Your workation could look like this. Are you in? Perfect! Because in this blog post, we’re going to introduce you to sustainable hotels for your workation. We will also answer questions you may encounter when preparing for your trip and show you what to look for when choosing your destination.

Sustainable Accommodation for your Workation between Mountains and Sea

In theory, you can have a workation anywhere. That’s the whole idea. But before you pick a remote island and dream of a hammock on the beach, wait a minute. Or at least check to see if you can access the Internet from there. You’ll need it to stay in touch with your colleagues and, if necessary, your clients. Here are some other things to consider when choosing a work destination:

Checklist: Sustainable Workation Accommodation

• • Ideally, you already know your destination and accommodation, what is available, and what you should bring with you.
  • Stable W-LAN or other internet access (min. 4G!)
  • A desk in your room or a co-working space nearby
  • For the latter, there should be places for online meetings and phone calls
  • Kitchenette or similar, or access to drinks at the hotel (preferably included!)
  • Check in advance that the accommodation you choose is sustainable. For example, you can use our 7-Point Check for sustainable hotels.

Sustainable Workation in Erlangen, Germany

With its special atmosphere, the Hotel Luise offers just the right environment to get creative. Not only is there a desk in every room. Outside your “own” four walls, you will also find numerous places that will inspire you and provide the ideal conditions for your work.

Special feature: Room #20 Lounge has had an impressive history, evolving from the office of the hotel’s founders — which allegedly had a back room for card games — to its current incarnation as a lounge. It combines Franconian cosiness with creative vibes, featuring lamps made from old beer barrels and wine bottles. It’s an ideal place for creative sprints, deep conversations, or just a cozy evening after work.

[See image gallery at green-travel-blog.com]  

Work with a Mountain View in South Tyrol, Italy

You will find an extraordinary workation destination in the South Tyrolean village of Sand in Taufers. The OLM Nature Escape is most notable for its unusual architecture. The curved, circular building blends gently into the landscape of the South Tyrolean Alps. In addition to a wild natural garden with a natural swimming pond, the eco-aparthotel offers flexible spaces. The apartments have a fully equipped kitchen where you can prepare your own meals. Alternatively, you can eat out at the restaurant and sample local specialities.

Special feature: Some apartments offer their own small spa and a separate or partitionable work area with a desk and a view of nature. This is ideal if you are travelling with your family but still need to work for a few hours!

Laptop in the Morning, Baltic Sea in the Evening

You’re dreaming of working on the beach, but don’t want to get on a plane? Europe has beautiful coastlines and just as many destinations to work from. Underestimated: the Baltic Sea! The inland sea offers a varied coastline that is perfect for exploring by bike. So if you like to get on your bike before or after work, the Baltic Sea is your next destination.

At the SANDnature in Timmendorfer Strand, myBoo bamboo bikes are waiting for you. You can easily rent them at the hotel. In addition to your leisure time, you will also be provided with everything you need for your working time. It starts in the morning with a delicious and balanced breakfast buffet. Every room has a desk, and some have a balcony or terrace where you can relax and work. Otherwise, the lobby invites you to spend productive hours.

Special feature: The SAND Sleeping Beach Chair promises a special night’s sleep. Spend the night on the beach, watch the stars rise and set, and start your day with the sun and the sound of the waves.

Sustainable Workation in Tyrol, Austria

After a sunrise hike to one of the surrounding peaks, you sit back at your desk with your coffee and enjoy the view of the mountains. Sounds fantastic, doesn’t it? That’s the reality of working in Tyrol. At the Summit Lodges, two log cabin-style vacation homes, you get two bedrooms, a living area, a fully equipped kitchen, two bathrooms, and a private sauna. Perfect if you are planning a workation with colleagues or friends.

Special feature: The W-LAN extends to the terrace, so you can work with the fresh mountain air in your nose when the weather is nice. Who needs fake backgrounds for online meetings when you can have real mountains 😉

Frequently Asked Questions: (Sustainable) Workation

What is a Workation?

The world of work is changing rapidly: it is becoming more digital, more flexible, and less location-based. 9 to 5 in a fixed office? For most employees, especially young people and those just starting out in their careers, it’s almost unthinkable. Maybe it’s the same for you?

A workation combines work with vacation (=workation). It is similar to working in a home office, except that it is more of a home-away-from-home office, located anywhere in the world.

Who can do a Workation?

If all you need to work is your laptop, and you don’t need to be physically present for your clients, you’re ready for a workation. To be effective on your “vacation” you need to be able to organize and motivate yourself even when you’re not in an office. Alternatively, find a co-working space at your destination. The atmosphere there will also help you get into the flow of work.

How do I prepare for a Workation?

Coordinate well with your employer. This will help you avoid discrepancies and misunderstandings during your work assignment. This includes, for example, destination, working hours, fixed dates when you have to be available, fixed times when you can be reached by phone or e-mail, duration of the work, cost coverage, etc. You should also familiarize yourself with the legal requirements, especially if you are going abroad in the EU. International insurance should also be on your preparation to-do list.

What are the Benefits of a Workation?

A workation provides variety and freedom, international networking, and fresh input and ideas for your work. It also offers the opportunity to explore more distant destinations for a longer period of time, as you are not tied to your vacation days.

How do I make my Workation sustainable?

You have already checked off the first point by choosing a workation: You will stay for a long time. Longer than most other travelers. You will also make local contacts and get to know the local conditions better. After all, you’ll be there for weeks, if not months.

So, the same rules apply to being sustainable at work and on vacation as they do at home: conserve water and energy, avoid plastic as much as possible, use public transportation or walk, buy local, and so on.

One point, of course, as with any vacation, is travel. Obviously, the most environmentally friendly way is to avoid flying. However, a vacation offers the opportunity to explore more distant destinations – and to take a flight to do so. The relative environmental impact of flying depends, among other things, on how long you stay at your destination.

Share your Experience

Have you ever done a workation before? If so, where did it take you? Did you fulfill your dream of working in a hammock on the beach, or were you drawn to the mountains? Tell us about your experience in the comments! We are curious.

This is an update from July 25, 2023.

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Some tell tales of royal splendor, while others recount great upheavals. Together, they demonstrate that history isn’t confined to museums; it can be experienced along hiking trails and in your sustainable hotel. Here, our Green PearlsⓇ partners reveal which sights their guests find particularly fascinating.

The history of Bavaria between royalty and nationhood

Let’s start with Bavaria, Germany’s most visited federal state. This remains true for both German and foreign visitors, according to a Statista survey from 2024. Thanks to its proximity to the Alps, Bavaria is an ideal destination for hiking and outdoor vacations. There is also an abundance of wellness hotels, some of which are committed to sustainability and Green Pearls™ partners.

In addition to hiking and wellness, there are historical sites to explore! Bavaria has many historical buildings that tell the story of a time when regional identity and national aspirations were closely intertwined. In the Upper Palatinate, for instance, King Ludwig I commissioned the construction of Walhalla, an impressive monument to this day. Built in an ancient style, this temple honors notable figures in German history and embodies the concept of unity long before modern German national consciousness emerged.

The House of Bavarian History in Regensburg is close by and provides vivid information about the development of Bavaria and its role in German history.

Tip: Several events dedicated to King Ludwig I will take place until November 2025, marking the 200th anniversary of his accession to the throne.

Since 2025, Neuschwanstein Castle has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site

The royal castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau in southern Bavaria are a testament to the self-image of King Ludwig II, grandson of King Ludwig I. He used these buildings to create a place of retreat and a romanticized ideal of rule. Known as the “Fairy-Tale King,” Ludwig II was King of Bavaria from 1864 to 1886. Neuschwanstein Castle therefore belongs to the modern era, despite its medieval appearance.

On July 12, 2025, Neuschwanstein Castle, Linderhof Castle, Herrenchiemsee Castle, and the Royal Palace on Schachen were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Some of the suites at Hotel Das Rübezahl and the outdoor spa offer direct views of Neuschwanstein Castle, which looks like something from a fairy tale. You won’t have to wait in line to see it! Instead, you can enjoy the warm water of the outdoor pool or your morning coffee on your balcony. The hotel offers exactly that combination of wellness and hiking vacations, which are popular at the moment, along with a hiking concierge (Bergbaschdi) and historical sights. Additionally, the hotel is sustainably oriented, using renewable energies and serving regional organic cuisine.

A hotel in a historic country estate

Some accommodations even have a rich history within their very own walls: Gut Sonnenhausen, located near Munich, for example, dates back to an early 20th-century stud farm. Over 120 years ago, Munich architect Wilhelm Spannagel built it in the English style, and host Georg Schweisfurth converted the stud farm (along with a farmhouse dating from 1800) into a sustainable hotel. Stylishly furnished, the hotel features a blend of modern and traditional elements. For instance, antique farmhouse cabinets from various sources were purchased and restored for the bedrooms.

Regional history and old borders

Germany’s history as a patchwork of principalities, duchies, and free cities is evident even today in many small, often inconspicuous traces in the landscape. Take the northern Black Forest, for example, where hikers come across old boundary stones—silent witnesses to a time when Baden and Württemberg were independent states.

Guests at the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA hotel in Bad Herrenalb can follow these historical traces. Many of the stones bear the letters “B” for Baden and “W” for Württemberg. They mark a border that once separated the two regions but now symbolizes their union.

Similarly, the employees at Schwarzwald Panorama have grown together as a team as well. As host Stephan Bode told us in an interview, the team is made up of people from many different countries, all working to make the wellness hotel in the climatic health resort a pioneer in sustainability with a holistic zero-waste strategy and organic food.

The division of Germany — and what remains of it

Following the development of the federal states into an empire, then a republic (the Weimar Republic), and finally the German Nazi Reich, another significant period in recent German history was the division of the country into East and West Germany. Following World War II, Germany was divided in 1949 into the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) in the west and the German Democratic Republic (GDR) in the east—a division that lasted until the country’s reunification on October 3, 1990.

While the Berlin Wall is the first thing that comes to mind for many when this topic is mentioned—it was a symbol of the Cold War and the site of dramatic escape attempts—there were numerous other places along the inner-German border where the division was palpable.

One such place is Mellrichstadt, located in the Bavarian Rhön region just a few kilometers from the former border. The Berkach border memorial here commemorates the GDR’s security installations — an old watchtower still stands today, only about 300 meters from the current Bavarian-Thuringian state border. Those who want to learn more can visit the Border Museum in Eußenhausen. Together with the German Unity Sculpture Park, it makes for a worthwhile day trip..

The STURM, now a sustainable hotel and member of Green PearlsⓇ, is nearby. Built in the 1970s as a classic clinker brick building, the hotel benefited from border tourism at the time. Today, it stands for mindful organic living, eco-friendly architecture, and the serene beauty of the Rhön, showing how places with history can reinvent themselves.

Immerse yourself in the economic and migratory history of the region

The impact of diversity and exchange on regions is particularly evident in former trading cities and places of immigration. These areas continue to benefit from the knowledge, ideas, and energy of their former newcomers.

The European Hansemuseum in Lübeck, located in the north, is an impressive reminder of the Hanseatic League, a powerful alliance of cities that dominated Northern European trade for centuries. The main exhibition is available in four languages: German, Swedish, Russian, and English.

The Baltic and North Seas are also popular vacation destinations in Germany. Almost every German has visited one of them at least once in their life. The most popular places are those right on the beach, like Timmendorfer Strand, where our partner, SANDnature, is located. The adults-only lifestyle hotel boasts a natural flair and a great roof terrace.

Lübeck and the Hanse Museum are ideal destinations for a day trip — or, if you’re feeling athletic, by bike. The exhibition shows how international trade links shaped the Baltic Sea coast and how values such as trust, contracts, and alliances determined economic activity in the Middle Ages.

Huguenots

Further south, you will learn about the history of the Huguenots, who were forced to flee France in the 17th century. They settled in Erlangen, leaving a lasting impact on the city through their expertise in crafts, trade, and medicine.

