Sustainable Travel Tips: How to Travel Better and Respect Local Places

A practical guide to reducing waste, supporting local communities, choosing responsible accommodation, respecting local cultures and travelling with a more positive impact.

Travel allows us to discover new landscapes, experience different cultures and connect with people around the world. However, tourism can also create pressure on local communities, natural resources, wildlife and historic places when it is not managed responsibly.

Sustainable travel does not mean giving up holidays, avoiding flights completely or trying to become a perfect zero-impact traveller. It means making more thoughtful decisions before, during and after a trip. Small choices—such as travelling outside peak season, using public transport, booking locally owned accommodation and reducing unnecessary waste—can help protect the places we visit.

According to Booking.com’s 2026 Travel and Sustainability research, 85% of surveyed travellers said that travelling more sustainably was important or very important to them. The research also found that 43% planned to avoid overcrowded destinations, 42% intended to travel outside peak season and more than 100 million room nights were booked at accommodation with third-party sustainability certification during 2025.

These findings show that sustainable travel is no longer a niche interest. It is becoming part of how travellers choose destinations, accommodation, transportation and experiences.

What Does Sustainable Travel Really Mean?

Sustainable travel is an approach to tourism that considers the environmental, economic and social effects of a trip. Its goal is to reduce negative impacts while helping destinations, communities and travellers benefit from tourism over the long term.

A sustainable trip should consider three main areas:

• Environmental responsibility: reducing waste, protecting biodiversity, conserving water and energy and choosing less polluting transportation where practical.
• Economic responsibility: directing more travel spending towards local businesses, workers, guides, producers and communities.
• Social and cultural responsibility: respecting local customs, protecting cultural heritage and avoiding behaviour that disrupts residents’ daily lives.

Responsible travel is not based on one perfect choice. A hotel may save energy but still rely heavily on imported products. A train may be a lower-impact option but may not be available for every route. The objective is to understand the available options and make better choices whenever possible.

Choose Your Destination Thoughtfully

Sustainable travel begins before you make a reservation. Instead of choosing a destination only because it is popular on social media, research how tourism affects the place and whether the area is experiencing overcrowding, water shortages, housing pressure or environmental damage.

Famous cities, beaches and islands often receive large numbers of visitors concentrated in a small area. This can overload public transport, create excessive waste, increase noise and make daily life more difficult for residents.

Consider visiting:

• Smaller towns near famous cities
• Less-visited regions within the same country
• Rural communities offering locally managed tourism
• Destinations with clear conservation and visitor-management policies
• Places that actively encourage longer stays rather than short, crowded visits

Choosing a quieter destination can provide a more authentic experience while spreading the economic benefits of tourism beyond the most famous attractions.

Travel During the Shoulder or Low Season

Travelling outside the busiest months is one of the simplest ways to reduce pressure on popular destinations. The shoulder season is the period between the high and low seasons, when the weather may still be pleasant but visitor numbers are lower.

Off-peak travel can help destinations by:

• Reducing overcrowding at major attractions
• Supporting local businesses outside the busiest months
• Creating more stable, year-round employment
• Reducing pressure on roads, public transport and waste systems
• Allowing travellers to interact more naturally with residents

It can also benefit your budget. Flights, accommodation and activities are often less expensive outside major holiday periods. Before booking, check the local climate carefully, as seasons differ by region and extreme weather may affect travel conditions.

Choose Lower-Impact Transportation When Possible

Transportation is often one of the largest environmental components of a trip. The most responsible option depends on distance, infrastructure, safety, accessibility and the number of people travelling.

For shorter journeys

Consider trains, coaches or shared transportation instead of flying or driving alone. Rail travel can also make the journey part of the experience, especially when travelling between well-connected European or Asian cities.

At your destination

Walking, cycling and public transport are usually better ways to explore local neighbourhoods. They can reduce congestion while helping you notice markets, cafés, parks and streets that are easy to miss from a taxi.

When flying is necessary

• Choose direct flights where practical.
• Travel less frequently but stay longer.
• Avoid unnecessary short connecting flights.
• Use economy class when appropriate, as the space is shared among more passengers.
• Combine nearby destinations into one well-planned trip.
• Research carbon programmes carefully instead of assuming every offset claim is equally reliable.

Carbon offsetting should not replace direct reductions. It is usually better to reduce avoidable emissions first and treat credible climate contributions as an additional step.

Choose Responsible Accommodation

Hotels, hostels, guesthouses, resorts and holiday rentals can have very different environmental and social policies. Do not rely only on words such as “green,” “eco” or “natural” in an accommodation description.

