How to Have Eco-Friendly Holidays: Our 10 Tips

On holiday, we tend to focus solely on the activities that entertain and relax us. However, this shouldn’t lead us to forget our good habits. For the sake of our planet, adopt small eco-friendly gestures, even during your stay.

Here are 10 tips for an enjoyable family holiday that is respectful of mother Nature.

Choose Eco-Friendly Accommodation

To have an eco-friendly holiday, opt for renting eco-friendly accommodation. This is an establishment that values nature, blends into the landscape, doesn’t use polluting energy, and conserves water and resources. This is the case with an eco-friendly campsite, a place to stay that reduces its environmental impact and offers guests a cosy night.

In France, more and more campsites are offering their guests outstanding experiences while allowing them to enjoy green tourism. To recognise them, check whether they are certified by the Écolabel européen. There are also other labels such as Éco-gîte (gîte, guesthouse…) or Clef Verte (campsite, gîte, youth hostel…).

Favour Holidays in France

Choosing a local holiday means reducing carbon emissions (CO2) and greenhouse gases from your travel. The idea is to avoid air travel, the most polluting means of transport.

For information, the high-speed train (TGV) emits 50 times less carbon than the car and 80 times less than the plane. A plane travelling 500 km is indeed responsible for emitting 145 to 241 kg of carbon per passenger. So, if you can, take the train or carpool!

Avoid Mass Tourism

Trampled plants, constant noise and presence that drive away wildlife, developments that strip a site of its natural character… Mass tourism destroys the balance of the ecosystem.

If you want to favour an eco-friendly holiday, take your family to more unspoilt places. Inland, France is rich in so many natural regions, all well suited to green tourism. So, avoid overly touristy places!

Choose Eco-Friendly Activities

Hiking, mountaineering, or scuba diving have the merit of being good for both health and the environment. Favour them, France has numerous spots for these nature activities.

An eco-responsible holiday also means indulging in fun activities, such as visiting a farm or attending an organic produce-making workshop. Find out more, every corner of France has plenty of organic farms you can visit as a family.

Take Up Cycling

Favour cycling for all your journeys during your stay, especially if you choose a destination in the heart of nature. Two wheels let you enjoy the scenery and stay physically fit during your holiday. France is a country with numerous cycle paths and cycling routes.

Cycling is an eco-friendly mode of transport, with zero carbon emissions. What’s more, renting a bike is cheaper than renting a car. But if you absolutely must make a long journey, opt for public transport such as the bus or train.

Eat Eco-Friendly

Being eco-responsible also means paying attention to what you buy and eat. During your holiday, do your shopping at traditional markets or directly from local producers. This also means you should favour accommodation with a kitchen to prepare your family meals. This also applies to festive activities like drinks and barbecues.

Thanks to the local market, you eat fresh produce, support the local economy and contribute to environmental protection. Conversely, supermarket products pollute and use far more resources for their transport and storage.

Sort Your Waste Even on Holiday

At home as at the campsite, keep up your eco-responsible behaviour: reduce your waste, pick up your rubbish, limit the use of plastic, watch out for waste (water, electricity, food…).

Also avoid wild camping in the heart of a natural area. Avoid actions that harm nature (graffiti, picking plants, unauthorised hunting/fishing…) and, above all, don’t leave anything behind after your family picnic.

Preserve Water

Water is a precious resource that is becoming increasingly scarce due to global warming. Each of us must preserve it, especially during the summer holidays when we tend to use more water:

Here are a few actions to take to save water:

• Don’t shower systematically after swimming;
• Don’t let the shower run for a long time just to cool off under it;
• At home, wait until evening or nightfall to water your plants and don’t water the lawn;
• Put off washing your car until after the holidays.

Avoid Using Air Conditioning

On the road, at home, or in holiday accommodation, avoid switching on the air conditioning as much as possible.

If it’s hot, open your car window or take a break in a shady spot. Favour a campsite set in the heart of nature, in a wooded setting; a place that will offer you coolness day and night.

Choose an Eco-Friendly Toiletry Bag

As at home, use eco-friendly, zero-waste products during your holiday. In this respect, solid cosmetics are perfect for their eco-friendly properties, and also because their compactness and lightness are suited to travel.

Whether for washing up or cleaning the house, choose eco-friendly products. Likewise, to get rid of pesky insects that multiply during summer (flies, mosquitoes…), use old-fashioned tricks that favour the natural products easily found in France.

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