Tips On Choosing the Right Volunteer Vacation For You

Edited by Jennifer L. Price

A new trend is making its way in the travel industry and it appears that it will stick around for awhile.  According to the Travel Industry Association*, one-quarter of travelers say they are currently interested in taking a volunteer or service-based vacation. But before jumping into a volunteer vacation, it is important that travelers know how to pick the right volunteer opportunity for them.

A meaningful travel provider that sends approximately 5,000 volunteers overseas each year, i-to-I, suggests asking these questions before committing to a volunteer vacation:

• How long has the volunteer organization been around?

• Is the staff knowledgeable and able to help you select a suitable trip?

• Do they provide pre-departure advice about visas, inoculations and insurance?

• Will you have an orientation once you land at your destination?

• Do they have support people in country for daily questions?

• What emergency measures are in place should anything unforeseen happen?

• Does the fee include food, accommodation and airport pickup?

• Can you speak to past volunteers?

• Can a friend or partner come with you? If so, are there discounts?

Given proper planning, volunteer travel can be an exciting and rewarding experience. Imagine the face of a lion cub looking up at you waiting to be fed at a reserve in South Africa, being at the heart of a small community in India making a difference in the lives of poor children, or preserving ecosystems in the Galapagos Islands that are as fragile as they are spectacular.

Alan Rousham helped children on four i-to-i volunteer trips in Santiniketan, India. "My volunteer experience put me back into the stream of life, and I thoroughly enjoyed contributing what little I could to the people of Santiniketan," said Rousham. "Volunteering overseas was brilliant and rewarding."

To learn more about volunteer vacations, visit www.meaningfultravel.com or call 800-985-5882.

 * The Voice of the Traveler survey by the Travel Industry Association and Synovate was conducted in May among a representative sample of 1,500 U.S. adults.