Top Ten Ways to Vacation Green on St. Croix
More and more people are becoming aware of the impact their daily lives have on the environment and making changes to help do their part. But what about your vacation? More specifically, what about your St. Croix Vacation? You will have to fly to St. Croix (we can’t do anything about that!) But once you arrive it IS possible to vacation green There are many accommodations, activities, restaurants and businesses that are doing their share to welcome eco-conscious customers and make their own businesses more eco-friendly. After all, we live on the island of St. Croix; it’s the only one we’ve got, and we need to protect it.
Use these ideas and to make the most of your Green St. Croix Vacation. Check out our St. Croix Green Guide for a list of businesses on St. Croix who are doing their share to be environmentally responsible. Don't forget to view our Eco-Friendly Photo Album! |
Here are ten easy ways to make your St. Croix vacation eco-friendly.
|
 10. Start at Home.
Taking a green vacation can start before you even set your flip-flop on St. Croix. Make sure you unplug all of your appliances. Turn your water heater to the lowest setting. During the winter, adjust your thermostat to the lowest possible setting that will still protect plants and pipes and turn water off outside to prevent flooding if pipes break while you are away. These simple things can help conserve energy (and money) and no one is in the house using energy.
 9. Travel Light.
This is becoming a necessity with new airline restrictions, not necessarily by choice! But we think it is a good idea to travel light and pack light. This is especially relevant when travelling to St. Croix where the dress code and lifestyle are casual. How many times have you said to yourself, “Geez, I brought WAY to much stuff!” A bathing suit (it will dry out over night) a cover up to protect your skin from the sun, and a few wrinkle proof tops & bottoms. At least one nice sundress or slacks & shirt for the men. And a hat. A light weight re-usable bag and heck, even a re-usable water bottle. The extra luggage adds to the weight of the plane, requiring more fuel and using more energy, resulting in more pollution.
 8. Feel Good, Inside & Out.
How much more LOW IMPACT can you get than having a massage on the beach or indulging body treatment that uses 100% natural products from the Earth? Not only are you participating in an activity that really has no impact on the environment what so ever, you are also rejuvenating your body, mind and spirit. St. Croix has several spa facilities that offer luxurious treatments. You can also arrange for a private or couples massage on a beach, or in the privacy of your villa or hotel room. Read about our beach-side massage here. You can also check out St. Croix Spas & professional massage services on this page. Often, doing something for yourself in its most holistic form is also something good for the world.
  7. Look, But Don't Touch.
Participate in a St. Croix activity that has a low impact on the environment. Hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, browsing museums, bird watching, snorkeling & SCUBA diving (look, but don’t touch!) are just some of the activities. Some of our most enchanting sights are set off from main roads, hidden in remote valley or high atop a hill, at the base of a waterfall, tucked in along the shore line or in other places only accessible by foot. Read about some of our eco-tourism activities here. If you choose to participate in an activity that may not seem so eco- friendly, ask the owner/operator what they do to off-set their impact. You’ll be happy to hear that they participate in recycling programs, host beach clean-ups and use paper cups for water instead of bottle water. You can also check with the St. Croix Environmental Association (SEA) to see what activities are available during your trip.(see also #6!)
  6. Be Aware, Be Very Aware.
Several organizations exist on St. Croix whose sole purpose is to educate & protect our sensitive environment, both above & below the water. SEA ( St. Croix Environmental Association ) helps preserve, and increase island awareness. There are other organizations that work hard on a shoe-string budget to get their global-size message out. The Virgin Islands Network of Environmental Educators’ (VINE) mission is to educate residents and travelers the importance of “Leaving Paradise in its Place”; don’t take shells and other natural items from the beach, they are all part of a bigger picture. Others include St. Croix East End Marine Park and the St. Croix Recycling Organization. A bonus if you are on St. Croix, you can participate in the fun activities each of these organizations offer like hikes, kayak tours, tours of farms, nature preserves, turtle watches (very limited access!) and beach clean ups.
 5.Keepin' It Clean.
Do you REALLY need you sheets & towels changed EVERY day? Would you do that at your own house? No, you’d drive yourself crazy if you did. Try not to create unnecessary laundry at your hotel, resort or villa? The energy and water required to wash the extra linens is often wasteful. Ask the front desk at your hotel or villa agent what the procedure is to let housekeeping know what to take and what you’re willing to hang on to for a few extra days.
  4. Shop Local.
Thank goodness St. Croix is not a tourist trap to begin with. We are an island of small business owners and artists, so this one is VERY easy. Most local businesses rely on merchandise that IS made on St. Croix such as jewelry, pottery, art-work and arts and crafts. Supporting a local business & artist certainly helps our economy, but it also cuts the cost of transporting tacky, mass-produced souvenirs from far away places. When you purchase locally made art, hot-sauces, coffee, or jewelry you can even see how it is made and meet those who made it. You’ll surely treasure it more. Check our shopping page for locally made merchandise. Don’t forget to bring a re-usable bag so you can Just Say No To Plastic bags and excess packaging.
 3. Turn OFF the Water.
Rain is St. Croix’s liquid sunshine. It is just as important to us as the 85 degree & sunny weather. Rain means our cisterns are getting full. Cisterns are our home’s water collection system. No rain = no water in our homes which means we have to PAY to have watered delivered. Water has to be rationed year round on St. Croix year round. This means shorter showers, low flow toilets and asking your kids to turn the faucet off while brushing their teeth. Several hotels and villas use “used” water for watering their landscapes; also known as a grey water system. You will also notice reminders on the walls of your hotel bathroom reminding you of this very important To Do.
 2.
Eat Your Greens & Yellows & Reds...
Dine at restaurants who support local farms and fisherman. Nothing tastes better than fresh tuna, mahi mahi or wahoo served atop a bed of greens from one of our local organic farms. Although buying the fresh catch of the day from a local fisherman is not new, buying locally grown produce is, and the feedback is outstanding. St. Croix is home to a few organic farms that produce tomatoes, lettuce, pineapples, bananas, peppers, carrots, cucumbers, sweet potato, avocados, mangos and so much more. Flavor or variety is not compromised when you buy locally. Local farmers have found a way to harmonize with the soil to grow a large variety fruits and vegetables making restaurants happy! When you eat at a restaurant that supports local, you help cut down on transportation costs and pollution.
  1. Rest Easy.
Stay at an enviro -friendly accommodation. You’d be surprised at the number of accommodations that are pretty close to 100% enviro –friendly and others that are trying to become greener. They have made efforts to convert light bulbs, low flow shower heads, low flow toilets, recycle and even offer their guests a discount for NOT using the AC; how about that? Cutting their energy costs results in lower rates for you! You don’t have to give up style or comfort, it doesn’t have to be difficult and you don’t have to rough it if that’s not your style. See our eco-lodging page for a list of island-friendly accommodations.
Click here to return to our list of Top Tens. |
|
Top