There are many factors to consider when deciding where you want to stay while on the go. If you’re an eco-friendly traveler, then finding a hotel or other accommodation that is environmentally conscious should be your top priority. In this blog post, we will discuss 6 tips for finding great accommodations and making sure they are eco-friendly!
Booking sites
Browsing the Green Hotel directory on sites like Orbitz or Travelocity will help you find an eco-friendly hotel or resort. Green Hotels has a directory of over 85,000 hotels in more than 160 countries and territories. Many of these listings are independently owned and operated so there is no standardization when it comes to the environment they protect.
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly hotel or resort with high standards, then check out Carbon Neutral Resorts & Hotels. This directory lists over 160 hotels and resorts that have gone above and beyond with their environmental practices.
When it comes to booking sites, you can also search by location. Some of the top eco-friendly locations include Iceland, New Zealand, Costa Rica, Samoa, Tasmania in Australia, and more! You can find a full list at Green Hotels Directory also.
Large hotel chains
Most major hotel chains will have a section on their site that lists their eco-friendly accommodations. These will be listed by specific ‘green’ initiatives, such as energy efficiency and water conservation, for example, Marriott’s Green Programs & Eco-Friendly Initiatives.
Smaller hotels & bed and breakfasts (B&Bs)
Though it will be more expensive than staying at a smaller establishment, hotels and B&Bs with eco-friendly amenities are becoming increasingly popular amongst eco-conscious travelers.
Some of these amenities include green cleaning supplies, recycling bins in the room, low-flow toilet fixtures, and taking your bags to shopping at local grocery stores.
Consider house sitting
Another alternative to staying in a hotel is to be a house sitter. There are websites you can join where people will “hire” you to stay at their home while they’re away (for example, Mind My House ).
The website will provide you with the homeowner’s contact information and take care of all fees. Not only can this save money on your accommodations but it also allows for an authentic local experience!
HomeExchange is a website that allows you to see what homes are available for people looking for accommodations. The process works by matching up potential guests and homeowners. So, if you’re traveling abroad but would prefer not to stay in hotels or hostels the whole time, this could be an option!
Look for shared accommodations
See if you can find a place that will allow you to stay with some locals for the time, to help reduce your carbon footprint together. Even if you aren’t staying with locals, find a place that allows for shared accommodations.
Sometimes this might mean they will just have an extra room in their house or apartment where people can sleep on the floor mats (if it’s during off-season), but other times these could be rooms designed specifically to host travelers like them!
Avoid large cities
You might find that you’ll have better luck finding eco-friendly options for accommodations if you ditch the big city and stay in a less populated area. The reason for this is that big cities tend to be crowded and produce a lot of waste, which can get into the water supply or otherwise affect the environment in negative ways.
Smaller towns will usually have fewer people living there so it won’t be as difficult to find accommodations offering recycling programs, composting services, etc.
Even if you can’t find a hotel or resort that meets your requirements at a price range that you’re comfortable with, you can still do something about your carbon footprint while away. When you go out, don’t leave lights on; turn off the heat and air, and ask the hotel not to change towels and bedding every day. This will be a great help to the environment and will cut down on your carbon footprint too.
