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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Is taking a sauna a sin or is it healthy?

A traditional Finnish sauna has a dry heat of about 80 degrees and only 10 percent humidity. As you can imagine, the sauna heater has to provide a considerable amount of heat. According to one energy company, you could work on your laptop for 300 to 400 hours for the electricity used in a single sauna session. (Of course, the more people who use a sauna, the “better” the ecological balance becomes).

In 2022, during the energy crisis, the topic of saunas even made it onto the German political agenda. In an interview with Welt am Sonntag, Schleswig-Holstein’s state premier Daniel Günther (CDU) argued that saunas should be turned off. He said they belonged to a category of luxury that people should “voluntarily do without”. Martin Niederstein, head of the German Sauna Association, countered that saunas are a beneficial way to take care of one’s health.

Taking a sauna for your health

Several studies show the positive effects of sauna on the immune system, skin and cardiovascular system. Sauna master Manuel Greifenberg agrees that “health is the number one priority”. But it can be achieved in a sustainable way. His employer, the Green PearlsⓇ Hotel My Arbor in South Tyrol, is committed to sustainable operations and produces part of its energy needs through a large solar system on the roof.

Zero Energy Sauna

A few years ago, the University of Stuttgart caused a sensation with its “zero-energy sauna”. It is operated without a power connection and runs solely on solar energy (with a thermal energy store).

It shows that energy-hungry luxury is possible without fossil fuels and harmful emissions. Or, let us say: with a lot less.

How to make a sauna sustainable

Renewable Energy

Above all, energy is the key to an environmentally friendly sauna. The “Zero Energy Sauna”, which the University of Stuttgart presented as a world first in 2022, is now a reality. And it can be found, among other places, in the OLM Nature Escape of the Green PearlsⓇ network in South Tyrol.

“Our guests sauna in an energy neutral way, as our saunas are powered by geothermal and photovoltaic energy.” – OLM Nature Escape

The circular aparthotel in Sand in Taufers is the first energy-independent hotel in the Alps and is completely self-sufficient in terms of electricity and heating thanks to geothermal probes and solar panels. What’s more, you can enjoy a sauna in complete privacy, as some of the aparthotel suites have their own private saunas.

Survey: 43% of wellness hotels use natural gas

The situation is different in a large proportion of wellness hotels. According to a survey of wellness hotels, 43% use natural gas to heat their spa areas. This means that if you simply check into a wellness hotel, there is a good chance that a fossil fuel will be burned for your sauna session, which in its entirety has a negative impact on the environment.

Environmentally friendly wood

Another environmental aspect of saunas is the wood. Wood is a natural and biodegradable material. However, anyone who uses wood should take care to preserve the forests. This is why OLM relies on an FSC-certified supplier. The saunas are made of spruce, the apartments of larch.

Excursus: Seal for wood from sustainable forests: When it comes to sustainable certification of wood, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is currently the “only credible seal”. This is the view of Greenpeace and the Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union (NABU). Even though Greenpeace left the FSC in 2018 and there are also criticisms of the FSC seal, it is still the best functioning seal for forest protection and species conservation worldwide. The main point of criticism is that FSC also certifies tropical timber. Therefore, FSC-certified wood that is NOT tropical wood is the best. The PEFC label is considered less strict and is also criticized for allowing the use of pesticides.

Here you can enjoy an environmentally friendly sauna

The wellness hotels in the Green PearlsⓇ network are characterized by the fact that they all rely on renewable energies (albeit to varying degrees). In addition, you can often experience fantastic views, natural materials and other special features.

Naturresort Gerbehof: Wood from the hotel’s own forest and green electricity

Naturresort Gerbehof is located near Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance, on the edge of its own forest property and surrounded by fruit tree plantations. The wood used for the hand-carved saunas comes directly from the resort’s own forest. Only green electricity is used throughout the resort (including the saunas). To avoid wasting electricity, the saunas are operated by appointment only.

Hotel Das Rübezahl: Event-based energy boost and self-generated electricity

The weekly calendar of the Hotel Das Rübezahl in Füssen in the Allgäu region of Germany lists the dates for “Event Infusions & Meditation.” The infusions by sauna master Istvan (who also teaches yoga and meditation classes at the hotel) depend on the mood.

Sometimes he comes in a Rastafarian cap as Bob Marley, sometimes in a Scottish skirt and bagpipes. “Sauna should be fun,” says Istvan.

In addition to the saunas in the spa area, the hotel has rooms with private infrared saunas. According to the hotel, the saunas are heated “primarily with self-generated electricity”. If the electricity from the solar panels is not enough, the romantic wellness hotel also purchases green electricity from hydropower. Automated sauna technology also ensures that the sauna is only heated when necessary.

Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt: New sauna saves water

The family-run Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt in Switzerland built a new panoramic sauna in its spa area in 2024 – for sustainable reasons. Where there is now a sauna with a spectacular view of the Matterhorn, there used to be a hot tub that each guest could fill with 280 liters of fresh water at the touch of a button. “The water consumption was immense,” says host Fabienne Anthamatten. Zermatt is located right next to the Gorner Glacier, so you can see for yourself how the planet’s largest freshwater reserves are disappearing due to climate change. The sauna (powered by 100% green hydropower) is therefore more sustainable than the hot tub. It is only used on request during the summer.

Naturhotel Outside: Electricity from renewable sources

For a true nature vacation, the Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol is the place to be. The hiking hotel is located in the middle of the Hohe Tauern National Park. The spa area was built with regional materials and only expanded in 2024. Now, in the summer of 2025, an extended outdoor area at the natural swimming pond awaits you. The sauna is powered exclusively by green electricity. There is an in-house photovoltaic system as well as external green electricity from hydropower.

Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel: rooms with private sauna

The Hotel Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel on the Seiser Alm, 2,000 meters above sea level, works with a green energy provider. 90% of the electricity comes from hydropower. In addition to the various saunas in the spa area (steam sauna, Finnish sauna, straw sauna and infrared sauna), there are also “JS Wellness” rooms with their own infrared sauna right next to the bed. According to the hotel, these rooms are especially popular during the ski season. The ski slope ends right in front of the hotel – so after a sauna (and shower) you can fall right into bed 🙂

Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort: Technology for luxury and sustainability

As a 5-star hotel and operator of a 2-star restaurant, the Hotel Der Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort surprises with its commitment to sustainability. The resort operates three photovoltaic systems and two combined heat and power plants to generate electricity and heat. The electricity for the various saunas (including a tower sauna, a panorama sauna and an ice lounge) is generated as far as possible by the resort’s own solar panels. In addition, an advanced sauna control system heats the saunas sequentially, ensuring that there are no power peaks.

Hotel Weihrerhof: Green electricity sauna with lake view

The Hotel Weihrerhof is located directly on the shore of Lake Costalovara on the Ritten in South Tyrol. From the “Bootshaus Sauna” you have a wonderful view of the lake. In summer, young and old swim in it, and in winter it is a huge ice rink where you can watch ice skaters while sitting comfortably and warmly in the sauna. “Our saunas are energy-efficient, run on green electricity and are turned down during off-peak hours,” says host Klaus Pichler, summarizing the sustainability aspects.

APIPURA hotel rinner: A round barrel sauna saves energy

The APIPURA hotel rinner is also located on the Ritten. The hotel is committed to certified organic agriculture and the “Bio Fair Südtirol” seal. The senior owner is a beekeeper and so you will find (besides the wide range of organic honey) Apiwellness in the hotel, where you can breathe the air of the beehive. For the sauna, the Rinner family deliberately chose a barrel sauna because it is very energy efficient. The energy itself comes from a district heating plant. This plant converts waste from local wood production into energy.

Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel: Traditional Andean Sauna in Peru

In the Peruvian Andes, the Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel offers the “Andean Sauna”, which combines wellness with local traditions. The sauna is made of granite stones and is heated by heated stones. Fresh eucalyptus leaves provide a pleasant steam. Eucalyptus is widely used in Peru. The Inkaterra Hotel Group is a pioneer in sustainable tourism in Peru. The hotel is particularly committed to biodiversity and species protection, but also relies on renewable energy sources from hydropower.

