Want to travel more sustainably without too much effort or cost? I’ve put together these easy sustainable travel tips to give you a helping hand.
By making small changes and swaps you can make a big difference to your carbon footprint without having to overhaul everything.
I’ve also included a few eco-friendly destinations for you to consider for your next adventure.
Contents
- Cost Effective Changes for Sustainable DIY Travel
- Choose Greener Transport When You Can
- 🧳Pack with the Planet in Mind
- 🌊 Switch to Marine-Friendly Sun Cream
- 💦 Use a Water Bottle with a Built-In Filter
- Use Less Water
- Support Local and Choose Low-Impact Experiences
- 🌍 Visit Eco-Friendly Travel Destinations
- European Eco-Friendly Destinations
- Top Long-Haul Eco-Friendly Destinations
- Leave No Trace
- Conclusion
Cost Effective Changes for Sustainable DIY Travel
We all like the sound of sustainable travel but understandably the higher cost can put people off, especially when you are trying to travel for less.
For this reason, I’ve put together a few sustainable travel tips that can help you travel in a more eco-friendly way while still keeping costs low.
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Choose Greener Transport When You Can
🚄 Take the Eurostar Instead of Flying
⭐ Did you know that the Eurostar emits up to 90% less CO₂ than flights?
I know – Eurostar prices can be pretty steep – but I’ve come across a handy site called Eurostar Snap where you can buy Eurostar tickets at up to 50% cheaper than the standard price. Sounds too good to be true? Take a look 👇
How it works:
- You choose a date and time slot.
- They pick your train and send you your times at least 48 hrs before travel.
Con: You can only take up to 3 friends.
⭐ This is a great option for city hopping trips around Europe.
Once you get to Europe, rail fare is much better than it is here in the UK. One of our best trips ever was a month Eurorailing across Europe.
👉 Check out Trainline for train tickets around Europe including European Rail Passes
⛴️ Try Ferries for Crossings
⭐ Great for slow travel fans!
Ferries can be greener and cheaper than short-haul flights and there are lots of different routes available. You can get the ferries to France, Spain, Amsterdam and a few other places.
Bring your own car, or enjoy mini-cruise comforts. Having your own car means you can take lots of stuff with you, without airline restrictions – great for families.
👉 Try compareferries.com to compare prices across all the ferry companies that travel from the UK to Europe.
🚇 Use Public Transport
Probably the easiest and most cost effective of these sustainable travel tips is to use public transport. Not only is this the greener choice – it is cheaper too.
Go Digital
Go digital with tickets and guide but always send copies to a trusted person in case you lose your phone.
Offset Your Carbon Footprint
🌳Consider using a trusted website like Atmosfair to offset your flight carbon footprint. You load in your flight details and it gives you a price to offset your emissions.
🧳Pack with the Planet in Mind
🌊 Switch to Marine-Friendly Sun Cream
Ordinary sun creams along with rising sea temperatures damage coral reefs and marine life. Coral bleaching contributes to more global warming, freak weather patterns and destruction.
What you can do
Look for reef-safe options – avoid oxybenzone and octinoxate. Brands to consider: Green People, Suntribe and Stream2Sea.
To check your sunscreen is marine friendly – check on Save The Reef, which gives you a list of harmful chemicals.
Reef safe sunscreen is not as expensive as it used to be, you can buy travel size sun cream by GreenPeople on Amazon for around £20.
👉 Buy GreenPeople Reef Safe Sunscreen on Amazon
💦 Use a Water Bottle with a Built-In Filter
Cut down on plastic bottles by taking a reusable water bottle. If you are travelling to countries where the water is not drinkable – you can buy a bottle with an inbuilt filter.
👉 Try LifeStraw available on Amazon – a less expensive choice.
Other Reusable Items to Consider
- Reusable bags for shopping trips.
- Bamboo cutlery if you are eating on the go.
- Solid toiletries – environmentally friendly, less liquids and weight.
Pack Light
Packing lighter, is better for the environment and makes your life simpler too.
🔗Blog to Read: See my guide to smarter Packing to see how you can reduce your load.
Use Less Water
Many countries we travel to have low rainfall and water is scarce. You can help by:
- Re-using hotel towels – to save water and electricity.
- Take shorter showers and turn the tap off when cleaning your teeth.
Support Local and Choose Low-Impact Experiences
I find one of the easiest and most satisfying sustainable travel tips is to support local economies.
