 Green doesn’t have to stop after the last guest leaves your reception. Being an ecologically responsible couple should translate into your honeymoon and your marriage.
Your travel choices for your honeymoon will affect the local people, culture, economy, and environment. Here are some tips to ensure your destination benefits from your visit.
- Do your homework. If you make responsible and thoughtful travel decisions, you can strengthen local conservation efforts while enhancing the natural integrity of the places you visit. Support companies (airlines, hotels, etc.) with policies that consider environmental, economic and socio-cultural impacts.
- Lighten your load. Examine the culture from a locals' perspective – hoof it, rent a bike and ride around, or take public transportation and mass transit. If you must rent a car, choose a hybrid or compact economy size vehicle. To reach your destination, choose train travel over flying when possible.
- Do the math. Calculate your carbon footprint. Do your very best to offset unavoidable carbon dioxide emissions emitted by your travel.
- When in Rome…. Respect the culture, beliefs, and values of the local culture. Embrace and accept the differences of local people from the culture to which you are accustomed. Learn about your destination’s culture, language, and social norms prior to your arrival.
- Buy locally. Just as you buy locally in your daily life, you should do the same on your honeymoon at your vacation destination. The local people benefit from your travels when you purchase locally grown and produced fare. Do your best to purchase locally produced organic and fresh foods. Spend your vacation funds at community or locally owned businesses, rather than national or international chains (read: avoid Walmart, McDonalds, Subway, and the like). Employ tour operators, outfitters, and accommodations that employ local people.
- Reduce, reuse and recycle. Just as you do at home, bring the 3 Rs on the road with you. Use water and energy efficiently. Refill a water bottle to tote along with you for the day’s excursions. Avoid purchasing products with excess packaging. Try to choose a hotel that offers you the option of reusing linens for more than one day, rather than washing them daily. Avoid products made from rare and endangered species, e.g., souvenirs.
- Follow the rules. Become familiar with regulations, rules, and advisories when visiting protected areas, e.g., national parks, wildlife preserves, or conservation areas. If fees to enter these areas are not mandatory, give serious consideration to a donation to support and preserve them.
- Local flora and fauna. Observe local rules and respect animals and plants in their natural habitat. Pack your binoculars and zoom lens for a closer look. Do not harass, chase, or feed wildlife.
- Drop a few dollars. As you become familiar with the local culture, find something in the community to donate to, perhaps local schools, sustainable farming efforts, etc.
- Choose your own adventure. Try a luxury eco-boutique resort for a remote get away, a luxury green resort, an eco-lodge, an eco-tour, a hotel run on solar energy, an eco-safari, or a bungalow crafted repurposed wood. Or, you might even consider honeymooning locally to reduce your carbon footprint and support your local community and economy.
These tips, suggestions, and hints should help you shop for and choose a green honeymoon destination and have an ecologically responsible time on your blissful getaway!
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