What is TCM, exactly?

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is a collection of healing methods (from different eras) that originated in China. The most famous of these is acupuncture, which is now in widespread use throughout the world. Elements of Taoist philosophy and some perspectives that clearly contradict Western research have not been adopted in the “West”, but a reference to “Qi” as “life energy” has.

Sustainable wellness hotels with a TCM approach

At the following Green PearlsⓇ hotels, you can discover and try TCM and other healing methods. They all share a sustainable approach to human health and, more broadly, to the health of nature.

#1 Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten – TCM expertise on the Mosel

At the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten, everything revolves around your health and relaxation – according to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. The hotel is fully committed to this healing method and offers a variety of treatments, from acupuncture and cupping to personalized nutrition and exercise programs.

It is best to begin your stay with a personalized analysis. Ingrid Grubisik is the hotel’s experienced TCM therapist. With her extensive training and years of practice, she will help you address your individual needs.

Personalized and sustainable

During a personal interview and physical tests, you will be given a plan for your stay (as well as for the time after you return home). This includes a nutritional plan based on the Five Elements (5 Element cuisine is also part of the hotel concept) and recommendations for appropriate exercises and treatments.

The wellness hotel on the Moselle River has several pools, a large natural swimming pond and a sauna world. The water flows in a cycle developed with a Feng Shui master from Beijing. The hotel itself is designed according to Feng Shui principles and is a confirmed place of power.

#2 SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA: Medical Qigong for Inner Balance

If you are looking for more inner balance, you are also in good hands at the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in the climatic health resort of Bad Herrenalb. Your host, Stephan Bode, has integrated some of Buddha’s maxims into his life and hotel concept and founded a “Selfness Center“. Here you will find a large wellness area with a thermal swimming pool and a view of the Black Forest, in addition to yoga, Black Forest baths and fast diets.

Qigong with Master Khim

Qigong is an important part of TCM. It contains elements of martial arts – but with very slow and mindful movements.

Qigong stimulates the flow of qi, or life energy. External movement and internal stillness merge according to the principle of yin and yang.

At SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA you have the opportunity to book private lessons with Master Khim. He learned Qigong from Grand Master Prof. Li Shao Bo (Zhen-Qi Yun Xing Research Institute China) and is the only official representative of medical Qigong in Germany.

#3 Biohotel Grafenast: Qigong in the Tyrolean Mountains

There is another wonderful Green PearlsⓇ hotel in the Tyrolean mountains that combines Far Eastern healing methods with Western wellness treatments. Like the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten, Biohotel Grafenast was designed according to Feng Shui principles and is considered a place of power along with its surroundings.

Here you can book Qigong with Sabine as a private lesson. Her training focuses on strengthening and relaxing the spine. It stimulates the metabolism and digestion and can also help with insomnia.

• You can find out more by reading this PDF document about the range of treatments offered.

#4 ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA: Acupuncture in Sicily

Dr. Letterio Taormina is a specialist in general medicine, but has also studied the “traditional healing methods of the East”. He is trained in Chinese acupuncture and his programs combine Western medicine with TCM. The ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA is located on a WWF protected natural beach and is a wonderfully luxurious yet naturally designed hideaway on the island of Sicily.

On offer are: Detox, Mediterranean Health, Stress Management, Sleep Therapy and Longeviti Booster

• Click here to view the health and wellness programs at the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA 

Green PearlsⓇ Hotels with other traditional healing methods

There are many more sustainable hotels among our partners that offer traditional or alternative healing methods. So if TCM is not for you, but you are still looking for alternatives or complements to conventional medicine, you may find what you are looking for.

#5 OCÉANO F. X. Mayr Center: Detoxification and Regeneration

The OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel on Tenerife combines F.X. Mayr’s therapeutic fasting with naturopathic methods such as acupuncture and oxygen therapy (as complementary treatments). Located on the north coast, the hotel offers a perfect environment for relaxation, tranquility and inner cleansing in a less touristy corner of the island. Facing the Atlantic Ocean and with a large seawater pool, the hotel has a close relationship with the sea, which is reflected in the thalassotherapy services offered at the HEALTH SPA. You will also be able to work out an exercise program with a therapist. The Health Hotel has a large fitness center and offers personal training, yoga classes and other exercise programs.

• Learn more about the F. X. Mayr program.

#6 LA VIMEA: Ayurveda and energy work in a vegan hotel

The vegan hotel LA VIMEA in South Tyrol focuses on Ayurveda, meditation and chakra work. This adults-only hotel has a swimming pond, indoor saltwater pool, and barrel sauna where you can relax. Daily yoga classes are offered (outdoors when the weather is nice), and you can also participate in singing bowl massages and forest bathing.

• Here you will find LA VIMEA’s yoga and meditation offers. You can also book various massages with Sylwia Patriok.
  

The hotel focuses on healthy and tasty plant-based cuisine. This can be an interesting experience even for non-vegans.

#7 STURM: Shiatsu and energetic massages

At STURM in Mellrichstadt, shiatsu treatments and holistic energetic massages help to balance the flow of energy. Shiatsu is a Japanese finger pressure massage technique and is performed at STURM by shiatsu practitioners Carmen and Sabine.

Nestled in the Rhön, the hotel is an ideal place to relax and recharge your batteries. The STURM has a large wellness area with a garden sauna, a house of silence and a swimming pond.

• Here you will find the wellness treatment program such as 1:1 breathing sessions or day retreats.

#8 Keemala, Phuket: Thai Rainforest Retreats

Keemala Resort offers customized retreats with holistic healing treatments, soothing massages and movement exercises. The tranquil setting in the middle of a tropical rainforest promotes sustainable healing. A leader in plastic-free and zero-waste practices, the resort also offers healthy, creative cuisine sourced from its own garden.

• Learn more about the retreats: Purify, Energize, Unwind and Rejuvenate

Why should you combine your vacation with TCM?

A vacation is the perfect opportunity to take care of yourself and balance your body and mind. In our busy lives, we often neglect to take the time to really listen to our needs, but this is the key to long-term wellness. According to the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine, health is regained when inner harmony and balance are restored. This is what you can experience at a hotel specializing in TCM (or other healing modalities).

We hope that you have found the right place among the hotels presented here – for a break that will have an impact not only on your vacation, but also on your everyday life.

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Der Beitrag TCM for renewed energy – 8 sustainable hotels for holistic relaxation erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

5 ways to make your ski vacation more sustainable

Skiing vacations have been criticized from a sustainability perspective due to the extensive infrastructure required. That’s why we’d like to start by briefly summarizing how you can minimize your carbon footprint on a ski vacation:

1. Sustainable arrival: Avoid flying and choose a resort that you can reach by train. This article provides information on how to get to each hotel, chalet or vacation home.
2. Sustainable accommodation: Just like the Green PearlsⓇ ski hotels and vacation homes we present in this article 🙂
3. Sustainable ski resort: Important considerations here are: no new deforestation; lifts powered by green electricity; no artificial snowmaking with snow cannons, or at least a sustainable concept for how specifically dammed water (so no water is taken from nature for it) and snow cannons are powered by green electricity.
4. Avoid waste and plastic: Both in your accommodation and during your skiing day.
5. Rent or buy used equipment instead of new.

Ski-in, ski-out hotels with guaranteed snow

In the face of climate change, we recommend preparing to compromise and having a “Plan B” in case there is no snow during your booked trip, such as winter hiking or a cultural program.

Alternatively, consider staying at ski hotels located in “snow-sure” areas, typically in the Alpine region above 1,200 meters.

Is artificial snow an environmental issue?

According to Statista, about 90 percent of all ski slopes in Italy have snowmaking systems. In Austria the figure is 70%, in Switzerland 53% and in Germany only 25%. Attitudes toward artificial snow vary widely across the Alpine region.

Ski resorts that use artificial snow, such as Dolomiti Superski, argue that artificial snow is “just water”. When forced out of a small hole under high pressure, the cold turns it into snow. This process does not involve any chemicals. Water typically comes from specially constructed reservoirs and returns to the ground as the snow melts.

So there are no problems? According to the WWF, there are. Artificial snow requires millions of gallons of water, energy and noise. The absence of trees on the slopes and the compacted ground from grading prevent the snow from being absorbed quickly when it melts, increasing the risk of landslides.

The WWF ultimately demands a halt to the development of new ski resorts. It also criticizes hotel complexes as “real energy eaters”. This makes choosing a sustainable ski hotel all the more important.

Sustainable ski-in, ski-out hotels in South Tyrol, Tyrol and Switzerland

Here are five ski hotels that are right on the slopes and committed to sustainability. As an added bonus, there’s also a vacation home in Tyrol that’s not right on the slopes – but the ski bus stops right outside.