By choosing local and ethical businesses for your hotel accommodations, restaurants, shopping and days out – you will not only be travelling more sustainably you will also be supporting local economies and communities.
Better Choices:
- Stay in family-run guesthouses or eco-hotels.
- Dine at local cafés and markets instead of chains.
- Choose experiences led by local guides, not big tour operators.
- Choose ethical animal sanctuaries and experiences.
Buy Local Products
Buying local products benefits the local economy, reduces carbon emissions and supports the continuation of traditional skills.
Spending your cash where you can actually meet the people who make the products feels so much better than buying from faceless mass producing companies.
🌍 Visit Eco-Friendly Travel Destinations
Here is a list of places that you can visit that make it easy to travel responsibly.
European Eco-Friendly Destinations
Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Easily reached by Eurostar or ferry.
- Amsterdam is famous for being a bike-first city with excellent public transport.
- Lots of green hotels and organic restaurants.
Ljubljana, Slovenia
- European Green Capital award-winner 2016.
- Walkable old town, extensive recycling, car-free zones.
- Perfect for a weekend break or part of a Slovenia road trip.
Bilbao or San Sebastián, Spain
- Reachable via ferry to Bilbao or Santander, then a short train ride.
- Lots of freshly made local dining spots – specialising in pintxos.
- You’ll find an efficient public transport system, taking you to fantastic restaurants, museums and beaches.
Zermatt, Switzerland
- Car-free Alpine town; only electric vehicles allowed.
- Powered by hydroelectric energy.
- Ideal for nature lovers and hikers.
Brittany, France
- Easy ferry access from the UK.
- Coastal towns promote green tourism.
- Known for walking routes, cycling paths, and local produce.
Reykjavik, Iceland
- Almost all of Iceland’s electricity and heating is generated by hydroelectric and geothermal resources.
- Its Sustainable Planning Policy is first rate and makes Iceland an international leader in sustainable living.
- Plus, there is tons of cool stuff to see and do!
Top Long-Haul Eco-Friendly Destinations
Costa Rica
- Over 25% of the country is protected land, with rainforests, wildlife reserves, and national parks.
- It has 98% renewable energy, lots of eco-friendly lodges and a strong focus on community-based and wildlife-friendly tourism.
- Great for: Nature lovers, adventure seekers, and ethical wildlife encounters.
Belize
- Home to the second largest barrier reef in the world with strong protections in place.
- Belize has many eco-resorts and marine conservation programmes, protected jungle reserves and Maya cultural sites.
- Great for: Diving, snorkelling, sustainable beach stays, and home stays.
Bhutan
- Bhutan is the world’s only carbon-negative country.
- They have a strict tourism policy promoting: “High value, low impact”
- Its forest covers over 70% of the country. They aim to preserve cultural heritage and natural ecosystems
- Great for: Cultural immersion, trekking, and responsible travel.
South Africa
- My daughter’s favourite country – South Africa has a thriving ecotourism scene, especially in game reserves and national parks. She volunteered at a reserve.
- There are many conservation initiatives so that tourists can experience wildlife viewing sustainably. For example, private reserves that fund conservation.
- Great for: Safari, coastlines, and supporting local economies.
Japan
- Japan has an efficient public transport and a rising emphasis on sustainable tourism.
- Their extensive rail system is one of the most energy-efficient in the world.
- Great for: Culture, green cities and responsible travel experiences.
Canada (especially British Columbia)
- Huge areas of Canada are wilderness and there is a strong green tourism sector.
- You can go whale watching with licensed ethical operators.
- Take part in indigenous-led experiences and stay in one of the many eco-lodges
- Great for: Nature lovers, wildlife encounters, and slow travel.
✈️ Tip: Balance your flight emissions with your carbon footprint by offsetting your flight.
Leave No Trace
Never take anything from the natural environment. It may seem harmless to take the odd shell, rock or crystal but when thousands of visitors do the same is has a huge impact. Take only photos, leave only footprints. 👣👣
Conclusion
Travel can be both incredible and kind to the planet. Even the smallest change – like switching your sunscreen or hopping on a train – helps.
Why not try one new eco swap on your next trip – or plan a getaway to one of these green destinations!
👇Download my Eco-Friendly Bucket List Canva Template! 👇
What are some of the changes you have made towards travelling more sustainably ? Let me know your favourite sustainable travel tips in the comments! 😊
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