Green Vacation Travel Tips

You don't have to make huge sacrifices in order to have a green vacation. There are many eco-friendly strategies that can help save you money and minimize your impact on the planet. Make a commitment to green vacation travel to ensure a better environment for us all.

Travel Green

Consider alternative modes of transportation to get to your vacation destination. Carpool, ride bikes or ride a bus to get where you need to go. Green vacation travel can be done by using a shuttle service too. There are a variety of eco-friendly ways to green your travel.

Pack Light

Most travelers don't realize that having a heavy suitcase can be harmful to the environment. Try to pack only the essentials for your vacation. Ask yourself if you really need that extra pair of shoes or full sized toiletries. The less weight that you add to your trunk or luggage means less gas consumption for your car. Aim at bringing only one bag to save money on additional baggage fees.

Unplug Before Heading Out

Turn off and unplug appliances before locking up your house. I make sure to unplug my toaster, television, chargers and other appliances because they still consume energy even when they are not in use. It's easier to unplug everything if your appliances are plugged into a power strip.

Lower the Thermostat

Don't forget to lower the thermostat before leaving. According to HGTV, you can save up to 4% on your energy bill just by lowering it by one degree. Use a programmable thermostat to adjust settings while you're on vacation. Sites like TreeHugger and LifeUnplugged offer plenty of information on greening your home.

Green Hotels

Green travel and ecotourism does not mean that you have to miss out on the luxury of a modern hotel. Go Green Travel Green has many tips on how to find a hotel that has a green accreditation. Visit gogreentravelgreen.com for more information on ways to find a green hotel near your destination.

Carbon Neutral Travel

Offset the carbon footprint of your vacation travel by buying renewable energy credits. Buying credits will help neutralize your impact on the planet. According to CarbonFund.org, a carbon offset is a donation to projects around the world that help reduce future emissions. CarbonFund.org has a handy carbon footprint calculator so you can figure out the impact of your family's vacation travel.

Use Online Tools for Greener Vacation Travel

Search the web and do some research to help plan out your green vacation travel. Deborah Oakes wrote a great article on tools that can help you reduce your carbon footprint. Her article, "Carbon Footprint Calculators, Emissions Trading and Carbon Free Products" is full of valuable information.

Sources

Scripps Networks, LLC, "Carter's Efficiency Tips," HGTV
"How Your Support Helps," CarbonFund.org