Sustainable Travel with Children: Plan Together, Travel Better
Traveling sustainably as a family? Absolutely! It's especially easy to teach children about environmental issues in a playful, child-friendly way while discovering new places on vacation. In this newsletter, we'll show you how to get your kids involved in planning your trip and introduce you to five eco-friendly accommodations where you can enjoy a relaxing and exciting green vacation.
Meaningful Togetherness – Why Family Vacations Should be Sustainable
Whether by the sea, in the mountains, or in the city, a mindful family vacation creates special memories and instills lasting values. Rather than focusing on consumerism and constant entertainment, these vacations focus on experiencing nature, mindfulness, and genuine connections. Many sustainable hotels are well-equipped for young (and older) guests, creating an environment that inspires parents and children alike.
A Retreat and Natural Surroundings instead of Sensory Overload
In our everyday lives, we and our families are constantly bombarded with an overwhelming number of impressions. Loud, bright, and demanding our attention. That's why one thing is often at the forefront of our minds when we go on vacation — peace and quiet. And there's no better place to find that than in nature.
The Hygna Chalets in the Tyrolean Alpbachtal Valley offer private chalets that provide individual freedom. They offer relaxation for parents and freedom for children. The car-free complex is surrounded by alpine meadows that invite exploration and adventure. The chalets themselves are comfortably furnished with a fully equipped kitchen, cozy sitting areas, a private sauna, and some with a private outdoor whirlpool. There is also a shared infinity pool in the former hay barn, as well as fitness and yoga rooms. You don't have to worry about breakfast either, because in the morning, a breakfast box filled with regional products will be waiting for you at your front door.
Less is More – Making a Conscious Effort to Spend Time Together
Does your vacation have to include entertainment, a kids' club, and a thousand activities? Or would you rather use the trip as an opportunity to spend quality time together and talk? Stripping things down to the essentials creates space for genuine encounters.
The vegetarian Hotel Korinjak, located directly on the sea, demonstrates how this can be achieved without compromising comfort or amenities. Situated on the small Croatian island of Iž, the hotel deliberately focuses on mindfulness, creativity, and respect for nature. Don't worry, though; even though there is no Wi-Fi or TV in the rooms, you and your children won't be bored. Activities like swimming and bathing in the clear waters of the Adriatic Sea, creative workshops, yoga, and boat trips around the island are all part of a vacation on Iž. Who knows? You might even spot dolphins.
Learning through Experience rather than Explanation
This works particularly well when traveling. Although we always encourage exploring your local area first, we understand if you want to travel the world with your family. One destination on many people's wish lists is Peru, with its unique culture and nature. In order to protect and preserve these wonders for future generations, everyone needs to be involved: travelers, tour operators, and accommodations.
The founder of Inkaterra Hotels recognized this early on. As a result, not only is each hotel adapted to its surroundings, but the Inkaterra Association is also committed to environmental protection, education, and social sustainability throughout Peru. Whether in the Amazon or the Andes, children (and adults) can learn about biodiversity, different cultures, and the country's history at Inkaterra.
The following hotels are especially well-suited for families:
- Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel: Located close to the famous Inca city in the Andes, the hotel is surrounded by a pristine cloud forest teeming with orchids, birds, and butterflies.
- Inkaterra Reserva Amazónica: A rainforest lodge on the Madre de Dios River offering various guided tours and excursions into the Amazon rainforest, including a suspension bridge and treetop walk.
- Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba: Located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, this hotel is surrounded by farmland and the peaks of the Andes. It is an ideal place to learn more about the country's culture.
Mindful City Break
City breaks with children are often a balancing act of adventure, relaxation, and good planning. Freiburg im Breisgau makes it easy for families: this sun-drenched university city is a sustainability pioneer, committed to gentle mobility, and boasts diverse cultural and natural attractions.
The Green City Hotel Vauban is located in Vauban, a green district and model neighborhood for sustainable urban development. It is barrier-free, ecologically built, and family-friendly. Excellent transportation links to the train and public transit make it easy to arrive and get around. Whether you're strolling through the old town, experiencing nature in the Black Forest, or cycling in the surrounding area, Freiburg shows how urban vacations and sustainability can go hand in hand. The hotel itself embodies this commitment through thoughtful energy and waste management, regional partnerships, and a clear focus on inclusion.
Tip: The hotel has special family rooms with a sleeping area on a gallery that children can climb to via a ladder.