Today, guided tours recount Erlangen’s eventful history as a “Huguenot city”—an impressive example of early modern migration and integration. The Hotel Luise is ideally located for exploring these historical sites on foot or by bike. It is designed to be sustainable through and through. There are “renewable hotel rooms” with “astronaut showers,” a private microforest, beehives, tables made from old refrigerators, and many other projects you should check out! The Wall of Change in the hotel lobby provides an overview where each project, no matter how small, is represented by a wooden leaf.

History isn’t always pleasant — hole prisons and nuclear bunkers

Erlangen and the surrounding citys like Nuremberg have other historically significant sites that may be difficult to understand, but which reveal a great deal about the country.

One such place is the “hole prisons,” small underground solitary cells in Nuremberg that can be visited on guided tours. Water, bread, and a little daylight – the only things that came through the “hole.”

The region contains many relics from the Nazi era and the postwar period. Examples include the former Nazi Party rally grounds in Nuremberg and the Cold War–era nuclear bunkers also located in Nuremberg.

Lake Constance – where contemporary history meets engineering excellence

The engineering prowess of the German people is a particular source of national pride. Evidence of this can be found everywhere, from the automotive industry to bridge construction, energy technology, and aerospace engineering.

The Zeppelin Museum in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance commemorates a special milestone in German aviation history.

Did you know? The first Zeppelin, the LZ 1, took off on its maiden flight from Lake Constance on July 2, 1900 — an event that ushered in a new era of travel. The museum’s exhibition displays original parts and replicas and highlights the social significance of airship travel.

By the way, you can now experience the Zeppelin Museum through an escape game! You’ll hunt for secret Zeppelin plans and play your way through history.

If you’re looking for sustainable accommodations, check out the Naturresort Gerbehof nearby. This family-run hotel is quietly located between forests, apple orchards, and horse stables. It has a sauna and spa area and is a true retreat. Children are welcome during the holidays, and outside of the holidays, you can enjoy an adults-only atmosphere.

Travel at a turning point

Just as the Zeppelin once ushered in a new era of travel, we are now at a turning point. Sustainable travel is not just a trend; it’s a conscious step toward a future that considers people, the environment, and history.

When we travel mindfully, we write a new chapter for ourselves. And who knows? Perhaps this way of traveling will one day become part of our collective memory.

Other parts of this miniseries:

Part 1: Travel to the Early Days (What Glaciers and Caves Reveal)

Part 2: Travel like the Romans do

Part 3: Castles and Monasteries in the Middle Ages (and what the rest of the world looked like then)

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Here, you will find both. Together, we will take an in-depth look at sustainable travel, explore its background, and establish connections. You will also find useful tips in the article. But enough preface. Let’s get started!

Table of Contents: Sustainable Travel

A Look at Tourism

How does sustainable travel work?

What is sustainability and what does it have to do with our travels?

Sustainability today: Comprehensive and blurry

Environmental protection while traveling

Water consumption as a traveler

Sustainability meets animal welfare

Climate protection while traveling: Do you still fly??

Let’s talk about money – What our money does when we travel

Questions you can ask yourself before you spend your money

Excursus: The Green Pearls® network

Often overlooked: Social sustainability when it comes to travel

An alternative to traditional tourism: Slow Travel

Small steps also make a difference

Sustainable Travel – Different Experience

If you landed on our website, it’s likely that you’re someone who likes to travel themselves, right? Think back, where have you been? It varies greatly among members of the editorial team. Some of us have experienced distant parts of the world. Literally. Some people prefer to stay in Germany and Europe. What we all have in common is that we love discovering new places.

A Look at Tourism

When we’re traveling, and I’m sure you feel the same way, we’ve noticed that we can’t continue like before. It has been evident for some time that tourism is not the white, unsullied industry that it likes to be portrayed as. Mass tourism, short-haul flights, and water scarcity are just a few of the keywords associated with this context.

But, how can we improve? What are some ways we can discover other countries and regions without leaving a damaging imprint on the ground? In summary, how can we travel responsibly?

How does sustainable travel work?

This is the very question we want to explore in this blog article. We will do it in as much detail as we can. That is why we will begin by explaining what sustainability is and how it relates to our travel behavior. Of course, the topic of climate protection and air travel has its place as well. Lastly, we’ll introduce you to an alternative to classic tourism, and in part two of this series of articles, we’ll share with you tangible, tried-and-tested tips on how you might make your trip more sustainable.

Despite all the tips we’ve given you, there is one thing we don’t want you to forget: As a traveler, you will always have higher CO2e emissions and consume more resources than you would if you didn’t travel. Most cases, at least. The most sustainable way to travel would be not to travel at all. But sustainability has now taken on a greater meaning than just environmental protection.

What is sustainability and what does it have to do with our travels?

To answer this question, we must travel back to the Middle Ages. At that time, the term ‘sustainable’ first appeared and meant something like ‘lasting.’ The first proper definition of sustainability in today’s sense came from Hans Carl von Carlowitz. The chief miner faced numerous challenges, such as extreme deforestation, droughts, and bark beetle infestations, in his forests in the 18th century. Does this sound familiar to you?

Perhaps we should take another look at the 300-year-old textbook published by von Carlowitz. In it, he introduced the principle of sustainable forestry, which states that only as many trees should be cut down as can grow back. Von Carlowitz developed this method to ensure that future generations would still have access to wood.

Sustainability today: Comprehensive and blurry

Our approach to sustainability has evolved and changed since then. Forestry’ is a term you probably don’t associate with it anymore, but maybe your cell phone case, clothing, or food. And yes, travel is also part of the equation.

There are many perspectives on what sustainable travel looks like. One definition does not exist. You won’t find one here either. Instead, we want to introduce you to the different aspects of sustainable travel and explain how they work. We’ll start with the most obvious aspect: the environment.

Environmental protection while traveling

As travelers, we should be aware that we can harm the environment. Otherwise, you probably wouldn’t be reading this article. However, our environmental impact isn’t only made up of flights and travel-related exhaust fumes. For example, many people don’t realize that building a hotel can significantly disrupt the natural environment. This environmental damage forces plants and animals to look for new habitats. Therefore, renovating existing buildings is the best solution.

Monastery hotels are a good example of this, such as the Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa in Bavaria, and Hotel Le Pavilion in Paris. By utilizing old monastery walls, abandoned buildings are given a new lease on life while preserving the culture and history of the community. If you want to learn more about this trend, you can find out more in our article on monastery hotels.

Water consumption as a traveler

At this point, there’s no reason to sugarcoat things. As frequent travelers, we use a lot of water.

• According to the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA), a tourist consumes approximately 350 liters per night in a hotel (compared to around 130 liters at home).
• The 2030 Report even estimates up to 2,425 liters per night for a tourist. This includes personal water consumption (showers, toilets) as well as swimming pools, golf courses, green spaces, etc.

Even if sustainable and environmentally friendly hotels and accommodations use water-saving faucets and use rainwater and gray water for garden irrigation, every guest still uses more water on vacation than they would at home. Not just for brushing teeth. That accounts for the least amount. Indirectly, we also use the water that is consumed in the restaurant, for the pool and for cleaning.

It’s cool when the hotel uses a natural bathing pond instead of a classic chlorinated pool, as the STURM in Mellrichstadt, Germany, does, for example. Furthermore, it provides a habitat for numerous animals. If flowering meadows with bee- and insect-friendly flowers are also planted, the hotel garden becomes a small, biodiverse paradise.

Sustainability meets animal welfare

Traveling and experiencing animals in their natural environment is one of the top experiences, especially for children. Whether they are wild animals on safari or domestic animals, seeing them in their natural habitat is incredible. However, travel can have a negative impact on animal protection. Visits to national parks ensure that they can continue operating. Our visits also demonstrate to the local population that protecting animals can be financially worthwhile. On the other hand, tourism can encourage practices that are not in the animals’ best interest, such as elephant riding or lion petting.

If you are interested in learning more about animal welfare while traveling and how you can make
your trip animal-friendly, you may want to check out this blog article. We’ve covered the topic in
detail here.

Furthermore, our article on wildlife on vacation provides specific vacation offers where you can experience safaris, diving, or national park animals in a sustainable way.

Climate protection while traveling: Do you still fly?

Travel and accommodation have been found to be the areas with the greatest environmental impact when it comes to tourism. That means that adjusting these adjustment screws has the biggest effect. You can find a selection of sustainable hotels and vacation rentals on our website. We not only present each hotel with its rooms and offers, but also with its sustainable initiatives and measures. This will give you an opportunity to get an overview in advance and actively contribute to protecting the climate by making environmentally friendly choices when it comes to accommodation.

By now, we are all aware that flying, especially short-haul flights, is immensely detrimental to the climate. Flight shame has become a term for when you get on a plane even though you feel bad about it.

How you can deal with flight shame, we have already discussed in tis blog article.

Other alternatives to flying are driving a car, taking a bus or train, cycling, and wearing walking shoes. Yes, we count the car as well. Although we wholeheartedly agree that car traffic must be reduced, if you look only at carbon dioxide emissions, then a fully occupied car with four or five people can sometimes even have the better balance than an empty train. However, the train still runs, and in addition, it offers the opportunity to spend time together with family or friends without having to concentrate on road traffic.

An alternative that many people are unaware of is the long-distance bus. In recent years, companies such as Flixbus have established a huge network across Europe, and their environmental friendliness is on par with that of trains! Find out more about sustainable vacations by long-distance coach here.

It is even more environmentally friendly to travel by foot or by bicycle rather than by car. The journey itself will become an adventure, and you will develop an entirely new perspective. By the way, this principle is the foundation of the Slow Travel movement. You can read more about it in the article below.

Let’s talk about money – What our money does when we travel

When we travel, we incur expenses. On accommodation, food, souvenirs, activities, and events. It is not without reason that tourism is one of the most important, sometimes even the most important, industry in many countries. It offers a lot of potential, if done right.

“Right” in this case means that our money benefits the country and the local population, and does not flow back abroad or to large, international companies. Experts here speak of the percolation rate, which indicates how much of the profits from the respective destination seep back out again. This happens, for example, through staying in international hotel chains, buying imported goods and eating at global franchises.

Another aspect is that we determine what we support through our purchasing or consumption behavior. What practices and behaviors do we support with the money we spend while traveling? Keywords here are production conditions, supply chains, payment of employees, exploitation of nature, and child labor, just to name a few.

Questions you can ask youself before you spend your money:

• Who owns the hotel or lodging I want to stay at? Is it family run? Locally owned?
• Who owns the restaurant? Who does the cooking? How are the employees treated?
• Where does the food come from? Was it grown locally? Or imported?
• Where do the souvenirs come from? What material are they made of?
• Does the event benefit the local population? Or is it cultural appropriation and exploitation?

Additionally, a sustainable economy also refers to the entrepreneurs in tourism. They should take care not to work only for short-term profit, but to think in the long term. That means taking into consideration the impact and responsibility of their own company, hiring local employees, and investing in environmental and social measures.

Excursus: The Green Pearls® network

At Green Pearls®, we want to advocate for more sustainability in tourism and help you do the same. That’s why we work with various partners around the world who offer sustainable hotels and vacation rentals. After prior verification and only if they meet certain sustainable criteria, which concern environmental protection as well as economy and social issues, they are allowed to be part of the Green Pearls® partner network.

This means that when you choose a Green Pearls® hotel or vacation home, you can be confident that your accommodations are sustainable. You can read exactly what makes each hotel or vacation home sustainable on its respective Green Pearls® page. For example, you can learn how the five-star Der Birkenhof Spa & Genussresort hotel in Bavaria is a pioneer in sustainable hospitality despite its luxury orientation; how the Aparthotel OLM Nature Escape in South Tyrol generates all of its energy from its own sources; how 50 percent of the employees at the Green City Hotel Vauban are disabled; and how the Hotel Luise in Erlangen makes its hotel rooms entirely from recyclable materials.

Often overlooked: Social sustainability when traveling

Both the economic and environmental aspects of sustainability are socially oriented. At first, this may sound very abstract, but imagine the following: You travel to any country, or even just another city. You arrive there, stay in a hotel, eat in a restaurant, and walk through the streets. You can also buy some souvenirs. Likewise, you drink water, swim in the pool, throw away your garbage, drive boat, cab, car. Then you leave again. If you tried to spend the money locally, then the money you spent stays there. What also stays there is your environmental impact, the missing water and the garbage.

