The Travel Advocates

In 2018, ‘single-use’ was named the word of the year by Collins Dictionary. ‘Plogging’ – jogging while picking up litter – also made it into the dictionary. (As did an updated description for ‘flossing’, but we’re studiously choosing to ignore that one!). This evolution in language is indicative of just how far the dialogue on plastics has come, pervading how we think and changing our purchasing habits. But what is more inspirational is how some governments have gone a step further, by passing laws to ban plastics altogether from their countries, oceans and eco-systems. This July, in honor of Plastic Free Month, we thought we’d celebrate the destinations that are making serious waves in the fight against plastic pollution. From Italy to Indonesia, we salute you! Capri, Italy Famous for its stunning blue grotto, high-end beach clubs and café-strewn piazzas, the Italian island of Capri is a mecca for beach and ocean lovers. In an effort to protect its precious flora and fauna, in May 2019, the island introduced a law forbidding the use of disposable plastics, including plates, cups, straws, bottles and food packaging. Businesses were given 90 days to use up their existing stock, and fines of up …

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Are you a scruncher, folder or a roller? Oi, mind out of the gutter! We’re talking about packing. More specifically, how you can be greener and more ethical with what goes into your backpack when you travel.  Buzzkill guys, but by 2050, there will be more plastic in the oceans than fish.  As travelers and all around decent human beings, we have a responsibility to protect the rivers, beaches, mountains and oceans that have given us so much unconditional and unqualified love over the years. Which means thinking about what you’re taking with you from your world, into theirs.  The good news is, both big brands and start-ups are responding to travelers’ desires for more eco-friendly and sustainable travel gear. Here are just some of our favorite green products that are currently out there.  STAnd up, Go Green, Do Good. Refillable toiletry bottles Those handy travel-sized toiletries that we love so much? Great for short trips and getting around the 3oz hand luggage rule, but a nightmare for the oceans and landfill sites where the miniature plastic bottles end up. Invest in refillable bottles instead. We love GoToob by Humangear. Fresh shades, BPA-free and a lifetime guarantee. Mineral suncream Some of …

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We’re going out. Outback. This week, we’re taking our lockdown daydreams all the way Down Under. Travel Australia with 360° virtual tours, an interactive scuba dive on the Great Barrier Reef with everyone’s favourite nonagenarian (David Attenborough), and – to keep your spirits up – a Whitsunday Island Iced Tea. No passport required, just passion. (And Wi-Fi). #PauseTheAdventure Dive with David There’s only one thing that could improve a virtual dive on the Great Barrier Reef, and that’s having Sir David as your dive buddy. Learn about life beneath the waves from the world’s greatest storyteller on this interactive journey. Plus, a cameo from Obama! Mind. Blown. Explore in 360 Try before you fly! Thanks to Tourism Australia (and some pretty epic drone footage) you can virtually explore some of Australia’s greatest wonders in 360. The series includes the Whitsundays, Great Ocean Road, Great Barrier Reef and Biddlecomb Cascade. Crush on these guys Find inspiration for your own Australia road trip by following our favourite Aussie adventurers @saltytravellers (Monique, Jasper and their dog Bowie). Advisory warning, will lead to a serious travel crush. Plus, you know, dogs who travel. Scroll while knocking back the below… Mix this Whitsunday Island Iced Tea The spirit is …

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Just because we’re inside, that doesn’t mean we can’t explore what’s outside. Quaranstream America from the comfort of your couch. Think live big rig road trips, to living room gigs and virtual hikes… we got it all. No passport required, just passion. (And Wi-Fi). #PauseTheAdventure Spot bears in Alaska The bear necessities of lockdown? Animal cams. Tune into watch Brown bears trying to catch leaping salmon in Katmai National Park in Alaska. Or our personal favorite, the underwater salmon cam. Get weird This 15-part video series by Atlas Obscura on GoUSA TV (Brand USA’s streaming platform) documents unique destinations across the United States, including Alaska’s surfing culture and O’ahu’s Koko Crater. Oh, and the world’s largest egg in Chicago. Go on a road trip “Reality trucking in realtime”, live stream life on the road with Big Rig Travels as these 18-wheelers traverse across the United States. It’s fair to say we’re more than a little bit obsessed with this. 10-4-rubber-duck. See a live gig Live stream living room gigs from the USA and around the world courtesy of the coolest hostel brand on the planet, Selina. SIMS Online connects local talent with their global community, meaning not only do you get to support independent artists and creatives, …

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As lockdown begins to ease for many of us and we start to think about getting back on the road in 2021, we’re taking you on an armchair adventure with virtual tour of Peru! Try before you buy with virtual trips to Machu Picchu, Lima street art tours, and 360° museum visits. Plus, because we like to stir things up a bit, a Pisco Sour cocktail making class. Climb Machu Picchu Fake it ‘til you make it. All the views without any of the thigh burn or four-day sock stench, explore the ancient city of Machu Picchu with this interactive tour. (We’re joking about the Inca Trail, it’s epic. Make sure you plan ahead and add the real thing to your 2021 escape plan). Go beyond the icons So, Machu Picchu may be the ‘Justin’ or ‘Beyoncé’ of Peru, but what about Nick? Or Kelly? Okay, enough of the Backstreet Boys and Destiny’s Child analogies. Just promise to check out these incredible places in Peru that AREN’T Machu Picchu. Like this oasis near Ica… Read or watch this No trip to Latin America (real or virtual) would be complete without reading or watching The Motorcycle Diaries. Documenting Che Guevara’s journey across the …

