One of today’s biggest travel trends is eco-awareness. As more people are thinking about how they can minimize their impact on the environment, their travel habits are changing as well. Luckily, the options for sustainable travel are plentiful! The travel industry is seeing a shift: Car rental companies are adding more fuel-efficient cars to their fleet, sustainable tourism is gaining awareness, and more and more hotels are migrating towards a greener approach to business.

Looking to book an earth-friendly hotel for your next vacation? A growing number of green accommodations are doing their part for our planet. Here’s a sampling of hotels that are making positive efforts:

Orchard Hotel (San Francisco)
San Francisco’s new 86-room Orchard Hotel is a certified LEED green hotel that takes earth-friendly to a whole new level. Its features include natural, chemical-free paints and carpets, a cooling system that uses San Francisco’s naturally brisk air instead of air-conditioning, a key-card device that prevents the lights and TV from staying on when guests leave the room, non-chemical cleansers and detergents, and fluorescent and LED bulbs to provide light with minimal energy use. Along with the Orchard Hotel’s commitment to reducing energy consumption, it offers its guests free high-speed internet and an array of luxury enhancements. The tranquil, homey but modern decor complements the experience.

Hilton (Vancouver, Washington)
This LEED certified hotel got off to a green start: built with recycled steel and brick, seventy-five percent of the construction waste from the hotel was also then recycled. It also boasts water-efficient landscaping, censors that adjust temperature and light when rooms are vacant, and a heat-reflecting roof. Little touches like being able to open your window to get a breeze, unheard of in most high-rise hotels, all contribute to the Hilton’s earth-friendly attitude.

Lapa Rios Rainforest Ecolodge (Costa Rica)
Originally built as a private nature reserve, this award-winning, unique ecotourism endeavor strives to preserve Costa Rica’s rainforest and promote sustainable ecotourism by existing in harmony with the local community; they employ only locals, and strive to conserve the resources they use. Perched over 350 feet above the sea, Lapa Rios keeps guests cool while they enjoy views of the rainforest and beaches. Furnishings are made from natural, local materials. While staying at Lapa Rios, guests can partake in rainforest educational tours, view countless birds and wildlife, take surfing lesons, swim in the pristine waters where the Gulfo Dulce meets the Pacific Ocean, and more.

Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa (Daintree, Queensland, Australia)

Awarded the “Best Spa Retreat in Australia,” this lodge and spa is situated within the rainforest valley, surrounded by the Daintree World Heritage Rainforest. Guests can swim in the solar-heated swimming pool, learn art, dance, history, and culture from local aboriginal people, participate in guided nature walks, and sleep in private villas scattered throughout the forest. The Daintree Eco Lodge & Spa strives to promote cultural and educational interaction between their guests and the Daintree rainforest inhabitants.

Habitat Suites in Austin, Texas
Conservation is the aim of this hotel’s efficiency programs, and they succeed, too, saving nearly 2.4 million gallons of water and 38,000 pounds of carbon dioxide per year. They promote natural decor like having a living plant in every room, and cater to their earth-conscious clientele through gestures like offering vegan options on their menu.

Travel Tips for Eco-Friendly Travel

- Reuse your linens and towels: Many hotels now have policies promoting water conservation, encouraging their guests to request towels and sheet changes only when they need it rather than daily.

- Consider your transportation options: touring by bus, bicycle, or on foot can be a fun way to travel. Organizations like the Green Tortoise, for example, add a great social element to their group trips.

- Pre-trip preparations: Little deeds like putting your newspaper on hold can save resources while you’re away. Likewise, turn down the thermostat and water heater at your house.

- Book tours and hotels that put an effort towards conservation. One good resource for information is Lonely Planet’s book “Code Green” that lists almost 100 eco-friendly trips.

- Consider off-setting your contribution to carbon emissions, which would render your travels ‘carbon neutral!’

Resources:

San Francisco Hotels
Washington Hotels
Queensland Hotels
Costa Rica Hotels
Austin Hotels

Posted in Hotels, Around the World, Destinations