#1 Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel | South Tyrol | Italy

The Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel is located at an altitude of 2,020 meters on the Seiser Alm in the Dolomites. Due to its proximity to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, the hotel feels a special commitment to nature. It is unique in the region in its commitment to the vegan lifestyle. Food and beverages are 100 percent vegan, and as much as possible is organic and locally sourced. For example, you will find many creations with organic South Tyrolean apples, but also vegan pizza for lunch, vegan brownies in the afternoon, dumplings, pasta, herbs and vegetables – a fantastically creative and climate-friendly plant-based cuisine that you should try, even if you are not vegan!

In addition to its magnificent location on two ski slopes, the hotel offers a spa area with several saunas and an outdoor saltwater hot tub. The hotel also promotes contemporary art with rotating exhibitions. Furthermore, it uses green electricity from Alperia, which is 90 percent hydroelectric.

Ski Resort: The Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel is located in the Seiser Alm ski resort with 32 ski runs. However, the Seiser Alm is only one of twelve interconnected ski resorts, all of which are part of the Dolomiti Superski area. This means that with one ski pass you have 1,200 kilometers of slopes at your disposal! (For comparison, 200 kilometers or more of slopes is what you call a “big ski area”). Fortunately, Dolomiti Superski is also committed to sustainability, as detailed here on their website. However, the resort does use artificial snow. According to them, natural snow would not last the entire season, so they have to use artificial one.

Sustainable travel: You can reach the Seiser Alm by train. From there the hotel will pick you up with a snow shuttle at a meeting point.

#2 Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt | Switzerland

Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt is a small, family-run hotel with only 21 rooms. The hotel has a view of the Matterhorn and is located above the center of Zermatt on 1620m. The Anthamatten family has managed the establishment for three generations. Hostess Fabienne Anthamatten is dedicated to zero-waste practices and has a keen interest in old wood and glacier melt. Her husband, Simon, is a mountain guide and helicopter pilot. Fabienne’s sister, Stefanie, a trained yoga teacher, also welcomes guests at the reception. Meanwhile, “Mama” Bernadette delights visitors with her homemade soups and jams.

The Swiss hotel is not only family friendly, but also very cozy – with a stone pine parlor and fireplace in the lobby, as well as a small spa area with saunas.

Ski area: The hotel is located below the Sunnegga – Rothorn valley station – so the valley run takes you directly to your hotel. Here you are connected to the Rothorn, Gornergrat Glacier and the Matterhorn Paradise ski area, which also includes Zermatt. Matterhorn Paradise is the highest ski area in the Alps (almost 4,000 meters in some places) and the largest summer ski area in Europe. It is open year round as many of the slopes are on glaciers. There are 360 km of slopes and you can even ski to Italy.

Zermatt’s cable cars have been investing in sustainability for several years and are TourCert certified. Despite its glacier location, the slopes are regularly covered with artificial snow.

Sustainable travel: Zermatt is car-free and accessible by train – as an added bonus, the hotel will even upgrade you to 1st class on the Visp-Zermatt route (for stays of 3 nights or more). Your luggage can be transported separately. A complimentary Hotel Bella Vista shuttle will pick you up at the train station.

#3 CERVO Mountain Resort Zermatt | Switzerland 

The CERVO Mountain Resort, also located in the Swiss ski resort of Zermatt on the Matterhorn, is an exceptional ski-in, ski-out hotel. The sustainable resort consists of several buildings, restaurants and a spa area, and CERVO’s terraces are a popular spot for après-ski.

The program includes numerous social events with live music, a group moonlight ski decent, movie night with fondue, etc. So this is the perfect place for you if you want to meet new people and enjoy some entertainment during your ski vacation.

Ski area: The resort in Zermatt is also part of the aforementioned Matterhorn Paradise.

Sustainable travel: You can also reach CERVO Mountain Resort by train via Zermatt station. Your ski pass can be ordered prior to your arrival and picked up at the reception desk.

#4 Biohotel Grafenast | Tirol | Österreich

If you are looking for a ski-in-ski-out hotel for a family ski vacation, we recommend the Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol. The hotel is run by the Unterlechner family. Grandfather “Rodel-Toni” built a toboggan hut on the Pillberg in 1907, which still exists today. Situated at an altitude of 1,330 meters, you have a wonderful view of the valley. With only 23 rooms (some of which are family rooms with separate children’s rooms), the atmosphere is intimate. Organic food, environmental protection and nature are very important to the Unterlechners, which is why they cook only with organic products.

Ski area: Biohotel Grafenast is located just 150 meters from the Kellerjoch ski area. The base station of the Kellerjochbahn, which takes you up to 1,890 meters, is just a few steps away. The small ski area has 20 km of slopes and 7 downhill runs, making it perfect for a (first) ski vacation with children. According to Snowtrex, about 30 percent of the slopes are covered with artificial snow. By the way, Café Rodel-Toni is located right next to the children’s ski school. Here parents can take a break while the kids learn to ski or play in the Kinderland.

Sustainable travel: The closest train stations are Jenbach and Schwaz. For stays of three nights or more, half the taxi fare to the Biohotel will be reimbursed.

#5 My Arbor | Südtirol | Italien

If you are traveling without children and prefer the tranquility of an adults-only hotel, My Arbor may be just what you are looking for. Located near Brixen, it is an architectural highlight built on stilts in the middle of a spruce forest. The wellness hotel is located directly on the Plose Mountain.

„After breakfast, I go to the ski room, put on my ski boots, grab my skis, and head straight from My Arbor to the Plose base station.“ – Alexandra Huber, My Arbor

Ski area: The Plose ski area is particularly sunny and with 7 lifts and about 40 km of slopes ranging in altitude from 1,067 to 2,446 meters, quite modest. Its highlight is South Tyrol’s longest downhill run: 9 km.

Sustainable travel: Brixen train station has direct connections from many major cities in Italy, Germany and Austria. Guests staying at My Arbor for 7 nights or more are picked up at the station free of charge. Otherwise, a taxi will cost approximately 30 euros for a 15-minute ride.

#6 Summit Lodges Pfunds | Tyrol | Austria

Finally, we would like to introduce you to two vacation homes that are not ski-in-ski-out, but have a ski bus stop right outside the door. The Summit Lodges Pfunds are American log cabin-style vacation homes that sleep up to six people and have their own sauna and wood-burning fireplace. With their own kitchens, you will be able to cook for yourself and plan your winter vacation at your own pace.

Ski area: There are six ski resorts in the area and the ski bus stops just steps away from the apartments. A 20 minute drive will take you to the Tyrolean ski resort Nauders, which has 75 kilometers of slopes between 1,400 and 2,750 meters. The resort is snow sure, but artificial snow is still in use. If you take the ski bus a little further, you can also reach the Italian region of South Tyrol in about 35 minutes. Here at the Reschen Pass, there are 65 kilometers of slopes and 15 ski lifts around the Reschen Lake. Due to the altitude of 1,500 to 2,400 meters, it is considered snow-sure as well, but snow machines are still employed.

Artificial snowmaking will continue to spread

As you can see, even resorts that advertise sustainability cannot avoid the use of artificial snow. Particularly alarming is the fact that in the United States, slopes are already snowed with the addition of bacteria, a practice banned in Germany and Austria. The bacteria ensure that snow is produced even at low temperatures. Environmentalists fear that this could have unprecedented effects on the environment. But with global warming, it could be an attractive option for more ski resorts.

In the future, a ski-in, ski-out vacation will only be possible through sustainability

Skiing is far less sustainable than more gentle winter sports such as snowshoeing. All the more reason to consider some sustainability issues when going on a ski vacation. Ski-in-ski-out hotels are located in the heart of the resort, so you can experience nature – and its preparation – firsthand. As wonderful as this is, it should also be possible for future generations.

Der Beitrag Sustainable ski-in, ski-out hotels for eco-conscious winter sports enthusiasts erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

Do products make an accommodation sustainable?

As we see time and again at Green PearlsⓇ accommodations, the paths to greater sustainability are many and varied. It always depends on local conditions and opportunities – as well as the individual priorities of hoteliers.

Particularly critical to sustainability in the hotel industry are

• construction
• energy supply and use
• heating and cooling
• water and sanitation
• food

Things like “honey from your own beehive” are not that important in the overall ecological balance. However, the many small contributions add up, and for the guest, the attention to detail often makes all the difference.

