Top 10 Tips for Green Summer Travel

Ok, you’ve put in your 50 weeks behind the desk and now it’s time for a well earned vacation. Don’t leave a big old honkin’ environmental footprint as you traipse around the globe. Leaving a green footprint while travelling is easier than you think. It just takes a little thought to ensure that there are still places worth traveling to.

Here are 10 quick and easy tips to green your trip:

1. Turn Off, Shut Down: Before you close the door behind you remember to turn down/off the AC, heat, water heater and all faucets. Close the drapes to keep the house cooler/warmer.

2. Plane Sense Go for electronic plane tickets– no paper, no waste. Get your boarding pass sent to your smart phone if you have one.

3. Hotel Service: Let the hotel know that you don’t need to have your linens and towels changed every day.

4. Keep It Short: Keep your showers short, just like home. These people will never smell you again anyway...

5. Turn It Off Here, Too: When leaving hotel or hostel room remember to turn off the AC/heat, lights and TV – just like you do at home.

6. Walk around. In a cities and small towns walk or rent a bike instead of a car. You stay fit and green all at once. Or use public transport and share taxis.

7. Train Yourself: Use public transportation or share a taxi. In the country travel by buses and trains.

8. Shop Smart. Avoid”natural” souvenirs such as tortoise shell, ivory or animal skins - these animals may have been killed specifically for tourist trade. Buy fair trade and local.

9. Save Paper: Take only the brochures and maps you really need, and pass them on and recycle them.

10. Erase Your footprint: Offset your travel carbon by buying share in a wind farm or biodigester equivalent to the CO2 you emitted, you gassy thing you.

Follow these guidelines and leave the place better than you found it. And if you really want to be proud of yourself spend at least part of your trip giving back to the the communities your visit. Turtle Patrols, river cleanups, volunteering in a charity - You can get to know a place even better by weaving yourself into the fabric of the community. That’s the model to follow!!!