Planning a vacation is hard enough as it is. It can involve hours of getting inspired, doing your research, booking your hotels and tours, and mapping out an itinerary of activities. Trying to embrace responsible travel adds another layer of complexity. In fact, even defining “sustainability” is confusing for some. According to a survey by National Geographic, 42% of travelers think it’s important to prioritize sustainable travel but only 15% of travelers can confidently say what it is.

And even when the concept is clear, booking sustainable and responsible travel can involve tons of time vetting the travel companies you’re working with and trying to get a feel for their ethos. Frankly, the time commitment can seem overwhelming.

For that reason, it can be tempting to throw in the towel and forget about responsible travel altogether.

But for those who care about the planet and the economies and communities their travel plans impact, that’s not really an option, is it?

The truth is, it doesn’t have to be hard to book responsible travel. Below, we’ll explore a few of the reasons the booking process — from inspiration to getting your plans confirmed — can be a lot less stressful than you think.

Sustainable and Responsible Travel Are Growing in Popularity

Riding elephants. Plastic straws at resorts. Short-sighted voluntourism. In just the last few years, travelers have become aware that prior travel habits aren’t necessarily helping move the world in the right direction. Without a doubt, sustainable and responsible travel are all the rage but unlike some other travel trends, this movement is not likely to disappear. In fact, a 2019 Booking.com survey found that nearly three quarters of respondents think the time has come to make more sustainable travel choices for the wellbeing of the planet.

For that reason, there has never been a better time to plan an entire trip with the goal of being a responsible traveler. There are new eco-friendly hotels opening all the time, new local tour operators providing employment opportunities in their communities, and destinations getting the word out about their efforts to be eco-friendly and considerate of the communities they impact.

There Are Travel Advisors Who Specialize in Responsible Travel

As a traveler, you might be under the impression that planning and booking a trip is entirely your responsibility. But have you stopped to consider how convenient it would be to have a professional — someone who does this day in and day out — take over for you?

Younger travelers might not be familiar with a travel advisor since so much is done online these days. Traditionally, though, relying on an advisor was the best way to get the lowdown on a destination, find the best prices on flights, and ensure that you had an advocate on your side if anything went wrong with the trip.

But travel advisors are not a thing of the past. There are still PLENTY of advisors out there today. They tend to have specializations that make it easy for you to book exactly the type of trip you want, including responsible vacations. For example, the Myght Network can connect you with a U.S.-based responsible travel advisor who has experience in the country you’d like to visit. This professional likely already has done their research and has the right contacts to organize a trip that’s both memorable and impactful.

It is possible to find advisors who don’t charge fees, but even those who do usually make their fees affordable. Ask anyone who has trusted the expertise of an advisor before — they’ll say without a doubt that it’s worth every penny.

You Don’t Have to Worry About the Little Details

Since planning a trip designed around responsibility can be overwhelming for both novice and experienced travelers, it simply makes sense to let a professional handle all the booking details. Advisors from ethical travel companies already have the right contacts and the right networks. Leaving the job to them means you don’t have to cross a million different tasks off your list.

In general, you can approach a responsible travel advisor with an idea of the destination you’d like to visit and the type of trip you’d like to take. Your advisor will take it from there, working with you to find options and booking and confirming every detail before sending you a detailed itinerary. Much easier than scouring the internet for info, trying to build an itinerary, and dealing with the time-consuming booking process, right?

You Can Customize Your Trip as You See Fit

Remember, just because you have help booking your responsible trip doesn’t mean you’re not still at the helm. Your advisor will work to meet your needs, your budget, and your goals. And don’t think that a responsible experience means you’ll be giving up the comfort and value you look forward to on your trip. You can still stay in top-notch hotels and enjoy amazing amenities, experiences, and service for a great price.

Best of all, your advisor has likely visited the destination before (or possibly even lived there) and has had plenty of personal experiences there. This helps him or her to be better informed when planning your travel. Using an advisor is like having your own personal guidebook author available to give you tips, make suggestions, and give you background info you might not have had otherwise.

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Ready to work with a responsible travel advisor to make booking your trip easy? Check out our network of responsible travel advisors at, a network of independent, vetted professionals who specialize in responsible travel in destinations around the world.