18 environmental and resource friendly products

#1 Workwear

Many sustainable hotels pay attention to sustainability when it comes to their employees’ workwear. Here are some key points that will make not only your workwear, but also all your everyday clothing, better:

• Durable and long-lasting materials
• Ecological materials such as GOTS certified organic cotton
• Non-toxic fabrics, OEKO-TEX 100 certified
• Made in Europe and/or Fair Trade companies

👉Read more on our blog about sustainable hotel workwear.

#2 Bathrobe

The bathrobe is one of the luxuries a hotel offers. As with any item of clothing, fashions change regularly. In recent years, for example, robes have become more selfie-friendly or come with smartphone-sized pockets. Colorful hooded robes made with GOTS-certified organic cotton are all the rage. But some sustainable hotels have decided not to phase out the classic white robe, because it’s more sustainable to use well-maintained items for as long as possible.

👉Here are the bathrobe trends for 2024/2025.

#3 Beds and bedding

Hästens beds are not only the most expensive beds in the world, they are also very popular with many of our sustainable hotel partners (e.g. CERVO Mountain Resort Zermatt). These boxsprings are handmade in Sweden and filled with horsehair. Other partners rely on COCO MAT’s vegan beds (e.g. the Lifestylehotel SAND at the Baltic Sea).

👉Learn more about sleeping comfort at eco-hotels and vacation rentals

#4 Bread

Have you ever enjoyed a bread sommelier’s selection of breads? In our blog, we talked with bread sommelier Benjamin Profanter from the Naturbackstube in Brixen. He supplies the wellness hotel My Arbor* (about 15 minutes from Brixen). Benjamin explains what makes bread sustainable and good. For example, ancient grains are especially important.

👉You can read the blog article about sustainable bread here

PS: We have also put together some tips for sustainable snacks when hiking.

#5 Decoration

At Green PearlsⓇ hotels and accommodations, you will often find ingenious decorating ideas that we have already discussed several times here on the blog. What’s great about them is that they are often DIY projects, natural products or upcycles, and that you can easily recreate many of them at home:

• Decorative Inspiration from Green Hotels
• Planted decorations for a good indoor climate
• Presenting DIY souvenirs from your vacation
• Magical Hotels: Decorating ideas for a magical atmosphere at home
• Making sustainable Christmas decorations
• Green Halloween Decorations 

#6 Breakfast

Have you ever only eaten breakfast at a hotel? Internationally, hotels are often among the best places to have breakfast, surprising you with a nice atmosphere and many delicacies. Sustainable hotels like the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb, Germany, offer a completely waste-free breakfast buffet. A hybrid of buffet and table service has also proven to be ecologically sound – egg dishes, for example, are guaranteed fresh and nothing needs to be thrown away.

👉Learn more about breakfast at sustainable hotels

By the way: Have you ever made your own hummus? This vegan power breakfast from the Levant is easy to make, as the Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel* on the Seiser Alm in South Tyrol shows.

#7 Honey

Many sustainable hotels have made a commitment to protect the bees and care for hives. The sweet reward is the honey that many of them produce. The APIPURA hotel rinner* on the Ritten in South Tyrol is at the forefront. The hotel is run by passionate beekeeper Paul Rinner and his family. In addition to the hotel’s own organic honey, the hotel also offers Api-Wellness, where guests can inhale the air from the beehive. The hotel has been around for 50 years and has been committed to biodiversity and bee conservation since before the bee hype.

👉Learn more about the power of honey.

#8 Coffee

We spoke to Viennese barista Moritz Unterlechner of the Unterlechner family, who run the Biohotel Grafenast in Vienna, about the sustainable coffee trends for 2024/2025. He recommends the organic coffee beans (espresso and filter coffee) from BOB & Co.

The German Green City Hotel Vauban in Freiburg is an integration company and therefore works with other integration companies whenever possible, such as the coffee roaster Zollernalb..

👉Discover sustainable coffee trends here

#9 Clothes Hanger

The SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA is increasingly designing the interior of the hotel with a closed cycle of raw materials in mind, and has now renovated an entire floor according to the cradle-to-cradleⓇ principle. It is important that all materials are either biodegradable or 100% recyclable.

👉In this Insight, they present their hangers made of meadow grass.

#10 Lamp Shades

Other cool things can be made from grass, hay and hay flowers. The Hotel Klosterbräu, for example, uses bedside lamps made of hay flowers in its nature rooms. The nature rooms are made entirely from natural and local materials – the wood comes from the hotel’s own forest and the walls are plastered with local clay.

👉Learn more about hayflower lampshades here.

#11 Marmalades and jams

Do you know the difference between jam, marmalade, jelly and fruit spread? Well, this summer we explained it on our blog and also featured delicious sweet spreads from our Green Pearls partners – with recipes, of course. Homemade jam from local fruits is not only delicious, but also a zero waste product!

👉Read about jams, jellies and marmalades here.

#12 Natural Cosmetics

In sustainable accommodations, you shouldn’t find disposable products in the bathroom. The small bottles and tubes that are still available in many conventional hotels not only create a lot of waste, they often contain hazardous substances and microplastics.

Some hotels, like the ADLER Lodge RITTEN*, even make their own line of cosmetics, with ingrediance right from the region. That way they know exactly what is in it.

Learn more in our article about natural cosmetics in hotels. For background information, we also recommend the article how beauty care and environment are related.

👉The Green DIY Spa Day article even includes recipes you can try at home.

#13 Olives

Olives grow throughout the Mediterranean, and for many of our southern partners, the olive harvest is an annual highlight. Relais del Maro in Liguria*, for example, hosts an olive festival every November in the coastal town of Imperia. At the festival, you can taste a wide variety of olives. Of course, the region’s famous Taggiasca olives are also available at the Albergo Diffuso, a 4-star hotel spread over several buildings in the village for a truly authentic Italian experience.

👉Read more about olives in Italy and Spain.

#14 Plant-based drink

Cow’s milk has a high carbon footprint due to the way cows are raised. But are vegan milk alternatives really greener? Hotels such as the 100% vegan, adults-only LA VIMEA* in South Tyrol have long offered guests a wide range of plant-based drinks for their coffee. Now, a “cappuccino with oat drink” is a staple on the menus of other hotels as well.

👉Find out if this is better for the environment with our sustainability check for plant-based beverages.

#15 Carpets

“Even though our carpets are trampled on, we still pay a lot of attention to sustainability, design and the concept behind them when making our selections”. This is how the Hotel Luise in Erlangen, Germany, describes its policy. The hotel uses carpet tiles from Interface (locations in Germany, Austria and Switzerland). Interface focuses on circular carpets made from recycled materials. The “NetEffect” carpet tiles, for example, are made from recycled fishing nets. According to various studies, abandoned or lost fishing nets make up the largest proportion of marine plastic.

The Lifestylehotel SAND in Timmendorfer Strand also has Interface carpet tiles. The adults-only hotel chose a model made of post- and pre-consumer PET to match the hotel’s natural Baltic Sea style.

👉Learn more about carpets made from fishing nets

#16 STUA Furniture

Sustainable furniture is also a hallmark of green accommodations. Many Green PearlsⓇ hotels feature restored antiques or furniture made by a local carpenter using local wood.

The OCEANO Health Spa Hotel in Tenerife recommends the Spanish furniture brand STUA, which is also available in stores.

👉Learn more about STUA furniture.

#17 Tea

Strictly speaking, only the leaves of the tea plant are tea – but in German-speaking countries, other infusions made from herbs, spices and flowers are also called “tea”. You can easily brew these in a carbon-neutral way using the plants on your balcony!

👉Learn more in our blog article about tea, where we also reveal the blends of some of the hotels.

#18 Vases

Every hotel lobby should have at least one beautiful vase of fresh flowers. But to be sustainable, you need two things: first, a sustainable vase (at the Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa in Bayerisch Gmain, these are made by a local artist who uses a 3D printer to create vases out of coffee grounds). And second, sustainable flowers. STURM in Mellrichstadt introduced us to the Slow Flower movement.

👉Hier siehst du die Vasen aus Kaffeesatz

“I saw this in a Green PearlsⓇ hotel”

By the way, the reason I find sustainable hotel products so cool is that they are so beautiful to show off 🙂 They combine your travels with individuality, with the skills of professional interior designers and of course with a love for our planet.

So the products listed here won’t be the last you’ll find on the blog. Do you already have an idea of what we should include?

