Q. Any last-minute tipson how to be a good green tourist?

Once you've flown abroad, it's easy to give up hope of being eco-friendly, but there are plenty of things you can do. At its most basic, being a green traveller involves thinking about the impact of your holiday on the planet and choosing to do something about it, whether by deciding to take local transport instead of hiring a car, or shopping in the local market rather than big hotels.

The idea is that your stay will encourage the positive aspects of travel, such as cultural exchange and conservation, while discouraging anything that triggers environmental, social or cultural conflict.

According to Tourism Concern, try to ensure that your money filters down to the local community. If you're on an all-inclusive package, run by an international company, as little as 10 per cent of your holiday cost will stay behind. So choose locally owned accommodation, eat in local restaurants and insist on a local guide.

For more tips, the Travel Foundation, a charity that supports sustainable tourism, gives practical advice on how to be a “good” traveller.

To download the pdf, visit thetravelfoundation.org.uk/assets/leaflets/insider%20guide.pdf.

Green Passport, a project launched by the United Nations Environment Programme, includes a quiz to tell you what kind of traveller you really are (unep.fr/greenpassport ).

Last but not least, remember to enjoy yourself, to immerse yourself in something completely different and forget your worries, though preferably not your eco ones.

Anna Shepard's book How Green Are My Wellies? is out now (Eden Project Books, £14.99)

Do it

For eco-types who like the finer things in life, a trip to Harrods needn't be out of step. The Knightsbridge department store has begun stocking underwear from Eco Boudoir, a boutique that combines eco principles with luxury. From its silk French knickers (£85) to hemp dressing gowns (£324), its treats don't come cheap. However, the company is committed to low-impact production methods and organic materials (eco-boudoir.com )

Click it

Wondering which multinational company you can trust? Simply turn to Ethical Consumer magazine's updated website, which contains more than 150 free downloadable Buyers' Guides (ethicalconsumer.org ). Covering subjects from baby bottles to mortgages to yoghurt, its mission is to “give consumers the tools they need to make informed choices”, says the editor, Rob Harrison.

Skip it

After a mild, wet spring, predictions for a soggy August will ensure that slug and snail numbers are flourishing. If your plants are suffering, try not to succumb to traditional pellets. Most contain metaldehyde, which is harmful to hedgehogs and birds, creatures that often eat dead slugs, and living ones too, which is why you should befriend them. Instead try an eco-friendly alternative, such as Growing Success's slug killer (theonlinegardener.com ; £2.49).