Introduction
Becoming a green traveller can have a profound effect on your perspective and experiences while exploring the world. Minimizing your impact on the places we visit can be accomplished through even the most subtle of changes.
What is Eco-friendly travel?
Green tourism encompasses a wide range of activities, and it’s various definitions include eco-tourism, responsible tourism, and sustainable tourism. No matter what you call it, it entails planning a trip that minimises negative effects on locals, the economy, and the environment. It’s also the skill of making your trips as environmentally friendly as possible.
Tip: As easy as it may sound, the motto “reduce, reuse, and recycle” can serve as a helpful reminder for eco-conscious vacationers.
50 Green Travel Tips
Get Packing:
Use Soap Instead of Shower Gels
Soap bars, though they may seem antiquated, have several advantages over bottles of shower gel, including being less bulky to transport, being unwrapped in plastic, and having a longer useful life.
Use a Shampoo Bar
And yet again, the fact that shampoo bars don’t require you to squeeze the product out of a plastic bottle makes them an instant upgrade. In addition, they are typically produced from all-natural components and take up hardly any room in your travel toiletries.
Go for Bamboo Dental Products
Anything made of plastic, including toothbrushes, picks, and sticks, is strictly forbidden. Try swapping out your plastic toothbrush and plastic toothpicks for 100% compostable bamboo alternatives.
Buy Organic Towels
Towels made of bamboo or organic cotton are a necessity for each traveller. These eco-friendly options are multifunctional: they may be used as a blanket, are quick to dry, and don’t weigh you down.
Take a Marine-Safe Sunscreen
When shopping for sunscreen, it’s best to avoid products containing the chemicals oxybenzone and octinoxate, which are harmful to coral reefs and other marine life.
Pack a Cloth Bag
Remember to always bring one with you. Useful for the beach, the grocery store, or even a picnic, these reusable totes can be folded up and stowed away in a moment. If you must buy 1, make it one made from eco-friendly materials like organic cotton or hemp.
Take Reusable Straws
Straws should not be made of plastic if they must be used. You can get paper straws or buy some stainless steel ones to have on hand.
Plan a Waste-Free Picnic and Bring your own Equipment
Take a reusable lunch bag and bamboo utensils if you know you’ll be eating on the go frequently. With this, you may avoid using disposable plastics.
Put water in a reusable bottle
In any case, you should always bring along your own refillable, BPA-free water bottle.
Keep water usage low while you’re there.
Always take a shower instead of a bath to conserve water, as the former consumes far less water than the latter. Don’t linger around there for too long, either.
Whenever you’re not using a sink, toilet, turn off the water.
Turn off the water when you lather up in the shower, shave, or shampoo your hair, and always turn off the water while you’re brushing your teeth.
Do Your Own Laundry.
You can do laundry in your hotel room and dry your items there if you need to. Bars of laundry soap are portable and may be used to ensure a thorough cleaning anywhere.
Towels, please hang
The housekeeper will take any damp towels from the floor and wash them regardless of whether or not they are soiled. Save water and electricity by hanging them up and using them again after a few days.
Try a Menstrual Cup
Eco-friendly sanitary products have never been easier to come by than with these groundbreaking cups. You’ll want to take this home with you because it’s so convenient and ingenious.
Swim in the Pool
When you feel the need to cool off, rather than constantly showering, go for a swim. You can always rinse it off in the shower when it’s done cooling you down.
Report any leaks
You should notify hotel staff if the shower is leaking if the taps won’t stop running. Unknowingly, they may be wasting water.
Flying:
Spend less time in the air
Taking the train instead of flying is one of the simplest ways to reduce your carbon footprint. However, this could be a viable alternative for local travel but would likely not be practical for international excursions.
Use Eco-Friendly Airports
If you must take a flight, choose your departure and arrival airports with care. It would be preferable if you could stop at airports that were less harmful to the environment. In the United States, two of the most eco-friendly airports are located in Denver and Boston.
Taking a Car to the Airport?
