While researching eco-friendly lodging in Portugal. You find the perfect destination: a resort with its own organic garden, composting program, solar power and an on-site wildlife sanctuary. It’s absolutely perfect… except the nightly rate is higher than your rent.

Is sustainable travel possible on a small budget? Absolutely! In fact, we think it’s easier. While luxury eco-resorts are appealing, the best way to lighten your travel impact is the “less is more” approach.

Sustainable budget travel: Planning tips for before your trip

Choose closer, less crowded destinations. Domestic travel is more sustainable (and usually cheaper) than heading overseas. Decrease your environmental impact by choosing places that aren’t overwhelmed with visitors. For instance, you could pick one of the least-visited national parks in the continental U.S., such as Guadalupe Mountains National Park in Texas or Voyageurs National Park in northern Minnesota.

Stay at smaller hotels or guesthouses. Family-owned properties keep more money in the local economy and have a much smaller impact than mega-resorts. Here’s a green travel tip: Look for older eco-resorts at your destination. They’re usually serious about sustainability, because they were green before it was trendy! And their rates tend to be lower, as well.

Don’t fall for greenwashing. You might find an “eco-resort” at your destination with really good rates… but the only information about their sustainability practices is a vague message about a beach cleanup two years ago. When booking a sustainable hotel, look for those that back up their claims with numbers and specifics. One good sign is having a recognized hotel sustainability certification. Programs like Green Key Global, Green Globe, and EarthCheck require hotels to meet certain standards in order to be certified.

Choose flights with lower emissions. Platforms like Google Flights and Expedia use the Travel Impact Model to calculate and compare greenhouse gas emissions per passenger for various flights. It’s a complex model that considers not only the total distance traveled, but the type of aircraft and the expected number of passengers. And there’s good news for budget travelers: Often, the greenest flights are the cheapest ones, because they burn less fuel.¹

Fly economy. Here’s another instance where the cheaper option is more sustainable. Because an economy seat takes up less room, it’s responsible for fewer emissions. A passenger traveling in first class produces roughly four times the emissions of someone flying in economy, while flying business class accounts for almost three times the emissions of economy.²

Or don’t fly at all! Trains produce up to 73% less pollution than planes. One researcher decided to take Amtrak from Philadelphia to Los Angeles. It was a long journey (82 hours in all), but he reduced his carbon footprint by 54%.³ While train travel isn’t always cheaper than flying, sometimes the more affordable—and even faster—way to travel. Discover 5 U.S. routes where the train beats the plane.

Avoid buying new gear. It’s easy to fall in love with trendy sustainable travel products: shoes, clothes, bags and organizers. As soon as advertisers figure out you’re planning a trip, they bombard you with influencer videos and buy-now messages. But the greenest thing you can buy is… nothing. Unless you’re going somewhere with extreme weather, you probably have everything you need in your closet. You can also borrow items from friends, or hit up your local online gifting group.

Bring a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. Plastic bottles and plastic bags are two of the worst offenders for pollution in oceans and waterways. Just look at popular tourist destinations like Bali, which struggles to manage the trash from more than 13 million visitors each year. A simple way to reduce your impact and save money: Carry your own bottle (with a built-in filtration system, if needed) and a simple cloth bag.

Sustainable budget travel: Tips to use during your trip

Embrace slow travel. In essence, slow travel means spending more time soaking in a destination, rather than trying to pack in as many sights and activities as possible. It can involve sitting down to enjoy leisurely meals, taking long walks around local neighborhoods, or getting to know one place really well instead of visiting five different cities. Learn more about the slow-travel trend.

Eat local. If you’re eating a mango in Norway or lamb in St. Lucia, you know your food has traveled a long, long way. The more sustainable (and affordable) option is to eat what the locals eat. In Costa Rica, that’s a casado: a simple meal of rice, beans, plantains and optional meat. In Indonesia, it’s nasi goreng: seasoned fried rice with various ingredients and an egg.

Conserve resources. When you’re on vacation, it’s so tempting to take long, hot showers or set the A/C on “arctic.” It’s better to follow the same sustainable practices you might use at home: saving water, turning off lights, line-drying clothes and minimizing your use of climate control. While it may not save you money directly, these habits can help keep hotel rates low.

Choose public transportation. Taking a bus, train, or other shared transport is a lot greener—and cheaper—than hailing a cab or renting a car. If you’re anxious about taking public transportation in another country, you can allay your fears by doing a little research beforehand. Download apps to help you navigate the local system, or print a translated version of the bus schedule before you go.

Rent a compact, hybrid or electric vehicle. If renting a car is the most practical way to get around, choose the greenest vehicle that works for your trip. To save even more, buy the OneTrip Rental Car Protector. It provides primary coverage for covered collision, loss and damage up to $50,000, almost anywhere in the world, and only costs $11 per calendar day.

Buy secondhand souvenirs. Rather than buying mass-produced tchotchkes, browse local flea markets or secondhand stores for inexpensive, unusual finds. Local thrift shops can also be great places to find things you need only on vacation, such as beach chairs or children’s toys. When you leave, donate them again.

One last tip for all you budget-travel adventurers: Don’t skip the travel insurance! Travel protection doesn’t have to be expensive. An affordable plan such as OneTrip Cancellation Plus or OneTrip Emergency Medical can protect what matters most, whether that’s your trip investment or your wellbeing. Get a quote.

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