Lifestylehotel SAND: Roof top sauna

At the adults-only Lifestylehotel SAND, the sauna is a real highlight. The hotel is located in the popular Baltic Sea resort of Timmendorfer Strand, right on the beach. The hotel’s roof terrace is a wonderful place to end the day. And that’s also where you’ll find the sauna. Essential oils such as lavender, lemon and alpine herbs create a relaxing or refreshing atmosphere, and the hotel also provides sauna-goers with shower bombs, loofah sponges and fresh, homemade iced tea. Book your sauna visit in advance as a private spa. Not only will you have the sauna to yourself (and your companion), but it will only be heated when you need it.

Gut Sonnenhausen: Enjoy a sauna with a view of the paddock

Gut Sonnenhausen, south of Munich, is a converted stud farm in the midst of nature. Here, environmental pioneer Georg Schweisfurth has realized his dream of building a hotel in a listed building, surrounded by organic farming and gardens. The sauna is located outside and, like the entire complex, is powered by green energy from Green Planet Energy.

Eco-Hotel Okelmanns: Sauna by appointment in a converted shepherd’s hut

In the small town of Warpe in Lower Saxony, Germany, Okelmanns Eco-Hotel is a place of peace and relaxation. People come here for yoga retreats, mindfulness exercises, or gentle nature experiences with biking and easy hiking. The hotel has a combined heat and power plant and a photovoltaic system. An old shepherd’s hut has been converted into a sauna by the Okelmann family. A special feature is that you always have the sauna to yourself. The hosts rent the sauna exclusively per room and it is only heated for the time booked. In addition to the sauna, there is also an outdoor whirlpool to complete the wellness experience.

Hotel Klosterbräu: Seven themed saunas

Seven themed saunas await you at the Green PearlsⓇ Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Tyrol. The highlight is the completely hand-carved “Heart Sauna,” but the “Bread Sauna” with the scent of freshly baked bread is something you won’t find anywhere else. The hotel, built on the site of an old monastery, has many other fairytale features. For example, there is a “beer fountain” in the wellness area. For families, there is a non-nude sauna where children feel comfortable both in terms of temperature and dress code. The hotel heats with wood chips and optimizes its energy consumption with a digital solution in cooperation with Siemens.

Show Infusion: A crazy wellness trend takes over Europe

If you are among those who find the silence of a sauna uncomfortable, there are now hotels that have turned the infusion into a real theatrical production. Damien Gabet, an Englishman, visited several saunas in South Tyrol this year for Conde Nast Traveller. The so-called show infusion is said to have been invented there.

For example, Damien has seen performances by reigning sauna world champion Michael Niedermair and his partner Kasia Klajn. The performances are tailored to a 20-minute sauna session. In one sauna scene, for example, a red devil climbs out of a chest; there are costumes, wigs, and lots of silliness with waving towels.

“There’s something a little Eurovision about it all: embracing the art and aphorisms certainly requires you to park your Britishness (read: sarcastic, snooty) at the door – next to your pants. But it’s an impressive show and I’ve (sadly, perhaps) never had more fun in a sauna.” – Travel Journalist Damien Gabet

Show infusions in My Arbor

Sauna master Manuel Greifenberg of My Arbor also plans to compete in the sauna championships (he already has a world bodybuilding title). However, he plans to compete in the “classic waving” category at the sauna championships. “I prefer the classic version, where the infusion is an infusion and not a performance,” he explains.

 “Our infusions are a place of tranquility and reflection. My show infusions are a blend of music, scent and body graphics. The guest is always the focus.” – Saunameister Manuel Greifenberg

Our opinion: We like shows and health – but only with green electricity!

So, have you changed your mind about taking a sauna? As you can see, not only is it good for your health, but there is also a lot to see and experience. However, the question of how the sauna is powered is not insignificant. “Burning fossil fuels for energy is the main cause of climate change,” says the German Ministry of Economic Development.

That’s why we say: your health is important, and if you want, you can enjoy a show sauna. But going to the sauna doesn’t have to be at the expense of the planet! If you power it with (self produced) renewable energy sources, you can have the same fun in a green way!

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Wellness for the soul at Gerbehof Nature Resort

Are you open to alternative medicine? At Naturresort Gerbehof on the German shore of Lake Constance, you will find healing according to Viktor Philippi. Hostess Ursula Wagner met Viktor Philippi at a lecture in 2015 and completed her first training with him in 2016. She reports:

“At that time I was in very poor health and we had suffered many blows that had a severe impact on our family. I tried a few things. Most of them just kept me “afloat” but didn’t really help. Until I “accidentally” met Mr. Philippi. And that’s when I felt I had arrived. I quickly felt much better, both physically and mentally, and since the summer of 2016 I have been offering bio-motivation in our company.”

Nine years later, she is a staunch advocate and supporter of Viktor Philippi’s Foundation for Health. Already next week she will attend her next congress. A Theo-medicine congress in Taubenheim.

Bioenergetic Motivation

Viktor Philippi became known for the biomeditation method he developed. This method aims to identify and release energetic blockages in the body in order to activate the body’s self-healing powers. The sessions are conducted by specially trained Biosens therapists like Ursula. You lie in a relaxed position and the Biosens therapist works with his hands in your energy field without physical contact.

In the Philippi Method, certain stones also play a supporting role. For example, the Atlantis II Stress Relief Massage uses heated jade and basalt stones. Through special “programming,” they are said to help absorb “burdensome vibrations” from the body.

The Gerbehof nature resort also offers the following programs and services:

• Soul balm (4 nights with drinking cure, bioenergetic group motivation and bioenergetic liver detox)
• A little time away – recharge your batteries (3 nights of bioenergetic motivation and bioenergetic liver detox)
• Health weeks (individual period with 2x daily bio-motivation, morning and evening clearing in the stone circle, tips for healthy thinking, light meals)
• A different kind of fasting (7 nights of alkaline fasting and support program)

However, these are not fixed retreats, but rather an offer that you can customize. If you are interested in Soul Wellness at the Nature Resort, it is best to inquire directly and then explore with Ursula how the Soul Retreat can be designed for you.

One more thing: Viktor Philippi emphasizes on his website that he does not reject conventional medicine – on the contrary, he recognizes its enormous importance for physical healing. However, he also points out that it often reaches its limits when it comes to psychosomatic illnesses, burnout or depression. Nevertheless, you should always consult a physician or psychotherapist if you have serious physical or mental health problems or illnesses, and use energetic or other alternative healing methods to supplement conventional treatment if they work for you.

ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA: Holistic Healing in a Mediterranean Retreat

At ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA you will be cared for by Dr. med. Letterio Taormina. He is a general practitioner, but also practices traditional Chinese acupuncture and light therapy (phytotherapy). By combining Western and Eastern methods, he aims to provide a “holistic view” of his patients and thus achieve a “lasting psycho-physical well-being”.

“”Convinced that man is inseparable from nature, I turned more and more to the traditional healing methods of the East, especially to Chinese medicine,” says Dr. Taormina.

The ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA is located on a natural beach in Sicily, protected by the WWF, and offers a range of health packages in the areas of detoxification, weight loss and nutrition, and stress management.

Stress management retreats during your vacation

The Stress Management Program on the island begins with a detailed initial assessment where you and Dr. Taormina will formulate your goals and create a personalized plan. A stress analysis is performed and blood samples are taken.

The program during your stay will include a special diet, a guided exercise program, and various treatments and massages. The goal is not only to help you relax physically, but also to help you release stress mentally so that you can return to your everyday life feeling stronger.

• Learn more about the medical programs at ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA
  

TCM at Zum Kurfürsten Lifestyle Resort on the Mosel River

If you are interested in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and its holistic approach, you will find it in Germany on the Moselle River. The Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten was designed by host Heiner Buckermann as a Feng Shui power place.

