Christina Macpherson on how to be the kind of guest you'd like to have in your own home.
From my travels, meetings, and general nosiness into other cultures, I've learnt a few things on how to travel respectfully. Basically, I've learnt how to not piss people off. More recently, I've been delving deeper into ways that we can travel in eco-friendly ways: consciously giving back to communities and respecting the land we are seemingly destroying with our consistent wanderlust. And you know what? It's pretty simple . . .
Book through the hotel's actual site
From interviewing many a hotel owner, I've found a vast majority dislike large booking sites. Most booking sites take a 15-20 per cent commission from hotel owners once a room has been booked. The hotel also has to pay a fee on top of this, as well as often dealing with customers who believe they've already paid for the room, but their payment hasn't shown up on the hotel's database. Three separate hotel managers told me that, more often than not, customers who've made a reservation with a booking site get the worst rooms, and are sometimes treated a little less than graciously. The lesson? Book through the host's actual website — the prices will generally be exactly the same and all your money is going to a locally owned establishment.
Stay at eco-hostels/hotels/cabins
It's commonplace now for businesses, brands, and industries to splash out words like "sustainable", "eco-friendly", "organic", etc. It's incredible marketing that appeals to the masses. And usually that's all it is — good marketing without a lot of evidence.
Do your research and stay at places that are actively aiding in softening their environmental impact.
