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Tips for an eco-friendly holiday

10 Dec 2014

Thousands of South Africans have booked their holidays and will soon hit the road for some much-needed relaxation. LekkerSlaap.co.za, an Afrikaans online accommodation booking website, has compiled a list of eco-friendly travel tips so that everyone does their bit for the environment.

Image: www.freedigitalphotos.net

Here's a list of eco-friendly travel tips so that everyone does their bit for the environment whilst having a good time:

Be selective when you pack your clothes: The lighter your luggage, the smaller your carbon footprint - or that of your car. Be choosy when you pack. More often than not you pack things you never wear. So, when in doubt, toss it out! Heavy luggage will be as hard on your muscles as it will be on the environment;

Leave your house in power-saving mode: Just because you're not at home doesn't mean you can't still save. Ensure all the plugs are switched off, disconnect electrical appliances (many appliances still use electricity even when they aren't being used), make sure the geyser is off and adjust the timer for your swimming pool pump and irrigation system;

Stop and smell the roses: A growing trend amongst travellers is to stop less and stay longer. This trend is known as slow travel. This type of travelling not only reduces your carbon footprint, but also allows you to really experience the lovely places you visit on the road. Make the stop count. Holidays are a time to escape the hurry-scurry of everyday life, so take it easy and relax;

Choose wheels over wings: Cars normally generate fewer greenhouse gasses than planes, for the simple reason that they are a more fuel-efficient mode of transport;

Reuse, reduce and recycle: Reduce your carbon footprint by reusing what you can and recycling your rubbish when you reach your destination. Always have a water bottle in the car, but be aware that plastic bottles are not environmentally friendly. Instead of buying a bottle at every stop, take a glass bottle along and refill on the road. The same goes for plastic bags. Instead of taking a new bag at each shop, keep a reusable bag in the car;

Let it be: It's simple: Clean up after yourself and don't take what is not yours. If all of us take just one little flower, one bag of sea shells or one pretty rock, there will not be much left in the years to come. This is probably the easiest tip, but one that many us find hardest to adhere to;

Local is lekker: Support local vendors instead of big franchises. Imported products that are transported from afar have a bigger carbon footprint. Apart from being good for the environment, buying local also boosts our economy and supports local development; and

Car pool: Car-pooling is a simple and fun way to lessen your impact on the environment. You can also split the fuel costs, play fun games in the car and get to know each other.

So, there you have it: go green or go home. With these tips you can hit the road and save the planet one kilometre at a time.