CindyVacation time is just around the corner, and you know what that means. Millions of people are preparing their summer vacation travel plans. It’s a great boom for the travel industry, but also a great burden on the environment.
Think of all the extra cars on the road polluting the air, or the amount of trash that people sometimes leave when they visit touristy areas. It can be downright unbelievable sometimes to see the negative effect of people on different parts of the world.
Is there a way to have environmentally friendly vacations? Absolutely. It may take a little more time, effort and planning but it is 100% doable to plan a vacation that has less of a negative impact on our environment. If you are hoping to take a trip this year that is more eco-friendly, here are some great suggestions on how to make it happen.
How to plan your eco-friendly holiday
#1 Simplify your vacation.
Don’t over think and over plan, just do… If you live simply at home, try to have that same mentality during your vacation. Don’t waste, don’t overuse and leave each and every place you visit cleaner than you found it.
#2 Walk more.
Wherever your trip takes you, leave the car parked and walk to places that are close. Plan your hotel stay in an area where there are other things to do that are in a walkable distance.
#3 Choose a hotel who is environmentally aware.
Find an eco-friendly resort or hotel that utilizes solar panels or serves food from a local farm and garden in the area. During your stay at the hotel, do your part as well. Opt to reuse the towels that they provide rather than replace them every day. This saves water usage and if more people did it during their hotel stay, it could add up to some really big savings! Also, is there a need to have them change your sheets every day? Do you change your sheet every day at home? It’s just another way that you can cut down on excess water usage if it isn’t necessary.
#4 Go green in your room.
If there are tricks that you do at home to save money, why not do them at the hotel as well? Turn off the lights if you aren’t in the room, don’t waste water, unplug appliances when they aren’t in use. While those may seem basic in terms of applying to your environmentally friendly vacation, they still count and are still effective. How about those little bottles of shampoo we all love? Bring your own shampoo bar from home and you’ll cut down on plastic waste as well.
#5 Respect the environment in which you are vacationing.
Live by the motto of “take only photos, leave only footprints” when you are on holiday. Remember to pack your [easyazon_link identifier=”B06XWP6JD6″ locale=”US” tag=”thekindestway-20″]reusable water bottles[/easyazon_link], bring your own bag for recycling, respect the environment and the inhabitants – human or not, that share that space with you.
#6 Research Eco-Friendly Destinations.
Some towns, cities, and even countries are more eco-friendly than others. Do a little research before you go on vacation and support those places that make more of an effort to protect the environment.
#7 Have fun with “green” activities on your vacation.
Paddle boat, kayak, swim…all great options and none have a negative impact on the environment. Not only are they eco-friendly, but they are also a lot of fun as well! Remember not to support animal tourism or any activities that have a detrimental effect on the land or the locals.
#8 Lend a helping hand wherever you are.
If you find yourself able to give back and volunteer in the town you are vacationing in, give it a go! Even something as simple as a quick beach clean up goes a long way to protecting our delicate eco-system.
#9 If you have to take a flight, take a nonstop flight.
It releases fewer carbons in the air because it only takes off and lands one time. Better for you in terms of traveling time and money savings, and better for the environment. It’s a win-win situation!
#10 If all else fails, have a staycation.
What better way to have an environmentally friendly vacation than to just stay put. Find fun local things to do, use the time to tackle a family project, get stuck into the garden, or simply relax – safe in the knowledge your eco-friendly holiday isn’t damaging the environment in any way.
Planning eco-friendly holidays doesn’t have to be stressful. Keep it simple and do your research and you’ll find it’s easier than you think to make the right decisions on where and how to vacation. Just by making a couple easy changes, your vacation will be so much better for our environment!
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