And now imagine thousands, in some places even millions, doing the same. What do you think the effects will be on the local people?

Let’s take a look at the social impact of man-made climate change, which is not entirely innocent when it comes to tourism. The people who are affected by it are the ones who don’t contribute to it. People who don’t travel around the world three times a year.

Furthermore, there are also clear abuses in tourism, such as the exploitation of seasonal workers. You can find out more about this in this article on social sustainability in tourism.

An alternative to traditional tourism: Slow Travel

You might have heard of Slow Travel before, right? Over the last few years, countless books, articles, and podcasts have been published about it. The idea behind it is simple: Slow travel. The journey should be made to the destination. Putting achieving your goal above arriving at your goal. In this way, Slow Travelers are returning to the old definition of travel: being on the way from A to B.

Slow Travel grew out of the Slow Food Movement, which promotes the conscious cultivation, handling, and enjoyment of food. It was founded as an alternative to fast food. Slow Travel can be similarly compared with conventional travel.

Instead of considering the journey as a mere tool to reach the destination, Slow Travel considers it an essential part of the trip. On foot, by bike or by train, you experience the first adventures already before your destination.

The main thing, when you’re walking, is to stay in one place for longer. Because the longer we stay, the greater the benefit to the local economy. You’ll also get to know the local people in an entirely different way and discover places that other tourists miss. Perhaps the locals will even share with you one or two insider tips. 😉

Read this blog article for more information about slow travel and how a slow trip can look like. Furthermore, join us on an adventurous journey by train through Thailand!

Small Steps also make a difference

You might be thinking that’s okay, but there are just too many things to consider. Where do I even begin? That’s precisely how everyone started who is involved in sustainable travel today. The key is to take small steps initially. If the issue seems too large to tackle right now, start by booking sustainable lodging in your destination. Stay longer in one place instead of spending each day somewhere else. Actively choose vegetarian or even vegan meals. These are all small steps you can take to move in the direction of more sustainable travel.

Sustainable Travel – Different Experience

Travel is indeed a wonderful thing. We meet new people and discover nature. Unfortunately, however, our travel has an immense impact on the environment and people around the world.

It would, therefore, seem logical to say that, even if it’s difficult, we’ll give up traveling if we have to.

However, that is too narrow-minded. Tourism impacts thousands of jobs and livelihoods around the world, and many people rely on us travelers for their livelihood. Especially in countries like the Maldives, there are very few job or income opportunities outside of tourism. Sustainable hotels like Gili Lankanfushi provide a stable income for locals, which encourages a change in mindset. Whether it’s local or foreign visitors, the mindset will be changed. Read here to find out what sustainable vacations in the Maldives can look like and how you can actively participate in a coral conservation project as a diver, for example.

In rural areas, they offer opportunities for sustainable development. The travelers staying at Relais del Maro, located in the small Ligurian town of Borgomaro, not only ensure the preservation of the historic buildings that house the family-run “Albergo Diffuso” hotel, they also support regional farmers, winemakers, and artisans.

In other words, we don’t have to stop traveling. We need to travel differently.

Sustainable travel does not eliminate these impacts. But when we travel sustainably, we make more conscious choices and don’t just accept our effects. We make conscious decisions to forgo flights, take more time to explore a country or place, and search for sustainable accommodations and activities. We strive to help you do that here on the Green Travel Blog and over at Green Pearls.

What’s your favorite way to travel? Do you travel sustainably? And what aspects of your trip are particularly important to you? You are welcome to share your thoughts and experiences below.

This is an update from September 27, 2022.

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Driven by nostalgia, I inquired among our Green Pearls® partner hotels and found many like-minded individuals passionate about wood and craftsmanship. Some hotels even have their own forests from which they source wood for furniture. Others use traditional materials, such as Swiss pine, applewood, and moon wood. Some hotels furnish their rooms with lovingly restored family heirlooms, while others are rethinking furniture design based on the principle of the circular economy.

A hotel made of applewood: The Klosterhof — Alpine Hideaway & Spa

Dr. Andreas Färber, the owner of the Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa in Bayerisch Gmain, is one of the hoteliers who shares my enthusiasm for solid wood furniture. When he and his wife took over the hotel, they made an unusual decision: the Klosterhof would become one of the world’s few “apple hotels.”.

About 90 percent of the custom-made furniture in the house is made of applewood. However, the wood did not come from various locations; it comes from a single apple orchard. This creates a sense of unity in design and content throughout the entire house, something that can be felt in every room and detail.

The concept was implemented in collaboration with longstanding partners at Philipp Haas + Söhne, a master workshop in nearby Bad Reichenhall. The workshop’s latest project was its involvement in the “Spa Glow-Up” 2025.

Masterful craftsmanship with a regional flair

Like the Klosterhof, many of our Green Pearls® partner hotels use handmade furniture crafted by local carpenters.

At the Naturresort Gerbehof on Lake Constance, all the furniture is made from wood sourced directly from the resort itself. They primarily used spruce, which was processed directly on the farm. The furniture reflects the character of this living material, telling the story of the nature that produced it. The spa area’s whirlpool is unique as well; it was designed with stones from the nearby Rhine estuary.

The Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Tyrol, has adopted a similar concept. Almost all of the materials used for the 28 newly built nature rooms came from the region. Ninety-five percent of the materials come from the Alpine region, and the wood comes from the hotel’s own forest. One interesting architectural feature is the bed’s placement under a round arch in the wall. This creates a cozy, almost fairy-tale atmosphere. The bedside lamps with hay-flower lampshades provide the perfect finishing touch.

“”Sometimes, an inner satisfaction makes you want to reach out and touch the piece, to stroke it. God bless the craftsmen who can inspire such feelings in their fellow human beings with just a few pieces of wood!” —From the book So Grün War Mein Tal (My Valley Was So Green) by Richard Llewellyn

At the Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol, the connection to nature is evident throughout the entire interior design concept: the rooms feature larch wood walls and beds, and the tables are made from regional oak by a Pinzgau carpenter in Salzburg. The newly designed nature spa also incorporates wooden elements from the same workshop.

Wood art in South Tyrol

Individuality and regionality are also emphasized at the Hotel Weihrerhof in Ritten, South Tyrol. For many years, it has worked with the Eisath und Lintner carpentry firm, which manufactures furniture on site from local wood with great attention to detail.

The OLM Nature Escape in the Ahrntal Valley offers a holistic experience. Its ApartSuites are almost entirely clad in larch wood, from floor to ceiling. There are no ornate decorations or Alpine carvings. Instead, the clear, straightforward, modern design creates a natural sense of space, complemented by spruce in the saunas and maple in the restaurant area. The interior design was created by South Tyrolean master craftsmen from Plana Ladina in Val Badia.

Honeycomb design

Lastly, there is the Apipura hotel rinner in South Tyrol. Here, a local carpenter crafted all the furniture in the rooms. The hotel has its own organic beekeeping operation, so the carpenter chose honeycombs as a recurring design element.

Custom work from the Green City: Handcrafted ash furniture at the Hotel Vauban

The Vauban district of Freiburg is known throughout Europe as a model of environmentally friendly urban development. Right in the heart of the district lies the Green City Hotel Vauban, which carries this philosophy through to every detail, including the furniture.

The entire interior was custom-made by Werkhalle 53, a Freiburg-based collective of three master carpenters. They used solid ash wood from nearby Umkirch, a wood that impresses with its fine grain and high durability. The modern, timeless, and clear-designed furniture can be found throughout the hotel, including in the rooms, lobby, and conference rooms.

Another advantage is that the furniture can easily be added to or restored as needed. This approach is sustainable and creates long-term design continuity, which is perfectly in keeping with the neighborhood’s reputation for thoughtful interplay of ecology, architecture, and community.

The power of the moon: Furniture made from moon wood at La Vimea

People deeply involved in traditional craftsmanship and sustainable processing know that not all wood is the same. Moon wood is a prime example: it is wood cut during a waning moon. This ancient practice is based on the knowledge that the moisture content of wood is lower during certain phases of the moon. The result is a highly resistant, durable, and dimensionally stable material — no chemical additives necessary.

At LA VIMEA, a purely vegan hotel in South Tyrol, moon wood plays a central role. Most of the furniture is made from locally sourced wood harvested during the waning moon. The wood is left untreated, making the rooms’ special energy and authenticity palpable.

LA VIMEA uses only natural, cruelty-free materials, such as wood, paper, jute, straw, and cork, for its decorations. Even the candles are made from eco-friendly rapeseed wax.

Furniture in a Cycle: Circular economy meets design

Furnishings don’t have to be new to look modern and high-quality. In a circular economy, everything can be reused. Two of our partner hotels have demonstrated this by incorporating it into their design concept. In addition to wood, other recycled and recyclable materials play a central role as well.

Circular Living at the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA

In cooperation with the impact service providers RITTWEGER + TEAM and Fritz Schlecht GmbH, the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in the spa town of Bad Herrenalb developed room concepts such as “Freigeist” (free spirit), “Waldklang” (forest sound), and “Falkenstein” (falcon stone)—a stylish combination of nature and contemporary design. Highlights include oak parquet flooring with Cradle-to-Cradle Bronze certification, regional softwood side tables, and pendant lights made from PEFC-certified birch—ecologically sound and aesthetically pleasing.

The circular hotel room at Hotel Luise

The Hotel Luise in Erlangen is a pioneer among sustainable city hotels. Of particular note are the “circular hotel rooms,” which were designed according to the cradle-to-cradle principle. This means that everything in the room, from the floor to the ceiling, is either biodegradable or fully recyclable.

The hotel also features upcycled furniture and restored pieces, including an antique pharmacy cabinet from the Coburg court pharmacy. The cabinet was found by the owners in the local classifieds and was restored. Now, it houses the hotel’s “Tiny Shop.”

Furniture with history: restored, inherited, and preserved

Like the apothecary cabinet, many pieces of furniture carry memories of previous generations and nearly forgotten craft traditions. In some Green Pearls® hotels, this emotional connection is incorporated into the interior design. Rather than using mass-produced items, they focus on restoring unique pieces and preserving family heirlooms, complemented by custom-made furniture from sustainable production.

At the Ligurian Relais del Maro, you will stay in historic houses belonging to the host family — lovingly restored and scattered throughout the village of Borgomaro in the style of an Albergo Diffuso. Some of these houses contain furnishings that still belong to the family, while others were sourced from small antique markets on the nearby Côte d’Azur — with each piece telling its own story.

Old meets new at Hotel Okelmann’s in Lower Saxony, too. For example, the grandmother’s wedding cabinet has found a place of honor in the new Signature Suite. Adjacent to it are handcrafted furnishings from a carpentry workshop in the neighboring village. Other antique pieces have been refurbished and carefully incorporated into the design.

Individuality is a top priority at Gut Sonnenhausen in Bavaria. They have collected original farmhouse cabinets from all over Bavaria and lovingly restored them in the stables of the historic farmhouse. These cabinets form an exciting contrast to the modern art and contemporary design found throughout the hotel. And the beds were designed in-house and crafted by a local carpenter using regional wood. Each room is unique; no two rooms are alike.

“”Wood is proud of its age.” —From the book “So Green Was My Valley” von Richard Llewellyn

Immerse yourself in craftsmanship: Carved rooms that evoke a sense of well-being

In some hotels, you will find not only unique pieces of furniture but also rooms that are completely carved.

At the Hotel Bella Vista in Zermatt, the “Arvenstube” is the perfect place to relax. This entire relaxation room is furnished with fragrant Swiss stone pine wood, which is known for its restorative properties (read this blog article to learn more about the latest studies). Here, you can unwind on waterbeds after an active day exploring the mountains around the Matterhorn. According to Fabienne Anthamatten, the hostess, this is one of the guests’ favorite rooms. 🙂

The Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld showcases master craftsmanship with its unique, hand-carved “Herzerl-Sauna” (heart sauna). You won’t find another one like it anywhere on the planet.

