TRAVEL TIPS: TREAD LIGHTLY

Ecotourism is not an activity in the true sense of the word, "eco-tourism" is more of a philosophy, a type of tourism with ecological aims, which takes place in a totally natural environment.

Ecotravelers can support the preservation of local cultures and ecosystems by educating themselves about the impact of tourism and by making informed travel choices that minimize the impact on the people and environments they visit.

Traveling is not only stressful on us, but on our planet. Imagine how much water and energy is consumed and how much waste is generated by roughly 4 million U.S. travelers each day.
But you don't need to sacrifice comfort or convenience to be conservation-minded.

We've compiled a list of resources and great energy-saving tips for a healthier planet:

In Your Hotel Room and Dining Out
Responsible Travel
Eco-Activities
Getting Around
Golf Efficiency Tips
Car Efficiency Tips
More Travel Tips from TravelCool!

In Your Hotel Room and Dining Out
Ask your room attendant to let you reuse your linens and towels to reduce water, energy and detergent use.
Conserve energy. Turn lights, television and air conditioners OFF when not needed.
NEVER use your toilet for trash disposal.
Seek out local and organic foods. They taste better, are better for you and will give you a better flavor of the local culture.
Taking out? Grab only the condiments, napkins and utensils you need. Try skipping the straw altogether.

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Responsible Travel

Need a rental car? Rent a hybrid.
Flying somewhere? Help fight global warming and offset the harmful greenhouse gas emissions from your flight. More
Interested in seeing the world? Check out our recommendations for eco-lodging and eco-tour companies.
Express your concerns about the environment to the businesses that you patronize. Your voice makes a difference.

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Eco-Activities
Experience the natural environs. Go hiking, rent a bike, sailboat or in-line skates. Visit a local waterfront, park or aquarium.
"Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photographs" and recycle and reuse the plastic film containers.
When camping or hiking, pack out what you pack in. There is no such thing as garbage in nature.
If possible, bring a bag with you to pick up human litter - you're doing the watershed and local wildlife a favor, and improving the next hiker's experience.

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Getting Around
Try something new and plan your day's route using public transit or bicycle.
Walk to nearby destinations for fresh air, to stretch your legs and to take in the local sights and sounds.
When driving, make sure your car is well tuned and tires are fully inflated. You'll increase your mileage and cut gas costs up to 15%.
On the road, fill up with the lowest octane gasoline possible. The higher the octane, the more hazardous pollutants released when fuel is burned. Only 1 out of 10 vehicles manufactured after 1982 require high-octane gas.
If purchasing a new vehicle, consider a fuel-smart car – one that gets more miles to the gallon than your current vehicle, and match the vehicle to your needs. The potential carbon dioxide reduction for a car that gets 32 miles per gallon is 5,600 pounds per year.

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