"Only a person who wants to be constantly surprised should travel."
Oscar Maria Graf

Anticipation is the best joy!

• A relaxing and successful holiday feels good and fits your needs. What do you want to do, experience and see on your holiday? Which three things are most important to you?

Get in the mood for your holiday destination!

• You can "immerse" yourself in your holiday destination even before you start your journey - e.g. with music, films and literature from the destination.

• Perhaps someone you know has already been there and can tell you about his/her experiences or even give you "insider tips"?

Find out and experience more!

• Other countries, other customs. Good travel guides not only describe the sights, but also the (everyday) culture. This way you can better understand your destination and the people who live there - and finally experience more! And you save yourself from putting your foot in your mouth.

Talking brings people together!

• Having at least a few words in the local language in your repertoire – such as " Hello", "Goodbye", "Please", "Thank you", "Excuse me" – and a smile on your lips are the keys to nice encounters.

"Only where you were on foot, there you really were."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Let´s go!

• The way is the goal! Make the journey part of your holiday!

• The train is a comfortable and at the same time climate-friendly means of transport that brings you safely and relaxed to your destination. Get on board, take a seat and get in the mood for your holiday! For longer distances, overnight trains are an option – the range of services is constantly being expanded.

• You should avoid flights up to a distance of about 800 km. Short-haul flights are particularly harmful to the climate, as take-off and landing are energy-intensive and emissions are correspondingly high. This also applies to feeder flights – so better take the train to the airport.

• Fly less often and stay longer. The people in your holiday destination will also benefit from your longer stay. And you yourself have more time to get to know the country and its people in a relaxed way. Our climate is grateful for every flight that doesn't take place!

• Are you planning a beach holiday? This is also possible in countries that are not thousands of kilometres away.

Exploring your holiday destination

• On foot, by bike or by public transport, you can get to know your travel destination in an environmentally friendly – and also inexpensive – way, including one or two nice encounters with locals.

• Don't rent your own car, but hire a taxi . The driver, who knows the area, is certainly able to give you a few tips – and at the same time you help to secure a job.

"Travelling brings us back to ourselves."
Albert Camus

Selecting the accommodation

• Choose your accommodation carefully. It is important that the employees are treated in a fair way and that regional products are preferably used – so the money you pay also benefits the population. Many businesses already provide information about the social and environmental standards to which they are committed on their websites.

• Recognised seals of quality, such as the Austrian Ecolabel (Österreichisches Umweltzeichen) or the EU Ecolabel, provide orientation. The certified companies not only take measures to protect the environment and climate, but also offer their employees fair working conditions.

Your behaviour matters

• Water is scarce and therefore precious in many holiday areas. If this is the case, only take short showers. Don't have towels and bed linen changed every day.

• Do you really need air conditioning? If not, leave the power guzzler switched off. This may also save you from catching a cold.

• In everyday life, you take care to avoid waste and to separate and dispose it properly? Don't forget to do the same on holiday!

"Every journey has a special smell, special taste and its own colours."
Wanda Rezat

Let yourself be surprised by the culinary delights of your holiday destination!

• Foreign countries, new taste experiences. Use your holiday for culinary excursions into regional cuisine. The locally grown products are fresh, and you support regional agriculture.

• If you're worried about the hygiene of food far away from home, follow basic rules like "cook it, peel it, or leave it!". The fresher and hotter the food, the better.

• Eat where the locals do – that way you're also sure to strike up a conversation with other people.

• Appreciate the food served, especially in poorer countries where food is often not available in abundance for local people.

• Wherever possible, give preference to organically produced food that originates from the region. This benefits the environment as well as your health.

"The real voyages of discovery are not in getting to know new areas of the country,
but in seeing something with different eyes."
Marcel Proust

Enjoy natural beauties

• "What I know, I can protect better." This also applies when travelling. Find out about the special natural treasures of the region.

• Be careful! Stay on marked trails when hiking. And observe the rules of conduct in protected areas.

• The best way to experience nature is on foot, by bike or canoe – without a motorised vehicle.

• When packing your suitcase, remember to take a refillable bottle with you.

Immerse yourself in the culture

• Colourful markets and bazaars are among the highlights of many trips. Haggling when buying is part of it, but it has to be fair. Don't haggle mercilessly for every cent!

• Prefer souvenirs made in your holiday country. This way you support the local handicraft. Products from endangered animals and plants, e.g. crocodile or snake skin, ivory, shells, corals or orchids are taboo!

• When entering temples, mosques or other religious sites, make sure to wear appropriate clothing. Do not crowd the worshippers out of the best seats.

First-hand information

• Contact local agencies for guided excursions. Activities organised and accompanied by locals provide authentic insights and create jobs for the local people.

"Travelling is fatal to prejudice."
Mark Twain

Travelling with open eyes and ears

• „Those who visit others should open their eyes, not their mouths!" says a Tanzanian proverb. Openness and respect allow you to gain interesting insights and meet people at eye level.

• Make sure you wear clothes that are appropriate for the culture you are visiting. Follow what the locals wear.

• Do you like taking pictures of people? Always ask for permission! Even if you don't speak the language, a smile and gestures are all it takes.

• Dealing with begging people is difficult. Observe whether locals give something. Do not give money to begging children, even if it is hard; their parents would rather send them to the streets to "earn money" than to school.

• Treat hawkers with respect. They earn their living by selling.

Focus on human rights

• A successful trip is the result of the work of many people, also behind the scenes. More and more tour operators are committed to fair working conditions – also for the people who are often not visible to tourists.

• Travel companies that have signed the Child Protection Code (“The Code”) are committed to protecting children from sexual exploitation.

• Find out more about the providers' social commitment on their websites.