With remote work continuing to rise in popularity, more people are looking to make the world their office and travel to places they’ve never been before. However, with this rise in travel, we must be mindful of how we can travel sustainably. 

Changes don’t have to be immense for them to make a difference. For example, making minor changes to your travel plans can help you make more sustainable choices in the future. In addition, there are many ways to travel that can help local environments and the world.  

Eating and drinking locally not only limits the time and resources used to get your food to you but also helps boost the local economy. Skip the chain restaurants and McDonald’s for more locally owned and sourced places to eat and drink. Try a local brewery or winery and taste some local flavors while enjoying guided tasting tours.

To ensure you are going to the best local places, research before leaving for your trip. Read reviews and look up what the area offers locally to plan accordingly. Whether it’s lobster in Maine or BBQ in Texas, spending a little extra time searching for local places to dine is good for the local economy and probably tastes better, but it is also good for the environment.

With more and more sites advertising eco-friendly and sustainable accommodations, knowing where to look is impossible, and some accommodations might not be as eco-friendly as they advertise. Airbnb can look like the easiest, cheapest, and most sustainable choice for your next trip; however, that isn’t entirely true. 

Airbnb continues to be criticized heavily for contributing to the housing crisis. With so many people buying properties in popular areas and driving up the cost of rent, it has become near impossible for renters in some cities to find housing, with many renters forced to leave altogether. 

Alternatively, sites like Wayaj and Ecobnb allow guests to book accommodations at sustainable hotels and resorts and suggest eco-friendly itineraries for their next vacation. 

Sustainable travel is all about traveling in ways that do less or no harm to the environment, and protecting the local wildlife is a part of that. As the saying goes, “Always leave a place better than you found it.” Everyone should make sure they pick up any trash and take everything they bring with them when they leave. 

Many tourist attractions worldwide use animals as the main event, using them for rides and a selfie opportunity. This type of tourism can harm the well-being of the animal and further endorses using animals for entertainment. 

According to Wild Welfare, tourism that includes any “circus-style” animal show, an attraction that lets you take a selfie with, ride, or cuddle an animal, should be avoided. Instead, they suggest supporting facilities and organizations that allow you to see the animals going about their daily lives with zero human interaction. For example, several sustainable lodges in Africa offer humans the opportunity to get up close with local wildlife without causing any harm to the animals. 

Before leaving, you can travel with the environment in mind. Buying new travel accessories can be one of the most fun parts of a trip, but it can often be the most wasteful. 

Between the tiny plastic travel shampoo bottles and the entire wardrobe you will inevitably buy just for this trip, the waste can add up quickly. To add some sustainability to your packing, opt for reusable toiletry bottles. The goal is to avoid as much single-use plastic as possible and reduce overall waste. 

If you plan to buy new clothes for your trip, try to shop sustainably. While many eco-friendly brands can be a little pricey, investing in good quality, timeless, and sustainable pieces can elevate your wardrobe and help the environment. Second-hand clothing retailers, like ThredUp, are also a sustainable option if you are looking for more variety and affordability. 

Sustainable travel can be intimidating, but now more than ever, it is crucial for all of us to find more eco-friendly ways to travel and pack. Simple changes, whether eating at local restaurants or using as little single-use plastic as possible, can make significant environmental differences. 

Traveling and opening our minds to new cultures is a privilege that is becoming more accessible every year. However, as a global community, it is our responsibility to ensure we live in harmony with the environment around us.