by Katherine Alex Beaven / © 2016, Oyster.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Chances are, if you are reading this, you love to travel. So do we! And when we travel, we like [to] make sure we leave a positive impact with every stamp on our passport. We talked to a few hotel workers, fellow travelers and guesthouse owners about the easiest and most effective ways that you can make a positive impact on the people and communities you visit.
While some of them can totally change the way you travel, they don’t have to—some are as easy as saying thanks to those who deserve it. If you want to get your hands a little dirtier in this game of positivity, though, read on for some stellar tips.
These resorts [are] notorious for paying the lowest wages in the industry, [and] they usually ensure that practically zilch of your money is reaching the local community. This means your beloved destination is in no way benefiting from your hard-earned cash. Instead, choose to stay at a locally-owned hotel or guesthouse.
We think more than half the fun of traveling is stuffing our faces with local cuisine! So ditch the familiar, globalized restaurants and tuck into some street food or a local specialty from a popping spot in town.
Tip: If you want to go really local, shop like one. Grab some food at the local market or a fresh-caught fish and have your guesthouse cook it up for you; many are more than happy to do so.
Unfortunately, tipping is a no-brainer that often gets overlooked. Even if your bill already includes a service charge, you should know that not all of that is heading for the staff.
Sometimes up to 40 percent can be taken by the hotel, particularly in these larger resorts. If you can, try to leave it in the local currency so the staff isn’t left with exchange fees.
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