Taking a green vacation is an essential way to protect your favorite vacation destinations for yourself, and other travelers who will come after you and continue to live there longer after you’ve gone home. With nearly 1 billion tourists crisscrossing the globe every year, it’s more important than ever for us to start taking responsibility to minimize their individual impact on the earth’s natural and cultural treasures. The potential negative effects of tourism are both local and global; oceanfront hotels contribute to beach erosion in Hawaii, rising numbers of visitors threaten the fragile ecosystems of the Galapagos Islands, and carbon dioxide emissions from planes are a growing contributor to global warming.

You don’t need to sacrifice your own comfort level to be a green traveler. The following are some Green Vacation Tips:

1. Respect local cultures and their ways of life.
2. Stay at eco-friendly resorts and lodges – I once stayed at an eco-friendly resort in Cancun, Mexico that had their own zoo. It was a wonderful experience that I highly reccomend.
3. While on your green vacation, look into earth friendly transportation like walking, bike riding or public transportation. I rarely rent a vehicle while I’m on vacation. I usually choose to walk or cab it everywhere. Plus it give me a much needed break from driving. If you live in Southern California then you know what I mean.
4. While staying at your eco-friendly hotel or resort, consider taking short showers, turning all lights and AC off when you are not in your room and brining your own toiletries so you don’t have to use the ones that are provided by the hotel.

I hope these Green Vacation travel tips will be of some help to you and makes your next excursion a more rewarding, authentic travel experience, encouraging deeper connections with the people and places you visit.

Looking for a Destination

If you are looking for a green, Zen, or otherwise tranquil and spiritual destination for your next trip or long weekend, check out our travel section for information about Ashrams, Yoga and Zen centers you can visit and for special stories about many incredible international destinations.