How to Be Earth-friendly During Vacation

Being green while travelling, conserving nature, and improving the wellbeing of the local people are some of the basic eco-friendly principles. They are in our daily and professional lives. Based on these, “ecotourism” has made nature-friendly practices an essential part of how we spend our vacation too.

We’re motivated to cleanse our bodies and minds, broaden our horizons, and gain new experiences when planning a vacation. Also, do all these with the smallest carbon footprint possible. When it comes to ecotourism, you should consider a lot of things when planning a greener trip. However, you’re in luck because options are as abundant as principles for an eco-friendly vacation! Don't forget to get vaccinated and get your vaccination passport before you go on vacation.

If you’ve never planned an eco-friendly vacation, fear not because every effort counts. It can be as simple as carrying a water bottle and packing snacks instead of buying prepackaged food. Packing fewer light and comfortable clothing as possible to reduce your travel load is another easy solution. You can ask hotel management not to change your sheets every day to save water and electricity. Bring your cosmetic and personal care products instead of using prepackaged ones at the facilities. The list goes on and on. Here are a few guiding points to get you started on planning your next green journey!

Staying at Sustainable Resorts

When planning an eco-friendly vacation, you can always start by choosing resorts that prioritise sustainability or apart and boutique hotel alternatives to support local hosts.

How do you know if an option for accommodation is eco-friendly? Asking a few questions can help you with that.

• Do they use green energy?
• Do they work with local staff?
• Do they use local products?
• Do they recycle?
• Do they contribute to the local community?

Once you start getting answers, you will indeed find it very hard to choose. You can opt for a sustainable hotel in Japan or enjoy the serenity of the beautiful and ecological bungalows blended in nature in tropical areas of the world. Another way to find eco-friendly hotels is to check if they have LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. Accommodation is a big part of any vacation, and doing it responsibly truly matters.

Less Transportation, More Walking

Means of transportation, in general, are critical factors that increase the emission of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. The solution is simple: Power to the feet! It is arguably the greenest way to explore a city and one of the best ways to get a sense of the urban map and experience local life. It goes without saying but walking is as good for your health as for the environment. You can minimise the use of public transport with the help of GPS powered technologies. They allow you to create customised routes, especially in urban areas. Try to bypass public transport options if you need to travel only one to three stops. Then, you can take the vehicle to your destination.

There’s also the option of cycling, which enables you to explore a wider area. If you’re passionate about cycling, you can pick one of the dozens of cycling-friendly cities worldwide, including Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Montreal, or Tokyo. In addition, you can plan your entire trip around a cycling route from Pisa to Florence or along the Istrian Coast.

Eating and Buying Local

“Take only photos; leave only footprints.” Guided by this credo, eco-travellers attach great significance to imposing as little ecological impact on their destination as possible. One way to do this is to shop in local businesses or organisations that support sustainability. For example, you can look for an ecological certification or a fair trade logo when you want to buy a souvenir or a gift.

You can plan your holiday depending on your interest and hobbies. For example, seek out small bookstores or secondhand bookshops in Budapest instead of chain brands if you’re a bookworm. Fancy old clothes? Shop at the vintage stores in London. Want to buy your groceries and prepare your meal? Visit street markets that you can find in almost every European city. As an aesthete, you can always find antique stores to buy exciting objects anywhere in the world.

Eating local is another way to reduce your ecological footprint during vacation. If you’re into new culinary cultures, Argentina and most South American countries offer delicious traditional meals. Also, finding a restaurant that supports sustainable dining is an easy task there. Go for seafood if you’re visiting a seaside town —only if there’s a sustainable fishing industry and marine life. Local eateries have access to high-quality and fair produce. They are great places to get a sense of that idiosyncratic dynamic of a destination.

Engaging in Human-powered Activities

Exploring new activities and habits can be twice as fun when you’re on vacation. Whether you’re planning a cultural visit or an adventure in nature, you can always find a green way. Nature sports is always a good idea for an environmentally friendly trip. You can book an adventurous holiday package or plan your own energy-infused vacation around natural sports.

Be sure to avoid ecologically harmful activities —though some may occur in natural habitats. Prefer greener establishments with a water recycling system, solar energy production, etc.

Sustainable vacation activities include hiking, rock climbing, and skiing (based on the season) and joining beach cleaning groups. Of course, camping, or specifically eco-camping, is always a good idea, and there’s a myriad of options for a sustainable camping vacation. Croatia, the Netherlands, and Slovenia are some of the most popular destinations for eco-camping. So make going green twice as fun!

Being a Good Guest

When it comes to ecological consciousness, being a good guest means not disrupting nature’s environmental balance in any way during vacation. Better yet, you can even contribute to its well being during your stay.

What you can do is simply follow common sense. Don’t harm the plants or animals in any way possible and stick to the signs, especially when you’re in nature. Never litter your surroundings, and make sure to separate and recycle your waste. Carry a refillable water bottle and cloth napkins to avoid producing plastic and paper waste. Continue saving energy as if you were at home. Finally, limit your use of air conditioning and hot water to a minimum. They may seem like trivial additions to travelling habits, but every effort counts when travelling green.