The recent increase in wildfires, especially in the Amazon and in Lebanon, has got me thinking more about the environment. Normally, I try to reduce waste; whether plastics or energy, in my daily life. This got me thinking – can beautiful destinations be the price we’d have to pay for climate change and other environmental crises? This pushed me to raise more awareness about eco-travel and how traveling sustainably can make a change.

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5 Eco-Travel Tips to Consider

Simple actions may seem insignificant, but if more people do it, this could be the beginning of change. Travel sustainably, follow the following easy eco-travel tips and help preserve this beautiful planet we call home. We still haven’t seen it all!

#1 Cut down your plastic waste

This one’s obvious, of course, and it goes without saying. Single-use plastics can take up to 1,000 years to decompose, so imagine how many plastic bottles could you be wasting while sightseeing or hiking. Carry a reusable bottle if you have access to clean water. If you don’t, there really good bottles with a built-in filter that you could purchase online.

Other than that, try to reduce your plastic consumption as much as you can to travel sustainably. For instance, carry a tote bag with you in case you buy anything and try not to buy products with plastic packaging.

#2 Walk/cycle more often

Walking or cycling doesn’t just save money spent on gas but also helps save the environment – it’s one of those ways you could experience more and pay less. This way hitting multiple birds with a rock and not just two. You’ll be saving money spent on transportation, you’ll be enjoying the beautiful scenery and exploring more (such a perk for photographers), and you won’t be contributing to pollution. Of course, driving is inevitable, but at least you could walk or ride a bike when you don’t really need a car.

#3 Be good to mother nature

Natural protectorates, beaches, canyons, forests, and any God-given gifts in the form of nature suffer heavily from tourism. Don’t leave any waste behind, and by that, I mean ANY waste and not necessarily just yours. For instance, if you see any cigarette butts, plastic bottles, or old bags of chips laying on the beach or your hiking spot, you might as well collect them. This way, you’d be doing mother nature a huge favor! And if you see someone throwing trash, don’t be afraid to walk up to them and politely ask them not to. Simple eco-travel practices like this one can really make a difference.

#4 Try to aim for fewer connection flights

I know this one’s hard for all of us. Connection flights mean cheaper tickets, but you don’t need a budget to ace this eco-travel tip. If you plan your trips in advance, you could also land yourself some great deals. Try not to wait until the last minute to book your tickets so you could find cheap direct flights or ones with one layover or something.

#5 Stay in a hostel or an eco-hotel

Apart from the thrilling hostel experience, staying in a dorm room with other people can actually do wonders when it comes to saving energy and resources. For the least, you can save electricity and water as they’re shared between 4-10 people. Imagine having four different travelers, taking a long shower at the same time in four different rooms, putting on four different ACs? If you’re more of a hotel person, then at least try to find an eco-lodge or a hotel that follows eco-friendly tourism practices like the Marriott hotel in Zamalek, Cairo.

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Relevant Read:

• Staying in a Hostel: How to Pick and Book

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• 5 Ways to Experience More and Pay Less When Traveling?

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