Handcrafted rooms like this one combine craftsmanship, natural materials, and wellness in a special way.

Wood in all its facets: regional materials, sustainable partners, and natural construction methods

In addition to offering handmade furniture, our partner hotels are taking various approaches to providing a sustainable wood and nature experience, such as using regional materials, creating durable products, and employing innovative construction methods.

At My Arbor, for instance, furniture crafted from regional oak and sun-baked larch, both sourced from sustainable forestry, dominates. Entirely built high up in the treetops of the South Tyrolean spruce forest, the hotel offers unique views of the Plose from its rooms.

Sustainability is a recurring theme in the partnerships at the Lifestylehotel SAND (SAND Aspires Natural Design). The beds here are from CocoMat, a company whose mattresses are made exclusively from natural materials, such as coconut fibers. The sturdy, recycled teak bed headboards and matching tables in the breakfast and bar areas highlight the hotel’s commitment to sustainable interior design, focusing on quality and durability.

Vacation in a log cabin

The Summit Lodges in Pfunds are completely different but equally impressive. These vacation homes are traditional log cabins, built entirely from whole logs. This construction method boasts an excellent ecological balance, minimal resource consumption, and a particularly pleasant indoor climate thanks to natural Tyrolean sheep’s wool insulation and large windows that let in plenty of sunlight.

Wooden furniture inspiration for your home

Do you want to bring a piece of craftsmanship into your home? Here are a few ideas for finding furniture with history, character, and sustainability:

• Go treasure hunting: Antique and flea markets, as well as online classified ads, are full of special pieces with patina.
• Discover journeyman pieces: Many cities, including my hometown of Cologne, have chambers of crafts that exhibit journeyman and master pieces every year. You can find inspiration there and connect with young carpenters. Years later, these unique pieces sometimes end up in classified ads.
• Build it yourself using the right wood: Numerous DIY instructions for shelves, tables, and more can be found online. When buying wood, look for regional origin and the FSC seal, which is better than PEFC.
• Choose solid wood over chipboard: Furniture made of solid wood is more durable and better for the indoor climate because it doesn’t contain adhesives or formaldehyde. Veneered panels have their place, but opt for solid wood if possible.
• Consider custom work from a professional: Need a new piece of furniture? Ask your local carpenter. Custom-made pieces are more expensive, but not prohibitively so. They are also unique and high-quality.

This demonstrates the versatility of wood as a raw material used in sustainable hotels and homes. It is used not only for furniture, but also in a variety of other forms, always with the goal of blending nature, design, and responsibility.

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Sustainable microcations – what to look for

A microcation (a portmanteau of “micro” and “vacation”) is one to four nights.

1.   How long is the travel time for a microcation?

A good rule of thumb is to allow 2 hours travel time. This distance will allow you to make a stress-free trip after work or early in the morning without much planning. 4 hours is acceptable if it is a comfortable train ride or an extremely worthwhile destination 🙂 Anything longer than 4 hours should only be done by night train or planned as a bike trip (keyword: the journey is the reward).

The ideas in this article are meant to inspire your next microcation. You can and should customize these ideas based on where you are and what transportation is available!

2. Choosing the right accommodation is essential – regardless of whether you are staying for a short or long period of time

A short trip (without a plane) is not the only thing that makes a microcation sustainable. As with longer vacations, your choice of accommodation also plays an important role. Sustainable Green PearlsⓇ hotels and vacation rentals rely on renewable energy, local organic food, and eco-friendly concepts such as zero waste or circular design.

3. Traveling sustainable means living sustainable

It also means making sure you use resources consciously:

• Less luggage means less emissions
• Visit local restaurants and shops instead of international chains and support the local community.
• Activities can also be sustainable – from nature experiences to eco-friendly city tours to sustainable spa options.
• For more tips on sustainable travel, check out this overview.

Microcation ideas for every taste

Whether you are looking for relaxation, new adventures, or a digital break – Here are sustainable inspirations for your next microcation:

#1 Wellness & Relaxation

Perfect for giving your body and mind a break. Sustainable wellness hotels rely on natural skin care products, environmentally friendly wellness areas (e.g. natural swimming ponds), green energy from renewable sources and advanced technology (e.g. use of waste heat). Complemented by healthy and regional (organic) cuisine.

Sustainable hotel tips:

• Birkenhof**** Spa & Genussresort (Upper Palatinate, Germany): Just want to relax and enjoy? The Birkenhof is a 5-star wellness hotel with a large natural swimming pond, several pools (indoor and outdoor) and a large sauna area. It also has a 2-star restaurant. Despite all this luxury, the hotel is fully committed to sustainability and operates its own combined heat and power plant, which significantly reduces CO2 emissions for electricity and heating.
• Hotel Klosterbräu (Seefeld, Tyrol, Austria): The Hotel Klosterbräu is also a 5-star hotel with pools and saunas, surrounded by the beautiful mountain panorama of the Alps. Built on the site of an old monastery, the hotel has a special charm with its vaulted cellars and candlelight. You will have a particularly sustainable vacation in the hotel’s nature rooms. These rooms were built with almost 95% local materials (e.g. clay plastered walls and wooden floors from the hotel’s own forest).
• SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA (Bad Herrenalb, Black Forest, Germany): Located in the climatic health resort of Bad Herrenalb, this hotel not only offers breathtaking views of the Black Forest, but also has its own mineral thermal swimming pool. It is known for its sustainable initiatives, such as hotel rooms made entirely of recyclable materials.

#2 Inner peace and strength

If swimming, sauna and relaxation are not enough for you and you are looking for something more spiritual, you can combine your microcation with guided yoga and meditation classes, forest bathing or TCM treatments.

Suitable sustainable hotels:

• LA VIMEA (Naturno, South Tyrol, Italy): Daily morning and evening yoga on the sun deck, a natural swimming pond, a saltwater pool, and 100% vegan cuisine -that’s what adults-only hotel LA VIMEA has to offer. The hotel also appeals to younger guests with its vegan focus and a special offer for Gen Z.
• Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten (Bernkastel-Kues, Mosel, Germany): Located in the Moselle region, the Lifestyle Resort is completely designed according to Feng Shui and includes a TCM center for Far Eastern treatments. You can also incorporate these into your microcation, for example with a nutritional consultation and diet based on the 5 elements.
• Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa (Bayerisch Gmain, Berchtesgaden, Germany): Forest bathing (shinrin yoku) from Japan is said to be extremely healthy and healing. You can try it under professional guidance at Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa. (Read more about forest bathing in our blog article). The hotel also offers singing bowl massages.
• Naturresort Gerbehof (Friedrichshafen, Lake Constance, Germany): If you are open to alternative healing methods such as biomotivation according to Viktor Philippi, you will find it at the Naturresort Gerbehof on Lake Constance.

#3 Adventure & Outdoors

A weekend in the mountains or on the coast – microadventures are a great way to combine sustainable travel with nature experiences. Whether hiking, biking or wildlife watching, the focus is on conscious experiences.

Recommended accommodation:

• Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt (Switzerland): A family-run boutique hotel with just 21 rooms and direct views of the Matterhorn. Located in the car-free mountain village of Zermatt, it is the perfect starting point for a short nature vacation including hiking.
• Summit Lodges Pfunds (Tyrol, Austria): If you are not traveling alone on your microcation, but rather with friends or family, the Summit Lodges are two first-class vacation homes that can accommodate up to 6 people. The log cabins have their own wood-burning fireplaces, saunas, and are surrounded by Tyrolean nature. In addition to hiking, you can go windsurfing on Lake Reschen in the summer.
• Naturhotel Outside (East Tyrol, Austria): Naturhotel Outside is located in the middle of the Hohe Tauern National Park – Austria’s largest alpine national park – around the Grossglockner and other 3,000-meter peaks. The eco-friendly hotel has a top-notch restaurant (3 Falstaff Forks) and in-house hiking guides. Microcation Tip: Look for the “Big Five” of the Alps (ibex, golden eagle, bearded vulture, chamois and marmot).

#4 Detox & Digital Detox

New content on your Instagram and TikTok accounts is the LAST thing you want on your mini-break? Then you might prefer the opposite: a digital detox. A few days without constant connectivity can work wonders. Conscious relaxation and offline activities will help you clear your head.

Tips for sustainable hotels:

• STURM (Mellrichstadt, Rhön, Germany): The redesigned (and award-winning) garden-view rooms deliberately forgo televisions. Instead, they overlook a large natural swimming pond. The Rhön Biosphere Reserve, with its rolling hills and exciting moors, is perfect for a relaxing vacation.
• Hotel Okelmann’s: (Warpe, Lower Saxony, Germany): We recently featured Warpe as a “hidden gem” on this blog. Here you can experience pure nature in a traditional family hotel with a barrel sauna and yoga classes. It’s the perfect place to unwind for a few days.
• Gut Sonnenhausen (Glonn, Bavaria, Germany): About an hour’s drive south of Munich, you’ll find Gut Sonnenhausen, surrounded by forest and farmland (managed according to the principles of permaculture). The renovated and restored former stud farm offers a relaxed atmosphere of eco-consciousness, tranquility and inspiring art.

#5 Romance & Togetherness

Rekindeling the spark in your relationship with a vacation is very popular. A microcation, where you spend some quality time together, is often all that is needed. With the right setting and accommodation, the rest will take care of itself.

Our hotel recommendations for a romantic getaway:

• Hotel Das Rübezahl (Füssen, Allgäu, Germany): Nestled among Germany’s royal castles, a forest, and a view of Neuschwanstein Castle, the setting is nothing short of magical. Hotel Das Rübezahl features a beautiful natural spa in front of the hotel, many romantic nooks and crannies, and top-notch cuisine by Erik Wendt.
• Lifestylehotel SAND (Timmendorfer Strand, Baltic Sea, Germany): The Lifestylehotel SAND, located directly on the Baltic Sea, offers romantic extras like the possibility to spend the night in a wicker beach chair on the roof of the hotel. You can read more about this in our blog post about a romantic weekend by the Baltic Sea.

#6 Cities & Culture

Are you drawn to the city? The hustle and bustle, the crowds, the museums, the cafes, the shops… The advantage of a city break is that you can usually get to your destination by train, bus or carpool in an environmentally friendly and affordable way. In the cities themselves, there is public transportation – or you can take your bike. Did you know that Paris, for example, has expanded its network of bike paths and is now a great place to explore by bike?

Hotel tips for a city trip:

• Green Spirit Hotels (Paris, France): In the heart of the centrally located 7th arrondissement, you will find three green pearls: Hotel Le Pavillon, Hotel Malar & Hotel Amelie. Hidden oases with green courtyards and organic food within walking distance of the Seine, the Eiffel Tower, the Invalides and other highlights. Read more about a stay at Hotel Le Pavillon and a guide to eco-dining in Paris here.
• Hotel Milano Scala (Milan, Italy): Milan is not only the city of the Last Supper and Milan Fashion Week. It is also home to progressive contributions to sustainable urban development, a vegan scene, and the zero-emissions Hotel Milano Scala in the city center. In this article, we have compiled tips for a sustainable weekend in Milan.
  
• Green City Hotel Vauban (Freiburg, Germany): The university city of Freiburg, near the French border, has a great atmosphere. Located in the modern Vauban district, the sustainably-run Green City Hotel Vauban offers direct access to the tram and a free ticket for public transportation. Our tip: Ideas for a sustainable and affordable weekend in Freiburg.
• Hotel Luise (Erlangen, Germany): The Franconian university town of Erlangen, with its baroque cityscape, is an ideal destination for a “second city” visit (instead of Munich or Nuremberg). In this blog post, Laura Heufelder from Hotel Luise shares some insider tips for Erlangen.
  

Getting away from it all without having to fly halfway around the world is what makes Microcations so popular. We hope that we have given you some inspiring ideas. At the moment, the hotels mentioned are mainly from Germany. If you are looking for another region, check out the Green Pearls website.

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1.5 degree climate goal – what was that again?

The 1.5-degree goal stems from the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris. Where nearly all of the world’s nations signed an agreement to limit man-made climate change to an average global warming of 1.5 degrees Celsius.

