Okay, so I wanted a break. Needed the sea, you know? But the usual beach holiday thing started to feel a bit… off. All the plastic, the crowds, the flying. Just felt like I was adding to the problem. Decided I’d try doing it differently this time, greener.
Getting Started: The Plan
First thing, figuring out where to go. Flying was out. Too much carbon hassle for me right now. Started looking at places I could get to by train, maybe a ferry. Took a while, scrolling through maps, checking train routes. Lots of dead ends. Eventually found a little coastal town, not too famous, accessible by a couple of train changes. Looked quiet, which was a big plus.
Then, the place to stay. Avoided the big resorts. Hunted around for smaller guesthouses, places that mentioned recycling, maybe solar panels? Found one run by a local family. Their description sounded genuine, not too slick. Said they used local food and tried to cut waste. Good enough for me. Booked it.
Packing Smart (or trying to)
This part needed some thought. Usually just throw stuff in a bag. This time, I actually made a list.
- Reusable water bottle: Obvious one. Filled it up on the train.
- Coffee cup: For takeaways. Saved using paper cups.
- Shopping bag: For groceries or souvenirs. Folded up small.
- Reef-safe sunscreen: This was important. Read up on it. Regular stuff apparently messes up the sea life. Found a mineral-based one. Bit thicker, but worked fine.
- Solid toiletries: Shampoo bar, soap bar. Less plastic packaging. Took a bit of getting used to, but okay.
Packed light too. Less weight means less fuel used, right? Or that’s the theory anyway.
The Journey and Settling In
The train journey was long. Longer than flying, for sure. But honestly? It was nice. Watched the countryside change. Read a book. Less stressful than airports. Arrived, found the guesthouse. Simple place, clean. The owners were friendly, pointed out the recycling bins straight away. Felt like I’d made a decent choice.
Beach Time, But Different
Okay, the beach. It was lovely. Quieter than the usual spots. First thing I noticed was, yeah, still some rubbish washed up. Annoying. So, I started picking some up on my walks. Just grabbed a bag and filled it. Saw a couple of other people doing the same. Felt good, like doing a tiny bit.
Activities were simple. Lots of walking along the coast. Swimming. Reading. I deliberately avoided anything motorized – no jet skis, no boat trips unless they were sail or electric (didn’t find any electric ones though). Found a place renting kayaks. Spent an afternoon paddling around. Quiet, peaceful.
Supported local businesses. Ate at small cafes run by locals, bought some bread from the village bakery. Tried to choose places that used less plastic, though it wasn’t always easy. Had to specifically ask for drinks without straws sometimes.
Food and Waste
The guesthouse breakfast was great – local jams, bread, cheese. Tried shopping at the local market for snacks. Lots of fresh fruit. Avoided stuff wrapped in too much plastic, which meant saying no to some things I might usually buy. It’s a conscious effort, definitely.
Made sure I sorted all my waste properly back at the guesthouse. Paper, plastic, glass. They seemed serious about it, which was good to see.
Heading Home: Thoughts
The trip back was just the reverse train journey. Had time to think. Was it perfectly ‘green’? Probably not. Impossible to be zero impact. But it felt better. More mindful. Slower, maybe? But relaxing in a different way. It took more effort, planning, thinking ahead. But honestly, the peace and quiet, and feeling like I wasn’t just consuming and leaving a mess behind? Worth it. I’d do it this way again. It’s not that hard, really, just needs a bit of a shift in how you approach it.
