How to Travel Sustainably During the Holidays, According to Experts

Holidays are a booming time for travel and often involve over-tourism and carbon-intensive trips.
By opting for trains over planes and gifting experiences instead of objects, you can travel more responsibly.
This article is part of “Holiday Insider,” your go-to guide for celebrating the festive season.
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Whether you’re skiing down slopes or soaking up the sun, the holidays are often synonymous with travel.
The day before Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve are three of the busiest days to travel, according to USA Today. And a bustling travel season often puts a strain on holiday destinations and the environment.
Thankfully, experts agree that travelers can do things — like opting to take a train instead of a plane or skipping the holiday turkey — to reduce their carbon footprint during their holiday travels and support winter destinations.
First, choose a destination with the planet in mind
One expert recommends to start planning your holiday vacation by deciding what type of trip you want. Jackyenjoyphotography/Getty Images/Geir Pettersen/Getty Images
Start by evaluating what you want out of your holiday trip
Before landing on a destination, travelers should first consider what type of trip they want, Tim Williamson, the customer director for Responsible Travel, a UK-based travel company that evaluates trips and vacation providers, told Insider.
“Are you looking for an adventure, some culture, or to curl up in a log cabin away from it all?” Williamson said.
Experts agreed that the best approach to choosing a destination is to search for places that are reachable by car or train and don’t experience over-tourism during winter.
Avoid flying — or do it more sustainably
Bernina Express train in the snowy landscape of Engadin, Switzerland. Francesco Bergamaschi/Getty Images
Williamson said travelers should try to pick a reachable destination without flying — especially if their trip is short.
Train travel is often a more sustainable alternative, Kaitlyn Brajcich, the senior manager for communications and training at Sustainable Travel International, an organization that works with local governments, businesses, and nonprofits to provide sustainable travel opportunities, told Insider.
As Insider previously reported, plane alternatives typically require less carbon. For example, planes can emit six times more carbon per passenger mile than trains, according to Time. Cars can also be more carbon efficient than planes, especially if you’re carpooling and driving shorter distances, experts previously told Insider.
Calculators like the ones offered by the International Civil Aviation Organization and Environmental Defense Fund can help travelers map out the least carbon-intensive way to get from point A to B.
If you have to fly, “perhaps make the winter holidays your big trip and have a special, longer break with family,” Williamson said. The longer you’re in a destination, the better it is for “you, the planet, and the local communities who feel the benefits of your extended stay,” he added.
If you’re meeting with family members from around the world, Brajcich recommends choosing a place that’s centrally located and accessible by public transportation or a direct flight.
No matter how you get there, think about purchasing carbon offsets for the trip, Brajcich said. While experts agree that carbon offsets aren’t a solution to sustainable travel, the money will go toward reducing or removing carbon emissions.
“The end of the year is an ideal time to think about offsetting your travel carbon footprint,” Brajcich said. If you decide to purchase offsets, purchase them through a reliable, vetted program. Responsible Travel has an online carbon calculator that helps travelers calculate and offset the emissions from past trips.
Pick places that aren’t advertised as holiday getaways
“In many destinations, tourism peaks right around the holidays,” Brajcich said.
With crowds of people flooding the same destinations simultaneously, this can lead to over-tourism. Too many tourists can damage fragile environments and push locals out of their homes and communities, the Washington Post reported.
“Consider swapping a big ski resort – many of which use damaging fake snow – for something different, like wildlife watching in Yellowstone, snowshoeing, or chasing the northern lights,” Williamson said.
“Or look at an off-season destination – Greece is still beautiful in winter, and you can explore it without the crowds,” he said.
If you’re set on visiting a popular winter hotspot, experts said it might be wise to reconsider your timing.
Figure out when to go
A family walks down an empty street in Yucatan, Mexico. Thomas Barwick/Getty Images
Avoid over-tourism by planning your trip before Christmas or after New Year’s
“If your schedule is flexible, try traveling a little before or after the holidays to avoid the crowds and get the added benefit of cheaper rates,” Brajcich said.
Visiting destinations during their non-peak times “spreads the benefits of tourism locally across the year and lightens the burden of over-tourism in popular destinations,” Justin Francis, the cofounder and CEO of Responsible Travel, previously told Insider. His company, Responsible Travel, created a guide that outlines the best time to visit certain destinations.
Off-peak travel = lower carbon emissions
On a smaller scale, Williamson suggests travelers avoid scheduling flights, trains, and road trips around peak times.
These rush-hour times often involve travelers waiting in traffic, which means travelers will spend more time and carbon emissions getting to their destination.
