5 Ways to Travel Sustainably

We are blessed with a world full of dreamy, natural places. Tourism can be detrimental to these spots, so travelers must create a mutual relationship between them and the land they are traveling on.  We want to share a list of how you can do so.

Book an eco-friendly accommodation

Find sustainable accommodation with EcoBnb! They have 10 main pieces of criteria, from 100% renewable energy to solar thermal panels to car-free accessibility. This website works just like a trip advisor would, and it is really simple. Join the Eco-Community by hosting or traveling with EcoBnb. 

Take the bus and train

Photo by alperen from Pexels

Some destinations may not allow this to fit your plan but if possible, drive instead of flying. Flying produces the most carbon emissions per passenger. Once you get to your destination, take the bus or the train. Rental car companies attract tons of tourist drivers that are hurting the environment. Most destinations will have a local bus and train system that will allow you to get from sight to sight. 

Shop local

The Edge team L-O-V-E-S shopping locally whenever we get the chance to do so. Many students who traveled abroad recently shared that finding non-chain shops to buy a new piece at was one of their favorite parts of a weekend trip. While you are shopping locally, you are also giving back to the local economy by supporting vendors that typically rely on their residents. Shopping locally can also allow you to come home with a great souvenir!  

Eat at a farm-to-table restaurant

Farm-to-table restaurants carry locally grown foods to your plate! Fresh ingredients always taste better, but they taste even better when you know it was from right around the corner. One benefit is that fewer emissions are being released as transportation is much quicker than normal. Another benefit is that the restaurant is paying a company in their vicinity rather than a huge factory hundreds of miles away. 

Leave the “Do Not Disturb” sign up

Most hotel rooms have a “Do Not Disturb” sign for guests to place on their doorknob when they are trying to snooze. This sign can also be used for guests trying to save the environment. Hotel staff change your towels and use water to clean your surfaces and amenities. Save those resources and put up the sign until you really have a mess. 

Share with us your sustainable travel tips here @theedgemag!