How to Travel Sustainably – 7 Tips For Eco-Friendly Travel
This guest post on how to travel sustainably is written by Lucile Hernandez Rodriguez. She’s a registered Yoga Teacher, Blogger and Mindful Business Advisor. She shares actionable advice on Mindfulness, Yoga and Travel on her blog Lucile HR.
Traveling, although it provides the opportunity to experience different cultures around the world, can have a negative impact on the environment.
In 2018, air travel accounts for 2.4% of total carbon dioxide emissions, and this number is predicted to rise as people find traveling a lot easier these days.
If you totally care for the environment, does that mean you have to say goodbye to your travel plans altogether?
Not quite. The answer?
Choose sustainability.
(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking.)
What Does Sustainable Travel Really Mean?
To put it in simple terms, sustainable travel is traveling to different places without leaving a negative impact on the planet.
It also means finding ways of making conscious decisions that can help preserve natural and cultural environments.

Sustainable Travel is For Everyone
Anyone who has frequent travel on their to-do list should choose to travel sustainably.
It’s not only for digital nomads or tree huggers who are passionate about the environment.
It’s not just for people who are highly knowledgeable about the various flora and fauna in a particular location and are dedicated to saving them.
And it’s certainly not just for travelers who can afford luxurious glamping and eco-retreats.
Sustainable travel is for everyone.
Whatever your travel budget is or whatever your purpose for visiting countries, you always have the choice to do it responsibly.
7 Eco-Friendly Tips to Travel Sustainably
Traveling responsibly is one of the ways you can carry on a sustainable lifestyle.
By making smart decisions and choices and incorporating mindfulness when planning your trips, you can do so much in reducing your carbon footprint.
The following ideas should help you to travel more sustainably in order to reduce the negative impact traveling has on our environment.
1. Book Eco-Conscious Accommodations
Staying in posh eco-luxury hotels is not the only way to travel sustainably. There are many ways hotels (and accommodations) can be eco-friendly.
Check if your chosen hotel has a no-plastic policy. You might find hotels that pledge to plant trees for every booking.

It’s easy to stumble upon a hotel that uses greenwashing to attract more customers. So before you go on your trip, do some diligent research on a hotel and its eco-credentials.
While there are hotels that do have an eco-certification, others that don’t have but are clearly observing sustainable practices are still a good choice.
2. Explore the Area Using Sustainable Modes of Transportation
If a particular area can be reached by walking or biking, do it instead of riding/driving a car.
It’s a great experience to explore the city by cycling, or by walking as you are more immersed in your surroundings.

Not only that, walking or biking around is a great form of exercise and it might just be what you need to do to stay healthy while traveling.
For longer distances, try to use electric-powered transport like trains or ride buses that run on biogas.
3. Say No to Plastic – Yes to Zero Waste Essentials
Plastic is everywhere, especially during travel. You ride on a plane and they serve you meals or beverages in plastic containers.
When you visit a restaurant and decide to order to go, your meals are also placed in plastic takeaway boxes.
It’s understandable that going green can be a real challenge, but it’s easier than you might think. It’s all about being mindful of your choices and the things that you want to use.
Soon enough, it will become a habit.

Here’s a list of zero-waste swaps that you can easily make – and they’re perfect for work, home use, and even for travel.
4. Eat at Vegan Restaurants
Opting for a vegan or plant-based diet is an excellent way to travel sustainably.
The meat industry has a huge impact on the environment, with livestock farming contributing about 18% of greenhouse gas emissions and environmental damage.
The good news is that more and more restaurants around the world are embracing a plant-based diet.
However, there may be challenges when you travel as a vegan, especially in countries that do not have a good understanding of veganism.
That said, one tip is to learn a few words in the local language so it will be easier for you to explain your diet.
Check out: 8 Simple & Useful Vegan Travel Tips For Vegan Travelers
There’s also the option of turning to other travelers for recommendations.
Couchsurfing is an excellent tool for that. There are vegan communities that can give you some tips and suggestions on where you can eat.
That said, it’s always best to plan ahead and do your research, before traveling, especially to destinations with a high language barrier.
5. Go For a Staycation
You don’t have to travel far to enjoy beautiful sights and taste great food. There may be other beautiful locations to visit that are close to your home.

This means saving money and less pollution – and of course, you’re avoiding the crowded, touristy areas that may have already damaged the environment.
Going on a staycation is also considered a mindful practice as it encourages you to live in the present and become more aware of your surroundings.
There are several ways you can enjoy quality time with yourself or your loved one without leaving far.
6. Travel For Longer Periods of Time
This practice is often referred to as slow tourism. It is one way to travel sustainably for several reasons.
For one, the less you hop from one destination to another, the less waste you’ll be producing.
Staying in one place for longer periods also lets you relax for real and make the most of your time in a specific location.
You’re savoring each moment as you get to know more about the destination instead of hurrying to the next one.
Also, think about how slow tourism can be good for the local economy. When you stay in one country for months, you’re most likely to book rental homes instead of expensive hotels.
Usually, these rental homes are close to local markets – where you can do your shopping. You get fresh produce, plus you get to mingle with the locals.
7. Think Before You Buy
When in a whole new place, it’s tempting to shop too much. However, it’s best to think before you buy: is it something useful to you? Are these souvenirs made from sustainable materials?
If you do want to buy souvenirs, visit small local shops or communities that make them. This way, you’re supporting small businesses.
Also, avoid souvenirs sourced from animals. Buying them means you’re also supporting their exploitation. Most travelers unknowingly buy cute crafts made from animal products.
The bottom line is to be mindful of your purchases. Or better yet, take a lot of photos instead.

