Five easy ways to make your next vacation eco-friendly
Travel is such a huge part of the natural development of the humanity. We are innately curious and explorative. It’s a truly beautiful blessing to live in a space and time that allows us to move so efficiency, however there are many downfalls as well. The reality is that the travel industry has a significant impact on the climate. It can lead to a robust local economy while simultaneously destroying the environment due to over tourism. It makes the idea of sustainable, eco-friendly travel a bit of an oxymoron. Knowing this, I always make an effort to consider my personal impact and responsibility as a citizen of the world. To inspire others to be more mindful when traveling, I have compiled five easy ways to make your next vacation eco-friendly. Let‘s get into it!
Image source: Daria Obymaha
Book accommodations mindfully
Would it surprise you if I told you that staying at private estates and booking local housing is often a less sustainable practice when traveling? There are many destinations that have been completely gentrified due to third party rental companies causing a skew in housing prices relating to demand and local wages. This has a significant impact on the local community and expands the distribution of wealth even further.
Instead, look for eco-friendly hotels, run and operated by locals, or that give back to the surrounding community. This requires a bit more research and planning, but I personally sleep much more soundly knowing I am making an effort. One site that is very helpful to research bookings is EcoHotels.com.
Another option is Kind Traveler which is a platform that allows you to give back to local charities when booking accommodations.
Hotels may offer a less authentic feel, but they often have to meet stricter regulations regarding the affect on the local environment. They also provide employment for more individuals which supports the local economy.
Image source: Pixabay
Use eco-mindful substitutes
Hotels are not always a viable option, which brings me to the next recommendation. If you are looking to book a more private, locally immersive experience by staying at a local residence, consider alternatives.
Ecobnb is a competitor to Airbnb that offers a more sustainable approach. They only list accommodations that meet their sustainability criteria including water usage, public transit access, renewable energy sources and others.
Another viable option suitable for solo travelers and even couples is Trusted Housesitters. I personally have used this app to book travel in the US and UK, having an all around wonderful experience. Through the app you exchange pet and home care for free room and board. You purchase a yearly membership to gain access to the platform and complete a background check which more than makes up for the cost of accommodations after a day or two.
Image source: Jeffrey Czum
Hopper is an app that has completely changed the way I travel. It makes it incredibly easy to search for flights between destinations, find accommodations, and book excursions.
The app is extremely user friendly and helpful in itself, but the thing I love most is their sustainability efforts. Hopper has made a commitment to plant trees for every booking made through the platform, helping to offset some of the environmental impact of traveling.
Check out this blog post I wrote if you’re interested in learning more about booking travel within this app.
Use alternative transportation when available
Image source: Jeffrey Czum
Use alternative transportation when available
Traveling by land or sea gives you the chance to see more of the destination.
Public transit often provides a great alternative. Similar to the hotel theory, reducing the emissions and impact to one vehicle of 20 individuals is a much more eco-friendly alternative to 20 vehicles individually operated. The practice of taking public transportation also supports the local economy. Yes, hiring a private driver will contribute to the economy as well, but on a much more individual level.
If public transit isn’t your thing, consider options such a walking, bike riding, taking an e-scooter or other form of transportation that will add to the experience as well as reduce your individual impact on the planet.
Image source: Anastasiya Vragova
The further you travel, the longer you stay
Are you happy about this piece of advice? I know I love this aspect of slow travel!
When taking a trip to a far off destination, it is always better to maximize your time. This is a much more sustainable, carbon-friendly option. A longer vacation gives you more opportunity to indulge, relax, and explore. It also provides additional support to the local economy which will increase your positive affect on the destination.
Long haul trips are a great opportunity to fully immerse yourself in the local community. You have time to seek out locally owned establishments, book locally operated tours, and even volunteer in the community.
Additionally, when you travel for a longer period of time, you have the chance to explore additional destinations. For instance, when I traveled to Europe for the summer, I visited the UK, France, Greece, Croatia and Spain. While l did have flights between several of these destinations, I also took trains and ferries. Even when I did fly, the travel was less harmful to the environment due to the duration of the flight, fuel used, and other factors. The flight between Croatia and France for instance is much less impactful than the flight from the US to Croatia or France. By visiting multiple destinations over several weeks I did not have as significant of an impact as I would have if I traveled to these two destinations on separate occasions.
If you have a shorter period available to travel, its best to do so by land or sea as air travel as much more significant impact on the climate.
Image source: Kristen Taylor Creative
You got this!
I know eco-guilt is real and honestly not something I have a personal interest in entertaining; especially when I am on vacation. I hope these five easy ways to make your next vacation eco-friendly is beneficial to you. By taking the steps outlined above, I am able to have the benefit of remaining fully present during my travels, with the peace of mind knowing I am taking responsibility for my individual impact.
