How to Plan an Eco-Friendly Vacation

With the green movement's popularity on the rise, businesses have begun catering to eco-conscious consumers with a passion for travel. Telling the difference between a genuinely green vacation package and a misleading gimmick is the key to planning.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Pick a destination. The first step to planning a trip is deciding on a locale, and an eco-friendly vacation is no different. While staying close to home is your best option in terms of limiting your environmental impact, eco-tourism has reached all four corners of the world. No matter where you choose you'll be able to find green alternatives, so the sky is the limit.

2. Plan your method of travel. As far as pollution outtake goes, the choices are airplanes, cars, trains, and buses. When it comes to flying, most of the time you don't have a choice. How else are you supposed to get from Boston to Paris? But if you have the option of taking a train or bus, you'd be doing wonders for the environment. If a vehicle isn't necessary to get around in your destination, make sure to avoid renting a car and partake in the local public transportation system for added greenness.

3. Find a green hotel. There are hotels all over the world dedicated to minimizing their environmental impact while offering travelers a safe place to stay to do the same. These environmentally friendly properties save water and energy as well as reducing solid waste in their pursuit for a greener planet.

4. Purchase carbon offsets. After you've decided how and where you will be traveling, you can begin to calculate your carbon footprint and purchase offsets accordingly. A carbon offset is a financial instrument representing a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, and it's a great way for travelers to minimize their impact on the planet. It's important to choose your carbon offset program carefully since many are nothing more than feel-good hype.

5. Use less resources. Before you leave, make sure to unplug all of your appliances to save energy while you are away. Once you arrive at your vacation destination, be mindful of how many resources you are using and disposing of -- mainly water. Americans often take water for granted, but most countries are more limited in supply. Reuse your water bottles to limit waste and keep your showers short. And do you really need new towels everyday? Explain to your hotel manager you are happy to use the same towels to save the energy and resources that are needed to clean them. It's the little things that really add up when traveling.

Tips & Warnings

• If you do need to rent a car during your vacation, call ahead to see which businesses offer hybrids as an option.

• Buy local food and products whenever possible instead of items shipping from overseas.

• Consider taking a volunteer vacation to take your green lifestyle to the next level.

• When renting a car, avoid purchasing "free" upgrades. They will actually cost you more in gas.

• Don't throw away unused hotel toiletries. The hotel won't be reusing them, so bring them home with you.

Resources

• Green Hotels Association
• The International Ecotourism Society