7 Sustainable Travel Tips

7 Sustainable Travel Tips
Sustainable Travel is a new trend hitting the vacationing community. Sustainable travel means going somewhere, without negatively affecting the culture, people, and environment of the place you are visiting. This is incredibly important, as our planet and environments change, which changes the way the people we are visiting live. Sometimes in good ways, but overwhelmingly in bad ways. So, how do you travel in a sustainable way? Well, here are 7 Sustainable Travel Tips….. Oh sure there are lots more but these will get ‘ya thinkin’!

Make sure to tip well:
Many of the people working at resorts or other destinations are local to the area. Tipping well means putting more money directly into their pockets and into the local economy. Service workers at resorts depend on tips to make their living.

Bring reusable water bottles:
Disposable water bottles are incredibly wasteful. Using a refillable one will save on trash. Make sure to bring either a portable filter or a bottle that has a built-in filter if you are traveling outside of the country to keep yourself from getting sick.

Use public transportation:
Renting a car is always nice, and sometimes necessary, but whenever you can, you should try to take public transportation. Doing this will put money back into the local economy and will also cut down on fossil fuel emissions. What something even more sustainable? Walk or ride a bike.

Stay on marked trails:
When traveling, often we want to go out and explore the environment and these means lots of hiking, biking, or horseback riding. This is a wonderful way to explore a new place, however, make sure to stay on the marked trails. They are there for a reason. Traveling off trail can destroy habitats, displace animals, and cause erosion. None of these things are good for the balance of these beautiful places being visited.

Be polite to locals:
You should always ask a person before you take pictures. Learn some of the language before arriving at your destination so that you can communicate simple needs. Learn about and honor local customs and the people living where you are visiting. When you do these things, you are appreciating and becoming a part of the culture around you, instead of making someone feel like they are on display.

Travel with sustainable travel companies:
Sustainable travel companies allow you to feel like you are on vacation while helping you to make a minimal impact on the place you visit. They help you take some of the guesswork out of traveling. If you really want to experience the heart and soul of the people, use a sustainable company.

Mission Trips:
For a truly immersive experience, mission trips are a way to go. You can find them both religious based and secular. During these mission’s trips, you help a community. This could mean helping to grow food, building houses or schools, teaching reading or English skills, or even designing irrigation systems. This is a wonderful way to give back while traveling and truly learning about other people, culture, and the environment. Just be sure to go through a good, highly recommended mission group, to make sure you are doing the best for the people you are visiting.

Travel is fun and a great way to expand your world. Traveling sustainably is a great way to make a positive impact with your travel. Go out, explore your world, have fun, and keep our planet happy!