If taking public transportation to and from the airport is an option, you should always do so. Try taking the bus, metro, subway, or car-sharing service if you can. They are more eco-friendly, simpler to use, and less expensive.
Pick an airline that is easy on the environment.
Airline fuel efficiency varies widely. The three most fuel-efficient U.S. airlines are Frontier, Spirit, and Southwest, while American Airlines, Hawaiian Airlines, and JetBlue are among the worst. In terms of transatlantic travel, Norwegian is the best option and British Airways is the worst.
Pick an Aircraft with Low Fuel Consumption
If you can, try to book a flight on either an Airbus A350-900 or a Boeing 787-9, two of the most fuel-efficient commercial aircraft currently in service.
Fly Direct
If takeoff and landing account for 25% of a flight’s total emissions, then minimising the number of times you do each is preferable. In addition to saving money, direct flights save time.
Fly economy
There are a variety of ways in which flying in economy class is more eco-friendly than first or business. First-class passengers require more staff, take up more storage space, and add more weight than economy-class passengers.
Minimize Your Baggage
The greater the total mass of an aircraft, the more fuel must be used to propel it. Reduce your environmental impact by packing like an expert by using less material.
Have Your Carbon Footprint Reduced
Donating to carbon offsetting programmes helps finance environmental initiatives that aim to remove carbon from the atmosphere through means such as tree planting. You can choose from the airlines’ pre-approved charity initiatives or create your own. Some choices are:
When You Get To Your Destination:
Movement on the Ground
If you are staying in a central location, you can save money by taking public transportation or car sharing once you arrive, and you can get some exercise by walking or riding a bike around.
Hop on the Train
You can count on first-rate rail service on any major continent, including Europe, the Americas, Australia, India, China, Southeast Asia, and most other large landmasses. Train travel is a terrific opportunity to experience the “slow travel” trend without adding to pollution levels, at minimal cost, and with a great way to view the nation.
Book an Eco-Tour
An eco-tour is a terrific alternative to commercial mass tourism and provides considerably more socially responsible travel options, especially if you wish to visit some of the world’s most remote and protected areas.
Drive an energy-efficient vehicle.
When you arrive there, if you still need a rental car, try to find something more fuel efficient than an SUV or RV. When trying to lessen your impact on the environment, renting a car that is too large may not be the best option.
Staying there:
Stay at a Hotel That Has No Carbon Footprint
Look for a hotel that has implemented emission-reducing measures like low-energy light bulbs and linen reuse programmes in accordance with LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) standards when making your reservation.
Check for International Accreditation as Well
EarthCheck (Australia), Green Globe, Rainforest Alliance (Latin America, Caribbean), and the Green Tourism Business Scheme are just a few examples of international eco-friendly projects worth looking into if you’re planning a trip outside the United States (U.K.).
Inquire Into Recyclability
Your hotel should gladly fill you in on the recycling initiatives they’ve implemented, if any. Use the guestbook or suggestion box to point up any shortcomings you may have seen.
Drop the Car
The need for you to bring your own automobile can be reduced by using the free bicycles, car sharing, or shuttle services offered by many eco-friendly hotels.
Browse the Food Selection
Not only is eating organic, locally sourced food better for the environment, but it also tastes better. It’s a win-win situation.
Find an Exciting Trip Planner
If you’re looking for an extreme adventure, do it safely by hiring a guide who can show you how to get back in touch with nature in a mindful way.
Participate in Local Initiatives
Although you might not feel like getting your hands dirty while on vacation, it’s important to make sure the accommodations and services you utilise do. Hotels that make use of local amenities and services are more likely to put money back into the community. Think about the possibility of doing some voluntary work in a foreign country.
Save Energy While You Are There:
Disconnect Before Leaving
Always remember to turn off the lights, the TV, and the climate control before leaving your room.
Roll Up the Blinds
In the winter, closing the blinds or drawing the curtains can help keep the space warm by blocking the sun’s rays.
