I traveled around Luxembourg, one of the world's wealthiest and most sustainable countries. I found 2 ways I can make my next visit more eco-friendly.

• I spent three nights in Luxembourg, one of the wealthiest countries in the world.
• It is known for its sustainable practices, including free public transport.
• There are two ways I could be more eco-friendly on my next visit.
• This article is part of "Green Getaway: Luxury," a series exploring how people can make more eco-conscious choices on luxury trips. For more climate-action news, visit Insider's One Planet hub.

When I started planning my trip to Luxembourg earlier this year, I had one thing in mind: affordable luxury.

In 2023, the landlocked European nation became the second wealthiest country in the world based on GDP per capita. It stood out to me because of its well-priced luxury hotels and free public transportation.

Luxembourg is also known for its sustainability, ranking sixth out of 180 countries in the Environmental Performance Index in 2022.

I was excited to explore the country in a respectful and environmentally friendly manner. I was especially looking forward to free travel by train as it's more sustainable than flying or driving.

Looking back, I nailed the luxury aspect of the trip. But there are two changes I could have made for a more eco-friendly itinerary.

My itinerary focused on free public transportation

After visiting in March, I reached out to the national tourism organization, Visit Luxembourg, and Nina Karnikowski, an Australian journalist and author who specializes in sustainable travel. I asked them to review my itinerary, as shown below:

Day 1 — Sunday, March 5:

• 10:15 a.m.: Flew from Edinburgh, Scotland, to Luxembourg City (including a short layover in London).
• 4:05 p.m.: Arrived in Luxembourg and took a free shuttle bus from the airport to Hotel Le Royal.
• In the evening, toured the hotel and had dinner at a nearby restaurant.

Day 2 — Monday, March 6:

• Checked out of the hotel.
• Explored some of Luxembourg City's landmarks via tram.
• Met a representative from Visit Luxembourg for a walking tour and lunch at a local restaurant.
• Traveled to Chateau d'Urspelt, a hotel near Ettelbruck in northern Luxembourg, via train and bus.
• Checked in to the hotel and had dinner at its restaurant.

Day 3 — Tuesday, March 7:

• Visited Vianden Castle in northern Luxembourg.
• This was followed by an interview with the owner of Chateau d'Urspelt.
• In the evening I became unwell, so I stayed in my hotel room and ordered room service.

Day 4 — Wednesday, March 8:

• Checked out of the hotel.
• Traveled by train to Brussels.

Next time, I'll extend my trip and prioritize rail travel

Most of my travel within Luxembourg involved public transportation, and I also departed the country for its neighbor Belgium via a gorgeous snowy train journey.

But Karnikowski, the author of "The Mindful Traveller" and "Go Lightly," pointed out that I could have taken this a step further by extending my trip by a couple of days to travel to Luxembourg from Scotland via train.

This would have involved about three separate train journeys, starting with a high-speed, electric train from Edinburgh to London, followed by the Eurostar from London to Brussels, and a final train to Luxembourg City, which would take around 11 hours. In comparison, my flight from Edinburgh took about five hours, not including travel time to the airport. 

Unlike flying, this mode of transport would have encouraged me to go slow and take in the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape.

I'll swap out the 5-star hotel for local, eco-friendly accommodation

I spent one night at Le Royal, a five-star hotel chain with a branch in Luxembourg City, which I was drawn to because of its central location and luxury amenities, including a spa with an indoor pool.

It was the most affordable luxury hotel I've stayed in. One night in a traditional queen room cost $275.70. In comparison, my overnight stay at San Domenico Palace, the five-star hotel where "The White Lotus" was filmed in Sicily, cost $2,248 back in April.

My stay at Le Royal was followed by two nights at Chateau d'Urspelt, a four-star, family-owned castle hotel in the countryside, which cost $145.60 a night. The hotel has an Eco Label Lux, an award given by Luxembourg's General Directorate of Tourism to accommodation that prioritizes environmental and climate-friendly practices, including renewable and responsible use of energy, water, and waste, as well as sustainable purchasing, according to the website.

"You stayed in a family-owned hotel on the second night, which is great, but why not try somewhere local and boutique for the first night too, instead of a foreign-owned five-star hotel?" Karnikowski said.

Karnikowski elaborated on this topic in her 2020 book, "Go Lightly," writing that locally owned establishments usually produce less waste and pollution than major resorts. This also provides visitors the opportunity to give back to the local economy, rather than a foreign-owned hotel, she said.

"This helps avoid 'leakage,' a term that describes how the money we spend as travelers leaks out of the host countries and into the hands of multinational corporations," Karnikowski told me.

Meanwhile, the Visit Luxembourg spokesperson suggested seeking accommodation within or close to Benu Village, an ecovillage in Esch-sur-Alzette (about a 20-minute drive to Luxembourg City), which is being built using recycled materials.

The village has a sustainable restaurant, Benu Sloow, and hotel, Benu Break, according to its website. Regular upcycling workshops also take place in the neighborhood.

While not as grand as staying at Le Royal, I could still visit the hotel's piano bar for a hint of glamour while prioritizing a more sustainable place to eat and rest my head in the evening.

I found that there are many ways to experience affordable luxury in Luxembourg — but if I ever return, it won't be at the expense of eco-friendly alternatives.