We printed hers and several others in the March/April issue. Here is the winning tip again, along with many other tips to help all of us with eco-friendly travel.

No matter where I travel, I always plant something near where I’ve stayed. I usually try to find a local plant, flower or fruit seed to plant. It’s not exactly a major ecological contribution, but it is a symbolic gesture of thanks to the land that has 'hosted' me, so to speak. And if I’m lucky enough to go back there a second time, I’ll hopefully see the fruit of my labor!
Salma Bahramy, Alexandria, VA

Contribute to the community you're visiting by volunteering. Check with international teaching programs, missionary societies and relief groups for opportunities of interest. Then turn your vacation to something more than a short-term adventure for you and a short-term economic benefit for them. Who knows? You might really touch someone's life. Yours certainly will be.
Jennifer Vaughn, Tustin, CA, also suggested by Jamie Harrington, Augusta, KS

Rent an eco-friendly car whenever car travel is part of your vacation plans. I have a vehicle that gets decent mileage per gallon (28). However when I need a car for vacation travel I rent a car that gets 40 miles per gallon. It pretty much always works out that I break even for what I would have spent on gas in my truck versus what I spend on gas with the rental car and the rental price. As a bonus, I'm not putting the mileage on my truck that I need for business, which is a win for me.
Farrell Blease, Atlanta, GA, also suggested by Carlene Wegmann Todd, Austin, TX

Consider traveling with your own biodegradable toilet paper. With their lack of dyes and ease of disintegration that prevents clogs, they are not only great for reducing your environmental impact, but also work well when you're faced with a squat toilet with no paper around.
Lola Akinmade, Stockholm, Sweden

My family and I take several car trips every year. To conserve gas we each bring a backpack and our bikes. We try to stay at a hotel/motel in the thick of our interests where we can walk to all of our destinations, but in case we can't, we bring our bikes and backpacks and ride to what we want to see. It not only conserves gas,but it's a great way to take in "off the beaten path" type scenery as well. You never know what you'll find that you would have missed while driving by in a car!
Andrea Ferguson (Other travelgirls who suggest walking or taking public transportation are Allegra Selvaggio, Brooklyn, NY, Belina Matonak, Marietta, GA; Heather Schmidt, Brooklyn, NY; Mary Murphy, Denver, CO, Kathrine von Haartman, Renton, WA, Lily Bordelon, New Orleans, LA, Jessica Williams, Vanderbilt, TX; Kristin Packnett, Edmond, OK)

I bring my own water bottle instead of purchasing (and throwing out) bottled water. Hotels in almost all parts of the world filter their water to accommodate the standards of international visitors, and the tap water in the hotel is perfectly fine for drinking.
Judith Christensen, Milwaukee, WI; (Also suggested by Lillian Bertz, Fortuna, CA; Megan Swaser, Hopkins, MN; Beth Cleveland, Charleston, SC; Diane McLuen, Fairfax, VT; Colleen Panko, Hamden, CT; Patsy Rooney, Plymouth, MA; Elizabeth Morgan Spiegel, Atlanta, GA; Gita Gould, Ventura, CA; Kelly Meilstup, Saratoga Springs, NY, Kathleen Reynolds, Croton-on-Hudson, New York; Veena Datta, Centreville, VA)

- Compiled by Jan Butsch Schroder