I'll admit, I/we don't. First of all, if I fly, that already is a big no no. That aside though, I'll generally take longer showers. I'll leave the AC on so it's cool when we return from a hot trip. Composting is temporarily halted on our trips. Recycling? Well, we'll horde recycleables in our car to bring home when we drive, but if we're flying then we cross our fingers that our hotels will do so(Not a problem when in nocal). If we have the option to not have our towels washed, then of course we don't have them washed on our stay. We still delay flushing if it's just pee. Tend to use a lot more styrofoam for take out and what not. But in general, when we're traveling, our greendar usually takes a vacation too.
I try to. Always put the towel back on the rack, make sure the card to not change the sheets is put in the right place. Why is it that some hotels say put the card on the pillow to not change and others say leave it on the side table - and always in such small print? I generally try to take public transport if it available, even from/to the airport. My one area where I fail is when I do need to hire a car. Would love to be able to hire a Prius, but in Socal, where they are available, the premium over a sub-compact/mid-size is too much for my company to accept, so I have to go with with a gas guzzler. The odd point here is that my company tries to promote itself as environmentally considerate, but won't let us rent cars that support this view.
Actually, I do. The best and longest vacation I ever had was a bike tour along the West Coast to San Jose, California. I've been on many other shorter tours as well, always self supported with all the equipment I need. Hotels are for wusses. The second best and longest holiday was driving (terrible, I know ) across Canada in our Prius. Back when gas was cheap, the total fuel bill was about $500 return. I don't burn firewood when we go camping, either. I'd rather enjoy the trees while they're alive.
I try to minimise my impact but unfortunately just getting there has a cost. Took the Prius to central Australia went on 4 wheel drive bus tours, quad bike tours and flew over Lake Eyre so I guess a punched a pretty big hole in the atmosphere. I try to recycle, never drop rubbish and minimise my impact on the local environment, sticking to paths not disturbing animals. I shoot with a camera not a gun. I enjoy eating local produce too.
I was recently at an off-site training event with a crowd of total strangers. I had no problem pulling plastic bottles out of the trash cans and making sure discarded paper found a recycling bin. I don't "dumpster dive" while others are around, waiting until they've gone. There was one occasion when someone was just about to chuck a stack of papers in to the trash bin and I said, as politely as I could, "here, I'll take those for you."
I hear you mate. I do that too. Furtively looking around to see if anyone's looking then nick a can or something out of the bin. I was chatting with an old grad school mate and she lives in Portland now. She said she can't standing seeing bottles or cans in the rubbish and she'll take them out and put them in the proper place. It's a bit OCD perhaps, but in a good way. My girls do a good job of picking up recyclables when they're out at the park. The next generation is going to be much more switched on to this stuff than we are now.
I do try... and often fail. First off - as you mention - if I fly there, then I start in a REALLY big hole. Then I rent a car and *gasp* the damn thing burns gasoline! I do rent the smallest one they have though, and have to fight off all the free upgrades to something giant. Oh... I had lots more to say, but I really need to go to bed!