*CIN-Codes:

IT021072A1QCJQTLUQ (ADLER Lodge Ritten)

IT021011A1AE4737IT (My Arbor)

IT008010A1NIWKHTTF (Relais del Maro)

IT021072A1UOWUIDH4 (APIPURA hotel rinner)

IT021056A1J4HHYSU4 (LA VIMEA)

IT021019A16MFGOUCR (Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel)

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Der Beitrag “I saw this at a Green PearlsⓇ hotel” – A list of the best sustainable hotel products erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

When fate strikes

A stroke of fate can happen to anyone. Like Karl Polaska-Auer, whose fourth child became seriously ill. That’s when the head of a successful PR agency for luxury hotels realized that “there is more to life than material success.” Together with his wife Krystyna, he founded the Global Family Charity Resort 17 years ago, which offers free vacations to families in difficult personal or financial situations. Since then, 300 hoteliers have hosted some 1,200 families. Three of these hotels are Green PearlsⓇ partners.

Global Family Partner Hotels of Green PearlsⓇ in Austria and Germany

The Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol has been a partner for five years. Every year we receive three or four requests and then invite one or two families to stay with us for a week,” says owner Peter Unterlechner. The guests include single mothers in difficult situations or families with children who need a lot of care.

The family-run Biohotel Grafenast is located 1,330 meters above the Inn Valley. In summer, the Tyrolean mountains open up for hiking and nature experiences. In winter, the hotel is in the heart of the ski area, with a tobogganing hill and children’s ski school right outside the door.

“We provide the families with free room and board, as well as support with activities and services,” says host Peter Unterlechner. It is nice to see the families enjoying a carefree time and a break from their difficult everyday lives.

„Especially the children can hardly believe it and are overjoyed.“ – Biohotel Grafenast

Treat children to a luxury vacation

The luxurious yet sustainable 5-star Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Austria, is also a member of the Global Family. Family is very important to the hosts. The Seyrling family is now the sixth generation to run the wellness hotel within the 500-year-old monastery walls, and a total of nine family members actively look after guests in the popular Tyrolean vacation region.

For example, while parents relax in the pool or saunas, kids can hang out in the billiards room or visit the animals in the hotel’s petting zoo (read more about the hotel’s Kids Club in this blog post).

Relaxation in the Black Forest

Global Family’s partner in Germany is the Green PearlsⓇ Hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA. The ecologically oriented hotel is located in the spa town of Bad Herrenalb, known for its fresh air, healing springs and thermal baths. There is also a thermal swimming pool directly in the wellness hotel. Furthermore, the beautiful Black Forest is the perfect setting for active nature experiences.

„We invite families to join us for a free vacation, thus enabling victims of violence, poverty, disasters, wars, persecution and terminal illnesses to have a vacation.” – SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA

Community engagement is sustainability

As we described in our blog post on social sustainability, the “three pillars of sustainability” model places social on an equal footing with ecology (environment) and economics (business).

“We see Global Family as an organization that is committed to human rights and aid projects in the tourism sector and that promotes sustainability,” says Karl Polaska-Auer in an interview with Green PearlsⓇ.

“Holidays for underprivileged families can have a lasting positive impact. For many of these families, it has been a stepping stone out of hardship, especially for victims of violence who were able to experience that humanity still exists.” – Karl Polaska-Auer

Instead of donating money, hotels can help directly by offering a free vacation. Global Family raises the money to cover the additional costs – especially travel – through fundraising events where celebrities rally support.

Each year, the Weihrerhof Hotel invites five families from the Peter Pan Children’s Cancer Fund

In South Tyrol, the Peter Pan Association supports children with cancer and their families. The Hotel Weihrerhof on Lake Costalovara in Renon is one of its partners. Lake Costalovara is one of the cleanest bathing lakes in Italy and is transformed into a giant ice rink in winter.

Every year, five families with children suffering from cancer receive a free vacation at the Hotel Weihrerhof. The Ritten Card also includes free use of all local transportation on the Ritten Plateau, including the cable car, and free admission to numerous museums.

Support the local parent-child center

The APIPURA hotel rinner is also committed to families and, as a partner of the Elki Ritten, provides free accommodation for the teachers of the parent-child center.

Become a holiday sponsor

As a traveler, you can also share your privilege with other families. Global Family has developed a vacation sponsorship concept where one family (who can afford it) invites another family (who normally cannot afford it) on a vacation. You then book the exact same thing for a second family, in addition to your own train tickets and accommodations. The organization will help you find out who might be a good match for you (and if you could get a grant for your project).

👉Learn more about holiday sponsorships here.

In the end, all participants report that they get “an incredible amount back” from giving. Tourism is particularly suited to such activities because it involves sharing and getting to know one another.

You know how important and beneficial a vacation can be – imagine if you never had one. Wouldn’t you wish for a door to open and make it possible?

Der Beitrag Hotels with a heart: Free nights for families in need erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

Support, not undermine, the efforts of sustainable hotels and accommodation

When it comes to the do’s and don’ts of travel, this article looks at it from a sustainability perspective. In other articles of this kind, for example, one of the first rules is often: “Don’t dress like a tourist!” Trekking sandals and necklaces (as you probably know) are not considered fashionable – but from an ecological point of view, we don’t see a problem here! However, too much revealing clothing on vacation can offend the religious and cultural sensitivities of local people, as Indonesian Lucienne Anhar explains in our Bali blog post.

On this blog, we feature privately and individually owned hotels and vacation rentals that demonstrate sustainable and environmentally friendly practices in all areas. You will often see small signs reminding you that you can do without fresh towels every day (a simple measure that contributes significantly to the conservation of energy, fresh water, and detergents in the tourism industry). But sometimes, as guests, we may not even be aware that our behavior is undermining the resort’s sustainability efforts in one way or another. So it’s time to ask our hotelier partners what we might want to avoid doing.

Don’ts for a sustainable vacation at a hotel

#1 Use your own shampoo

At The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm (just named one of the 22 “Absolute Best Hotels in Asia” by Fodor’s Travel), guests are not encouraged to use their own shampoo and shower gel. The simple reason is that the Nepalese resort is run according to ecological criteria and is surrounded by organic farmland. The water cycles of the farm, the kitchen, and the resort are all connected. Chemicals, pollutants, and microplastics, which are often found in many conventional shower products, can harm the farm, the hotel team explains.

“We encourage our guests to use the bathroom products we provide because they are all natural and chemical free.” – The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm

#2 Balloons at hotel parties

Have you ever considered that balloons are not environmentally friendly decorations or gifts? For this reason, they are not allowed on Gut Sonnenhausen in Glonn (near Munich).

“We do a lot of weddings and one thing we don’t do is balloons. Since we are in the middle of a nature reserve, too many balloons and strings end up in the trees or on the ground, where they are nibbled by animals. But this is well accepted by our guests.” – Gut Sonnenhausen

#3 Bringing snacks and food to the resort

Don’t bring your own snacks, drinks, and take-out food to the resort – you might think, sure, they want to make money. But as Farmhouse Smiling Gecko in Cambodia tells us, they are particularly concerned about the packaging waste. The food that is brought in is usually wrapped in plastic, which ends up as garbage at the resort.

And by the way, it’s not a bad thing to support the farmhouse and its Smiling Gecko project. It runs an organic farm, a school, and training centers for employees (or their children) and the local population on its premises.

#4 Take bread from the breakfast buffet – yes or no?

Should you take bread from the breakfast buffet to make a sandwich for lunch? Our Green PearlsⓇ partners have very different answers to this question, depending on the region in which the hotel is located. At the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu in Balderschwang, for example, the breakfast buffet offers extra “Jausesackerl”, which you can take with you for a snack on the mountain.

At the Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol, however, this is not welcomed. The hiking hotel is located in the middle of the Hohe Tauern Alpine National Park and believes it is important to support the local huts. For them, this is an aspect of economic and social sustainability.

“We want our guests to stop and eat at the huts. That’s why we only offer a snack in the afternoon and don’t make snack packs to give away for hikes or anything like that.” – Naturhotel Outside

#5 Smoking in Paris

In Paris, people smoke a lot more than in other European cities. Every year, the city disposes of about 350 tons (!) of cigarette butts! The Green Spirit Hotels (Hotel Le Pavilions, Amelie and Malar, all in the lively 7th arrondissement, within walking distance of the Seine and the Eiffel Tower) are not happy about this. The small, independent hotels use special air filters to ensure fresh air, and smoking is only allowed in the green courtyard. Sometimes guests stub out their cigarettes in the flower pots! “Even though there are plenty of ashtrays outside!”

In case you didn’t know, a cigarette butt is made of plastic and toxins, and especially when watering your plants, the toxins get into the plants, which is why you really shouldn’t do it! Neither in the garden nor outside (because the same thing happens there, only on a larger scale)! The correct place to dispose of them is the garbage.

