Accommodation choices play a crucial role not only in shaping our travel experiences but also in determining our environmental impact. From the raw beauty of wild camping to the comforts of five-star hotels, every accommodation option leaves its own mark on the planet. Here’s shortly what you need to know and can select in the GREEN TRAVEL calculator:
- Why You Should Go Camping More
- Embracing Nature: Wild Camping and Vanlife
- Community-based Travel: Campsites, Couchsurfing, and Hostels
- Private and Family Accommodations: Airbnb/Apartments and Family Homes
- Decoding Hotel Stays: From Budget to Luxury
Embracing Nature: Wild Camping and Vanlife
- Wild Camping: The ultimate in minimalism, wild camping, allows you to immerse yourself in nature with little to no environmental footprint, as long as you follow “leave no trace” principles. However, popular spots can suffer from overcrowding and damage, so it’s important to camp responsibly.
- Vanlife: Living out of a van epitomizes freedom and simplicity. The environmental cost depends on factors like fuel usage and how you manage energy and waste in the van. It’s a great way to connect with nature, but sustainable practices are key to keeping that footprint small.
Community-based Travel: Campsites, Couchsurfing, and Hostels
- Campsites: These range from basic plots to sites with full amenities, with varying environmental impacts. Facilities like bathrooms and electricity increase the footprint, but responsible management can keep it in check.
- Couchsurfing: This community-driven option makes use of existing spaces and promotes cultural exchange with minimal environmental impact. It’s a smart way to travel if you’re looking to keep things green.
- Hostels: Ideal for travelers looking for budget-friendly, social accommodations, hostels make efficient use of space and resources. The impact varies depending on how they manage energy, waste, and communal facilities.So be on the lookout for “Eco-hostels” (Link – my favorite (eco-) hostels per country and city)
Private and Family Accommodations: Airbnb/Apartments and Family Homes
- Airbnb/Apartments: These offer the comforts of home and vary from simple to luxurious. The environmental impact depends on energy use, water consumption, and waste practices. Opting for places with green certifications can make your stay more sustainable.
- Family Home: Staying with in a family can be eco-friendly, especially if the household embraces sustainable practices. The overall impact depends on factors like the home’s size, energy sources, and lifestyle choices.
Decoding Hotel Stays: From Budget to Luxury
- Hotels (1-3 stars): These hotels typically have a smaller environmental impact per guest than their more luxurious counterparts, depending on their energy efficiency, buffet or food options and waste management practices.
- Hotels (4 and 5 stars): Luxury hotels often come with a higher environmental cost due to increased energy and water usage, but the trend towards eco-luxury is growing. Many high-end hotels are now incorporating sustainable practices into their operations, combining luxury with responsibility. (My favorite Eco-hotels per country and city)
Whether you’re sleeping under the stars or in a luxury suite, your choice of accommodation can make a big difference to the planet.
Why You Should Go Camping More
Let’s face it, the closest many of us get to nature is accidentally watering a houseplant or watching “Planet Earth” from the comfort of our couch. But, I’m here to tell you why you should swap your sofa for a sleeping bag and your screen time for star gazing. That’s right, folks—let’s talk about camping!
Escape the Chaos: No Wi-Fi, No Problem!
First up, camping is the ultimate excuse to dodge those work emails and the endless doomscrolling on social media. The lack of Wi-Fi (travel far :p) is camping’s way of saying, “Relax, buddy, those memes can wait!” It’s about unplugging from the matrix and actually remembering what your phone-free hands can do (like roasting marshmallows and fumbling with a tent pole).
Budget-Friendly Adventure
Forget researching fancy hotels or dealing with the hustle and bustle of tourist traps. Camping is your budget-friendly ticket to adventure. All you need is a tent, a sleeping bag, and a sense of humor for when the tent setup inevitably goes sideways.
The Soundtrack of Nature
Who needs Spotify when you’ve got the symphony of nature? Crickets chirping, rivers rushing, and the rustle of trees. Plus, nothing beats the suspenseful thrill of trying to figure out if that rustling is just the wind or a squirrel plotting to steal your snacks.
Campfire Cuisine
Ah, the culinary delights of campfire cooking, where everything tastes better because you made it on a fire YOU built yourself (nothing beats that moment of “Look what I have created…I have made Fire!!!”). From s’mores to hot dogs, campfire food is the ultimate in rustic gourmet. Burnt? Charred? I say, “flavor-enhanced!”
Bonding Time
Camping is all about bonding. Whether it’s with family, friends, or a friendly raccoon you mistook for your dog in the dark, nothing brings people together like collectively trying not to get lost in the woods. You’ll return home with in-jokes and memories that can’t be replicated in the “real” world.
Learn Real Survival Skills
Lastly, camping teaches you valuable skills, like how to navigate without Google Maps and how to distinguish between types of leaves (because, spoiler alert, not all of them make good toilet paper). It’s like a crash course in being a slightly more competent human being.
So, Pack Up and Pitch Up!
In conclusion, camping is the underrated hero of vacations. It’s affordable, it’s a digital detox, and it’s your chance to engage with nature without being mediated by a screen. Plus, let’s be honest, you haven’t really lived until you’ve chased a raccoon out of your tent at 2 AM. That, my friends, is living the dream!!
So, why not give it a shot? Worst case scenario, you come back with some epic stories. Best case? You discover a new passion and become one with nature. Happy camping!
