Guest Blogger: Stacy on Eco-Friendly Family Vacations

29 Sep

Get ready, readers, because today’s guest blogger is not only an entrepreneur, a mom, and a wife, but she’s also pretty darn good at being green (which, as Kermit tells us, is not easy!). A former Health and Safety professional, Stacy from onetinysuitcase.ca offers not only baby equipment for rental in Alberta, Canada and baby supply delivery direct to your hotel, she makes sure that all her rentals are consistently safe and sanitary.

Travel with kids can be challenging enough, but when I went looking for eco-friendly travel tips I had to make sure they were family-friendly too. Here are some ideas for Eco-Friendly Family Travel:

• Before you leave: Make sure you have unplugged any appliances and chargers that won’t be used. Microwaves, TV’s & Computers can waste ‘phantom power’ even when you are away. Make sure your heating and cooling system is set for your vacation too. Why spend money and energy heating and cooling an empty house?

• Transportation: Air travel leaves the biggest impact on the environment compared to that same trip by train, bus or car. If your destination requires a long haul flight, try to choose a flight that is direct. Take off and landing uses a considerable amount of fuel. Not only will your baby have a chance to catch some zzzzz’s, on a direct flight you won’t have to get on and off the plane mid-trip.

• Accommodations: This can be done with an eco-friendly state of mind too. We’ve all seen hotels that ask guests to reuse towels, but have you ever stayed at a hotel that uses compact fluorescent bulbs, has a recycling program, or uses non-toxic or biodegradable cleaning products? They are out there; ask your hotel if they are an Eco-Friendly Accommodation. Maybe you have a favorite place to stay that is a bit behind the green movement…there are ways to reduce your impact here too. Turn down the heating or air conditioning in your room when you leave, turn the lights off, and ask housekeeping not to change your sheets every day to save the water and energy in laundering them.

• Vehicle Rentals: Your stroller seems pretty environmentally friendly; it is mom-powered. But you may need another mode of transportation when you arrive at your destination. Why not rent a Hybrid car? There are car rental agencies that specialize in providing hybrid vehicles for rent and some that offer some vehicles that run on alternate types of fuel.

Eco-friendly, baby friendly, family friendly–you can have it all on your next vacation.

BASKET OF BARGAINS

15% off Seventh Generation Cleaning Products at Diapers.com
Enter promotion code SEVGEN15 in your shopping cart.
Valid through: October 14, 2009
You may need to log in to use this coupon. Diapers.com reserves the right to limit quantities.
See other diapers.com coupons!