Support the local community and reduce your carbon footprint by:

• Shopping at local businesses, such as traditional markets and restaurants, which are often more affordable.
• Participate in community-led tours that benefit residents
• Visiting charity-supporting shops and cafés that give back to the community.
• Hunting for secondhand treasures at flea markets and thrift stores.

Bikes are an excellent way to explore new places, and as a Dutch university, we're well-versed in the benefits of cycling. Renting a bike while traveling abroad is a great way to see more of your destination. Many cities around the world are embracing cycling-friendly infrastructure, following in the footsteps of cities like Amsterdam and Montreal. Bogotá, for instance, transformed its traffic congestion into ciclovía, a 350-mile cycling superhighway, and even hosts car-free Sunday mornings for cyclists, runners, and rollerbladers. Paris's improved bike-sharing system is another great example, but it's Copenhagen that recently claimed the top spot in the Global Bicycle Cities Index.

• Refuse what you do not need, especially single-use items and plastic products.
• Reduce waste by sorting and monitoring your waste output to find areas where you can cut back, and choose products with minimal packaging.
• Reuse items as much as possible before considering them waste.
• Repurpose items that can't be reused by restoring or modifying them for new uses.
• Recycle what you cannot refuse, reduce, or reuse, keeping in mind that not all materials are recyclable.

When choosing where to stay, it's important to verify the sustainability credentials of your accommodation. For example, EarthCheck is a leading organization that provides scientific benchmarking and certification for sustainable travel and tourism. Their standards are widely recognized and can easily help you select environmentally and socially responsible options - just look for 'EarthCheck Certified.'

Homestays
Additionally, consider choosing homestays as your accommodation option. Homestays offer a distinctive travel experience by allowing you to stay with local families. This arrangement not only provides a deeper cultural exchange but also directly supports the local economy by channeling funds into the host community. For example, in Southeast Asia, many tour companies offer homestays, particularly in rural areas, providing a unique and immersive experience that is hard to replicate in traditional hotels or resorts.

Tourism can significantly contribute to animal cruelty. Try to evaluate animal welfare based on these 5 domains: Nutrition, Environment, Health, Behavior, and Mental State.

When considering wildlife experiences, ask yourself: Are the animals in their natural habitat? Do they have access to food, water, rest, and shelter? Are they being exploited for entertainment purposes?

Habitat protection
Supporting habitat protection is a more sustainable way to engage with wildlife. You can make a positive impact by contributing to organizations dedicated to preserving natural habitats and protecting animals. To learn more, visit the websites of organizations like the World Wildlife Fund, which works globally to safeguard vulnerable ecosystems, or World Animal Protection, which advocates for the welfare of animals worldwide. Your support can make a difference in protecting wildlife and their habitats.