Looking for a place to stay that offers luxury and comfort without compromising the environment? Look no further! Here are 10 eco-friendly, luxury hotels that are working to better the environment one solar-powered heating and cooling system at a time. Check them out!
St. Kitts, West Indies: This boutique hotel is home to a variety of Guesthouses and Farmhouses that sleep up to eight people. Eco-friendly perks begin with fresh fruits being delivered to guests each morning, but don’t end there. They also feature:
- Rainwater showers
- Organic farmland
- Edible landscape
- Foraging or fishing? The chef will happily incorporate your results into the nightly meal
Battersea, London: Rafayel on the Left Bank is a luxury eco hotel whose mission is to provide green quality and comfort. Some of their environmentally-friendly features include:
- A bamboo grove that has been planted to release 35% more oxygen than any other plant
- Organic spa treatments
- Fair-trade mini-bar goodies
- Wines and cocktails produced using farm-to-bar methods
- Activities that won’t leave a carbon footprint
Charlotte, North Carolina: The Ritz-Carlton is a staple of luxury hotels and now, thanks to their Charlotte location, they’re also a staple of eco-friendly luxury. Some of their commitment to luxury and ecology include:
- A rooftop garden featuring two honey-producing beehives and herbs and greens
- Organic spa treatments
- Organic meal options
- Free parking for anyone driving a hybrid or electric car
- Trek Bike rentals
Whitsunday Islands, Australia: As the name suggests, Paradise Bay Island Eco-Escape is an eco-friendly escape from everyday life. Located near the Great Barrier Reef and Conway National Park, this luxury escape features a variety of eco-friendly offerings, including:
- An eco-tour adventure where guests can see the Solar Field, Solar Water Heaters, and Bio-Cycle System
- NaturaEco ingeno-quilts made from corn for when it’s warm
- Opportunities to view and appreciate nature through wildlife watching
Sjogetorp, Sweden: Urnatur thrives on sustainability, possibly more so than any other eco-friendly hotel. A self-sustainable hotel, Urnatur is a three-hour drive from Stockholm and offers accommodation in tree houses and hand-hewn huts. Some other features include:
- Light from kerosene lamps
- Heat from solar or wood power
- Locally procured menu items
- Activities including building nesting boxes for owls
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica: Dubbed as one of the most ‘green-enthusiastic hotels in existence,’ this 5-star, adult-only, beachfront resort dedicates three-fourths of its land to create a private nature reserves that guests can enjoy. Additional ecological features include:
- Raw, organic spa treatments
- Farmer’s Market Tour
- Ecotours
Shanghai, China: Developed from a renovated factory warehouse, URBN Hotel Shanghai is the country’s first carbon-neutral hotel. Some of its eco-friendly features include:
- Air purification systems in every guest room
- Beds made from cactus fiber and seaweed
- Organic cleaning products
- Energy-efficient cooling and heating systems
- Participation in the Million Tree Project which plants trees in Mongolia to help offset carbon emissions
Warkworth, New Zealand: This 5-star luxury accommodation sits on 5 acres of manicured
lawns and gardens. Some of its eco-friendly features include:
- Large orchards, vegetable and herb gardens
- Vegetarian, organic meals for guests
- A solar heating system
- A recycling program
- Wastewater recycling
- Educational experiences at nearby marine reserves and bird sanctuaries
Bournemouth, UK: The Green House claims to be the ‘greenest hotel in the UK,’ but is it really? If you look at all of the eco-friendly offerings, it seems they might be right. Some of their regular commitments to ecology include:
- LED lighting
- Solar powered heating
- Organic and local cuisine
- Furniture crafted from storm-felled trees
- Suppliers assessed using environmental standards
- Staff possess GOLD level status from the UK’s Green Tourism board
Koh Samui, Thailand: Greeted by your very own private butler, Six Senses Hideaway Samui is surrounded by nature, the calming sea, and far off islands. Six Senses Hideaway Samui is committed to ecology through a variety of unique initiatives, including:
- Creating their own bio-diesel to reduce CO2
- Filtering and recycling their waste water
- Educating guests on how to help the local environment and culture through a free Thai Culture Class
- Growing their own organic food for guest meals
- Utilizing pesticide-free gardens to grow herbs for spa treatments
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Post written by Aly Wolfe. She is the founder of style and beauty blog, The Wolf + The Wardrobe. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @TheAlyWolfe.