Staying in a Hotel? A Little Sustainability Goes a Long Way
Many travelers who adventure both near and far appreciate a nice hotel room along the way. But more often than not, tourism — including hotel stays — can be a burden on the environment, including a strain on a community’s local energy infrastructure and water supplies.
The good news is that there are simple ways you can become more environmentally friendly and help promote responsible travel, starting with your next hotel stay. And while most of these suggestions won’t affect your comfort level, they will help ease the burden on local communities.
Becoming part of the sustainability solution begins with consuming only what you really need (electricity, water, gas, etc.). That’s why we’re sharing some ideas that will go a long way toward helping contribute to the well-being of the future communities you’re planning to visit.
During Your Next Hotel Stay, Try These Tips:
- If you’re planning to make coffee in your hotel room, a French press, if available, is a better option than a disposable coffee pod. (With a French press, there’s less to dispose of and no electricity used.)
- If you’re checking out of your hotel room digitally, leave your plastic key in the room or return it to the front desk so that it can be reused (rather than saving it as a souvenir or throwing it in the trash).
- Take a short shower rather than a bath. You’ll use less water.
- In terms of climate control, when leaving your room for the day, either shut the thermostat off or adjust it to a temperature that’s neutral enough not to trigger the heat or A/C too much, so that you’re not wasting energy on an empty room. (If it’s sunny and hot outside, be sure to close the shades to keep the space cooler).
- Another thing to do before leaving your room is to make sure the TV and all of the lights are turned off to save on electricity.
- Re-hang your towels for reuse and place a designated sign on your bed if it’s available to opt out of having your linens laundered.
- Consider handwashing your clothing in the sink and hanging to dry, rather than using laundry services.
- When you have the choice, consider leaving a lower environmental footprint by staying in an eco-friendly lodge. Selva Verde Eco-Lodge in Costa Rica, for example, sets the bar high when it comes to lowering the impact on our environment.
At Road Scholar, sustainable travel is among our core values, as is caring for the environments and communities that host us. We are dedicated to integrating sustainable best practices through every aspect of our programs as we continue to learn, improve and strive to be a catalyst for positive change in responsible travel. Our five core values are to respect and preserve local cultures, conserve natural environments, minimize waste and pollution, protect wildlife and make a difference in local communities.
We hope that you’ll remain curious and become more eco-conscious on your upcoming journeys by implementing some small changes to your usual travel habits and carbon footprint. Thank you for helping to create a more hopeful future where our planet is not only protected, but respected. And in case you’re interested, check out some of our Earth-loving learning adventures!