Ways to Save Money and the Environment While On Vacation

If you are like the majority of Americans, then you are likely dreaming of your vacation in 2011.  Most Americans do attempt to get away at least once per year – even if it means only travelling a few miles from home – but for those that try to follow a “green” way of life, travel introduces a few new challenges.  However, there are ways to limit your environmental impact, even while on the road.  This article discusses three great ways to do just that.

Rent Scooters To Get Around Instead Of Renting A Car It is very common practice today for people to rent a car while on vacation.  It makes it more convenient to move between entertainment venues, allows the people a sense of independence, and can make it easier for them to experience the real way of life in the area they choose.  However, cars are known as enemies to the environment and while electric and hybrid cars are now available to consumers, they are not always readily available from the rental company.  Therefore, you may be forced to drive a car of average size and average carbon emissions.  That’s not really good news for the eco-friendly traveler.  Does that mean that you should go without personal transportation on vacation?  Maybe it does for some people.  However, those aren’t the only two options.  Many popular vacation destinations today offer another alternative for transportation.  The motor scooter has become synonymous with tourists in many locations.  These little bipeds are easy to use, can carry two adults, and offer a much “greener” approach to getting around.

Aside from producing far less negative impact on the environment, scooters are far more economically sound rentals than most cars.  The average five-day car rental for a mid-sized car varies from place to place, but it is not unusual to drop two hundred fifty dollars (perhaps even more after hidden taxes and fees).  That is fifty dollars per day.  That car will go about twenty-five miles per gallon at best.  On the other hand, a motor scooter rental usually starts at about twenty-five dollars per day and those scooters can go up to eighty miles per gallon.  You will likely spend less than half as much when renting a scooter instead of a car.

There are, of course, down sides to driving a moped.  If it rains, you are going to get wet and there is far less room to stash a bag, purse, or souvenir.  However, when one considers the impact on the environment, the monetary savings, and the quick in and out nature of a scooter, the down sides don’t really tilt the scale.

Reuse Containers They may be small, but travel containers come in a wide variety of shapes and serve a wide variety of purposes.  Even if each of the more than one hundred million vacationers each year carried just one travel sized bottle and tossed it, the effects would be astounding on a landfill.  Almost all of the travel bottles do end up there.  So, to help reduce the amount of plastic building up in landfills as a result of these convenient travel companions, there are a couple of things you can do.  If you aren’t flying, consider taking your large bottles from the shower.  They may take up more room in your bag, but it will be a lot less wasteful.  If you just can’t live with the added burden, then consider using small, washable Tupperware containers instead.  In this way, the containers can go on to serve a different purpose after your vacation and won’t be trash bound.  If you are flying, consider reusing the travel bottles by refilling them with the shampoo and conditioner from your shower.  All of these options will save you some money as travel bottles don’t usually come very cheap.  The smallest bottles can often cost nearly half the price of an average sized bottle. Yet, you will get well more than twice the product in the bigger bottle.

Bring a Thermos The most commonly bought item while on vacation is a bottle of water.  Rather than heading to the vending machine or convenient mart each time you feel a bit thirsty, you can reach for your travel thermos.  These are convenient while on vacation or just in everyday life.  One can easily refill them with water from the hotel or from a gallon jug of water purchased upon arrival.  The gallon of water will likely cost less at the grocery store than a twenty-ounce bottle of water will at an amusement park and it will refill your thermos several times.  Furthermore, people who carry thermoses are far less likely to fall victim to dehydration, as these little travel companions are good reminders to take a sip from time to time.