Look for clear information about:

• Independent sustainability certification
• Energy and water-saving measures
• Waste separation and food-waste reduction
• Reusable or refillable bathroom products
• Local employment and fair working conditions
• Local food and supplier partnerships
• Protection of nearby ecosystems
• Accessibility and inclusion
• Respect for local architecture and cultural heritage

The Global Sustainable Tourism Council recommends looking for accommodation and travel companies certified by certification bodies accredited by the GSTC. Third-party verification provides stronger evidence than an environmental claim created only by the business itself.

Smaller locally owned guesthouses can also be responsible choices, even when they do not have the budget for certification. Ask practical questions: Who owns the property? Are local people employed? Are local products used? How is waste handled? Does the business provide evidence of its sustainability policies?

Keep More of Your Spending in the Local Community

Tourism can create jobs and fund infrastructure, but not all travel spending remains in the destination. Money may leave the local economy when travellers use foreign-owned businesses, imported products or large international suppliers.

You can increase the local benefit of your trip by choosing:

• Locally owned hotels and guesthouses
• Independent restaurants and cafés
• Local guides and community-led tours
• Local taxi companies and transport providers
• Neighbourhood shops and markets
• Handmade products created in the region
• Experiences operated directly by residents

Ask where products were made before buying souvenirs. Some items marketed as traditional crafts may be mass-produced elsewhere. Buying directly from artisans provides a more meaningful souvenir and helps preserve local skills.

Bargaining may be culturally normal in some destinations, but it should remain respectful. Consider whether a very small discount matters more to you than the income matters to the seller.

Learn About and Respect Local Culture

Sustainable travel is not only about carbon and plastic. Respecting people, traditions and local ways of life is equally important.

Before arriving, research:

• Appropriate clothing in religious or traditional places
• Photography rules
• Dining etiquette
• Tipping customs
• Public behaviour and noise expectations
• Important religious practices and holidays
• Rules regarding alcohol
• Common greetings and basic words in the local language

Ask permission before photographing people, children, homes, ceremonies or private businesses. A person’s daily life is not automatically a tourist attraction.

Avoid entering restricted areas, climbing monuments, removing stones or shells and ignoring dress requirements for the sake of a photograph. Follow local rules even when you see other visitors breaking them.

In residential areas, remember that people are working, studying, sleeping and raising families. Keep noise under control, use designated waste bins and avoid blocking entrances or narrow streets.

Reduce Single-Use Plastic and Travel Waste

Waste-management systems vary widely. A destination may have limited recycling facilities or may need to transport waste long distances. Reducing what you consume is often more effective than relying only on recycling.

Useful reusable items include:

• A refillable water bottle
• A reusable shopping bag
• A reusable cup
• Reusable cutlery when appropriate
• Refillable toiletry containers
• A compact food container

Check whether tap water is safe before using a refillable bottle. Where it is not safe, look for filtered-water refill stations or larger containers that create less packaging than multiple small bottles.

Avoid taking products you will not use, including hotel toiletries, disposable slippers, printed brochures and unnecessary food packaging. Carry digital tickets and reservations when accepted, but keep essential offline copies of important documents.

Conserve Water and Energy

Water shortages can become serious in islands, dry regions and heavily visited destinations. Luxury tourism facilities may use large quantities of water while nearby communities face restrictions.

Use water as carefully as you would at home:

• Take shorter showers.
• Turn off the tap while brushing your teeth.
• Reuse towels and bed linen when reasonable.
• Report leaking taps or toilets.
• Avoid unnecessary daily laundry.
• Follow local drought restrictions.

Reduce energy use by turning off lights, air conditioning, heating and electronic devices when leaving your room. Keep windows and doors closed when heating or air conditioning is operating.

These actions may seem small, but accommodation providers serve many guests. Repeated responsible behaviour can create meaningful reductions in resource use.

Choose Ethical Wildlife Experiences

Wildlife tourism can support conservation, but poorly managed attractions may exploit animals, damage habitats or encourage unsafe interactions.

Avoid experiences that involve:

• Riding wild animals
• Holding or touching animals for photographs
• Forced performances
• Feeding wildlife without conservation supervision
• Animals kept in visibly inadequate conditions
• Removing animals from the wild for entertainment
• Buying products made from endangered species

Responsible wildlife operators maintain safe distances, limit visitor numbers, employ trained guides and prioritise natural behaviour over guaranteed sightings.

Never chase, surround or touch wildlife for a photograph. Do not use flash where it may disturb animals. Stay on marked trails and avoid removing plants, coral, stones, shells or other natural objects.

