Top 14 Eco Luxury Hotels
Vivood Benimantell, Spain (bottom)
Sustainable hotels are becoming a very ubiquitous sign of the times. World Travel Tourism Council cites travel and tourism sector contribution of $36.7 billion to the Thai economy alone equivalent to 9.2% of GDP (gross domestic product) in the Singapore Times.
Part of the story is creating eco-friendly hotels that off set carbon impacts, use wind/solar power, low water usage or zero impact practices. This requires a two-way participation of the tourists as well as tourist governmental agencies as they begin investing in eco-lodging and innovation.
So, where can you go to splurge and experience the most planet’s majestic wonders? Here are 14 eco-friendly hotels that will leave your breath-less and lessen your impact on the planet.
The hotel sits next to Lake Saramiento with view of Torres del Paine National Park which has been cited as UNESCO Biosphere in 1978. Tierra Hotel’s policy is rigorous with its environment approach including minimizing water consumption to recording environmental hotel data while asking guests to practice in sustainable habits.
Your stay will include sleeping in a geodesic dome shaped tents with a desk and overlooking the mountains. Sustainable best practices include: energy efficient built domes, controlled energy and water consumption with use of water installation devices for tap and shower use; the use of local spring water, limited night lighting, local staff walk to work to name a few. The local cuisine is part of the hotel policy while transportation is limited to walking and there are hiking activities, too.
3) Saffire Freycinet –Coles Bay Tasmania
The two core principles are protection of healthy sites and the healing of damaged sites. It was once a caravan park and they revegetated the site with over 30,000 plants. Environmental practices include: natural airflow systems, rainwater usage, bushfire management, and minimal use of night lighting on site.
4) Morgan’s Rock Hacienda & Eco-lodge –San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua
The lodge sits quietly on a 4K acre jungle hideaway and family owned where turtle species visit year along with howler monkeys, and macaws. Sustainable practices: Owners planted 2 million trees (fruit, teak, and sustainable forestry) which includes 60% of the food at lodge as well as the local seafood from local fisherman.
5) Lapa Rios Eco lodge –Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Hotel has a five-leaf status from the Costa Rican Tourism board promoting sustainable hotel practices and the hotel prides itself on tours in the rainforest to local surf and kayaking activities to showcasing the local rainforest animals: marine turtles. Also, local piglets are given leftovers to not waste any food. “Splendid and Sustainable” is their video title where you can listen to Karen Lewis, owner and CEO of this eco-resorts.
Hotel is powered by solar panels and collects rainwater with the waste water from each room supplies the lush gardens. You can enjoy yoga or watch the over 3,000 wild horses that reside in the island of Vixques.
7) Hamaasi Adventure and Dive Resort –Belize
The sustainable approach is to reduce, reuse, and recycle as Green Globe certified hotel via the Belize Tourism Board. Also, they have become Green Globe member via the Sustainable International Step Program and reached bronze certification.
A hotel nestled in Bournemouth has a level gold level membership at the Green Tourism Business Scheme and strives to be the greenest hotel in the U.K. Environmental practices include: source locally, reduce, reuse, recycle, transparency and lifecycle of incoming and out-coming hotel resources.
This Northern Luzon hotel is surrounded by mountains, rivers and canyons. There’s lots to do from nature trails in the Mount Balakbak , enjoy campfires, or even ATV rides. The hotel hires local from a nearby village and practices farm to table cuisine with some of the best chefs in South East Asia.
10) Mashpi-Ecuador
National Geographic Awarded this hotel as of one of the most unique lodges in the world. Check out this video and the Dragon Fly cable ride. Time to check out the Amazon jungle up close. Ecuador is also a small country like Costa Rica fiercely competitive with sustainable practices.
11) O’Reilly Rainforest Retreat –Queensland Australia
This retreat allows you explore Australia’s Lamington National Park and overlooks the unique mountains and rainforest. They have all sorts of hiking trips: short walks, half day walks, and full day walks. Lamington Park celebrates 100 years of conservation and Queensland’s first national parks.
12) Ion Adventure Hotel –Iceland
Iceland? Let’s put this one on the list! The multiple award winning designed hotel is about an hour from Reykjavik with a background of unforgettable lava fields. The hot springs is one adventure you can check out which happens to provide geothermal hot water and energy to the hotel. Plus, you can explore the Thingviller National Park, UNSCO listed.
13) Finca Rosa Blanca Inn-Costa Rica
Sustainability is the number #1 goal for this hotel when it first began in 1985. Today, it has solar panels to heat hotel water, electrical systems that do not interfere with wildlife and coffee plantation, recycling of coffee pup to be used as fertilizer, organic shade certified coffee, compost system, a greenhouse for foods, to name a few. Did I mention a coffee tour? Don’t miss the volcanos in the lush rainforest of Costa Rica. They are the experts in sustainable living and best practices.
This hotel is set close Aitana and Serrell Mountain Ranges (Guadalest Valley) in the Alicante province. This Valencian town is located on the southeast part of Spain. Sustainable practices include: consuming local products, renewable energies to reduce carbon footprint, exclusive look at luxury hotel style, vegan options, and adults only hotel.
So what do you think? Comment below. Tell me your thoughts about sustainable luxury travel. I believe you only live once and splurging once in awhile is worth is especially when it comes to seeing the wonders of the world with less impact on the environment. Can't get enough of this topic? Don't worry. I will be posting a part 2 on this sustainable luxury travel recommendations next week as well as a part 3 on cheap travel place to visit a wonder of the world with less impact on the planet. Catch my e~newsletter (sign up below and don't miss my funny stories) and get the inside scoop on my travels as well. I will be traveling to South America next year but watch how I create my own sustainable travel handbag collection. It's been a fascinating process. But I go into details! I'll introduce you to my pattern maker who is a local in San Diego. I will give you the 411 on my challenges and how it's making things easier. Yes, easier. I'd love to share my story as I continue to run after my dreams and obsess over my the sustainable fashion world and living sustainably one day at time.