Traveling the Green Way

Green Tips from a Traveler: Jennifer Gregory.

by Liz Lewis on September 15th, 2008

Today’s green tips traveler is Jennifer Gregory, a writer with a passion for travel. After completing her degrees in Social Work and eBusiness, Jennifer traveled through Europe, across America, Mexico, and the Caribbean and writes for On the Go Travel Blog.

How do you travel green?

No matter what hotel or motel I’m staying in, I always place my “Do Not Disturb” sign on the door as soon as I arrive and I leave it there for the entirety of my stay. I don’t change the sheets on my bed at home on a daily basis, so I don’t feel the need to waste water or energy by having my hotel sheets changed on a daily basis either. I’ll let the hotel change my sheets once during the middle of my stay if I plan on staying for more than a week. I also avoid wasting those little bottles of shampoo and soap. My mother used to collect those from hotels and we’d come home from a week long stay with a suitcase full of tiny sample bottles that no one ever used. Ignore them and leave them behind. As long as they’re not opened, someone else will be able to use them.

I also carry a nightlight with me everywhere I go. We tend to get nervous in strange places, which causes us to leave lights on at night when we normally wouldn’t at home. Having a small nightlight will prevent you from stubbing your toes in the dark without using nearly as much energy as leaving those bright bathroom or hallway lights on all night long.

Do you have a favorite ‘green place’?

I have too many favorite green places to list, but one that tops my list is the Hotel Solamar in San Diego, California. I was out in California for a convention a while back and was astounded at how committed the owners and staff are when it comes to promoting sustainability. Their “Earth Care” program is great at encouraging guests to participate without being overly pushy. They use low-energy light bulbs, low-flow taps in their sinks and showers, and they only serve complimentary coffee in the lobby, which reduces waste in the rooms. Guests are asked at check-in whether or not they’d like to participate by reusing their towels and linens, which encourages them to think about it (I find most people don’t think of it unless they’re asked) while cutting down on staff confusion when it comes time to clean the rooms. And, honestly, it’s a really nice place to stay.

What do you recommend for travelers who want to go green?

Start small. Attempting to go green isn’t easy, and if you try to change everything about your lifestyle at once you’ll get frustrated very quickly. If you’re just starting out, I recommend carrying a neoprene water bottle with you at all times. For starters, the neoprene bottle is safer for your body than plastic. You can refill your water bottle at the hotel, at a water fountain, or even before you leave a restaurant. In the end, you create less waste because you won’t constantly find yourself purchasing plastic bottles that only end up in landfills. If you’re going to a place with questionable water supplies, carry some purification tablets with you as well.

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