We recently returned from our first holiday as a family abroad. We went to Menorca, to a resort called Calla Galdana, and had a fantastic, lazy time. Everything there is so easy: swings and play equipment outside restaurants, entertainment provided in the evenings, friendly locals. G- and I both had the bizarre notion that it was almost as though a whole island was on standby waiting to look after the kids!
A few years ago, when we were slightly younger and definitely more energetic, we’d have found Menorca a bit tame. I’m not saying we’d rather have spent our time queuing for nightclubs in Ibiza, but we’d have had a few later, some [moderately] wilder nights – and probably would have tried to take in a bit of culture, too.
We made a point of offsetting our flights to Menorca. Yes, I know all the arguments against it: the ducking of responsibility, the fact that it’s a scam, and so on. And I know that a few years ago I would have been on your case had you talked to me about offsetting.
But a life of grand gestures can be a pretty empty one. While we are doing our best to reduce our carbon emissions to the 3 tonnes per person that will save the world, there are times where we need some fun.
We bought our credits from eforests. I like this site because it seems low on the bullshit factor. You can see exactly what your credits are going to get you, and it seems to provide local benefits.
It has other advantages. I gifted my Mum and Dad 5 wild pear trees, which have now been planted near to Dad’s birthplace in Devon – and my parents were chuffed to bits. There’s also a carbon calculator that’s pretty simple to use and doesn’t seem to take ages to chew it’s way through the figures.
But even here, even with the best will in the world, it’s not entirely clear that this is the right thing to do. Is the calculation eforests came up with [£15, or 3 trees] the best, most accurate one, or will using another [eg those provided by the airline companies themselves] provide more bang for your buck.
You just have to take it on trust, I guess. And that can seem difficult when you read stories such as the headline article in The Guardian today.
May 27, 2008 at 8:06 am
sounds like a lovely holiday. I always think that I see things very differently when I go away with my children – they notice so much that I never do. The tiny differences in culture and environment. And it is so much more relaxing being out with children in a culture which actually enjoys the company of children and doesn’t treat them like a breed apart.
As for flying – I always say I won’t but I always end up doing so because it is just so cheap. I have never done carbon offsetting although I do try to on an individual level in my own life. I actually think a little guilt goes a long way and if I make myself feel better about it I am more likely to continue doing it!!! It is outrageous that there is no tax on airline fuel. I did use Eurostar to go skiing at Easter when usually I have flown. But we will be flying in the summer to go to Greece.
Ah -see you can see that I have missed your posts, as I am writing a post of my own in your comment box. I’ll stop droning now and go. Glad you are back and glad you had a good time.
May 27, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Thanks RB. I suppose that’s the problem, isn’t it: like you say, it’s so cheap to fly. What was the ski trip on the Eurostar like? I’ve heard mixed reports.
May 31, 2008 at 2:57 pm
Oh Eurostar was fantastic. Can’t praise it enough – check-in is quick and easy and you don’t have to turn up hours in advance. You can keep your luggage with you and you don’t pay extra to carry skis. On non-busy days you can upgrade to First Class for a tiny amount and then you get free food. The boys loved it and I found it really relaxing – they could roam up and down the train and find their mates. Far more space than on a plane and it was quick obviously. You have to book early though for the Ski Train as it fills several months in advance. Otherwise you have to change at Paris onto the TGV but I’ve heard that works OK too and is cheaper.
The only bad bit of the journey was when we got back to the UK – we arrived back on a Sunday and needless to say there were engineering works so it was more like “On the Buses”. Not a lot of fun with three children and stacks of luggage.