Sustainable Travel Tips for Conscious Explorers

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This blog post isn’t about buying toe shoes or backpacking a hundred miles to a destination.

If you are searching for that blog or tips on how to eat off the land while staying in a yurt, this isn’t it.

These seven ways to be eco-friendly may likely complement your preexisting travel habits while giving you fresh eyes on how you can make a difference.

Hi, Faye here, a traveler who takes to heart news on tourism waste like cruise ships dumping junk into the ocean and travelers’ carbon footprints on the Seven Wonders of the World, to name a few.

Tourism is responsible for about 8% of the world’s carbon emissions.

That number is predicted to rise.

The United States is at the top for tourism carbon emissions, according to Nature Climate Change*:

“On the back of growth in tourist expenditure from US$2.5 trillion in 2009 to US$4.7 trillion in 2013, the global carbon footprint increased rapidly from 3.9 to 4.5GtCO2e during the same period (Supplementary Section 4.1), representing about 8% of global GHG emissions…).”

— Nature Climate Change Study

Below is a simple list of small changes you can make that have a positive impact, not to mention that these practices are budget-friendly, offering you experiences rich in culture.

Responsible traveling makes a better world for all, and awareness needs action to see change.

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Seven simple eco-friendly travel tips

1. Pass on daily hotel housekeeping

2. Pack a refillable water bottle

3. Use public transportation

4. Shop at the Farmer’s Market or local stores

5. Bring a reusable shopping bag

6. Buy locally-made souvenirs

7. Purchase Carbon Credits

Let’s look into these simple practices further to see how easy it can be to travel light.

Pass on the Daily Room Cleaning 

Many hotels offer sustainable practices, like motion detector lights, water-efficient showerheads, and faucets.

Travel booking sites like Travelocity and Hotels.com offer eco-certified filters to assist in the search.

As a guest, you can opt out of daily cleaning, pass on receiving new towels, and don’t have the sheets changed during your stay.

If you want to take an extra step, ask if your hotel has a shower dispensing option for shampoo and body wash.

Using wall dispensing containers eliminates the tiny plastic bottles that don’t hold enough shampoo to wash a head of hair, let alone a family, and are very wasteful.

Consider purchasing reusable travel bottles for lotion and sunscreen to pack with you.

This limits the purchase of products you’d likely throw out at the end of your trip.

Bring Your Refillable Water Bottle

Select Destination Bahamas Bermuda Canada / New England Caribbean Europe Hawaii Mediterranean Mexico Panama Canal Alaska Bahamas Bermuda Canada / New England Caribbean Europe Hawaii Mediterranean Mexico Panama Canal ----- Africa Alaska Antarctica Asia Australasia Australia / New Zealand Bahamas Baja Mexico Bermuda Canada / New England Caribbean Central Mediterranean Cuba Eastern Caribbean Eastern Europe Eastern Mediterranean Europe Galapagos Hawaii Indian Ocean Mediterranean Mexican Riviera Mexico Middle East Northern Europe Orient Far East Pacific Coastal Panama Canal South America South Pacific Southern Caribbean Southern Europe Transatlantic Western Caribbean Western Europe Western Mediterranean World Cruise

Select Departure Port Amsterdam Anchorage Athens Auckland Baltimore Bangkok Barbados Barcelona Bayonne Beijing Boston Buenos Aires Cape Town Charleston Copenhagen Dover Dubai Fort Lauderdale Fort-de-France Fremantle Galveston Genoa Hamburg Hong Kong Honolulu Jacksonville Lisbon London Los Angeles Miami Mobile Naples New Orleans New York City Nice Osaka Papeete Paris Perth Port Canaveral Rio De Janeiro Rome San Diego San Francisco San Juan Santiago Seward Shanghai Singapore Sydney Tampa/St.Petersburg Tokyo Vancouver Venice

Select Month January February March April May June July August September October November December

