTickets.com also has a volunteer vacations link at http://volunteer.cheaptickets.com in conjunction with the United Way of America. You can use the link to search and book volunteer vacations around the country. In addition, the Web site is offering group travel discounts for organizations such as churches, schools and other non-profits planning a trip to volunteer somewhere. To qualify, you must need hotel rooms and flights for 10 people or more to pursue a volunteer project, and your group must be a qualified nonprofit with 501c3 tax-exempt status. See the Web site for details.
Hostelworld.com is highlighting hostels around the world that connect guests to volunteering opportunities. Visitors at the Skyway Guesthouse in Siem Reap, Cambodia (lodging from $6 per night), can work with local orphans. The Hostel Hoff, in Moshi, Tanzania (from $13 a night), can arrange for visitors to help out in local schools. At the INOUT Hostel near Barcelona, Spain (from $22 a night), some of the staff are developmentally disabled, and guests can assist them in performing their daily tasks, including cleaning, gardening, maintenance and working in the hostel restaurant. At the Backpack and Africa Travel Centre, Cape Town, South Africa (from $12.50 a night), visitors can volunteer at children's soccer camps in local townships. Details at http://www.hostelworld.com.
First Published May 18, 2007 11:12 am
