If you’ve worked hard to create a healthy home, it can feel a little intimidating to leave that space and head into the unknown of hotel rooms or vacation rentals as you explore travel ideas.
I totally get it—traveling often means stepping into places filled with synthetic scents, questionable cleaning products, and unknown exposures. But here’s the good news: it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
You don’t need to do everything perfectly to stay aligned with your wellness goals. In this post, I’m sharing practical travel ideas you can actually use—simple swaps and strategies that support your health without adding stress to your trip. Whether you’re staying for a night or a week, these steps can help you feel grounded and confident wherever you go.
DON’T WORRY OR STRESS AS YOU EXPLORE TRAVEL IDEAS
Trying to pack your whole medicine cabinet or your own bedding set would probably get you some sideways glances. The best thing to remember when reading traveling ideas and actually traveling away from the low toxin environment you’ve created is this: Body burden is accumulated over time, which is exactly why keeping a healthy environment at home sets you up for a healthy life.
Basically, it’s knowing that you’ve set your body and your home up so that if you spend a short amount of time in a space that has more toxins than yours, it won’t wreak havoc on your body. I think of it the same way when my kids go to a birthday party and end up having food that we don’t normally eat at home. We eat consistently healthy and free of packaged food so that when they do help themselves to candy or chips at a party, I’m not overly concerned.
Bodies are resilient and adapt if they are unburdened. Let traveling be a good reminder of what you love about your own home environment and why you work so hard to make it a healthy space.
TRAVEL IDEAS TO IMPROVE OTHER SPACES
Now, depending on WHAT your accommodations are, you can do a little bit to improve the space that you’ll be staying in.
First, if you’re staying in a hotel of some kind, don’t leave your luggage on the floor or bed. Use the rack they provide if you can. Think of all the places your luggage has been so far, you don’t want it in your sleeping area.
Remove the bedspread if you can. These aren’t laundered as frequently as the sheets, which are to be cleaned with every guest change.
Also, if you have allergies or asthma, try to change clothes before climbing into or sitting on your bed. This will help minimize the allergens and dust that are being spread.
In addition to this, bringing a pair of shoes or hard soled slippers with as “indoor shoes” for your room is a great travel idea.
You can also wipe down surfaces in the room with a non toxic cleaner to minimize airborne allergens as well as get rid of potential virus germs.
And finally, you can actually request a hypoallergenic room in most hotels if you’re sensitive to dust and other allergens.
If you’re staying in a VRBO, AirB’nB or with a friend or family member, there are other things you can do besides what is mentioned in the section about hotels.
First, get those windows open! Opening the windows and turning on the fans can really help improve the indoor air quality.
Try to minimize the use of any fragrances or scented candles, sprays, etc. in your sleeping area and bathroom.
I think the big thing is to plan ahead and read up on travel ideas before you leave and ask questions about the space you’ll be staying in as well as plan ahead to bring extras you might need.
WHAT TO BRING WITH
These travel ideas will give you some things you can bring with to make your vacation feel more like home and less like being completely out of your element.
Charcoal bags: These bags will help absorb any odor or scent in the air that you might be sensitive to. They are small and easy to pack in a suitcase so you can use them once you arrive.
Water bottles: Instead of using plastic or unsanitized glasses at a hotel, bring your own water bottle. Plus it’s great to have around when you’re traveling.
Air Purifier: A small travel air purifier can help remove dust and dander from the room you’ll be in. This small air purifier is perfect for stashing in your luggage without taking up too much room.
Essential Oils and travel diffuser: This natural diffuser doesn’t even need to be plugged in. Simply drop a few essential oils on it and you’re good to go. I always bring with Lavender and a Germ Fighting Blend.
Cleaning spray (travel): A small bottle of travel cleaner is a must (especially if you have kids). We use it to wipe down remotes, tables and counters when we arrive and as we are staying somewhere.
Toiletries: Instead of using what the hotel or home provides, bring your own toiletries. Not only will you feel more like yourself, but you’ll be using a product you KNOW is healthy and safe.
Bag for Worn Clothes: Keep your worn and dirty clothes separate from your clean clothes with a bag for dirty laundry. This will also help once you get home and the dirty laundry can get unpacked RIGHT in the laundry room.
LOW TOXIN ACCOMMODATIONS
Eco-Certified Hotels Are Getting More Specific
In the past, eco-hotels focused mostly on water and energy use. Now, certifications are expanding to cover indoor air quality, cleaning products, and furnishings.
- Look for certifications like:
- WELL Building Standard (focuses on air, light, and materials used inside)
- Green Key Global (includes low-VOC policies and toxin-reducing cleaning protocols)
- LEED Certification with Indoor Environmental Quality credits
- Eco-Certified by Green Seal (which addresses toxic-free cleaning and maintenance)
- WELL Building Standard (focuses on air, light, and materials used inside)
These labels go beyond surface “green” and get closer to healthy.
Hotels Are Advertising Fragrance-Free Rooms
Due to increasing awareness of chemical sensitivities, some hotels now offer fragrance-free or hypoallergenic rooms. Ask specifically for:
- No air fresheners or scented sprays
- Rooms cleaned with unscented or natural products
- No plug-ins or commercial deodorizers used in HVAC systems
You can even request this in advance or note it in booking platforms under “special requests.”
