Travelers Tips

Travelers Tips

Tips: Before Travel

TIPS for becoming a carbon conscious traveler:

When on holiday or a trip – reducing energy will reduce carbon:

Turn off your lights when you leave your hotel room

Put on a Sweater

Wear more clothes instead of turning up the thermostat.

Turn off Your Computer

Shut off your computer when not in use. Conserve energy by using your computer’s “sleep mode” instead of a screensaver.

Unplug Unused Electronics (even your mobile phone)

Take Shorter Showers

Take quick showers using less hot water means using less energy.

Air Dry Your Clothes

Instead of using the dryer, line‐dry your clothes which will reduce energy.

Recycle

Recycle paper, plastic and glass.

Buy Organic Food

There are chemicals used in modern agriculture pollute that pollute the water supply, and require energy to produce.

Bring Cloth Bags to the Market

Use cloth or reusable bags when shopping instead of plastic or paper bags.

Buy Products Locally

Reduce the amount of energy required to drive your products to your store.

Buy Minimally Packaged Goods

Buy products with less packaging or buy in bulk.

Buy produce that is in season

Less energy is wasted for the production of out of season produce.

When traveling by plane:

Fly less

Reduce how much you fly by even one or two trips a year that will reduce youremissions significantly – videoconference if you can… or if you need to fly:

Try to fly direct (this will reduce your emissions)

Offset your flight

Neutralize your carbon emissions by offsetting your flight.

When travelling anywhere else:

Use public transportation wherever possible, such as the train, bus, cycle, or just walk.

Plan Ahead

Do several errands in one trip, carpool, and use uncongested routes.

Change Your Air Filter

Check your car’s air filter monthly to increase your fuel economy.

Buy or rent a Hybrid Car

Hybrids save an enormous amount of CO2 and money. Plug‐in hybrids can save even more.

Buy a Fuel Efficient Car (Fuel efficient cars use less fuel per mile or km)

Inflate Your Tires

Check them monthly and keep them at the maximum recommended pressure.

Don’t Idle in Your Car

Except when in traffic, turn your engine off if you must wait for more than 30 seconds. Do not idle the car if it is cold, drive as soon as you start the car.

Lose weight

Remove car racks and other objects that add on unnecessary weight.

Reduce the air conditioning

Don’t keep the windows open when the air conditioning is on. Try to reduce the usage of air conditioning because it increases fuel consumption, use the air vents instead.

Cruise Control

Use the cruise control function when possible, especially on long journeys. Sharp breaking and accelerating wastes fuel

Sustaining Tourism’s Guide to Being a Responsible Traveller-Responsible Travel Tips:

  • Be considerate – of the communities and environment you visit.
  • Don’t litter. Try to carry your own shopping bag to avoid contributing to the plastic problem in many countries of the world.
  • Try to avoid excessive waste and the use of plastic bottles (in many countries there is no way of disposing of these, therefore creating plastic mountains due to tourism).
  • Reduce energy consumption. Unplug your mobile phone charger, turn off the lights…
  • Conserve water. Take shorter showers… the average hotel guest uses over 300 litres of water per night! In a luxury hotel it is approx. 1800 litres!
  • Always ask before taking photographs. If someone says no, respect their wishes.
  • Educate yourself about the place you are visiting and the people.
  • Respect cultural differences – and learn from it! People in different places do things differently – don’t try to change them – enjoy them.
  • Dress respectively. Cover up away from the beach. Cover your head in religious places. Notice local dress codes and adhere to them.
  • Do not purchase or eat endangered species (e.g. turtle egg soup, crocodile handbags)
  • Support the local economy. Buy locally made souvenirs, eat at local restaurants – enjoy the local culture!
  • Do not give pens, candy or other gifts to local children – it fosters a begging economy. If you wish to donate, contact a local school or tour operator who can ensure the gifts are distributed fairly and properly.
  • Do not support the illegal drug trade or the sex trade.
  • Take public transit. Or if you must rent a car – why not a hybrid or electric one if available? Support a local charity or organisation that works towards responsible
  • Before you go, ask your travel provider (tour operator, travel agent) about the company’s environmental and responsible tourism policies – support those who support responsible tourism.
  • Ask your accommodation provider (hotel, guest house, lodge) about their sustainability practices – do they compost? Recycle? Do they have fair labour laws? Do they have an environmental policy?
  • Support responsible tourism organisations – those operators who publicly are aiming to make tourism more responsible.

Support local organisations – either in the place you visit or where you live