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journey responsibly

Journey Responsibily

We all know enough to reuse our hotel towels and request that guest room linens not be changed every day, but what else can we do to reduce our impact as we travel?Traveling responsibly means conserving natural resources, supporting local cultures, and making a positive impact on the places we visit. This guide will help. Some steps are big, others are small, but all can make a difference, especially if we take them together.

Planning

Pack Your Environmental Ethic

· Conserve water and Power

Unplug Your Home or Office

Responsible traveling begins at home. Before you head out, unplug any appliance that won't be in use while you're away such as computers, chargers, televisions, video game players, and microwaves.

For more simple ways to save energy in your home or office (whether you're there or not), visit www.readthegreenbook.com/.

Go Paperless

Use online resources to plan and book your trip, and then, when necessary, print out maps and other materials at home on recycled paper.

Consider Dates Carefully

Traveling to some destinations during the market-induced high season can increase your overall negative impact, so planning a month earlier or later can be beneficial.

Visit During a Festival

Scheduling trips in conjunction with vibrant, local celebrations provides a window into the culture and helps support traditional crafts and customs.

Sign the "Responsible Traveler" Pledge

Sign the Friends of World Heritage online Responsible Travel Pledge, and help preserve the natural and cultural attributes that make places you visit unique.

The Responsible Travel Pledge challenges travelers to incorporate three basic tenets when planning a trip and when traveling to a World Heritage site:

1. Discover the natural and cultural beauty of World Heritage sites by learning about the history, customs, folklore, and biodiversity that make them so special.

2. Share their commitment to these sites with hotels, tour operators, and other travel-related entities.

3. Preserve the natural and cultural values of World Heritage sites by following designated trails, respecting local rules and customs, and not removing archaeological or biological treasures.

Visit Friends of World Heritage to learn more about World Heritage sites and to sign the Responsible Traveler Pledge.

Accommodation

Support Sustainable Tourism Practices

Choose tour operators that support sustainable tourism through their bookings and operating policies.

Book Responsibly

Before you make a reservation, ask about any environmental certifications .

Book New

New hotel construction is more likely to feature state-of-the-art energy saving features. So, particularly in areas where no property shines as an obvious green star, look for locations that have been built in the last few years. New appliances and heating and cooling systems operate more efficiently than older models, providing maximum energy and cost savings.

Stay Simple

When looking for a place to stay, choose the smallest, simplest option. Smaller properties with fewer amenities consume less energy, and typically provide more personal, and authentically local, service.

Survey "Sense of Place"

Responsible travel is not just about recycling garbage and turning the light switch off when you leave your room, it is also about supporting hotels, lodges, and resorts that enhance sense of place and help protect the character and authenticity of a destination.

Ask About Composting

Hotels and restaurants with composting programs keep tons of organic waste, such as food scraps and paper-based cartons with food residue, out of landfills. Instead, that waste is transformed into humus, an organic material used in landscaping, potting soil, and in the agriculture industry.

Packing

Lighten Up

Packing lightly will make it easier to get where you're going, while also reducing your negative impact on the environment. So leave the extra shoes and clothes at home, and stick with durable, neutral-colored clothing that can be easily mixed and matched to create different looks over several days of travel.

Bring Your Own Water Bottle

Recycling or reusing those bottles would save enough energy to power a 60-watt light bulb for an entire day in 15 million households. Travelers can help by recycling and reusing existing water bottles, and refusing to purchase or accept new bottles; instead refilling a single bottle or other dishwasher-safe, reusable bottle with filtered water.

Pack a Battery Charger

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, Americans buy nearly 3 billion dry-cell batteries containing lead, cadmium, nickel, and other heavy metals each year. When batteries are improperly dumped in landfills, the metals can contaminate the air, ground, and/or water.

Get a Green Map

Whether you're visiting a distant city or traveling somewhere closer to home, a locally designed Green Map can be a great tool for exploring a new place with a fresh, eco-friendly perspective.

Use the Right Gear

Choose environmentally friendly clothing and travel gear made from recycled, reused, organic, and sustainable natural materials such as cotton, hemp, and bamboo.

Sustainable Travel International publishes an annual Green Gear and Gift Guide featuring eco-friendly and fairly traded backpacks, messenger bags, clothing, shoes, and other travel essentials. Items include packs and bags containing waterproof solar panels that generate up to four watts of power. Inside each bag is a Li-lon battery pack, which can store enough surplus power to recharge most handheld electronic devices.

Many eco-friendly gear vendors also give back to their local communities or invest a portion of profits in environmental initiatives and organizations. Before purchasing, check out the company's website to research their community outreach efforts.

Bring a Reusable Shopping Bag

Packing a basic canvas tote, or other similar sturdy, washable bag, in your luggage is an easy way to help keep trash out of landfills and off roadsides, conserve energy, and protect marine life. Use the bag—instead of the paper or plastic bags provided by stores—to carry souvenirs and other purchases made during your trip.

Minimize Your Waste

While traveling avoid buying disposable items for which there are reusable alternatives, such as Styrofoam food containers. This can be challenging with children in tow, especially if you typically