How to Be a Responsible Traveller Abroad

The Responsible Traveller is a book to help you navigate travel, while being kind to the planet, ecosystems, wildlife and people. And also respecting local cultures. Learn about the environmental and social effects of tourism and gain a deeper understanding of cultural sensitivity. Learn simple tips and lifestyle changes to make a difference to reduce your impact.

Never accept rides anywhere. Report animal abuse abroad to tour operators, police and submit reports to Born Free Red Flag. Read how to keep dogs safe by the seaside.

The Green Edit (Travel) is another super little guide, from knowing which plane to take to avoiding the mini-toiletries trap. If you wish to still travel abroad, this is the book for you. It doesn’t mean never taking another flight or spending holidays camping in your back garden.

Simple Swaps for Responsible Travellers

Don’t Drop Litter. Always follow the Countryside Code. You wouldn’t want someone dropping litter in your house and garden, so don’t do it on someone else’s patch. Avoid use of single-use plastic.
Travel Off-Season. Encourage staggered off-season travel, so hotels and guest houses receive income year-round. Rather than in a short season, which creates too much traffic and noise.
Avoid Tourist Hotspots. Consider booking in less touristy areas with small independent guesthouses. These are quieter, and likely more relaxing to rest explore.
Stay a bit longer to know somewhere, instead of whizzing in and out.
Use Public Transport. This avoid clogging roads with traffic (many big hotels also charge a fortune for parking, so you’ll also save money).
Treat and Pay Hotel Staff Well. Top hotels (that charge thousands for just one night) often pay minimum wage to staff, with shoddy accommodation. Clean for Good pays staff the higher voluntary London Real Living wage (and uses Delphis Eco cleaning products.
Donate to local animal shelters, to help with spay/neuter programs, to prevent overpopulation. Never touch or feed wild animals, and avoid buying dodgy souvenirs.
Learn of local cultures and customs (language, greetings, respectful dress). Ask before taking photos, especially in religious buildings.

Good Tuesday’s Eco Travel Journal

This A5 travel journal lays flat for easy reading, ideal to store all your memories from trips both near and afar. From family holidays to summer festivals.

Great to look back on in years to come, it has space for 27 trips, as a treasured memoir. Wrapped in a bold colour cover, it has space to record highlights, reflections and little details that made each trip special including:

The Essentials (note down the where, who and top highlights from each adventure)
Creative page (space for photos, doodles, ticket stubs and maps)
Journal – two pages to tell the full story, and moments to remember

Everything at Good Tuesday is printed on recycled paper, sent in plastic-free packaging, made in the UK and beautifully designed.

Choosing recycled paper is better than FSC-certified paper, as that still requires fast-growing trees with pesticides (instead these products ‘close the loop’ and use up unwanted waste that would otherwise end up at landfill, emitting methane gas).

Good Tuesday is a lovely brand of recycled paper goods, founded by a woman who lives in Cornwall, but was raised in the Caribbean (hence all the bright colours!)

Everything is made in the UK, sent in plastic-free packaging.

After creating one pretty calendar and placing it on Etsy, it sold seven overnight, and the brand was born! Today it offers everything from wall planners to diaries, calendars to to-do lists. You are sure to find something you adore, to help you keep organised and inspired!

The business is based within a community of small businesses, not far from the Cornish coast. The old barn houses Good Tuesday, along with a sourdough bread bakery, coffee roaster, vegan cafe and wine expert, so the staff are well looked after!