So you love to travel, but are worried about the environment. Well, the depleted ozone layer doesn’t mean you have to stop traveling. You can still see the world without totally killing the planet. Here are some green travel tips which will make your next trip more enjoyable.
* If at all possible, avoid flying. Flying is very carbon intensive and bad for the environment. Taking a bus or train is not only cheaper, but also better for the environment. Plus, you really get to see aspects of the country you haven’t seen before. It can be a fun adventure, even if it takes longer to get there.
* If flying is unavoidable, then try to find non-stop flights. That will of course not only reduce your travel time, but also your carbon footprint. (Why?)
* Paper tickets are becoming a thing of the past. Use electronic tickets whenever and wherever possible to save a tree.
* Pack light. The more weighted down your mode of transportation is, the more fuel it will use. So if you pack light, you’ll keep more carbon from getting into the environment. It’s also a time saver. You’ll spend less time packing and unpacking the car or waiting at baggage claim if you have fewer bags.
* Use a reusable water bottle. This will save the environment a plastic bottle, and save you $5 on a small bottle of water at your gate. (For those of you dieting, a reusable bottle may make it easier to resist the sugary bottle of soda in the airport.)
* Don’t forget about what you can do in your own home when you travel. There’s no need to have the heating and cooling systems running as usual if you’re not home. So reset the thermostat. Unplug the TV, DVD player, coffee pot, toaster, microwave, washer, and dryer. These all will continue to pull electricity while plugged in even if they’re not being used.
* Stay in hotels with environmental certification like Green Seal, Green Leaf, or the Green Hotels Association.
* When you leave the hotel, turn off the lights or turn down the air conditioning.
* Reuse your towels and sheets during your stay. Just let the hotel staff know that they don’t need to give you fresh linens every day.
* Check out electronically if the hotel will allow it. Less paper is better.
* Rely on public transportation or the hotel’s van service to get where you need to go. Walking or renting a bike to get around might be an enjoyable way to explore this new place.
* If you can’t get by with public transportation and walking everywhere, then rent a hybrid or fuel efficient vehicle. Smaller vehicles are not only better for the environment, they are also more nimble when travelling from destination to destination and much easier to find parking.
* Buy local goods and foods. Local products have less of an environmental impact. And, while you are in a new place, it’s always fun to try the local cuisine and customs anyways.
* Avoid tourist gifts and things. Not only are those gifts bad for the environment, they are bad for your wallet too. Those stores buy a simple keychain for 35 cents and sell them to you for $10. And often, the trinkets end up sitting at the bottom of a drawer forgotten. Try thinking of another way to remember the trip, maybe taking plenty of pictures and videos or grabbing a beautiful rock for memory.
Using these travel tips will help you enjoy your vacation without worrying about what you are doing to the environment. Best of all, you can even save yourself money by following many of these tips. So go out and have yourself a great time and keep the planet safe at the same time.