VIV Says: Blog

This new guide offers green tips for French travel.

Language classes at the French Institute Alliance Française in New York City and a recent lunch date with friends who have a home in the Loire Valley have renewed our yearning for a French getaway. And in light of all the recent eco-minded news we’ve been sharing, we were pleased to come across Dorian Yates’ Green Earth Guide: Traveling Naturally in France (North Atlantic Books, 2009), a new book for eco-minded travelers that includes tips and resources for green transportation, accommodations, eating and shopping. Making choices good for the Earth starts with the individual, says Yates: “The green movement has been driven by consumer demand, not by corporate business interests.”

Of course, visiting France usually involves air travel, so Yates recommends traveling economy to lower your carbon footprint or donating to carbon-offset programs such as Carbon Fund. France has an excellent rail system; trains produce three to seven times less emissions than planes, and we love taking the TGV. Cities such as Paris and Lyon have bike rentals, and there’s always aimlessly exploring on foot — the French even have a word for someone strolling around a city and taking it all in: flâneur. Walking or biking will help burn off the croissants and fromage — although we’ve never returned from France with extra pounds, and for this reason alone we consider the country a magical place. Yates points out, “Slow, local and fresh foods are intrinsic to the French culture. Mindful eating is not a fad or a trend.”

The guide also includes eco-friendly recommendations of where to stay, locations of organic and biodynamic wineries and places of interest. Though the main focus is France, there also is a section on helpful resources for European travel — for instance, we learned the BBC Languages site offers free courses and quick phrase guides as downloadable MP3s.

We’re always happy to see more green travel resources. When you travel, what kind of eco-friendly choices do you make?