Sustainable Travel Helping Protect our Planet

When you go on holiday, do you think about the impact your break is having on the environment? Not all of us do, but in recent years, sustainable travel has hit the headlines, with more of us holidaying closer to home than ever before.

The economic crisis

With the economic crisis in the UK, more families are choosing a British seaside break over a holiday abroad, and this can only be good news for the environment.

But even if you're holidaying abroad, there are steps you can take to ensure your travel is more sustainable - here are just a few ideas:

• Don't leave any litter or waste behind on your travels and use footpaths responsibly.
• Don't hire a car, instead opt for public transport, or walk or cycle; not only will this help to protect the environment; it will also allow you to see more of the area.
• Throw yourself into local life - eat local produce, shop at markets and use services in the area.

Reducing your carbon footprint

Even if you're flying to an exotic destination, there are a number of ways you can reduce your carbon footprint. One of the easiest ways to do this is to pack light.

Lighter bags mean lighter aircraft, which in turn use less fuel, protecting the environment. Try to utilise electronic tickets wherever possible, and use online check-in services; if you do need to print your tickets, use both sides of the paper.

When you arrive at your destination, take part in low-carbon activities such as snorkelling, horse riding, mountain biking and trekking.

It's also important to make sure you have cheap travel insurance in place to cover you on holiday, particularly if you're travelling with the whole family, and with Insurefor.com, kids are covered free.

Whilst holidaying close to home will always be the most sustainable option, there are plenty of steps you can take to reduce your carbon footprint when travelling abroad.

There are even eco-holidays specifically designed to lessen the impact on the environment; many of these involve outdoor activities and can take you to exotic locations where you'll have the opportunity to get close to nature.

Remember that just because you're on holiday, doesn't mean you can't still take part in your usual activities to protect the planet; most hotels will have recycling facilities, or you can ask at reception which items of packaging are recycled.

You can switch off lights, sockets and TV's when not in use, and ensure you're mindful of the environment at all times