Summer travel is one of my favorite things. New places, different views, that specific feeling of being somewhere you’ve never been before with no particular agenda. I’m completely here for it.
But I also think about the environmental side of travel more than I used to. And the more I’ve looked into it, the more I’ve realized that sustainable travel doesn’t have to mean less travel or less fun. It usually just means being a little more thoughtful about a handful of decisions, some of which will actually make the trip better.
Here are a few things I try to do when I’m travelling.
1. Take the train when you can
Taking a train instead of a short-haul flight can cut your transport carbon footprint by up to 90%. And honestly, trains are so much more chill than airports. No security queues, no two-hour check-in window, and you often arrive right in the city centre rather than an airport forty minutes outside it. Europe especially has incredible rail connections. There’s really no reason to fly between most major cities here. I’ll take a relaxing train ride with a coffee and a book over a budget flight every single time.
2. If you do fly, fly direct
The most fuel-intensive parts of any flight are takeoff and landing. A direct flight produces significantly fewer emissions than the same journey with a stopover, so if flying is unavoidable, booking direct is a simple and meaningful choice. Economy class also has a lower per-seat footprint than business or first class, for what it’s worth.
3. Offset your carbon thoughtfully
Carbon offsetting gets a bad reputation, and some of that is deserved. There are a lot of low-quality offset schemes out there that don’t actually do what they claim. But done properly, with a credible certified project, it’s a meaningful way to take responsibility for the emissions from a flight you couldn’t avoid. I actually have a whole post about this if you’re looking for some tips.
Look for projects certified by the Gold Standard or Verified Carbon Standard (VCS). These are the most rigorous third-party certifications in the space. Good projects tend to involve reforestation, clean cookstove programs, or renewable energy in developing countries, and they have real, verified impact rather than just vague promises. It isn’t a get-out-of-jail-free card for flying, but it’s definitely better than doing nothing.
4. Stay somewhere locally owned
Where you sleep matters more than most people realise, not just environmentally, but economically. A locally owned guesthouse, family-run hotel, or small eco-lodge puts money directly into the local community in a way that a large international chain simply doesn’t. And in my experience they almost always come with more character, better breakfast, and someone who actually knows where to find good food. Win all round.
Look for accommodations that mention things like renewable energy, water conservation, or minimal plastic, not just as a line on their website, but with some actual detail behind it. A quick Google or a look on eco travel platforms can help you find genuinely eco-certified options.
5. Bring a zero waste travel kit
This is one of those things that sounds like extra effort but really isn’t once you’ve done it once. Put together a small travel kit with things like a reusable water bottle (insulated ones are great for summer since they keep water cold for hours), a tote bag, a set of bamboo or stainless steel cutlery, reusable straws, and a solid shampoo and conditioner bar to avoid the parade of tiny plastic hotel bottles. Once this kit exists, it just lives in your bag and travels with you every time you go anywhere. You stop thinking about it. It becomes the default.
The water bottle alone eliminates so much single-use plastic over the course of a trip, especially in summer when you’re drinking constantly. Most destinations have places to refill, and many airports now have refill stations past security too.
6. Eat local and plant-based
Food is a surprisingly significant part of a trip’s environmental footprint, and animal products are by far the biggest driver of that. The good news is that eating vegan while traveling is easier than ever. Most destinations have incredible local plant-based food if you know where to look, and markets, street food stalls, and independent restaurants almost always have far more interesting options than international chains anyway.
I eat fully plant-based, always. Is it easy? Honestly, no. Some destinations are harder than others, and there are definitely moments where dinner is plain rice or a sad plate of fries because that’s all that’s available. But it’s my priority and a non-negotiable for me, and I’ve found that a little research before a trip goes a long way. Looking up vegan-friendly restaurants in advance, learning a few key phrases in the local language, and keeping some snacks in my bag for the moments where options are thin.
7. Choose experiences over stuff
I used to come home from trips with useless little souvenirs that ended up in a drawer and eventually in the trash. Now I try to spend that money on experiences instead, and it has completely changed how I travel. A cooking class where you learn to make a local dish. A guided hike with someone who actually knows the land. A kayak tour, a bike rental, an afternoon at a local farm. These things cost money that goes directly to real people in the community, create memories that actually stick, and produce zero waste.
If you do want to bring something home, buy directly from local artisans and makers at markets rather than airport gift shops. Something handmade by the person selling it is a completely different thing from a mass-produced keychain with the city name on it.
8. Use public transport and your feet
Once you’re at your destination, getting around on foot, by bike, or by public transport is almost always the lower-impact option, and often the more enjoyable one. Walking means you notice things you’d completely miss from a car window. Cycling is one of my favorite ways to explore a new place. And public transport is usually cheaper and gives you a much more real sense of how a city actually works.
If you need to rent a vehicle, electric options are increasingly available in most tourist destinations and well worth looking into.
9. Swim and sunscreen responsibly
Conventional sunscreens contain chemicals – oxybenzone and octinoxate are the main offenders – that are absolutely devastating to coral reefs and marine ecosystems. They cause coral bleaching and disrupt the reproductive cycles of marine life. If you’re swimming in the ocean, a lake, a river, or basically any natural body of water this summer, please switch to a reef-safe mineral sunscreen. Look for ones that use zinc oxide or titanium dioxide as the active ingredient instead.
Beyond sunscreen, how you move through natural swim spots matters too. Don’t stand on coral, don’t touch or disturb marine life, don’t leave anything behind, and take any trash you find with you when you leave. The places we love most are often the most fragile.
10. Support conservation directly
This one is easy to overlook but I think it’s one of the most impactful things you can do as a traveler. Visiting national parks and protected areas, paying entrance fees, and booking with tour operators that actively contribute to conservation means your travel spending is funding the protection of the places you’re visiting. That’s a powerful thing.
Do a little research before you book tours or excursions. Look for operators that are locally owned, have a stated conservation mission, and don’t involve wildlife in captivity or performing. Some of the best outdoor experiences I’ve ever had have been with small local guides who know their landscape intimately and clearly care deeply about protecting it. Those are the people and businesses worth supporting.
11. Spend your money in a way that supports the community
This one is easy to overlook but genuinely impactful. Where you spend money while travelling shapes the local economy. Eating at locally owned restaurants, buying souvenirs directly from artisans and makers rather than airport gift shops, booking tours run by local guides, and choosing locally owned transport all keep your travel spending in the hands of the people who actually live there.
A helpful general rule: if something feels very cheap compared to what it probably cost to produce, it’s worth asking why.
12. Travel slower if you can
This is probably my favorite shift in how I think about travel. Instead of cramming multiple destinations into one trip, staying longer in fewer places tends to be more sustainable, cheaper, more relaxing, and honestly just a way better experience. You get to know a place rather than just photographing it. You find your favorite cafe. You stop feeling rushed.
Fewer trips per year but longer and more meaningful ones is a trade-off that, for me at least, makes complete sense both environmentally and personally.
None of this is about perfect travel. It’s just about paying a little more attention to the decisions that actually make a difference, and enjoying the summer properly while you’re at it. Happy traveling!
