Setting off, jetting off, staycation, vacation, faraway destination?
Regardless of the time of year, we all deserve a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Whether you fancy a weekend mini-break or are dreaming of a sun-soaked beach escape, we have a few great tips to keep your holiday sustainable.
Why?
Having a more sustainable holiday, having sustainability in mind when booking or planning your trip,
- helps protect the environment
- supports local communities
- enhances our travel experiences
- promotes global responsibility
By making conscious choices and engaging in eco-friendly practices, we can minimise our ecological footprint, preserve destinations for future generations and create meaningful memories.
Read on to find out how to align your getaway with your eco-friendly conscience.
1. Find your local gems – great holidays on your doorstep
Culturally, we tend to view holidays as a chance for an exotic escape, often missing the glorious opportunities in our own backyards. The USA is perhaps a little too big for us to list websites which promote exploring locally, but WildDays is a great resource for finding the best of the wild and rugged in the UK, billing themselves as a platform to find holidays that cost just “the price of fuel and a packet of sandwiches.”
And of course the ‘price of fuel’ is also about the cost to the plant, not just our purses … but the tank of fuel on a short-medium car trip is far less damaging to the planet (less polluting, less energy intensive) than, say, driving to the airport + taking a plane + taxis to a destination.
If saying no to foreign travel completely is just a step too far, how about alternating holidays between other countries and home each year? Factor in ‘staycations’ some of the time? And when you do want a holiday that involves airplane travel, why not consider offsetting your trip? More on that in a moment …
2. Book via sustainable accommodation platforms
When planning your holiday, consider booking through platforms that specialise in sustainable accommodation, like Book It Green or Holiable. These organisations have already done the legwork in checking the sustainability practises of various hotels, making it easier for you to make an environmentally conscious choice. Or just by having a quick Google, you can explore a variety of eco-friendly accommodation listings, from treehouses to organic farmhouses.
Sustainable accommodation may offer public water fountains for refilling water bottles, plastic-free products in the bathrooms and lights that only operate with a key card. Consider accommodation that encourages reusing linens and towels and offers meals made with locally sourced produce.
3. Explore sustainable transport options and offsetting
A flight may be the quickest journey but it’s probably not the most environmentally friendly. Are there trains available? A ferry? If you drove and camped, how much petrol would you use? Check out this handy AA calculator to find out! This could also apply when you’ve reached your destination too – do you definitely want to rent a car, or can you manage on foot, take public transport or rent a bike?
To offset the environmental impact of your travel, consider supporting initiatives that help to mitigate carbon emissions. Many organisations – such as ourselves – provide opportunities to offset your carbon footprint by, for example, investing in projects that promote renewable energy as alternative energy sources for communities.
Our net-zero solutions for individuals give you the opportunity to offset your carbon footprint, drive real environmental change and track the impact that you’re making. Our subscriptions fund a variety of third-party verified carbon offsetting projects, while also directly combating plastic pollution and investing in future carbon capture through the planting of trees.
By investing in such solutions, you can contribute to the restoration and preservation of the environment, helping to counterbalance the emissions generated during your journey.
4. Shop local and support communities
An ‘all inclusive’ holiday is the one where you are least likely to be contributing to the local economy. Visiting independent shops, markets, restaurants, cafés and other businesses in the area can have a big impact on local economies, which in turn often helps to make them more sustainable. By buying local products, including clothes, crafts and food, you’re helping to support communities. You can contribute directly to nature preservation by paying entrance fees to national parks, or leaving a donation at places of interest where entry is free.
5. Consider ecotourism and responsible travel destinations
Ecotourism is different from just taking a low-carbon holiday, as it tends actively to encourage improving the environments and communities where you visit. If you’re really feeling the need to get out of the country, there are many destinations where ecotourism is a thriving local industry – often offering eco-friendly accommodation and carbon-free activities. Check out websites like Holiday Pirates, or have a look at this handy list on Forbes for the top 5 (and top 50!) countries for ecotourists.
The end of the road
Small changes can create a big environmental impact, without affecting your holiday enjoyment at all. In fact, as you chill on a sun lounger or hike up a mountain, you may even feel more relaxed, knowing your holiday is doing some good for the planet.
Even if we only adopt one of these sustainable practices when booking a holiday, the choices we make now can make a huge difference to the future of our planet and the next generation. By advocating for sustainable tourism, we will inspire others to join us in building a more planet-friendly future.
Although we don’t offer tours or holidays, why not get inspired and find out what interests you by taking a look at what we do around the world. From restoring mangrove trees in Indonesia to funding a solar water farm in Kenya, explore our catalogue of exciting sustainability projects.
