Sustainable Luxury Travel

Posted by Jennifer W. Miner May 2, 2007

When someone says, "I like to travel," it can mean many things. There's historic tours, adventure travel, luxury travel, and more. Like it or not, all leave their mark on the environment.

It's ironic that the resources used by travel lovers can do much to damage the exotic locales to which they have traveled. Air travel emits damaging CO2 closer to the ozone layer, which many know protects us from the harmful UV rays of the sun, and which is getting thinner. Luxury resorts that spring up in the middle of the rainforest often displace indigenous populations, and curtail the health of the local habitat. And water use by hotels and resorts in arid destinations is alarmingly high - especially when a portion of the water is used for the (vain)glorious well-lit fountains in a desert like Las Vegas. Historic travel can damage the very sites being visited as well.

But not all of us are built of the sturdy stuff: Ecotravel, backpacking, and camping isn't for everyone. How can luxury travel coexist with the knowledge that tourist-friendly wild spaces are dwindling? Fortunately, green travel and stays at upscale resorts aren't diametrically opposed. The article "Responsible Luxury Travel Plans" delineates several ways in which travelers, accustomed to nice amenities, can have their upscale vacations, and be environmentally responsible as well.

For example, frequent flyers can look into carbon offset programs, in which money is donated to supporting solar power, wind power, and other clean, renewable sources of energy. Further, Fairmont is an international, luxury hotel chain, which has been green since before there was any consumer awareness regarding the importance of sustainable tourism. A stay in any Fairmont guarantees that some travel dollars are being spent to promote responsible energy use.

There are many luxury ecotourism destinations. After all, a tropical location can provide for a lovely trip, even without leaving the large carbon footprint luxury vacations (golf courses, day spas) usually entail. The Cotton Tree Lodge in Belize is but one example of a full service resort, which is also built and based on sustainable land use and respect for the land. The Sierra Club offers many environmentally responsible trips of varying comfort, from the very rough, to walking tours in France.

The earth-friendly luxury traveler needn't despair. Travel in style, and don't forgo the luxury amenities of upscale vacations. But do so wisely, and the health of our planet will be better for it.