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Your honeymoon may take you to a nearby rustic hideaway or on an extended journey to a luxurious retreat. No matter where you choose to spend your first days of marriage together, there are several choices you can make with the earth in mind.
If you're planning to get away from it all to enjoy your first days of marriage off the beaten path, you should be aware of the practice of ecotourism. The International Ecotourism Society (TIES) defines ecotourism as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment and sustains the well-being of local people." TIES members include tour operators, travel agents, lodgings and transportation services. There are a number of online resources for finding eco-tours to a number of exotic locations.
If you will be honeymooning in the U.S., choose a hotel or inn that supports green business practices. Many hotels are making efforts to lessen their environmental impact by saving water and electricity and by reducing solid waste. One resource to help you identify green lodgings is the Green Hotels Association which "encourages, promotes and supports the 'greening' of the lodging industry" in a number of ways including offering guests the option to reuse their linens, cutting back on the use of disposable products, and installing energy efficient heating and air conditioning systems. Several major hotel chains have introduced green business practices into their operations. You can generally find out about a hotel chain's environmental policies by checking its corporate Web site.
In addition to their scenic beauty and outdoor recreation opportunities, national parks provide environmentally sensitive lodging options, from campsites to rustic cabins to luxurious resorts.
Another earth-friendly option is a vegetarian hotel or bed and breakfast. For the same reasons you may consider a vegetarian menu for your reception, vegetarian accommodations will help lessen your honeymoon's impact on the earth's resources.
Whether or not a hotel employs green practices, there are several steps that you can personally take to reduce consumption including letting housekeepers know that your sheets and towels do not need to be changed daily, cutting back on water used for showering and leaving behind the little bottles of shampoo that you don't use. Being a responsible hotel guest will make a difference!
Whether near or far, traveling to your honeymoon destination and getting around once you're there will involve at least one mode of transportation. Environmental impacts of transportation result primarily from fuel consumption and related emissions. Selecting transport that limits these impacts, or finding a way to neutralize them, will be your honeymoon gift to the planet.
If you're making a honeymoon getaway in your own car, make sure that it is properly maintained. A tune-up, oil change, clean air and oil filters, and properly inflated tires can increase your fuel economy. If using a rental car, inquire about the availability of hybrids or other high-gas-mileage cars.
Far-away journeys generally call for other modes of transportation. Airplanes are the most popular way to travel because of their convenience, speed, and affordable airfares. But airplanes are also among the most serious threats to the environment. Their hefty greenhouse gas emissions contribute greatly to global warming. One way to neutralize the environmental impact of your flights is by carbon offset. Online calculators are available to help you estimate your share of emissions and what it will take to offset them, such as sponsoring tree -planting or buying green energy credits.
A clean and fuel-efficient alternative to airplanes is train travel. While not as commonly chosen for long trips within North America, trains serve hundreds of destinations and can be a fun, relaxing, and scenic way to go. Amtrak offers private sleeper options with self-enclosed restrooms and showers on long trips. Rail Canada offers a Romance by Rail package perfect for newlyweds, complete with fresh flowers, chocolates, and breakfast in bed in a spacious private suite.
Once you have arrived at your honeymoon destination, you may choose to burrow into your room and stay put for some quality time together! But if and when you decide to venture out, think about earth friendly options for getting around. Whenever possible, go on foot. Not only will you be treading gently on the planet, but you will also experience the locale and people more intimately. If you need to travel farther than your legs care to walk, see if bicycle rentals are available or ask about public transportation options which are generally very economical and provide a way to experience the area as the locals do.
© 2007 Valerie Edmunds
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