I hope you find these tips helpful.
Remember, it doesn’t matter where you’re going – you always have a choice to be sustainable and reduce your carbon footprint.
Even the tiniest mindful act can go a long way in increasing sustainability!
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Do you want to travel like me?
Here are some of my favorite travel tips and resources:
Flights: I prefer using CheapOair or Skyscanner to book flights. The destination everywhere feature is perfect for finding some cheap deals!
Accommodation: Booking.com is my favorite site to find some great hotel deals. I do love staying at a local place as well, thus I book an Airbnb every now and then.
Travel Insurance: There are many reasons why travel insurance is important and I never travel without having one. I use the simple and flexible one from World Nomads to be protected against unforeseen events.
Tours: I love taking tours to explore destinations like a local. My favorite website to book them in advance is GetYourGuide.
Camera Gear: I use a Nikon D5300 camera with an 18-105 mm and a 10-20 mm wide-angle lens to take my photos.
Loved this! I was vegan a couple years ago and I wish I knew some of these tips then. It can definitely be challanging especially in places like Peru!
Oh yes I can imagine that!
Love this so much. I do a lot of luxury travel and glamping and it’s amazing how many eco-friendly, responsible accommodations are still out there for me. It really can be for anyone and I love that.
Yes that’s true!
What great tips. I already walk more often than use cars when I travel. It’s how I get to know a new place. And I often carry my reusable items like water bottles or straws. But I really need to look up more eco friendly accommodation and do more slow travel
I’m not the best with slow travel either – I always rush from one place to the other. I really need to change that 😀
It is great that people are finally beginning to be more aware of sustainable tourism. It’s been a long time coming, and if we all did even a little the world would be much better. I love that eco lodging is becoming more popular, especially in Central America.
Yes! It’s definitely a step in the right direction 🙂
These are awesome tips! I love the idea of booking at a hotel that has a no plastic policy – all hotels should do that! I will definiely make sure my accomodations are eco-friendly and eco-consious. Being cautious of what we buy is so important too! Especially when so many souviners are cheaply made and imported, instead of being made in an eco-friendly way.
I think the same! There are so many and also easy ways to be more sustainable while traveling 🙂
There are so many little things we can each do to ensure we live sustainably, but at home and away. The no plastic policy hotels is something I absolutely strive for – and at home! Great tips!
Reducing plastic is definitely one of the most important ways to be susatinable!
This is an amazing guide to travel sustainably. I’m trying my absolutely best to stay in eco conscious hotels. I also like the idea of using more eco friendly modes of transportation. 🙂
Yes me too! In my opinion I agree with the fact that biking is so much more fun 😀
Some really great insight in here! I really love the idea of staycations, those have become my savior this year!
I love doing staycations to discover new places near my home!
This is a great post – so many simple yet powerful reminders when we put them in to practice. I love the reminder about staycationing, too 🙂 thanks for sharing!
None of them is really difficult, that’s true! It shows us how easy it can be to be a sustainable traveler 🙂
I like that you gathered all the tips in one place Alina! I will make sure to remember them for my next trips!
Such an insightful post on how we can travel sustainably be conscious of our carbon footprint. Some tips I’d picked up would be bringing my own toothbrush instead of using the plastic ones offered by the hotel, and also buying local souvenirs! I think the ongoing pandemic has also helped in the sense that people are travelling more domestically and exploring what their home has to offer 🙂
I think the same. And it’s good that people can now appreciate more what they have near their home!
Great tips! Being sustainable is a mater of understanding why we should embrace it and then start a mindful journey with each of our actions.
Exactly!
Great tips! I admit that I don’t follow all the above, so it’s time for some changes, especially when it takes so little to implement them.
Me neither but I really want to change that!
Brilliant post and so true. There is so much potential to make travel more sustainable for example by involving and supporting local communities more. My blog also focusses on sustainable travel experiences and I’m always happy to read like-minded blogs!
Oh yes there are many different ways how to travel more sustainably!
This is so helpful! I always walk when I do city trips rather than taking any mode of transportation and I have done some staycations as well which are so much fun!
Oh yes staycations are awesome!
I love these tips for how to travel sustainably! I try to do what I can when travelling, including shopping local and eating at vegan places. I find I struggle to avoid plastic when it comes to water bottles though. Great read!
Yes I always hate it when I have to buy water in plastic bottles but in some countries there’s no other way to get water.
Great tips to travel more sustainably. Some I already practised and some I need to make more of an effort. This post is a good reminder to do so once we can travel again.
I also need to try more!
Thank you for having me 🙂