Traveling to new destinations can be an incredible experience. However, it’s easy to get caught up in the magic of travel, and we can sometimes forget to make conscious choices while away from home. Fortunately, there are a number of ways that you can try and be a conscious traveler, including working on making eco-friendly decisions and supporting the local economy. To help get you started, in this blog we will share more ways that you can enhance your travel experience through conscious choices, so that you can enjoy your travel plans, all while making a positive impact.
Choose Eco-Friendly Hotels and Accommodations
Believe it or not, choosing where you are going to stay can make a big difference when it comes to taking a trip that is eco-friendly. Fortunately, there are now many hotels and accommodations that are working towards being environmentally friendly, giving you plenty of options. If you aren’t sure what to look for, we suggest doing your research and checking what types of things certain hotels are doing to be more sustainable. Look online at their website, and see if you can find out anything about the steps they are taking to be more eco-friendly. If you’re not sure, don’t hesitate to give the hotel a call and ask questions, too.
Another conscious choice that you can make when it comes to selecting your accommodations is to stay at places that offer sustainable lodging. This may cause you to have to think outside the box a little, and consider staying somewhere that you haven’t thought of in the past. Some sustainable accommodation options include staying at a campground and sleeping in a tent or renting an eco-friendly cabin that uses solar power. You may come to find that these alternatives are actually a fantastic option that will broaden your horizons and give you a new perspective when it comes to making conscious choices about lodging.
Use Alternate Forms of Transportation When Possible
Flying is one of the most popular ways to travel. Many people prefer to fly as doing so can often get you to your destination quickly. Unfortunately, flying isn’t always the most eco-friendly option when it comes to getting from one place to another. So, if you can, we suggest using an alternative form of transportation such as driving your car, taking the bus, or going on a train. Choosing to use one of these forms of transportation rather than flying can help reduce your carbon footprint, and get you off to a great start when it comes to making more eco-friendly choices.
Once you arrive at your destination, you will probably want to get out and explore. If your accommodations are centrally located and you can walk to most places, great! On the other hand, if you want to visit attractions and restaurants that are not within walking distance, it’s recommended that you do your best to make transportation options that are more environmentally friendly. For example, you can take public transportation such as the bus or subway, or you could look into renting a bike or scooter to get you around town.
Give Back to the Community
Taking some time out to give back to the community is so important. These people are letting you visit their town, and it’s crucial to remember that the locals live there and want to ensure that it’s staying clean and being treated with respect. A wonderful way to get involved is to set aside time for volunteering. There are many organizations that will allow you to come out and do something good for the community. For example, you could volunteer at a local animal shelter or offer to help clean up garbage in public spaces. No matter what you decide to do, you’ll feel great knowing that you did your part to help give back to the community.
Support the Local Economy
One of the best parts about traveling is getting to see new places and explore everything that a town has to offer. This is also a wonderful way to help give back and support the local economy in the process. There are a number of ways that you can give back to these wonderful places, starting with shopping local. Take some time out to walk around town and check out the quaint shops and restaurants. Consider purchasing some souvenirs from them and get a quick bite to eat while you’re at it. The locals will truly appreciate your patronage, and you’ll be supporting some wonderful shops.
Another way to support the local economy is to partake in activities that are hosted by small businesses around the area, and book directly with these businesses. Oftentimes, people will look to book tours or activities through travel companies or tour companies. When this happens, the tour companies will usually take a portion of the money, taking away from the local business. This is why we suggest booking your tour or activity directly with the small business when possible, to ensure that they are getting the full amount of money that they deserve.Â
Reduce Your Waste
There are a number of ways to reduce your waste while traveling, that you just may not have thought about. Doing things such as ditching single-use plastics, bringing along a reusable water bottle, and using your towels more than once can make a huge impact. Another way to reduce your waste is to be more conscious of your food waste. Don’t buy too many snacks and try to only order food at a restaurant that you’re going to eat rather than ordering too much and wasting it.
Practice Cultural Sensitivity
Practicing cultural sensitivity is extremely important, and something that everything should do while visiting other countries. The first step you can take towards doing so is to learn about other cultures by doing some research about them. This will help you get a better understanding of what to expect. It will also help you learn more about what different cultures consider disrespectful. For example, some things that you do in your home country may be considered disrespectful somewhere else. Another thing that you can do is to learn some of the local language. Even learning a few commonly used words and phrases can help you and will go a long way with the locals.
Leave No Trace
If you are going to be traveling and staying somewhere outdoors such as a campground, be sure that you leave no trace. This means that you should leave the campground looking exactly like it did when you got there (or better) and to pick up after yourself. Don’t leave garbage sitting around, clean up your trash, and respect the nature and wildlife around you. You should also ensure that you are disposing of your trash properly, and recycling anything that can be recycled.
What are some things that you do while on vacation to be a more conscious traveler? Which of the ideas listed above will you incorporate during your next trip?
