What makes city getaways so great? Well, for starters, they're easily accessible even without a car, the dining choices are endless, and there's entertainment galore, usually matching the number of buildings.
On our final stroll through the "Travel Etiquette" series, we'll serve up a few tips to make your city stay even sweeter while keeping those eco-friendly travel vibes alive.
Instead of maxing out credit cards on new gear, only to play Tetris with our luggage, consider if you really need to go on a shopping spree. Maybe you can borrow some swag from a buddy or try out a "rent-a-gear" deal with a friend who's got the goods.
What can you do?
Sure, big-name hotel chains might feel like a safe bet, but unless you're as resistant to change as Sheldon Cooper, consider giving a quaint inn or nearby farm stay a shot. This way, our cash isn't just lining the pockets of some distant corporation—it might be putting dinner on the table for the owners' family or helping them keep their doors open. Plus, these places are often cheaper.
What can you do?
It includes: a cloth bag, a water bottle/thermos, a container for food, and reusable utensils. With this kit, you can significantly reduce the production of single-use plastics.
The bags are lightweight, fit into a pocket, and are handy whenever you get more or less expected purchase, while the water bottle or thermos will help you cut down on vacation expenses (in many cities, tap water is of good quality, and you can use refill stations or water fountains with free drinking water, e.g., in Vienna or Oslo). Meanwhile, the food container with utensils will ensure a later snack, for example, from a half-eaten pizza or khachapuri.
What can you do?
Do you know where to find a genuine "proziak," what "kulebele" are, and in what combination "haluszki" taste best? Keep your taste buds adventurous and dive into the world of local delicacies! Forget the usual chains and influencer-endorsed spots. Instead, be a culinary explorer and discover your own flavor adventures in local eateries.
What can you do?
"Everyone's taking selfies, so why not me too?" - thought EVERYONE, EVERYWHERE. And thus, what started as a reflective travel experience turned into memories of queues under the Mona Lisa and that unforgettable encounter with the lady who mistook your foot for a stepping stone in her quest for the perfect shot.
We all want to capture memories from our adventures around the globe, but sometimes it feels like we're sacrificing not just the quality of our travel experiences, but even our safety (like those daring souls who risk a dip in Venetian canals or a perilous climb up skyscrapers for the ultimate selfie). Sure, these are extreme cases, but haven't we all, at some point, prioritized snapping the perfect shot over truly experiencing the moment? It might be time to put down the camera and soak up the sights, sounds, and smiles around us.
What can you do?
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Think of them as your personal GPS, internet search engine, and TripAdvisor all rolled into one. Saying that locals are a treasure is an understatement. They'll steer you towards the best spots for grub, lead you to vistas that'll make your eyes pop, and even hook you up with a ride when public transport calls it quits for the night.
Locals are the heartbeat of the places we're exploring. Skipping out on interacting with them is like traveling with nothing but a TV guide. Without locals, we'd be lost in a sea of cultural landmarks with no one to guide us.
What can you do?
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The exploitation of animals in tourism crosses all sorts of cruelty barriers. Buying birds just to release them in exchange for "good karma," visiting dolphin shows or parrot gardens, riding elephants, many so-called petting zoos, fox villages, or tiger temples. Even seemingly innocent photos with dancing snakes in Morocco, monkeys in India, or owls in Poland (like recently in Wrocław Market Square) might get you a few likes under your picture, but they come with the terrible fate of the animal involved.
Those who profit from this kind of violence often appeal to our fascination with animals and the desire for close contact with such exotic creatures. Unfortunately, bewitched by the sight of a cute face, we often don't even think about the tortures the animal endured just to brighten up our social media gallery. For example: the adorable, big-eyed lemurs called kukands have their teeth forcefully removed so they can't bite pseudo-breeders or tourists. Though it's drastic, we mention it deliberately because it's the truth that usually doesn't fit into tourist frames. If you want to delve into the subject of animal abuse fueled by tourism, read articles like this one or this one. Now that we've finally reached a point where circuses disgust us, it's time to become sensitive to these types of spectacles.
What can you do?
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Can't stand another plastic keychain or mass-produced trinket that looks the same in every corner of the world, with just the place name swapped out? If you feel the need to bring back a keepsake, consider skipping the tourist traps and supporting circular economy by visiting charity or vintage shops. If you managed to resist collecting seashells on the beach, now's your chance to let loose your inner treasure hunter.
For instance, while in Vienna recently, one of our team members visited a nearby charity shop and scored two bowls made of traditional, handcrafted Austrian ceramic from Gmundner Keramik for a mere 2 euros. You're saving money and bringing home something truly unique, while also giving a little boost to the environment.
How to find these places? In some countries, they have specific names. But you can start your search with general terms like charity shop, vintage shop, thrift store, hospice shop, resale shop, consignment store, or simply second-hand (although the latter mostly focuses on clothing). Also, keep an eye out for local flea markets.
What can you do?
Type those keywords into your search engine and give at least one circular economy-supporting spot a chance. To make it easier for you, we've compiled a cheat sheet of known and locally operated places:
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Do you enjoy combining the pleasant with the useful? If so, we highly encourage turning your sightseeing adventures into workouts by walking (you can explore many charming hidden corners this way) or biking (perfect for covering longer distances). It's also worth utilizing public transportation, where you can often collect more material for vacation anecdotes than in taxis. Plus, it leaves a smaller carbon footprint, supports the local economy, and you can gather plenty of useful information from fellow passengers.
What can you do?
Finito!
We've taken a responsible stroll along the beach, through the forest, and in the city. Although these were three separate journeys, all the principles presented in them are like the right Twix bar to the left – complementing each other. Together, these articles form the Code of the Kind Traveler, so it's good to know and, most importantly, apply them in all, even minor, trips.
And don’t you worry – it's not about imposing a monk's habit on your backs, but rather striving to limit our negative impact on the environment to a degree that isn't too challenging for us. For any such efforts, our planet will be grateful.
