Before You Leave Home

• Turn water heater to "Vacation" or lowest setting.
• Turn off AC/heat or adjust the thermostat to protect plants, etc.
• Turn water off at outside connection (to prevent flooding should a pipe break while you're gone). When you return, turn on the water slowly and check for problems.
• Appliances, such as TVs and cable converter boxes, should be unplugged because they can draw or "leak" as much as 40 watts per hour even when they're off.
• Turn icemaker off (lift wire) to prevent flooding should it break while you're away.
• Stop your newspaper. You may be able to donate it to a local school.

• Purchase electronic-tickets for airline travel whenever possible. Less waste. If paper tickets are lost, they may cost $75-100 to have replaced.
• Enjoy walking tours. Walk where sensible.
• Use public transportation when available.
• Use the bus or local transit system. Share taxis. Less pollution, and you can leave the driving to others.
• If you're driving, turn your motor off when idling. Encourage tour/bus drivers to turn the motor off when idling.
• Don't allow anything to be thrown out of your car windows--ever.

• To keep track of which towel belongs to which family member, pack a handful of safety pins and small colored beads. Attach a pin and bead to each towel, using a designated color for each family member. Remove the pins before checkout.
• Reduce the amount of water used for bathing or showering.
• Do not run the linens and towels through the unit washer & dryer prior to check-out.
• Our thermostats are locked at a comfortable setting. We will unlock them on request.
• When you leave your unit, turn off the lights, TV and radio. Close the drapes.
• Carry a dry cleaning or grocery bag with you in which to carry dirty laundry home.
• Leave little bottles of amenities in the unit if unopened.
• Keep bar soap wrappers and take used bars of soap home.
• Instead of leaving bathroom lights (and fans) on all night, pack night lights.
• If you purchase a newspaper , pass it on to someone else, or leave it in the lobby for another reader.
• Help reduce paper by allowing us to email your confirmation and receipts.

• Take only the brochures or maps necessary. Return others to the brochure stand.
• Don't buy endangered species products such as tortoise shell, ivory, animal skins or feathers. Don't purchase star fish or turtle-shell related souvenirs or any creature that may have been put to death for the sake of a gift shop sale. These animals may have been killed specifically for tourist trade. Sea shells are questionable.
• Make a pledge to yourself not to maim or kill any living creature other than pest insects. Educate yourself as to which are "beneficials" and which are truly "pests."
• Use binoculars and cameras to "hunt" animals.
• Take only photographs. Do not take "souvenirs" from natural areas or historical areas.
• Leave only footprints. Take everything out that you brought with you. No graffiti, no litter.
• Support conservation programs.
• Pick up at least one piece of litter every day-especially at national tourist locations which are vulnerable to huge tourist populations.
• Take photos with a regular camera. Disposable cameras are very wasteful and expensive. If possible use a digital camera.
• Buy rolls of film with 36 shots rather than 12 or 24. Packaging waste is reduced, and you'll save about 40%*.
• Write legibly on your film package. Kodak discards 400,000 rolls of film annually because the return address is illegible.*
• Expensive cosmetic bags are unnecessary and often do not prevent or control spills. Use zippable plastic bags for cosmetics. Separate bath needs and makeup needs.
• Rather than buying small size toothpaste tubes, squeeze some toothpaste into a clean contact lens case or contact lens cleaning capsule. Be sure to mark appropriately.