Sustainable travel is more than just keeping the planet clean. It’s also about making sure years of culture continues to be passed down for generations. As a sustainable traveler, we have a responsibility to treat the places we visit with respect.
Environmental
This spreads throughout the world. How we treat our planet will have a lasting impact on where we will have the opportunity to visit in the future.
- Carry small reusable tote bags for when you go shopping. Also useful for separating dirty laundry in your bag later on.
- Bring a water bottle to refill. You can even get the kind that keeps your drink hot or cold. And you can save money by refilling them at cafes, restaurants, and fountains.
- Use a small packable towel. There are quick dry ones that pack up really small. You can even bring them on a hike in case you come across a waterfall and decide to jump in. (Do it!) If you do use hotel towels, hang them up to reuse until you check-out.
- Use soap/shampoo bars or bring your own bottles. If you do use hotel supplies, take the leftover with you for your next trip. Opened, unfinished supplies have to be thrown out.
- Most popular sunscreens have chemicals harmful to sea life. Look for sunscreens that arenon-nano. The ingredient particles are under 100 nanometers in size and cannot be ingested by coral. Don’t you want to be able to continue visiting these beautiful places in the future?
- Don’t buy live things like shells and fur. Animal rides? Drugged up animals? Obviously, no.
- Stay on trails. It’s fun to discover unexplored places but consider whether the unmarked trail you’re about to go on will kill the plants nearby.
- Recycle whatever items you can. That means coming up with another way of using something or properly disposing of it so it can be reused another way.
- Simplest one: pack in, pack out. Whatever trash you brought with you, carry it with you until you find a proper disposal
Cultural
Consider how you would want people visiting your city to behave. That should be how you behave when visiting someone else’s city.
- Cooking lessons are a great way of discovering a real local taste. You might even learn some family recipes that cannot be learned anywhere else.
- Local travel guides know the best spots to avoid. They can take you to a surprising local secret if you ask. You might even make a new friend who you can visit again.
- Hiring private local drivers/boats/transportation will give you more flexibility with your itinerary and more access to different spots that big commercial vehicles may not be able to enter.
Economical
As travelers, we can trailer our experiences to be more sustainable. Afterward, spread the word on why it is important and how others can help out as well.
- Homestays
- Eat locally sourced ingredients. They’re fresh.
- Shop at local stores and boutiques. They’re expensive but more unique and special
- If you can afford it, don’t bargain to the penny. Many of us who get to travel are fortunate enough to live in a place where the economy is good. The places visited that do bargain when shopping are usually places that have a weaker currency. Chump change to us is dinner for the family somewhere else.