Frommer's 500 Places Where You Can Make a Difference

Inspired by the eye-opening events of 9/11, the Asian tsunami and Hurricane Katrina, more and more people are waking up to the value of service - and realizing that their vacation may be the best place to incorporate it into their hectic lives. Even more profoundly, many travelers are deciding that the best way to recharge may not be lying on a beach, but stepping outside of their normal routine to make a difference in the lives of others. The result is an experience that allows travelers to explore a culture in great depth, make new friends, and come home feeling that they have learned and benefited even more than those they have helped. The book will provide a diverse range of volunteer vacations, with most trips easily accomplished within a one or two-week vacation. Following the highly successful format of Frommer's 500 Places To Take Your Kids Before They Grow Up, chapters will be organized by subject, providing dozens of unique vacation ideas for any How you know if a volunteer vacation is right for you, and what to ask Sharing your teaching vacations Animal surveying wildlife, animal rescue Working with orphanages, at-risk youth, street kids Scientific archaeology, marine life Healing the conservation work, trail building, tree planting Building better construction projects and manual labor Share the AIDS education, working with the disabled, feeding the hungry Teaching through coaching and training Bridging working with indigenous peoples, historical preservation, music Special becoming a festival volunteer Crossing helping seniors Getting elections, human rights, refugee relief, community organizing conflict resolution and security Religious retreats and faith-based assistance Bringing opportunities for those with specialized skills Serving your children-friendly trips that will open their eyes to the world

Make a Profound Difference in How You Travel

This guidebook leads you to places around the globe where you can serve communities while exploring them in a unique, connected way. From caring for orphans in Delhi, India, to teaching English on the beaches of Salvador, Brazil, to tracking dolphins in Oahu, Hawaii, or building a school in Madagascar, you'll find an adventure that matches your interests and lets you see your destination with new eyes.

The book will inspire you with both short- and long-term travel choices, while giving you accurate pricing, trip provider contact information, suggestions on nearby sites to visit, and advice on how to pick the right trip for you.

See the World in Extraordinary Ways

• Care for baby elephants in Sri Lanka

• Restore a medieval village in Tuscany, Italy

• Work with scientists inside the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

• Live with the Maasai people in Kenya

• Teach swimming to children in Fiji

• Study mammoth bones in South Dakota