Christmas is nearly upon us, and most of us will be heading off to see family, friends or taking a holiday abroad, be it in the sun or skiing. Travel Rants have compiled a list of five travel tips to help you keep green this Christmas.
Sustainable travel
For short journeys why not leave the car behind this holiday, try taking the train or bus for a less stressful alternative and perhaps even cheaper one too. For a much healthier option, and work off those extra calories try walking around to see family or friends.
Holidays in Britain
Rather than jetting off to spend Christmas in a sunnier climate, or skiing down the slopes, how about renting a holiday cottage in the Lake District or North Yorkshire Moors with fresh air and plenty of walking around spectacular scenery.
Offset your carbon emissions
If you feel the need to fly this Christmas, then try offsetting your carbon emissions using sites like Climate Care or Carbon Neutral. Even if you are staying at home this Christmas, you’ll be using up extra electricity and gas so think about offsetting that too.
Return holiday brochures
Think about returning any holiday brochures to the travel agents that you have collected recently for either a Christmas break or next year’s holiday. The brochures can then be re-used by other travel consumers, and in return you’re doing your bit to help the environment.
Save energy in your hotel room
On entering your hotel room you’ll be blinded by all of the lights. Switch off lights that are not really needed. When leaving the room switch off the television, and all of the lights. Unplug the kettle and save energy. Only use the air conditioning if you really needed it.
Hotels should take more responsibility but if we all are energy conscious it’ll help in a small way.
Related posts
- The travel industry does not care about climate change
- Blog Action Day – Let’s help the environment
- Airline industry working towards carbon free flights
- Carbon Offsetting Does it Really Help?
- Travellers do your Bit for the Environment
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Murray H | 15 December, 2008 at 6:02 pm
Walk to family? Hey, I live near London and they all live in Barrow in Furness… Have you seen the price of rail tickets at Christmas?
Holidays in Britain – Have you seen the price of Christmas hotels in the UK? (We just did that bit didn’t we….)
Offset Carbon – Okay, I have planted a squirrel. Come on, if the Yanks get a subsidy to carry on building unwanted gas guzzlers, or those egits in Whitehall build another runway what’s the ruddy point? .
Return (my) holiday brochures – What’s a “holiday”?
Save energy in hotel room: See passim, If (and I can’t afford a hotel) but IF I had paid pushing £200 a night, why, pray, should one save the hotel’s electricity bill?
Everyone may be euphoric about low interest rates and VAT but when this is over, we are all going to get hit very, very hard. People think it’s tough now, wait until we see what the bill is going to come to. After listening to that recent (EEC) fiasco over the green agenda, to get us proles on board, our leaders will have to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. Stop imposing taxes, thinly veiled a “planet saving” and start showing they mean it. Air travel being a case in point… Tschoch!
Peter Daams | 15 December, 2008 at 11:36 pm
Good one Darren! Ok, so a holiday in the UK is not so green for me, but staying local is definitely a good idea. Every little bit counts. With governments just sitting on their hands mostly, consumers need to step up and take responsibility.
Lee Harrison | 16 December, 2008 at 5:28 pm
Greenhouse effect, Global Warming , I’m more of a believer that as the Earth revolves around The Planets it is more than likely that magnetic forces are changing and that over the Millenniums we are getting just that little tinsy bit closer to each other causing the effects.
I Shall be enjoying the festive season by Going Green, after all most good Reds come in a Green Bottle!!!!
Jamie Lin | 16 December, 2008 at 5:33 pm
Great tips! We’ve been turning off our Christmas tree lights the past several years, when we’re sleeping or not around, to save energy as well.
Also, you can consider traveling to virtual destinations online this year, like exploring virtual Ross Island on Sosauce: http://www.sosauce.com/mesa3d
Transient Travels - Trackback | 18 December, 2008 at 4:13 am
[...] Travel Rants posted five travel tips for a green Christmas. [...]
Shubhranshuji | 19 January, 2009 at 2:55 pm
Thanks for the tips. Seeing ongoing economic disturbances and the expected effects, it seems better to find out a touring destination not far away.
Thousands of travel info sites are the best source of latest promotional offers and places of interests. Use your analytical and negotiating skill to make your tour fun-filled for every member as well as most economic.
Be careful, don’t blindly follow the suggestions of your relatives or friends. One place liked and recommended by them may not be that suitable for your family because of different nature, habits and interests.
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