#6 Stealing hotel equipment as a “souvenir” – Please do not do this on vacation

Do we really have to say that? Unfortunately, yes. Just on my last vacation (in a nature wagon in the Eifel) we asked the operator if we could have cutlery. “There is cutlery,” he was sure. But apparently, the previous tenants had taken it home…

In 2023, the hotel portal Wellness Heaven conducted a survey of around 1,400 European hoteliers, which showed that towels and bathrobes are the most frequently taken items, especially in 5-star hotels.

The AC Hotels by Marriott chain reported that approximately 1,250 towels per hotel (!) are stolen each year in a total of 64 hotels.

Our partner, the aparthotel OLM Nature Escape in South Tyrol, only opened a year ago and is currently considering how to deal with this problem.

“We place more trust in our valued guests than usual; we use valuable items and amenities. For example, a high quality sauna towel in the ApartSuite, high quality kitchen utensils, glasses, porcelain… Some guests take advantage of this and steal from us. They do not appreciate the generosity.” – OLM Nature Escape

As you can see, the many little “oh, it won’t be noticed” actions of individual guests add up to a lot of damage, and are therefore clearly antisocial, unsustainable behavior, and things you shouldn’t do on vacation. (And you’re not legally allowed to do them either.)

#7 Wasting energy

At home, people conserve electricity because it costs money, and in hotels – it’s free. People who think like that don’t think very deeply. You would think that people who book sustainable hotels would have a certain sensitivity when it comes to conserving resources. Unfortunately, that is not necessarily the case.

The Naturresort Gerbehof on Lake Constance is surprised by guests who “take showers several times a day, want their towels changed daily, or use a large number of towels in the sauna”. Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt in Switzerland also had guests who wanted their sheets changed “every day. Also sad is when guests “take too much food and then leave everything on the table”.

Here are a few more tips for saving energy – at the hotel, too:

• Turn off or lower the heat or air conditioning when you leave the room or open the windows
• Turn off lights when not in use
• Do not waste unnecessary amounts of water when showering, washing, etc
• Do not use fresh towels or even bed linens every day
• You can also cancel the daily room cleaning service at some hotels (often a small amount is donated to charity)
• Separate trash (if offered)

#8 Trash

“Waste is a big problem in general,” says Marco Spiess of Summit Lodges in Pfunds. Guests at the vacation homes in Pfunds, Tyrol, cook for themselves and bring their own food. The host notes: “In some cases, huge amounts of unopened food are thrown away, even though it is still fresh. He tries to point this out to his guests, but it often falls on “deaf ears”.

The luxurious Keemala Resort in Thailand has a zero-waste policy and there are no plastic bottles, straws, or the like throughout the resort. Therefore, it is annoying when people bring plastic products from outside. It would also be desirable for guests to recycle their waste properly.

There are signs of improvement

The Lifestylehotel SAND in Timmendorfer Strand on the Baltic Sea has a positive story to tell about “guest education”. They started early to communicate their “sustainable lifestyle” both internally and to their guests.

“It is important not to formulate prohibitions, but to ask for help.” – Marion Muller, Lifestlyhotel SAND

She considers it a success that the demand for to-go cups, for example, has become an “exception”.

The Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol is also proud to report that it is very satisfied with the ecological awareness of its guests:

„Most of our guests are very conscious of sustainability and live sustainably.“ – Biohotel Grafenast

In general, you should continue to do the sustainable things you do at home while you are on vacation. Even though some sustainable practices may not be as common in the country where you are vacationing. “Going wild” on vacation is not trendy at the moment. And it never really has been.

Do you have other experiences, examples, or tips for vacation dos and don’ts? Write them down in the comments!

Der Beitrag 8 things you should NOT do on vacation erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

Tipp #1: Vacation without your phone

The OLM Nature Escape in South Tyrol recommends: “Try to spend time together without cell phones!” This applies to children and parents alike! The eco-aparthotel offers the “ApartSuite XL” with a kitchenette, two bedrooms, and a children’s bunk bed, where you can spend a great family vacation in nature with up to six people.

Fritz Karl, an Austrian theater actor and father of seven, tested a three-week cell phone-free vacation with his children this year. In the TV show Riverboat (see ARD-Mediathek from minute 00:02:00) he says: “At the beginning, it was very exhausting for everyone. But it was worth it! “Yes, but what did you do then?” he is asked incredulously. “Board games!” is his answer.

Tipp #2: Board and card games

This brings us to the next tip from Elena Scalambrin at the Relais del Maro in Liguria: board games. You don’t even have to bring them on vacation at the Relais del Maro because Elena will be happy to provide you and your children with a variety of games. Of course, you should still bring your family’s favorite game. There are also smaller travel or pocket versions of many classic and popular games!

Elena and her family have built an Albergo Diffuso in the picturesque village of Borgomaro. This means that the 4-star hotel is spread over several buildings in the village and you will be staying right next to the villagers. You are sure to see some Italian kids playing soccer in the street, and maybe your kids can join in 🙂

Great board games with kids (5 to 13 years old)

I also enjoy playing games with my kids. For newer games that you can easily take on vacation, I recommend these:

• Qwirkle (Preferably the travel version in the cloth bag)
• Mogel Motte
• Memoarrr!

And for classic games, of course, we love UNO, Chess, Mau-Mau, and Yatzy. If you have room for a whole box of games, Crazy Labyrinth and Labyrinth of the Masters are also great, as well as Nobody’s Perfect (you have to be able to write here).

Tipp #3: Introduce children to nature

A family vacation is a wonderful opportunity to get close to nature. For example, a vacation in Tirol, Austria. In Pfunds, you will find an “untouched” mountain world with meadows, wild water, and a traditional village. For a family vacation, we recommend the Summit Lodges. These are two log cabins, each about 120 square meters, for up to 6 people, with their own sauna and fireplace. Children can play safely in the surrounding garden and explore nature while parents relax on the terrace.

Peter Unterlechner of Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol, Austria, has also set up family rooms and even offers a special children’s program during the holiday season. He has a few suggestions on how to introduce your children to nature:

• Playing in the garden
• Go hiking
• Crafting with natural materials
• Forest walks
• Mushroom picking
• Eating blueberries (in summer)
• Tobogganing in winter
• Snowball fights
• Learning to ski (a children’s ski school is within walking distance of the hotel)
• Snowshoeing (There is a family snowshoeing tour from the Biohotel Grafenast)

Tipp #4: Rent an e-bike with a child trailer

Hotel Bella Vista is located in car-free Zermatt, so the best way to explore the area around the Matterhorn is on foot or by bike. Fabienne Anthamatten, a member of the host family, recommends that families with children rent a Chariot e-bike in the village.

„That way, the family can get to great picnic spots and everyone is happy.” – Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt

Tipp #5: Adventure travel by train

As you probably know, getting to and from your vacation destination is often your biggest environmental impact. The next biggest impact is where you stay. At Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Tyrol, you can do both (as long as you live in Europe) and combine a sustainable hotel with a climate-friendly trip.

“Since Seefeld has a train station right in the center of town, it makes sense to travel by train. Children see it as an adventure and the trip is fun. Sustainable travel with children is an opportunity to teach them values at an early age and to raise their awareness of environmental protection.” – Hotel Klosterbräu

The hotel is family-run (the seventh generation is currently growing up) and there are great activities for all ages, including a small petting zoo! While the kids take a guided tour, make pizza, or play pool during the holiday program, parents can relax by the pool or take an extended hike.

Tipp #6: Learn interesting things

Learning is not boring (just don’t say “We are learning now”). At APIPURA hotel rinner, for example, you can learn a lot about bees and organic farming. The father/grandfather of the host family Rinner is a passionate beekeeper and likes to take his guests to the beehives. There is also a bee nature trail on the property. Of course, the hotel’s own organic honey is available at the breakfast buffet, and as a special feature, you can enjoy api-welness and inhale the air from the beehive.

A highlight for a vacation with children at the APIPURA hotel rinner is certainly the Ritten-Card, which you can get for free here. With this card, you can use all public transportation (including the cable car and the Ritten train, which stops right next to the hotel) for free. It also gives you free entry to many museums.

Tipp #7: Introduce children to the culture of the destination

The luxury eco-resort Keemala in Phuket, Thailand, sent us a number of suggestions on how to make a vacation with children more sustainable. They feel it is very important to always involve the children and give them lots of explanations – for example, separating waste together and explaining the problem of plastic pollution to children.

A vacation in a foreign country (such as Thailand) can be used to discover the flora, fauna, and culture of the country together with the children.

• Learn a few words of the local language
• Visit local markets
• Bring cotton bags instead of accepting plastic bags
• Bring water in a refillable bottle
• Pack a zero-waste lunch or avoid take-out packaging waste in other ways
• Book eco-tours with local guides and make sure they consider things like animal welfare, ethics, and conservation
• Visit cultural or religious sites (for example, from Keemala you can visit Buddhist temples in Phuket). Find out in advance what the appropriate behavior is and discuss it with your children.

