Over the years at home, I’ve been working on living ‘greener’ especially when it comes to plastics. But when I’d travel, I’d revert back to bottled water and too many plastic bags. Not anymore! To my surprise, the transition to greener options was easier than I thought. I already had all of the items in my kitchen, with my hiking gear, or in my bag of reusable shopping bags. Here are some of the changes I’ve made:
Water Filter and Bottle – I rarely drink anything except water, so the taste of it and what’s in it matters to me. I filter water at home and although most of the places I travel have had safe drinking water, I would use bottled water when I traveled. This meant I had to find a place to buy bottled water, make sure I had enough until I could get back to the store, and accumulate a mountain of empty plastic bottles.
In my hiking gear I have a perfectly good Grayl bottle that is an amazing water filter. Because I mostly day hike, the Grayl bottle was gathering dust in the closet. Now it’s one of the first things to go in my travel bag. Previously I always made room for my Kleen Kanteen stainless bottle (that I use daily). The Grayl bottle is only slightly larger. I can drink directly from the Grayl bottle or if I have the room, I can decant the water into one of my collapsible water bottles. Three I use are Nomader (rolls up, but is very sturdy when in use), Vapur (rolls up) and Hydrapak (collapses). Now instead of worrying about purchasing all that bottled water and generating all that plastic waste, I simply fill up my Grayl bottle from the bathroom sink and seconds later I have clean and tasteless water.
Shopping Bags – For years I have used reusable grocery shopping bags and now use reusable vegetable and bulk bags as well. I also have several lightweight bags that stuff down to little packets and are easy to keep in my purse for smaller purchases. I take one of these with me when I travel. They’re great to use when doing light shopping while traveling.
Reusable Utensils – As an alternative to eating at 
restaurants, I often grab something at the grocery store or take out place that requires a fork or spoon. Instead of picking up a plastic fork or spoon, I use the reusable combination fork/spoon that I keep in my purse. Other options are reusable bamboo silverware sets or regular silverware from home. Some people also carry reusable straws.
Small Containers – When I’m sightseeing I like to have small snacks like nuts, trail mix, or peanut M&Ms with me to keep my energy up. I used to travel with a handful of snack-size plastic bags to fill each day from the stash I’d keep in my hostel or hotel room. Instead now I use a small ½ cup plastic container with a screw on lid. I fill it every morning and wash it out at the end of the day.
Wax Wraps – I’ve started using Abeego cloth wax wraps at home instead of plastic wrap and they work great for travel too. They take up little room and are great for a handful of nuts, fruit, a sandwich, cookies and similar items. You just rinse them out after use and they’re ready to reuse. Eventually the wax wears out, but they are recyclable, and last a while before this happens.
I’ll admit that carrying these extra items seems to work against the concept of traveling light, but for me the extra bulk and weight is worth it. By carrying my own filtered water and small amounts of food with me when I’m roaming around, I don’t have to stop and find a restaurant every time I’m hungry or thirsty. Plus, I feel like a more responsible tourist by not contributing to the plastic trash pile in the places I visit.
for your luggage if the train is crowded.
A simple google search on ‘how to eat gluten free in Italy’ yielded a number of helpful sources. One that I have used before is 
My internet search also showed that Italians in general are quite knowledgeable about Celiac disease and many restaurants have undergone training in proper accommodation. For example, in Italy, many restaurants had gluten free pasta that they cooked in individual portions in water separate from the regular pasta. I soon discovered the 
Regardless of your food allergy, it is important to determine what might be your ‘go to’ meals if you have difficulty finding meals on the menu that accommodate your needs to your satisfaction. For me, grilled chicken on a salad without dressing, a fruit and cheese plate, or plain meat and vegetables are usually reasonable alternatives. Many places I’ve traveled also have a dedicated gluten free/allergy free bakery, where sometimes you can find savory items in addition to sweets.
In many locations, people have access to local grocery stores and other sources of allergy safe foods if they have concern about restaurant meals. I discovered that in Italy, the local pharmacies stock gluten free food in addition to the grocery store, because Celiac Disease is a medical condition. In addition, many of the open air markets have fruit, vegetables, and other allergy safe food.
Several years ago, I spent a couple of weeks in Switzerland, staying with family. I asked where the locals eat when they were traveling around Switzerland, and the answer was – the grocery store. Two of the largest chains, Coop and Migros, had cafeterias in their stores that offered a wide variety of meals and individual items that were freshly made and relatively inexpensive.
No longer was the grocery store just for snacks and bottled water! If the hotel room has a refrigerator, you can pick up items for a couple of days at a time. Here are some suggestions:
Dinner – Many stores have store prepared hot items, salad bars, and pizza. You can also get items for a picnic such as roasted chicken, potato salad, coleslaw, bread, and cheese. Almost every area has beautiful parks or gardens available to enjoy your picnic. Some areas also offer free concerts or street performers (buskers) in the evening to entertain you while you eat. One of my favorite meals in Paris was meeting up with a group of people for a picnic of cheeses, sausages, bread, fruit, and wine in a local park on a beautiful evening.
Traveling solo often involves eating meals in restaurants by yourself. Many women (and men for that matter) feel awkward about going to a restaurant alone. I’ve found that many restaurants are quite solo friendly, especially if you follow a few simple suggestions.
well. The pace is slower and the servers are often more able to accommodate your request for a single table near the window or the patio. Keep in mind that lunch is a better value in most areas. As you stake out places to eat, ask about when the menu changes from lunch to dinner or about any early evening specials. Also, if you are trying to order in a different language and/or have questions about various dishes, the servers have more time to interact with you when you come at a less busy time.
meal if you are sitting by yourself. Bring a book, some tourist brochures, word or number puzzles, or simply surf the net or read on your phone. Many restaurants have wi-fi available. Some people use their computer on the table. If you choose to do this, make sure you’ve chosen a seating option that gives you enough room to do this without encroaching on your neighbor at the bar or counter.
Sometimes traveling is about the destination, but it can also include learning how to view experiences through a different lens – even when you are not far from home. People who are considering traveling by themselves often have two major fears 1) the possibility that something bad will happen and 2) that they will be lonely and miserable. The first one is a topic for another time, but I’ve learned that with a simple shift in mindset, I can go a long way in mitigating the second one.
I live in Connecticut where we have miles and miles of ‘Rails to Trails’ bike/walking/running trails (see
I’ve told people that one of keys to traveling solo is to learn to participate with others – in a sort of community – for even brief periods of time wherever you travel. It’s hard to be lonely when you’re part of a community. These quasi-communities pop up when you’re on a tour with others, eating dinner at a communal table, or sitting in the common area in a hostel or hotel. They are not meant to be permanent – just people sharing the same time, place, and experience.
That day, I said nothing more than a bunch of ‘Good Mornings’ and one exuberant ‘You Go Girl,’ but yet, I was truly part of the community of people on the bike trail that morning. It’s all a matter of perspective. When you are traveling solo or doing activities by yourself, you can perceive that you are all alone in a group of strangers or as an alternative, you are part of a group (a community) of people doing the same thing as you are.