4 easy ways to reduce your carbon footprint on your next international holiday

By Akriti Paracer3 September 2019

In light of the global environmental crisis, it’s imperative to think about our lifestyles—from the way we eat to how we’re travel. Vogue's simple four-point guide is all you need to become a more conscious traveller

With #travelgram and #instatravel being a part of Instagram’s most popular hashtags, it’s no surprise that millennials have been bitten by #wanderlust (also among the most popular hashtags). All this jet-setting around the world comes at a cost to the environment, but there are ways to be kinder to the planet even when you’re on vacation. Take note of these four points to reduce your carbon footprint before you plan your next holiday.

1) Take direct flights wherever possible

The single largest elephant in the room (unless you’re going on an African safari), is deciding how to reach your destination. While direct flights get you to your destination faster, a long layover could let you explore another city or country without having to loosen the purse strings. More often than not, the flight with a layover wins—even if the pit stop is a short one—as they are cheaper.

But every time a plane takes off and lands, it burns a significant amount of fuel—thus adding to an individual’s carbon footprint. Try choosing a direct flight whenever you can, or even considering destinations that are closer to where you live, to avoid layover flights. But if those options are not feasible, choose buses or trains for intercontinental travel, like from Paris to Amsterdam, instead of taking more flights. The views will definitely be worth it, and the planet will thank you later too.

2) Walk as far as possible

Discovering all the hidden gems that travel magazines and blogs didn’t tell you about is a great way to acquaint yourself with a new city, which is best done by walking around. Almost every city offers free walking tours, hosted by the locals. These not only teach you about a city’s rich history, but also get you to meet new people—all while reducing your impact on the environment, considering you would not likely be taking air-conditioned buses around the city’s small cultural radius. Plus, with all the gastronomical experiences that await you on vacation, walking around will also help you stay fit.

3) Check into hostels

Meeting new people is half the fun of visiting a new destination. Staying in hotels can make your holiday feel more luxurious, but alternative options like hostels and home stays like Airbnbs are becoming increasingly popular for those who want to have a more authentic, local experience. Hostels are a great way to socialise with people from across the world, and they also minimise your carbon footprint—the rooms here, though no bigger than hotel rooms, house more guests, which divides the costs of common resources like electricity among more people. Most hostels also skimp out on bathtubs to save water, and request guests to stick to showers. Hostels are also located much closer to the city centre, usually at a walkable distance, so you can see the city without relying on buses and cabs.

4) Bring your own bottle

After the long strolls on cobbled streets and picnics in sunny parks, there is only so much vino or beer you can drink to keep yourself hydrated. The cardinal rule of travel is to always have water on your person—but that does not mean buying multiple bottles every day. Most countries, especially in Europe and the US, have safe-to-drink tap water. Given that plastic bottles are now a leading cause of pollution globally, carrying your own bottle around for a vacation will help keep multiple bottles out of landfills. Many cities also encourage recycling by giving you money back for returning any plastic bottles you may have purchased.