Conclusion

Sustainability is a lifestyle that can be practiced in all areas of life, including on vacation. The best way to reach your children is to set an example by implementing sustainable practices with them. This can be done easily and authentically at sustainable hotels and vacation rentals. And who knows – maybe they’ll be even more “strict” than you are – it’s been known to happen 🙂

Der Beitrag Sustainable travel with kids – Tips from our Green PearlsⓇ partners erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

What is a place of power?

“Places of power are in vogue. But their effects are not scientifically proven.” SRF in its article on magical nature

A place of power is a geographical location in nature where, according to esoteric belief, a particular energy or earth radiation exists. Scientific methods cannot prove this; instead, people identify such places using a pendulum or divining rod.People also designate some power places based on ley lines or Feng Shui principles.

Some (or many) also use the term for places in nature that are simply beautiful and subjectively uplifting. You can probably think of an example right now, can’t you?

Places of power and tourism

Powerful sites are key attractions in the tourism industry—take Stonehenge, for example! In 2019, authorities closed Ayers Rock in Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park after the Anangu people protested. They opposed the increasing number of tourists climbing their sacred mountain, damaging the environment, and trampling on their cultural heritage. Uluru holds deep cultural and religious significance for Australia’s indigenous people.

However, with our Green PearlsⓇ partners, we don’t get the impression that power places are being exploited for tourism. Instead, they often align with the personal worldview of the individual hotel hosts, particularly in the case of Feng Shui power places.

Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten – An entire hotel as a Feng Shui place of power

“The entire hotel has been declared a place of power by a Feng Shui master from Beijing.” – Zum Kurfürsten Lifestyle Resort

Feng Shui and TCM play an important role at Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten. The wellness hotel in Bernkastel-Kues on the Mosel River used to be a simple hotel for coach tours – until Heiner Buckermann took over and transformed it into the lifestyle resort it is today. Today, it boasts a 4,500-square-foot wellness area with saunas, pools and a natural swimming pond, as well as a diet based on the Five Elements and TCM therapy.

Heiner Buckermann remembers the construction phase and the Feng Shui master: “The master was visiting Germany from Beijing and met one of our TCM therapists. We were building at the time and asked for his help. The master explained the details of how to connect the energies in the place of power.”

The goal was to ensure that the entire place stayed coherent and, like a turtle’s shell, blocked negative energies. To achieve this, they directed the water from the various pools to flow in a specific way, and followed precise instructions on maintaining contact with the street or hotel staircase to protect the energy of the Power Place.

By connecting all the outbuildings to the main building, the energy can “flow freely”. The choice of materials, the polygonal tiles, the nine flags on the street – everything follows the Feng Shui rules for a place of power.

According to Heiner Buckermann, the Feng Shui instructions were all “logical” and “pleasant” and “contributed positively to the design of the hotel. The master himself then declared the entire hotel to be a place of power, and anyone sensitive to this can still feel it today.

Biohotel Grafenast – A place of power, confirmed by geomancers

Peter Unterlechner of the Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol, Austria, also believes in flowing qi and has had the hotel, now in its third generation, aligned accordingly.

“We had the grounds designed according to Feng Shui and then had them tested by a geomancer,” says Peter Unterlechner. The geomancer confirmed that both the hotel and the surrounding nature are places of power. The hotel sits beautifully in the mountains, offering stunning views of the valley.

“The panoramic location and the combination of an old house and a fresh spirit bring the power to life and make it tangible” – Biohotel Grafenast

You can create your own places of power

As you can see from the examples, you can create your own places of power by implementing certain esoteric rules.

“We have created various places of power ourselves,” reports the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu. There are various retreats in the wellness area of the Mountain Spring Spa and the “Power of Silence” place with a bonsai tree. The sustainably managed hotel is also an advocate of Ayurveda and mindfulness, offering yoga classes and retreats throughout the year.

At Naturhotel Gerbehof, the owners strongly believe in the Philippi method. They offer bioenergetic motivation sessions in-house, and there is a stone circle in their private forest where guests can experience a “meditation on the four primary elements.”

Crystal Garden at Gut Guntrams

If you are interested in crystals, the Gut Guntrams near Vienna has an impressive crystal garden with some huge exhibits. However, owner Stefan Gergley does not make any esoteric connections. He simply has a passion for crystals, petrified wood and minerals, he explains, and shares them in his private collection and his own nature museum at Gut Guntrams.

Places of power around sustainable hotels

Many Green PearlsⓇ accommodations are located near one or more places of power. The way these sites are transformed into a tourist experience varies widely.

The “Snake God’s” place of worship must not be disturbed

For example, Rajiv Desraj Shrestha, general manager of The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm in Nepal, knows of a place of power near the resort – but he won’t take you there because he thinks tourists (and people in general) are a disruptive factor.

“We have a place of power. It is a very old place of worship according to Hindu understanding, dedicated to the ‘Snake God’ and according to Hinduism can only be worshipped on certain auspicious days. In general, it is disturbed by human presence and therefore a visit is not recommended.” – Rajiv Desraj Shrestha

Temples and the “holy forest” to experience in Thailand

At Keemala in Phuket, on the other hand, the surrounding power spots are integrated into the program. They tell us there are three areas:

• The “sacred” forest: “The nearby ancient forests are said to have spiritual significance and energy.”
• Buddhist Temples: “The temples and spiritual sites in our area are known for their peaceful atmosphere and historical significance and can be visited.
• Nature and Meditation: “Special guided hikes through these power spots are part of our wellness programs and combine immersion in nature with meditation exercises.”

The enchantingly beautiful Keemala Resort is nestled in the tropical forest of Phuket.

Guests of the Hotel Weihrerhof in South Tyrol will receive a “power places booklet”.

The Pichler family, who run the Hotel Weihrerhof* on the shores of Lake Costalovara in Renon, South Tyrol, actively sought out places of natural power in the area around their hotel. This came about because the host family carefully studied the surrounding nature.

Of particular interest are the Celtic-Rhaetian sites and settlements typical of the Ritten. When exploring places of power, their goal is to “feel more and think less”. In order to understand the energy involved, they have enlisted the help of geomancer Bernd Traber.

As a guest, you will find a small booklet in your room in which you can learn more about each place and get ideas for consciously experiencing them. Afterwards you can visit them with a new feeling and let nature have a deeper effect on you.

Hotel room design inspired by a place of power in Bad Herrenalb

The SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA has just renovated its hotel rooms (according to Cradle to Cradle™) and created the room category “Falkenstein”. The Falkenstein is a local landmark in Bad Herrenalb, and according to hotel owner Stephan Bode, the “vibrating primeval energy” is particularly noticeable here. He wanted the new hotel rooms to reflect this: “As soon as you enter the room, you feel a unique and unbridled energy – powerful and balanced. Falkenstein is the perfect design concept for every guest who wants to feel primal power.”

Bad Herrenalb – a place of power

There are also other places of power in the area, such as one “directly above the junction of the two supercontinents of Gondwana and Laurasia”. The entire town of Bad Herrenalb is considered a healing place of power, evident from the unusually large number of twin trees, a wonder pine growing on an archway, and its healing water and climate.

The hotel team emphasizes that you don’t have to believe in the special power of Bad Herrenalb to feel it:

“Even guests unfamiliar with the special qualities of the place often confirm at check-out that they feel relaxed and energized.” – SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA

Recharge your batteries in Warper Wood

Sisters Maren Geisler-Okelmann and Kristin Okelmann of eco-hotel Okelmann’s in Warpe are spiritually open. The water that flows through their pipes has been revitalized using the Grander method, and the hotel offers yoga, meditation, and sound massages.

“Our power spot, almost on our doorstep, is the magical Warper Wood. We do some retreats that include forest bathing. We spend as much time there as possible.” – Hotel Okelmanns

“Heartstone” Place of Power near Hotel Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa

The health hotel Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa has a focus on medicine and is happy to offer scientifically based methods (e.g. medical liver fasting instead of other types of fasting). Additionally, you can participate in a guided forest bathing tour. The guide Jana likes to integrate the power place Herzstein into her tour.

It is only a 5 minute walk from the hotel. Lisa-Maria Standl from the hotel says: “I’ve been there several times, and even though it’s a bit esoteric, I think the word ‘place of power’ is appropriate.

