Over the past few months I've abandoned sunny Dartmouth Park for coastal India and the western ghats. And I've gained some insights into the reality of holiday destinations and what to look for when you book and take your holiday.

My experience has been wonderful in unexpected ways. Sipping coffees in the old part of Panjim, sea-swimming with people training for a triathlon, and spotting wild birds in the hillside where we are staying. I have watched the morning mists lift, bringing the ghats - stepped or terraced valleys - into view and been mesmerised by the turbulent skies and rough seas of the monsoon.

However, I have also witnessed the climate and wider environmental dystopia approaching. It's meant to be the future, but it seems to be the present. With extreme hot days as well as hot nights, fires destroyed swathes of pristine forest; once the land dries out, the forest becomes a tinder box.

Ham & High: Maya de Souza offers advice on off-setting foreign travelMaya de Souza offers advice on off-setting foreign travel (Image: Maya de Souza)

Pre-monsoon Goa saw dams running dry and borewells emptied out. So tankers ply the roads, delivering water at a high cost. Waste is a huge problem, especially single use plastics: bottles, chocolate wrappers, nappies, sachets etc - and also sewage. In Borocai in the Philippines a few years ago, the problem got so extreme that the whole island closed down, with huge economic repercussions.

So what can you do on your own holidays? If you have to fly, whatever the limitations of offsetting, it's better to offset then not. Look out for Gold Standard WWF-compliant offsets, which support robust nature-based schemes in developing countries.

Secondly, consider the eco-credentials of your hotel or tour operator. The Global Sustainable Tourism Council sets standards related to energy efficiency, renewable energy and water use in particular. Booking.com makes use of those criteria, in its Travel Sustainable ratings. There are other standards too. Find out more at www.gstcouncil.org/gstc-criteria/gstc-industry-criteria.

Thirdly, when you get there, communicate that you care. Ask polite questions. How are waste and sewage managed? Check whether the accommodation uses solar power. These are not intrusive questions: they just let the hotel know you care.

Fourthly, do your best to act sustainably – don’t waste water or air-conditioning, use public transport, cycle or hire-energy efficient vehicles, eat local food, avoid bottled water unless the local water really isn't safe, try not to buy or use over-packaged things, and leave nothing behind.

These simple insights will help you enjoy your holiday this year and others enjoy theirs in the future. And above all, enjoy it!

  • Maya de Souza is former chair of Dartmouth Park Neighbourhood Forum, co-convenor of Dartmouth Park Talks and member of Climate Emergency Camden.