Ways to Travel Greener Whether Locally or Far Away

Ever wonder how you can travel greener and help save the environment? Green travel is becoming the next newest thing in the green industry and bears our attention. Whether we are just going to work, taking an overnight trip, or going on an extended vacation, greener travel just makes sense.

Transportation

Use the lightest means of transportation. Ways of traveling greener include walking, riding a bike, or taking public transportation. If you plan on renting a vehicle when you get to your destination, request a hybrid vehicle.

If you plan on traveling with a group, ask what kinds of transportation they will be using. How new are their vehicles? Are they energy efficient or do they use bio-fuels? Will the group be using public transportation like trains or taxis? Is there an opportunity to walk or bicycle? Greener travel takes a little effort, but the payoff is well worth it.

Choose a Green Hotel

Choosing where to stay can make a big difference in terms of your impact on the environment when you travel. Camping, of course, might be the greenest way to travel, but even there you still have to be aware of your impact on the environment.

For those of us who prefer beds, walls, and running water, though, choosing a green hotel is the best option for greener travel. If for some reason you can't find a green hotel where you are going, there are still things you can do to travel greener.

First, you can hang up your towels after showering instead of leaving them on the floor. Call housekeeping and tell them you don't need fresh towels and sheets every day. You can cut down on the chemicals used in your room by hanging out the "Do Not Disturb" sign. When you leave the room, remember to turn off all the lights and adjust the thermostat or turn off the a/c or heat.

Keep Your Dollars Local

Help the local economy by spending your dollars at local businesses. Eating at local restaurants, not international chains will make your travel a bit greener. By eating at a mom & pop local diner, you might pick up information about local things to do that other travelers rarely hear about.

Traveling greener includes eating food grown or harvested locally. If you are in the Caribbean, for example, eat fresh local grouper instead of imported salmon. Be a little adventurous and try the local cuisine - but not so adventurous that you eat endangered species like sea turtles. If you see dolphin on the menu, don't start protesting outside the restaurant. There is an odd-looking fish called a "dolphin" but it is not like the Flipper kind of dolphin with which most of us are familiar. Ask your waiter to be sure if you are in doubt.

Hire a local tour guide instead of an international tour company. Your dollars will stay in the country, and you will probably get a more intimate experience in the country. One way to go is to hire a private tour guide - the benefits of traveling greener this way are numerous and are explored more here.

Compensate for the Damage You Do to the Environment

Offsetting your carbon footprint is defined as "an investment in a project or activity used to compensate for the emissions caused by your own activity."¹ Examples of green projects or activities include planting trees, donating to conservation groups (such as the World Wildlife Fund or the Rainforest Alliance), or buying Carbon Free products. The goal is to buy enough carbon offsets to give you a zero carbon footprint even when you do your best to travel greener.

You can calculate your carbon footprint for flights, cars, and your daily life here. It's a real eye-opener to see how much you impact the environment, then to see what you would have to buy or do to compensate for it.

To Sum it Up

Ignoring the effect even our greenest travel has on the environment makes no sense in this day and age. We can travel greener and enjoy our travels without fretting over the impact we are having on the environment. There are plenty of fairly easy things we can do to offset the carbon impact that commuting, going on vacation, or flying has - some of which take nothing more than paying attention to what we are doing - and making our travel much greener.

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