One of the most common questions we get is “why do people need a travel agent these days?” Surely, with the rise of the internet and big self-booking websites, travelers are more empowered than ever to research and organize travel than ever before. But as ever, Global Basecamps stands by its philosophy that booking through a knowledgeable, experienced travel expert with personal relationships to hotels and lodges is always preferable. At the end of the day, booking through a company like Global Basecamps benefits not just the traveler, but the destination!

This month, SFGate.com published an article that we believe outlines the benefits of booking your travel through an agent over a booking site. The article tells the story of the couple who own a hotel in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. After a series of miscommunications, the relationship between the 18-room hotel and the website collapsed. Through what the article calls a “descent into the surreal” the website used its considerable clout in the travel industry to hurt the hotel’s business instead of supplementing it.

Though travelers may find the occasional deal on a booking site, their biggest downside is actually the reason they are so successful. Big booking sites prioritize volume, and the bigger the hotel, the more rooms they can sell. Too often, the smallest hotels in the world don’t garner the attention they deserve from a booking site, and are relegated to a secondary status. Too often, those small hotels are often the world’s best!

The news broke a few weeks ago, but it will always be relevant. Lonesome George, the world’s last Pinto Island Tortoise and a recognized symbol of the Galapagos, died on June 24th, 2012. If you have ever been to the Galapagos Islands, there is a good chance you saw him. Discovered in 1971, he grew slower and more lackadaisical as the years came and went, but he was still a wonder. The last of his species, he was a living reminder of the dangers that accompany a human presence.

We’d like to take this week to acknowledge the species of the Galapagos that are still in critical danger of extinction. According to the Galapagos Conservancy, we know of thirteen vertebrate species that are now extinct, and of those, humans have witnessed seven of them cross the threshold into non-existence.

Below are four great trip planning tools that can help you budget, plan overland travel, search for the best events worldwide, and provide helpful packing tips.

Eardex -AirTreks recent blog post introduced us to this great travel budget tool. Eardex, or the Earth Index, provides information on the cost of living around the world. Eardex shows the cost of living in different towns, cities, regions, and countries by listing local prices of popular products and services, such as the price of hotels, eating out, and public transportation. Eardex users provide the data used to find these local prices and the service is free. Eardex is useful to all types of travelers, whether you’re a backpacker, expat, or luxury traveler the tool allows you to accurately budget your daily expenses.

This guest post is from Expatfinder.com.

When you hear the news that your partner has an opportunity to work overseas, you may experience a host of different emotions ranging from excitement to apprehension. When the dust settles you may be left wondering what will happen to your own career. Here are some tips if you want to keep your working life on track when you move overseas.

Work Permits

A major barrier for partners who wish to work overseas is often the local work regulations and permit requirements. Before you relocate, make sure you research what is required in order to work in your host country and start the application process as soon as possible.

You may require assistance from an employer in your home country to enable you to work overseas, and if your partner’s employer is unwilling to assist then you may need to take other steps. The more time you have to familiarise yourself with the local regulations, the more chance you have to meet the conditions set out in the host country law. It is possible that you will need to produce an array of documents that are best obtained in your home country prior to departure.

If you’re unsure of what to buy your loved ones this holiday season Global Basecamps has the perfect solution. Give the gift of travel and memories that will last a lifetime! Global Basecamps will match the amount of all gift certificates up to $250! The offer expires December 31, 2011.

Give your family a gift they will never forget by contributing to their travel fund. Whether they are hoping to spend a week on a Tanzania safari or are planning a Round-the-world (RTW) trip you can help them reach their travel dreams. When contemplating if you should buy your brother another video game for Christmas or your father another jacket, consider the environmental cost of everything produced. As the earth’s resources are being depleted, beautiful destinations around the world are being destroyed. Instead of buying things you don’t need this year, give the gift of travel.

All of Global Basecamps’ itineraries integrate environmental and socially responsible practices and our lodges share our commitment to preserving the environment and supporting the local communities we visit.