If you’re worried about the effect your vacation will have on your global footprint, you can rest easy. The U.S. far exceeds the rest of the world in resource consumption, using more than a quarter of the total goods. It’s a safe bet that no matter where you go, you’ll lower your footprint and carbon emissions just by leaving the United States. In the rest of the world, the cars are smaller and (in Britain the same models) are more fuel-efficient, houses are smaller and use less energy, and appliances are smaller so the hotel washing your sheets is using less water. Instead of renting a car, you might find that public transport is the preferred way to travel while on holiday. I just booked a trip to the U.K. and British Airways asked me if I wanted to pay an additional $50 for carbon offset credits. A domestic flight I just purchased from United, didn't make me such an offer but I can always purchase my own.

Make a game out of noticing how your host country uses resources. If you have kids, ask them to play too. What percentages of people are using their own bags at the store or have solar panels on their roof? In Sweden, many buildings have grasses growing on rooftops that insulates against the cold and adds oxygen to the air. Do you notice more signs asking people to be conscious of their actions? Are there more people riding bicycles? If you’re traveling in a developing country, like India, you might notice that there’s a lot more trash visible but consider that overall, they produce much less garbage and reuse most of their packaging. Just because you can’t see the waste and pollution in the U.S., doesn’t mean it isn’t here. Maybe you can bring back a few habits. I’ve been reusing plastic produce bags after rooming with a woman in college who did. I’d never seen anyone do that before but it was such an easy and natural change to make. When in India, I used a cloth “grocery bag” my entire trip and have done so in the U.S. ever since.

If the idea of reducing your impact by association is not enough for you, think about going on an eco tour. Eco tours give financial support to countries to preserve their open spaces. If they make more money protecting their landscapes than they do destroying them, these countries are inclined to do just that. Some, like Iceland, are in the middle of national debates about this very issue and your vote can help them decide. Tragically, many of the Earth’s most beautiful landscapes are rapidly vanishing so if you want to see them, go soon! If you’re staying in the country or just want to spend your vacation unplugged from everything, look into bike tours. A few years ago, a friend of mine wanted to bike around New Zealand but couldn’t afford the steep airfare. I suggested Cuba and after a little bit of research, he found a way to get to there and joined an organized bike tour that stayed with host families all around the island. It ended up being one of the best experiences of his life and inspired him to take many more vacations by bicycle.

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