Several TCM therapists work at the wellness hotel. One of them is Ingrid Grubisik, who can also create a holistic plan for you at the beginning of your vacation, showing you how to achieve inner balance through diet (based on the 5 elements), exercise, treatments and meditation techniques.

• For more information about TCM by KURFÜRST INSTITUT, please visit the resort’s website.
  

Mental Detox in Bavaria at Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa

At the Green PearlsⓇ Hotel Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa, a trained physician welcomes you and combines health with the hotel business. The host, Dr. Andreas Färber, has integrated the Artemacur health center into the wellness hotel.

In addition to health weeks and liver fasting, they offer a spiritual detox for the soul. You can do this with a short stay of only three nights. During this time, you can give up your cell phone (only if you want to, of course) and receive a guided forest bath (Shinrin Yoku) along with a health consultation. A singing bowl massage is also included.

• Learn more about the health programs at Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa
  

Wellness & health for body and soul at OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel

The OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel in Tenerife also follows the approach of healing both body and soul. To this end, various health and fasting programs are offered in the hotel’s HEALTH SPA, but especially in the F.X. Mayr Center, which was founded by host Dr. med. Karl Matthias Rolle. It offers fasting cures and therapies based on the work of Austrian gastroenterologist Franz Xaver Mayr († 1965). Among other things, it has a special restaurant with a view of the sea, so that you can concentrate on yourself. In addition to intestinal regeneration, there is also room for “life energy regeneration“.

‘My Tree Therapy’ at the My Arbor tree hotel in South Tyrol

‘At our hotel, we place a high value on the well-being of our guests, including their mental health,’ reports the My Arbor hotel. This adults-only hotel near Bressanone is built high up in the treetops (partly on stilts). The forest is seen as a place of power where guests can ‘relieve stress and recharge their batteries’. The ‘My Tree Therapy’ package, which includes three different massages with mountain pine oil, is ideal for mental health.

Ayurveda to combat sleep problems at Inkaterra in Peru

The Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba in the former ‘Sacred Valley of the Incas’ in the Andean region of Peru is definitely a place that appeals to the soul. You will find yourself surrounded by reddish mountains and traditional agriculture. The complex includes the ‘Mayu Spa’, a wellness area with a ‘Healing Garden’ where medicinal herbs are grown.

For people who suffer from insomnia, the herbs from the garden are used as pindas (herbal stamps). The Ayurvedic herbal stamps are heated and placed on the body with pressure and twisting movements. This not only helps to release muscle tension, but is also a useful treatment to help you fall asleep and stay asleep.

‘Resilience Impulse’ at the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA

The SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA is located in the German Black Forest, in the famous climatic health resort of Bad Herrenalb. The wellness hotel has its own thermal swimming pool and an integrated ‘Selfness Center’. During the ‘Resilience Impulse’ you will learn various tools to sharpen your self-awareness.

This includes

• mindfulness
• breathing techniques
• meditation

The result of a heightened sense of self is that you can trust yourself more again.

There are private one-on-one sessions, group sessions, and intensive one-on-one coaching. You can find prices and more information on the website.

Sustainability and mental health – what do they have in common?

Sustainability is not just about taking care of the environment; it is also about taking care of yourself. Those who are constantly under stress in their daily lives and do not schedule breaks for their own mental health run the risk of burning out in the long run. Retreats like this one allow you to consciously pause, recharge your batteries, and go through life with more mindfulness. A sustainable lifestyle begins not only with ecological choices, but also with a conscious approach to yourself.

Whether you prefer to rely on conventional medicine and tried and true methods or are open to alternative healing methods, it’s up to you. (Unless it’s a serious illness, in which case, please see a doctor!) What’s important is that you listen to your body and your soul. At Green PearlsⓇ hotels, you’ll find a range of approaches to sustainable relaxation, from classical medicine and traditional healing to energetic treatments.

Maybe it’s time to take some time off and find out what really makes you feel good?

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Whether you are considering this path or just curious, let these hoteliers inspire you with their experiences, challenges and successes.

Challenges and opportunities for the sustainable hotelier

Sustainable hosts are characterized by their ability to combine environmental, social and economic responsibility while remaining authentic.

At Green PearlsⓇ we have a series of interviews/portraits on “Pioneers of Sustainability” in which we have already spoken to several hoteliers. The following have been featured:

• José Koechlin von Stein – Owner of Inkaterra Hotels in Peru
• Tarn and Note from Keemala Resort in Phuket, Thailand
• Peter and Waltraud Unterlechner of Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol, Austria
• Barbara and Tomislav from Green Spirit Hotels in Paris, France
• Fabienne Anthamatten of the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt in Switzerlandz
• Lukas Obendorfer from Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort in the Upper Palatinate in Germany
• Daniel Ganzer from Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol, Austria
• Andreas Färber of Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa in Bayerisch Gmain, Germany
• Stephan Bode of SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb, Germany
• Marc Traubel from the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu in Germany
• Marion Muller of the Lifestylehotel SAND in Timmendorfer Strand on the Baltic Sea in Germany

Each faced different challenges, such as political hurdles, infrastructure changes, new investments and costs. In all cases, economic viability and the needs of guests must be considered. The accommodations themselves are often a source of inspiration and appreciation for guests and colleagues alike.

5 people, 5 stories, 5 ways to become a sustainable hotelier

As we have seen time and again, there is no ONE path to sustainability. Everyone has different circumstances, needs, priorities, and opportunities. Our partners are no exception. So it’s best to let them speak and tell their stories themselves.

Marion Muller – from mass tourism to sustainability

Marion Muller, the hostess of Lifestylehotel SAND, has a background in tourism. She studied tourism, and mass tourism really started to boom during her time. Even then, she was moved by the fact that nature, which everyone wants to see, cannot remain in this state if everyone flies there and tramples on it, she tells us in the interview.

Nevertheless, when she and her husband Lambertus started out as hosts, they had not yet thought about going the sustainable route. In 1995, they bought a hotel in the popular Baltic resort of Timmendorfer Strand, right on the beach. At first, it was simply a matter of economic survival.

Renewable energy and competitive differentiation

The hotel’s original 25 rooms were not profitable. So the first step was to add twelve rooms. The couple opted for two cogeneration units and a solar power system, taking their first big step toward sustainability.

Once the hotel was on a solid financial footing, they were ready for the next big change and the hotel became today’s Lifestyle Hotel SAND. SAND stands for both “sand aspires natural design” and “sand aspires natural doing”. The lifestyle hotel uses natural materials throughout the hotel and selects the products with great care. For example, there are bamboo bicycles for rent from my Boo (a social project in Ghana), COCO-MAT mattresses and refillable toiletries from Björk & Berries. The adults-only hotel has found a way to break away from the star categories, and its bold move now sets it apart from the (not too few) competition. The Mullers have been pleased to find that they have a large regular customer base and that many younger people like their concept.

Stephan Bode – from organic to sustainability

Stephan Bode also has an interesting story to tell. A self-made man, he gradually worked his way up to become a hotel owner. As “Little Stephan” he was always self-taught. He left school at the age of 14 and trained as a restaurant specialist. He then spent several years on cruise ships.

He worked his way up. From 2002 to 2010, he managed a large conference hotel in Thuringia and transformed it into a 100% organic hotel. The organic concept inspired him to go further and incorporate all areas of sustainability into the hotel industry. When he took over the management of the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA (formerly “Ruland’s Thermenhotel”) in 2013, his intention from the start was to position it as a “beacon and pioneer” in terms of sustainability.

His motivation is to preserve the habitat. As a host, you should remember that you are also a guest – a guest of Mother Earth.

From manager to owner

For 19 years, Stephan Bode was the managing director of the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA and expanded the health and wellness hotel to include the areas of selfness (meditation, mindfulness, fasting cures) and campus (conferences and meetings). In 2017, he was finally able to buy the hotel himself.

