Top 10 travel mistakes that increase your carbon footprint

Traveling offers an exciting opportunity to explore different cultures, try new cuisines, and make lasting memories. With growing concerns about climate change, it's important to be mindful of the environmental impact of our vacations.

Travelers are often unaware of the carbon footprint associated with their lodging choices, activities, transportation, etc. During a particular trip, a combination of big and small decisions can significantly affect the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions, writes Huffington Post .

The journalists asked experts to name the most common mistakes tourists make that increase their carbon footprint while traveling.

Indirect flights

"Flying will be the main source of carbon dioxide emissions on most vacations," said Tom Hall, vice president of Lonely Planet. "While in many cases there is no alternative, travelers can minimize the number of flights, use newer, less polluting aircraft, and once at their destination, take cleaner ground transportation such as the train."

Repackaging

"A mistake we often make and don't always realize the consequences of is overpacking," said Paula Espinoza, creative director at Naya Traveler. "This can increase the weight of your luggage and, in turn, increase fuel consumption for transportation. The easy fix is to plan your clothes and what you'll need for your trip in advance. This way you avoid packing unnecessary things."

Replace flying with train or bus travel

"The most important thing is to avoid flying whenever possible, so maybe instead of flying across Europe on your next trip, really get to know one or two countries by train. Not only are you avoiding the huge carbon footprint that comes with air travel, but you're also supporting local communities by extending the benefits of tourism to lesser-visited destinations," said Brian McMahon, Origin's travel curator.

Local food

"Being conscious of where you eat while traveling can have an impact on your carbon footprint and the impact on the environment in general," Benner said. "Look for restaurants with local products - ideally all local - or farm-to-table restaurants. Eating local food means that the products you choose won't be shipped from far away - it's travel that usually increases the carbon footprint. In addition, buying locally supports the local economy."

Booking economy class instead of business class

"A lot of people may not realize it, but your cabin class can affect your carbon footprint," said Per Christiansen, senior vice president of marketing for EMEA and APAC at Kayak, a travel search engine and booking site.

Flying in business class will result in a much larger carbon footprint.

Choosing hotels

"The location you choose when traveling can also affect your carbon footprint," Benner said. "There are a growing number of hotels that focus on using high-efficiency lighting and appliances, are mindful of how often rooms need to be cleaned, and source their food from local establishments. Staying at these hotels will reduce your carbon footprint."

Daily housekeeping

"A surprising contribution to your carbon footprint can be made by staying in hotels that clean your room daily," Benner said. "Washing and drying sheets and vacuuming every day adds up to a significant amount of carbon footprint."

Air conditioning in the room

"One of the common mistakes travelers make, especially in hot climates, is turning on the air conditioner when they leave the room," said Breichich. "All day long, while the air conditioner is cooling an empty room, it is also generating carbon emissions. Turning off the air conditioner every time they leave the room or turning on a fan when they are in the room is an easy way for travelers to avoid unnecessary emissions."

Choosing activities and tour operators

"Choosing sustainability-focused lodging, tour operators, transportation providers, and dining options can also help minimize travel emissions," said writer and eco-travel expert Sarah Reid.

Avoid activities that can be harmful to the environment, such as trophy hunting, motorized water sports, and visits to animal parks. Instead, focus on hiking, biking, and swimming, and try to stick to itineraries that promote conservation.

Dividing your trip into several short trips

"Almost half of tourism's carbon footprint comes from transportation alone," said Braichich. "In general, air travel tends to be the most carbon-intensive way to travel. One way that travelers can reduce their air travel emissions is to take one larger trip each year rather than several shorter ones."