5 Eco-Friendly Travel Tips You Need to Know

Preparing for a business trip or family vacation? An eco-friendly lifestyle doesn’t take a break when you do. In order to keep doing your part, you’ll need to follow a number of different green travel tips. Thankfully, many of them are things you’re already doing.

But there are some unique ones that pertain to traveling – so check out these five tips!

1. Pack Light

It’s amazing how inefficient most travelers are at packing. It’s as if we simply throw together whatever we can find and cram it into the biggest suitcase we own. In our heads we’re thinking, “If the airline takes it, then it’s fine with me!” Well, it shouldn’t be fine, and packing light needs to be made a priority.

Here are some simple tips:

– Maximize space. When traveling, maximizing space should be a priority. There are a number of ways to do this, but some options include purchasing compact travel items, utilizing all pockets and pouches, and using compression bags for clothing.

– Bring versatile options. If you’re going somewhere for multiple days, it’s important that you pack versatile clothing options. For example, a pair of jeans can be dressed up or down. This flexibility allows you to pack fewer items.

– Limit shoes. Shoes are generally the heaviest and largest items in a suitcase. As a rule of thumb, never pack more than two pairs of shoes (three including the ones you’re wearing). Pick your most versatile options and bring them. Leave the rest at home.

With just these three tips, you’d be amazed how much lighter you can pack for any trip. Give some of these techniques a try the next time you fly.

2. Take Direct Flights

Sometimes it’s necessary to take connecting flights to arrive at your destination, but if at all possible, you should try to take a direct flight. Planes use exponentially more fuel during takeoff and landing, so it doesn’t make sense to take more flights than you have to. Sure, it may be cheaper to have a connection, but you’ll be wasting fuel. Save the seat for someone who actually needs to stop at the connecting destination.

3. Bring a Reusable Water Bottle

Here’s a simple, yet effective tip: bring a reusable water bottle. When you travel, you’ll find that all of the activity dehydrates you much quicker than usual. If you have a reusable water bottle, you can fill it up at water fountains along the way and avoid purchasing lots of plastic bottles.

4. Maintain Efficient Habits

Just because you’re staying in a hotel where all of your utilities are included in the price, doesn’t mean you should forget about the efficient habits that you maintain back home. Take short showers, turn off the lights when you leave the room, and keep the thermostat within the normal temperature range. All of these things can add up over the duration of your stay.

5. Ditch the Rental Car

“Being on vacation shouldn’t be an excuse to put more car and bus fumes into the air,” says Budget Travel. “No matter where you’re staying, opt for walking tours over buses, rent bikes, and get to know the public transportation system.” While rental cars and taxicabs have their place, only use them as a last resort.

Be a Green Traveler

It doesn’t take much to become a green traveler; however, you will need to put some effort into it. By following these simple tips – and it should be noted that these are just a handful of the things you can do – you’ll reduce your carbon footprint and help make traveling more sustainable and eco-friendly.