Our Expert Tips for Eco-Friendly Travel
A look at the best ways to travel without hurting the environment
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Perhaps the pandemic has made us a tad more mindful of the frailty of not only our own health, but of the planet, too. Climate change is slowly (or quickly, depending on your levels of panic) changing the face of the Earth, and most of us want to stop it…though not at the expense of our lovely holidays - let’s not be hasty. So, it looks like both climate change and holidays are here to stay - particularly as we’re all desperate to get back travelling after pandemics, lockdowns, and health crises. The best we can do, then, is to make our carbon footprint slightly less noticeable (or at least make ourselves feel a tad better). That’s where eco-friendly travel comes in. Eco appears to stand for ecology, but could also mean Encyclopaedia of Chess Openings or Elite Combat Operatives…so make sure you get the context right. We here at Plum Guide regularly go above and beyond for our guests, but now it's time to go above and beyond for our planet, hence this guide. We've thought of all sorts of things you can do to help the planet a touch, from ridding yourself of plastic bags and travelling within your own country, to holidaying in small groups and drinking local beers, so read on.
Pack lightly and put the plastic aside
A bird's eye view of a small suitcase being filled with clothes
The first big no-no, as far as the planet is concerned, is plastic. Try not to pack stuff in any plastic bags. That said, if the plastic bag is already in your house, it’s hard to see how it can do much harm being used in your packing. Just don’t go out buying a bunch of new plastic bags and bottles and what-not, because that is bad (we’re not scientists, but the scientists say it’ll all be bad, and we have decided to take their advice on board). However, it’s not just about the plastics. We can also help the planet by packing a little lighter on our trips away. The more the plane weighs, the more fuel it uses - so your extra pair of lead pyjamas are doing more harm than good. Many of us tend to overpack, out of fear we’ll find ourselves in all sorts of situations (what if it snows in the Costa del Sol? Better bring the old woolly hat and coat). It probably won’t snow, and if it does - you can buy a coat on one of your trips to the Banus Marina Mall or the various markets of Andalusia.
Ecuestre, Plum Guide home in Spain
Avoid air travel and stick to the roads
A bird's eye view of a car driving along a dirt road in a forest
As you probably know by now, one of the least eco-friendly travel options is air travel. And if you live in the UK or the US, then you’ve got so many top destinations on your doorstep. You could hang out in the Hamptons, or jaunt through the Joshua Tree National Park on either side of the States. Or, in the British Isles, come to Cornwall, drive to Dorset, or suffer silently in Suffolk (just kidding, that should say ‘saunter’ or ‘stroll’, really). In any case, we have exclusive homes spread across the UK that are every bit as appealing as those in lands far-flung. You’ll help the environment, but also learn more about your home country - not only at the destination, but as you’re travelling through the countryside on the way.
Leti, Plum Guide home in Cornwall, UK
Travel in smaller groups
Two people travelling in a small group enjoying the views of Mount Hood, USA
Evidence appears to suggest that larger groups cause a greater (in the negative sense of the word) carbon footprint, so if you really care about the environment, stick to solo or couples travelling. We have countless homes around the world that are just perfect for individuals or pairs. Once in the home of your dreams, treat it as you would your own, saving energy on things like the heating, gas, and electricity usage. Do you really need that long shower, and must you change that towel every time you use it? It might be that your answer is yes, and that long showers and new towels in large groups are integral to your enjoyment of a holiday. If that be the case, perhaps you can focus more on the other suggestions in this guide.
Borne Back, Plum Guide home in The Hamptons, USA
Eat local to do your bit for the planet
Tomatoes and other vegetables for sale at a farmer's market
Eating and drinking local products, such as beer, can help cut down what is known as the ‘beer mileage’. You’re contributing, however slightly, to the reduction of travel required for that beer to go from the brewery to your lips. It may seem like we’re encouraging you to be more nationalistic and anti-social - ‘Stay in your own country, drink local, pack less, and travel alone.’ We don’t really expect you to do all of those things all of the time. But if you are worried about your carbon footprint, and really care about eco-friendly travel, those are some of the steps we can all take. We can also avoid bottled water, take public transport, and stick to the walking trails in places like the Joshua Tree National Park - you wouldn't want to erode the rest of the park with your clumpy feet.
Saw it Written, Plum Guide home in California, USA
Embrace slow travel
Four bicycles stood against a plain wall in Copenhagen, Denmark
Slow travel is already an incredibly viable option for your holiday, but the eco-friendly side of it all just makes it even more appealing. Of course, with slow travel, the connection you can make to a new destination is second to none, with time and money spent in smaller, lesser-known areas - help those communities thrive. You’ll also enjoy a more authentic experience, and build relationships with people who otherwise may not even cross your path. The beauty of slow travel though, amongst those already mentioned, is its positive impact on the planet. Take travel in Copenhagen for example - bicycles are readily available around every corner, so there’s no need to add to the ever-growing clouds of pollution with a taxi ride or a hire car. You can see all that a destination has to offer, walking rarely-trodden paths and cycling along the backroads when you aren’t travelling against the clock - you’ll also find that any stress goes out the window. Staying somewhere for longer also means that you will inevitably take less trips across a year, which subsequently means less overseas travel. The planet really will thank you.
Refrain from eating meat
A selection of vegan dishes and dips on a table
Meat is a favourite of many, many people, and that’s fine - it can be delicious. But omitting meat from your diet, just for the length of your holiday, is one of the greatest ways to reduce your personal involvement in the planet’s rapid warming. Beef and lamb are guilty of producing large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere, while vegetables and meat substitutes quietly go about their business at no detriment to the environment. Ditching your meat meals for vegan or dairy alternatives can also help reduce the spread of diseases, and even play a part in preventing such extreme deforestation. Anyway, if the meal alternatives were bad, there wouldn’t be so many determined vegans or vegetarians across the world - if they can do it, why can’t you? It will give you an opportunity to try new delicacies - you may even discover your new favourite dish, all while saving the planet. That’s definitely a win-win.