The rapid rise in temperature since industrialization, along with scientific recognition that greenhouse gases like CO₂ from burning coal trap heat in the atmosphere, provides evidence that human activity drives the greenhouse effect. These gases accumulate because natural storage systems, such as swamps and forests, cannot absorb them fast enough.

Ten years ago (in 2015), this goal was considered achievable. The rough roadmap was this. Humanity as a whole must significantly reduce its CO2 emissions by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. This would allow humanity to live relatively safely on planet Earth as we know it until 2100. Now we are still at the (relative) beginning of the century – and global warming has NOT been stopped.

Has the climate goal been abandoned? And what does that mean?

The 1.5-degree Celsius goal is not out of the question. Even if 2024 is the hottest year in human history, there is still a chance that the temperature will drop again. That’s what Copernicus director Carlo Buontempo told Reuters. For that to happen, countries would have to cut their emissions quickly and drastically to prevent them from rising to catastrophic levels.

“The matter is not yet settled. It is in our hands to change the course of events from now on.” – Copernicus-Direktor Carlo Buontempo

1.5 degrees vs. 2 degrees

However, some are saying that the 1.5-degree goal has been abandoned and a 2-degree goal is more realistic. According to an IPCC special report cited by WWF, half a degree will have far more serious consequences for the planet, people, and living things. For example, at 1.5 degrees, 6 percent of insects are expected to become extinct – at 2 degrees, the figure is 18 percent!

At 1.5 degrees, the probability of flooding increases by 100 percent (doubling); at 2 degrees, it increases by 170 percent. The reason for this calculation: warmer air can absorb more water vapor, which is why there is more heavy rain.

If the average temperature on our planet rises by more than 2 degrees, it is quite possible that the consequences will be uncontrollable and impossible to manage.

How do you notice the effects of global warming when you travel?

As travelers, we care about the weather not just at home but also in other countries. A single extreme weather event. Say a flood, a drought, a forest fire… these things have always happened (by the way, this is one of the main arguments of climate change deniers). But new records for extreme weather (do the math to see how many hundred-year floods we’ve already had) in so many places around the world? From a scientific point of view, this has never happened before.

Climate indicators while traveling

As you travel, you can see climate change firsthand in some places. One important climate indicator is glaciers, such as those found in the European Alps.

#1 Glaciers

In our blog article on glaciers, we report on the extent of glacier melt using three examples in Switzerland and Austria. Here, for example, we introduce Fabienne Anthamatten from the Green PearlsⓇ Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt, who found an 8,000-year-old larch tree on a (now exposed) glacier field. In Zermatt, you have the Gorner Glacier right on your doorstep. So, you can see this important climate indicator with your own eyes.

According to Matthias Huss, head of the Swiss Glacier Measuring Service, if global warming stops at 1.5°C, only 300 of the current 1,400 glacier fields will remain by the end of the century. If we reach 3.2°C of global warming in the next 70 years (which is what the German Federal Environmental Agency says will happen if we continue at the current rate), there will be no glaciers left in the future.

And if you know people who shrug when you bring this up. Remind them that warmer winters (and disappearing glaciers!) have a direct impact on winter sports. Check out the Sustainable Skiing article to learn how resorts are already using artificial snow on a massive scale and what that means for the environment.

#2 Sea Level

A direct consequence of melting glaciers and melting icebergs at both poles is sea level rise.

Depending on the degree of global warming, sea levels will rise. According to an ICPP report, the sea level will rise by 29 cm to 84 cm by 2100, but could reach as high as 200 cm (i.e. 2 meters)!

Rising sea levels pose a direct threat to many island nations, such as the Maldives. They are the lowest lying country in the world and consist of over 1,000 coral islands. Its highest elevation (on the main island of Male) is only 2.4 meters.

Read more in our article on threatened islands. At the same time, you will learn about tourism projects such as the Green PearlsⓇ partner resort Gili Lankanfushi. Here, you can enjoy a vacation on stunning beaches while also participating in the resort’s marine biology center. Opportunities for involvement include seagrass planting, coral restoration, and reef cleaning.

#3 Biodiversity

A 2023 study reveals a major threat to biodiversity on our planet. Worldwide, approximately 2 million species of animals and plants face the threat of extinction, with invertebrates being particularly affected. These include small animals such as insects. In our article on the decline of insects, entomologist Dietmar Borbe warns of dire consequences:

“Insects are at the top of the food chain. If we destroy everything at the bottom of a food pyramid, everything will eventually collapse.” – Biologe Dietmar Borbe

Hotels are often accused of destroying and spoiling nature (think of the ugly hotel blocks that line the beach). But there are hotels that are doing a lot to protect species. The STURM in Mellrichstadt, Germany, for example, has created a 3,500-square-meter natural “nosh garden” with numerous fruit trees, berry bushes, herbs and flowering plants, as well as a natural swimming pond that serves as a wetland biotope. Care was also taken to avoid sealing the soil unnecessarily and to allow guests to consciously enjoy nature.

#4 Justice

While poor people in the Sahel region of central Africa or southern India are already suffering from global warming, the effects of climate change in the Western industrialized countries are still far away. The rich have many more options to avoid a catastrophe, to protect themselves or to make their lives more comfortable with various extras (e.g. air conditioning).

Climate change is driving people into poverty

A World Bank background report on the link between climate change and poverty to 2030 predicts that between 32 and 132 million people will fall into extreme poverty by 2030 as a result of climate change. According to the report, those who spend a large proportion of their income on food will be particularly hard hit.

At the same time, a summary of an IPCC report by the German Federal Environment Agency states that “people with high socioeconomic status contribute disproportionately to climate change.

To put it bluntly: The rich produce more emissions than the poor, while the poor suffer far more from the effects of climate change. This is a double injustice – and the gap is widening.

When it comes to climate change, this fact should not be ignored. The crux of the matter is that tourism is an important economic sector for many poor countries. Sometimes it is the only one. So if those who can afford to travel (i.e. the rich) stop traveling to the Global South in order to reduce emissions, this is ecologically understandable and correct, but it is not necessarily a socially sustainable solution. This topic is very complex and complicated, which is why we have dedicated a separate blog article to it, where you can learn more about the social dimension of travel sustainability and get to know projects that support it.

How does my travel affect climate change?

According to UNWTO, tourism is a fast-growing sector that accounts for a significant share of global emissions. Travel to and from the destination accounts for the largest share, followed by accommodation.

“The share of greenhouse gas emissions caused by global tourism is currently estimated at 8%, with three-quarters of these emissions caused by the use of transport” (WWF, citing UNWTO).

When it comes to the accomondation itself, there are several factors to consider. It starts with the construction, the choice and use of materials and furnishings, and it doesn’t end with the energy consumption during operation. The latter, however, takes up the most space when it comes to calculating environmental impact.

Other important sustainability factors include food sourcing (local organic vs. imported), waste management, fair treatment of employees, and ensuring that the accommodation contributes to the well-being of the local community.

Sustainable accommodation are committed to fighting global warming

If you want to travel in an era of global warming, you should consider the emissions that come with it. This includes: 

• Arrival and Departure
• Local transportation
• Accommodation

At Green PearlsⓇ, we introduce you to sustainable hotels and vacation rentals that are committed to reducing emissions from tourism. A good example is the Hotel Milano Scala in Milan. This city hotel in the Italian metropolis is accessible by train from all European cities and by direct flight from many international airports.

Zero Emissions Hotel

Hotel Milano Scala was the first zero-emissions hotel in the city. Opened in 2010 in the Brera art district (near La Scala), it was created by renovating an existing building. The hotel was also designed to be powered entirely by renewable energy (geothermal probes).

“We are committed to using only renewable energy, promoting sustainable transportation, and reducing waste in all areas of our operations.” – Elisa Trinchi vom Hotel Milano Scala

This modern city hotel, with its green facades and inviting roof terrace, has also invested in innovative solutions. A heat recovery air conditioning system has reduced energy consumption by 35-45% compared to conventional systems.

In South Tyrol, the energy-independent OLM Nature Escape Aparthotel opened at the end of 2023. Here, too, geothermal probes are used for sustainable energy generation. In addition, there are photovoltaic systems and a sophisticated water recycling system.

The round building of the OLM Nature Escape blends harmoniously into the alpine landscape of Sand in Taufers. You will stay in suites made of local larch wood, each with its own kitchen and some even with its own mini spa and sauna. It’s a great example of how, even in these times of global warming, you don’t have to sacrifice luxury for a sustainable vacation 🙂

Climate friendly hotels in Germany

In Germany, too, there are examples of green hotels that are leading the way in the age of climate change. The Hotel Luise in Erlangen is run by the third generation with a clear focus on the environment and climate protection. “Renewable hotel rooms, astronaut showers with minimal water consumption, and a microforest to improve the climate are just a few examples of how the hotel and its current manager, Ben Förtsch, are leading by example.

Not only is the hotel taking steps to offset the emissions it produces, but it is also taking steps that do more to help the climate than harm it. (We will discuss offsetting in more detail in the next section.)

In Freiburg im Breisgau, the Green City Hotel Vauban is an excellent starting point for a combined city and nature vacation. You have the Black Forest on your doorstep and are close to Strasbourg and Basel. Also, you can easily reach the hotel by train and tram. You will also receive a free ticket for local transportation.

According to the hotel, the energy consumption of the Green City Hotel Vauban is at least 60% below the permissible primary energy requirement of the German Energy Saving Ordinance. There is a photovoltaic system on the roof and electricity is supplied by a local woodchip heating plant.

“Climate Neutral” – A Greenwashed PR Lie?

Carbon neutral flying, carbon neutral accommodation, carbon neutral skin cream – you’ve probably heard it all before. The climate goals of the UN Climate Change Conference mentioned at the beginning of this article also call for individual countries to become carbon neutral by 2050.

The reason the terms “climate-neutral” or “climate-positive” have come under fire is that many people have taken the easy way out. In other words, company XY continues business as usual while leasing a piece of rainforest to offset its activities and emissions on paper. This oversimplifies a complex problem, as anyone can see..

Planting trees is not enough!

Forests and trees are very important for our climate, as trees store CO2 and also provide important habitat. However, climate protection cannot only be achieved through forest protection and reforestation. The offsetting company Atmosfair has therefore decided against forest projects.

“Even if you planted all the empty spaces on our planet with trees today, it would solve maybe 20% of the climate problem. But for that to happen, the trees would have to be there by the end of the century. And that’s the problem. – Dietrich Brockhagen, CEO of Atmosfair, told NDR

Forest fires and pest infestations can prevent trees from surviving their planned 50 to 100 years. When trees burn, they release the emissions they had stored back into the atmosphere.

Atmosfair therefore focuses on projects such as switching to modern cooking solutions for population groups that previously cooked with firewood. This reduces the need for wood (more trees remain standing) and improves the air quality in their homes.

However, avoiding emissions is more important than offsetting them. That means avoiding emissions in the first place. For example, by using renewable energy instead of fossil fuels. Or by buying energy-efficient appliances, buying local food, or eating legumes instead of meat. Unavoidable emissions can only be offset through meaningful climate projects in the second step.

Conclusion – Traveling in times of climate change

“We are all called upon to contribute to climate protection and should take responsibility for our own ecological footprint and thus for our CO₂ emissions. This also includes rethinking our own travel and consumer behavior according to the motto ‘avoid emissions if possible, but at least minimize them'” – Stefany Seipp, founder of Green PearlsⓇ

We travel because we love this world, we find it beautiful, and we want to see more of it. Traveling helps us discover other cultures, reconnect with nature, get out of our daily routines, and get to know ourselves better. Traveling has many positive effects. However, we should not forget that global tourism contributes to global warming. This makes it all the more important that we act consciously. If we do not, we could endanger the places we travel to.

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In the beginning: “We are a package deal”

When a relationship is new, couples often do everything together while on vacation. Many think that’s the way it has to be. Or they’re so in love that it doesn’t even occur to them to do anything separately.

The romantic hotel Das Rübezahl in Füssen in the Allgäu can confirm this. “We specialize in couples,” the host family tells us, adding: “As a rule, all couples do everything together.” On our last visit, we learned that a marriage proposal happens almost every week! It’s no wonder that most of the couples there are practically inseparable.

