As travelers and digital nomads, we take on a lot of blame for not being sustainable, being selfish, and not caring about the people who live in the places we only visit. Some of the blame is misplaced, but some of it isn’t. I believe traveling is important for everyone, but those of us who are nomads must consider how we are affecting others because we are affecting more people around the world. 

Sustainable travel is important to me. I don’t want to screw over the economies or force people out of their own city because I make American dollars. I don’t want to go everywhere and give my dollars to the same corporations that are already running this world. And I’m not alone. More and more, I see people concerned with taking fewer flights, traveling to less touristy places, and giving their money to local businesses and restaurants. 

The Problem

Food, shopping, and transportation are easy enough to make sustainable. Shop local, travel slow, and use fewer flights when possible. However, I’m having an issue with sustainable travel in a different aspect: accommodations. 

I could be wrong; maybe I don’t know the right app or website. One of the biggest things I struggle with is finding local accommodation in the areas I’m staying in. Staying at Marriotts or Hyatts isn’t bad for a week, but I want to support the economy in every way possible. It’s so hard to find, vet, and book at some local places. 

I understand Booking.com and Google have local Bed and Breakfasts and hotels, but it’s a nuisance to look through all the chains for one or two locally owned places.

Caveat

This isn’t my lack of knowledge about Airbnb. I know about Airbnb, but we all know there have been problems with the app, the wide range of quality, and its impact on certain economies. I carefully vet each Airbnb I stay at, more for quality and to make sure it’s not a random corporation three countries away. For the sake of the argument, I’m talking about locally-owned hotels, hostels, and bed and breakfasts. 

A Solution

Is there one? Am I doomed to spend twice the amount of time finding accommodation because I want to have a positive impact? What about when we’re tired, booking last minute, or simply annoyed with having to spend an extra 45 minutes researching every time we move?

Conclusion

Those who care about sustainability will find a way at all costs. I believe this to the bottom of my heart. But maybe we can encourage those that care less to be more sustainable by making it easier to make those decisions. I’m happy to hear any suggestions in the comments below.

Thanks for reading this quick rant. If I find a miraculous cure, I will be sure to post it in the comments. If you want more bookish and travel content, join my newsletter! I send out reviews, events, activities, and more every month. Stay brave!