Want to travel cheap and do green travel at the same time? If you do things smart, you can do both together. Here’s how..

Stay at locally owned and run hotels. This is where you’ll find the best information and you can see for yourself how electricity and water are used, conserved and wasted. You won’t see how the real world works from a four star hotel. The two to three star range is fine.

Skip the car! In most cases, it makes more sense to use the local public transportation. The subways, buses and trains are a better way to experience a new place than a private car or taxi. Save the car rental for the parts of your trip that require it. If you’re American, you’re in for a shocker – whether its Europe or South America, every part of the world seems to have a modern train and/or modern (ie, dvd’s played and bathrooms onboard) bus system.

Hikes and sports are green and healthy. Break a sweat while traveling and you’ll never forget it. Go for a hike, rent a bicycle – be active on the road. I love theme parks but there’s nothing like an interesting walk or ride in exotic places. The companies that offer tourists walking tours and other activities are usually small and locally owned. Keep an eye out for how they use and conserve energy. What are the challenges that they face in keeping things green?

Pack light! Smart travelers know they can get most things on the road. A week’s clothes is more than enough (there are laundromats even in Bolivia). You can buy drinks, cheap beach towels, snacks and whatever else as you need. Fight the instinct to overpack! The less weight you carry around, the better – for the airline and your back!

Enjoy the culture in the places you visit. Music, dance, theater – whatever it is you’re into, experience it on your trip. The perfect day is a day of hiking or exploring a city followed by an evening of live “world music” and then sleeping in a hotel that cares about the environment and energy conservation.

Hopefully you’ll blast your senses with ideas about green living and you’ll return with a few that will help you at home and the office!

Eco-Traven can be fun!