Make Travel Matter This Holiday
From Munich to French Polynesia, see the world with purpose
Proudly published in Lake Oswego Lifestyle Magazine as part of our ongoing community travel column.
With Pack for a Purpose, use a small amount of space in your luggage to pack supplies needed by community projects around the world.
For the past year, we’ve shared articles that explore positive impact and meaningful travel. From recovery efforts in Maui to the sustainability initiatives of our exploration cruise partners, these features have shared a common thread: intention. The initiatives and partners we have highlighted have opted to be proactive in making travel a force for good. Intention works at the traveler level, too. No matter where or how we choose to travel, we can seek experiences that make a difference. Whether it’s Packing for a Purpose, choosing tours that support local communities, or simply opting to work with a cruise line or tour operator that gives back in some way, there are so many different ways to make a positive impact through travel.
This holiday season, to round out the year, we thought we would highlight how easy it is to find meaningful experiences by sharing a couple of our festive favorites.
Travel with Trafalgar and enjoy Bavarian Munich’s Magical Christmas Markets. With this MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® experience, visitors explore the heart of Marienplatz, where festive traditions come alive against the backdrop of the iconic Glockenspiel and the city’s famous Christmas markets. Led by a Local Specialist, this tour weaves through Munich’s old town, revealing lost Advent traditions and offering tastes of local treats from small, independent businesses. This experience and others like it don’t just celebrate the season; they support sustainable cities and communities.
Engaging with a local dance troupe from the Marquesas Islands onboard Paul Gauguin in French Polynesia.
Are you dreaming of a holiday escape with sun and sand? Let us help you find an experience that brings you joy while spreading the spirit of goodwill to others. Paul Gauguin Cruises not only offers unforgettable festive cruises through French Polynesia, but they are also proactive in giving back behind the scenes. As fellow members of Tourism Cares, a nonprofit supporting meaningful initiatives in travel, PGC champions community engagement and positive impact tourism in the islands.
They make a difference closer to home, too. Each holiday season, their Seattle-based team holds food drives for Northwest Harvest, Washington’s hunger relief agency, and volunteers to sort and package donations. They also support the Children’s Home Society of Washington’s Holiday Helper program, donating toys and essentials to families in need.
Munich’s Christmas Markets, a dazzling display of twinkling lights, carols and festive locally owned markets.
As we look ahead to 2025 with an eye to continuing our drive for more meaningful travel beyond the holidays, I’m proud to share what we’ve achieved with our clients’ support this year. Travel & Cruise Desk donates 10% of our BEYOND Planning & Service fees toward transformative global initiatives with Travel Elevates.
Through this foundation, we have contributed to projects that provided sustainable agriculture for 2,000 residents in communities surrounding Kruger National Park, educational innovation in Mexico, and ecosystem protection in Zambia. Together, we also supported early learning in South Africa, expanded a school in Cambodia, empowered vulnerable families in Thailand, and promoted early childhood development in marginalized areas of Cape Town. Through these partnerships, each trip booked with us has a positive impact far beyond the destination that our travelers experience.
Learn more about these projects and the Pack for a Purpose program at www.travelcruisedesk.com/positiveimpact.