Use Health-Conscious Booking Platforms
These are starting to gain traction:
- Kind Traveler: Partners with eco-conscious hotels and includes wellness-focused features.
- Green Pearls: Highlights hotels with organic bedding, natural building materials, and toxin-free amenities.
- GreenSign Hotel
- Airbnb “Green Stays” or “Eco” filters (not universal, but some hosts now tag properties as toxin-free or low-EMF)
For Airbnb and Vrbo, you can message the host to ask about cleaning supplies, fragrance use, or building materials (especially carpets, VOCs, etc.).
Detoxing Your Body After Air Travel
Flying isn’t just exhausting—it can also overload your system with toxins and EMFs. If you want to feel your best and support your body after a flight, these post-travel detox tips are simple, natural, and science-backed.
1. Rehydrate Deeply and Intentionally
Cabin air is extremely dry, and dehydration makes it harder for your body to eliminate toxins.
- Drink filtered water with added trace minerals or a pinch of sea salt
- Skip plastic water bottles post-flight—opt for glass or stainless steel
- Avoid alcohol or sugary drinks right after flying
Pro tip: Coconut water, fresh lemon water, or chlorophyll drops are excellent post-flight hydrators.
2. Ground Yourself to Discharge EMFs
Your body builds up an electrical charge from long EMF exposure, especially on flights.
- As soon as you land, walk barefoot on natural ground (grass, sand, dirt) for at least 10–20 minutes
- Can’t go barefoot? Touch a tree or use an earthing mat at your destination
Grounding has been shown to reduce cortisol, improve sleep, and rebalance your body’s natural rhythms.
3. Support Detox Organs with Food & Herbs
Your liver, kidneys, lymph, and skin do the heavy lifting—help them out.
- Eat light, nourishing meals: Think steamed veggies, wild blueberries, leafy greens
- Drink herbal teas: Dandelion root, nettle, or milk thistle to support liver detox
- Add binders like activated charcoal or bentonite clay (consult your practitioner first)
4. Prioritize Deep Sleep
Sleep is when the body resets and repairs cellular damage. Post-travel, aim for:
- A cool, dark, toxin-free sleep environment
- No screens 1–2 hours before bed (to help your brain recalibrate)
- A few drops of magnesium oil or Epsom salt bath to promote relaxation
If you crossed time zones, natural melatonin (from tart cherry juice or a supplement) can help re-sync your circadian rhythm.
5. Take a Detox Bath
A simple way to sweat it out and replenish minerals:
DIY Post-Flight Bath Recipe:
- 1 cup Epsom salt
- 1 cup baking soda
- 10 drops lavender or frankincense essential oil
- Optional: ¼ cup bentonite clay
Soak for 20–30 minutes and drink lots of water afterward.
6. Move Your Body
Movement stimulates the lymphatic system and helps process toxic load.
- Take a walk outdoors
- Gentle yoga or stretching
- Dry brushing followed by a cool shower can wake up the skin and lymph
The truth is, stepping outside your healthy home doesn’t have to undo all the effort you’ve put into creating a low-toxin lifestyle.
With a little planning and a few intentional choices, you can take that sense of wellness with you. These travel ideas are meant to make your journey feel easier—not more complicated. Because feeling good in your space, even when you’re away from home, should be possible and practical.
Keep it simple, trust your instincts, and give yourself grace along the way. You’re doing a great job—and every mindful step you take matters.
Thanks for sharing this great info. I am traveling soon and was thinking about this.
These are all really good ideas and ones we’ve used repeatedly since we drive out west every year. We stay in the same hotel at the halfway point and have gotten into a routine to detox it once we get there. The kids all know to remove the bedspread and put their flip flops on. I haven’t thought to bring our homemade room spray though – I’ll pop that into the bathroom bag next time. Thank you for the tips!
I had no idea that accommodation providers were starting to get onboard with no fragrance bookings, and that is was a search option on the booking engines. That is awesome information 🙂 Thanks for sharing.
Wow!! These are great tips (I seriously love all of your posts anyways lol)… this is something that I worry about though! My husband laughs at me because we go places and I’m like, “UGH I CAN SMELL THEIR TOXINS!!” And to be honest, I do stress about it – but the beginning of this even made me feel a little better about that! Even though the fragrances and stuff do stink lol
I had NO IDEA you could find options like that on Air BnB… great to know and I will definitely try to take advantage of that in the future!! And I love your tips on extra to pack… I wondered if I’m too much for wanting to bring our water filter when we travel?! Last time we ended up buying bottled water!
Great post! Thanks again!
What a valuable info in this post, I am definitely going to bookmark this page for later. Thanks
Do you have any suggestions for non toxic luggage? Thanks!
You wrote “On VRBO, you can search for your destination and in the filters add “Low Allergen Environment” under safety.”. I do not see that in filters. Has this been removed? If not, please say how to find this.
Hi Jennifer! Yes, I believe since this post was written that feature has been removed, unfortunately.