I’ve written before about budget travelling, but one thing I’ve been wanting to learn more about is how to travel on a budget, whilst caring about the environment too.
Today we have a guest post from the lovely Charlotte who writes Looking After Your Pennies, she’s currently travelling all over the world with her family- and she’s doing it with an environmental conscience.
Charlotte’s blog gives an incredible insight into living a frugal lifestyle, with an eco-friendly twist. You can follow along with Charlotte’s thrifty travel adventures over on her Instagram page, @lookingafteryourpennies
So without further ado, over to you Charlotte…!
Travelling is amazing! There is so much world to see and if you are like me you want to see it all. My family and I made the decision to pack up our lives and spend a year exploring the world.
We are now a few months in and loving every minute, but also very conscious that travel can be damaging to the environment.
Back home, I was very eco-conscious. It’s a big part of what my blog is about. A recycling ninja who never left home without her water bottle and metal straw. Therefore, it is important to me that we make our travel eco-friendly too.
If you are planning a big trip, or even a little one, here are a few steps that you can take to reduce your impact…
Avoid plane travel
This is the big one! We’ve done way more flights than I would have liked so far, but we have plans to reduce this as the trip goes on.
Air travel is a huge contributor to rising carbon dioxide levels and we are told to keep these to a minimum. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives out there.
When in South America, we fell in love with the buses. They were comfy, cheap and well-equipped. We found them far more comfortable than plane travel and far less stressful too.
Take Your Reusables With You
There are several items that I’d have liked to have brought with me and had to leave behind. But there are many that have come with me.
My favourites have been my metal water bottle, shampoo and conditioner in bar form, a reusable shopping bag and my mooncup.
These are wonderful for the environment and make travelling easier too. Depending on how much space you have you could take safety razors, water piks and many more of your favourites from home.
Travel Light
By now most of us have got the message that the best way to save the planet is to have less stuff in the first place. It works well with travelling too.
We are opting for minimalist travel and have less than 30kgs of luggage between the four of us for the year. We did not buy into hype surrounding “things you need when you go travelling” and have kept it simple.
It also means that we are using everything we have thoroughly. Clothes are being worn until they are completely worn through, and then use some more because we don’t care.
Buy Local
There is a real temptation when you are travelling and spot your favourites from back home to buy them. Things like Cadbury’s chocolate. I’m pulling a guilty face here!
But these items have travelled a long way to get to where you are, so that tourists (you!) will pay a ridiculous amount for that privilege. You can again reduce the carbon footprint of your meals by choosing to buy those items sourced locally.
Not only is this better for the environment but it is a big part of the joy of travelling. Sampling all the delicious food around the world.
Don’t Be Put Off
If you are passionate about caring for the planet, but still want to travel then there are ways it can be done. Get creative, be prepared to adapt and choose the paths less travelled.
You might also enjoy: the ultimate ethical gift guide, 5 ways to make your small business more eco friendly, what are the best cards to use abroad?
