Feel good holidays

Whilst feeling blue about the recent ‘summer rain’, I decided to have a look at my options for a holiday in the sun this summer...I stumbled across this website, www.handsupholidays.com and I must say I am very tempted to book our holiday with them!

It seems like Hands Up Holidays offers the best of both worlds – a relaxing eco holiday with some volunteer work thrown in for good measure. The double feel good factor! As stated on their site Hands Up Holidays is all about giving you amazing holiday experiences that combine eco-sightseeing with a meaningful 'taste' of volunteering. These volunteer adventures are for you if:

- you are interested in having a break, want to explore a destination, and also give something back to the local community.
- you value meaningful interaction with other cultures - achieved through the medium of volunteering.
- you value low-impact, sustainable tourism practices that directly benefit local communities.
- you do not have specific skills, but have a lot of enthusiasm and a positive attitude (and if you do have specific skills, we will match these where possible)

Hands Up Holidays are a founding member of the Ethical Tour Operators Group, part of Tourism Concern that is committed to sustainable tourism that benefits local communities and the environment.

Although the airmiles used to reach some of the far flung destinations are worrying, hopefully the voluntary work will be of great benefit to the local communities and the eco-lodges will be a sustainable part of the environment. Now where is my passport..?!