Sustainable Travel Tips for Responsible Travelers
Sustainable travel to reduce our travel impact on the planet is nowadays one of the most important trends in the tourism industry. Do you want to know how to travel more eco-friendly? How to be a better tourist? Here are helpful tips on the best ways to be a responsible and sustainable traveler.
This post is going to be about sustainable traveling and about the way how every person can become a responsible traveler. Sustainable travel is a complex topic, and there are so many views and so many opinions that at first, we did not find it easy to orientate ourselves and define our attitude.
We feel that reducing an impact on our environment should be more about the personal attitude than about strict rules.
It should be something natural, and all travelers should do their best to protect all those beautiful places on our planet, not because they have to, but because they can and want.
I heard first about sustainable tourism several years ago, when I was studying at a university.
Back then, it was just a definition, a bunch of theoretical words I had to memorize to pass an exam, and there was no reason to think about it much, as when on school, I did not travel that often.
But it all changed a few years later. Martin and I started traveling more frequently. That's when we started to read more about sustainable travel trends.
Traveling abroad expanded our horizons, and we learned a lot of things.
One of them was that we need to pay attention to the environment more, and we cannot take the beauty of planet Earth for granted.
Thanks to exploring foreign countries and using various means of transport, we soon realized that tourism could have a negative impact not only on the environment but also on local communities.
This soon realization opened our eyes, and we started to make more conscious decisions when traveling abroad. Yes, you hear it right. We did not stop traveling. We did not stop using airplanes, even though we know that many people did that.
In general, we do not like extremes, and although it can sound too selfish, we really like traveling, exploring new cultures and places, and we cannot imagine giving it up.
Tourism and inspiring people to travel is also our job and one of the reasons why we started a travel blog. But we are sure there is a way to travel more sustainably, ethically, ecologically, and responsibly.
For us, traveling sustainably is like getting back to the basics.
Same as when we are at home, in a foreign country, we try to do our best to leave the absolute minimum impact on the place we visit, to travel as authentically we can, to support local people, while still having fun.
You do not have to feel overwhelmed when you decide to become a responsible traveler. Not at all.
Follow our tips step by step, and the outcome will be great. It is essential to say that sometimes it is not possible to be fully sustainable, as often there can be no optimal way of transport, or the more eco-friendly option would cost a fortune.
What is important is to know the principles and do your best to follow them when possible. And we believe that you can travel more sustainably even on a budget.
No one is perfect, but imagine if every traveler did at least one thing to become more responsible.
Like one of our favorite travel quotes says - greatness from small beginnings.
Green travel is not difficult; you just need practice. You'll see it is not hard to travel sustainably, you will have a good feeling, and in some cases, you will even save money!
WHAT IS SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL
What is then the definition of sustainable tourism? It is necessary to say there are many definitions, and we are sure many new will be developed or slightly modified in the next years since this movement changes fast the same as the world.
Responsible tourism reacts to the changes, both negative and positive, and implement new things to people's lives.
When I was at university, I had to memorize the official definition of UNWTO: "Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts, addressing the needs of visitors, the industry, the environment, and host communities."
What does it mean in practice?
We have to realize that there is no tourism without traveling. When we take into account how many people are nowadays dependent on income from tourism, it is clear that protecting the jobs for local people should be the priority.
So when we do not stop traveling, what should we do?
Translate the definition into human language, break the seemingly difficult sentence into several steps, and try to do our best to protect the destination we are visiting.
As we want to leave the destination in the same state for the next generations, it is necessary to take a break and think of new ways of traveling.
Be respectful to the local communities, use renewable resources, participate in local economies, be well-informed about the place we are traveling to, or support the integrity of foreign cultures.
BEST WAYS TO TRAVEL SUSTAINABLY
We sincerely believe that a community of responsible travelers who are mindful of their everyday actions on the road can make the difference.
You do not have to do everything, but as much as possible. Even small steps count.
