An adventure travel website that is better than green: the quiet launch of muchbetteradventures.com
Release: 27/10/2009
When muchbetteradventures.com launched quietly last Friday the rules of adventure changed for the better. Alex and Ed, founders and long term adventure buddies, have set about building the widest, fairest collection of better adventure choices ever seen, and have taken a unique approach to do so. They are keeping their undeniable green cards close to their chest however; rather than bore you with how they are ‘saving the planet’, they prefer instead to talk about getting you out there and having a good time.
With over 50 sports specifically catered for, from skiing to hiking and surfing to climbing, on the face of it muchbetteradventures.com promises to be something of a one stop shop for active travellers and daydreamers. The site will put you in direct contact with independent providers of adventure sports holidays and accommodation, and gives you the resources to get there. They are also developing a handpicked clothing and equipment shop, as well as detailed sports guides written by experts from the muchbetter community.
What you don’t need to know (although there is plenty of info available if you want it) is that all the options you will find have been independently and carefully selected not just because they perform as you would expect, but because they really are better for the environment and local communities too. Amazingly, Alex and Ed, who are personally funding the venture, will put those holiday operators who meet their criteria on the site for free, and without commission. The reason is simple. They want a selection based on merits, not wallets. The aim is to level the playing field so that small operators can compete in a market dominated by bigger advertising budgets and too much green- wash.
As Ed comments, “People want a good time, not a lecture or a compromise. By giving them exactly what they want, we hope the site will prove once and for all that you don’t need to be an eco-warrior to take great holidays which benefit the planet.”
A long time in development, the site is now ready, but you will have to wait a bit longer for the full muchbetter experience. As the team start contacting their long list of suppliers and filling the site with choice, you can still visit the site to get inspiration from the stunning photography, or to easily book the muchbetter travel options - bus, train, or ferry. If you really can’t kick the flight habit just yet, muchbetteradventures.com has a better alternative for that too. Their better flight finder not only finds the cheapest price from dozens of leading travel agents, but it also lets you know which would be the least carbon intensive, based on the efficiency and routing of different airlines.
Whether you choose to engage with the green issues or not, the site is fast becoming the better place to plan your next adventure.
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