Eco Friendly Travel

I have always been a little conflicted in thinking about this issue.  Part of me (the largest part) wants to travel as much as possible and see as much of the world as humanly possible.  It truly is the greatest way to learn about ourselves and others.  Then the conscience kicks in and questions what kind of damage we might be doing to the world around us being in constant travel mode.

The truth is that some of the greatest places in the world (many of these are in developing countries), such as game reserves in Africa committed to protecting a species or letting these animals flourish in their natural surroundings, depend on tourism to stay alive.  Without tourism, it will be difficult to protect many beautiful animals and sites in the world (such as gorillas in the DRC and Uganda), Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe or even the great pyramids in Giza.  There is balance in this decision also, as some places I feel should be protected, left in their natural state, and respected without a constant trail of people.  Everybody has different perspectives on which places should and should not be visited, but it is always helpful to do some research before you go.

I think that it is important to support places such as these, but I believe that it is equally important to take the effort to plan and travel to these places in an eco friendly manner.  The following are some tips that might prove useful or maybe (hopefully just make you think a little more before planning your next trip.

1.) For those still using film, stop and go digital.  Digital obviously requires much less paper and far fewer chemicals than film.
2.) Don’t pack your bags with items still in their store bought containers.  Recycle all of these before you leave (it is difficult to recycle in many places) and pack in reusable containers.
3.) Try to reuse your linens at hotels.
4.) If you are taking a cruise or outdoor excursions, plan on taking phosphorous-free soap and shampoo that is biodegradable.  This helps to protect our oceans and rivers.
5.) Take the train instead of flying.  Going to Paris from London on a trip?  It is faster, cheaper, less stressful, and better for the world we live in to take the Eurostar train.  The kids will love it, and so will you.
6.) Take that bathroom brake before you board your flight.  According to a recent study, it takes approximately a quarter of a gallon of fuel just to flush the toilet on a commercial airline.