Green Travel Tips for Vacationers

In my last blog post I made some suggestions for hoteliers who want to get started implementing some green programs at their properties. However, equally important is the topic of how individuals can make small changes in the way they approach their travel plans that have big environmental impacts. In fact, in many cases it is really up to the traveler to lead the way in patronizing green travel businesses and options and spreading the movement. Green travel is all about making smarter choices about where to spend our travel dollars in order to decrease the negative impacts we create by traveling. By putting their money where their values are, travelers encourage businesses to take the next step to meet their preferences.

While budget is often the biggest consideration for any vacation there are a number of budget friendly opportunities to go green on vacation.  A little research into the businesses you are considering patronizing goes a long way. Hotels, airlines, restaurants, and tour operators are eager to share their sustainability practices and accomplishments so make sure you look for this information when visiting their websites. Some companies may participate in green programs that are less obvious like carbon offset programs which is why it is important to research online. Third party certifications and accolades are a good form of verification of a company’s actual rather than stated business practices. In most cases a traveler has a lot of choices and decision making to do in planning a vacation. Using sustainability as an additional filter in the selection process helps to narrow those choices.

Whether you’ve used the sustainability filter or not when planning your vacation, you still have a huge personal opportunity to make green choices during your travels. Here are my top suggestions on how you can make an impact.

1. Bring a refillable water bottle. Staying hydrated is important and if you don’t bring your own bottle you may find yourself buying 1-3 plastic water bottles a day to stay hydrated. Despite our best intentions to recycle, inevitably some of these bottles end up in landfills or worse in the ocean. This brings me to a related point, when you see garbage on the beach or while you’re out enjoying nature pick it up even if it’s not yours.
2. Not every hotel is a green hotel, but you can implement your own reduction program at any hotel by following a few simple steps. Reuse your towels. This saves gallons of water, detergents and energy that is used in the washing process. Turn off lights and electronics in your room when they are not in use. Don’t have maid service every day, instead place the Do Not Disturb sign on the door. And finally, take home partially used bottles of shampoo and conditioner and refill them for future travel use.
3. Take alternate forms of transportation and leave the car parked. As a foreigner in your destination it is often easier to navigate by foot, bike, subway or bus. If you find yourself needing to drive a long distance, consider renting a hybrid vehicle. The fuel savings alone may be enough to cover the rental.
4. Buy local. Products that are produced locally help stimulate the local economy and helps keep the community you are visiting unique in character. In addition, there are environmental benefits of reduced shipping emissions.

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