Okay so last month I finally planned that vacation to Barcelona I’d been dreaming about. But then I kinda got this itch, you know? Like, how do I actually travel without wrecking the planet more? Felt kinda guilty just booking the cheapest flight and calling it a day. So I dug in, tried a bunch of stuff myself. Here’s how it went down, step-by-step.
Starting With the Biggest Problem: Flying
Right off the bat, flights suck for emissions. Everyone knows it. So my first move was looking at non-stop flights only. Found one through Kayak – less take-offs and landings mean less fuel burned overall. Cost a bit more? Yeah, maybe $50. Felt like paying a tiny bit extra for a cleaner conscience.
Packing Light Ain’t Just for Backpackers
Watched some videos online about packing cubes – super helpful. Forced myself to pack ONLY carry-on. Sounds nuts for a two-week trip? Honestly, rolling clothes tightly and choosing versatile layers works. Not only saved me baggage fees, but less weight = less plane fuel. Bonus: Got through the airport crazy fast!
Staying Put Without Feeling Stuck
Here’s where I changed my usual routine. Normally I’d hop cities constantly. This time? Picked ONE central spot in Barcelona and stayed put. Used trains for day trips – way more efficient than short hops. Found this family-run guesthouse online that uses solar panels and recycles rainwater for their garden. Felt good supporting that.
Getting Around Town Without the Gas Guzzle
Wanted to see everything but refused to rent a car or use Ubers constantly. Solution? Hit the pavement hard. Seriously walked miles every day. Grabbed a local transit card – metro and buses are super cheap here. Got lost once trying to find Park Güell on foot? Totally worth the sore feet.
- Walked/Hiked: Free, healthy, zero emissions.
- Public Transit Pass: Paid for itself after three rides.
- Borrowed Bikes: My guesthouse had free ones!
Eating & Shopping Like I Actually Live Here
Biggest win? Ditching tourist traps. Stopped grabbing plastic water bottles constantly and filled up my reusable bottle at public fountains. Hit the local Boqueria Market for snacks – amazing street food minus piles of packaging. Found handmade souvenirs from a co-op shop instead of mass-produced stuff shipped from who-knows-where. Oh, and ate tons of paella from places using local seafood – felt fresher anyway.
The Weirdest Lesson? BYO Everything
Got REALLY weird looks at airport security pulling this out of my bag:
- Foldable Tote Bag: Stuff it in my pocket? Done.
- Metal Straw: Looked silly sipping Coke Zero through it mid-flight.
- Bamboo Toothbrush: TSA guy actually asked about it.
- Solid Shampoo Bar: Lasted weeks, zero plastic bottles.
Felt like a crazy prepper, but saved a ton of single-use trash.
Did It Actually Work?
Honestly? Felt different. Slower maybe, but better. Walked more, ate better, slept deeper. Met locals instead of rushing from selfie spot to selfie spot. Did it save the planet? Heck no. But proved I could explore without being a total drain. Felt like progress.
Biggest takeaway? Little choices add up FAST. Pack that refillable bottle. Walk the extra mile. Pick local over imported. It’s not about being perfect. Just less… bad. Just GO already!
