Sustainable travel can start long before your feet hit the tarmac and your shades slip out their case. Doing your research before you set off can slash your carbon footprint and ensure you set you off on your keenest, greenest foot. Not sure what we mean? Here are a few pointers:

• Choose travel companies committed to responsible travel (and who minimise their own footprint). It’s not just about ethical experiences or eco-friendly accom; try and choose brands who practise what they preach, too. (And we don’t wanna blow our own trumpets, but…)
• Opt for e-docs – don’t get stuff printed or mailed. There’s a reason Contiki have cut our printed brochures by 82%. Plus our digital brochures are interactive now. Ooooh.
• Think about travelling out of peak season – or to areas that are less popular/swamped. Trust us: it’s much easier to get that iconic snap of the Trevi Fountain when it isn’t July (and in many ways, Europe is cooler in winter). Also consider travelling to developing countries to support local communities who value your tourism $ more than, say, Rome. Not only do you support the people who live there, you also get to discover some seriously incredible hidden gems. Have you ever seen how beautiful Georgia in Europe is? Exactly.
• Fly direct! (Take off and landing are the most fuel-intensive parts of any flight).
• Consider airlines who are investing in sustainable aviation fuels. (Here’s a recent guide to give you a hand).