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Photos courtesy of Green Natura, Crowne Plaza Towers Copenhagen and Laguna Azul Ecolodge
With hot button debates like fossil fuel emissions and the infamous global warming on everyone’s minds, it’s tough to get away from those “go green” reminders. But when on vacation, the only thing we really want to think about is kicking back and, well, not thinking. Luckily, there are plenty of hotels who have done the legwork for us and already have eco-friendly products and practices in place.
So in honor of eco-friendly month on SniqueAway, we took a look around and found some of our favorite hotel amenities and services around the world that help preserve the environment. A relaxing stay and the opportunity to keep things green—it’s a win-win.
Kimpton Hearts Hybrids: Kimpton is no stranger to the eco game. Perhaps one of the best incentives for purchasing a car with the environment in mind is this hotel brand’s Hybrid Parking Discount. Rather than paying the full valet rate at Kimpton hotels, drivers of hybrid vehicles get a substantial discount (often 50%). How’s that for “green?”
Biodegradable Water Bottles: Okay, we swear that isn’t an oxymoron. At Jicaro Island Ecolodge (a hotel made almost entirely from local trees already downed from a hurricane), guests are given oxo-biodegradeable water bottles to use for their stay. After a few years, the bottle can be thrown out as they start to breakdown to water and compostable mass.
Biking for the Environment: Plenty of hotels around the world offer on-site rental car services. But, if you want to get around and keep your exhaust emissions down, seek out a hotel that offers on-site bike rentals. Most Fairmont resorts around the world even offer upscale options like BMW Cruiser Bikes. Style, exercise and a clean conscience—nothing to lose!
Eco-friendly Soap: While it may not seem like a big deal, wasted bath amenities at hotels can add up to a serious environmental footprint. Sure, some make it into our drawers at home. But Yellowstone National Park Lodges have a different strategy. These eco-friendly accommodations offer Green Natura soap with a section removed from the middle of the bar. When have you ever used an entire bar of hotel soap, anyway?
Alternate Energy Sources: With often hundreds of guest rooms, hotels tend to use a lot of energy. So, when a hotel offers the largest integrated solar panel and an ultra-efficient groundwater-based cooling/heating system, it catches our eye. The Crowne Plaza Towers in Copenhagen offers just that. They claim that the new energy methods have cut back 80% on normal consumption. That’s enough to make anyone seek out lodging with clean energy methods.
Environmental Pastimes: It’s nice when a hotel offers earth-friendly services, but it’s a whole other level when your stay actually embraces the environment with resort activities. Take the Laguna Azul Ecolodge for example. This green resort makes its home on a private island in Panama, and its activities include an ECO “pool” (which is basically just a natural lagoon for snorkeling and swimming) and nearby hiking in the tropics. There’s no better way to pay homage to Mother Nature than some untouched tropical surroundings.
