Summary

The article provides seven tips for sustainable travel, emphasizing eco-friendly accommodations, local food sourcing, visiting national parks, engaging in eco-tourism activities, packing light, proper waste disposal, and using public transportation or biking.

Abstract

The author of the article shares personal insights into sustainable travel practices that can enhance the travel experience while minimizing environmental impact. The tips include choosing accommodations like hostels and campsites over hotels, purchasing food from local markets and vendors, exploring national parks, participating in activities like hiking and cycling, traveling with minimal luggage, picking up trash, and utilizing public transport or biking. These practices not only support local economies and preserve natural areas but also offer a more authentic and immersive travel experience. The author emphasizes that sustainable travel can be both cost-effective and enriching, encouraging readers to consider their environmental footprint when planning their next trip.

Opinions

The author believes that sustainable travel leads to a more enjoyable and fulfilling experience, suggesting that discomfort from deviating from typical tourist practices can be a positive aspect of vacationing.
They advocate for direct support of local businesses, such as new start-up accommodations and local artisans, as a way to enhance the travel experience and contribute to the local economy.
The author values personal engagement with nature and local culture, recommending activities like foraging, bird watching, and exploring off-beat roads.
They express a preference for active transportation methods like cycling and walking, viewing them as opportunities for exercise and reducing one's carbon footprint.
The author promotes the idea of minimalist packing, suggesting that it leads to easier travel and fewer lost luggage incidents, while also conserving energy.
They emphasize personal responsibility in waste management, echoing a Spanish saying that translates to "nature is not a trash can," and encourage proper disposal of trash and recyclables.
The author endorses carpooling services like BlaBla Car in Europe, highlighting their safety and efficiency for travelers.

7 Tips for Sustainable Travel This Summer

You will enjoy your travel more and help the planet at the same time

Many of us are eager to travel this year. The Covid has put a stop to our travel plans, but this year’s travel is going full speed. Tourists flock to airports, train, and bus stations in anticipation of their unknown exotic destination.

I used to enjoy traveling in the past, but now that I live in a fantastic location in Southern Spain, in National Park Sierra Nevada; I don’t have the desire anymore. My off-grid house is a little getaway where I can relax and enjoy my own company. Also, we have a lot of animals to care for.

When we used to travel, we did it in a sustainable manner, meaning leaving the least amount of carbon footprint. I want to share our seven tips on how to have sustainable summer travel.

Photo by Author: Our B&B place in Florence

Choose eco-friendly accommodation such as hostels, campsites, and agrotourism over hotels

We always traveled to campsites or rural touristic sites and had a lot of fun. We lived in a big bustling city in the US, so rural areas were refreshing and very different from our busy city life. We learned and experienced many new things.

Yes, you may get uncomfortable, but that is the purpose of our vacation: to experience something unusual and have a smaller carbon footprint.

How?

By cooking yourself, cleaning yourself, or getting eggs from the chicken. Sometimes foraging for local fruits and veggies instead of shopping.

Also, try to book your night at an unknown start-up place. We did it in Florence, Italy and it was the best B&B, we ever went to (see the photo above).

The owners were just getting started and wanted to improve their business, so they were very attentive and went above and beyond to make us feel at ease.

Research the local cuisine and buy food from markets and street vendors

If the foraging does not work then research local street vendors. In Italy, we will buy 2 bags of fruits and veggies for under 10 Euros. In Nicaragua, we will eat from street vendors grilled chicken with local veggies, packed into banana leaves for less than $3.

I never had digestive issues while traveling. The most digestive issue I had was the US. Everywhere else in the world the food was cheap, delicious, and always local.

Visit national parks and other protected areas

This is a great way to see the local fauna and flora. It also helps to preserve these natural areas.

In the US, you have many national parks: Yosemite, Yellowstone, Zion, etc. You can camp inside the park to be one with nature.

In Spain, we have many protected areas such as Doñana National Park, Ordesa y Monte Perdido National Park, and Sierra Nevada National Park.

And don’t forget to buy souvenirs from local artisans.

This is a great way to support the local economy. In Mexico, we bought many colorful paintings from the locals.

The artwork was beautiful, and it brightened up our home. It was also very cheap!

In Spain, there are many olive wood cutting boards, bowls, and spoons. They make great gifts, and it helps the local economy.

Participate in eco-tourism activities such as hiking, cycling, bird watching, etc.

We love to just go and get lost in the forest, or just go to one off beat road. You will experience interesting nature, and it is free of charge.

We also love to cycle, and we have done many long-distance cycling tours. We try to avoid using our car as much as possible.

Pack light to avoid excess baggage fees and energy consumption

The less you pack, the less energy is consumed in transporting your luggage. It also avoids those pesky baggage fees.

We try to pack carry-on only whenever possible. This allows us to move about easily, and we don’t have to wait for our luggage at the carousel.

It also reduces the chance of lost luggage.

Anywhere, I travel, I only have a small backpack with a few clothes and other essentials. I don’t need more.

When I moved from the US, I only arrived in Spain with 2 luggage. And living from that 2 luggage for more than 6 months. You will be surprised, but you need less than you think.

Better invest in good walking shoes. You will do a lot of walking, and you want your feet to be comfortable.

Pick up your trash

I live in a popular vacation spot, and on Monday mornings when I walk my dog, I pick up the trash from the weekenders as well as whatever they’ve left behind.

Pick up your trash and recyclables, and dispose of them properly.

The same goes for recyclables.

We have a saying in Spanish: “La naturaleza no es un basurero” which means “nature is not a trash can”.

We need to take care of our planet, and not abuse it. We need to be good stewards of the earth.

Park and bike and use public transportation

This is a great way to see the local sights and get some exercise in.

We love to bike, and it’s a great way to explore a new city.

For example, in Spain, we use the public transportation system, and it’s very efficient. Take public transportation or carpool when possible.

This is a great way to see the local sights, and meet interesting people. It is also much cheaper than renting a car.

In Europe, you can download the app BlaBla Car and carpool with strangers. Don’t worry it is totally safe, nobody owns a gun in Europe and kidnappings are rare too.

In Conclusion

Sustainable travel is becoming more and more popular as people become more aware of the impact of tourism on the environment. There are many ways to travel sustainably, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. By being mindful of your impact on the environment, and supporting local businesses, you can help make a difference. So next time you’re planning a trip, consider sustainable travel options. Your planet will thank you for it.