All great things start with a single thought, so it would be quite an achievement if every traveler, even traveler-to-be, closed their eyes for a while, and focused on stuff they can easily do to reduce the impact on the environment.
Or you can simply read our tips below, and choose the steps that seem doable for you.
Once you start supporting local businesses, or reducing your plastic, it will become natural to you, and you will want to be involved more.
We are not perfect ourselves.
During more than a decade of traveling, we made quite many travel mistakes, things that were not eco-friendly to the given destination.
And it is unavoidable that we make some of those mistakes again in the future. Every time we travel, we learn something new.
According to us, what matters is that we always realize what we could have done better because the worst things come from ignorance. We try to learn from our mistakes and not repeat them.
Are you looking for sustainable travel tips?
We've put together a list of things every responsible traveler can do to make the world better.
SUPPORT LOCAL BUSINESSES
One of the best and easiest things you can do abroad is to support local businesses. It sometimes can be hard to distinguish the real, local business as you never know where your money really goes, unless the company has released the statement they share publicly.
We think that many things in sustainable tourism are about trust between travelers and representatives of the local community.
You can, for example, stop visiting international fast-food chains in a foreign country, and start to eat locally.
One of the pillars of sustainable tourism is supporting the economy of the destination you visit, and one of the clues can be seen in the real people selling the goods.
Normally, we do not shop souvenirs as it takes a lot of space in the backpack, but we could not resist buying a shawl in the mountains in Ranipauwa from a lady with three or four kids running around.
In moments like this, you will realize that your money goes where they probably should, and the feeling that you did not add a couple of dollars to anonymous millionaire’s pocket, but that you've just ‘bought dinner’ for a specific family, is priceless.
We also like staying in homestays, guesthouses, or in places where it is obvious it is run by local communities, like the camp in Wadi Rum desert in Jordan that was run by Bedouins.
Finding a real local business in a city, you've never been to might be a daunting task.
From our experience, it is much easier to find them in Southeast Asia or South America than in Europe, as brick-and-mortar stores are not that common.
Your best bet will be then local markets. When traveling, we never fail to visit the market. Beware of tourist markets, though.
When no locals are shopping around you, just tourists, it is not the market you are looking for.
TRAVEL WITH COMPANIES THAT SUPPORT LOCAL COMMUNITY
Before you book a tour, try to do thorough research about the company and its values. If you want to be a sustainable traveler, you should not mind spending more time searching for a company you would like to support.
Your decision can change the lives of many people.
Of course, a company that provides fair conditions to its employees might be a bit more expensive, and if you travel on a budget, you can be reluctant to pay more, but it is good to know there is this option, in case you'll be able to splurge a bit on your next trip.
As an example, we can use two hikes we did in Peru, Salkantay Trek and Inca Trail.
We have opted for a good and reputable company for many reasons, but one of them was that they do as much as possible to be sustainable.
They provide work for porters, and what is most important, they pay them well. Women are welcome here, and they organize many social projects to support local communities, especially kids.
This was one of the main things why we found this company attractive.
It is inspiring to meet on the road people with similar interests and who are not indifferent to the destination where they live.
We see traveling as an opportunity to learn about different cultures, and it is a great feeling to contribute to the local economy and actually see results that can happen when a company treats the environment and their employees ethically.
REDUCE YOUR PLASTIC USAGE
We never forget a day trip from Santa Ana in El Salvador to Santa Ana Volcano. When we were waiting for our bus back to the city, a bus full of locals stopped on the side of the road at the trailhead, and people went shopping for snacks.
In about five minutes, they were all back on the bus, but the driver took his time to take a break.
After several minutes, we heard funny noises, and when we turned, we could see that all passengers were throwing the rubbish, all the plastic bottles, and cans, on the road.
When the bus left, the road was covered with trash.
Sometimes, traveling in a foreign country is outrageous, especially in less developed countries that still have a long journey ahead to become sustainable.
