Everywhere on vacation, we drink our favorite cocktails and eat our favorite snacks in search of rest, calm, and tranquility: skiing, at the beach, in the mountains, outdoors. These are special moments when we indulge in our current leisure activities and have a good time.

In this recreational atmosphere, there are rules to follow in order to get away from it all while respecting the environment and enjoying a sustainable vacation. These rules allow us to vacation in a healthy environment, preserve our vacation destination, reduce vacation costs, make vacation a time for civic education, and better understand our vacation destination.

In this article, we will look at the principles to follow, the actions to take, and the plans to be aware of in order to behave correctly while on vacation.

1- Fruit for afternoon tea and snacks

Far from home, at the other end of the world, or at the bottom of your garden, having a quick snack is a holiday ritual. – Treating your taste buds is a top priority when you’re on vacation. – Holidays are culturally the time of year when we snack the most.

To eat healthily and stay healthy on vacation, we recommend eating fruit during your snack breaks. This has several advantages:

-if you have children, it will provide them with the fiber and nutrients they need to start their day off right,

-secondly, by buying fresh fruit, you are helping to boost the local economy where you buy it and reducing transport-related pollution,

-you will also reduce packaging-related pollution,

-finally, if you are traveling to the other side of the world, it will be an opportunity to discover the fruits of your host country and learn more about the region’s crops.

2- Buy plastic plates

This tip applies when you are eating outdoors or having a picnic. Buying plastic plates is an important purchase when you are on vacation. It is a responsible and environmentally friendly gesture that has a positive impact on the planet. It reduces your waste generation while preserving your budget for disposable plates. A set of disposable plates costs around €0.30 each, compared to around €1.30 for plastic plates. After 5 uses, you will save money on your purchase.

3- Use plastic canteens

The use of plastic canteens in everyday life is commonplace, but on vacation, plastic canteens are less popular, bulkier, and require special logistics, so they are shunned by travelers and vacationers. Traditional water bottles are preferred, but they are less environmentally friendly than plastic canteens in everyday life and on vacation. The use of plastic bottles produces plastic waste and has a purchase cost. Plastic canteens have a significant initial purchase cost but do not produce waste when used. During your vacation, you can fill it with boiling water if you are in a place where the tap water is not drinkable: standard hotel rooms are all equipped with kettles, and if they are not, you can ask to have your water bottle filled with hot water at the reception desk, which should normally be free of charge.

4- Sort your waste

If you sort your waste at home, using one bin for cardboard, one for glass, and one for organic waste, it’s a good idea to do the same when you’re on vacation.

If you are in a country where waste sorting is not practiced, doing so will serve as a civic lesson for your host country. Sorting your organic waste, cardboard, and glass will allow it to be processed properly and reduce the pollution it generates.

5- Plan your departure dates, don’t overload your destination

Something we don’t do enough when going on vacation is choosing the right time to go in order to preserve our destination. Forests, historic sites, city tours, and ski resorts are places that are better to visit when they are not overcrowded. In fact, to preserve forests, protect ancient engravings and ruins, reduce urban pollution, and decrease the number of collisions, these places need to be visited sparingly. To do this, find out about arrivals and peak periods at your vacation destination.

6- Find out about your vacation destination

Finding out about your vacation destination is essential for ensuring a sustainable, healthy vacation and reducing your travel costs. When doing your research, there are certain pieces of information you should prioritize:

• Convenient and safe places to walk around.
• Traditional shops where you can do your shopping and avoid prices that are three or four times higher for tourists.
• The traditions and customs of your destination so that you don’t offend the locals during your visit.
• Good deals and the history of your destination country so that you can enjoy a truly authentic travel experience.

7- Pack your bags wisely

To have a great vacation, it is important to pack your bags wisely. Asthmatics should pack Ventolin inhalers, diabetics should bring insulin, allergy sufferers should bring anti-allergy medication such as antihistamines and corticosteroids… As you can see, it is important to be prepared for the worst. If you are traveling to a remote location, this will prevent you from paying high prices or facing shortages in the event of a problem.

8- Shop carefully before your trip

We’re not going to lie to you, vacations are great, but since you’ll be in a new environment and probably with friends, you’ll need to keep yourself busy. So be resourceful when shopping before your trip and pack a deck of cards to liven up your evenings: we recommend UNO, a sure-fire choice that can be played by two to four or more people. Solo travelers can bring a camera, which is a very addictive pastime, or you can buy a paperback book to pack in your luggage to make your vacation even more enjoyable.