When visiting marine environments, use designated moorings, avoid stepping on coral and follow local guidance regarding sunscreen and protected areas.

Eat Local Food and Reduce Food Waste

Food is one of the best ways to understand a destination. Eating at locally owned restaurants, markets and family-run businesses can support farmers, cooks, fishers and regional producers.

Choose seasonal dishes and ingredients produced in the region where possible. Imported food often requires additional transportation, packaging and refrigeration.

Reduce food waste by:

• Ordering portions you can finish
• Trying small portions before ordering more
• Taking leftovers when it is safe and culturally appropriate
• Avoiding overloaded hotel buffet plates
• Carrying snacks in reusable containers
• Respecting local fishing and seasonal-food restrictions

Travellers should also be cautious about foods made from threatened wildlife or products obtained through environmentally destructive practices.

Pack Light and Bring Only What You Need

Packing light makes travel easier and may reduce the weight transported by aircraft, cars and other vehicles. It also reduces the temptation to buy duplicate items during your trip.

Build a practical travel wardrobe around lightweight, reusable pieces that can be combined in different ways. Check the weather, cultural expectations and planned activities before packing.

Consider bringing:

• Versatile clothing that can be layered
• Comfortable reusable footwear
• A reusable water bottle
• A foldable shopping bag
• Solid or refillable toiletries
• A universal power adapter
• Rechargeable batteries where needed
• A small repair kit

Avoid buying an entirely new travel wardrobe unless necessary. Use items you already own, borrow specialist equipment or rent it at the destination.

Stay Longer and Travel More Slowly

Slow travel means spending more time in fewer places rather than moving rapidly through a long checklist of destinations.

A longer stay can:

• Reduce the number of transport journeys
• Give you more time to use trains, buses and walking routes
• Support neighbourhood businesses over several days
• Create more meaningful cultural interactions
• Reduce the stress of constant packing and transfers

Instead of visiting five cities in one week, consider choosing one or two bases and exploring nearby areas. You may see fewer famous attractions, but you are likely to understand each place more deeply.

Use Tours and Activities That Benefit the Destination

Before booking a tour, check who operates it, where the money goes and whether local residents are involved in planning and delivering the experience.

Responsible operators should:

• Employ qualified local guides
• Pay workers fairly
• Keep groups at manageable sizes
• Respect cultural and environmental limits
• Avoid exploitative community or wildlife interactions
• Provide accurate information about local history
• Explain how fees support conservation or communities

Be cautious with volunteer tourism. Short-term volunteering involving children, schools, orphanages, healthcare or construction can create ethical problems when travellers lack appropriate qualifications or background checks.

Support projects designed and managed by the community rather than programmes created mainly to provide an emotional experience for visitors.

Learn How to Recognise Greenwashing

Greenwashing occurs when a company presents itself as environmentally or socially responsible without providing enough evidence to support its claims.

Warning signs include:

• Vague phrases such as “100% eco-friendly” without explanation
• Nature imagery used instead of measurable information
• A major focus on one small action while ignoring larger impacts
• Claims of certification without naming the certifying organisation
• No published goals, policies or progress reports
• Claims based entirely on optional towel reuse
• Wildlife or community experiences presented as responsible without clear welfare standards

Look for measurable policies and independent verification. A credible company should be able to explain what it does, how progress is measured and which organisation checks its claims.

Respect Residents in Holiday-Rental Areas

Short-term rentals can offer useful accommodation, but in some destinations their rapid growth has contributed to housing shortages, rising rents and tension with residents.

Before booking, check whether the property is legally registered and whether the destination has introduced local restrictions. Follow building rules, respect quiet hours and avoid treating residential spaces like private party venues.

Where housing pressure is severe, a licensed hotel, guesthouse or locally managed bed and breakfast may be a more suitable choice.

Use Technology Responsibly

Travel apps can help you use public transport, find refill stations, compare routes and locate independent businesses. However, technology can also contribute to overcrowding when one viewpoint, beach or restaurant suddenly becomes viral.

Avoid sharing the precise location of fragile natural areas when local organisations ask visitors not to geotag them. Follow drone regulations and never fly a drone near wildlife, religious sites, private homes, airports or restricted areas.

When posting online, represent communities respectfully. Avoid captions that stereotype local people or describe inhabited destinations as “undiscovered.”

Prepare for Climate and Weather Risks

Climate conditions increasingly affect when and where people travel. Booking.com’s 2026 research found that 74% of surveyed travellers considered extreme-weather risks when choosing both a destination and the timing of a trip.