Select Year 2023 2024 2025 2026

Select Length 3-5 nights 6-9 nights 10-14 nights 15+ nights

Select Cruise Line AmaWaterwaysAvalon WaterwaysAzamara CruisesCarnival Cruise LineCelebrity CruisesCostaCunard LineDisney Cruise LineHolland America LineHurtigruten ExpeditionsMSC CruisesNorwegian Cruise LineOceania CruisesPrincess CruisesRegent Seven SeasRoyal Caribbean CruisesSeabourn Cruise LineSilversea CruisesUniworld Boutique CruisesViking Expeditions CruisesViking Ocean CruisesViking River CruisesVirgin Voyages

Staying hydrated is crucial while traveling, especially on planes.

The Aerospace Medical Association recommends drinking 8oz of water every hour during a flight.

The lack of humidity in the cabin can cause eye irritation, dry skin, and dehydration.

An add-on to your carry-on a reusable water bottle is convenient for all types of travel, especially with the built-in water filter.

There are so many options I could write an entire blog on it.

I prefer the built-in filtration water bottles by Brita and PHILIPS, both under $20!

With the built-in filter, you can refill using the hotel bathroom sink and not freak out. Sip up!

Use Alternative Transportation

Public transportation isn't only taking a bus; major cities offer motorized scooters, metro trains, local trolleys, and rideshare.

Our environment benefits along with you; you save money, can connect with others commuting, and partake in a healthy lifestyle choice by taking alternative transportation.

Biking is another way to travel; cities are jumping onto this alternative way of getting around, offering rental bike stations throughout the city like Citibike in New York City, Miami Beach, and other places around the U.S.

Walk to get your steps in and stay eco-friendly.

Farmer’s Market or locally owned stores

Get off the beaten tourist track by going to a local Farmer’s Market or store and pick up sustainably sourced food, unique locally made souvenirs, or art.

By going local, you’re supporting the community with income-producing jobs, preserving their natural environment, and reducing the carbon footprint, with the added benefit of an authentic experience.  

Bring or Buy a Reusable Shopping Bag

This practice may seem a little extreme to some, and to others, it’s already a habit they do at home.

Many places locally and abroad are now charging for plastic bags at grocery, clothing, and convenience stores with the idea of emitting them.

What is the best bag to bring along?

According to recent studies the best reusable bags are NWPP (Non Woven Polypropylene Plastic).

Here’s why: they are easy to clean, recyclable, and reusable.

Contrary to the trend, canvas tote bags are not better for the environment than plastic bags.

So stuff your NWPP bag in your carry-on and bring it to shop, dine, or the beach.

It’s convenient for holding leftovers and refillable water bottles. You’re now already one step ahead.

“The only way forward, if we are going to improve the quality of the environment, is to get everybody involved. ”

— Richard Rogers

Local Souvenirs and Gifts

Whether you are in Costa Rican or New York City, local souvenirs can be eco-friendly and last a lifetime or a few short minutes of bliss, like the locally made Costa Rican cacao bars I devoured.

From painted coconut shells to coffee bean bracelets, souvenirs like these support the local economy and the environment.

New York City offers street portrait artists and 360-degree photo booths on the Brooklyn Bridge and Times Square to instantly upload your beauty to social media.

During peak season, the local craft markets are full of gifts, art, and jewelry.

I mentioned these specific destinations above as examples of the availability of local souvenirs, regardless of the destination.

Purchase carbon offset credits

What are Carbon Offset Credits?

It’s a complicated market, yet your part as a traveling consumer is simple: purchase carbon credits for the going rate (around $40-$80 for one) and know it’s working to offset your carbon footprint.

When a carbon offset credit is purchased, it is used to offset harmful emissions.

The credits go towards things like renewable energy, carbon-emitting machines, planting trees, and other carbon-emitting practices.

Companies like Galaxus and Native Energy allow consumers to purchase carbon offset credits.

Cheers to your Happy Travels and a Happy Wallet!

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References:

*2018 MacMillian Publishers Limited