12 Ways To Travel More Sustainably

There are so many ways to be a more responsible and ethical traveler, and they don’t have to cost a lot of money. Making an effort to travel more sustainably helps preserve these experiences for future generations to come. Here are some of my favorite ways to travel while keeping the environment in mind.

1. Travel locally. Who says you have to leave the country to find adventure? I encourage you to explore even just a few cities over for your next little escape. I just did a brief staycation in Palo Alto and it was incredible!
2. Shop and eat local. Buy locally made souvenirs. Eat locally sourced food. Doing this stimulates the local economy and is better on the environment in numerous ways.
3. Carpool. This is certainly not feasible for every trip, but if you drive a fuel efficient vehicle or live close to friends also on the same route, carpooling is an easy way to travel more consciously. You’ll generate less emissions and have an easier time parking, so it’s win-win.
4. Bring a reusable water bottle. The easiest thing you can do. I recommend insulated bottles from Klean Kanteen. If the tap water at your destination is questionable, try a water bottle that has its own filter.
5. Bring a reusable shopping tote. We all own hundreds of these, there should be no excuse for not carrying one while you travel. They are especially handy for packing shoes and handbags like you’d normally use a dust bag for. Collapsable and packable totes are my favorite.
6. Skip hotel housekeeping. Save water by skipping housekeeping service at your hotel or resort. If staying longer than 2-3 nights, I would just ask for fresh towels as needed.
7. Bring your own toiletries. Cut down on those single use plastics! Bring your own decanted bath and beauty products to avoid relying on the hotel minis. Refill them after each trip and reuse the containers as often as possible.
8. Bring your own snacks. Again with the single use plastics. I like to bring snacks in reusable tupperware or aluminum bento containers. Fresh and dried fruit, nuts, seeds, jerky, and Laughing Cow cheeses are perfect for on the go.
9. Bring your own utensils. I love my simple bamboo cutlery set from Bambu. It’s cute, eco-friendly, and always a conversation starter.
10. Bring your own straw. This is becoming an increasingly popular accessory. Aluminum straws are having a moment and they are super affordable too.
11. Rent travel books from the library. Get all the comprehensive travel information you need, whenever you need it. No need to buy the books for temporary use when you can simply rent them locally.
12. Read travel blogs, like this one. Get real travel recommendations from real people. Content is available free of charge and bloggers are able to distribute it to masses without creating waste.

There they are! 12 easy was to up your effort in becoming a more environmentally conscious traveler. Not only are they straightforward, they’re affordable tips too. We can all individually do a little bit more to lessen our carbon footprint while traveling.

Like this post? Be sure to see some of my other travel content before you go. Thanks for reading and happy travels!