Taking Notes from a Sustainable World Traveler

Gillian Houston in Barcelona, Spain in July 2019.

When I think of a world traveler, I think of Gillian Houston. Oftentimes, I have trouble keeping track of what country Gillian is in! After all, Gillian has traveled to more than 60 countries in her short 28 years of life. As someone who has known Gillian since we were toddlers, it's been inspiring to watch her travel the world and pursue her dreams.

I have always admired how Gillian travels; she is the epitome of a sustainable traveler, and will always seek out locals for the best travel tips to make sure she has an authentic stay, while giving back to local residents through her lodging, activities, shopping and more.

In addition to being a conscious traveler, she is an environmental scholar. She received her bachelor's degree in environmental studies at Eckerd College, received a sustainability certificate from Harvard Extension School and is currently pursuing her master's in marine conservation at the University of Auckland. Additionally, she is a certified Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI) Master diver.

I sat down with Gillian Houston this week to hear more about her most memorable world travels, and some of the sustainable travel tips and tricks that she's learned along the way.

Gillian at Krka Waterfalls, Croatia in July 2019.

Q. You've been to more than 60 countries. What has been your most favorite place you've visited so far?

A. That's really hard. I love South Korea. Koreans are so sweet. When I go to Korea, I walk down the street and get adopted by Koreans for the night! Literally, like on my first night, they were like, 'Oh, are you alone?' And I'm like, 'Yeah,' and they're like, 'Oh, come to dinner with us!' We hung out with them every night. I made so many nice friends there. They'll give you the shirts off their backs.

Q. What are some of your other favorite places that you have been?

A. Cambodia. I don't do hostels there, because that's not really a thing. But you get a really nice room, breakfast included, balcony, for 30 bucks a night. So, that's where you can be treated like a king. In Cambodia, they love you. You just have fun and chat and they will teach you Cambodian and tell you their life story. Or tell you all of their relatives that were killed by Pol Pot, you know?

Q. As someone with a British passport, I know you've done extensive travel in Europe.  How do you compare traveling in Europe to, let's say, Asia?

A. I want to get lost in the markets. I've been to the seafood markets and I like to see the types of weird things they sell in them. Also, I like to go for religious tourism. In Asia, it's the temples. That's the draw. The temples are new and old and they are still building them, because it's a way of life there. Then you go to England and you go to old churches.

But in Asia, they will use the infrastructure that we have today and they will create crazy, bright colored temples, like a three-headed elephant temple in Thailand. If you go to England, everything's gray. I mean, I'm not saying it's not cool, but it's not like Asia.

It's crazy, and they have flowers everywhere you go, you give them 10 baht, and they give you a pack of incense. You put down incense for every Buddha you see in the temple or they give you flowers and you float them down the water. It's super interactive, even if you're not Buddhist.

Q. When you hear the term sustainable travel, what does that mean to you, or what comes to mind?

A. I think local is the first word that comes into my head: local small scale travel. Avoiding chains, avoiding cruises. I'm very against the sort of cruise culture that has been coming up recently. I think local, small scale things owned and run by locals, and having your money go into the local economy rather than mega corporations' pockets.

Q. How do you think about the environmental or social impact of your trips?

A. Yes, I always think of who I'm supporting. I like to know that my money is stimulating the local economy. I think it's very important because on cruises, for example, people come and go, and there are also negative [environmental] repercussions like fresh water usage, strain on the electricity grid and stuff. So, I always think of things like that: what impact are you going to have on the locals, their way of life and the economy?

Q. For someone starting out practicing sustainable travel, what are three tips & tricks you would tell them for planning their first trip? What are some of the best places to go for a sustainable trip?

1) One of the best tips I would tell first-time travelers looking to travel sustainably is to travel locally, from transportation to accommodation and food (with exceptions). Supporting the local economy is not only a more sustainable method of travel but also a more conscious way to travel (and more fun in my opinion)!

By taking local transport, not only are you traveling more sustainably, but you will probably have a better time. There’s no better way to start seeing a new place than by jumping on the local transport. Even if you get lost, you might end up somewhere fun and ‘off the beaten path.' It’s all part of the adventure! I have always said that the best way to try and find your way around somewhere is to stand around looking lost; usually, a kind local will come to the rescue.

When I was in Korea, I didn’t even have time to try to decipher the subway maps before someone would come up and over to help me out.

2) For accommodations, you can start by looking on Hostelworld, and it’s quite easy to distinguish between chains and locally operated hostels. These establishments will usually have a more sustainable ethos than chains, which typically cater to party culture. The best hostels I’ve stayed at are run by families who treat you like family while you’re under their roof. They also have great, authentic advice about things to do in the area. So far, I have stayed at over 70 hostels in over 30 countries. Once, I booked a hostel in Salta, Argentina, and the woman at the front desk told me I shouldn’t stay there. At least she was looking out for me! I went and got a hotel in the city center. 