Or take Brajcich’s advice and skip the traffic altogether.
“Airport traffic can be an absolute nightmare around the holidays. All the people idling in cars and pumping out emissions is not good for the planet,” she said. “Cut down your carbon footprint and make it less stressful for your family members by taking public transit to/from the airport instead of making them sit in traffic.”
Make smart decisions throughout your stay
Piñatas often decorate the streets of Mexico during Christmastime. Paty aranda/Getty Images
Consume less heat and electricity while you’re away
Don’t forget to prep your home so it’s not draining resources while you’re away, Brajcich said.
That includes turning off your Christmas lights or putting them on a timer and remembering to turn down the heat. If you have a smart home, you can also do this from the comfort of your beach chair or ski lift.
Where you sleep matters, too
A mother and son sit on a balcony behind a winter wonderland. Adam and Kev/Getty Images
Skip major hotel chains and short-term rentals owned by corporations. Instead, opt for a place you know is locally-owned, like a bed and breakfast or campsite.
“[Hotels and short-term rentals] might be convenient, but they’re literally pricing local people out of their own homes and communities,” Williamson said. “Stay somewhere where locals benefit – where the profit stays and local jobs are created.”
Williamson said homestays and accommodations attached to people’s homes signal that a property is locally-owned. He added that companies like Fairbnb are working to create a similar Airbnb experience by working directly with the local hosts.
If those options don’t work, find hotels that operate more sustainably.
As Insider previously reported, travelers should search for specifics beyond being “eco-friendly.” Look for accommodations with written policies about how they work with local communities, prevent food waste, and help environmental initiatives like reforestation or ocean conservation.
“If they’ve made a commitment to the communities, to the destination, and they understand that they’re part of the community, that is what’s important,” Gregory Miller, the executive director of the international nonprofit Center for Responsible Travel, previously told Insider.
Skip the holiday turkey and opt for local dishes instead
If you’re traveling to a new destination for the holidays, try local dishes instead of cooking what you traditionally make around this time.
“If you’ve traveled somewhere totally different, it’s a great opportunity to explore local food traditions, even at Christmas,” Williamson told Insider. “And by sticking with local produce and upping your plant-based and organic dishes, you’ll significantly curb your holiday carbon ‘foodprint’ and benefit local producers.”
For example, oysters from the coast of France are often paired with Champagne around Christmastime in the country, Taste of France reports. Or if you’re traveling to Greece, dine on yiaprakia, which are stuffed cabbage leaves served at the Christmas dinner table, according to Culture Trip.
Brajcich added that “the same applies to drinks; sip on ciders made from locally-grown apples or a winter ale from a local brewery.”
Rethink how you give gifts on vacation
The Romerberg Christmas Market in Frankfurt, Germany Murat Taner/Getty Images
Gift-giving is typical during the holidays, whether you’re home or thousands of miles away. Experts agree that giving experiences instead of tangible objects is one of the most sustainable ways to give gifts.
One idea Williamson suggested is having your group agree to buy gifts during the holiday vacation. This sets up an ideal opportunity to gift experiences.
“You could check out local craft markets and meet local creators, give a loved one a theatre visit, a local class, or a special tour,” Williamson said. “That way, you’re gifting an experience or product that gives back to the place you’re visiting and can create special memories.”
Irajcich said it’s more sustainable to ship gifts directly to the recipient before or after your trip if you do decide to give pre-purchased gifts
“Your family members will appreciate not having to squeeze items into their carry-on or pay for an extra checked bag. Plus, the lighter luggage means a lower carbon footprint when traveling by plane,” she said.
And skip the wrapping paper.
“Gift paper creates mountains of unrecyclable waste — it’s also easily torn while traveling,” Williamson said. So consider wrapping your gifts in old fabric, recycled gift bags, or craft paper you already have at home.
Plan holiday activities with the planet in mind
Holiday activities look different for everyone, but there are ways you can explore a new destination responsibly.
“Do some research in advance into the local holiday traditions in the destination you are visiting so that you can immerse yourself in the culture and experience new holidays or ways to celebrate,” Brajcich said.
For example, according to Apartment Therapy, piñatas are a popular Christmastime activity in Mexico. If you’re traveling to Mexico, consider purchasing a piñata from a local vendor and celebrating your Christmas with that tradition instead.
And when you arrive, connect and talk to locals, who can give you insight into a destination’s hidden gems.
Williamson said finding these under-the-radar activities can be even more critical if you’re visiting a place that’s popular during winter.