Traveling with different preferences

This changes over time. At least for some couples I know (and I have been married for 16 years now). You get to know each other better, accept different preferences and views, trust each other more, and maybe are just a little bit more honest. You may have started out watching the Olympics together, but four years later you admit that you’re not really interested in that and would rather do something else. It can be the same with vacations. The important thing is that you don’t see it as a problem, but as an opportunity for each part of the relationship to maintain its own character.

A partnership is about giving and receiving 

In a partnership, there is time to spend together, time when one person does something just for the other, and time for oneself. Children, work, and other people come into the relationship, and successful couples come to terms and find their way. In everyday life and on vacation. (Not that I’m always that successful, but I’m just saying that in general 😉 )

These Green PearlsⓇ accommodations frequently host pairs with different interests

#1 Hotel Weihrerhof, South Tyrol – He can go hiking, she takes a sunbath on the lake

“We often have couples with different interests at the hotel,” says Klaus Pichler of Hotel Weihrerhof in South Tyrol. The family-run boutique hotel is located 1,200 meters above sea level on the shores of Lake Wolfsgruben, amidst the mountain panorama of the Ritten.

“ The man is usually the more active and goes hiking, biking, etc. The wife enjoys the stay at the Weihrerhof with short walks along the lake, on the sunbathing lawn or in the SeaSpa with unique treatments.” – Hotel Weihrerhof

#2 My Arbor near Bressanone/Brixen in South Tyrol – Individual time management

„From wellness and outdoor adventures to sports and relaxation, we offer a wide range of options to meet a variety of needs.“ – My Arbor

 My Arbor is a luxurious adults-only hotel nestled in the treetops with fantastic views of the Dolomites. Each week there is a varied program of guided hikes (skiing in winter), spa treatments, forest bathing, etc. to choose from. To see what such a program might look like, click here.

#3 Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt – Couples have a lot to talk about in the evening

Hotel Bella Vista is “definitely ideal” for couples with different preferences, says host Fabienne Anthamatten. Her family’s hotel in car-free Zermatt has a beautiful terrace with a fantastic view of the Swiss icon, the Matterhorn. Couples sit here in the evenings (or in the cozy lobby by the fire in winter) and talk about their day. One of them has usually been on an outdoor adventure which starts right outside the front door, while the other has been relaxing in the adults-only spa or exploring Zermatt.

#4 CERVO Moutain Resort Zermatt – A resort with a lot of possibilities

Also in Zermatt is the CERVO Mountain Resort, which consists of several wooden buildings. There are three restaurants, a spa area, a gym, a climbing wall… and the Alps, glaciers and Zermatt village shops are just outside the door.

„One person can ski during the day and the other can spend a day at the spa. In the evening, you can have dinner or après-ski together.“ – CERVO Mountain Resort 

#5 Summit Lodges Pfunds, Tyrol – One goes skiing, the other goes snowshoeing

Interestingly, at the Summit Lodges Pfunds vacation houses, it is also very common for couples to plan their excursion program separately, says owner Marco Spiss. Pfunds is a quiet and traditional community in Tyrol, perfect for a nature vacation with all the freedom you need.

“ It is often the case that one partner is on the slopes (Serfaus, Ischgl, Nauders) and the other prefers snowshoeing or simply walking on the many hiking trails in the area (especially the Tschey in Pfunds)” – Marco Spiss, Summit Lodges Pfunds

But the sustainable accommodation also offers plenty of opportunities for togetherness, such as a private sauna and an open fireplace that is stocked with firewood when you arrive.

#6 Hotel Klosterbräu, Tirol – Two activity guides to choose from

If you prefer to stay in a hotel in Tyrol, the Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld is a good choice in the region.

“[Holidays with different interests] are definitely possible with us, as our two activity guides Clemens and Thomas plan on different levels. This means that if the woman (or man) wants to climb a via ferrata and the man (or woman) prefers a morning walk, there is something for everyone.” – Hotel Klosterbräu

The hotel is also ideal if you want to take your children with you. There is the hotel’s own petting zoo “Siggis Sauhaufen” and child care nearby. There is also a large spa area – something for everyone.

#7 Biohotel Grafenast, Tyrol – Nature vacation – also with children

The Biohotel Grafenast in Pill is another hotel where you can enjoy a great vacation together as a couple or with your children and where there are different options for everyone. It is located high above the Tyrolean Inn Valley and has a fantastic view of the valley. Some of the 23 rooms are equipped as family rooms and depending on the season there is a special program for the children.

„We are a great place to combine different interests“ – Biohotel Grafenast

#8 Naturhotel Outside, East Tyrol – Combined vacation in the Alpine National Park

Our Green Pearls® partner, the Naturhotel Outside in the Hohe Tauern National Park in East Tyrol, suggests several possible “combos” for you:

1. Outdoor sports and wellness (a new nature SPA with heated outdoor pool and a Deferegger healing water pool will open at the end of December 2024)
2. Hohe Tauern National Park and gourmet vacation (the hotel’s restaurant has 3 Falstaff forks)
3. Relaxation and shopping in Lienz

#9 Hotel Luise, Erlangen – Sustainable city vacation in Bavaria

For a sustainable vacation in Germany, there are also some sustainable hotels where you are in good hands as joint individual travelers. For example, the Hotel Luise in Erlangen:

“ Erlangen is ideally located for travelers with a variety of interests. You can take a city vacation or head out into nature – no matter which adventure you choose, you can relax in our spa after an exciting day.” – Hotel Luise

City vacation: The hotel is centrally located in Erlangen and Nuremberg, Fürth, Bamberg, Lauf a. d. Pegnitz are nearby and easily accessible by train.

Culture: Erlangen has a lot to offer culture lovers. The ComicSalon Erlangen takes place every two years and the Poet*innen Fest takes place every year. Nuremberg offers the Imperial Castle, the German Museum and other cultural highlights.

Nature: If you prefer to be outdoors, explore Franconian Switzerland (where you can climb, swim, hike, bike, explore caves, and more) – you can even bike right from the hotel to the Tennenloher Forest Nature Reserve. There are wild horses, goats, sand dunes, moors and more to discover.

Find out more about how to spend your time in Erlangen in our blog article: “Insider tips for a sustainable weekend in Erlangen” 

#10 Birkenhof***** Spa & Wellness, Upper Palatinate – Enjoy sustainable luxury

Looking for something more luxurious? Then there is a truly exceptional gourmet hotel for sports, wellness and culinary enthusiasts on a hill in the Opferpfälzer Seenland. The 5-star Hotel Birkenhof is committed to renewable energy and e-mobility at the highest level. Speaking of high standards: It is also home to the 2-star restaurant Obendorfers Eisvogel”.

“We are very good at catering to different interests. We have a wellness and relaxation offer and we are a hotel in the middle of nature with hiking possibilities, water skiing in the lake area, golf and cycling.” – Lukas Obendorfer, Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort

#11 Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa, Berchtesgadener Land – For couples who not only want different activities, but also different menus

At Hotel Klosterhof – Alpine Hideway & Spa, couples often order different meals, according to the host family. A popular variation is when one person is vegan and the other is not. In this case, there is an all vegetable “Kraut und Rüben” menu every evening.

There are often babymoon guests at the health hotel. Here the pregnant woman can participate in a special program while the father-to-be can do other things. In the evening you can enjoy the famous Barbarossa Mocktails together – each to your own taste.

#12 Naturresort Gerbehof, Lake Constance Region – Sporty nature vacation

Naturresort Gerbehof is the perfect place for you if you want to be surrounded by a natural, organic atmosphere. The sustainable hotel is located amidst the famous orchards of the Lake Constance region and is especially beautiful during the blossoming and apple harvest season.

“ We have opportunities for wellness, hiking, biking, sailing and surfing.” – Naturresort Gerbehof

#13 Lifestylehotel SAND – Vacation at the Baltic Sea

“ We are currently experiencing a huge increase in demand for offers for couples,” says Marion Muller, hostess of the Lifestylehotel SAND in Timmendorfer Strand. We described what such a weekend for two could look like in our blog article Baltic Sea for two.

The Adults Only Hotel offers several specials for couples. It is not necessary to do everything together with your partner. In this case, the hostess recommends the combination of the two offers “SANDromance” and “SANDstarnight”. This means ” Feel Good” for one and ” Outdoor Experience ” for the other.

#14 STURM in Mellrichstadt – Adventure and relaxation

At the sustainable Hotel STURM in Mellrichstadt in the Biosphere Reserve Rhön, most couples with different interests combine “adventure” and “relaxation”. Each partner can plan their day as they wish – one can go on an adventure tour and explore the surrounding forests, moors and caves, while the other relaxes with sauna sessions and massages.

„Perfect balance: each partner organizes the day according to his or her own wishes. End the day together with a delicious organic menu in the restaurant, followed by a drink in the lounge or in front of the fireplace.“ – STURM

Holidays for couples with different interests in Thailand, Italy, France and Nepal

#15 Keemala Villas Wonderland on Phuket – Everyone is allowed dream

Our Green PearlsⓇ partner, Keemala, on the Thai island of Phuket, has just been named “Best Resort in Thailand” and “One of the Best Hotels in the World” by the One Step 4Ward blog – after travel blogger Johnny Ward spent 18 years traveling the world.

He was there with his wife and they did everything together (yes, he just got married in 2021 – so it’s still fresh :-)). They even had their booked spa treatments moved to the same room. But you can also experience something on your own as a couple.

“Keemala caters to the needs of couples with different interests with our wellness and outdoor adventure themes.” – Keemala

Wellness: Spa treatments, yoga, wellness classes and mediation sessions

Culinary delights: Indulge in nutritious and wellness-oriented cuisine

Outdoor Adventure: Explore the rainforest and local wildlife on guided eco-tours. There are trails for all levels.

Water activities: Kayaking and Snorkeling

#16 Holidays at the Albergo Diffuso Relais del Maro in Liguria

How about the idyllic setting of a Ligurian village for your vacation? Borgomaro, in the hinterland of the coastal city of Imperia, is home to the Relais del Maro – an Albergo Diffuso spread over several houses in the village.

In the morning one person goes to the pool while the other sleeps in – later one person walks through the olive groves and tastes the famous Taggiasca olives while the other hires an e-bike from the reception to cycle along the coast. In the evening you will meet again for dinner and end your day with good food and good conversation.

#17 Couple vacation at the Green Spirit Hotels in Paris

If you are looking for an eco-friendly and personalized place to stay in Paris, we recommend Green Spirit Hotels: Le Pavillon, Hotel Malar and Hotel Amélie – all located in the lively 7th arrondissement and within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower, the Seine and other major attractions.

Because the Green Spirit eco-hotels are very small, you can’t do many things separately in the hotels themselves, says host Barbara Tascijevic with a laugh. But in the city of Paris, this is a matter of course!

#18 The Pavilions Himalaya – The Farm, Nepal – Safari and Yoga

Last but not least, The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm Hotel also told us that couples with different interests are very welcome. The sustainable resort in the foothills of the Himalayas runs its own organic farm, helps farmers convert to certified organic farming, and donates a full 70 percent of its income to the local Right4Children project.

There are eco-tours to explore Nepal’s stunning nature, cultural temples and festivals, and safari tours. Alternatively, one of you could lounge by the pool at the resort or practice yoga with the local yoga guru.

As you can see, there are many ways to combine different vacation desires in one place. That way, you can both get your money’s worth and still spend your vacation together. Of course, going separately is also an option, but our interests at home aren’t that far apart, at least 🙂

What are your experiences? Would you like to do something on your own on vacation? Or have you maybe already been doing it for a long time? We look forward to your comments.

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Welcome to Erlangen

The Franconian city of Erlangen attracts many business travelers. The Erlangen Tourism and Marketing Association (ETM) and the Hotel Luise itself report various statistics on overnight stays. But why not combine business with pleasure? Perhaps together with a loved one? In any case, getting here is no problem. As Bavaria’s “smallest city”, Erlangen has excellent connections to the international rail network and can be reached from anywhere by environmentally friendly train.

