Affordable & sustainable travel

Contrary to popular belief, traveling the world is not something that’s exclusively for people who have a lot of money. There’s an expensive way to do it, and there’s an affordable way to do it. Another important thing is being conscious of your actions while traveling and minimizing your footprint as much as possible. You can see the world and save it too!

AFFORDABLE TRAVEL:

1. Stay in hostels, Airbnb’s, or homestays instead of a hotel. You could even do Workaway and work in exchange for accommodation and food.

2. Eat local food and if your place has a kitchen, go to the grocery store and cook your own food! It’s usually more delicious and way more affordable. Fill your shopping basket full of fresh fruits and vegetables and stay away from the packaged, processed foods. 

3. Don’t go out every night drinking alcohol. Usually, a drink can add up to be more than the meal itself! The bill will add up pretty quickly. It’s nice to treat yourself to a beer or bottle of wine from the local mart but you’ll save tons of money if you avoid the bars.

4. When you go out to eat, bring your refillable water bottle and drink water! You’d be surprised how skipping out on an orange juice for breakfast, tea for lunch, and beer for dinner can save your bank account.

5. Spend time doing activities that don’t cost money like hiking, camping, swimming in the ocean, watching the sunset, etc.

6. Use Google Flights! It compares all the airlines in the world, shows you flight prices for every day of the month, and highlights the cheapest options for you. Never buy seats in advance, unless you actually care where you sit or it's a long international flight. This could save you a few bucks. All the little things add up!

7. Instead of round trip flights, look at one-way tickets! It may be cheaper to book 2 one-way tickets rather than a roundtrip. It could even save you hours of layovers.

Hopefully, you find these travel tips helpful as you plan your next adventure!

 

SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL ♻

It is super important to be conscious of your decisions because whether you’re aware of it or not, something as little as getting a plastic straw in your drink could have forever lasting, damaging effects on our planet.

The use of plastic has caused a huge global epidemic. Studies have shown that about 8 million metric tons of plastic are thrown into the ocean annually. The beautiful beaches are being overtaken by our trash. According to National Geographic, only 9% of plastic gets recycled, leaving a whopping 91% polluting our planet. Every bit of plastic ever used is still out there. Over 100,000 marine animals die every year due to the thousands of pieces of micro-plastics trapped inside their bodies.  Scientists estimate that by 2048, there will be no fish left in the sea. It’s our job, this generation, to save our planet.

 

TIPS FOR YOUR ZERO WASTE AND ECO-FRIENDLY TRAVEL:

One of the most effective ways to make a positive environmental impact is to majorly cut back on the amount of plastic we use and purchase on a daily basis. Here are some ways you can help keep our world clean:

1. SAY NO TO PLASTIC! Plastic is not fantastic. If you’re the type of person that needs a straw when drinking, choose a metal or bamboo straw! Brands are Ever Eco and Coconut Bowls sell them online, or you can easily find some on Amazon. They also have bamboo cutlery that comes in a little travel bag so you can bring your plastic-free forks, knives, spoons, and straws with you where-ever you go! 

   Invest in a refillable water bottle. Not only does it save the Earth from enduring plastic water bottles, it saves you a crap ton of money. Imagine never buying a plastic water bottle again and being able to simply refill your bottle at hostels, restaurants, coffee shops- anywhere really! How awesome.

   Also, don’t forget to bring your own bags to the grocery store! Using a plastic bag is so 2016. ;) there are so many options for reusable bags! 

2. TOOTHBRUSHES! Who knew something so minimal could be so damaging? Who thinks twice about purchasing a plastic toothbrush, since it’s what we grew up knowing?! Bamboo toothbrushes are a great alternative. You can get them from any zero-waste store or online.

3. MENSTRUAL CUPS. Besides tampons being toxic to your genitals, they are expensive and so bad for the planet. Close to 20 billion tampons and applicators are dumped into North American landfills every year.  They have harmful chemicals such as rayon, dioxin, chlorine, and propylene glycol, which go into your body and also harm the environment. Menstrual cups cost around $40, but they last for YEARS and save you money in the long run. 

4. SAVE POWER. Turn off and unplug all of your electronics and lamps. Electronics still use power when they’re off and still plugged in. When you leave your room, always turn off all the lights, heat/AC, and television.

5. OPT FOR FRIENDLY TRANSPORT. Try walking, public transport (trains, buses, ferries) or renting a bicycle. Enjoy finding creative ways to get around and take advantage of new exercise opportunities while exploring a new city or country. 

6. EAT PLANTS. Shop at local farmer's markets. Trying local fruits and veggies is one of my favorite ways to experience a new culture. It is important to make an effort to decrease your consumption of meat and dairy while traveling because these foods require the most water/land/resources. The food we eat while we travel has an impact on the land and the locals. Let’s not support the production of killing animals and buy fruits and veggies :)

7. BEACH CLEANUPS. Get involved! Join Facebook groups and see what you can do to help. Connect with likeminded people who want to make this world a better place. For example, search “Canggu Community Group” when traveling to Bali. If you can’t find a beach clean-up, either start your own with some friends or simply pick up a few pieces of trash as you walk along the beach.

8. RECYCLE. Always recycle! If you’re staying at a hotel, ask if they have a recycling program. If not, encourage them to start one when you leave suggestions on comments cards at check-out!

9. CHOOSE FRIENDLY TOURS. When snorkeling or scuba diving, don’t touch or step on the coral or stir up sediment, as it can damage the reef’s fragile ecosystem. Ask your tour operators if they chum the water to attract marine life. If they do, it can change the behavior of marine species, or possibly make them sick. Don’t take any tour that does hands-on encounters with wild animals, such as riding elephants. If you do, you’re supporting an industry that illegally captures, transports, and abuses animals. Paying for that tour just to get a cool picture keeps those cruel companies in business.

 

Travel with love. Travel with care. Travel with compassion.