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3 Travel Tips for Travelers Who Want to Travel Green

By implementing these travel tips, you can journey responsibly, encourage the hospitality industry to move in a more sustainable direction, and help stop global warming - while still enjoying yourself. The tips are easy for anyone to follow.

By Nathan Brown

Summer is here, bringing with it many opportunities for travel. While traveling is a great opportunity for recreation and relaxation, it can also provide the chance to help curb global warming. By implementing these travel tips, you can journey responsibly, encourage the hospitality industry to move in a more sustainable direction, and help stop global warming - while still enjoying yourself.

Stop Global Warming Travel Tip #1:

Seek Out Ecotourism Opportunities

According to The International Ecotourism Society, ecotourism is defined as 'responsible travel to natural areas that conserve the environment and improve the well-being of local people.' This concept is based on the intersection of conservation, communities, and sustainable travel. By seeking out ecotourism options, you can reduce your environmental impact.

When planning your trip, look for lodging that has a responsible environmental policy. Unfortunately, there is no uniform certification standard from which to judge and 'green washing' can be a problem, but there are some ways you can decipher industry leaders from wannabes.

First, you can start by searching the web for accommodations that advertise responsible environmental practices, then follow up with a phone call or check with a knowledgeable travel agency. Look for some kind of third-party certification. Some of the better-known certifications are:

Energy Star (with a rating of at least 75/100)

LEED-certified building design

EU Eco-label

Green Globe (Australia, New Zealand, Asia, and expanding to the Caribbean)

Green Leaf (Canada)

Sustainable Tourism Certification Network of the Americas (a joint effort of the Rainforest Alliance and The International Ecotourism Society).

You can also look for any environmentally related awards the establishment has earned.

Stop Global Warming Travel Tip#2:

Get There Responsibly

As the journey to your destination will probably be the most emission-intense portion of your vacation, there are several alternatives for lowering your impact.

Flying is the most polluting option. Especially if you are traveling in a group, it is more cost-effective (both in dollars and emissions) to go by car. Whenever using a car, it is important to keep the tires inflated, ensuring that the engine need not work any harder - a practice that will reduce emissions and save cash!

Train travel, while often overlooked, is the best option when it comes to making the journey if you can afford the time. The many benefits of train travel include: social interaction with other passengers, not having to constantly seek out eating establishments, dealing with gridlock, and quelling any concerns about your vehicle.

Whatever transportation method you use, you may choose to offset your carbon emissions by purchasing a carbon neutralization package. This is a great way to actively stop global warming and support companies that are working towards curbing emissions. They will neutralize your carbon emissions by supporting a variety of projects that will offset the amount of carbon your travel produces. Here is one example to check out: www.terrapass.com

Stop Global Warming Travel Tip #3:

Lower Your Tourist Impact

Once you arrive at your destination, there are a number of ways you can reduce your negative tourist impact and your carbon contributions - while maximizing your positive influence.

Should your travels find you in an urban setting, try depending on public transportation instead of a rented car or taxis. This will give you a taste of the true flavor of the city, while saving you the hassle of navigating traffic and finding parking on foreign streets - not to mention the substantial monetary savings. Many public transit systems even offer weeklong and weekend packages for unlimited travel, a true bargain for the mobile tourist.

Save money on dining by locating the local farmer's market. Besides providing a more authentic local experience, it can help answer such questions as: 'What grows here in July?' or, 'Why is this town famous for its specialty cheese or its rhubarb pie?'

By supporting farmer's markets, you will get to experience fresh, delicious foods that are specific to the given region. Furthermore, purchasing locally grown food helps reduce your so-called 'food miles' - or the distance your food has traveled - a major contributor to greenhouse gases.

In the spirit of adventure, try patronizing local establishments for your eating, drinking and recreational pleasure. Remember to be mindful of delicate ecosystems should your travel take you to a wilderness area. Traveling to forests, beaches, etc. is a privilege and should be treated as such to ensure that you and others can return for a special experience in the years to come.

When venturing into the great outdoors, remember to take out what you brought in, making sure to leave all places in the same condition you found them. Consider non-motorized forms of recreation such as hiking, biking, swimming, sailing, or horseback riding; not only will the serenity be refreshing to your ears, but these activities result in fewer greenhouse gases. Remember: if it has a motor, there is a good chance it is spewing emissions into the atmosphere!

About the Author:

This article may be reprinted freely as long as this resource box is included. This article is provided by ACoolerClimate.com, a website devoted to creating a revolutionary movement by showing people how to help prevent global warming. Related global warming article: How Can We Help Stop Global Warming with a Bracelet?. Article source: 111 Travel Directory: Triple1.com (triple one dot com)

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Article added 07/25/07, last revised 07/25/07.