Hotel Luise – one of the most sustainable hotels in Europe

First of all, we would like to introduce you to your accommodation, the Hotel Luis. This family-run hotel is managed by Ben Förtsch, the third generation of his family to do so. He continues the ecological beliefs of his parents and is considered a pioneer of sustainability in the hotel industry.

You will find hotel rooms made from renewable materials, astronaut showers that use minimal water, urban gardening, upcycling, and more. A total of 250 sustainable initiatives have already been implemented, all of which are displayed on the Wall of Change. (By the way, the hotel with the Wall of Change is currently a finalist for the German Tourism Award 2024). Hotel Luise is often held up as a role model – and the team is well aware of this role and is happy to build on it.

By choosing Hotel Luise as your accommodation, you are reducing your carbon footprint and support the hotel’s commitment.

A weekend in Erlangen – Ideas and insider tips

Between nature and culture, city life and nature. Erlangen has something for everyone. Laura Heufelder from Hotel Luise gave us some insider tips on what a sustainable weekend in Erlangen could look like for you:

Friday: Arrival, wellness and exploration

After arriving at the Hotel Luise, you can relax with a little wellness. The spa area includes a Finnish sauna, a Vitarium, a steam bath and infrared cabins.

Afterwards you may rent a bike (there is a bike rental right at the hotel) and cycle the few minutes to the city center for dinner. Laura recommends the organic restaurant Das Muskat.

Saturday: Enjoy culture and nature

On Saturday, you will get to know Erlangen and the “French flair of the Huguenot city”. We especially recommend the

• Palace garden with orangery and the
• Botanical Garden

But there are also many small streets, cafés and shops to discover while strolling through the city.

If you are in Erlangen in the summer, Laura also recommends the Erlanger SchlossStrand, which gives you a real vacation feeling. Here you can enjoy a snack in a deck chair on the (sandy) Schlossplatz and watch the world go by.

There are many events in Erlangen that are worth attending. Highlights include:

• Erlanger Poetenfest (every year on the last weekend in August)
• Comic-Salon (International Comic Fair in May or June, accompanied by exhibitions and comic art throughout the city)
• Erlanger Bergkrichweih (Pentecost festival that attracts about a million visitors each year)

Sunday: Explore the surroundings

“Sunday is the perfect day for a hike or bike ride in the beautiful Franconian countryside,” says Laura.

Excursion to Marloffstein

Marloffstein is a beautiful destination that can be easily reached from Hotel Luise after an organic breakfast. We would like to emphasize the breakfast, because there is a wide variety of fair trade and organic products, honey from the hotel’s own beehive and a cozy greenhouse.

After checking out, you can store your luggage at the hotel and use the rented bike for excursions.

The community of Marloffstein is located about seven kilometers northeast of Erlangen. Here you will find Marloffstein Castle, from which hiking and biking trails lead to the surrounding castles of Adlitz and Atzelsberg.

The nature through which you travel is captivating, with forests and ponds (e.g. the “Märchenteich” near Marloffstein).

“It is worth stopping at one of the Franconian restaurants along the way to enjoy Franconian specialties. – Laura from Hotel Luise

You have now experienced a lot – history, culture, nature, exercise, wellness, vacation – all in one weekend and with a small ecological footprint. Would this be something for you? Let us know in the comments!

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How environmentally friendly is a vacation by long-distance coach?

In 2021, the carbon footprint of long-distance bus travel was considered even lower than that of long-distance train travel. According to the Federal Environment Agency, in 2022, both long-distance train and long-distance bus travel produce an avarage of 31 grams of emissions (greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxides, particulates) per passenger kilometer. In contrast, travel by car causes an average of 166 grams of emissions per passenger kilometer.

Occupancy is an important factor

The reason why trains and long-distance coaches were not as far apart as in 2021 (when long-distance coaches were at 27 g/km and long-distance trains at 50 g/km) is probably that the occupancy figures have been adjusted. Previously, it was assumed that long-distance coaches would normally be almost fully occupied. In the more recent calculation, long-distance trains are assumed to be 46 percent full and long-distance buses 52 percent full. This brings the two figures closer together.

One long-distance coach replaces up to 30 cars

Another argument in favor of long-distance buses is that they relieve congestion on the highways. According to the Bavarian Association of Bus Companies, one bus can replace “a good 30 cars” on the road. ( The calculation is probably made on the basis that a bus has about 50 to 80 seats). This helps the environment, reduces wear and tear on the roads, and is good for stress levels 🙂

Long-distance coach travel is inexpensive.

According to the newspaper Der Standard, the most important argument for traveling by bus is the low price. A quick comparison for a one-way trip today shows me:

• The route Cologne – Paris (direct) costs 85.98 euros (as an overnight trip) and takes 6 hours with Flixbus.
• Cologne – Paris (direct) by Eurostar train costs 135 euros and takes 3:22 hours

It pays to compare

Of course, this is just an example, but I personally compared the prices of trains and long-distance buses for various European routes many times, and as a rule, the bus is always the cheapest. The first thing you can do is to include the bus in your next travel research and compare the prices.

Is Flixbus a sustainable company?

Flixbus is one of the largest long-distance bus operators in Europe and has a sustainability policy. Some of the goals include switching to alternative fuels and e-buses. (FYI: Flixbus did not start with a new bus fleet, but rather bought up existing bus companies). Flixbus aims to be carbon neutral by 2030. As a customer, you already have the opportunity to offset your CO2 emissions through our climate partner atmosfair.

For comparison, trains already run on green electricity on many routes. Another advantage of trains is that they have no tires. Tire abrasion is a major source of microplastics. However, as the effects of microplastics have not yet been fully researched, this factor is not included in current comparative calculations by the Federal Environment Agency, etc.

Are long-distance coach trips pleasant?

Most long-distance coaches in Europe have seats with adjustable backrests, a toilet, air conditioning/heating, Wi-Fi, power outlets, and luggage racks. Sounds comfortable, doesn’t it? Yet Flixbus, the largest company on Trustpilot with over 10,000 German-language reviews, has a lot of 1-star ratings (about 49%; 28% award 5 stars). There are many reasons for this:

• Delays
• Unfriendly bus driver
• No toilet paper
• Seat reservation problems

However, you should take the disproportionate amount of criticism with a grain of salt (as is often the case on the Internet). As you can imagine, people who are upset about something (like a lack of toilet paper) are more likely to write a comment. And while 10,000 reviews may sound like a lot, the Trustpilot writers only represent a fraction of that number.

“My own experience with Flixbus: I’ve always had a faultless experience. Punctual, clean and if there were delays, you were informed.” – Mara Biebow from Green Pearls

Long distance coach travel is no limousine service

You should be prepared: Long-distance coach travel is an inexpensive way to get from A to B in an eco-friendly way, but you have to make some compromises. You can’t get up, stretch your legs, and go to the on-board restaurant like you can on a train; the road can be stressful (traffic jams, heavy traffic); and you have to adjust to the breaks.

A vacation by long-distance coach in Germany – popular destinations and suitable eco-lodgings

#1 Freiburg – Green City Hotel Vauban

Freiburg im Breisgau is known as the “capital of the Black Forest” and has the most sunny hours in Germany.  Close to France and Switzerland, the university city has a charming flair and is well worth a visit. Flixbus offers several direct routes to Freiburg. An alternative is BlaBlaCar, which offers both bus routes and carpooling opportunities.

The Long-distance buses stop at Freiburg’s main train station. From here you can take bus number 11 or tram number 3 in about 15 minutes to the modern Vauban district, where the Green City Hotel Vauban is located right next to the tram stop. The Green Hotel is an inclusive establishment with a simple and bright design and an ecological commitment.

#2 Füssen – Romantic Boutique Hotel Das Rübezahl

You can reach Füssen by bus from Amsterdam, Budapest, Madrid, Copenhagen, Vienna and many other cities. The Bavarian town in the Allgäu is so popular because of its location in the green foothills of the Alps between the royal castles of Hohenschwangau and Neuschwanstein. The latter can be admired directly from Hotel Das Rübezahl. A small, romantic, family-run boutique hotel in Füssen with a wellness garden and natural swimming pond.

#3 Erlangen – Hotel Luise

Erlangen is the “smallest big city” in Bavaria and offers an ideal mix of urban amenities and relaxation. Here you can enjoy a coffee on the beautiful market square or go hiking in the surrounding area..

Long-distance buses stop at Erlangen train station, which is only 2 kilometers from the ecologically run Hotel Luise. A public bus will take you to Mozartstraße, right next to the hotel. As of 2024, you will be able to take the bus in Erlangen’s city center for free.

A sustainable vacation by long-distance coach in Italy 

#1 Milan – Zero Emission Hotel Milano Scala

Have you ever been to Milan? The northern Italian fashion capital is definitely worth a visit! Especially if you are interested in culture, art and museums. Long-distance buses to Milan are available from all European cities, and a trip can sometimes be purchased for less than 50 euros!

The zero-emissions Hotel Milano Scala is located in the center of Milan at the famous La Scala opera house. The sustainable hotel produces its own geothermal energy and has a beautiful green roof terrace where you can enjoy a wonderful evening after an eventful day in the city.

#2 Brixen

Brixen is the oldest town in Tyrol and is one of the Flixbus destinations for South Tyrol. A shuttle will pick you up at the bus station and take you to My Arbor, a 15-minute drive away. Situated on 34 meters of stilts in the middle of the forest, the hotel offers a breathtaking view over the treetops. It is the perfect place for a vacation with nature experiences, wellness and relaxation.

#3 Bozen

From the bus station in Bolzano you can take the cable car to Soprabolzano in about 10 minutes, from where you can reach the special APIPURA Hotel Ritten by the historic Renon cable car. The use of the cable car and the Rittenbahn (as well as all other public transport on the Ritten) is free of charge, as the hotel will provide you with the Ritten Card and send it to your home on request. The Hotel APIPURA of the Rinner family has its own beehive, from which you can breathe the air in the Apipura Wellness. There is also a large selection of homemade organic honey at the breakfast buffet. The rest of the hotel’s food is also organic.

#4 Imperia

Imperia is a coastal town in Liguria from where you can reach our Green Pearls® partner Relais del Maro. Situated inland in the small village of Borgomaro, it is an Albergo Diffuso, which means that the hotel is spread around the village. You stay among the locals, in former residential and commercial buildings owned by the owner’s family. This concept has successfully helped to combat the rural exodus and preserve villages in Italy.

Take the long-distance coach to Paris and spend the night there in a sustainable way

Paris is one of the major cities to which many (long-distance) bus companies travel regularly. The Gare Routière Porte Maillot bus station is about 4 kilometers from the city center, where our three Green PearlsⓇ partners, the Green Spirit Hotels, are located. The small city hotels Hotel Le Pavilon, Hotel Marlar and Hotel Amélie are located in the 7th arrondissement, within walking distance of the Seine and the Eiffel Tower.

Is it worth traveling by coach?

The simple answer from an environmental and budget perspective is yes, long-distance buses are a good way to travel. They are

• cheap
• environmentally friendly
• and have a fairly well-developed route network

But they also have disadvantages. Of course, you have more privacy in a train compartment or in your own car, and you are much more flexible when traveling by car. But perhaps the sustainable aspect is an additional motivation for you to vacation by long-distance coach – for the sake of the environment. And if you decide to travel by train, take a look at this article on the most beautiful train destinations in Europe.

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Walking as a trend

You may have noticed that walking has been all the rage in recent years. Instead of focusing on new means of transportation (you may remember the predictions that we will all be using hoverboards in “the future”), health-conscious people are now wearing a step counter on their wrist.

The beginning of the 10,000 steps challenge

Walk 10,000 steps a day to stay healthy, slim and live longer. That’s roughly the message of the famous 10,000 Step Challenge. It’s not really new, but it’s been reinvigorated by the sales of smartwatches and fitness trackers, and the popularity of social media “challenges” in general.

This “challenge” began in Japan in the 1960s. At the time, the country was preparing for the 1964 Olympic Games and the population was becoming more conscious of health and fitness.

