Customer Reviews

Frommer's 500 Places Where You Can Make a Difference

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I am not a big fan of Frommer's but the topic of this book intrigued me so I decided to give it a shot. I was a bit skeptical at the start, as a few of the first suggested activities felt more like "eco-tourism" (with the emphasis on TOURISM) than grandiose ways to save the world. Not that there is anything wrong with eco-tourism, but at least as I think of it, I see it as more the avoidance of a negative (i.e. "leave no footprint behind!") rather than the creation of a positive as this book claimed in the introductory notes was its mission. However, as I continued to read, I became more and more interested and amazed by the suggested activities, and convinced that yes indeed, these are places and actions where one really CAN make a difference in the world.

I love travel, but had never thought of doing many of things suggested in this book, largely because I had thought of them requiring a larger time commitment than most of us would consider reasonable. That is, most people can't take a year or two off to save the whales or feed the starving in India without serious negative consequences for their own life or career. As idealistic as many of us are, pragmatic constraints often come to bear. But one of the things the reader will quickly note about this book is that many of the suggested activities have a duration of a week or two, which is often a much more manageable amount of time. Many of the activities cost a good deal of money to engage in ($100+/day), which on the one hand goes to a good cause, but on the other can quickly make a large dent in ones savings given that travel to many of these locales is not cheap in itself. But many are not so expensive, and others are "free" in return for a hard day's work, meaning that one could live for several weeks or several months in an exotic locale for nothing more than the price of a plane ticket.

This book is nicely organized as well: not by location, as one might expect from a travel guide, but by theme (animal welfare, teaching children, etc.) which is helpful. If you are like me, you will find yourself naturally gravitating toward certain types of activities more than others, which means that some chapters will be more engaging that others on a personal level. Of course, this book is only a starting point, but that is the point: to raise awareness and spark the imagination. After reading this book, if you are left thinking "wouldn't it be great to do (activity X) in (country Y)?" chances are you can find a way to do this, through a short look around the internet or at the web sites of the specific organizations mentioned here even if it's not specifically mentioned in the book.

"Making a difference" is a noble cause, but it can sometimes sound too overwhelming to be attainable by the common man or woman without oodles of disposable time or money. Yet, this book provides a large number of specific ways in which making a difference really is possible. And of course, although this book focuses mostly on exotic locales, many ways of making a difference can be done right in one's own community. I went into this book slightly skeptical, but emerged thinking of ways I too could make a difference either through one of the programs mentioned in this book or through other means. Much of travel is done to benefit one's own wants and needs. This book does not criticize that perspective, but points out a way in which travel can help others as well.

The recent rise in interest of holidays that involve charity work makes this book (or one like it) something of an obvious choice for a travel-related publisher. Frommer's 500 Places Where You Can Make A Difference has some utility of a sort in providing a starting point for people interested in using their spare time to humanitarian ends. But it's a very weak start.

This book has some serious flaws. Among these are a rather meagre look at the actual benefit of spending one's time performing good deeds, both for the traveller and for the presumed recipient. Many of these programs are expensive, and it's rarely (if ever) made clear how much of the money actually goes to the "right" place. I've done a lot of traveling in odd places, and I know for sure that spending $3000 for a week or two to teach English in a very inexpensive place isn't doing anyone much good, unless the great bulk (like 80% of more) is actually going to the supposed beneficiaries, and in a beneficial way. Is it? Can't tell from this book.

The book also tends to romanticize these projects and their likely results. Many of the countries listed would take a few weeks of visiting before you'd even have a sense of bearings; it's not likely you'd accomplish much of anything in a week or two. The contexts are misleading - no, you won't really be "Hunting Vlad the Impaler" in Romania. I've spent a lot of time in Eastern Europe (for example), and I've spent as little as an hour or two in a village before being asked to consider teaching English there, with food and board paid (plus a little for extras) . . . so it seems crazy for me to think one should pay $2500 for the privilege of doing the same for a period as short as two weeks.

There is little real information on each program (less than two-thirds of a page, on average) and the listings are geared more to programs that sound good, rather than being the most needed. If you're the sort of person who wants to make a difference, can afford thousands of dollars, and only has a week or two . . . then go somewhere for a cheapish vacation and donate the money you save to a credible program. Or structure things so that you can take a half-year and go somewhere where you really can have an effect, because you will have put the time in. A visit to the relative "region" section of Lonely Planet's "Thorn Tree Forum" and a simple query is a much better means of finding programs where you can help. Then you can donate the $20 this book cost somewhere better, too.

Some people would call me well travelled. I have not travelled as much as many people, but I have been to 20 countries and most of the states. Most of these countries I was in for work and saw things from a perspective that many "tourists" never do. I was often paired with locals who showed me how locals live and showed me places that were frequented by the locals. Part of my job was to build communications systems and the most satisfying part of my job was knowing that I helped local people. I helped them by doing my part in establishing a reliable communications system. It may sound small to many people, but it meant a lot to me to provide something that we in the US take for granted. I have always been thankful for being able to see places and things that most tourists never see.

Like most people, I derive great satisfaction helping my fellow man. What I love about this book is that it marries the concept of volunteering and vacationing. This is something I would have loved to have done. Personally, I am an outdoors person. How awesome would it have been to study dolphins and whales in Italy, hang with the Great White sharks in South Africa, or clean up a beach on the Galapagos Islands?

This book has something for all interests. There are projects working and studying animals, working with orphaned and sick children, teaching English in foreign countries, teaching music, working with and teaching about art, helping make community improvements, and helping seniors. The locations of the experiences are all over the world. If you are interested in a region, chances are there are multiple volunteer experiences to be had.

