Planning a trip with your family can be daunting. You need to decide the places and activities that everyone can enjoy. You should also agree on the length of the trip and ensure that you have the budget.
This can lead to a laundry list of items to pack, itineraries, and travel documents. But that should not stop you from being an eco-conscious family of travelers.
In this post, we share seven helpful tips that you can follow to have sustainable family travel:
1. Bring reusable bottles
As you travel, you probably like to try that aromatic coffee or delicious drinks. While it’s expected that you sit it out and enjoy it in a lovely café, there will be times where you’ll be on the move, and you’re rushing.
As a result? You might be tempted to purchase takeaway drinks.
But the thing about coffee cups and plastic bottles tends to generate a lot of waste. Many countries from around the world don’t have the means of recycling them.
As you and your family travel, be mindful of that and bring reusable water bottles with you.
2. Pack light
This might not mean so much, but packing light can have a significant impact on the environment.
Not only will your things be a lot lighter, but the plane you’ll also be riding will be a couple of pounds less.
The bus and the car that you ride will also be light. The result is reduced fuel consumption.
3. Use efficient transportation
There is a bevy of ways to reduce carbon emissions on your trip significantly. The thing with air travel, driving, and other forms of transportation is that these activities leave a carbon footprint.
That’s why you can get from point A to point B can make a huge difference.
Generally, one of the least efficient forms of transport is planes and cars. So, if you’re only traveling to nearby destinations, you can opt to travel via coach or train to cut off the carbon emissions significantly.
Once you reach your destination, consider taking the bus, cycle around town, or walk to soak in the sights and scenery.
If you want to rent a car, opt for a hybrid, electric, or much smaller model.
4. Help out the local economy
Another great way that you can lessen your carbon footprint is to purchase locally. Not only that this helps the local economy, but it also encourages local businesses.
Also, try to stay in an accommodation that has a kitchen where you can cook. When traveling long-term and you’re shopping in supermarkets or local markets, consider local produce.
That way, you’re sure that they’re the freshest, and you can reduce your carbon footprint versus imported ones.
Imported goods are not only expensive, but they’re less fresh and have a higher carbon footprint.
5. Conserve energy
When you leave your room, you should take the card with you. That way, you won’t be using power and conserving energy when you’re out.
Although you might not have the card and slot scenario, you still need to be mindful. Don’t forget to turn off the heating, aircon, lights or fans in your accommodation.
Doing so helps avoid any overuse. Similarly, it would be best to stay in eco-friendly accommodations.
You’d be surprised that there are plenty of hotels, inns, motels, B&Bs, and resorts that boast energy-efficient buildings. All you need to do is look for accommodations that have Green Seal or Green Globe.
For international accommodations, you can look for the following certifications:
- Rainforest Alliance
- EarthCheck
- Green Key
- Green Tourism
Staying in a certified eco-friendly hotel is an excellent way to ensure that you can offset your carbon footprint.
6. Respect the wildlife
Whether it’s the monkeys you come across in Costa Rica or the llamas in Peru, you must respect wildlife.
You can also help the wildlife and the environment when your securely store rations and trash.
7. Pick eco-friendly tours
Almost every place has an exciting set of activities for both locals and tourists.
Now, paying a little extra to go on an eco-friendly tour can benefit the environment. It also helps you be educated about the locals.
Looking for an eco-friendly tour or tour guide is simple. All you need to do is check how these agencies advertise the kind of tour they provide and how they conduct their services.
Over to You
We know the magnitude of the travel and tourism industry’s impact on the environment. There is the depletion of natural resources and pollution.
But when handled properly, it can create awareness among travelers on how they should help preserve the planet. Plus, the jobs that the industry can provide to the local community.
Hopefully, this list will give you some pretty great sustainable travel ideas that you can use for all your travels. This is regardless if you are on a solo trip or a family vacation.