We do not blame them - no one has ever taught them what to do with rubbish, and the usage of plastic has increased in the past decade, so they do not know how to deal with it.
But there is nothing easier than set an example and reduce your plastic usage when traveling.
In Southeast Asia or South America, vendors are able to pack each apple separately to a plastic bag, but the solution is simple: bring your own reusable bag and say politely that you do not need a bag.
The same goes for water bottles.
In many countries, such as the Czech Republic, tap water is drinkable so that you can bring your own reusable water bottle.
Not only will you save the environment, but also money.
It can be a bit more complicated in many destinations to get drinkable water, but you can still avoid buying plastic bottles. When we trekked around Annapurnas, we refilled our water bottles from the local water tanks instead of buying plastic bottles.
If you are more serious about this topic, consider investing in water bottles with filters, LifeStraw or SteriPen.
Reducing plastics does not end once you come back from your vacation. It can become your lifestyle. It is not about not using plastic at all, but to reduce the usage to the minimum.
And of course, recycle it later.
You've probably registered on social media lately that people started using reusable straws or avoiding straws, and thanks to these heroic actions, they think they will save the world.
Sorry, we are quite realistic, and we never understood why people actually need straws to drink.
On the other hand, these small actions that at least raise the awareness are also necessary, no matter how silly they might seem.
LEAVE NO TRACE
Even though this sustainable travel tip should be the mantra for most of the travelers, after visiting many remote places that showed negative signs of the presence of people, it seems that repeating the words leave no trace behind, is unavoidable.
Nothing can infuriate us more than garbage, paper towels, and plastic bottles littered on the ground in nature.
We think that not only all travelers but also all people breathing on this planet should never leave anything behind.
We believe you keep your home clean.
Well, then consider forests, beaches, or meadows as your home too.
Some tips on how to become a more sustainable traveler can seem to be a bit harder to be realized, but leaving no trace in a destination you visit is super easy.
We learned the importance of this motto in New Zealand, where we were often hiking several days in a row in the country's backcountry.
For many days we had to carry all our rubbish in the backpack and throw it away once we returned to the civilization with public bins.
Wrappers are very light, and there is no reason to leave it behind.
Another our favorite travel quote that sums it up nicely says: Take only memories, leave only footprints.
CARBON OFFSETTING
Flying has a quite significant impact on the environment. And not the positive one. Is there any way you can reduce your impact, except for the obvious, fly less or not at all?
Well, at the moment, we would say there is not much you can do, but it is worth knowing about options or alternatives you can sponsor and feel better about your travels.
One of these projects is carbon offsetting.
You've probably already noticed that when you are buying a flight ticket to Costa Rica or Iceland, the company asks you just before the payment, whether you want to pay extra dollars (the price depends on the length of the flight) for carbon offsetting.
This payment will then support a project that helps compensate for the emissions caused by you sitting on the plane.
It sounds a bit futuristic, and in many ways, it is because no one has yet invented any project that would actually find a way to reduce emissions significantly. You can donate and believe that one day a company will come up with a solution.
Honestly, we usually don’t pay for carbon offsetting, as it is too abstract to us (it again proves that you do not have to follow every single tip out there to be responsible traveler), but it is good to know about the option.
It is only up to you whether you decide to pay extra for your flight, but we recommend you search the internet for more detailed carbon offsetting posts, so you'll get the full picture.
We believe there is a better way, scroll down to the next tip!
BUY DIRECT FLIGHTS
From the whole length of the flight, during takeoff and landing, the plane's carbon emissions are the highest.
Therefore, it makes sense to search for direct flights before you buy the flight ticket.
Not only is taking a direct and longer flight much more comfortable, but you'll do good for our environment.
Of course, direct flight to your destination might not be available, but when it is, consider this option.
Only one click here can make a difference.
CHOOSE A SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT
It is impossible to travel without using any kind of transport. Of course, several green transport options exist; they are usually very budget-friendly.
