Fly less, stay longer
Aviation accounts for roughly 2.5 percent of global CO2 emissions but a disproportionate share of individual carbon footprints. The most effective action is simply to take fewer, longer trips rather than many short ones. A two-week trip to one region produces far less carbon per day of travel than four three-day weekend breaks by air. When you do fly, direct routes produce significantly less carbon than connections.
Stay in locally owned accommodation
When you book through a locally owned guesthouse, boutique hotel, or family-run bed and breakfast, a much higher proportion of your money stays in the local economy compared to international hotel chains, which repatriate most profit. Look for accommodation certified by local or national sustainable tourism boards. In Europe, the EU Ecolabel and Green Key certification are reliable indicators.
Eat local and seasonal food
Choosing restaurants that source from local farmers and markets keeps money in local food systems, reduces transport emissions from imported food, and produces a far better dining experience. Farmers markets and local restaurants using seasonal produce are easy to find with a small amount of research. Avoiding food chains that operate identically across every country in the world is good for your trip and good for the place you are visiting.
Choose experiences that contribute to conservation
Wildlife experiences deserve particular scrutiny. Avoid any attraction where you can ride elephants, hold big cats, or watch performing animals: these are almost universally cruel. Choose sanctuaries accredited by the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. Reef-safe sunscreen protects coral ecosystems when diving or snorkelling. Pay entrance fees to national parks: they directly fund conservation.
Pack a reusable kit and reduce single-use plastic
A reusable water bottle with a built-in filter (LifeStraw, Grayl), reusable shopping bag, bamboo cutlery set, and solid toiletries can eliminate most of your single-use plastic consumption on a trip. In many developing countries, tap water is unsafe and bottled water is the default: a filter bottle lets you drink safely without contributing to the plastic waste crisis that affects beaches and oceans in tourist destinations worldwide.
More travel tips
How to Pack Everything in a Carry-On (Even for 2 Weeks)
The definitive guide to the carry-on-only lifestyle - packing cubes, the roll method, and the 5-4-3-2-1 formula.
How to Eat Well Abroad and Never Fall into a Tourist Trap
Simple rules for finding genuinely great local food in any city - and the red flags that tell you to walk away.
Flight Hacks: How to Get Better Seats, Skip Fees, and Arrive Fresher
Insider knowledge on booking windows, seat selection, upgrade strategies, and surviving a long-haul flight in economy.