Hexenbödele on the Ritten in South Tyrol

Near the APIPURA hotel rinner* on the Ritten in South Tyrol, there is a mystical place called “Hexenbödele”. It is a forest clearing with a larch tree in the middle. Legend says that devils and witches once danced here. One night, a young boy, wanting to prove his courage, visited the place. By morning, they found him lifeless—trampled to death by the witches. After this tragic event, they hung a crucifix in the larch tree to honor the boy, and since then, the witches are said to avoid the place.

In addition to the Hexenböderle, Karin Rinner from the hotel’s host family recommends the Waldner Eck and the Mitterstieler See viewpoint.

“I often visit the places of power around us because they are breathtaking sites where you can get a lot of strength.” – Karin Rinner

Stone circle in Seefeld

In Seefeld, where the sustainable Hotel Klosterbräu is located, there is a stone circle as a place of power. They built it on the Pfarrerbichl as a “magical place.” In 2000, they measured the constellation, and in 2007, they inaugurated the place of power. The 12 stones are meant to represent the 12 apostles, and in the middle, there is a way of the cross, starting from the parish church in Seefeld.

The Hotel Klosterbräu was built on the 500-year-old walls of an old monastery. The staff here likes to play with biblical names. The sunbathing area by the outdoor pool is called the “Garden of Eden.” And down in the vaults is the “Cellar of Sin“.

Places of natural power with our Green PearlsⓇ partners

As we researched the places of power among our Green PearlsⓇ partners, many emphasized the natural treasures of their surroundings.

The sea as an inexhaustible source of energy in Tenerife

At the OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel on the island of Tenerife, they believe that the Atlantic Ocean, which borders the hotel, is a powerful source of energy.

“The sea gives peace and strength. You can feel and experience this source of strength and find your own rhythm.” – OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel

The sea also plays an important role in the various health therapies offered by the hotel, such as “Ocean Balancing” or “Thalasso”.

Subjective places of power in East Tyrol

The Naturhotel Outside in Matrei in East Tyrol immediately named four places that, in their opinion, are suitable for subjective experience as a place of power.:

• Zedlacher Paradise: Here you can find larches that are more than 500 years old with a trunk circumference of up to seven meters. This place is especially beautiful in the fall..
• St. Nicholas Church: This 12th century Romanesque church is the oldest preserved sacred building in East Tyrol. Research by the University of Innsbruck proved that a Roman tomb stood here 1,800 years ago. It is a 45-minute walk to the church.
• Innergeschlöss: This is one of the most beautiful valley heads in the Eastern Alps. It offers a great view of the Großvenediger.
• Glacier River Isel: The last free-flowing glacial river in Austria is also within walking distance of the hotel.

The best way to experience the power of the East Tyrolean Alps is by hiking. The Outside Nature Hotel is an official hiking hotel located in the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park. Find out more in our interview with hiking concierge Karin Steiner.

Place of Power Matterhorn

Switzerland’s most famous mountain, the Matterhorn, is also often described as a “place of power” – with no esoteric overtones. “The mountain is often seen as a place that gives people energy and inspiration,” reports the CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt. The nature-oriented design resort offers direct views of the Swiss landmark.

Recharge your batteries with a forest bath in South Tyrol

At the adults-only wellness hotel My Arbor*, the surrounding forest is mentioned. It not only provides “a picturesque backdrop for the hotel,” but also “a retreat full of peace and natural energy. My Arbor offers forest bathing at least once a week as part of its weekly program.

“Forest bathing is a wonderful way to reduce stress, clear the mind and harmonize body and soul. The soothing effects of the trees and pure mountain air are appreciated by many of our guests.” – My Arbor

The Riva Waterfalls in Sand in Taufers

From the energy-self-sufficient OLM Nature Escape* in Sand in Taufers, South Tyrol, it is only a 30-minute walk to the Reinbach Waterfalls. These are three spectacular waterfalls in the Tauferer Ahrntal. The upper and middle ones are about 50 meters high and the lower one is over 10 meters high.

According to OLM Nature Escape, the Reinbach Waterfalls are one of the most beautiful destinations in the area. Definitely an energizing place to recharge your batteries. The aparthotel itself is also a special place – the round building blends harmoniously into nature.

Do places of power work?

Many people visit a place of power and “recharge their batteries” – from nature, from pausing, from consciously pausing. There are scientists who are trying to scientifically prove the healing effects of nature (e.g. through forest bathing). There are already some indications, such as the reduction of stress hormones or a positive effect on the cardiovascular or immune system. However, we are talking about nature in general, not “places of power”.

The most important thing is that both “official” and purely subjective places of power are always a personal feeling in the sense of “that does me good”, “that gives me strength.” Visitors to places of power do not need scientific proof of this.

*CIN CODES Italien

IT021072A1L46PNBHX (Hotel Weihrerhof)

IT021072A1UOWUIDH4 (APIPURA hotel rinner)

IT021011A1AE4737IT (My Arbor)

IT021017B4CPKU6WK9 (OLM Nature Escape)

Save this article as an inspiration for your next journey!

Der Beitrag Discover places of power on your sustainable vacation erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

Bread between cultural heritage and world market

A while back, I bought a loaf of bread at the kiosk late at night – whole grain toast out of the bag. Sometimes you just have to take what’s there. But I was surprised when I studied the label: “Made in Saudi Arabia.” Is the desert country now a wheat grower? An exporter of bread?

According to World Grain and Agflow, Saudi Arabia produces the most wheat on Saudi Arabian farms “abroad” and imports wheat from five continents (Russia is number one). There are only small wheat farms in the country itself.

Of course, it didn’t say where the wheat in my toast came from exactly. Grains, sweeteners, spices, delivery, storage, plastic packaging… I was holding a real global market product in my hand, costing a little over 4 Euros – at the bottom of the ecological scale! Needless to say, I didn’t buy it again.

“Industrially produced baked goods, often made overseas using cheap raw materials from distant places, have little to do with sustainable food.” – Benjamin Profanter

How sustainable is bread?

As you just learned, bread is not automatically sustainable, even though it has been one of the most important (regional!) staple foods in many parts of the world throughout the ages of humanity. The history of bread goes back to the earliest times (about 14,000 years ago).

But bread is not only a staple food, it is also a cultural asset. Pretzels and dark rye bread in Germany, baguettes in France, ciabatta in Italy, flatbread in Turkey, roti in India. No matter where you go on vacation, you should always try the local bread 😉

Bread has the best conditions to be sustainable. However, you should pay attention to the following:

• Raw materials should be sourced locally.
• Ideally, the raw materials come from organic farming.
• It is made by hand (supporting the bakery trade, culture).

Some bakers also work with traditional millers.

The importance of ancient grains

The trend of using ancient grains in baked goods is one we have already seen in several sustainable hotel kitchens (e.g. with Chef Giuseppe Schimmenti of the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA, who uses ancient grains from Sicily in his pasta recipes).

As bread sommelier Benjamin Profanter tells me, ancient grains also play an important role for him:

“Ancient and heritage grains are less demanding to grow and do not require artificial fertilizers and herbicides. That’s why they’re ideal for organic farming. Ancient grains are not only more sustainable for nature and the environment, but also for people as they have additional nutritional benefits over modern, highly bred varieties. Personally, I prefer and always recommend breads made from ancient grains, as they also offer more in terms of taste.”

• Insert: Nutritional physiology refers to the “ratio of nutrient content to caloric value of a food” – in simple terms, how many nutrients are in the calories..

Good to know! 4 Questions for Bread Sommelier Benjamin Profanter

Green PearlsⓇ: Hi Benjamin! Thanks for taking the time to answer our questions! Let’s start with the question our readers are probably asking themselves right now: What exactly does a bread sommelier do?

Benjamin: A bread sommelier, like any other sommelier, is an ambassador for his trade. In my case, I am a bread ambassador, communicating the history, culture and value of good bread to consumers. It’s about making people aware of what makes good bread and how to recognize its quality. I am particularly interested in sensory perception, food pairing and the language of bread. It is similar to wine, where in the past people only knew the difference between red and white wine, but now wine sommeliers have built a lifestyle and made wine the quality product we know it to be today. Good wine is celebrated, and good bread has more than earned it too.

GP: Can you give us and our readers some tips on what makes a bread good?

Benjamin: First of all, the production method is relevant: was the bread made by hand? Were pre-doughs or sourdoughs used? Did the dough have enough time to rise and ferment? Were local or organic ingredients used? Only when the inner values are right is bread not only a delight, but also healthy and digestible.

What kind of bread goes with what kind of cold cuts?

GP:How do you choose the right bread for a spread or a meal?

Benjamin: It is important to me that bread is not just a filler, but also a flavorful accent. White bread and jam may taste good, but they are far from being a culinary delight. Only bread with character can turn a snack into a real treat. Personally, I love heavy breads with lots of crusts, and I like to combine contrasts. A prime example is sweet fruit bread with savory cheese.