Manpo-Kai was a Japanese advertising campaign

At that time, a modern pedometer worn on the waist was introduced in Japan. It was popularized by the slogan “Manpo-Kai,” which means 10,000 steps in Japanese. Manpo-Kei was the minimum number of steps that the many walking clubs of the time promoted as a daily quota. The health trend spread around the world at that time – only to be forgotten and revived in the smart age.

It doesn’t have to be 10,000 steps

Manpo-Kei has motivated a large number of studies, and the opinions of doctors and fitness coaches can be heard around the world.

The most recent study was published in December 2023. The University of Lodz in Poland analyzed data from 227,000 people. It showed:

• 2,337 steps per day reduces the risk of death from cardiovascular disease
• From 4,000 steps per day, the overall risk of death decreases
• Taking 7,000 to 13,000 steps a day reduces the risk of death (for people under 60) by 49 percent.

In this case, a lot really does help a lot.

Walking as a Slow Travel method

Bertram Weisshaar, author of “Einfach losgehen” (Just start walking), considers walking as a Slow Travel method.

“ When we walk, we move at our natural speed, and our brain keeps up with our feet. As soon as we use a vehicle – a bicycle, a car, a cable car, a bus – we are immediately much faster. Too many sensory impressions rapidly reach the brain. Our perception often becomes much more superficial. – Bertram Weisshaar to dpa

According to the author, if you take a hop-on, hop-off bus tour, getting off at the sights and skipping the “unspectacular” stuff in between, you lose “something essential” about the destination compared to exploring it on foot.

CO2 emissions from walking are limited to exhalation

Another thing we want to mention is that walking is the most sustainable mode of transportation. Apart from exhaling, you don’t produce any CO2! It’s even better than biking, because bikes still have to be produced.

Our tips for destinations that offer a good walk

To use Manpo-Kai on vacation, you should choose a vacation destination that is attractive to pedestrians. A huge city full of traffic chaos like Cairo, for example, would be less suitable. It is an adventure, of course, but the distances between the sights are sometimes enormous, and some streets are difficult to cross safely as a pedestrian.

Explore Paris on foot

In Paris, on the other hand, you can easily get around on foot. Our Green PearlsⓇ partner, the Hôtel Le Pavillon, for example, is centrally located in the 7th arrondissement. From here its

• 1.5 km to the Eiffel Tower
• 2.5 km to the Champs-Élysées
• 1.8 km to the Invalides Cathedral
• 2.3 km to the Orsay Museum

Discover Milan on foot

Milan is considered the fashion capital of Italy and is also rich in culture. Located in the city center is our Green PearlsⓇ partner, Hotel Milano Scala. As a zero-emissions hotel, it is completely self-sufficient with sustainable geothermal energy. The highlight – the green roof terrace – offers views of some of the sights within walking distance:

• 400 meters (3 minutes) La Scala Opera House
• 400 meters (3 minutes) from the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping center
• 4 km to Castello Sforzesco (home of the UNESCO World Heritage Site “The Last Supper”)
• 1 km from Milan Cathedral
• 1,4 km to the luxury shopping district, Montenapoleone and Della Spiga

The most beautiful walks in Erlangen

In the Franconian university town of Erlangen, Germany, the Hotel Luise also offers a fantastic roof terrace.

            “There is a lot to discover within walking distance, as we are a city hotel with a central location” – Hotel Luise

The Erlangen Eco-Hotel owners recommend the following “destinations” for walkers:

• 5 km Erlangen Castle Garden
• 4 km Erlangen Botanical Garden
• 9 km to the old town (small shops, restaurants and cafés await you)

Tip: If you are in Erlangen around Whitsun, you can walk to the Erlanger Bergkirchweih, the most popular folk festival in the region.

6 walks in Bad Herrenalb in the Black Forest

You may know the Black Forest town of Bad Herrenalb as a health resort. Here you will find excellent air (climatic health resort) as well as healing and thermal water. One of these thermal baths is located in the Hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA. Many guests combine a stay with fasting and light physical activities such as yoga, forest bathing or walking.

The hotel has given us six sites within walking distance of the hotel in Bad Herrenalb:

• 1 km to the Kurpark
• 1 km to the Schweizerwiese
• 1,1 km to the Ziegelmuseum
• 1,3 km to the monastery (monastery with garden and Kneipp basin)
• 2 km to the Dobeltal Game Reserve (You can walk the enclosure with roe deer, deer, and red deer within an hour)
• 1 km to the Falkenstein Rock

A walk in nature

If cobblestones and city air are not your favorite walking environment and you prefer to enjoy the great outdoors, here are some recommendations from our partners

Located on the German side of Lake Constance, Naturresort Gerbehof is surrounded by forest and organic orchards. Many people visit during the apple blossom season (April, May) to hike and be enchanted by the sea of blossoms.

“About 20 minutes walk from us is the small chapel “Stella Maries” on the Haldenberg. From here you have a beautiful panoramic view of the lake and the Swiss mountains. – Gerbehof Nature Resort

At the Eco-Hotel Okelmann’s in the small village of Warpe there is also a wooded area where you can walk through nature. If you want to go for a long walk, there is the 16 km Warpe Sculpture Trail.

The Gut Guntrams near Vienna, Austria recommends the following destinations for walks:

• Seebenstein Castle (6.9 kilometers)
• Pitten Castle (3.9 kilometers)

A rose garden and the Schwarz River floodplain are also within walking distance.

Good to know: How long does it take you to tackle 1 km on foot?

If you’re wondering how long it takes to walk each of these distances:

The average pedestrian walks at about 4 to 5 kilometers per hour. So, you can walk one kilometer in about 12 to 15 minutes and 4 to 5 kilometers in an hour.

How long does it take to walk 1000 or 10,000 steps?

It takes about 10 minutes for 1,000 steps.

For 10,000 steps (Manpo-Kai), you are on your feet for about 1.5 to 2 hours and can cover up to 10 kilometers.

What is the difference between walking and hiking?

The German Hiking Association (an umbrella organization of about 70 hiking clubs) agreed on a definition of hiking in 2010. According to this definition, a hike lasts at least one hour. The Encyclopaedia Britannica also defines hiking as an activity in nature.

So if you walk in the city, it is not hiking, it is walking. And if you walk a short and easy distance in nature (<1h), that is walking, too. From the 18th century, walking for “recreation and edification” became fashionable among the European bourgeoisie, as evidenced by the literature of the time.

I walked in the forest

 So for myself,

And nothing to seek

That was my purpose.

(From “Gefunden” by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, 1813)

Romantic walks along the Moselle

Incidentally, the travel-loving Goethe had also been to the Moselle. In November 1792, he took a boat trip through the river valley – as did the famous English painter William Turner later on. With its river, vineyards and palaces, villas, and castles, the Moselle region is one of the most romantic regions in Germany. A special hotel here is the sustainably managed Lifestyle Resort zum Kurfürsten with a large wellness area. A trip to Bernkastel-Kues is an ideal first walk. Here you will find a medieval market square and cute stores and cafés.

The town recommends several walking tours:

• Family circuit (4.2 km)
• Doctor circular trail (4.1 km through the Bernkasteler Doctor vineyard)
• Burgberg circular trail (2 km)
• Cusanus circular trail (4.1 km)

On foot in the mountains

If you are already one of the “pros” of the walking scene – now we come to the terrain of hiking – our Green PearlsⓇ partners offer wonderful accommodations in the middle of the mountains.

“ You can walk practically anywhere because we are in a mountain village,” says CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt. The sustainable resort sits at the foot of the famous Matterhorn and is surrounded by 38 four-thousanders. The fact that Zermatt is car-free is, of course, ideal for hikers. But you really need good hiking boots and physical fitness.

More than 1000 meters of altitude gain in 5 kilometers

One of the most popular destinations around Zermatt is the Gornergrat, which we also covered in this blog article about glaciers. The distance is only 4.9 kilometers – but it is an altitude gain from 1,620 meters (Zermatt) to 3,135 meters (Gornergrat)!

A walk to the castle of Neuschwanstein

From Hotel Das Rübezahl you have several options for excursions on foot. The hotel is located in Schwangau in the Allgäu and you can go for walks and mountain hikes from here.

The famous fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein is within sight of the hotel and only 3.5 kilometers away. The walk takes about 45 minutes. Other walks that don’t require hiking boots include the town of Füssen (2.5 kilometers) and its festival hall. If you are looking for more challenging hikes, there are hiking trails to numerous huts in the mountains.

Balderschwang on foot

Also in the Allgäu region is the beautiful village of Balderschwang, which you can learn more about in our blog article about villages. The HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio is located here in the middle of the German mountains at an altitude of 1,044 meters. Just a few minutes walk from the hotel is a 2,000 year old yew tree that is well worth a visit. The Balderschwang Kneipp Pool is about a 15 minute walk away, where you can revitalize your arms, legs and circulation.

Further walks or shorter hikes will take you to some huts and alpine pastures (pastures where cows are kept). Some of these pastures also supply the hotel with cheese and meat.

Chalet vacation with village tours in Alpbachtal

In Austria’s Alpachtal, you can enjoy both nature and privacy in the luxurious Hygna chalets. There are various village walks in the Alpachtal:

• Alpbach walk (3 km)
• Rossmoos loop (1.5 km)
• Mühlbachweg/ themed trail “Path of Reflection” (2.1 km)
• Way of the Cross Basilica Mariathal (1.4 km)

Tip: Every first Saturday of the month from 08:30 – 12:00 there is the Brixlegg farmers’ market. Bixlegg is approx. 2.5 kilometers from the Hygna Chalets and you can find regional products from the surrounding farms for your self-catering in the chalets.

New valley trail around Matrei in East Tyrol

The Naturhotel Outside in the Hohe Tauern National Park has informed us that there is a new valley trail around Matrei. The 15-kilometer trail features many stories about the village and takes about 4.5 hours to complete (that’s more than 20,000 steps!)

A good reason to relax in the hotel’s sauna world afterwards 🙂

In the footsteps of Sigmund Freud

In South Tyrol, on the Italian side of the Alps, our Green PearlsⓇ partner ADLER Lodge RITTEN recommended the Freud Promenade as a hiking trail. It leads from Oberbozen to Klobenstein and at every resting place you will find aphorisms by Sigmund Freud. The trail is “very easy”, i.e. without any major inclines or other difficulties, and takes about 1.5 hours.

Bee trail on the Ritten

Also located on the Ritten is the APIPURA hotel rinner run by beekeeper Paul Rinner and his family. They have created a small educational bee trail in the woods in front of the hotel, where you can learn a lot about the western honey bee (Apis mellifera). There are also many walking trails around the hotel, leading you through flowering meadows and picturesque villages. As a highlight, the hotel recommends an easy hike of approx. 5 kilometers from Oberbozen to the earth pyramids.

Experience nature in the new OLM Nature Escape

Our new partner, the OLM Nature Escape, opened at the beginning of this year in South Tyrol and is completely geared towards sustainability. The most important point here is energy self-sufficiency. Thanks to geothermal probes and solar panels, the circular facility is completely powered by its own green electricity. As the name suggests, the focus of this hideaway is on experiencing nature. For a walk, the aparthotel recommends going to Sand in Taufers. Sand in Taufers is 4.5 kilometers away and here you can visit Taufers Castle. You can also discover all kinds of chapels, churches, and bodies of water in the surrounding area. The Ahrauen nature reserve is also particularly beautiful. However, these are around 17 kilometers away.

“On my way to the beach”

Don’t you wish you could say that more often? The ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA is located on one of the most beautiful beaches in Sicily! Located in the WWF “Riserva Naturale Torre Salsa”, this beach is unique in that it can only be reached on foot from the resort and is otherwise very difficult to access. The 6 km long sandy beach is therefore still natural and unspoiled and a wonderful place for barefoot walks.

“Only where you have walked, have you really been.” – Goethe

Even the poet Johann Wolfgang Goethe knew the benefits of walking-even though he had neither a smartwatch nor a pedometer. Now we’d like to hear your thoughts. Would you choose a vacation destination based on whether it’s a good place to walk?

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