In each of the 500 entries, the book outlines the basic details of the project, the location, the basics of the location, costs, what is included, travel tips, who to contact, and any required skills or knowledge needed for the project.

One of the things that caught my eye in the book was one of the "Don't Miss" suggestions. I am very familiar with Alaska. Once of the projects was based out of Juneau and the associated "Don't Miss" site was the Bering Land Bridge National Park. The distance between the two is about 1100 miles with no roads between the two. This is like saying that if you are in Chicago, you should visit Denver, except there are no roads or major airports (at least airports the size of O'Hare and Denver) between the two. This really made me wonder about the sight seeing tips in the places that I know nothing about.

Some of the contents of the book are what I would consider perishable. Given the nature of some of the projects, they will eventually end and the information will be out of date. However, the book does list the associated website of the organization that created the experience. Using the book as a guide, it should be very easy to get updated information and project availability.

Many of the vacation experiences are a bit expensive if you are looking for a family vacation. The price of the experiences range from free to over $5000. Most of the experiences seem to be in the $1000 to $3000 range. Many of the experiences I am interested in would have been excellent vacation ideas before I had children. However, I personally do not have $10000 to spend on a family vacation, so my choices would be limited if I were to involve the entire family.

Obviously the market for this book is for people who are looking for a unique vacation experience. It is geared toward those who want to give their time and abilities to make a difference in the life of someone and/or something. Given the prices of most experiences, I think single people or couples traveling without children would benefit most from the choices. If you have a high school student who could use some volunteer work for a college application or to get into an organization, I think this would be a splendid resource to find a project that would really stand out on an application.

I would have loved to have this book when I was a bit younger and had more disposable income. It would have changed the way I vacationed.

A review of 500 places where you can vacation to make a difference. The truth in reviewing would be found only after arranging vacations with the guide, and I cannot do that. Chances are the information will age rapidly. However this is a great first step for those of us who would like to do good during our times off, but who have no idea where to start.

The listings range broadly, from digging up dinosaur fossils in the National Parks to rebuilding homes of the elderly in Cambodia. You can help in HIV programs in Cameroon or guide tours in English at X'ian. Renovate homes in West Virginia or clean up beaches in Galapagos. Establish libraries in Nepal or schools in Jamaica.

The book's organization is by type of opportunity rather than geographically, which may be more useful for dreaming than actually planning a trip. Topics include Animal Welfare, Working with Children, Teaching, Scientific Research, Healing the Environment, Building Community, Health, Teaching through Sports, Bridging Cultures, Crossing Generations, Special Events, Getting Political, Spiritual Service and opportunities for people with special skills like medical professionals.

The most difficult thing about the book is the lack of contrast between the awful red ink that summarizes each opportunity and the cheap paper which makes the summaries unreadable. Now I have no problem with using cheap paper on a guide which has a limited time span, but this is difficult physically to read. One hopes that in future editions they go to brown or blue instead of red ink.

I love that there are books like this promoting worldly well being. Regardless of your skill set, you're bound to find SOMETHING among this list of 500 opportunities. This book is organized into interests (working with children, animals, etc) so it's easy to hone in on what you're looking for. The summaries are brief yet thorough complete with contact info.

Unfortunately, this is not a book that would have a long shelf-life. It seems there is potential for the information to be outdated. Something I would highly encourage you to check out would be Volunteers for Peace (google it). They publish a volunteer directory annually on their website, and it's free to browse! There is a registration fee though if you want to pursue a VFP project.

Now this is a Frommer's 500 I can get into! There are many ideas for overseas travel, but also a good number of options for those traveling domestically. This book would make a great gift for college students, recent grads, newly weds, or anyone who walks beyond the threshold of their home...in short, everyone could benefit! And even if you don't find an activity close to where you live, this book will get you thinking about possible local options where your spare moments and unique talents could be put to good use in your community.

This is an interesting book, and a great resource to big-hearted people who would spend their time and money to go and help others. It is what it says, in many different countries: ways to help in many ways, and make a difference.

It is hard to find fault with it, other than noting that some of the information is bound to be out of date by the time the book was published. Still, as an idea book and as a starting point, it's a good resource.

One other small fault: there is no mention of the Peace Corps (peacecorps.gov). A cousin and a nephew each gave a couple years of their lives in Moldova and Malawi. This organization helps make it happen, setting up the necessary support structure including training, language instruction, and other things needed to ensure responsible help.

This is a fantastic book and a must-have for all who are interested in volunteer vacations. I'm going to Fiji in a few months to volunteer as an underwater photographer for a group of marine conservation scientists. I wouldn't have known about this project if it wasn't for this great book. It has a volunteer vacation for every type of person and almost every place in this world.

This is a unique and fabulous travel guide. Inside, you will find places you can go to all over the world where you can volunteer your time, and make a wonderful difference to people, animals, and the environment. And some are just plain fun to live out a fantasy you might have always had.

You can be a cowboy in Wyoming, cleanup the beaches in the Galapagos, work with archeologist at the cliff dwellings of New Mexico, or work to support an AIDS village clinic in Kenya. The amount of diversity that you can find in this book is truly incredible. And instead of just getting a glimpse of a place and spending your time shopping, you can really get to know the people who live where you are going by working with them. This is the most worthwhile and unique travel book I have ever read, and I can't wait to go to some of these places and make a positive difference in the world!

Pros:
1. Organizes available places by interest
2. Includes some photos and a "next steps" section at the end of each opportunity
3. Does offer 500 different types of opportunities all over the globe and for various lengths of time
4. Websites and cost projections are included with each opportunity

Cons:
1. If your interests and time allowed are specific this book would probably not be the best source.