Budget-minded and eco-friendly travel tips

If you think you have to spend thousands on an eco-spa or buy multiple rounds of carbon credits to have an eco-friendly vacation, you’re wrong. There are plenty of ways you can green your travel while sticking to a budget. Here are some tips:

Think close to home: Even if you don’t live in a “green city” you likely still have local attractions, or at least in-state attractions that your family would enjoy. Start at your local city, then state travel / tourist websites to check out what’s available near you. By sticking close to home you’ll save money and save travel emissions created by cars or planes.

Think outside entertainment: Hiking, camping, even river rafting are all lower cost vacations that swooping into a new far off city. Your family will get a taste of nature appreciation and your wallet won’t suffer.

Think trains: Trains offer economical travel with a lower carbon footprint than a plane or car. PLUS kids + trains equal instant fun. When you travel somewhere by train the ride is part of the fun.

Think little green bus: The Green Tortoise offers total adventure eco-vacations – cool nature destinations, low carbon transport, organic meals, and they’re family friendly.

Think small: Green travel is sometimes thought of as a grand event – oh, I’m off to the greenest city or I’m headed to this killer eco-hut adventure tour. However, those sorts of green travel ideals can be costly. Incorporating green actions into your traveling plan – i.e. reusable water bottles, recycling, supporting local organic restaurants, reusing your towel at the hotel, buying less junky plastic souvenirs, or cleaning up your campsite before you leave it are all ways that a typical vacation becomes greener. Most of these choices naturally save you money too.

Do you have some budget friendly – earth-friendly travel ideas? Share in the comments…

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