Stephan Bode initiated many sustainable measures right from the start. From the biodiversity garden to recycling and circular living. He has won numerous awards and prizes and has many ideas for the future (e.g. how to generate electricity and heat from biomass from guests’ excrement).

Dr. Andreas Färber – Sustainability from the start

Dr. Andreas Färber, a medical doctor, became a host as a career changer. When asked how a doctor came to buy a hotel, he replied that he had traveled to many countries and always enjoyed interacting with people. In addition, his wife comes from the hotel industry.

They searched for a long time before discovering the Klosterhof in Bayerisch Gmain. They knew from the start that their hotel would be sustainable. For example, they chose solid apple wood for the interior. The Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa is one of the first hotels in Germany to be certified with the EU Ecolabel.

But sustainability also requires the hotel to be economically viable. So some things have to be adjusted. For example, the wellness hotel currently has only a small outdoor pool. This makes ecological sense, but guests would like a larger pool.

The Färbers hope to fulfill that wish soon. In order to make this as sustainable as possible, the Färber’s want to make use of technical possibilities.

Lukas Obendorfer – the technical innovator

Operating several pools and supplying energy to the saunas has led Lukas Obendorfer of Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort to sustainability. His father, Hubert Obendorfer, founded the resort. The senior chef, known as a radio chef and book author, founded the 2-star restaurant Eisvogel, which is now run by his son Sebastian Obendorfer. Like his father before him, Sebastian has two Michelin stars.

While his brother runs the restaurant, Lukas Obendorfer is in charge of the administration of the 5-star hotel, and he decided to make it as sustainable as possible. Of course, there were already some energy-saving measures in place, he says in an interview, but the real change came with the commissioning of the hotel’s own combined heat and power plant.

The hotel is GreenSign certified and continues to develop. From electric car charging stations to wooden coffee capsules, the hotel now has many sustainable initiatives, and Lukas Obendorfer is proud to show that luxury and sustainability can go hand in hand.

Daniel Ganzer – the traditionalist

Hotelier Daniel Ganzer of Naturhotel Outside did not have to build sustainability into his business from the ground up. His parents, Agnes and Sepp, built the hotel and were already very close to nature. The Naturhotel is located in the middle of the Hohe Tauern National Park, where many hikers come to enjoy the East Tyrolean Alps throughout the year. The preservation of this nature is therefore of great importance to the host family.

“We were shown a lot by example, and a lot was just obvious. I’m not an environmental activist, but for me sustainability is just logical and everything else doesn’t make sense”. – Daniel Ganzer in an interview with Green PearlsⓇ.

Daniel Ganzer is passionate about strengthening the region and relies on regional suppliers (not only for food, but also for building materials, etc.). The hotel does not offer packed lunches or similar for hikers, so people stop at the surrounding huts.

As a major new project, Daniel has upgraded the spa area with the latest technology.

Collaborative learning sessions for hoteliers

As you can see, there are many ways to get involved, and it’s never too late to start. The first step is a willingness to do more for sustainability. Of course, saving energy is especially rewarding because it can save you a lot of money right away.

Other things, like switching to organic food, can be costly at first. It also requires a change in attitude to avoid wasting food. Marion Muller says they set up a “front cooking station” where you can have organic eggs freshly prepared for breakfast – one at a time. This is much more sustainable than always having a certain amount of egg dishes on hand, and effectively prevents food waste.

Our partners also demonstrate that the transition to sustainability is an ongoing process that never really ends. Sustainability is factored into every new decision – new products, suppliers, renovations or offerings – to get better, bit by bit. Just as you might do in your personal life.

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How can I fast in a sustainable way?

Fasting (we are referring to therapeutic fasting, not religious fasting) means going without food for a period of time, either completely or partially, to give the body time to detoxify and cleanse itself. A desired effect is that after fasting you will eat more consciously and perhaps use food and other resources more consciously.

👉 You can read our article “Sustainable fasting?” here, where we explain different types of fasting, give you tips for your fasting cure, and also discuss what this has to do with sustainability.

Therapeutic fasting is one of the options for a healthy and conscious lifestyle. Therefore, it makes sense to choose a sustainable hotel for your fasting vacation. By combining your fasting cure with a stay in a sustainable hotel, you can be sure that aspects such as sustainable energy production, CO2 reduction and organic food are taken into account.

Why combine fasting and vacations at all?

Of course, you can do a healing fast at home on your own – and even go to work and go about your usual daily routine. But anyone who’s tried it (like me) will tell you it’s not the best idea. Often you don’t just want to avoid food, but you also want to take a step back from other things and find some time to rest and reflect.

Many people associate vacations with fun and “indulging” – but taking care of your health while traveling has become a trend, and indulging and enjoying increasingly means doing what is good for you.

Fasting on vacation is easier and has many advantages:

• You are in a group of like-minded people who have the same goal as you.
• There is professional (medical) guidance and support.
• Fasting food is available depending on the type of fast. So you don’t have to worry about shopping or cooking.
• An accompanying program with easy hikes, yoga, meditation, forest bathing, etc. will support your regeneration.
  Beautiful surroundings and wellness services will make your fast a real vacation.

How much does a fasting vacation cost?

For a hotel fasting retreat, including accommodation, fasting meals, support, spa and program, you should expect to pay around 1000 Euros per week. You can find an approximate price for each hotel here in the article. Exact prices are available through the links provided or upon request.

Fasting vacation in Tenerife 2025 according to F. X. Mayr

The OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel on Tenerife has an affiliated F.X. Mayr Center – especially for fasting guests! This means that when you come here, you can enjoy the amenities of the hotel, such as the swimming pool, seawater pool, gym and yoga classes – but when it comes to “eating” and other activities, you will only be with other people who are fasting. You will be cared for by trained therapists and doctors in a picturesque setting between the Atlantic Ocean and volcanic mountains.

In 2025, three types of fasting cures will be offered:

• Classic (Ideal for beginners | for intestinal cleansing, stomach problems and as a fresh start)
• Detox (Focus on detoxification, abdominal treatment and bowel activation, especially for irritable bowel syndrome)
• Active (Combined with an exercise and training program designed specifically for you based on your fitness level)

Dates in 2025: Classic: 14 or 21 days; Detox: 10, 14 or 21 days; Active: 10, 14 or 21 days – All treatments are available year round.

Price: For example, a classic 14-day fast starts at 1,660 euros per person.

Sustainable fasting vacation in Germany 2025

#1 Fasting in a healing climate in SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA

In Germany, the Hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA focuses on “selfness” and fasting. It is located in the climatic health resort of Bad Herrenalb (which also has a healing spring) and has its own thermal swimming pool. You can see the Black Forest through the hotel’s large panoramic windows.

During a fasting cure at SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA, you will be accompanied by daily fasting talks and receive a special program with guided hikes, forest bathing and mindfulness impulses.

In 2025, two 6-night fasting cures will be offered:

• Fasting cure according to Dr. Buchinger
• Fasting cure with an alkaline diet

Dates in 2025: From January to December 2025, there will be several monthly dates for a one-week fasting cure at the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA. Click here for an overview:

Price: from 1,020 euros per person (6 nights)

#2 Alkaline fasting at Gerbehof Nature Resort

The Naturresort Gerbehof is a family-run organic hotel on the German side of Lake Constance. Here you will be surrounded by orchards and forests and enjoy natural furnishings with lots of wood. There are guided alkaline fasting retreats where you avoid not only acidic foods, but also other “acidic” things like stress. Bioenergetic motivation according to Viktor Philippi is integrated.

For 2025 there are:

• Alkaline Fasting Cures (5 Nights or 7 Nights)
• MyDetox: A web-based program (app) that prepares you for your fast three days before you arrive at the Gerbehof and provides you with tips, recipes, and shopping lists for an alkaline lifestyle afterward.

Dates 2025: All year round. Some time flexibility is an advantage, as dates are set upon request.

