How to Green Your Travel Plans

Today's society demands that we at least attempt to go green in most of our daily living. One of the toughest challenges in going green, is to do so while travelling. Jetsetting away to an exotic, soon to be washed away, island, isn't exactly the best thing you can do for the environment. The thousands of gallons of jet fuel, stomping away on an eroding island, and adding tons of non-biodegradables to the dump only causes us to fail in our green efforts.

When travelling, something you want to consider, besides the usual cost and time scenarios, are what amount of carbon footprint you are leaving by exploring new places. While you can purchase credits to offset the damage you may be doing on the environment, I think it is much more fun to become creative choosing to be an earth friendly traveler.

Here is a list of questions you should ask yourself before determining a time, location, and destination for your trip:

-Do I need to travel via plane, bus, train or vehicle? Which option is will leave the least impact on the environment, given my destination?

-Instead of leaving my home, can I do a "staycation" and enjoy my vacation time exploring nearby surroundings?

-Is the destination I am planning to travel somewhere I will go more than once? If I am considering visiting more than one time, can I allow myself more time off of work to do all the things I would like in 1 visit?

-Rather than using hotel resources that can use more disposable products, can I stay with a friend, family member, or somewhere greener?

-If I need a rent a vehicle, can I afford, or is there an option, to rent a hybrid?

-If I am planning to travel in the general vicinity in the future, can I afford to visit all the places I would like on one trip?

In general, these questions will help you organize your thoughts and plans for the current vacation in mind, and for future ones. Consolidating your travel into one trip often economizes, and is greener for the environment.

Once you determine where you travel, keep in mind to pack light, bring re-usable containers for keeping items stored such as snacks, trinkets and valuables and try to use as many green options as possible. Many restaurants and hotels now offer special green travel options that can keep your environment happy.