With better awareness of the harm that we are causing to our planet, there are many people who have started to take steps to ensure that they contribute positively to the environment. Towels are not being washed every day, the use of disposables is reduced and there is a drive towards less synthetic apparel too. But are we really that careful when we travel? The holiday mood does tend to make us a little carefree about all things, including our ‘green intent’. But if you think about it, it does not take much to remain green even as you travel. Check out some of these green travel tips that you could use.
Green Travel Tips Before Leaving Home
- Make sure that you turn all the lights off when you leave for a vacation.
- Unplug appliances such as the television, cable boxes and all other kitchen appliances too.
- Turn off the water heater and leave the thermostat at the minimum that you need for your indoor plants, if you have any.
- Close the water valve from the mains
- Ask for the newspaper not to be delivered for the number of days that you are away.
Green Travel Tips During the Travel
- Purchasing an electronic ticket is far more convenient and ecofriendly as compared to a paper one.
- When renting a car to get around, choose a hybrid model that is greener. This is a model that has two engines – one that runs on gas and another that runs on electricity. With no fear of being stranded due to the gas engine, the hybrid rental car allows you to save on fuel too. Fox Rent A Car offers the Honda Insight Hybrid as an affordable eco-friendly rental car option!
- Pack light so that your rental car does not have to literally bear the burden of the extra luggage. Extra load means more fuel wastage.
- Try and not accelerate and decelerate the car and maintain a steady pace as much as possible. Just keep a little more distance to the car in front of you and this should be very easy, even in heavier traffic!
- Use the GPS to find shorter and more convenient routes rather than taking the freeway everywhere.
Green Travel Tips At the Vacation Venue
- Take advantage of the linen programs that hotels have initiated and do not ask for new towels every day.
- Turn of the air conditioner or heating, lights, and television when you leave the room
- Close the drapes to ensure no loss of heat from the room.
- Take the used bars of soap back home in the soap wrappers
- When you use the hotel sauna, fitness equipment, whirlpool or Jacuzzi switch it off after you are done.
- When buying gifts to take back home, choose items that are green. Souvenirs bought without much thought often land up in a corner of the house, never to be looked at again. Look for local handicrafts that are made out of green material.
Keep these green travel tips in mind and don’t lose your green focus even when you are traveling.


Go Green in your presents buying
Go Green Christmas Decoration
Christmas also means connecting with your loved ones far away. Make your own cards, instead of driving to the store and buying plastic boxes of cards you will then throw away. If you don’t have the artistic gene in you, then buy them online, personalize them and print them at home. There are
to travel green, is to bring some containers. If you plan on packing snacks and drinks, pack them in your containers rather than zip lock bags or other disposable containers. Do you realize how much pollution your zip lock bag creates? Try to diminish the trash quantity you produce. You can always wash the boxes and put other snacks in them instead. Take your favorite coffee travel mug. It is for “travel” right? Don’t be scared to look stupid asking to use your own cup at Starbucks. You might actually inspire some! Most coffee shops don’t sell them to leave them in a cupboard… buy it and use it again, and again! The re-usable also goes for your room in a hotel. Make it a habit to hang your towel to dry, and let them know you don’t need a new one each day… come on, who really changes towels everyday at home? Same for your sheets. Less cleaning = less soap = less containers used, but also = less water consumption, and polluted water! I am not asking you to stop being clean though!
e advantage of meeting locals and experience the life out there!

