This guest article is written by Andjela Djokic, a passionate advocate for sustainable tourism based in #Montenegro, whose long-standing collaboration with Green Destinations continues to bring grounded and professional insights from the region and beyond.

Because the most meaningful holiday memories don’t cost the Earth.

The holiday season is a time to reconnect, celebrate, and pause the routine of everyday life. Yet it’s also a period marked by overconsumption, crowded destinations, unnecessary waste, and stressful travel patterns. As more travellers seek authenticity over excess, sustainability becomes not only an environmental choice – but a more enjoyable way to experience the holidays.

Whether you’re heading abroad or exploring your own region, here are thoughtful ways to make your holiday journeys lighter, kinder, and more meaningful.

Choose Mindful, Less Crowded Destinations

Holiday hotspots often face overwhelming visitor pressure, strained infrastructure, and frustrated residents. Instead of joining the crowds at over-commercialised cities and attractions, choose:

• small towns and villages
• nature-based retreats
• lesser-known cultural destinations
• emerging responsible tourism regions.

These places not only offer more peaceful and enjoyable experiences, but your visit also has a more positive economic impact on local communities.

 

Embrace Slow Travel

The festive season invites us to slow down – and our travel choices can reflect that. Choose trains, buses, or shared rides when possible. Stay longer in one place rather than hopping between destinations. Immerse yourself in local routines instead of rushing through itineraries.

Slow travel reduces emissions and deepens your connection with the places you visit.

 

Reduce Holiday Consumerism: Give Experiences, Not Things

The holidays are often overloaded with sales, marketing tricks, and unnecessary shopping. Avoid being swept up in the pressure to buy more. Instead:

• gift local experiences, not objects
• buy handmade, upcycled, or locally crafted items
• support small family businesses and artisans
• skip mass-produced holiday merchandise.

Experience-based gifts, from cooking classes to nature tours, create memories that last far longer than objects.

 

Say No to Firecrackers and Fireworks

While festive, fireworks and firecrackers come with high environmental and social costs:

• significant air and microplastic pollution
• harm to wildlife
• distress for pets
• waste that remains for days
• greenhouse gas emissions from production and transport.

Choose alternatives that still feel magical:

• candle-lit gatherings
• community light installations
• lantern walks
• stargazing events
• (if available) quiet and eco-friendly drone light shows.

 

Support Charity and Community Initiatives

Holiday travel becomes truly meaningful when we give back.

Consider:

• donating to a local cause instead of buying extra gifts
• volunteering in shelters, animal centres, or environmental groups
• joining local cleanups or charity runs
• choosing tourism businesses that support social projects

Ask yourself:

“How can I leave a positive trace here?”

 

Respect Local Culture and Traditions

The holidays look different around the world – and that’s part of the magic. Learn a few phrases of the local language, taste traditional foods, and participate in seasonal customs respectfully. Choose restaurants and shops owned by local families. This helps preserve cultural heritage while supporting those who carry it forward.

 

Reduce Waste While Travelling

Small habits make a big difference:

• bring reusable bags, bottles, and containers
• avoid single-use hotel toiletries
• choose establishments with credible sustainability certifications
• recycle and compost whenever possible
• use sustainable wrapping, such as fabric or recycled paper.

The goal isn’t perfection – it’s awareness.

 

 

Choose Low-Impact Holiday Activities

Some of the best holiday experiences are gentle on the planet:

• winter hikes and nature walks
• wellness or digital detox retreats
• local cooking workshops
• artisan craft classes
• snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or well-guided tour skiing
• ethical wildlife experiences.

These activities enrich your journey without harming natural or cultural environments.

 

 

Be Mindful of Energy and Water Use

Even during the holidays, perhaps especially during them, mindful consumption matters.

• take shorter showers
• turn off lights and heating when not needed
• reuse towels and linens
• dress in layers instead of overheating spaces.

Every traveller contributes to a destination’s overall footprint.

 

 

Make Holiday Meals More Sustainable

Holiday dining can be delicious and planet-friendly:

• choose seasonal ingredients
• support farm-to-table restaurants
• reduce food waste
• try local plant-based holiday dishes
• avoid buffets that encourage overconsumption.

Food is one of the most memorable parts of travel; let it also be one of the most responsible.

 

 

Celebrate JOMO – the Joy of Missing Out

Perhaps the most sustainable holiday mindset is simply opting out of the rush. Give yourself permission to skip the crowded events, the airport chaos, the last-minute shopping, and the noise – and embrace peace instead.

Spend time in nature. Disconnect from your digital life. Connect with your loved ones, your environment, and yourself. The planet won’t miss your fireworks or impulse shopping, but you’ll cherish the calm.

 

 

A Season of More Meaning, Better Impacts

Sustainable travel during the holiday season isn’t about limiting joy – it’s about rediscovering it. By choosing experiences over things, community over consumerism, quiet moments over noise, and nature over crowds, we create holidays that are kinder, richer, and more memorable.

This season, may our travels be gifts: to the places we visit, the people we meet, and the world we all share.