We are now talking about hiking, biking, or hitchhiking, but we realize this travel style is not for everyone.
Plus, we are not mentioning that you would need much more time than the usual one or two weeks to explore a country. Nevertheless, when searching for options on how to be a more sustainable traveler, why not to try traveling by bus or train more often?
Nowadays, choices are endless.
Sometimes, taking a very long night bus does not make sense, but often traveling by bus or train can be travel experience on its own and a unique possibility to meet locals.
We remember considering a super-cheap flight from Cartagena to Medellin.
Still, then we decided to take a bus instead as we knew it would simply be more environmentally friendly, and we did not mind sleeping on the bus.
Train transportation is more expensive in many countries, but getting around by busses is usually much cheaper, and today, in most cases, it is even quite comfortable.
If you travel by car, consider car-sharing.
TRAVEL LOCALLY
We believe that after 2020, many travelers will find out that there are so many places to explore in their backyard, they will start traveling locally even more.
Every cloud has a silver lining, and the crisis that hit the whole world might at least do a favor to our environment and mindset.
Exploring exotic countries, as far as possible from our homes, is excellent. But local travel is a big thing too.
Still, more and more responsible travelers stay closer to their home countries to get to know the area better and lower their impact on the environment.
We live in the Czech Republic, the heart of Europe, and we often see our neighboring countries as places where we can skip for now, and leave them for later when we are older.
It is probably one of the biggest mistakes a traveler can make, so we plan on changing this attitude this year.
SAY NO TO ANIMAL TOURISM
One of the pillars of sustainable tourism is to behave ethically to all beings, animals included. If you visit attractions where animals serve as the primary entertainment source, you should be very careful.
Unfortunately, tourism and the needs of some particular travelers can be quite cruel.
This is not because the people are cruel in general but because they require a service that companies working in the industry want to deliver.
One of the best ways how to become a sustainable traveler is to be well-informed. This is particularly the case when a tourist attraction involves animals.
A responsible traveler will always read more about the company, its values, and how they treat the animals.
We know that it is easy to write something on paper and then act differently, so if you can, avoid entertainment and programs that include animals.
Again, we are not that strict, we, for example, do not say you should not go to a zoo as many zoos out there treat animals well and they raise awareness and increase education about endangered animal species.
Once again, read reviews first before you go.
In Bohol, a beautiful island famous for its population of tarsiers, you have many options to see these amazing animals in sanctuaries. Still, I believe there is ONLY one proper wildlife sanctuary where you can see them in natural habitat and not in cages. Make sure its the right one.
On the other hand, we believe there is no better way than to see animals in their natural habitat.
We absolutely loved our week in the jungle in Peru, where we followed the roar of howler monkeys for an hour until we finally spotted them.
Or the time we spent on the Galapagos Islands - until today, the absolutely natural encounters with animals belong among our best travel memories ever.
FIND INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR NEXT DESTINATION
It is not possible to make best-informed decisions without researching information about your next destination.
Once you choose the final destination for the upcoming holidays, before you set off, it is a good idea to read about politics, society, habits, religion, and so on.
Thanks to it, you will know the ups and downs of the destination, and you might come up with new ideas on how to behave to ensure you treat the place and local people with respect, and no faux-pas will happen on the way.
RESPECT LOCAL COMMUNITIES
One of the best things about traveling is the opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds.
It is inspiring to discover how people live on the other side of the planet, and we never miss a chance to travel to the most remote corners of the country to explore the place as authentically as possible.
We really enjoyed observing indigenous people in South America.
Otavalo, the market town of Ecuador, is famous for the locals keeping their traditions as they still dress in the typical clothes for this region and men prefer to have their hair tightly braided.
No traveler should ever fail to respect local communities, though. In Tayrona National Park, you can hike to El Pueblito, one of the small indigenous settlements.
You might find a way of living strange, hard to understand, but it does not change the fact that showing respect to people who let you see their everyday life is essential.
