6 Proven Tips for Sustainable Travel: Travel Responsibly and Reduce Your Impact
After recent global challenges, let's cherish our renewed sense of connection to the planet and each other. We're all interconnected, and it's our shared duty to protect our world through mindful actions.
This Earth Day, even as we pause travel but dream of future adventures, reflect on sustainable choices. Small steps from each of us create massive positive change worldwide.
While Planning Your Trip
Opt for Eco-Friendly Transportation:
When flying is necessary, prioritize nonstop flights. Takeoffs and landings account for the majority of an aircraft's carbon emissions, so fewer flights mean a smaller footprint—and greater convenience.
Got flexibility? Choose land travel like trains or rental cars. This scenic option slashes emissions compared to flying while enhancing your journey.
Select Sustainable Lodging:
Seek hotels with certifications like LEED, earned through rigorous third-party audits of green design and operations.
Base yourself centrally for walkable access to attractions—the simplest way to minimize emissions.
Review hotel sites for eco-practices: bulk amenities over single-use plastics, linen/towel reuse programs, and water-saving fixtures.
Choose Responsible Tour Operators:
For guided tours, evaluate sustainability commitments. Favor operators embedding carbon offsets, ensuring refillable water access, or supporting reforestation.
Finally, compute your trip's carbon footprint and offset it by purchasing credits or donating to verified environmental groups.
While On Your Trip
Embrace Reuse:
Pack reusable straws, utensils, and bottles to curb plastic waste—think 3 bottles daily over a week-long trip. Use a reusable shopping bag for souvenirs (it doubles as laundry storage). Recycle any plastics you acquire.
Ride Public Transport:
Opt for buses, trains, or rideshares over taxis. You'll immerse deeper in local life while cutting emissions.
Shop and Eat Local:
Bolster the community by buying from local vendors. Shorter supply chains mean lower transport emissions for your purchases.
Start sustainably with our S’well partnership: eco-travel kits featuring a S’ip by S'well bottle, S’nack container, reusable straws, and cutlery. Family kits add extras plus a Travel Mug—all with a $25 Travelzoo gift card. Use promo code TRAVELZOO25 for 25% off.