Delicious and Healthy for Everyone – Without Compromise
Sicily, the largest island in the Mediterranean, delights visitors with its rich history, diverse landscapes, and fantastic cuisine. In the southwest, near Agrigento, lies Torre Salsa, a WWF nature reserve and protected coastal area with wild beaches, limestone cliffs, and diverse flora and fauna. Endangered species, such as the loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta), find a safe habitat here.
Right next to this natural paradise sits the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA, a family-friendly resort that blends sustainability with luxury. Its architecture blends gently into the surroundings, offering breathtaking views of the sea and the reserve. While the children explore the nature reserve, play on the beach, or create crafts in the Kids Club (ages 4 and up), you can relax in the spacious spa. The resort's cuisine emphasizes regional and organic ingredients, many of which come from its garden or local producers.
Sustainable Travel — Together with your Children
You can instill sustainable values in your children right from the planning stage by involving them in the decision-making process. This gives children a chance to help plan the family vacation, express their preferences, and better understand and accept certain decisions made by you as parents (even if it means visiting a boring museum).
- Choose the destination together
→ Browse books, online maps, and pictures together. Watch movies or travel documentaries. Where would you all like to go? As adults, create a shortlist and then decide together where your next vacation will be.
- Set common sustainability goals
→ What is important to you when it comes to sustainability? Some examples are producing as little waste as possible, eating regional cuisine, and playing outside. Take this short list with you on your trip and check it every now and then to see if you are staying true to your values.
- Delegate responsibilities in an age-appropriate manner
→ Toddlers can help pack the snack bag, and older children can decide how much of the daily budget to allocate to snacks or souvenirs.
- Assign small sustainability roles
→ Playful, integrated tasks raise awareness without pressure. Examples of roles include "water guardian," "plastic detective," and “nature guide.”
- Distribute research tasks
→ What animals might we see there? Are they endangered? Can we feed them? How should we behave in monasteries and other special places?
- Learn travel vocabulary
→ Think about which words you will need together and practice them beforehand. It's easy to do this with Google Translate's read-aloud function.
- Create your own travel documentary
→ Sustainable travel also means preserving what has touched you, whether through a travel journal or collage after returning home. In the age of smartphones and editing apps, creating a video set to music is also a wonderful idea!
- Ask questions and reflect
→ “What did you enjoy most today?” “What went well?” “Is there anything we could do differently tomorrow?” These are the types of questions that spark conversations in which children can discover their own views on sustainability.
- DIY-preparation as a fa,ily project
→ From making travel games together to creating your own cosmetics, writing packing lists, drawing pictures, and packing sustainable snack boxes – participation begins with preparing for the trip.
🌿 We collected even more ideas and information about sustainable vacations with the family on our blog. 🌿
Multi-generational travel: And Grandma's coming too
Sustainable hotels with childcare and babysitting services
Do you know anyone who is currently planning a sustainable family trip?
Feel free to forward the newsletter and share the inspiration—for more conscious travel and new perspectives.
Discover the GREEN TRAVEL BLOG editorial team's favorite articles from the past month.
Like a (Bavarian) Fairy Tale
A Romantic Vacation at Hotel Das Rübezahl
There are places that seem straight out of a fairy tale—and hotels that capture that essence and bring it to life. One such place is Hotel Das Rübezahl in the Allgäu region; ideal for anyone longing for a romantic getaway.
Culinary Journey through Peru
With Restaurateur David Fernandez from the Inkaterra Hotels
Peruvian cuisine is one of the most diverse in the world. It features more than 4,000 varieties of potatoes, an abundance of chilies, and influences from the Andes Mountains, the Amazon jungle, and the coastal region. So, what should you try on a trip through Peru? David Fernandez knows the answers.
Sustainability in Everyday Life
Small Steps make a Big Difference
Sometimes, making small decisions or minor adjustments can help improve sustainability in everyday life. Together with our Green PearlsⓇ partner hotels, we’ll show you ideas for seemingly minor changes that have had a significant impact on daily life in hotels. Many of which can easily be integrated into your own life.
Stories often change our perspective on travel. These subtle influences linger long after we hear them. In our editorial office, we regularly discuss what has recently moved, inspired, or made us think. Here, we share our personal recommendations of books, films, documentaries, and podcasts with you — honest, hand-picked, and always with conscious travel in mind.
This is what Ben was delighted about lately:
“In “Let My People Go Surfing”, Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard recounts his life story, from his childhood to the creation of his outdoor brand, Patagonia, and his life and business philosophies. Admittedly, this autobiography is no longer brand new (it was published in 2008). Nevertheless, it offers interesting perspectives on sustainable business models and corporate policies that remain relevant today.”
To the book at Patagonia. (unpaid ad)