Will the economy put a dent into your travel plans this year?
Despite continued economic instability, it is widely expected that travelers are planning trips — they are just looking and waiting for deals (see our recent post, 5 Big Value Destinations for 2010). Last year was awash with travel deals, but this year deals may be harder to come by. Many travel providers, such as airlines and resorts, have adjusted capacity or held off discounts, hoping the economy rebounds. This means travelers will have to be more creative to save …

Have you always dreamed of a volunteer trip to the Amazon for conservation work?
Fauna Forever is now offering a special, exclusive 10% discount off its conservation volunteer trips to readers of Travelanthropist.  The first five of our readers who book with them will get 10% off!
Imagine yourself waking up in the middle of a rain forest in south eastern Peru. You wake up, have a bite to eat, and first thing in the morning your off to study and collect data of some of the most unique and wondrous animals …

Are you looking for some terrific travel values?
You’re not alone. According to a recent survey conducted among 1,000 travelers in the U.S. and Canada by Internet travel publisher, Travelzoo, 74% will vacation this year only if they found a good travel deal and 65% hope to travel internationally this year.
Travelzoo predicts five destinations to have exceptional value in 2010 based on market intelligence compiled from over 140 global deal experts employed by the company as well as current and anticipated deals. “Travelzoo’s worldwide team of deal experts research and verify …

American Airlines is offering unbelievable rates, as low as $149 each way, to Belize for travel between January 1- March 31, 2010. In order to take advantage of the low fares, tickets must be purchased on AA.com by December 22, 2009.
For those of you who dream of voluntourism in this tropical paradise, this is a great opportunity!

Belize offers a land rich in natural beauty and steep in the history and culture of its Maya past. Renowned for having the second largest barrier reef in the world, Belize’s pristine waters, exotic …

This year all RockResorts in the U.S. and Caribbean along with the Breckenridge, Keystone, and Vail Resorts are offering you the opportunity to give back to the environment, and in return for your volunteer efforts, you will receive:
1) A reduced rate on a stay at a luxurious RockResort
2) Complimentary gifts like a reusable, durable hydration pack, soothing hand lotion and more!
The Give & Getaway package is centered around guests volunteering in the community they’re visiting. The resort will arrange an environmental conservation project for you such as recreational trail …

On the heels of the D.C. hotel promotion we mentioned a few weeks back, another hotel group is supporting volunteerism. Sage Hospitality, with a portfolio of 53 hotels including Marriott, Starwood and Hilton, is offering half-price rooms and even a complimentary night (limited availability).
With occupancy rates down dramatically at hotels, this promotion is an alternative to slashing room rates and one that builds goodwill in tough times.
At check-in, guests show a letter from a registered non-profit organization that proves they’ve done 8 hours of voluntary service. This …

Answering President Obama’s national call to community service, two leading hotels in Washington, D.C., are running a fabulous promotion that combines service with saving money.
Beginning July 1 and running through Sept. 7, The Savoy Suites Hotel and its sister property, The Carlyle Suites Hotel, are offering their “Serve America & Stay in D.C.” package, which gives you a 50% discount of your room bill per night (excluding taxes) for every 5 hours of community volunteer service completed with any legitimate community organization of your choosing OR the hotel can …