As the holiday season sneaks up on us again this year, it’s time to start planning our travel to see our friends, families and loved ones. As we all try to incorporate being green in our daily lives, let’s also try to incorporate being green in our travel plans.
Going to and from
1. Consider nonstop flights
When flying, choose a nonstop flight from your origin to your destination. Though sometimes they can be a little more costly, it reduces the energy per passenger since you’re not using a lot of fuel for multiple take offs.
2. Public Transportation
Help reduce emissions and take public transportation when you can this holiday season. Not only will you help ease congestion, but you’ll also be able to relax instead of fighting traffic. If you have subways, rail cars or buses in your city or the area you’re traveling to, consider using them this holiday season.
When it comes to what you eat
3. Eat Locally
Not only can you save money by eating locally, many times you can also eat better. Ask around where you’re visiting to find local restaurants that use sustainable ingredients in their meals.
4. Pack Your Own Utensils
It may be tempting to use disposable silverware, but consider packing your own travel size utensils to help reduce plastic waste in our planet. Sometimes it’s the simple things that can make the biggest impacts in the long run.
Packing it all up
5. Pack Light
Packing light not also saves your body from lugging around heavy luggage, it uses less resources for the transportation of your goods.
6. Re-wear
Challenge yourself to pack lightly and smarter. Can you wear a pair of jeans two days in a row? Or do you have a light pair of cargo pants you can wear in multiple ways? Think how you can wear your clothes before packing.
Sleep smart
7. Use the ‘Do Not Disturb”
Save energy and water by re-using your towels and sheets of a hotel room.
8. Research green hotels
Other things to keep in mind
9. Pack reusable bottles
Whether you’re stopping for a water break or needing a drink to go, take a reusable bottle to fill up for hydration.
If you’re flying, see if you can use your smartphone for your boarding pass. Instead of buying a map to get around, use your smartphone to also find your way around your travel destination.
As we all get ready to travel in the next few weeks, consider using these 10 ways on how you can travel greener.
Safe travels to all!
In many European hotels, a guest must insert the room keycard or heavy paper in a switch in order to have any electricity in the room helping to save energy. Using the "Do not Disturb" sign is great advice as, although hotels have "help us save the planet" signs in the rooms which tell guests if towels are placed on the towel bars they will not be replaced, the maids replace them anyway.