How to travel sustainably over the holidays

The festive season remains a season of joy and discovery, and at the same time, it creates a considerable load on the environment. Sustainable holiday travel is not just the latest craze for those who wish to travel without adversely affecting the environment, it is a reality. Hence, by being careful and selective, one can minimize their impact on the environment, patronize businesses that are environmentally conscious and still have that Christmas cheer.

Choosing eco-friendly destinations and accommodations

To begin with fewer impacts to earth, consider choosing sustainable holiday travel destinations. Conservative regions or countries that consist of national parks, eco-reserve, or have better green tourism policies when selecting a holiday destination. Countries like Costa Rica, Iceland or Bhutan can be considered examples of countries that focus on ecotourism, providing opportunities not only to visit, but do it responsibly.

After you have selected your destination, stay in accommodation that is environmentally sustainable. Today many hotels and lodges have policies on sustainable use of resources, for example by using energy efficient bulb, water efficient systems, and efficient ways of disposing of wastes. Such properties can be identified via platforms that emphasize eco-certifications. Choose locally operated accommodations to help the community as well as mitigate the impact of large-scale operations on the earth.

Reducing your carbon footprint

Transportation is normally a major input that contributes highly to a traveler’s carbon footprint. This can be done by avoiding layover flights, for take-offs and landings consume the most fuel. For short distances, one must prefer trains or bus instead of flying. Whereas these modes of transport do not only generate fewer emissions but also help you to enjoy the trip.

When going out, try to walk, ride a bicycle, or use public means of transport to avoid adding to your carbon footprint. Most cities provide bike services and well-developed transportation systems, so it has become even possible to travel sustainably. However, you may need to rent a vehicle, so look for hybrid or electric vehicles in an effort to mitigate the effects.

Furthermore, offsetting your travel emissions is a growing trend in holiday travel and the environment. Most of the programs enable you to compensate for the emissions by participating in projects such as afforestation or generation of green energy.

Packing sustainably

Another vital aspect is sustainable holiday planning. Carry your containers, mugs, canteens and other reusable items in your travel to avoid use of plastic things such as plates, forks, and shopping center bags. Packing lightly also has a good impact, since less weight being transported leads to little fuel being utilized in moving the luggage.

When it comes to choosing clothes, opt for the ones that could be worn as a layer, or worn more than once to minimize packing. Eco-consumption tourists can take it up a notch by purchasing better manufacturers or hiring apparel for celebrations.

Supporting local and sustainable practices

Interacting with the locals is one of the eco-friendly holiday tips through which people should ensure that their holidays are environmentally friendly. Promote locally run tours and activities that entail a minimal level of exploitation of the environment. For instance, while planning the wildlife tours, the rights of the animals should be protected and any resultant exploitation of the animals should be eliminated.

For instance, when eating out, one should prefer locally available meals produced by seasonal organic products. Farm-to-table restaurants not only help farmers of the region but also contribute less in terms of carbon emissions than imported food. Shopping for souvenirs? Avoid products that are made in large quantities but prefer those made individually with artistic work by local craftsmen.

Practicing conscious consumption

Energy and water wastage are some of the biggest overlooked aspects by travelers during their trips. It means that even such things as leaving the lights and air conditioners off when leaving the room, reusing towels, and taking shorter showers have a rather great impact.

Reduce your dependency on disposable materials by having reusable substitutes with you at all times. Most environmentally mindful tourists today carry collapsible cups for coffee, bamboo forks and spoons, and reusable straws because of the plastic ban. These small but significant actions are in full harmony with the sustainable travel tips.

Exploring green travel activities

With some of the right choices, your holiday can be full of experiences that reflect sustainability. For entertainment choose places that display the beauty of nature and/or support the conservation of endangered species, for example, choose an eco-tour, nature walks, or visits to conservation agencies. Places such as the Galápagos Islands and the Great Barrier Reef must impose some rules on the tourist who is more than willing to have the adventure of his/her lifetime.

People visiting during the winters might be interested in other activities that have a lesser impact, such as skiing, which needs making of synthetic snow and thus must use energy. However, other forms of winter activities such as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing are more natural ways of getting around in winter. Beach lovers can visit snorkel, paddleboard, or go for environment-friendly cruises during summer.

Spreading awareness through your actions

Each decision made during your vacation may lead to a change in people’s behavior to become eco-friendly. Whenever you are narrating tweeting or posting the events, try to emphasize the importance of holiday travel and the environment. When making the right decisions, you’re saving the environment, and also making sure that you are directing change in the right manner to other people.

Traveling with children? You should also make sure that with this opportunity they understand the importance of environmental conservation. Conservation awareness can be initiated during a simple family hike or visiting a conservation area permanently.

Wrapping up your sustainable holiday

Sustainability is not a process that starts and ends after a trip. After going through the list, think about your own experiences and how you can bring those values into the environmental aspects at home and work. Whether it’s packing with reusable items, using a reusable water bottle, properly disposing of packaging waste, and supporting green businesses both locally and internationally, the knowledge gained from sustainable holiday travel can be long-term.

That means the spirit of the holiday and having fun does not have to be at the cost of the environment. Following these tips will help one to have fun during the festivities, while at the same time respecting the environment that you hold so special. Take up the challenge of sustainable holiday planning and make your memories iconic while also preserving the environment.

At JetSaver, we appreciate the value of sustainable tourism. Whether you are heading for a winter vacation or a summer break, we allow you to discover affordable flights so that you can reduce the spending without compromising your traveler’s responsibility. Let’s make holiday traveling a thing that does not harm people and the earth at the same time.