Travel

Our Tips for Responsible Travel

At Powder Byrne, we are passionate about caring for and preserving the destinations we explore. Our goal is to reduce the impact of our operations and strive for more responsible travel. Instead of asking how to travel perfectly, we focus on how to travel better. Here are some tips we’ve learned over our 35 years of operation.

Choose Local

Use your Client Concierge recommendations for local companies for activities and dine at restaurants serving local produce and cuisine. Even small choices, like selecting a local drink brand over a global one, can significantly reduce emissions from transportation. For instance, in our original resort of Grindelwald, a popular local drink is 3970 Nordwand (North Wall) Brau, brewed just outside the resort.

Bring Your Own In-Flight Extras

Items like flight socks, eye masks, and earphones are often single-use and wrapped in plastic. By bringing your own, you can help reduce the approximate 5.7 million tonnes of cabin waste generated by airlines, according to IATA.

Pack Light

Packing fewer items or sticking to your baggage limit reduces the fuel required for flights, thus lowering your carbon footprint. Removing excess packaging before you fly lightens your suitcase and decreases waste at your destination.

Consider the Local Community

Learn about local heritage and traditions, especially in remote destinations. Our Air & Space holidays include itineraries with local fact files, and our travel consultants are ready to answer any questions. Supporting the community can be as simple as bringing school supplies to rural areas where they are scarce. Non-profits like Pack for a Purpose provide resources for finding out what local communities need.

Avoid Single-Use Plastic Cups and Bottles

With 1 million plastic bottles bought every minute and 91% not recycled, reducing single-use plastic is crucial. We have removed plastic water bottles wherever possible in our resorts and instead use water flasks, recycled glass and metal cups.

Book Direct Flights Where Possible

Direct flights reduce your carbon footprint as take-off and landing produce the most emissions. Choose eco-conscious airlines; for example, Swiss Air has reduced fuel consumption by 29% since 2003, and British Airways is working on reducing per-passenger carbon emissions.

Offset Your Impact

Use sites like ICAO to calculate your travel emissions. We partner with a Gold Standard certified project in Costa Rica and are a certified member of Swisstainable and a small contribution from your booking supports this effort. To fully offset your emissions, consider using services like Pure Leapfrog or MyClimate.

Think When Purchasing Souvenirs

Take a mindful approach to souvenirs. Avoid mass-produced imports and instead choose locally and sustainably produced items that do not use endangered resources like ivory.

Consider Animal Welfare

Enjoying wildlife responsibly is a travel highlight. Our consultants can help you find sanctuaries that care for animals in their natural habitats. For example, Yala National Park in Sri Lanka is dedicated to conserving the Sri Lankan Leopard, ensuring these animals can be experienced for years to come and Arosa has helped introduce bears back into Switzerland with the new Bearland.

Stay in Eco-Friendly Accommodation

We partner with sustainable hotels worldwide. Some of our favourites include:

Pacuare Lodge, Costa Rica: A treetop retreat in the Costa Rican rainforest using local resources, powered by a water turbine, and lit by candles at night.

Belvedere, Grindelwald: Fully powered by Swiss hydroelectric power and local heating, this family-run hotel is committed to sustainability.

Valsana Hotel, Arosa: Combining modern elements with retro chic, the Valsana uses an ice battery for energy efficiency and sources local produce for its restaurant.