Family vacations have the power to shape a child’s worldview – but few travel experiences are more transformative than volunteer travel. When families choose to serve abroad together, children gain a deeper understanding of global cultures, compassion, and responsibility.

Globe Aware specializes in child-friendly volunteer travel programs designed to give families hands-on experiences that strengthen bonds and positively impact communities. These short-term, accessible trips create memories-and values-that stay with children for life.

When most people think of a vacation, they imagine beaches, sightseeing, food, and rest. But what if your next trip could do much more than recharge you? What if it could help others, deepen your cultural understanding, and create a lasting positive impact on a community? That’s the heart of a volunteer vacation — a unique travel experience championed by Globe Aware.

As the holiday season approaches, many travelers are searching for something different — a journey that’s festive, meaningful, and memorable. While destinations like the Philippines, with their world-famous Christmas celebrations, or Peru, with colorful Andean traditions, offer magical experiences, there’s another increasingly popular option: taking a volunteer vacation.

Winter travel in 2025 is increasingly shaped by financial pressure, with many travelers tightening their budgets and prioritizing value over extravagance. Amid these shifts, a Globe Aware volunteer vacation offers a meaningful alternative-combining purpose-driven impact with affordable travel.

By Rebecca Speier
Nov 25, 2025
TravelAge West

Whether clients are reuniting with loved ones, chasing warm weather or embracing the snowfall this winter, the holiday season is bustling.

To help advisors stay ahead of the curve during this busy time, we have compiled a roundup of observed trends from industry experts. Here’s what they say is driving travel during the holiday season.

Explore how ethical volunteering transforms both volunteers and communities—beyond voluntourism, for genuine cultural exchange, impact and growth.

Concerns over recent flight cancellations could mean some air travelers switch to road trips

By Aixa Diaz
AAA Newsroom
11/17/2025

AAA projects 81.8 million people will travel at least 50 miles from home over the Thanksgiving holiday period from Tuesday, November 25 to Monday, December 1. This year’s domestic travel forecast includes an additional 1.6 million travelers compared to last Thanksgiving, setting a new overall record. Thanksgiving is the single busiest holiday for travel compared to others like Memorial Day and July 4.

As Thanksgiving approaches, millions of Americans prepare for what is traditionally one of the busiest travel periods of the year. But a growing number of travelers are asking a strategic question:Is it actually better to travel on Thanksgiving Day itself? Factors such as cost, traffic volumes, and destination popularity suggest that the answer may increasingly beyes – especially for those seeking a more purposeful holiday experience, such as a volunteer vacation with Globe Aware.

Episode 7 of this season’s Edvolution Services Podcast is out! Melisa Pubil, Sandra Carden and I are joined by Kimberly Haley-Coleman, Founder and Executive Director of Globe Aware on the issue of ethics in international service-related travel.We talk about:

•  Why ethics must be the foundation of any global service experience
• The dangers of voluntourism and how to avoid the “white savior” trap
• What community-led really looks like when done well
• How schools can prepare students for deeper cultural learning
• Balancing global travel with local impacts and carbon footprint

The truth is that no matter how well-intentioned international service trips are, there is a need to delve into the ethics of the partnerships, community engagement, systems and structures that exist in the relationships that are necessary for success at all levels. That’s the essence of this chat.

In this episode of the Globe Aware Podcast, intern Santiago López sits down with volunteer Maggie. She shares captivating stories from her journeys, whether it’s helping communities, building homes in Kenya, or caring for wildlife in the Galápagos Islands, and offers heartfelt insights on what it truly means to give back.