Price: From 740 Euros (5 nights)

#3 Liver fasting at the Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa

At Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa, Dr. Andreas Färber combines his medical health center with a wellness hotel. The location in the Berchtesgadener Land is not only ideal for hiking, but with its alpine nature it also provides the perfect setting for fasting retreats.

During your fasting retreat, you will enjoy the personal attention of your host, Dr. Andreas Färber, and his team of nutritional specialists.

Liver fasting according to Dr Worm

Together with TV-nutrition expert Isabell Heßmann, Dr. Andreas Färber offers regular group retreats on liver fasting according to Dr Worm. Liver fasting helps to prevent fatty liver and high cholesterol levels and is the ideal way to get rid of bad eating habits.

Liver fasting according to Dr Nicolai Worm involves 3 daily meals (shakes) and 2 snack times (vegetables). This helps to keep your insulin levels constantly low and thus promotes the breakdown of fat in the liver.

You will be supported throughout the entire fasting week and receive additional cookery events, lectures, materials and your progress will be reviewed individually.

Dates 2025: The next retreat will take place from 16 – 23 March 2025. Click here to book.

Price: from 1,820 euros per person in a double room / 2,443 euros per person in a double room (7 nights)

Fasting vacation at the Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol

High up in the Biohotel Grafenast, you have a magnificent view of the Inn Valley. The panorama is truly uplifting and an ideal setting for a physical and mental reset.

The family-run hotel has just 23 rooms and includes a spa area with several saunas and a beautiful meditation and yoga room.

Dates in 2025:

• April 4-12, 2025: Ayurvedic Fasting Week with Yoga
  
• October 2025: Buchinger Fasting Hike or Alkaline Fasting (exact date to be announced)

Price: Seminar costs for the Ayurvedic fasting week in April: 420 euros, accommodation and fasting meals from 123 euros per day

Sustainable hotels that support you during your customized fasting program

If you don’t need a group for your fasting cure, but would like to have individual support and a pleasant vacation atmosphere for yourself, then this is possible, for example, at the CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt, Switzerland. If you wish, you can have your personal fasting program designed and carried out here. Zermatt, at the foot of the Matterhorn, is car-free and considered one of the most beautiful villages in Switzerland. The resort has a beautiful spa area with a wide range of treatments to support your fasting program.

Individual fasting is also possible at My Arbor* in South Tyrol on the Plose. “We are happy to support our guests who are fasting,” says the adults-only hotel. Special dietary requirements are part of the “My Concept”, where guests are individually catered for and staff trained accordingly.

A final tip for fasting

You should do a therapeutic fasting program in an appropriate setting and not squeeze it into your daily routine. It is said:

“When we are young, we waste our health to make money, and when we are old, we spend our money on health.”

It doesn’t have to be this way. Fasting for health is primarily for healthy people and is a preventative measure that can benefit people with poor eating habits, overweight, stress, and digestive problems. The money you spend on a fasting vacation is therefore an investment in your own health and can contribute to a more conscious and sustainable lifestyle in general.

*CIN Code: IT021011A1AE4737IT (My Arbor)

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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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Der Beitrag Conflict issue: Vacationing as a couple with different interests erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

The difference between a health and wellness hotel

Wellness hotels promote health through relaxation and massage. Health hotels do the same, but in a health hotel you also have the opportunity to get a personalized medical assessment. The health programs offered are led by trained doctors and therapists.

           In the blog article “Health or Wellnesshotel” we took a closer look at this question.

Who is a health hotel for?

Since health hotels are particularly active in the area of prevention, a vacation at a health hotel is suitable for anyone who wants to do something good for their physical and mental health. However, guests who already suffer from various chronic or non-specific ailments often take advantage of what health hotels have to offer. For example:

• Obesity
• Digestive problems
• Irritable stomach
• Irritable bowel syndrome
• Fatty liver
• High blood pressure
• Joint pain
• Neck pain
• Back pain
• Sleep disorders
• Frequent or chronic fatigue
• Chronic illness (susceptible to colds, infections, etc.)

A health hotel is also ideal when you need to get back on your feet after a long illness and recovery.

Why should a health resort also be sustainable?

Sustainable health hotels, as represented by Green PearlsⓇ, also take care of the ecology with their holistic approach. This means considering not only the human being, but also his or her relationship to the environment, to nature.

As we discussed in our Insight “Is organic food healthier?”, the value of organic farming cannot be measured by the vitamin content of an apple. Instead, it is a larger concept.

Avoiding pesticides protects both groundwater and biodiversity. As biologist Dietmar Borbe says in our blog on insect extinction: “If we destroy everything at the base of a food pyramid, everything will eventually collapse”.

Environmentally friendly building materials, chemical-free cleaning products, organic food, fairly paid employees – the measures taken by a sustainable health hotel provide the right framework for taking care of one’s own health.

Four sustainable health hotels in Germany and Spain

Below we would like to introduce you to some of the health hotels that are also Green PearlsⓇ partners. Based on the program offered, you can see which hotel suits you best.

#1 OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel – Holistic recovery on the Atlantic coast

The OCÈANO Health Spa Hotel on the Canary Island of Tenerife has more than 20 years of experience as a health hotel. Its owner, Dr. Karl Matthias Rolle, is a physician, as was his father, Dr. Jürgen Rolle, from whom he took over the management of the hotel. The establishment of the F. X. MAYR CENTRE is one of the most important changes initiated by Karl Matthias Rolle. The center specializes in fasting cures and therapies developed by the Austrian gastroenterologist Franz Xaver Mayr.

Fasting Cures at the F. X. MAYR Center

During an F.X. Mayr fasting cure, the focus is on the intestines. According to the initiators, “cleansing, detoxification and strengthening of the intestines” is of central importance for the supply of nutrients, hormonal balance and the immune system.

When you sign up for a fasting program, you can use all the hotel’s wellness facilities (spa, pool, saunas, yoga room, etc.), but you live in a separate annex and do not eat with the other hotel guests. Instead, you will be surrounded by your peers, other fasting guests, and receive your own personalized fasting diet.

The period for such a fasting cure at the OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel is:

• 10 days, 14 days or 21 days

Complementary therapies

In addition to therapeutic fasting, the health hotel also has a Thalasso center. Thalasso means “healing through seawater” and also incorporates other things that come from the ocean, such as seaweed.

In consultation with the medical team, a personalized program will be developed for you (to accompany a fasting cure or independently), which may include the following elements

• Exercise
• Diet & Nutrition
• Pain Relief

Optional additional therapy options are:

• Chirotherapy
• Autohaemotherapy
• Hematogenous oxidation therapy (HOT)
• Bloodletting
• Acupuncture
• Vitamin Infusion

As you can see, here you will have opportunities that a “normal” wellness hotel cannot offer you. However, you don’t have to give up that vacation feeling, because you are on the beautiful Canary Island, right on the Atlantic Ocean! Walking along the promenade, shopping and sightseeing are absolutely allowed! 🙂

#2 Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa – Health Hotel in the Berchtesgadener Land

A sustainable and highly recommendable health hotel in Germany is Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa, run by Dr. Andreas Färber and his wife. Here, too, you will find a combination of a wellness hotel (1,500 square meters of spa area with indoor and outdoor pools, saunas, etc.) and an integrated health center.

Concept medicine in the health center Artemacur

As Dr. Andreas Färber describes in an interview with us, the holistic concept is very important to him, both in medicine and in ecology. The focus is on the development of a health and life concept based on scientific knowledge and individual living conditions. So, you don’t get a “one size fits all” offer, but you develop your very own concept that you can integrate into your everyday life.

The Artemacur Health Center includes

• General Medicine
• Internist
• Psychotherapist

Medical expertise is then complemented in the hotel with the areas of

• physiotherapy
• and nutritional medicine.

In addition to therapy, prevention also plays an important role.

