On the Road with Go Green Travel Green

Elizabeth and Kimberly Sanberg

Elizabeth and Kimberly Sanberg, co-founders of Go Green Travel Green, are avid travelers committed to reducing their environmental impact.

After living in Russia and traveling across Eastern Europe, Egypt, and Turkey for two months in 2004, they temporarily settled in Washington, DC with their golden retriever Lisa.

Now they're on the road again traveling through South and Central America until February 2009. You can follow their adventures, get eco travel tips, and stay on top of green travel news on their website.

How did you first get involved in green travel and why did you decide to write about it?

We're both lifelong travelers and in the past few years we've become much more aware of our environmental impact, so it made sense to combine two things we care about. We started Go Green Travel Green to share our experiences and ideas with other travelers, so they can make more eco-friendly choices, too.

How do you reconcile being green with travel?

It's something we struggle with, but ultimately we believe 'being green' is about more than just the environment. It's also about being more culturally aware and open-minded, and travel is a great way to experience new cultures. We don't advocate extremism; instead, it's about simple steps anyone can take to reduce their impact. Travel is a big part of who we are, but we believe we have a responsibility to make more environmentally-friendly choices.

Experiencing new cultures among the Kenyan Masai
Photo: Brian Snelson via Flickr

How would we go about finding green accommodation?

If you're looking for green accommodations, you need to start by asking yourself how far you're willing to go. Someone who's used to staying in 5 star hotels probably won't suddenly start camping. (But if they do, great!) The person would be better looking into an eco-lodge, locally owned bed and breakfast, or a hotel that has sustainable practices. With the exception of eco-lodges, a good rule of thumb is that the cheaper the accommodation the more eco-friendly it will be - so camping is generally the greenest option.

Next is shared living - staying in a hostel or couch surfing - because the more people in a space the fewer resources each person burns (like electricity from lights or the air conditioner). We have yet to come across a single gold standard for finding green hotels. You're probably best off doing a Google search for "environmentally friendly hotel or accommodation in [city you're visiting]" and going through the individual locations.

Eco-lodge in Costa Rica
Photo: chadica via Flickr

Is green travel more expensive than regular travel?

Actually, we find that with a few exceptions green travel is cheaper. For instance, if you bring your own water bottle you could easily save $100 over a 10-day trip. Similarly, if you're walking or taking public transportation instead of cabs or a rental car you'll save hundreds of dollars on your trip. That said, buying organic produce and opting for non-stop flights (both of which are green options) can be more expensive.

What are the least polluting forms of ground transport?

The train, a greener form of transport
Photo: William Hoiles via Flickr

This is a really tough question. Elizabeth wrote a post about what you should know about carbon offsets and part of what it comes down to is how many people are traveling in your party. It's hard to compare trains to buses because they run on different forms of fuel. In the end you should opt for a train or bus whenever possible. If you do rent a car, consider a hybrid or at least a small car.

What kind of environmentally sustainable souvenirs should we look for - and avoid - on our travels?

Buy local
Photo: DMahendra via Flickr

Look for souvenirs that are locally created from sustainable materials. It's easy to find 'I Love Peru' T-shirts that were made in Vietnam, but a craft from a local artisan will last longer and support the local economy. It's best to souvenir shop at craft markets where you can talk to the artists themselves. That way you can avoid taking home souvenirs made of endangered animals or trees, and trinkets that were produced overseas.

What kind of advice would you give Women on the Road about what to take?

A big part of sustainable living is consuming less, so the less travel gear you buy, the better. If you do need new gear buy it at thrift stores, garage sales, or on Craigslist. Your clothes will wear out on the road, anyway, so there's no reason to buy something new. That said, there are a few items you may want to buy before you leave that will greatly reduce you're impact once you're there. Specifically:
1) one of the best travel personal hygiene tips is to take a Diva Cup (a great alternative to tampons and pads that saves a lot of money in the long run)
2) Reusable Bag (our favorite are that fold up and fit in your purse)
3) Water Bottle (here are some tips on finding a healthy water bottle)

Any final tips?

Take public transportation or walk. Eat local and organic foods. And shop locally!

Eating local in Chiang Mai market
Photo: Gaetan Lee via Flickr