Beach Bum, Shopaholic, or Voluntourism; What Type of Travel Style is Yours?

Do you pick a place to visit on your vacation based on where you can hit a beach, where you can visit historical sites, or whether it has the best shopping hot spots or antiques? Or, do you volunteer and find ways to donate your time and money to help make the place you visit and the new friends you meet even better than before you arrived?

One man (and his family) changed everything for me.

In the past when I have visited a new place, I was excited to check out the great restaurants, the historical sites, and to explore the markets and souks to find cool treasures.

There’s nothing wrong with that; travel is exciting and adventurous and thrilling; especially when it’s a place you have dreamed about for many years.

But I never really thought about how a place is once I have left. Sure, I have fond memories of the countries I visited and the friends I made, but when I first began traveling I was in college, and my main focus was to find the best beach bars on spring break.

I certainly would not have gone to a place specifically to volunteer or to find ways to give back or to help the locals.

But then, I met Winston Wellington.

Meeting Mr. Wellington during my first trip to Jamaica had a profound effect on me, changing my travel style forever. Sure, I still love beautiful beaches and wandering through ancient markets and souks. But now, when I visit a new place, I think about ways I might be able to give more than I receive from my time there.

Whether I volunteer to help my friends in places like Bali during the volcano eruption, or help out teaching children abroad, by writing about people and organizations that are truly helping, or to give to charities I know are transforming lives, I try to be a more considerate traveler and not a tourist simply seeking a week of being pampered at a local spa.

Again, there is absolutely nothing wrong with spas; I’m crazy about Moroccan hammams! But I look for ways to give as well as to get wonderful experiences on my trips.

Mr. Wellington was a gentle guide and mentor to me, showing me there was much more to travel than dancing to live reggae at “The Jungle”.

Not only did I watch this man run a fabulous hotel on one of my favorite beaches in the world, (Traveller’s Beach Resort), he also started several projects to give back to the island of Jamaica under the organization NEET (Negril Education Environment Trust).

His kind spirit and generosity are legendary; not only in Jamaica, and in NYC, but around the world.

Mr. Wellington also raised 3 incredible sons who also have philanthropy in their blood and hearts, and have carried on with the projects their father created to help others.

One of his sons has a popular Youtube channel/ podcast about Jamaica called “Throp”, and in this interview with Lucinda Kay, Throp discusses some of the programs that are changing the lives of people on the island, including a unique “voluntourism” opportunity for the type of traveler who wants to give back.

Have you ever considered “voluntourism”? Or have you ever volunteered to help others while on vacation? Even if it’s not something you’re considering, there are ways you can donate in order to help others volunteer to make incredible changes in people’s lives. Please comment below and tell us about your voluntourism experience!

Be sure to check out this video and see why others have contributed their time and/ or money to give back, and perhaps you may be inspired to volunteer on your next vacation.