Before travelling:

• Check seasonal weather patterns.
• Read official weather and emergency advice.
• Understand wildfire, flooding, cyclone or heat risks.
• Purchase suitable travel insurance.
• Keep emergency contacts available offline.
• Follow local evacuation or safety instructions.
• Avoid visiting disaster-affected areas unless authorities confirm tourism is appropriate.

After a disaster, some destinations may need tourism income, while others may need visitors to stay away temporarily. Follow guidance from local authorities and community organisations instead of making assumptions.

Sustainable Travel Checklist

Before your trip

• Research the destination’s culture, environment and tourism challenges.
• Consider travelling during the shoulder season.
• Compare train, coach and direct-flight options.
• Choose accommodation with clear sustainability policies.
• Check for credible third-party certification.
• Pack light and bring reusable essentials.
• Learn a few words in the local language.
• Book locally operated activities.

During your trip

• Walk, cycle or use public transport when practical.
• Support independent local businesses.
• Respect dress codes, photography rules and local customs.
• Reduce plastic and unnecessary packaging.
• Conserve water and energy.
• Avoid unethical wildlife experiences.
• Stay on marked paths and protect natural areas.
• Follow local rules in residential neighbourhoods.

After your trip

• Leave constructive reviews for responsible businesses.
• Share accurate advice with other travellers.
• Avoid publicising fragile locations irresponsibly.
• Provide respectful feedback when a company’s practices need improvement.
• Continue supporting conservation or community projects when appropriate.

Do Small Sustainable Travel Choices Really Matter?

One reusable bottle or public-transport journey will not solve every environmental problem associated with tourism. However, sustainable travel is built through repeated decisions made by travellers, businesses and governments.

Traveller demand can influence which accommodation receives bookings, which tours succeed and where tourism money is spent. When visitors consistently choose responsible providers, reduce waste and respect local communities, businesses have a stronger incentive to improve their practices.

Individual actions matter most when they are combined with wider changes such as better public transport, responsible destination planning, environmental regulation, fair employment and credible industry standards.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest way to travel more sustainably?

Start with realistic decisions: travel outside peak season, stay longer, use public transport, reduce waste, book locally owned businesses and respect local rules. You do not need to change every part of your trip at once.

Is sustainable travel more expensive?

Not always. Trains, buses, refillable bottles, local restaurants, walking tours and off-season travel may reduce costs. Some independently certified accommodation may cost more, but responsible options are available across different budgets.

Is flying incompatible with sustainable travel?

Flying has a significant environmental impact, but many international journeys cannot reasonably be completed without it. Travellers can reduce unnecessary flights, choose direct routes, stay longer and use lower-impact transportation at the destination.

How can I tell whether a hotel is genuinely sustainable?

Look for independent certification, measurable policies, transparent reporting, local employment, responsible waste management and clear information about water and energy use. Be cautious of vague environmental claims without evidence.

What is overtourism?

Overtourism occurs when visitor numbers place excessive pressure on a destination, affecting residents, infrastructure, housing, cultural sites or the natural environment. Travelling off-season and visiting alternative areas can help distribute demand.

How can travellers support local communities?

Stay in locally owned accommodation, hire local guides, eat at independent restaurants, buy directly from artisans and choose community-led experiences. Respectful spending helps more tourism income remain within the destination.

Are carbon offsets enough to make a trip sustainable?

No. Carbon programmes may support useful projects, but they should not replace direct reductions. First reduce avoidable journeys, choose efficient routes and use lower-impact transport where possible.

Final Thoughts: Travel Better, Not Perfectly

Sustainable travel is not about guilt or perfection. It is about recognising that every destination is someone’s home and that travel choices affect local people, economies, ecosystems and cultural heritage.

A responsible traveller asks a few important questions: Where is my money going? Am I respecting the people who live here? Is this activity protecting or exploiting nature? Could I create less waste? Could I visit at a quieter time? Could I stay longer and experience the place more deeply?

By travelling more slowly, supporting local businesses, choosing responsible providers and treating destinations with care, we can enjoy meaningful journeys while helping preserve the places that make travel possible.

The goal is simple: leave each destination with greater understanding, less unnecessary impact and genuine respect for the people who call it home.

Research Sources

• Booking.com, Travel and Sustainability Research 2026, published April 20, 2026.
• Booking.com, 2025 Research on Tourism’s Impact on Communities.
• UN Tourism, guidance on the environmental, economic and socio-cultural principles of sustainable tourism.
• Global Sustainable Tourism Council, responsible-traveller guidance and information about independent sustainability certification.