This sustainable tip is connected with the previous one.
Once you know more about the culture and the history, it will be much easier to understand why people from a community do what they do, why they dress in a certain way, and so on.
Respecting local culture has many levels, but you can achieve it by simply learning a few words in the local language, eating their food, or wearing clothes that meet their culture and habits.
SLOW TRAVEL
Slow travel is a term you can hear a lot about, and it is one of the travel styles that are quite tolerant of our environment.
Traveling slowly instead of rushing from one place to another has many benefits.
First, you will have more time to get to know the destination, soak up the atmosphere, learn more about local culture, and build meaningful connections.
Traveling is not only about ticking places off the list; it is about a significant experience that should stay with you forever.
Except for this point of view, slow travel is also much better for the environment because the less you travel, the lower is the carbon footprint.
Staying longer in one place is simply much more sustainable than travel fast and stay in every destination, only a short amount of time. This way, not only people working in the travel industry but also the local community will benefit, and this is what responsible travel is all about.
We spent three weeks in Cusco in Peru, and it’s still one of our most memorable times in our journey around South America.
To sum this up, quality over quantity makes a difference.
EAT LOCAL FOOD
One of our favorite ways how to be more sustainable that does not cause us any problem or discomfort is eating local food.
You may wonder why eating local food should be good for the planet, but it is not that hard to figure out. Imported food is expensive, and only the process of getting international food to a local store is not environmentally friendly, rather the opposite.
By eating local food, you will again support local communities, and there is a higher chance that your money will go directly to the producer.
Also, what is the point of eating fast food or international cuisine in a foreign country?
Discovering new tastes and meals can be fun, even though it is often hit or miss.
Visiting local markets can give you an idea of what people in the county eat, and you can later try it in a small restaurant or an eatery.
We won't lie to you that after a year of traveling in South and Central America, we were not quite annoyed by eating beans with rice three times a day, but we managed to be faithful to meals like this until our departure.
The food topic is much more complex, and if you want to reduce your impact on our planet, even more, you can always decrease your meat consumption.
On top of that, there are travel destinations such as Melaka in Malaysia or Hoi An in Vietnam that are worth visiting just for the food.
PACK REUSABLE AND QUALITY STUFF
Zero waste travel items that last and are functional for a long time are priceless. Before we buy reusable things for traveling, we usually read a lot of reviews, and do not mind to pay a bit more for the quality.
Why? Once you buy a quality thing, you can use it over and over, without the necessity to replace it with another product soon.
Avoid plastic bags, purchase reusable produce bags for your groceries, and use them both at home and on the road.
We also have only words of praise for our water bottles. These amazing water bottles are built like tanks, we have them for more than seven years, and so far, they seem undestroyable.
Even though we live in a materialistic world, and it is easy to keep buying new stuff, take a moment, and think about this habit.
It is not suitable for our environment, and the least you can do is to think about your next purchase a bit more carefully.
PACK LIGHT
Are you wondering what packing light has to do with sustainability and why is it one of our all-time favorite travel hacks?
We like to pack smart and light as the traveling is then much more comfortable, and we leave at home all unnecessary stuff except for the things we never leave home without.
But except for our comfort, the way we pack also influences our environment.
The heavier your backpack is, the more fuel a bus or plane needs and the more emissions it produces. Keep this in mind when you pack for your next trip.
TRAVEL OFF-THE-BEATEN-PATH
Nowadays, many destinations suffer from over-tourism. Traveling off-the-beaten-path is a great option for avoiding over-visited destinations while enjoying the joy of traveling.
It is fun to plan your travel itinerary, and although finding alternative places can be challenging, in the end, it will be really rewarding.
Sure, we know that a traveler wants to visit the country's or city's highlights such as the Empire State Building in New York or Petra in Jordan.
To elaborate even further, in Colombia, everyone goes to Villa de Leyva. But have you ever heard about Los Estoraques in Playa de Belen?
