Six tips for considered and conscious travel
Take the most direct route
It can be more economical to take longer or connecting routes when traveling, but we often forget that the more time we spend on planes and trains and in cars, the greater carbon footprint we leave behind. Do your best to take the shortest route to your destination; our Earth’s atmosphere will thank you. And
don’t forget to purchase carbon offsets through a service like CarbonFund.org.
Travel with reusable amenities
Skip the single-use toiletries and water bottles at hotels and bring your own along. There are tons of reusable toiletry amenity bottles and reusable water bottles on the market. Our personal favorite is EDITION’s Stay Plastic Free bottle from NAECO, available at ShopEdition.com
Reuse hotel towels and sheets
Hotel stays can be luxurious and indulgent without fresh sheets and towels each day. We don’t wash our sheets and towels everyday at home and we don’t need to at hotels either! Save water and energy and feel good about lessening your impact. Keep it clean and don’t be mean.
Eat local
Plant-based and local organic food has become widely accepted as the highest-quality, healthiest option. It also happens to be the most sustainable as carbon emissions and plastic use are virtually eliminated due to less shipping and packaging needs. Besides, the next time you are biting into
a steak, think of the earth-damaging methane coming out of the cow.
Respect the local culture
We travel to explore, learn, and expose ourselves to environments that are different to our day-to-day. Conscious travel requires an openness to the community and culture around you. Celebrate diversity at all levels by shopping local, volunteering, and partying with revelers from all nationalities, backgrounds, and persuasions.
Be mindful
A mindfulness practice is key to getting the most out of travel. Meditation can help alleviate jet lag, improve overall sleep, and relieve stress and anxiety while adventuring the globe. We love the app from Inscape, which makes guided meditations accessible and fun, no matter where you are.