I was staying at a hostel in Iguazu, Argentina, for $5 USD that had a pool and a lovely, homemade breakfast included. That was about five years ago, and I still keep in touch with some people I met there. Staying at locally-run hostels will also lead you to run into some kindred spirits, and you might make lifelong friends.

I would personally suggest Selina Hostels in Central and South America, but in 2024, they were acquired by a Singaporean company and are currently being converted into hotels.

3) Eat local! Not only will the food be locally sourced, but you’re also ensuring that your money stimulates the local economy, rather than going into the pockets of chains or foreign-owned businesses. In Costa Rica, I went to many “sodas.” Not only do you get a taste of the local cuisine, but you also get a great bang for your buck, as a meal costs around $5 USD.

These restaurants offer authentic, delicious food that is always sourced locally, and you’re guaranteed to make a friend among the staff. I would always warn travelers not to go TOO local. You can still get authentic local food without risking your stomach. Always start slowly, especially at the beginning of the trip, and give your stomach time to acclimate!

Gillian enjoying a local hostel dinner in Jakarta with friends.

Q. Do you have a favorite sustainable travel experience, like a specific tour, hostel, scuba diving or marine conservation adventure that you went on?

Photos from Scuba Junkie in Mabul, Malaysia.

One scuba resort company I will always suggest is Scuba Junkie. I have stayed at Scuba Junkies in Komodo, Sipadan, and Nusa Penida. They have an incredible sustainable ethos and are a well-known role model in the field. From local food to working with the local community, employing knowledgeable local field guides, and offering eco-friendly accommodations, this place does it all! I always trust Scuba Junkie to be responsible both underwater and above the water.

Here are some of the handicrafts made by women from the local village in Mabul. They used plastic pollution from the ocean to fill the objects you see here and sell them. The local artists typically use sustainable materials to make crafts to sell at markets.

Q. What's a common misconception you think people have about sustainable travel?

I think a common misconception about sustainable travel is that people think it means you have to sleep in a tent and drink water from streams. You can still travel comfortably and prioritize sustainability. My biggest tips are to bring a reusable water bottle, immerse yourself in the local culture, and be adventurous! You never know what adventure waits on the path less traveled. Sure, you won’t be staying at the Ritz, but what’s the fun in that! Instead of spending all your money on a hotel, spend it on experiences to last a lifetime. I guarantee that when you’re old and grey, you won’t remember which hotel had the nicest bathroom. You’ll think of all the adventures you went on while out of your comfort zone!

Q. How do you make sure your local tourism dollars benefit local economies?

Here are photos of Gillian with some of the international friends she's made from her travels over the years.

I always aim to have my money circulate within the local economy, firstly by avoiding as many chain stores as possible. I also never go on or support cruises or their port franchises. In Cozumel, where I got my Dive Master Certification, they have been building more and more cruise ports, which threaten not only the local economy, but also the coral reefs. Whenever I travel, I always prioritize local and small-scale businesses, even if it’s as small as buying gifts for friends in town rather than at the airport.

Also, homestays! I have done a few homestays in my life, and they are among my best memories from traveling. I have done homestays in Ecuador and in Nepal. They are an amazing way to fully immerse yourself and to ensure your money goes into the local economy.

Q. Do you know of any other good travel hacks that people who don't travel as much might not know about?

A. Don't take more than you can carry, easily. You have to be able to carry it for, at least, I'd say six miles at a time. You need two pairs of shoes: you need good walking shoes and you need comfortable shoes. I wear Tevas, but they also double as shower shoes. You need shower shoes everywhere you go.

Q. Where do you get travel inspiration from when planning your trips?

A. At this stage of my travels, having traveled a lot and been to a lot of places, definitely word of mouth, because I obviously have a lot of friends who have the same lifestyle, or they also like to travel sustainably, and small scale. So definitely word of mouth, because that's the best way to find these smaller things, because obviously they're less advertised, less people go there. You're less likely to see these places in a big magazine or article, or they're not going to be able to pay for advertisements and stuff like that.

Also, I guess some TikTok and Instagram accounts can be good. I followed a lot of solo female travelers to get tips for when I was backpacking in South America. Specifically, I used it there the most, also for safety reasons. I value their opinions because they are someone who has done it, who's been out there, and also lives out of a backpack.

Q. How do you see the future of travel changing over the next decade?

I see the future of travel evolving over the next decade, with people becoming increasingly adventurous. These days, people are opting to travel with the intention of embarking on an adventure, rather than simply lounging at a hotel. I optimistically see the future of travel becoming more tailored to local culture, rather than hotel hopping.

More photos from Gillian's travel adventures over the years.

Do you have an interesting travel story or sustainable travel tips that you would like to share? I'd love to get your perspective on the blog. If you are interested, contact Caroline Watkins at cgw@usc.edu.