5 Things I Learned When Starting To Travel More Sustainably

Sustainable travel is all the rage, but what does it really mean? Many hotels, experiences, and even airlines slap on the label of “eco-friendly” or “green,” but dig a little deeper, and that might not be the case. Yes, it’s true that some hotels are ditching single-use amenity products and airlines are allegedly offsetting carbon, but how do you really know if you’re hurting or helping the places you’re traveling to?

As I slowly make progress at building sustainable habits into my own travel practices, I’ve learned a few things along the way. While it may be easy to just book that “sustainable” travel experience, if you take a few minutes to do a little research, you might be able to understand if you’re supporting something truly dedicated to making the planet better (or at least, not making things worse). After countless trips and a lot of research, here are a few things I’ve learned as I attempt to become a more sustainable traveler.

1. Greenwashing Is Real: Here’s How I Spot It

According to a 2024 study by Booking.com, 75% of travelers want to travel more sustainably — myself included. Given that so many travelers want to opt for sustainable practices, it’s easy to see how we can fall victim to greenwashing.

Greenwashing is when a company or business says or alleges that its products, services, or activities are much more eco-friendly than they really are.

While this can happen in all fields, it tends to happen in larger hotels within the tourism industry. I remember staying at a hotel that encouraged reusing towels to avoid water waste from washing them daily. After I made the choice to keep my towels, I then noticed housekeeping was replacing my towels daily anyway, despite my choice to reuse them. If hotel staff isn’t in line with hotel policies, this is a sign that the hotel may not be as sustainable as it claims.

It doesn’t always take much digging to figure out whether a company’s eco claims are just smoke and mirrors.

My Checklist for Selecting a Hotel or Activity

• Look for certifications. I check for certifications such as LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), Green Key, Travelife, Green Globe, EarthCheck, TourCert, BlueFlag, Green Fins, Biosphere, or other GSTC-recognized labels. 
• Search for big initiatives. Yes, biodegradable straws are a start, but it’s the larger initiatives that really make a difference, like solar or wind energy, sustainable waste systems, programs that protect local biodiversity and climates, or ways the hotel supports the local community and its employees.
• Don’t be fooled by buzzwords. Eco-adventure, eco-chic, and green are used liberally, and just because a business deems its product as such doesn’t mean there’s any truth there. I try to research ambiguous claims to see if any real initiatives live beneath the trendy vocabulary.
• Know your destination and its sustainability measures. An inviting pool is just where I want to be on vacation, but if the place I’m visiting has water restrictions due to a drought, my swim may be detrimental to the welfare of locals. Understanding the destination is an important part of being a responsible traveler.
• See beyond offloading the sustainability burden. Offloading the burden of sustainability onto the consumer —like encouraging towel reuse — won’t do much if the business doesn’t implement sustainable practices. Encouraging clients or consumers to recycle, avoid food waste, turn off the lights or AC, or reuse towels/bedding is all well and good, but it’s the business’s responsibility to create proper practices and systems internally.

2. Avoid Overvisited Destinations During Peak Seasons

A few summers ago, I went to Dubrovnik in August, a destination trending thanks to social media and shows such as “Game of Thrones.” Was it medieval, beautiful, and special? Yes. Was its charm almost entirely ruined by mobs of tourists taking over every inch of the walled city? Yes.

Dubrovnik’s center felt more like a circus or theme park than a destination full of fabled history. Finding secret beach coves along Dubrovnik’s outskirts, taking ferries to nearby islands, and getting up at the crack of dawn to explore the sites helped me better enjoy this city, but I could actively see the toll that overtourism was taking on this once beautiful spot.

Going forward, I’ll avoid overvisited destinations in peak seasons and times of day, consider second cities and lesser-visited spots, and carefully analyze social media, as destinations are often portrayed in a certain way that doesn’t show crowds and other negative points. I’ll also make sure to always give back to a destination and not just take from it, which brings me to my next point.

3. Start Small

While big initiatives may have more impact, we all have to start somewhere. It can be difficult to tell if major hotel chains and airlines are sustainable, but I started in a more grassroots way, with local businesses, to see how I could make a small difference.

I started to realize the impact I could have with my own tourism dollars several years ago when I was looking for a dive school on Koh Tao, an island in Thailand. The island is only 8 square miles, but has more than 80 dive schools. I found myself confused about selecting one, and, along with reading reviews, I decided to use conservation as a key factor when deciding which to pick.

I ended up selecting New Heaven Dive School after reading about how the school created its own conservation program back in 2007, the New Heaven Reef Conservation Program (NHRCP). Big Blue Diving was the other contender, since it holds events to raise money for Shark Guardian, participates in beach cleanups, and educates its students on marine conservation and eco-friendly dive practices.

It was during this time I realized that I can make an impact by spending my money with organizations I stand behind, especially when traveling. Familiarizing myself with the local, on-ground initiatives showed me first-hand that I could positively influence local sustainability simply by supporting activities, businesses, and tour agencies I believe in.

4. Research Local Practices and Efforts

Whenever I have visitors from the United States to my home in Madrid, Spain, many are surprised when they realize all shops, by law, charge a few cents for a plastic bag. I bring my reusable totes with me almost everywhere I go to avoid paying the charge and using unnecessary plastic.

I’m the first one to admit I don’t dig too deep into local politics when I travel, but understanding the rules related to sustainability has helped me better support a cause (and avoid cultural faux pas, too). For example, fishing without a license is illegal in Belize. If you participate in a fishing trip, the fish are on a catch-and-release basis. In Costa Rica, you can’t take single-use plastics into national parks.

In any case, I always pack a reusable tote bag in my suitcase anywhere I go, whether plastic bags are banned, free, or cost extra.

5. Avoid Exploitative Practices

Nearly 2 decades ago, I went to a tiger sanctuary in Thailand and rode an elephant. I’m embarrassed about it now, and I should have been more cognizant of the welfare of these animals. I can’t change the past, but I can change how I travel in the present and in the future. I’m much more attuned to exploitative travel practices, which may include animal “sanctuaries,” unethical cultural experiences, orphanage tourism, and slum tours.

Here are some things I consider when booking activities and experiences during travel:

• Local populations or tribes: Am I interacting with them respectfully or observing them in a way that makes them a spectacle or a zoo? A positive way to support locals is to buy from locally-owned businesses and eat at restaurants owned and operated by locals. I’m always careful to sniff out more details for tours that include words like “village visit,” and I’ll never participate in a slum tour.
• Orphanages: I won’t donate, volunteer at, or visit orphanages. While this may seem like a good idea, it can actually harm the children or exploit them. I also avoid taking photos of locals when traveling, especially of kids.
• Animals: I skip any activities that claim I’ll have close interactions with wild animals. If I do participate in activities with animals, I make sure it’s viewing only (like an African safari) or a real welfare sanctuary that allows animals to behave naturally and provides a safe haven and proper treatment for them. I always respect rules about photo restrictions and how close I can get, too.

Final Thoughts

I didn’t become a more sustainable traveler overnight. It was (and still is) a learning curve, and I’m adapting just as the industry is. I may not always get it right, but I’ve created some processes for myself that help me evaluate my own travel habits, as well as hotels and businesses, in hopes of becoming more attuned to the destination I’m visiting and how I can help and not hurt it.