Most people start thinking about their next vacation right around the time they get home from their last one – after all, we’re only human. But we’re also into sustainability, and we’d really prefer single-use plastic-free products at our hotels and other travel venues to avoid killing our mojo. So, we had a thought. What if we mapped out a series of vacation hot-spots where you can get into vacay mode without worrying that every cup, fork and tray your eyes land on will be made of crummy plastic? Et voila, our first plastic-free travel blog.
Top 5 Amazing Vacation Spots to Utterly Avoid Single-Use Plastic
Sun, sand, surf and…sustainable food containers – they all go together in a world increasingly troubled with the ocean plastic. That peaceful relaxation you feel on the beach or swimming in crystal pure waters should be some of the best memories of your trip, not a startling encounter with some crusty plastic drifting by or washed-up containers tangled in seaweed by your lounge chair. Feh!
And while there’s not much that countries can do about plastic waste arriving on ocean currents from around the world, there’s plenty they can do about being plastic-free on their own soil. Here’s a few countries that choose to prioritize a clean environment and pristine waters over endless to-go cups and containers. Give them your vote of support by making travel plans to visit them soon!
St Kitts and Nevis: Plastic Pollution Doesn’t Daunt United Islands
St. Kitts and Nevis were the first Caribbean islands visited by European conquerors and perhaps that helps to explain their stiffer resolve against all the unwanted trash that’s washing ashore today. In 2016 St. Kitts and Nevis adopted its first plastic restrictions and followed up in 2021 with a new round of bans to protect the islands from single-use plastic.
As a leeward island cluster, St. Kitts and Nevis are on the literal dividing line between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Visitors to the South Peninsula beaches of St. Kitts can stand atop a hillside and see the two majestic bodies of water in the same glance. Visitors can also enjoy a hike up to the Brimstone Hill Fortress, built in the early 1600s by the colonizing British. The monument to British power now stands as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an homage to that nation’s former influence in the region.
Fantastic Without Plastic: Historic Sites Will Charm and Delight You
Safaris among the island’s old sugar plantations and its dormant volcanoes provide a wide-angle view of this small island nation. And if you’re in search of excellent snorkeling and scuba diving, you’ve come to an ideal location. Only now, you’re far less likely to see a plastic bag or drifting cutlery floating by as you search for tropical fish.
Antigua and Barbuda: Dual Islands Create Plastic-Free Escapes
Like their cousins St. Kitts and Nevis 60 miles away, Antigua and Barbuda were the sites of early European colonization ‒ and early adoption of some of the most visionary and stringent single-use plastic bans in the world. In 2016 they instituted their first plastic-free laws to ban plastic bags as a first step toward moving their communities away from single-use. They followed up in 2021 with a substantially more stringent law.
Under the new restrictions, the government imposed a ban on the importation of a vast array of plastic service items including any polystyrene (Styrofoam), plastic utensils, meat trays, fruit and vegetable trays, egg cartons and of course, straws. Not surprisingly, the amount of plastic waste the islands had to manage plummeted. Yale University-based Environmental Performance Index conducts an annual review of how much plastic waste different nations release into the oceans. In 2022, Antigua and Barbuda had the highest score of any country in the world – 83.70 – indicating it emitted close to no single-use plastic in its waters.
And boy, what a pleasure that is for all the visitors to the infamous white and pink sand beaches of Antigua and Barbuda. Known for some of the most picturesque surf in the world, these island paradises can lay claim to some of the purest waters you’ll ever swim in.
Historic Sites Like Time Capsules, Remind Us of a Plastic-Free Era
If you’re more of a history buff, try visiting some colonial relics dating from as far back as the 1600s. The Betty’s Hope stone windmills are about 400 years old, and still stand where they were originally built to serve the old sugar plantations. Nelson’s Dockyard National Park – also a UNESCO World Heritage Site – is the oldest, continuously operating Georgian dockyard in the world. Built by the British in the 1700s, it’s an incredible example of the old-world transforming itself to stay productive in the modern era.
Protecting Forever the Natural Splendor of the Youngest Island: Dominica
One of the first countries to implement a deep ban on single-use plastic products, Dominica – also called the Nature Isle ‒ did what many wealthier nations haven’t managed to yet. They prioritized the health and well-being of their country’s environment so the natural beauty they’ve long enjoyed will continue for many more generations.
