With going green on the rise, cities across the world are attempting to become more sustainable. That’s great news for the green traveler because it means your options are constantly expanding. But it’s not always easy to tell if a city is really cleaning up its act, or if it’s just for show.
Here are 7 things to consider when choosing a green travel destination.
1. Check Public Transportation Options
If your destination is a city that you’ll want to explore extensively, make sure there is a good public transportation system so you won’t have to take cabs or rent a car. Most cities have decent websites about their public transportation systems. You can also check travel forums and talk to other travelers who have been where you’re going. Better yet, rent a bike and use it as your primary means of transportation.
2. Look for Greener Accommodations
Choosing a low-impact place to stay is not only greener, it’s often less expensive. If the weather is nice, look for camping options. Otherwise, make sure there are hostels. If you’re looking at hotels, research the country’s hotel energy/environmental standards, then find a hotel that meets those guidelines. For more info check out Finding Environmentally Friendly Hotels through Green Accreditation Directories.
3. Scope Out the Area for Green Space
Are there nice parks in the town, or at least within walking or biking distance? What about lakes and hiking trails? There’s nothing better than waking up in the morning and walking out the hostel door onto a hiking trail. Of course, that’s not easy to do in all places. But if you love the outdoors, make sure your destination has options for green recreation.
photo credit: celesteh
4. Think About Walkability
Will you be able to walk from your hostel to restaurants and entertainment? If the town is spread out, see if there’s a concentration of places you want to see, then book a hostel near those places to make your trip more walkable. Walking is one of the easiest ways to reduce your impact.
5. Look at Chains Versus Local Business and Restaurants
Are there a number of local businesses you could visit? Or is the city overrun with McDonald’s and KFCs? Going to local grocery stores and restaurants is one of the easiest ways to immerse yourself in local culture. And part of the fun of traveling is experience new things, which is hard to do if you stick to what you know and what’s available back home.
6. Check Out the City’s Recycling Policy
With all of the plastic building up in landfills across the world, a solid recycling policy is increasingly urgent. Even some small towns and villages recycle, so pick a destination that has a policy in place. If you really want to visit a place that doesn’t recycle, avoid buying plastic and other recyclables while you’re there; stick to reusable items instead.
7. Decide if You’ll Really Get to Experience the Culture
A big part of being a green traveler is striving to understand different people, cultures, and history. On the surface, it seems that traveling inherently facilitates cultural understanding. In reality, it’s far too easy to live in a bubble, even when you’re traveling. See if your destination is one that seems to exist exclusively to cater to tourists. If it is, pass it up and look for something that will get you out of your comfort zone and into the culture of your destination.
Not sure where to start? Check out our list of Top Green Cities: Where to Travel Green.
What else do you consider when you’re deciding on a green travel destination?
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- 4 Principles for Choosing Green Transportation: 25 Days to Green Travel, Day 6
- Green Business Travel: 12 Tips and Tricks
- The Green Traveler’s Dilemma: Gore-Tex, Choosing Convenience over the Earth?
- 6 Tips for a Green Return Home: 25 Days to Green Travel, Day 24
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Wow! Great tips. Definitely it will help people to plan a pleasant trip. I do use http://cheaperticketprices.com/ to find and compare prices on hotel, airfare, and car rental from various companies throughout the United States and world. Hope it might help people.
I had an interesting conversation yesterday about green/eco places to stay. In most cases, the greenest places to stay are the big chains. The reality is, it’s much to costly for smaller/boutique hotels and hostels to “go green.” The larger chains just make it a company policy and, boom, the changes are made. Sad, but true. Maybe if enough people start taking their business away from the chains, the smaller places will have the cash to start cleaning up.
Hi Guys! I love your website! I wanted to let you know that I recently wrote an article similar to your’s, so I included a link to your page. Feel free to check it out @ http://greenliving.suite101.com/article.cfm/travel-green-to-save-money-and-the-environment
Cheers!
Sharay ^_^
@Chase Buckner – Thanks for your comment. That’s an interesting point. That said, the places that go really green – like organic farms that offer lodging – are typically much less expensive than chain options. Regardless of what you’re looking for, I think shopping around is the key to finding a good, green place to stay.
7 very good tips. This will definately help me for my next trip.
Nice site, very practical tips. I was wondering if know anything more about greenseats, CO2 compensation for air travel. They plant trees for your airmiles. I heard different stories about this method of CO2 compensation…
Great tips for choosing a green travel destination. I would also suggest to check out the number of national parks in the country, number of protected species etc. This will all help you access the “green” value of the destination you are planning to visit.
Great tips! I found your site through a link on Julia Dimon’s article about going green. If you liked these, you should check out a few of her suggestions as well at http://www.bit.ly/9EgEsq
The irony is the more sustainable a business is the cheaper the long term costs are. There may be a higher cost to them to start with but over time they will get their money back. For smaller businesses it is often harder as they do not have the cash flow but start small and keep adding.
Couchsurfers.com is a great way to stay with a local for free and most likely get a real feel of what the city is like. We’ve had several people stay with us from all over the world and it was a great experience.
http://www.culturezest.org is another great resource. It’s a sustainable travel organization I’m interning with called CultureZest, and it promotes being green by offering services within the area you already live so you can take vacations in your hometown.
You can also check out these posts for a bit more info on eco-tourism and check out some great videos with tons of scenes from around the globe. http://ecomobility.tv/forums/topic/green-travel#post-198