Sustainable travel: how to plan a greener holiday

A holiday doesn't have to weigh heavily on the planet to be unforgettable. In fact, those who travel consciously often discover more, meet more people and have money left over. In this guide you'll find concrete sustainable travel tips you can apply straight away, from how you get there to the choices you make on site. No complicated theory, just practical steps for a greener holiday.

Sustainable travel starts with good preparation

The biggest gain for the environment you make before you even leave. Conscious travel is about conscious choices: where do you go, how long do you stay and how do you get there. A far-off destination for a long weekend weighs heavily. If instead you choose a longer trip closer to home, your footprint per day drops considerably and you have more time to really arrive.

• Stay longer in one place instead of many short trips in a row.
• Combine several goals in one trip so you have to fly less often.
• Travel outside the high season: fewer crowds, lower prices and less pressure on the destination.

Choose your transport consciously

Transport often determines the largest part of the impact. For European destinations the train or bus is not only greener, but often more comfortable than you'd think. You travel from centre to centre, watch the landscape change and lose no time in long check-in queues.

• Consider the night train for longer distances. You save a night's stay and travel on while sleeping.
• If you do fly, choose a direct flight. Take-off and landing use the most fuel.
• At the destination: rent a bike, take public transport or go on foot. That way you see more too.

Sleep in a green place

Your accommodation makes more difference than you'd suspect. Small-scale accommodations, family businesses and places with a real sustainability policy keep money and work in the local community. Look for businesses that use water and energy sparingly, separate waste and work with local suppliers.

• Choose locally-owned stays over large international chains.
• Watch for honest labels, but be wary of vague green marketing without substance.
• Be sparing with towels, air conditioning and heating, just as you would at home.

Eat and buy local

Few things are as green and as enjoyable as eating local. Products from nearby don't have to travel half the world and you taste the region straight away. At markets and small eateries your money goes directly to the people who make the destination what it is.

• Eat what the season and region have to offer instead of imported luxury.
• Bring your own water bottle and bag to avoid plastic.
• Buy souvenirs from local makers, not mass production from far-off factories.

Respect nature and culture

Greener travel isn't only about CO2. It's also about respect for the place and the people who live there. Stay on marked paths, keep your distance from wild animals and leave no litter. Read up briefly beforehand on local customs and a few words of the language. That opens doors and prevents unintended missteps.

Keep an overview with a good plan

Sustainable travel becomes easy when you have everything neatly together. When your transport, stay, activities and documents are on a timeline, you see at a glance where you can shift or combine more smartly. A travel planner like Zuvy puts your whole trip, including budget and documents, on such a timeline, so conscious choices become a lot more logical.

You don't have to do everything perfectly at once. Start with the choice that yields the most, usually your transport, and build from there. Every greener choice counts, and together they make your holiday not only lighter on the planet, but often richer to experience too.