This is a guest post by Nico Crisafulli. Nico authors the AirTreks Travel Blog and mans the social stream for AirTreks.com. He’s a consummate travel lover and a 10-year veteran of the industry. He lives in San Francisco with his wife and forthcoming child.

The fabled round-the-world trip (RTW) is no secret. There’s been a growing interest in this particular style of travel over the last decade with more and more people thinking beyond the simple there-and-back- again style vacation. AirTreks is in the business of helping people make that leap in consciousness. And the first step is to know how to do it best.

I’ve put together 4 ways to help you get more from your long-term round-the-world trip, both before and after you leave.

Plan smarter

Once people have decided to travel, put their money down and spent time figuring out what they want to do, most already want to cram their laptop into the nearest meat grinder. Even thinking about more hours hammering away at the Internet is enough to send them over the edge. The trick is not to plan more, but to plan smarter, to make the most of the time you spend researching online.

Egypt tourism has experienced a major lull in the recent months following the country’s turmoil. However, as we recently wrote about on our blog, Egypt is Back and Even Better. Now is a great time to visit the unique country. As mentioned in our previous Know Before You Go blogs, researching cultural norms and practices of your host country is an essential part of trip planning. Whether you are already planning Egypt tours or just hoping to someday visit the Pyramids of Giza here are a few tips for being culturally responsible in Egypt.

Whether you are traveling this Fourth of July or spending time with friends in your home town here a few tips to make your holiday celebration more eco-friendly!

1. Enjoy the Outdoors

Hopefully you will be enjoying this holiday celebration outside. By taking the party outdoors you can reduce the amount of energy used and cut the energy costs of utilizing indoor facilities.

2. Eat Local

Consider hitting the farmer’s market this weekend and purchasing locally grown organic food to cook on the Fourth. Locally grown and organic foods are not only good for you but the environment too, as they help reduce chemicals used in processed foods and pollution caused by transportation that is necessary to ship non-local food products.

3. Avoid Using at Home Fireworks

Fireworks are definitely not environmentally friendly. They contain hazardous chemicals that pollute the atmosphere. Avoid doing fireworks at home this Fourth of July and head to your local beach or park to enjoy a nearby fireworks show. You may want to consider talking to your local officials about more eco-friendly fireworks, or fireworks alternatives.

Vietnam appeals to a wide range of travelers with seemingly limitless options including cruises along Halong Bay, bustling cities like Ho Chi Minh, beautiful beaches, and hill villages. Soak up the culture of Vietnam by exploring some of the off the beaten path locations. Our partner in Vietnam is locally owned and operated, with a focus on sustainable travel and creating a more authentic experience for travelers. The focus on cultural immersion includes treks and excursions to remote areas involving local communities, supporting local economies and observing local customs.

Keith Jenkins is the blogger behind Velvet Escape. He left his corporate career to follow his passion for travel and writing, and in 2008 launched the Velvet Escape Blog. He conveys his incredible travel experiences through writing and photography, offering helpful tips and inspiring readers to discover all that the world has to offer. Keith currently resides in Amsterdam and has traveled to over 60 countries and across 6 continents. Despite his busy travel schedule, Keith was kind enough to take the time to answer some questions for us. Thanks Keith!

Global Basecamps: Where are you from?

Velvet Escape: That’s an easy question to start with! I’m from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Global Basecamps: When and how did you get hooked on travel?

Velvet Escape: My parents instilled in me a great desire to see and experience the world by giving me a geographic encyclopedia when I was eight. I memorized every bit of information in the encyclopedia and stared at all the photos endlessly. My first trip outside Malaysia/Singapore was with my family, when I was nine, to Hong Kong. I knew all the places and dragged them around the sights! I went on my first solo trip when I was 14. I was in Australia and backpacked from Sydney via Canberra to Melbourne and back. By that time, I knew I was hooked on travel!