6 tips for being eco-friendly when you travel

It’s important that we all try to live a more eco-friendly lifestyle, and there are a lot of different ways that you can do that. Making small changes to your everyday life can have a big impact, but one thing that people don’t think about as much is their travel plans. When we travel, we can have a big impact on the environment and if you are trying to be a bit more responsible, it’s definitely worth considering when you plan your next trip because a few simple tips and tricks could help you to reduce your impact a lot. These are some of the best ways to be more eco-friendly when you travel. 

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The biggest thing that you can do is skip the flights. Flying creates a lot of carbon emissions compared with other forms of travel and if you fly regularly, it has a big impact. In some cases, there isn’t really any way around it and you will have to fly, which is fine. But if you can, you should consider whether there are any alternatives. Have you thought about taking a cruise, for example? If you check out Bolsover Cruise Club the UK’s No.1 agent for P&O Cruises, you’ll find that they offer cruises to a lot of different destinations. It takes longer than flying but there is so much entertainment on a cruise ship and you’ll be living in luxury, so the journey is all part of the fun. Cruise ships are great if you want to visit a few different destinations as well, so they’re good for countries that you have never been to before. It’s a new travel experience and you can reduce your impact on the environment at the same time, so it’s a win all around. 

If you are going anywhere in Europe, you should consider driving or getting the train instead. You can get the Eurostar over to Paris easily and then travel to your destination from there. The rail links in Europe are so efficient and if you get an interrailing pass, it’s not that expensive to get around. Just bear in mind that it will make your trip a lot longer. 

Flying is convenient and sometimes, you don’t have the time or money to do the alternatives. You shouldn’t worry too much about flying, but it’s at least worth considering the alternatives when you are planning your next trip. If you cannot avoid flying, there are some simple things you can do to make it more eco-friendly. First off, try not to pack too much in your case because the heavier the plane, the more emissions it gives off. Try to take direct flights if you can, and look out for green flights. These flights still aren’t great for the environment, but they do give off fewer emissions. 

In some countries, the tap water can be a problem. If you’re not used to it, you will get sick from drinking it. Most people will just rely on bottled water from the shop when visiting those countries but it’s not ideal. Plastic waste is a big problem and in the last couple of years, there has been a big push to cut back as much as possible. If you are drinking bottled water the entire time you are away, that’s a lot of plastic waste that you’re going to create. The thing is, you can easily get around it if you bring a water bottle with a filter in it. You’ll get clean water and you don’t have to worry about any plastic waste. You can also get water purification tablets for certain countries where the water is particularly bad. This one simple change makes a big difference when you travel.

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When we buy food, we don’t always think about the environmental impact of it. It makes sense that if you buy something local, it has less impact because it hasn’t been transported halfway around the world. That’s why you should try to eat local food as much as possible. One of the best things about travel is getting to experience the local culture, and food is a big part of that. You don’t want to travel halfway around the world and then head to the nearest Mcdonalds for something to eat. You can use sites like Bimble to check out a destination before you go and see other people’s recommendations. If you look at people’s lists, you’ll be able to find where all of the best local restaurants are. 

You should also make an effort to find local markets if you can, instead of using supermarkets. This is a better way to support the local people, and it’s also better for the environment as well. Big markets are always great fun to visit anyway, so you should seek them out wherever you go. 

If you go to a zoo or an animal attraction in this country, you don’t need to worry too much because there are certain laws in place to make sure that the animals are treated well. But that isn’t the case in a lot of countries and, unfortunately, there are a lot of attractions where animals are mistreated. In a lot of places, even if the animals are not necessarily mistreated, people are allowed too close to the animals and it can upset them. It’s important that animal attractions are created with welfare in mind and human interaction doesn’t disrupt or distress the animals. If you are going to visit some animal attractions on your trip, make sure that you research them thoroughly beforehand so you can make sure that they are sustainable. 

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When you are at home, one of the best ways to be more eco-friendly is to cut back on your energy usage. You can do things like switching your light bulbs for energy saving ones and turning your thermostat down a bit. When you travel, you should look out for hotels that have the same attitude toward energy use. There are some amazing sustainable hotels around the world that have a strong focus on being low emission. You won’t be able to find these hotels everywhere that you go, but you should still check to see how sustainable your hotel is. If you can find places that have a good recycling program and use things like solar power and wind power to get their energy, that’s a great way to cut your overall emissions. You should also ask about where they source their food because if they buy everything locally, that’s always a bonus as well. 

If you are serious about being more green when you travel, you should consider the countries that you visit because you have to remember, you are spending your money there and contributing to their economy. Certain countries are not very eco-friendly and do not make an effort to manage their carbon emissions, so you may want to think about avoiding those countries if you want to make a difference. 

When you go away on holiday, you are trying to relax and have a good time so you can give yourself a bit of a break. These are all great ways to reduce your impact on the environment when you travel, but if you can’t manage them all, it’s ok. Any small changes will make a difference so just do what you can.