There are always alternatives to how to plan your visit, to be respectful to the environment.
When you plan on traveling to a super-popular destination, consider off-season for your visit. Traveling outside the high season is often cheaper, less crowded, and you will have a chance to see the place more authentically.
FIND A NEW TRAVEL STYLE
Some travel styles are better than others, at least when it comes to their impact on the environment. We love being active when abroad, and we found this travel style to be the best not only for our bodies but also to planet Earth.
We try to walk everywhere we can.
In Tulum, Mexico, we jogged to Tulum Ruins and back instead of taking a taxi, and from most of the train or bus stations, we also walk if the distance is up to two or three kilometers.
We do not want to brag here, it is only about a positive mindset, and you will also most likely discover a lovely eatery on the way.
We are usually not here to tell you strictly what to do or not, but if there is one travel style that causes serious damage to our environment, it is cruises.
Sorry guys, if you like to join cruises, but we just must say it aloud.
Cruises pollute the ocean, carbon emissions are super-high too, and another disadvantage is that there is no benefit to local communities.
Travelers onboard usually flood the city for a few hours and then return without meeting the people living in the city at all.
We watched large ships docked in Rio de Janeiro, and could not believe how many people fit in only one cruise.
Of course, the decision is always yours, but if you want to be a more responsible traveler, try to find a more sustainable travel style.
SAVE WATER
Many countries around the world have a problem with water. Not only with drinking water, but water in general.
Cold water is often not a norm, and hot water is a rare treat.
In countries where water shortage is a real problem, you should keep your time in shower for a minimum, but the same goes for the situation when you are visiting countries without this problem.
If you want to be an eco-friendly traveler, always opt for a shower instead of taking a bath and consider it making a habit at home as well.
It might be tempting to treat yourself in a hotel room, but isn't it much more rewarding to save water and protect our environment?
As usual, use your common sense.
After two weeks of hiking the Annapurna Circuit, we surely enjoyed a shower that took more than two minutes.
ROOM SERVICE
Same as cruises, large hotels are not exactly environment-friendly. But when in the hotel, you can follow a few easy steps to reduce your impact.
Except for saving water, consider if it is completely necessary to have your sheets and towels changed every day.
The same goes for cleaning your room. Use the do not disturb sign or leave towels hanging in the bathroom regardless of whether you are staying in New York or Sydney.
In most hotels around the world, it means that you will use them later. We like to sleep in a nice and tidy room, but we must admit that we do not change towels or sheets at home every day, do you?
Even though it might seem like a trifle, these small steps can really help save the planet.
USE ECO-FRIENDLY PRODUCTS
Not only your actions but also your preferences and goods you buy can either positively or negatively impact our environment - especially the products we use and buy every day, such as cosmetics.
We started to be more cautious about what we buy before our trip to Raja Ampat. Back then, it was one of the most remote places we had ever visited, so we started to look for options.
Thankfully, even a few years back, we were able to find a large selection of biodegradable soaps and shampoos, and we buy them ever since.
As we like snorkeling, we also pay attention to purchase reef friendly sunscreen.
For protecting yourself from mosquito bites, you can buy this bug repellent without DEET.
The options are endless; it is only good to know that products like these are often a bit more expensive.
On the other hand, when we add the price to the total price we paid for the holiday, it was not worth mentioning, and we had a much better feeling.
GO PAPERLESS
Every trip requires a large number of reservations. You need to book accommodation, transport, or activities.
If the company you travel with is sustainable, chances are, you won't need to print out the confirmation, but a screenshot on your phone should be enough.
Hopefully, it will be normal one day in the future that we won't need any papers for our travels.
We remember one flight in Lima, where an airline company wanted us to pay a fee that was higher than the actual flight ticket only because we did not have the confirmation on paper.
I was then running around the airport, trying to find a printer to avoid the fine.
Rule number one is that you should read the conditions, and if the confirmation does not say you need a paper confirmation, go paperless and save the forest.