Health programs and services offered

• Nutritional advice + diet
• Bioelectrical impedance analysis (scientifically recognized method of measuring body composition, i.e. body fat percentage, etc.)
• Liver fasting according to Dr. Worm
• Intermittent fasting
• Concept medical consultation
• Burnout prevention
• Abdominal Ultrasound
• ABI screening (vascular ultrasound)
• Pulmonary function test
• Pain managementSchmerztherapie

Located on the border of Austria (Salzburg), the hotel with its panoramic view of the Alps will also appeal to culture vultures. For example, there are regular full moon concerts, jazz or readings.

#3 TCM at the LIFESTYLE Resort Zum Kurfürsten on the Mosel River

If you would like to try Chinese medicine instead of conventional European medicine, or if you are already a believer in Chinese medicine, we can recommend the LIFESTYLE Resort Zum Kurfürsten.

Located in the medieval town of Bernkastel-Kues on the Moselle River, it offers wellness combined with Far Eastern teachings. For starters, the entire hotel (including the 4,000-square-foot spa area with several pools, a natural swimming pond, and a sauna area) is designed according to Feng Shui. There is also the diet based on the 5 elements.

Traditional Chinese medicine practice in the hotel

The TCM Center is located in the same building, so it makes sense to combine your TCM treatments with your stay at the Health Hotel. For example, you can have a nutritional consultation and then eat more “yin” or more “yang” foods based on your personal recommendations. At the Lifestyle Resort you will find the 5 elements in all meals and buffets (i.e. many warm and natural foods without industrial processing).

The following treatments are available at the TCM Center:

• Nutritional counseling / dietary changes (according to Yin Yang, 5 elements)
• Body analysis with printout
• Acupuncture treatment
• Herbal therapy (herbs selected individually for you; you can take the mixtures home with you. The herbs are taken as tea (decoction) or powder and there are also herbal baths).
• Cupping (for chronic pain and severe tension)
• Relaxation and exercise with Qi Gong and Tai Chi
• Lymphatic drainage
• Sound bowl massage
• Tunia and Guasha TCM massages

Chinese therapy is combined with a European approach so that it does not seem too foreign in the German Mosel landscape.

#4 SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA – Wellness hotel with Selfness Center

Bad Herrenalb in the Black Forest is a climatic health resort with healing waters and thermal springs, making it the perfect place for a health vacation. Here you will find the sustainable Green PearlsⓇ Hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA. Featuring its own thermal swimming pool and saunas, it is mainly a health-oriented wellness hotel, but the attached Selfness Center offers a range of services for physical and mental health.

Fasting in the Black Forest

You can book a one-week fasting vacation at SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA. The following are offered:

• Fasting cure according to Dr. Buchinger
• Fasting cure with alkaline diet

During both retreats, you will receive daily support and lectures on healthy living. There will also be fasting walks, forest bathing, and other supportive activities.

Resilience training and mindfulness

Another area is mindfulness, which you can also practice on vacation. For example with

• Sound massage according to Peter Hess
• Meditation
• Hypnotic dream journeys

Special offers for a resilience vacation (3 or 6 nights) can be found here.

Health hotels offer both conventional medicine and naturopathy

As you can see, there are sustainable health hotels that employ trained doctors. These doctors perform scientifically recognized medical examinations and are allowed to prescribe prescription drugs. Other hotels follow an alternative medicine approach, focusing on alternative or Far Eastern healing methods that are not scientifically proven to work, but have brought relief to many people.

Which health hotel you consider suitable for you and which methods you hope will benefit you the most is entirely up to you.

A vacation at a health hotel is often simply about taking stock of your own health, taking a step back from your daily routine, and thinking about what you can do to live healthier in the long term.

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Why is sleep so important for us?

Sleeping is great – and vital! Animals and humans need to sleep to survive. During this time, our mind and body recover, our pulse rate changes and our breathing rate and blood pressure drop. Healthy and good sleep is the prerequisite for being fit and efficient the next day. It also serves as a defense against pathogens, as our immune system works at full speed at night.

Sleep tourism as a new trend

For many years, in fact since the beginning of the grand hotels, hotels have stood for exceptional sleeping comfort. Hotel beds are of the highest quality and hotel bed brands such as Hästens are considered to be the best in the world.

With the increased health awareness of recent years, many hotels have promoted sleeping comfort in particular and further expanded it with sleep coaches or electrosmog shielding. In 2022, there was a much-noticed CNN article proclaiming sleep tourism as a new trend. In 2024, Booking.com determined the following in a global survey on travel trends in 2024:

• 67 percent of all travelers want to relax on vacation
• 65 percent of travelers interested in a retreat would choose a sleep retreat

Sleep and mindfulness

When you are mindful of yourself, you take sustainable action for your well-being. Mindfulness requires you to focus your awareness and attention on the present moment, without judgment. Calm down, leave everyday life behind and be open to new experiences. This also includes restful sleep.

Hästens beds – the most expensive beds in the world, but are they also sustainable?

We have been following the Swedish brand Hästens for a long time. It is known for producing the most expensive beds in the world by hand. Not only members of the Swedish royal family and stars such as rapper Drake, Angelina Jolie and Gwen Stefani sleep on these beds – Hästens beds are also available for guests in many hotels.

The price of a Hästens bed can make your head spin. A “normal” model costs around 10,000 euros and there are no upper limits. (The “Grand Vidus” model, for example, costs almost 600,000 euros)

The special feature of Hästens beds is a mattress filling made from hand-plucked horsehair. In addition, the handles and bed edges are made of high-quality leather and are handcrafted in Sweden.

Are Hästens beds sustainable?

Hästens beds can be considered sustainable for the following reasons:

1. Extremely high quality and therefore very durable
2. Only natural materials are used. However, these are not vegan.
3. According to the company, it has been committed to ecological and sustainable production since it was founded in 1852.
4. Fair working conditions in a Swedish craft and family business

Less sustainable is the hype and the fact that some of the beds are sent halfway around the world. In concrete terms, this means that if there are Hästens beds in a Scandinavian or European hotel, this can be considered sustainable; however, if you find these beds in the USA or Dubai, this has hardly anything to do with sustainability, but simply means luxury and prestige!

Another note is that Hästens beds are not vegan. In our opinion, the most interesting Hästens alternative for vegans is COCO-MAT. (You can read more about this below).

Hästens beds at CERVO Mountain Resort

“Each of the 54 rooms and suites has a handmade Hästens bed,” reports the CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt. For even more sleeping comfort, there is also the “pillow menu”. Swiss stone pine pillows, tempura pillows or millet pillows – the choice is yours. The furnishings made of natural, sustainable materials and warm colors contribute to relaxation.

Mattresses with horsehair from Plana Ladina

Not from Hästens but also filled with horsehair are the mattresses from the Italian hotel outfitter Plana Ladina. You can lie on these mattresses in the OLM Nature Escape. The circular aparthotel in South Tyrol only opened this year and sets standards in terms of both comfort and sustainability. The entire complex is powered by self-generated green electricity. “The praise from guests is great,” the owners tell us about their beds.

COCO-MAT – Vegan beds made from coconut fibers

COCO-MAT was founded in Athens in 1989 and had the idea of producing high-quality beds from 100% natural materials from the very beginning. The bed systems are made by hand using solar energy and are 96% recyclable. COCO-MAT uses coconut fibers from coconut shells as well as natural rubber or seagrass as materials. Most of the beds are completely vegan, although the company also offers some animal-based products, such as toppers made from down. Another sustainability plus is that COCO-MAT bed systems can also be combined with bed systems from other manufacturers.

COCO-MAT in sustainable hotels

Many sustainable hotels and accommodations have opted for COCO-MAT because it is not only sustainable, but also meets the comfort requirements of luxury accommodation. You can see how many hotels use this brand’s bed systems on the manufacturer’s website.

Relax on the Baltic Sea at the SAND Lifestylehotel

The SAND Lifestylehotel is located in a very quiet second row on Timmendorfer Strand. It is part of the adults-only hotel’s concept to support sustainable companies and products. You sleep on COCO-MAT mattresses and also have a pillow menu to choose from. Soundproof doors and a harmonious and consistent color concept, natural materials and lavender pillows help you drift off into your dream world.

