Ethical or green travel is in big demand as more of us realise there are better, more responsible ways to travel. Ways that reduce the impact on the environment and provide real benefits for conservation and the local people. From how you get there to what you eat to what activities you do to what souvenirs you buy, there are many ways to travel greener. Of course, responsible travel also includes taking care of yourself. Always make sure you have the correct travel insurance for your trip. If you want to become an ethical traveller, we’ve put together some useful tips to help get you started.

Green Transport

There are many ways to travel to your holiday destination. You can go by plane, train, boat or aeroplane. They all use fuel but some forms of transport use less fuel than others. Trains produce a smaller volume of carbon emissions than planes. You can find train travel guides for all over the world at www.seat61.com. You can get information on the new Eurostar routes from St. Pancras in London at www.eurostar.com.

If you’re worried about your carbon emissions, you can visit a number of websites that help you work out how much you need to offset by using an online calculator. The site will calculate the equivalent cost of your emissions and invest in a sustainable project like reforestation to offset them.

www.climatecare.org

www.carbonresponsible.com

www.carbonneutral.com

Where to go

Choosing a destination can be difficult at the best of times but how do you choose a green holiday?

The Association of Independent Tour Operators (AITO) promotes green tourism. Any travel company with AITO membership is committed to offering green tourism that protects the environment, respects local cultures, benefits local communities, conserves natural resources and minimises pollution. For a full list of AITO members visit www.aito.co.uk.

Another company committed to green travel is the eco-travel site www.responsibletravel.com. With over 260 specialist tour operators, traveller reviews and a wide range of recommended eco-holiday destinations and activities, this website is a fountain of information. They also run the Responsible Tourism Awards in association with The Times. 2007 winners include The New Forest, Gecko’s Adventures - Australia, Apex Hotels Ltd, Finca Espernanza Verde Ecolodge – Nicaragua, Andaman Discoveries – Thailand and Grootbos Nature Reserve – South Africa.

There are a number of other green travel sites on the web that provide information on everything you need and want to know about accommodation, conservation, volunteer holidays and more.

Visit: www.ethicalescape.com, www.explore.co.uk, www.greentraveller.co.uk

Specialist sections in the newspapers and magazines also offer a wide range of advice, reviews and features covering everything eco-friendly from green spas to wildlife sanctuaries.  Check out green holiday spots at www.guardian.co.uk/travel/green.

When travelling abroad, always do your homework before you leave. Find out about the local customs and culture so you don’t upset the locals. Bare legs in a Buddhist temple or eating with your left hand in Morocco are just two localised customs that if innocently ignored, could make you very unpopular with the locals.

Explore an eco-friendly UK

If more Brits travelled locally, it would not only remove the need for plane travel and the carbon emissions that accompany it, it would also give the local eco-friendly tourism industry a boost. Places like The New Forest, the winner of the 2007 Responsible Tourism Best Destination Award, are committed to sustainable development, using local produce, and working within the community to promote responsible travel. For more UK based green holiday ideas visit www.ecoescape.org or you can pick up a free brochure at the Britain and London Visitor Centre in London.

Hands off the ivory

Souvenirs are wonderful reminders of your holiday but make sure you’re not exploiting the locals, the environment, or animals when you make your purchase. We’ve put together a few useful tips on what not to do and not to buy on holiday.

·         Haggling in some countries is part of the experience but always stop when you have reached a fair price.

·         Don’t buy anything that exploits wildlife or puts endangered species at risk like ivory or stolen/scavenged antiques.

·         Leave the environment as you found it. This means leaving pretty shells, coral, pebbles or stones on the beach where they belong.

·         Don’t litter. Take out what you take in. Always leave with your rubbish and recycle where you can.

·         If you’re camping and are planning to use a river/lake to wash, use eco-friendly soap so that you don’t pollute the water. 

·         Buy environmentally friendly travel products like natural insect repellant and solar powered battery chargers from www.naturalcollection.com/responsibletravel.

Be responsible. Get travel insurance.

Responsible travel also means being prepared for the unexpected. Make sure you get the right travel insurance for your holiday before you go so that help is at hand if you need it. For more information about the types of travel insurance available from Direct Line, visit http://www.directline.com