Leave the “Do Not Disturb” Sign on the door
If you leave the sign up, housekeeping won’t bother cleaning your room unless you request it. As a result, we can save on both cleaning chemicals and wasted electricity.
How To Explore:
Stick to designated Trails
Don’t trample native plants and animals or scare away wildlife you don’t know if you’re exploring off the beaten path.
The Importance of Staying Out of Wildlife’s Way
Your unwitting participation in the exploitation of animals at venues offering elephant rides, tiger encounters, and other such activities is generally uncontrolled. Always choose tours that are responsible and help preserve wildlife.
Wild Animals Deserve Your Respect
Be cautious around wild animals, as they may become defensive if you go too close. The terror they feel could lead to an attack, which would be bad for both of you.
Do Not Step on Coral
Coral is extremely fragile, and even the weight of one’s body might inflict permanent damage if you accidentally step on it. Leave feedback online if you go on a diving or snorkelling trip and find out afterwards that the tour leaders were harming the coral.
Explore Your Options
Plan ahead, check the forecast, and take a close look at your route. Your foolishness in wandering off the trail or putting yourself in harm’s way increases the likelihood that a rescue operation will be necessary, which in turn uses up valuable park resources.
Back at Home:
Turn off Electronics at Home
All appliances, regardless of type, use energy even when turned off or placed in standby mode. Before leaving, make sure you turn off the lights and any other electronics that could potentially drain the power supply.
Reduce the Temperature of Your Water Heater
For maximum energy savings while you’re gone, set your water heater to its lowest setting, sometimes called the “vacation” setting. There are often eco-modes on newer models of refrigerators and freezers.
Set a Timer
Lights on a timer may make a property look lived in while also preventing unnecessary energy consumption. In the absence of other smart home devices, a simple mechanical plug timer would suffice.
Top 5 Eco-Friendly Tour Operators:
There are numerous specialised companies available to assist you if you would like to have a professional tour operator organise your ideal trip or if you like to become more involved with local communities throughout your travels.
Traveling with an eco-friendly tour company will allow you to see more of the world while leaving less of an environmental impact.
G Adventures
Established in 1990, G Adventures’ mission from the start has been to provide clients with unique, once-in-a-lifetime travel opportunities without compromising on sustainability. G Adventures helps tourists find unique and genuine once-in-a-lifetime experiences that are a great fit for them, providing an innovative alternative to cruises and resort hotels.
Intrepid Travel is a tour company that specialises on adventurous travel.
Intrepid Travel has been one of the leading providers of small group adventures worldwide since 1988. In addition to seeing the world and making new friends, travellers who are dedicated to making a difference by investing in local communities, wildlife protection, and the environment can do so.
Blue Ventures is an incubator for the development of blue businesses.
Blue Ventures has been in operation for over a decade, and it is a science-led social company that assists in the development and maintenance of marine conservation initiatives led by local communities. Volunteers can join Blue Ventures’ ethical programmes throughout the world to help rebuild fishing communities in locations where the ocean is essential to the culture and economy.
Explore! which has been providing small-group adventure vacations since 1981, is dedicated to providing its clients with genuine, locally-relevant experiences while leaving minimal environmental impact. The tour operator collaborates with both domestic and international efforts to make the world a better place for its customers, such as ending cruel elephant riding practises and reducing the impact of its carbon footprint.
The Mosaic Adventure
Since 2009, Mosaic Adventures has provided travellers with customised itineraries for trekking, adventure, and cultural travel in Nepal, Bhutan, and Tibet. Its eco-friendly, small-group tours reach some of the most inaccessible corners of the Himalayas and beyond, bringing a select few lucky travellers there.
Final Thoughts:
An entire globe is waiting to be discovered, and with some careful preparation, you can journey to the ends of the Earth while still being a conscientious citizen of the world. Everyone has the power to make a difference, whether via making little adjustments to their daily routines like eliminating the use of plastic straws and single-use water bottles or through larger actions like dedicating time to conservation volunteer efforts.
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