And when you wake up in the morning, in a good mood, refreshed and well-rested, you can stay in bed for a while longer, as breakfast is available for late risers until 1 p.m. 🙂

Enjoy nature at Gut Sonnenhausen

Gut Sonnenhausen is located near Munich, surrounded by gardens that are cultivated according to the principles of permaculture. Here, too, you sleep in COCO-MAT beds and wake up with a view of the nature reserve.

Health vacation at the Océano Health Spa Hotel on Tenerife

“Healthy sleep is an important part of our health concept,” says the Océano Health Spa Hotel on the Canary Island of Tenerife. The hotel is located directly on the Atlantic Ocean and offers yoga, fitness and spa programs. When selecting the COCO-MAT beds, it was also important to them that the mattresses are metal-free.

Sleeping without electrosmog

Another trend we are seeing is hotel rooms that are shielded from electrosmog. This should also help you to sleep more relaxed and healthier. This is possible, for example, in the new natural rooms at the Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Tyrol. The rooms are made entirely from natural materials and the wood comes directly from the hotel’s own forest. If you wish, you can shield yourself from 95 percent of electromagnetic radiation in the rooms. All you have to do is press a button.

At the Paris city hotel Le Pavillon, you also have the option of booking a room shielded against electrosmog. Although the hotel is located directly in the central and lively 7th district, alternative technologies have been used to ensure that there is revitalized water, specially filtered room air and the aforementioned shielding. So you’ll get a great night’s sleep even in the middle of the city.

Comfortable sleep in the Allgäu

In the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu in Balderschwang, the smallest town in Bavaria, which is holistically geared towards regeneration and renewal, you will find sustainably produced box-spring beds in all rooms. The box-spring beds are made by Dr. Frank Markmann and are made in Germany. The bed linen and pillows from Dr. Metz are also 100% ecological and particularly suitable for allergy sufferers and asthmatics.

Orthopaedic mattress systems at the nature resort

At Naturresort Gerbehof in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance, it is also important to the owners that the beds are suitable for allergy sufferers. For this reason, they have switched to blankets and pillows made from synthetic fibers. However, classic feather pillows and blankets are still available in the vacation apartments.

Down comforters and lambskins at Gut Guntrams

Gut Guntrams, on the other hand, still uses natural animal products. The comforters in the futuristic garden lofts are filled with down feathers, and there are also lambskin comforters for the cold season. “We only buy down products from certified farms,” say the owners. This means: down without live plucking. The mattresses are eco cold foam mattresses.

Swiss stone pine pillows at Hotel Das Rübezahl

Thanks to its essential oils, Swiss stone pine wood is said to have a calming and sleep-promoting effect. You can find out more about this in our blog post about Swiss stone pine wood.

Hotel Das Rübezahl in the Allgäu has a Swiss stone pine spa and premium suites with a private sauna made of Swiss stone pine. You can relax here on long walks and hiking tours in the natural surroundings of the royal castles of Neuschwanstein and Hohenschwangau and in the evening you can lie down on your favorite pillow from the pillow menu. The most popular pillow among guests is – surprise – the Swiss stone pine pillow 🙂

Sleep peacefully in the Swiss stone pine suite at Naturhotel Outside

If you dream of spending the night in a room made entirely of Swiss stone pine, you can do so at the Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol. The Swiss stone pine suite also has a solid Swiss stone pine bed (180 x 200 cm) with a pocket spring mattress and allergy-friendly bed linen.

The hotel is located in the Hohe Tauern National Park and is therefore also ideal for sleep tourism. The hotel itself would probably describe itself more as a hiking hotel. But when do you sleep better than after a long hike in the fresh mountain air?

Mattress recycling

Finally, we would like to address an important point about the end of a mattress’s life. Because even the best and most expensive mattress suffers from material fatigue at some point (after 15 years in the case of premium mattresses).

According to mattress manufacturer SWISSFEEL, 35 to 40 million mattresses are thrown away every year in Europe alone. To counteract this environmental impact and waste of resources, SWISSFEEL takes back its mattresses at the end of their service life and works with its partners to ensure that they are recycled as insulation material.

Our Green Pearls® partner SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA uses the washable and recyclable SWISSFEEL mattresses in its new Circular Living rooms. This hotel room concept is all about ensuring that all materials used can be returned to the cycle.

Have we whetted your appetite for the many sleep offerings in the green pearls? Then good night! And as always, we await your reports.🧏🏼‍♀️ 

This is an update of our article from March 4, 2022

Read more: SUSTAINABLE GREEN PEARLS® HOTEL FOR A VACATION WITH A GOOD CONSCIENCE

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What is the relationship between accessibility and sustainability?

Accessibility is an integral part of sustainability. In fact, 8 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals specifically mention “persons with disabilities” and “vulnerable minorities”. In creating a sustainable future, the ultimate goal is for EVERYONE to benefit. This includes not only protecting nature, but also fighting injustice and social inequality.

👉 In our blog post on social sustainability in tourism, we looked at the gap between rich and poor and our responsibility as “rich tourists”.

Now, we want to address the inequality between physical and mental abilities and introduce offerings where these differences have been eliminated through appropriate structural and technical measures.

Offerings for accessible, independent travel

Accessible hotels, attractions, and transportation are those that “people with disabilities can use without difficulty or assistance”. However, disabilities are as varied as people, so the word “accessible” may not always be helpful. There may be a ramp, but no visual light signal when someone knocks on the room door…

In our opinion, the best solution is to have a reliable labeling system. It is particularly helpful if you can see all the accessibility measures listed for each accommodation, so that you can search specifically for what you need.

Travel for all – Accessible vacation certificate for Germany

Travel for All, launched in Germany in 2011 with the support of the Federal Ministry of Economics, is really well thought out.

You can search by city, state, destination, and accommodations, and use filters to specify what is most relevant to you. This search feature is available for

• Wheelchair users (e.g. should the doors be 70 cm, 80 cm, 90 cm wide?)
• Hearing impaired and deaf people (e.g. rooms with induction loop systems)
• Visually impaired and blind people (e.g., high-contrast stair edges)
• People with cognitive impairments (e.g., color coding, information in plain language)

Accessible accommodation: Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa, Germany

Our sustainable Green PearlsⓇ partner Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa has been certified by the German Labeling System as a barrier-free accommodation. The test report from Reisen für Alle details which barriers have been removed. For example, there are two wheelchair accessible rooms and the tables in the restaurant are wheelchair accessible. Also: “The entrance is visually rich in contrast, but not recognizable by a tactile change in the flooring”.

This family-run hotel in Bayerisch Gmain is a former monastery farm converted into a luxurious hotel with a large spa and wellness area with swimming pool and sauna world. It offers a variety of excursions, yoga, fitness, nature experiences, live music, art, and is the perfect place for a weekend or a full summer or winter vacation in Bavaria. If you are interested in health and culture, you will find like-minded people here.

Sustainable integration hotel in Freiburg, Germany

Another Green PearlsⓇ partner for which you can read the Travel for All review in advance is the Green City Hotel Vauban in Freiburg im Breisgau. The modern hotel is located right next to the tram that takes you to the center of Freiburg in just 10 minutes. In the review, you will learn, for example, that all doors are 90 cm wide and that there are also wheelchair-accessible rooms with a connecting door where, for example, an accompanying person can stay. For those with cognitive difficulties, it says: “There is no menu with pictures of the food, instead we present the food visibly (buffet, counter).

What makes the Green City Hotel Vauban so special is that 50 percent of its employees are disabled themselves. Tolerance and acceptance are more than just lip service here.

Sustainable and accessible destination, Saarland

We can generally recommend Saarland as an accessible destination within Germany. Here the “Travel for All” certification is very common and there are many good offers such as “Lauschtouren” and barrier-free hiking trails and excursion destinations.

Other countries’ seals and websites

There are also websites in other countries that can help you travel accessible. We have collected some links for you. However, you will find that some of them do not have such detailed search criteria (as Travel for All).

