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Sustainable Travel Tips: Seeing The World Without Destroying it

In 2022, the number of worldwide international tourist arrivals reached approximately 917 million. While there are many advantages to tourism (including employment opportunities, social benefits, and stimulation of economic growth), an increase in international travel has also seen a rise in carbon emissions, destruction of natural habitats, and exploitation of natural resources.

Thankfully, reducing these impacts does not mean you have to close the door on international travel altogether. There are a number of ways you can continue to explore the four corners of the world through sustainable travel.

Two puffins sitting on a sunny cliff

What is sustainable travel?

Sustainable travel is all about minimising the negative environmental, social, and economic impacts of your trip. From the moment you begin booking your trip until you arrive back home again, the best practices should be used to ensure that you are not only reducing the negative effects of tourism, but also increasing the positives.

How to travel sustainably

Changes to the way you travel that will ensure the places you visit are preserved for years to come. We’ve put together a list of our top sustainable travel tips.

Travel by road or train

A train travelling through the mountains

Flight shame, from the Swedish “Flygskam”, has become a popular sensation for many people travelling by plane. This term refers to the guilt that people feel for travelling by plane at a time when we are all desperately trying to cut down our carbon emissions.

Globally, the aviation industry accounts for 2.5% of total CO2 emissions. In light of this news, many people are now offsetting their carbon emissions through companies such as Atmosfair and Tentree. While the work these companies are doing is a huge step in the right direction, many experts highlight the problem with carbon offsetting, namely that it doesn’t really work. For example, when planting trees to offset emissions it will take 15-30 years for trees to grow big enough to begin absorbing this carbon dioxide.

The best way to cut out, or dramatically reduce, these CO2 emissions is to skip the flights altogether. To put things into perspective, taking the train from London to Paris instead of flying would reduce your CO2 emissions by up to 90%.

Take the path less travelled

Hundreds and thousands of tourists travelling to popular destinations during peak season results in the phenomenon that is now known as overtourism (or mass tourism). This can cause damage to ecosystems, as well as making life very difficult for local people both in and out of peak season.

Reduce overtourism by heading off the beaten track and exploring some of the lesser-known parts of the globe. There’s a good chance the experiences you have will be far more unique and valuable as a result.

If parting ways with bucket list destinations like the Angkor Wat or Machu Picchu sounds too troubling, how about visiting during the quiet season instead? Not only will you avoid the hustle and bustle, but you’ll also be supporting local businesses that may struggle outside of peak season.

Reusables help you minimise waste while you travel

Away from the comforts of home, we are much more likely to find ourselves reaching for plastic bottles of water in 7-eleven, or grabbing a take-away in plastic packaging. The eco-friendly habits we’ve developed at home end up slipping out of the window.

Solve this problem by coming prepared. Switching to a reusable bottle saves around 150 single-use plastic bottles from being thrown away each year. If you’re worried about the water quality in your destination, consider a reusable bottle with a built-in filter or water purifier.

You can also avoid single-use plastics from takeaway by slowing down and opting to dine in. If your heart is set on takeaway, try to source cafes or restaurants that dish up their goodies in compostable packaging.

Local, local, local!

Whether it’s products, services, or experiences you’re purchasing, shopping local is the best way to both minimise the negative impacts of tourism and as well as boost the positives.

Travelling to exotic parts of the world and eating at chain restaurants doesn’t benefit the local people, nor the planet. By choosing local accommodation, opting for local experiences, and eating at locally-owned, independent restaurants, you’ll be supporting the local economy and creating a positive impact.

A colourful market in Marrakech

Use Airbnb with care

When first created, Airbnb was designed so that people could rent out their flat while they were away. As its popularity boomed, many discovered that renting out property on Airbnb is an extremely profitable (and largely unregulated) venture. The problem is, this has led to many people buying properties to rent out as short-term lets, leaving the locals with a competitive and unaffordable housing market.

Many cities are now clamping down on this, including Barcelona where over 4,100 Airbnb were recently removed in a bid to prevent short-term rentals taking over neighbourhoods. People wanting to rent out a property on Airbnb in Barcelona are now required to obtain the relevant licences prior to listing it online.

In Berlin, similar regulations have been introduced, under the name “zweckentfremdungsverbot”, also known as the “anti-Airbnb law”. As a result, only a few landlords have permits from the city for short-term Airbnb rentals, and hefty fines of up to 500,000 euros are used to enforce this.

So, what are the ethical alternatives to Airbnb? Staying in traditional, licensed B&Bs as well as hotels, hostels, and lodges. You could also consider using house sitting websites such as Mind My House or Nomador as a cheaper alternative.

Choose eco-friendly accommodation and travel operators

A beach hut

One of our top sustainable travel tips, and the best way you can support the environmentally-friendly travel and tourism industry, is to choose eco-friendly accommodation and travel operators.

Studies have shown that a 200-room four star hotel can use nearly 300,000 pieces of single-use plastic in one month, including plastic water bottles, amenities and food packaging. The shift towards ecotourism has seen a rise in environmentally-friendly accommodation, such as Jetwing Surf in Sri Lanka and Pacuare Lodge in Costa Rica, where plastic waste is reduced (or eliminated), local food is served, and buildings are made from sustainable materials.

Activist travel companies, such as Responsible Travel, are a great way of booking trips without having to do all the research for yourself. These companies can help you book trips that support local communities and preserve nature for future generations.

SEO Terms Map

Breaking into the field of SEO can seem daunting. The jargon alone can be a huge source of intimidation, never mind going toe-to-toe with Google to get your website ranking.