BOOK GREEN ACCOMMODATION
More and more hoteliers understand how sustainability and the eco-friendly topic is important for their guests.
Therefore it's never been easier to find a green accommodation that implements new trends that aim to protect our planet, or at least make the least damage possible.
When looking for a hotel, you can often filter if you prefer an eco-friendly hotel, or if it is not essential for you.
Always read reviews, though. Make sure it’s not just marketing.
Being a green hotel is trendy now, but it obviously should be about what the property offers when you compare it with a standard hotel.
The eco-friendly hotel usually saves water, uses materials such as wood, avoids plastic, encourage guests to recycle, operates on solar power, employ local people, and treat them well.
There are many more things a hotel can do for the environment, and we applaud all attempts.
And by the way, in case you are a budget traveler, hostels can be eco friendly too - read our guide on how to find a good hostel.
BARGAIN RESPECTFULLY
Bargaining might sound like fun, especially if you are traveling to a country where this technique is common for the first time. But even negotiation has its ground rules.
One of the most important rules is to realize that you should pay a fair price.
Bargaining usually works that the seller offers you a price, and in some places such as Hue or Mui Ne even expects you to bargain. It is only up to you and your skills, what will be the final price.
The goal is not to pay the lowest price possible, but the fair price. Do not be too pushy, and certainly not aggressive.
Make a rough guess how much the thing costs, and then pay the agreed price once you feel this might be the right value for both of you.
Bargaining is common usually in less developed countries with a weaker economies, so make sure you do not offend the seller by your behavior.
STAY ON DESIGNATED TRAILS
Nature is fragile, and every traveler should do the best to stay on the trail to prevent any damage.
We remember this, especially from hiking in the Canadian Rockies - one of the most fragile areas is, for example, the area around Lake O'Hara.
The rangers repeated to us that we have to stick to marked trails all the time.
We would do it anyway, but it is always good to say it aloud that no shortcuts are allowed.
As avid hikers, we love going to the mountains, but we always stick to the trail. It is more comfortable, safer, and this way, we make sure we protect the unique flora.
Travel Insurance
We never leave home without travel insurance that was designed to cover our expenses if something goes wrong during the trip.
Travel insurance protects against theft, flight delays, injury, illness, cancellations, and much more.
World Nomads provides travel insurance for travelers to cover their trip essentials, including sports and adventure activities.
SafetyWing is affordable travel insurance for backpackers, long-term travelers, and digital nomads.
Travel smarter and safer!
CAMP IN THE DESIGNATED AREAS
Similar to the text above, camping is a great way to reconnect with nature. If possible, try to stay in designated areas. Most campgrounds are well defined.
In Iceland, New Zealand or the Canadian Rockies, there were many great campgrounds. From really basic ones to some with fancy facilities. Some parks with backcountry camping do not have designated sites.
Make sure that camping is allowed in these areas, and leave the place as you found it.
RESPECT THE ENVIRONMENT
All the sustainable travel tips and the journey to becoming a responsible traveler is lined with one crucial thing.
We must respect the environment and the planet where we live. You can be home or visit a destination far away, but the message is clear.
Once you realize how fragile the environment is and how negatively we affect our surroundings, it is necessary to think about what we can do better.
And as you can see, there are plenty of things to choose from.
Travel Resources
Here you can find links to all the travel resources we use and which you might find helpful when planning your next holiday.
Accommodation: When looking for accommodation, we usually search hotels via Booking.com or Hostelworld.
Tours: Although we love to travel independently, some places are better to visit with a guided tour.
We prefer GetYourGuide for its easy-to-use interface and solid reputation. Another great alternative is Viator.
Rental Cars: When going on a road trip, we always use Rentalcars.com, a reliable site for booking a rental car in advance.
Flight Tickets: When looking for flight tickets, you can search Skyscanner to find the best price.
Travel Insurance: World Nomads and SafetyWing cover against risks of travel.
