5 Resource-Saving Travel Moves Val & Chip Swear By

By Val & Chip | Updated May 8, 2025

You Know What Ruins a Good National Park? THAT Traveler.

We've all seen them — the couple who left the AC blasting in their cabin all day while they were out on a six-hour hike. The group who kept flushing toilets and running faucets at a campsite that hauls water in by truck. Chip once watched a guy at a backcountry lodge leave every single light on in his room, then complain the generator was too loud at night. Buddy, you're the reason.

Here's the thing: being smart about water and energy on the road isn't about deprivation. It's about awareness. It's about recognizing that the incredible off-grid eco-lodge you just found, or that quiet little state park campsite — those places have finite resources. And the way you use them determines whether they're still paradise for the next person.

We've been road-tripping for years, from Route 66 diners to Amazon ecolodges, and these five moves have become second nature. They cost nothing, take zero extra time, and honestly? They make us feel like better travelers.

Move #1: Hear a Drip? Be the Hero, Not the Bystander

That rhythmic plink... plink... plink from the bathroom faucet isn't white noise — it's literally water down the drain. A single leaky faucet can waste over 3,000 gallons a year. In a remote mountain lodge or a desert campground, that's devastating.

What we do: A quick text to the front desk or a heads-up to the campground host. Takes 30 seconds. They're always grateful because they can't fix what they don't know about. It's one of the simplest acts of responsible travel there is.

Speaking of off-grid stays — keeping your devices charged without relying on strained local power is a game-changer. We never travel without our SOS Solar Phone Charger. Sunlight does all the work.

Move #2: Shower Fast, Explore More

Val has a rule: "If you spend more time in the shower than you do watching the sunset, your priorities are backwards." She's not wrong. Long showers gobble water AND the propane or electricity used to heat it — a double waste.

What we do: The five-minute challenge. Get in, get clean, get out, and get exploring. After a few trips, it becomes automatic. And honestly? The time you save goes straight into more adventure. That hidden waterfall isn't going to find itself.

Move #3: Hang That Towel Like a Pro

Hotels wash mountains of barely-used towels daily. That means thousands of gallons of water, industrial amounts of detergent, and enough dryer energy to power a small town. All for towels you used once to dry off after a shower.

What we do: Towel on the hook = "I'll use this again." Towel on the floor = "Please wash." It's the universal hotel language, and it's the single easiest thing you can do. Chip also packs a quick-dry camp towel from Sportsman's Warehouse that barely takes up any space and dries in an hour.

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Move #4: Empty Room? Everything Off.

This one is muscle memory. You wouldn't leave the oven on at home when you go to work, so why leave the AC cranking in a cabin you won't return to for eight hours?

What we do: Last one out does the sweep — lights, AC, heater, TV, everything. We've turned it into a game on road trips. Chip calls it the "Exit Protocol." Val calls it "not being wasteful." Either way, it works. Across a two-week trip, the energy savings are genuinely significant.

Move #5: Mother Nature's AC Hits Different

Before you automatically crank that thermostat, take a second. Open a window. Feel the breeze. Is it actually that bad outside?

What we do: We almost always start with the windows first. A cross-breeze through a mountain cabin or a coastal Airbnb? That's not just energy-efficient — it's a whole vibe. Fresh air, natural sounds, no motor hum. Common sense applies — we're not opening windows in a July heatwave — but you'd be amazed how often natural ventilation is all you need.

And when you are exploring by day, consider doing it sustainably. We love covering ground on a Velowave E-Bike — zero emissions, all the views, and Chip doesn't complain about his knees.

The Bottom Line: Travel Lighter on the Land

These five moves aren't sacrifices. They're upgrades. They make you a sharper, more thoughtful traveler — the kind of person cool places welcome back. And at the end of the day, the places that take our breath away deserve travelers who give a damn.

Ready to plan your next mindful adventure? We always start with Trip.com for deals on eco-friendly stays and flights.

🎧 Loved this? We go even deeper in our Eco-Explorer's Haven Podcast!

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