When it comes to travel, are you being driven by ethics or coasting along without a care? Take this quiz to find out.
1. Should you always drink bottled water abroad?
Yes, but only if you buy plastic instead of glass bottles since plastic decomposes faster
Yes, but you should carry the empty bottles home to recycle
No, not if your hotel can refill a reusable bottle with filtered tap water for you
You need to drink clean water, but you don't need to buy bottle after bottle. They add up quickly in landfills (especially in countries that don't recycle!). Ask your hotel in advance if it will top off your reusable bottle with filtered water. If not, consider bringing a filtered water system
2. If you want to bring home souvenirs from Kenya, you should:
Ask where the item's materials came from, and avoid purchases made from protected wildlife
As a general rule, U.S. Customs (cbp.gov) does not permit products made from sea turtles, cats, elephant, or rhinoceros to pass through the border. And don't believe vendors who insist that a certificate of authenticity will ensure that you will get past Customs. Check out Tips for Travelers at fws.gov or Buyer Beware at worldwildlife.org before doing your vacation shopping.
Ask for a certificate of authenticity on wildlife products like tortoiseshell jewelry to present to Customs
Only buy ivory if it has already been carved
3. Should you offset travel-related carbon consumption?
No, it's still a developing field
Yes, you can travel worry-free while covering your carbon tracks
Whether I offset or not, I need to minimize my carbon consumption as much as possible
To offset or not to offset? Either way, you need to whittle down your carbon diet. Offsetting carbon consumption will ease your travel-conscience, but you don't always know how or where your money will be invested. It's not going to solve global warming, but it is a step toward the ultimate goal of going carbon neutral.
4. When you're hiking through the mountains in Nepal, how should you dress?
Remain covered in the cities, but it's okay to remove layers while trekking
Wear appropriate clothing wherever you are (men always in shirts, women in long pants with shoulders covered)
When in Rome, do as the Romans do-and read up on what they do before you get there. Whether crossing a street or a mountain range, you should try your best to adhere to the destination's dress code and cultural mores. Public displays of affection in Asia are generally frowned upon, as is nudity and touching someone's head, and don't forget to remove your shoes before entering a home.
Whatever is most comfortable because the Nepalese won't hold foreigners accountable to their modest dress
5. To minimize your carbon footprint before leaving for vacation, you should:
Unplug battery chargers and use a programmable thermostat
Unplug all battery chargers and laptops and invest in a programmable thermostat so you aren't heating or cooling your house when you're not there. Also, a bulb that burns all day wastes energy. Buy a timer for the light, instead.
Open the shades to let in the sun: who needs solar panels?
Turn off all indoor lights, but keep the porch light on
6. Should you order Chilean sea bass, Atlantic cod, or orange roughy at a restaurant?
No, these species have been overfished—and they'll soon be off the menu
Avoid these depopulated species at all costs, says Seafood Watch, a conservation group run by California's nonprofit Monterey Bay Aquarium. Local fishermen, too, use unsustainable methods like longlines and bottom-trawling gear, which damage seafloor habitats and kill other fish. Print out a responsible-seafood guide at mbayaq.org.
Yes, if they were caught within 20 miles of the restaurant
Yes, because fishing of these species controls overpopulation
7. To limit your carbon footprint on flights, you should:
Fly at night, because emissions are lower
Take a direct route and bring minimal baggage
When you must fly, lighten your load: according to Tom Arnold, chief environmental officer at TerraPass, each 15 pounds of luggage on a 5,000-mile flight adds up to 50 pounds of CO2. Go nonstop: takeoffs and landings burn more fuel than the flight. And avoid the red-eye: the warming effect of emissions is twice as pronounced at night. As for carbon offsetting, it's commendable, but no substitute for conservation. Besides, you can't always be sure where your money is going.
When you fly, there's nothing you can do to reduce your CO2
8. When buying a carpet in an Istanbul bazaar, should you bargain?
Yes, push for the absolute lowest price, to prevent vendors from inflating costs for future tourists
Yes, engage in friendly haggling, but come to a fair price—even if it is slightly higher than what a local would pay
Vendors are used to tourists on the hunt for bargains, but there's a limit. Don't battle it out for the absolute lowest price; just pay what something is worth to you. Countering with one-half to one-third below the quoted price is a good rule of thumb in much of the world. Yelling won't get you far, especially in Asia and South America, where public displays of anger are frowned upon. But if you don't bargain at all, you will encourage vendors to raise prices for other tourists.
No, accept the "tourist" rate— the extra money will help the local economy
9. A child on the streets of Mumbai asks you for change. You should:
Offer him half of your lunch, because you don't know how he will spend the money you give him
Hand him a couple of coins—and some candy
Say no, walk away, and donate to a local charity instead
While nothing is wrong with giving children money, there are consequences. By handing them cash, candy, or lunch, you encourage them to depend on tourists. Instead, donate to a reputable charity in that location.
10. Is it wrong to travel to a country with a poor human rights record, such as Burma?
No, boycotting such a nation will deprive it of exposure to more humane and democratic ideals
It depends on how you travel and where you spend your money
Some of your money will inevitably wind up in government coffers, but choosing a responsible tour operator is one way to make sure your dollars flow in the right direction. Ask your operator about its compliance with fair-trade principles, which guarantees that a significant portion of proceeds returns to the country's people. Also, read up on the region's governmental policies at the U.S. State Department's Web site (travel.state.gov).
Yes, you would be supporting an oppressive regime with your vacation spending
11. You're going to Jamaica and want to stay in a hotel with responsible environmental practices. You should choose:
A local boutique property
The newest hotel, because it will be the most energy-efficient
A hotel that advertises its eco-creds, such as solar panels and hydroelectricity
None, until you've contacted the properties personally and asked about their green initiatives
Call the property beforehand (ask for the concierge) and play sleuth with these questions: Do they hire locals? Pay fair wages? Source food locally? Implement environmental programs? Don't assume that because a hotel is locally owned that it's any greener or treats its employees better than one owned by a multinational hotel group. And newer constructions aren't always more eco-friendly, even if they claim to be.
12. You want to hike the Inca Trail. You should:
Carry your bags yourself, because it's demeaning to hire porters
Not go, because the porters are exploited and the trail is overrun with tourists
Pick a responsible outfitter that compensates its staff appropriately
The best way to help porters is by working with an ethical tour operator, which ensures everyone's safety. Check that the company pays the guides fair wages, provides medical care on the trail, and gives them appropriate shelter. Don't think that you can trek this mountain by yourself, and though it's certainly riddled with tourists, that shouldn't hold you back from seeing Machu Picchu, for now, at least.
