10 Tips for More Eco-Friendly Travel
Traveling
green doesn’t mean you have to sleep in a tent, volunteer to save the sea
turtles, and forgo all indulgences. Nor do you have to shell out big bucks for
an eco-luxury hotel with organic cotton sheets. No matter what kind of trip
you’re going on, there are plenty of affordable ways to reduce your
environmental impact—and most of them will even enhance your travel experience.
Consider alternatives to flying
Of
course, air travel is the fastest way to get to faraway lands. Unfortunately,
it is also the single most environmentally harmful mode of transportation
available to travelers. Airplane emissions are more detrimental to the ozone
layer than those from ground transport, partly because the pollution simply
occurs higher up in the atmosphere.
These
facts aren’t meant to make you feel guilty about your upcoming trip to Asia.
Air travel provides a remarkable opportunity—perhaps one we shouldn’t take for
granted. One way to reduce your impact is to take longer, less frequent trips.
Rather than jetting around the world in a whirlwind tour, why not stay in one
place until you’re living like a local? You’ll use up less jet fuel and have a
deeper experience.
Another
way to approach the issue is to look closer to home for your adventures. The
area around where you live may seem a bit boring at times, but with a little
research, you’re bound to find some kind of cultural or natural attraction
that’s close enough to travel by bike, bus, train, or car. If you keep your
mind open, you could discover something in the next county over that’s just as
exhilarating as something you’ve experienced halfway across the world.
Eat local
You’ve
heard the hype about local food. But it’s more than a trendy phrase being
thrown around at hip new restaurants. It’s an approach that not only reduces
pollution and carbon emissions (from transporting food long distances), but
supports local economies as well. It can also mean the difference between
having an authentic travel experience and feeling like an ignorant tourist.
Just
because you are on a tropical island, don’t assume that all of the seafood and
fruit you see on menus and shelves are from the immediate area. When in doubt,
ask where the food came from. Having this simple conversation with your server
could lead you to a dish made with the freshest, most delicious ingredients in
town.
Culinary-minded
travel doesn’t mean you have to spend a lot on food. For affordable access to
local delicacies, visit farmer’s markets—or even better, go directly to the
farms or places where food is made. Seeing how the cows are milked and where
the curds are separated will only enhance the taste of that cheese you’re
enjoying.
Drink local
Don’t
let the local food philosophy end with dinner. If you’re going out for drinks
afterward, remember that all those bottles and their alluring contents came
from somewhere. It’s best for the environment (and your quest for unique
experiences!) if they come from a nearby microbrewery, distillery, or vineyard.
Like
food, wine and beer can become a driving force in your trip. Head straight to a
local brewery or winery, and you’ll often be able to take advantage of free
samples and learn more about how the beverages are made. If you’re going on a
tour of wine country, look into bicycle or walking tours: they’ll keep you
safer and let you take in the scenery—and drinks—at a slower pace.
Reduce waste at hotels
Have
you ever taken a longer shower, left the lights on, or cranked up the air
conditioning in a hotel room? It’s all too easy to overindulge on energy and
resources, especially when away from home. Staying in a hotel, you get that
delightfully anonymous feeling that almost wipes away your accountability to
anyone.
When
you think about it, of course, responsible behavior matters just as much in a
hotel as it does anyplace else. And when you’re a guest in a foreign land,
respecting the local resources becomes especially important. Just keep that
idea in mind, and you won’t be likely to use up water and electricity with such
reckless abandon.
Thankfully,
many hotels now give you the option of reusing your towels and sheets during
your stay, rather than having them washed every day.
Learn public transportation systems
It
might not be the most luxurious way to get around, but a crowded bus or train
can offer some of the best people-watching material on your trip. Plus,
everything from buying tickets to finding a seat to knowing when to get off can
become an adventure. And who knows what else you’ll discover: lively
performances, underground art, fascinating technology, a new perspective on
geography?
Learning
a complex public transportation system, while not always easy, is almost
always the cheapest way to get around. Besides, you’ll feel like a local when
you triumphantly get off at the correct stop. The best part is, you’ll be
saving energy by using the publicly shared system.
Rent bikes
The
bicycle is the world’s most efficient vehicle—it beats walking because you can
cover more ground using fewer calories. It also happens to be one of the best
ways to explore a city or a landscape. Since you’re completely setting your own
pace, you can make a million stops on the side of the road to take photos, or
zoom through the countryside with the wind in your hair.
Seek
out bike rentals, bike sharing programs, or bike tours wherever you go. If
you’re concerned about safety, maybe you should plan your next trip to one of
these bicycle friendly cities. Or if you’re really hard core and plan to bike
all the way to your destination, prepare yourself using resources from
organizations such as the Adventure Cycling Association.
Bring home meaningful gifts
Rather
than buying plastic key chains and t-shirts made in China (when you’re actually
in Brazil), why not get some more meaningful souvenirs? Picking out special
items at craft fairs, antiques markets, farmer’s markets, and other places that
sell locally sourced products can add cultural depth to your trip. Knowing the
story behind how something was made or where it came from makes it that much
more interesting to bring home.
Even
better, you could learn some of the basics directly from an artisan. By taking
a lesson, you would be supporting an independent business owner, and at the
same time, getting hands-on insight into the local culture. For some examples
of literally handmade travel experiences around the world,
Pack light
Vehicles
have to go through more fuel in order to carry heavier loads. By simply
bringing less stuff, you can help make your trips on airplanes, public
transportation, and cars more energy efficient. As an extra incentive, it will
help you cut down on those luggage fees that airlines charge nowadays.
If
you pack lighter, you will also be more inclined to walk or take public
transportation to get around, rather than hailing a taxi every time you have to
move your suitcase.
The
weight factor is another thing to keep in mind when buying gifts and souvenirs.
Opt for, say, a jar of jam instead of a bottle of wine, a pillowcase rather
than a blanket; and you’ll avoid putting an extra burden on your back and the
ozone layer.
Don’t eat out for every meal
Vacation
is the perfect time to indulge in restaurant meals. But chances are, you will
start to get sick of the constant overeating and overpaying. Besides, eating
out usually generates more waste than home cooking does.
If
you can, stay someplace with kitchen amenities for part of your trip, so you
can take a break from restaurants. Not only will you save money, but tracking
down ingredients at a neighborhood grocery store or market will also give you
an insider’s perspective that you would never uncover while eating at touristy
restaurants.
Turn off your smartphone
The
more you use personal devices, the more you’ll have to charge them, and the
more you’ll have to worry about losing them. Asking a local for directions or
dinner recommendations will be more stimulating than staring at some app on
your phone. And playing cards with your fellow travelers will make for better
memories than playing online word games with your friends back at home.
There
are some worthwhile travel apps you may benefit from downloading before your
trip, but keep your screen time to a minimum. Simply turning off your phone is
the surest way to avoid wasting battery power and missing out on the real
action.
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