• Austria: info
• Switzerland: com; Procap-Reisen
• Italy: it (7 apps for accessible travel – especially for wheelchair users) Südtirol.info
• Croatia: .hr
• Thailand: Tourism Autority of Thailand
• Indonesia: Accessible Indonesia & Bali
• Cambodia: Disability Insider Cambodia
• USA: Visit the USA

Traveling Accessible – How to Solve the Problem with “We’re Glad to Help”

The tourism industry is service-oriented and, in general, people here go to great lengths to accommodate people with disabilities. In my experience, a blind person will be escorted to a table in a hotel, or four strong hands will quickly be found on a tourist boat for boarding assistance. But NOT relying on outside help is what accessible travel is all about.

There are a lot more barriers than just the wheelchair

My stepdaughter has a mild form of autism. Once, when she had to fly alone from Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, I booked an assistant for her and specified what she needed: Namely, someone to explain to her exactly what to expect: What do we do now, where do we go afterward, what happens there, how long will it take and what comes next? Unfortunately, a driver with a wheelchair van arrived instead, and the Accessibility Help Desk from the airport was not prepared to provide the kind of assistance we needed.

Tips for accessible, sustainable & personalized travel

However, finding a place where the staff is very friendly and helpful and is constantly trying to make your life easier is of course very pleasant. And frankly, such human service is (in most cases) nicer than the provision of technical aids – but how do you find such a service?

• Learn to express exactly what you need on the journey
• Look for sustainable, family-run accommodations with a personal touch (such as those found on our Green Pearls website).
• Write an email to the hotel with your requirements – the response will give you a good indication of whether the hotel is suitable for you. Almost all of our partners offer to pick you up from the station, for example.
• Plan your trip (more on this in the next point)
• Plan your activities in advance and make sure they meet your needs. For example, many hotels offer classes, hikes and guided tours that start right from the hotel. Again, you can ask directly if the activity is suitable for you.
• Take your medicine with you and ask your doctor to write a prescription in English if needed. If you are traveling abroad, you may need to register your medication in advance.
• Clarify foreign health insurance coverage with your insurance company

Accessible transportation by rail

As you may have noticed on our blog, we are big proponents of the train as an environmentally friendly way to travel. We consider Deutsche Bahn to be exemplary when it comes to accessibility. (Certainly not yet optimal in all areas, but in a global comparison, praise is definitely justified at this point.)

• Once you have chosen your destination/accommodation, you can contact Deutsche Bahn’s Mobility Service Center for advice.
• Install the DB Station Live app, which includes the features previously available in the DB Accessibility app.

For other countries, see the links above for tips on accessible transportation.

Accessible & mobile on-site

When it comes to local mobility, it’s all about what you need. Low-floor buses, wheelchair cabins… It is best to check beforehand whether there are companies that can help you at your destination.

Accessible travel – an information issue

As you can see, there is a lot of information about accessible travel you should research in advance. We hope this article has given you some ideas on this important topic and we encourage you to ask and demand! In this way, those involved in the tourism industry will realize that accessibility is definitely a necessity and, in the vast majority of cases, will make life easier for all travelers!

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You’re expecting your first baby, and you already know it’s going to change your relationship forever. You will no longer be just a couple; you will be parents! A babymoon weekend is the perfect time to reconnect as a couple. And Hotel Klosterhof Alpine Hideaway & Spa has a special offer for you.

Wellness and relaxation for expectant parents

The health and wellness hotel Klosterhof Alpine Hideaway & Spa in Bayerisch Gmain is situated in a beautiful, secluded location surrounded by nature.

The hotel is well acquainted with pregnant women and their needs – in addition to the babymoon special, they offer yoga retreats especially for pregnant women. The hotel is run by Dr. Andreas Färber and his wife Henrike. You can expect healthy food (sourced from local organic farms) and delicious mocktails in a thoroughly relaxed atmosphere.

Here is what a babymoon weekend might look like:

Friday

For an eco-friendly trip on the foothills of the Bavarian Alps, take the train to Bayerisch Gmain or Bad Reichenhall station. From there, it’s a 10-minute taxi ride to the 4-star hotel.

If you are driving an electric car, there is an underground parking garage with electric charging facilities on site.

The Babymoon Package includes the Nature Room, a 25-square-foot double room overlooking the garden and decorated with natural materials. For even more luxury, upgrade to the Spa Loft, a spectacular two-story hotel room with its own whirlpool, infrared sauna and large panoramic balcony.

The Wood Bio-Sauna is suitable for pregnant women

After settling into your room, head straight to the 1,500-square-foot Artemacur Spa, which features an indoor pool, heated outdoor whirlpool, sauna area, and saltwater pool. (Caution: Pregnant women shouldn’t use the Finnish panorama sauna, as some pregnant women are sensitive to heat and can develop circulatory problems. Instead, use the old wood bio-sauna at 55 °C (131 °F) and 30 percent humidity). The hotel will lend you a bathing bag for your 3-day stay. There are also regular infusion sessions in the afternoons.

In the evening, enjoy Chef Sascha Förster’s dinner menu. Choose from Chef’s Choice, Mountain Meadow, or the all-vegetarian “Cabbage & Turnip menu”.

Saturday

After a gourmet breakfast, enjoy the Activities Package and participate in aqua aerobics, yoga, and fitness workouts (depending on the package).

For lunch you can enjoy the Healthy Lunch Bowl Buffet and then perhaps a little excursion for two? The medieval town of Bad Reichenhall is a 20-minute walk away. Alternatively, the Austrian city of Salzburg is only 15 km away. Just a hop across the border and back.

On Saturday nights there is regular live music at the Full Moon Concert or the Piano Bar.

Sunday

On Sunday, you can treat yourself to another real spa day. The babymoon weekend has two surprises in store for you:

• Wellness massage (50 minutes) per person. The expectant mother receives a special pregnancy massage (from the 12th week of pregnancy) or a beauty treatment.
• Private float for two – the Alpen Soledo brine bath becomes your private spa!

On the culinary side, you can expect a full board, consisting of breakfast, a healthy lunch bowl, and dinner.

On Sunday night, look up at the stars. The secluded location means there is less air pollution than in the city, and – provided there are no clouds – you can enjoy a fantastic view. You might even remember to pack a pair of binoculars.

Monday

The Babymoon Special includes 3 nights, so you return home on Monday after enjoying another night together. This way, the sustainable babymoon weekend really feels like a vacation.

Babymoon offer at a glance:

• 3 nights accommodation
• Full Board
• Loaned bathing bag and access to Artemacur Spa
• 2 x 50-minute wellness massages
• Private time to float in the Alps Soledom
• Access to the gym
• Participation in the Klosterhof Program
• Price: From 591 Euro per person
• Link zur Webseite: Babymoon-Special

Why you should consider sustainability when “baby-mooning”

As an expectant mother or father, you are no doubt already envisioning the future with and for your child. For many, this is the moment when they begin to think seriously about sustainability. How will the future of our planet look? What if we don’t meet the goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees? 2050 may seem far away to us but to your child? In 2050, they may be starting college or finishing their education. They may be traveling the world or starting a career as an actor.

Sustainable Hotel

The Klosterhof has long been committed to being an environmentally friendly and socially responsible hotel. It was the first hotel in Germany to be awarded the EU Ecolabel. As a wellness hotel, the hotel uses the latest swimming pool technology, which is particularly energy-efficient. In addition, the entire building is specially insulated. The roof and landscaping are green, and the hotel sources everything locally whenever possible.

Here in the Berchtesgadener Land, the world is still in order. You will find the Berchtesgaden National Park with its mountains, forests, and lakes, fresh air, and excellent drinking water quality. There are many areas in the world where this is not the case. To preserve such important resources for future generations (that’s right, including your baby), we are committed to making travel more sustainable. And together, we can make a difference!

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Der Beitrag A sustainable babymoon weekend in the mountains erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.