By Molly Barnes
Destination vacations are fantastic, from beautiful sights to the rich local culture and history. In a world on the brink of catastrophic ecological devastation, however, even our trips should adhere to sustainable guidelines.
Eco-friendly travel focuses on this goal—specifically, adapting one’s vacation travel habits to better suit and sustain the local area and the environment generally. With sustainable travel, supporting small and local businesses is just as important as avoiding illegally-caught seafood.
Thus, when it’s time for your next vacation, look for ways to ensure it remains sustainable. If you’re heading out on a road trip, here are four specific tips to have a safe and green journey.
- Give Your Car a Checkup
Before any road trip, you should ensure that your vehicle is shipshape. If you’re handy with vehicle maintenance, give it a look over before heading out. Make sure that your belts, gaskets, and wiring are in place and free of damage. Top off your fluids, and install new wiper blades.
Be sure that your tires match your destination. They should be free of damage and have plenty of tread life left. You should also have a functioning spare and the tools to change a flat tire. The open road is the last place you want a flat tire, but you must prepare just in case.
If you’d prefer, take your vehicle to your local mechanic. Tell them you’d like a pre-trip inspection, and they should check the vital areas to make sure the vehicle is ready. If you need new tires to match your destination (all-terrain or cold weather, for example), then ensure your tires are sustainably disposed of.
All but 13 states ban tires from landfills. As such, old tires are recycled in the other 37 states. If you change your own tires, you will have to take the old tires to a recycling center, and pay a disposal fee. If a mechanic changes your tires, they will recycle them, but you may still have to pay a disposal cost. Though extra fees are never fun, this fee ensures that your old tires are properly and sustainably recycled.
- Stay Safe, Sustainably
Even with preventative maintenance, there is always the possibility of your vehicle breaking down. In some areas of the world, this will require a wait for a tow truck. In others, it could mean waiting days for rescue.
To ensure you stay safe in case the worst happens, always bring an emergency kit. The items within the kit should match the conditions and locations you’ll be visiting. Important items include:
- Jumper cables
- Fire extinguisher
- Flares or reflective triangles
- Flashlight with extra batteries
- Extra car cell phone charger
- Basic tool kit
- Jack and tire tool or lug-nut wrench
- Snow chains, if you’re travelling in snowy regions
- Cat litter or sand (for better tire traction)
- Extra antifreeze, motor oil, and wiper fluid rated for cold temperatures
- Ice scraper
- Blankets
- Paper map of your travel area
- Non-perishable food
- An appropriate amount of water for each person
- A stocked first-aid kit
Hopefully, the emergency kit will remain closed for the entire journey, but it is always better to over-prepare rather than under-prepare. While on the road, make regular reports to your safety contacts. This is especially important if you’re travelling out of the country or off the beaten path.
As well, always understand the local laws, and take some time to learn them. If necessary, such as in locations with left-side driving, practice a bit before heading out onto the open road.
- Know Your Destination (and Stay Sustainable When You’re There)
Protecting the environment is at the core of sustainable vacationing. However, so is protecting the people and, specifically, those who live and work in the areas you’ll travel to. Many make their livelihoods on these tourism funds. Therefore, keeping your money local is a crucial guideline of sustainable tourism.
Spending domestically (to your destination) and with small businesses protects local communities. That helps to keep locals thriving as the main target of those funds. Avoid shopping at big box stores while on vacation. Instead, visit local restaurants and markets. Use eco-conscious tour groups and visit global sustainable tourism council-certified locations. This certification ensures that a business:
- Protects and sustains natural and cultural resources.
- Maximizes the monetary and social benefits of the local community.
- Encourages and promotes local cultural heritage and history.
Understanding your current location is an essential part of sustainable travel. If you’re camping out between destinations, always leave your area cleaner than you found it. Never start a fire in wildfire-prone regions during red-flag conditions. If you’re in a hotel, use your own toiletries and hang the “do not disturb” sign to avoid unnecessary daily housekeeping and washing.
These steps seem minor, but the benefits are well worth the effort.
- Secure Your Finances
Money may not be the source of happiness, but it does allow us to search for it. Before heading out on the road, make sure your finances are safe.
First, ensure that your credit is suitable for travel. Using credit on the road keeps your main funds safe and out of direct use. As well, all major credit cards feature card-locking options in the event of lost or stolen cards.
If your credit isn’t great, use the time before your trip to build it. Secured credit cards can build credit like standard cards, but they are more suited to those with no or poor credit. Unlike standard cards, the credit limit is set by an initial secured deposit. This ensures that the cardholder is capable of handling the debt.
Also, alert your credit issuers and banks about your travel plans before your trip begins. This will keep your finances unlocked even after your financial providers see purchases in new locations.
Final Thoughts
Hitting the road is a great way to see the world and recharge your soul. For your next trip, look for sustainable means to getaway. Focus on the environment and the local communities on your travels. Keep your tourism funds local, and support the area by purchasing from the small shops and markets. Make sure your vehicle is safe and packed for the unexpected. And consider using a credit card for your purchases.
Molly Barnes
This piece was prepared online by Panuruji Kenta, Publisher, SEVENSEAS Media