by Oscar Collins

As COVID-19 restrictions lift and more countries welcome travelers, you might be getting an itch to board a plane and explore a new destination. You deserve a break after such a crazy year, right? 

Just because you’re going on vacation doesn’t mean you can take time off from your eco-friendly habits. Green your next trip abroad with these helpful tips and tricks and commit to a more sustainable approach to tourism. 

1. Go Digital 

Greening your next vacation begins before you even step out the door. Save paper and the trees by going digital. Nix printable boarding passes and use a mobile pass instead. 

Take photos of subway maps, travel guides and personal documents, too. Doing so will keep this information handy and cut down on photocopies, which waste time and precious resources. 

2. Pack a Water Bottle 

Every second, 1,500 plastic bottles end up as waste in landfills or the ocean. This dizzying number of debris is polluting the environment and destroying fragile ecosystems. 

Say no to single-use bottles on vacation — and at home — by carrying a reusable container with you. If it’s empty, it’ll pass through airport security, and you can easily refill it before boarding the plane. 

3. Choose Sustainable Accommodations

Many hotels claim to be green, but what does that mean? If hotel staff can’t explain how their establishment is eco-friendly, it likely isn’t. 

Look for LEED-certified establishments and those with a comprehensive sustainability plan to ensure your stay is as green as can be. You can also stay at an Airbnb or bed-and-breakfast to really cut down on energy use and support local economies. 

4. Reuse Towels and Sheets

Water use in hotels accounts for 15% of total water use in U.S. commercial real estate. Therefore, if you do stay in a hotel for more than a day, reuse your towels and sheets. 

Cut down on water consumption by asking staff to leave these items when they tidy up the room. Only request extra pillows and blankets if necessary and shut off the lights whenever you go out to reduce energy usage. 

5. Rent an Electric Car 

Public transportation is the most eco-friendly way to get around and sightsee during your travels. However, if you want a little more freedom, try renting an electric car to minimize carbon emissions and eliminate air pollution. Some models can drive up to 300 miles without needing a charge and, when they do need juicing up, will be ready in a matter of hours. 

6. Pick Eco-Friendly Wildlife Tours

Depending on where you vacation, you might want to go on a wildlife safari or visit an animal sanctuary. It’s often a longtime dream for animal lovers to see a wild lion or zebra up close. 

However, some tours are more eco-friendly than others, with some even abusing inhabitants behind the scenes. Look for ones that respect, rescue, rewild and protect wildlife and avoid those that encourage riding, touching and training them. 

7. Try Voluntourism

If your idea of fun includes helping the environment directly, take a hands-on approach to green your vacation. Meet like-minded individuals and participate in voluntourism by cleaning up beaches, planting trees, maintaining animal habitats and more. 

Register with a reputed organization to avoid bad experiences and ensure you’re helping — not harming — wildlife ecosystems. 

8. Keep It Local 

The aviation industry is responsible for about 5% of global warming and, mile for mile, flying is the most unsustainable and damaging way to travel. Meanwhile, airplane emissions continue to rise, and analysts expect total passenger numbers to double in 20 years. 

Keep your personal carbon footprint to a minimum by taking a vacation close to home. Exploring your local parks and cities can be just as fun as traveling abroad if you plan. 

Minimizing Your Impact 

Whether you take a staycation or fly halfway around the world, there are myriad ways to green your vacation and minimize your environmental impact. Keep these tips in mind and use them to plan an eco-friendly vacation the next time you get the travel bug.

With your help, there’ll still be plenty of wild places to explore decades — and even centuries — from now.