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Due to the impact of COVID-19, many Pride events have been cancelled or significantly altered for 2020. Naturally, we are devastated that our world is going to be a little less colorful this year and contain a little less Madonna. However, just because we can’t travel to Pride parades and celebrations, it doesn’t mean we can’t wave a flag for everything that Pride stands for – equality, diversity and acceptance. Pride means something different to everyone. It is a time when people, no matter where they fall on the gender and sexuality spectrum, come to celebrate our diversity and help to increase the visibility of individuals from all parts of the LGBTQIA+ community. It is also a time when we remember those that fought for, and continue to fight, for LGBTQIA+ rights, and push for social and political change. Each year, Pride has continued to grow across the world. This year, it will be a different kind of celebration. However, if the LGBTQIA+ community has proven anything over the years, it is strength and resilience. And that nothing will stand in the way of a good party! Live stream Global Pride 2020 Under a banner of ‘Exist Persist Resist’, Pride …

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We’ve all read those posts about how to stay healthy when traveling, or how best to avoid germs on planes. But in these confusing and uncertain times, we now need to know how best to stay healthy when not traveling for the foreseeable future. Excuse us while we cry into our travel books for a second… Apart from the obvious tips of washing your hands before and after you touch anything or eat, practicing social distancing, and not licking people, it’s equally as important to stay healthy mentally and emotionally as we power our way through self-isolation. So, here’s our top five tips on how to stay healthy, mentally, physically and emotionally during coronavirus. 1. Get outside and move your body “Roc ya body, mic check, 1, 2….” Listen to M.V.P., they know what they’re talking about. We’re travelers. And we’re humans (shock!). We’re made to move. While we can’t dance the night away at a tango club in Argentina or play volleyball with our new best mates on the beach in Thailand right now, it’s still key to move our bodies. Don’t worry, Instagram is heaving with home-based workouts from fit personal trainers who are there to help those …

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Fake it ‘til you make it there. Homeboys and girls, sawasdee! This week we’re cyber couch surfing all the way over to Southeast Asia and the heart-stopping smiles of Thailand. Explore with live beach streams, Pad Thai cook alongs and beachside cocktail making classes. (There’s a quarantini joke in there somewhere, but someone got stuck into the cocktail lessons a bit too early and literally… lockdown rules/airport rules, right?). No passport required, just passion. (And Wi-Fi). #PauseTheAdventure Hit the beach It’s said that if you clock watch, time goes slower. Hopefully us stalking this live Koh Samui beach stream won’t affect how quickly we can travel again. So peaceful you can hear a coconut drop, experience Lamai Beach at its most beautiful and uncrowded. Occasionally, with dog. Mix your drinks One in 11 jobs globally rely on tourism. TruTravels are helping to raise the bar and support their community with language lessons, yoga classes and cookery classes from their teams on the ground. Or our personal favorite, this ‘it’s 5pm somewhere’ beachside margarita class. Check out this hotel porn One of the world’s most unique places to stay, swap cabin fever for jungle fever with Contiki’s 360° video of this …

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There’s more to Thailand than buzzing cities, crazy-beautiful beaches and even crazier parties. Like sunrise Shavasanas with fellow yogis, broadening your mind whilst learning all about Buddhism, and finding your own slice of pristine sand with nobody else for miles. So if you’re wanting to emerge from the other side of your Thailand escape feeling healed, rather than hungover, here are six places offering unique experiences for those who want something more mindful, than mental… Railay The vibe: Railay is a jaw-dropping peninsula stretching out past the popular city of Krabi, but it feels more like a remote island due to the fact it’s cut off by huge limestone cliffs, and therefore only accessible via a 20-minute boat ride. It’s a tangle of four epic beaches: Railay East, Railay West, the competitor for Best Beach in the World, Pra Nang (studded with dramatic cliffs and beautiful caves), and the chilled out climbing mecca, Tonsai. They’re each split up by jungle trails, cute tropical pathways and karst formations. Allow more than a few days here; there’s so much to discover in a deceivingly small space. Our favourite? Hippy hangout, Tonsai. This is where bouldering buffs scale the cliffs and kick back …

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Fake it ‘til you make it there. The 2020 Olympics may have been postponed, but that doesn’t mean you can’t still run rings around Japan – virtually at least. Go full stream ahead with 360° tours, a live feed of Nagano’s famous snow monkeys, and your own Japanese ‘on-nomi’ drinking party. No passport required, just passion. (And Wi-Fi). #PauseTheAdventure Do a full 360 From the late-night dance floors of Tokyo to the early-morning Buddhist prayers of Kyoto, take a 360° virtual tour around Japan with this 3-minute VR movie. If you don’t have VR glasses, no worries, just swap for a wine glass. See snow monkeys Watch wild snow monkeys (that’s just their band name, they’re actually Japanese macaques) via an online cam as they soak in Nagano’s famous hot springs. It’s a live feed, so log on during the day. At night, they’re off doing monkey business. Visit Tokyo’s teamLab Museum Since opening to Insta meltdown hype (and presumably an eye-watering electricity bill), the world’s first digital art museum is now up there with Mt. Fuji as a Japan must-see. These videos give a taste of the full immersive and neon glory. Curl up and read The Only Gaijin …

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