Simple Ways to Help the Environment on your Next Family Trip |

They say the most sustainable form of travel is scrolling your Instagram feed. The carbon emissions of jet fuel is the absolute worst. I don’t know about you, but I for one want to continue traveling the world, seeing new places and experiencing new cultures. As a mother ensuring Mother Nature in all her glory is there for my daughter to wander on her own when it’s time is of the utmost importance to me. The only way to preserve Mother Nature and all her glorious secrets for the future is to do what I can to save her now. If resisting the call of adventure isn’t in the cards for you, here are a few simple ways to help the environment on your family trip

Ways to help the environment on your next family trip

Go Prepared | the notion that you can/ should buy something at your travel destination is extremely old and antiquated. This school of though was birthed before there was amazon prime. Your hotel giftshop probably has some version of what you need at a steep tourist markup, ad the near by convenience store probably has the Made in China Broken-before-you-depart version of the things you use regularly at home. So pack what you’ll need. In south east Asia I bring containers where I can take meals on the go and reusable bottles because I just cant get the hang of drinking out of a plastic bag. Go prepared and you’ll not only waste less but want less.

In the Air| Its no secret that air travel is the most natural resource consuming leg of your trip but not all air travel is created equal. When choosing an airline to fly with a simple way to help the environment is to research your airline, many airlines now offset their carbon emissions. Progressive airlines like Alaska Airlines go one step further and recycle on board waste.

Stay Central | Do Research beforehand, figure out what are the things you want to see and where you want to go, having this list makes it easier to pick a central accommodation, which will reduce travel time and car use. Researching before you go also helps you plan your trip around opening hours. There’s nothing worse than taking a two-hour car ride to someplace that is closed on the one day you finally decided to go

Ways to help the environment

Go Slow |use your feet, ride a bike, take public transportation and trully immerse yourself in the fiber of discovering a new land. Not to mention its the only sustainable way to travel.

Stay Someplace That Recycles | This is a big one, all the waste that is accumulated by a hotel and its patrons are really huge thing staying someplace that recycles is one of the greatest ways to help the environment

Skip Housekeeping| at the very least hang your towels so they aren’t thrown into the wash, it’s nice to feel like royalty and get fresh linen every day but it’s not necessary or good for the environment as its a waste of water and uses unnecessary amounts of detergent. Some hotels even offer incentives now. I’ve stayed at a Four Points recently that offered $5 hotel food credit or 250 points for every day you pass on housekeeping. So your steps to a more eco-friendly family trip can essentially help the environment and fill your belly for free on your next family trip.