That’s why we’ve created a guide for SEO terms. Not only have we made a glossary of what they all mean but a map of how they relate to each other. There are many aspects of SEO—from your own website’s backend to the search engine’s processes—which means it can be easier to grasp these terms if you know what they relate to.

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What to Learn from the Leadership Mistakes of Gianni Infantino

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For a long time, football fans had indifferent feelings towards Gianni Infantino. His main redeeming quality being that he wasn’t Sepp Blatter, the FIFA President who had presided over institutional corruption for the best part of two decades.

However, that has all changed. After a month of tone-deaf speeches, and hare-brained scheming — Infantino is now as popular with football fans as an undercooked half-time pie. With Infantino in the spotlight we wanted to take a look at the leadership errors he has made, and how and why you should look to avoid them.

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How to create healthy habits that stick

Humans are like clocks: we follow a rhythm. Often we sleep, eat and work at the same time of day; the same goes for healthy habits.

Think of habits as deliberately setting yourself on autopilot: deliberately setting cues to you can carry out activities–like household chores, exercise, healthy eating, and work–with relative ease.

Although it might seem difficult at first, establishing a healthy habit routine is simple with a small amount of initial discipline. If you follow these tips, you’ll be well on your way to achieving your best self.

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The Benefits of Facing Your Fears

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American author David J Schwartz once said, “do what you fear and fear disappears”. There’s no shortage of quotes about facing your fears. They’re usually quite clichéd, but we shouldn’t overlook the truth behind the cliché.

Everyone feels fear. From an evolutionary perspective, it makes sense. Obviously getting chased by a pack of wolves is going to be scary. In that respect, fear has its place. But when it comes to our modern everyday fears, is there really anything to worry about?

Most people have an extensive list of fears, from snakes and spiders to important client meetings and solo travel. But imagine how much easier life would be without those fears. Here’s how and why you should face your fears.

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Urbex: The 21st-Century Explorers

We all know that building; there’s at least one in every town. Perhaps it’s the crumbling old mansion on a hilltop that’s said to hold antique treasures or the once well-loved but now decaying Grade II listed pub that’s not had a landlord in years. Or maybe it’s the creepy house that was abandoned years ago under strange circumstances, from which people say they can hear whispering in the night.

Given the mystery and intrigue that often surround these sites and buildings, it’s not surprising that some people would be interested in visiting them. What is surprising, however, is how these places have now become a huge internet phenomenon known as ‘urbex.’

So, what exactly is urbex? And how did it become so popular online?

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Readers & Writers: Literature’s Most Controversial Characters

The literary world is filled with iconic characters adored the world over. Anyone who's read the Little Women series has a shared trauma from the death of beloved Beth, which famously left Joey Tribbiani from Friends utterly distraught for an entire episode.

Say a word against Samwise Gamgee, Frodo's right-hand hobbit and loyal friend from Lord of The Rings, and there will no doubt be endless LOTR fans willing to jump to his defence.

You'd be hard-pressed to find someone who would openly dare to dislike early feminist icons like Lizzie Bennett, described by Austen herself as “delightful a creature ever appeared in print.” Or those with near-superhuman abilities to overcome the most difficult of circumstances, such as Celie in The Colour Purple.

While characters such as these have cemented themselves as being amongst the most well-loved heroes of all time, there are some characters who, at best, are the literary equivalent of marmite.

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Readers & Writers: Songs by Famous Artists That Were Inspired by Literature

For many people, music and literature sit at the opposite ends of the creative world. With one art form based around the creation of sound and the other often enjoyed in complete silence, it can be easy to think of music and literature as two creative processes completely unrelated to one another.

A closer inspection into both worlds, however, and you’ll quickly find that the two art forms are deeply intertwined. From the storytelling components of the greatest lyrics to the musical references that colour many of our favourite novels, there’s no doubt that music and literature have been natural bedfellows for generations.

There have been some instances in music where an artist has taken direct influence from a piece of literature in their lyrics. From quoting iconic authors like George Orwell and J.G. Ballard to basing entire songs around the narrative theme of a classic novel, there are some musicians who’ve taken pride in wearing their literary influences on their sleeves.

With this in mind, we’ve made a list of classic songs that were directly inspired by famous literary works.

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Readers & Writers: My Favourite Childhood Books

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This piece is part of our Readers and Writers series, where each of our content writers chooses an aspect of the written word that excites them.

The older I get, the harder it becomes to vividly remember my childhood. But one thing that does stand out are the books that I used to read as a child.

One of my earliest childhood memories with books would be the annual summer reading task run by the local library.

Nothing was more exhilarating than going to the library, choosing a book and taking it out, only to read it and return it a week later. By telling the librarian what the book was about, and why you enjoyed it, you then earnt a sticker. Do this another five times, and you could complete the summer reading challenge.

Who would have thought that such a simple reward policy could bring so much joy?!

And it was this that really cemented my love of reading growing up as a child. The library became a literary haven; a labyrinth of stories to enjoy, make-believe worlds to immerse yourself in and wonderful characters you aspired to be.

With this in mind, I have decided to take a trip down memory lane, and revisit the 10 most memorable books from my childhood that have helped shape the passion for reading I have today as an adult.

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What is Biohacking? How to Become Your Best Self Using Biology

We all want to perform our best, both physically and mentally. Whether it’s getting in shape, boosting memory or improving overall health, we love trying to better ourselves.

Self-improvement is the basis of biohacking: a means of becoming the best possible version of yourself by manipulating your own biology. But the scope of biohacking has grown over the years and the lengths individuals will take to “improve” themselves seem boundless.

So, what does “biohacking” really mean? Is it safe to practice and how can you apply its principles to upgrade your own life?

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