5 Ways International Travelers Can Go Green

With all the popular trends today, going green is still in the top 5. When it comes to traveling there are a variety of ways to stay green.

From choosing your hotel to deciding where you eat, there are so many ways to keep the environment in mind while you travel. Planning a green trip doesn’t always seem easy at first, but these tips will definitely help.

1. The Hotel

After you’ve picked your destination, the first step is deciding where to stay. There are a variety of hotel companies to choose from that implement green initiatives. To save water, many hotels will have an option to reuse your towels and others will even upgrade showers and toilets with new equipment designed to use less water. Motion sensors and the use of fluorescent bulbs also help these hotels use less energy throughout the day. 

2. Transportation (get those steps in!)

Depending on where you are traveling to, walking or biking can not only be a greener (and cheaper) form of transportation but can allow you to see more and get exercise while you explore. Numerous cities such as Chicago, Minneapolis, and Orlando even have a program where you can rent a bike to take around the city.

3. Eat Local

Many cities and towns have restaurants with locally sourced food along with all the big chains. By eating a local spot, not only will you be immersing yourself into the culture of your destination but these restaurants grow their own food, eliminating imported foods.

4. Reuse, Reduce, Recycle

It's common to keep a water bottle and some snacks handy on your journey, especially if you’re spending a lot of time outdoors. Bring a reusable water bottle with you! Not only does this benefit the environment, it will save you money by avoiding constantly purchasing disposable water bottles along your trip.

5. Go Digital

From plane tickets to navigation, there are many ways going digital can help you use less paper and stay organized! Airlines now give you the option to save your plane tickets on your phone, allowing you to keep your tickets in a safe place and reduce the amount of wasteful paper.

Also, using your smartphone as a GPS can help you navigate along your trip instead of accumulating a collection of paper maps as you go. As you can see, there are many ways to keep your travel plans green both while you plan and during the trip. Are there any travel tips we missed?