Traveling Smarter Saves in 2008
By Amy Ziff, Editor-at-Large
December 2007
Travel smarter and you can travel less next year. I know this is not exactly what you think you might hear from a girl who spends her time touting travel. But the truth is I don't think any of us have to travel more. I mean, sure, there are endless places I'd like to see and there is always something else out there to do. But the truth is there is so much time that is wasted. There is so much waste. It can depress me to think about it. But by making better choices we can reduce our overall footprint, save time, save money, and even enjoy our travels more fully when we do take off.
I'm one of those people who believes that the little things we do truly make up who we are. It's not the big, grand gestures (although sure, if I had Bill Gates' money or Warren Buffet's or Oprah's I would like to make a grand gesture with a massive pledge toward the science of reversing climate change) but seeing as I don't have that kind of cash, I have to make the little things I do matter.
How, you say? By doing more with less. It's the whole work smarter not harder theory but applied to your own personal carbon footprint. (Want to know more about your carbon footprint? Check out some good friends of mine: the eco-bunnies eco-bunnies and once you know about your carbon footprint teach your kids, go into their classrooms and teach it --there are lesson plans provided on the website -- and put it into practice.) More specifically when it comes to making your plans next year select hotels with a green track record. Need to maintain a budget while you're away? Look for farmer's markets rather than eating every meal at a restaurant. You'll save money, eat healthier, and support local businesses. Want to bring home a fantastic souvenir? Visit a local crafts market or support local arts cooperative. If you don't know where to start ask the concierge at your hotel to find out for you. Make zeroing out your travel carbon emissions part of your budget. If you want to save big on your carbon footprint and your wallet combine your business travel with a vacation and take one less flight. Once you've arrived at your destination use mass transit, ride a bike or walk as a way of getting around.
If you think this is hard or you're not sure where to begin use the web to start. Check for what major suppliers are doing. Fairmont Hotels, Vail Resorts, Terra Resorts, Delta Airlines, Continental Airlines, Hertz rental cars (and the list of mainstream providers goes on!) all have green initiatives underway. Does that mean they're doing all they can? No. But it's a start. A majority of consumers say they are willing to spend up for eco or green experiences and the more we can reward suppliers by buying their eco products the more we'll see of them. We all have to think about where we begin. Because we have the power to make a difference. One day at a time, one trip at a time, one carbon footprint erased at a time.
Before you know it you'll be saving up, traveling smarter and leaving a whole lot less behind.
For more travel tips and advice, check out Amy Ziff's blog: The Window Seat, at http://windowseat.com@travelocity.com. To suggest a topic for a future column or to tell about a travel experience of your own, please email Amy Ziff at ask.amy@travelocity.com.
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