GP:What kind of bread do you bake for the Green PearlsⓇ accommodations My Arbor* and OLM Nature Escape*?

Benjamin: A colorful mix of different types of bread and rolls, all with one thing in common: they are 100% organic, vegan and made with traditional craftsmanship. Our added value is the use of natural sourdoughs such as “Lievito Madre”, natural yeast, the purchase of regional raw materials and the pursuit of the common good in harmony with people, animals and nature.

Tip: If you are on vacation in South Tyrol, you can visit the Naturbackstube Profanter in Brixen.

Sustainable accommodations that make their own bread

While some hotels and accommodations purchase their bread from local bakeries, there are also many sustainable accommodations that bake their own bread. For them, offering exclusive homemade bread with your daily breakfast buffet or dinner is part of excellent service.

“”We bake our own bread with organic ancient wheat from East Tyrol,” reports the Naturhotel Outside. The hiking hotel in Matrei, in the mountains of the Hohe Tauern National Park, focuses on gourmet cuisine using regional ingredients, and its restaurant has been awarded three Falstaff forks.

At Gut Guntrams near Vienna (whose Café Veranda also won a Falstaff award), bread is baked in-house every Friday. Demeter-quality emmer, spelt, rye and wheat are milled on site at Gut Guntrams.

Organic bread from the Herrmannsdorfer Landwerkstätten

Gut Sonnenhausen has a sister company, Herrmannsdorfer Landwerkstätten in Glonn (near Munich), from which it purchases organic food and meat from organic livestock. They also bake their own bread, including a special “Sonnenhausener Laib” – especially for guests of the accommodation.

The STURM in Mellrichstadt also bakes its own bread. The family-run hotel is located in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve Rhön, a region where various methods are being tested to reconcile the needs of man and nature. A good example of this is the bread from organic farming and the regional organic bakery, which the STURM offers in addition to its own baked bread.

At the Lifestylehotel SAND in Timmendorfer Strand on the Baltic Sea, an “enthusiastic breakfast chef” will provide you with homemade bread and rolls. In addition, you can order freshly prepared egg dishes at the hotel’s front cooking station.

Preparing food according to guests’ preferences is very important to the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt. Not only has host Fabienne Anthamatten removed tropical fruits from the breakfast buffet, she also pays close attention to zero waste and local ingredients. Bread and rolls are mostly baked in-house.

The Relais del Maro* in Borgomaro, Liguria, with its Albergo Diffuso, or “scattered hotel,” has even helped keep the village bakery open. The distribution of the hotel among several vacant residential and commercial buildings owned by the family has saved the picturesque village from decay. In addition to the “0 km bakery”, the Relais del Maro also bakes its own bread.

Our hotels’ natural bakers

The Green Pearls® partners who don’t bake their own bread buy it locally. Where they buy it is very important. As you probably know, as a consumer you can choose whether you want to support a cheap bakery chain or the local (organic) bakery with your money.

Sustainable hotels also pay close attention to their suppliers. We asked them where they get the bread for their guests:

• APIPURA hotel rinner* (on the Ritten in South Tyrol): “We get our organic bread from the natural bakery Messner, which has its own small mill and is increasingly processing local grains. By the way, at breakfast you will find many varieties of organic honey from the hotel’s own beekeeping.
• Green Spirit Hotels Paris (Hotel Malar, Amelié and Pavillon, all in the 7th arrondissement): “We offer fresh bread and pastries every day from a traditional Parisian artisan bakery on our street, as well as gluten-free bread.”
• Biohotel Grafenast (Pill, Tyrol, above the Inn Valley): “We offer bread with organic certification from the Austrian family-owned wholesaler Haubis.”
• Naturresort Gerbehof (Friedrichshafen, Germany): “Our baker is from the region and uses mainly Demeter grain from the region (especially organic spelt). Our baker also delivers his bread by electric car”.
• Birkenhof***** Spa & Wellness Resort (Upper Palatinate Lake District): “Our bread is baked locally by Bäckerei Kutzer“.
• Hotel Das Rübezahl (Füssen in Allgäu, near Neuschwanstein Castle): “Our bread comes from the Gschwill bakery, which bakes its bread using only organic products and traditional craftsmanship”

Info: Mentioning the bakeries is a service and neither we nor the accommodations mentioned receive any benefit.

Good bread is worth it

The point is that not all bread is the same – and not all bread is necessarily sustainable. If you want sustainable bread, you should think about the ingredients and the production process. Since most people eat a lot of bread (in Germany, for example, the average annual per capita consumption is 75 kilograms), it is definitely worth it.

A lot depends on bread – farming (remember that organic farming does not use pesticides and thus contributes to soil health and groundwater protection), craftsmanship and, ultimately, flavor.

Finally, we recommend our blog article on jams and marmalades. The perfect zero waste spread for your bread. According to bread sommelier Benjamin Profanter, a sweet spread works best with a hearty, dark bread with a thick crust.

CIN Codes:

IT021072A1UOWUIDH4 (APIPURA hotel rinner)

IT021011A1AE4737IT (My Arbor)

IT008010A1NIWKHTTF (Relais del Maro)

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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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Sustainable hotels offering silent retreats

Does silence need any kind of instruction? Not really. Later in this article we give you a list of hotels and accommodations in quiet, open natural settings – where you can easily experience silence for yourself.

But many of us are already so ‘programmed’ that we are constantly busy with our phones, work, family or other things. In most cases, “time for yourself” means putting on some music and getting on the treadmill. But have you ever consciously allowed yourself to experience silence? Without music, radio, television, screaming children and chattering partners? When was the last time you did that? And “endured” it for an extended period of time?

Well? Got you?

In such situations, it can be helpful to find and consciously experience silence with a professional trainer. Don’t worry, it’s going to be quiet now.

Personal retreat at Gut Guntrams in Austria

Gut Gunstram is situated about an hour from Vienna in the middle of an orchard. A 25 minute walk from the nearest train station, you will find yourself in a wonderfully relaxed atmosphere with a natural swimming pond and crystal garden.

You can book a silent retreat with Petra Kaltenböck as a one-to-one retreat at any time. Petra is a professional horse guide and selfness coach with over ten years of experience.

“Guidance (means) we will walk a path together in which you will come more and more into contact with your own strength! (…) It takes what it needs. (…) Sometimes it’s just being together in silence and awareness.” – Petra Kaltenböck

👉 Find out more about the retreat here.

Fasting weeks with quiet moments at Biohotel Grafenast

The Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol is also a dream location for moments of tranquillity. This small, family-run hotel, with just 23 rooms, is situated high above the Tyrolean Inn Valley and offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside.

The eco-hotel recommends its fasting weeks as a way of experiencing silence, where ‘silent moments’ are an integral part of the programme:

👉Next date: April 2025 Ayurvedic fasting week with Isolde Ackermann

That’s why silence is good for you

According to the Spectrum of Science, numerous studies have shown a link between long-term noise exposure and cardiovascular disease. This has led to noise legislation in several countries. Silence, on the other hand, allows the brain to “better regenerate its cognitive resources”.

 Silence clears the mind and helps you organise your thoughts and develop new ideas.

Ocean Balancing – Silence in the water

Of course, there is no such thing as 100% silence in nature. Leaves rustle, birds chirp – and for most of us, even distant traffic noise is part of everyday life. You can always hear something. But as scientific studies show, the level of noise makes a big difference to our brains.

So-called ‘floating tanks’ are used for scientific research involving silence. Subjects are placed in salt water tanks with sound and light proof hoods and left to float for a period of time, shielded from the outside world. (Personally, I think that would be a bit too much for me!)

At the OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel in Tenerife, you can find peace and tranquillity in the open air with the OCEAN Balancing treatment. During this “treatment of deep and lasting relaxation”, you will float in water, accompanied by a therapist. Your muscles relax, the water muffles the sounds and the calm connection with the element of water gives you new impulses.

Room of tranquillity as a counterpart to the relaxation room

Many spa hotels have quiet rooms. But the Hotel Das Rübezahl in Allgäu (with a direct view of Neuschwanstein Castle) has found that a quiet room next to the sauna is not quiet enough. People tend to chat there. So the hotel’s ‘Boutique Spa’ now includes a ‘Room of Silence’ where it really is quiet.

STURM in Mellrichstadt has named its quiet room the ‘House of Silence’. It was recently designed by the renowned architect Professor Matthias Loebermann and is completely paneled with natural silver fir. You enter the room, located in the garden next to the outdoor sauna, through a long corridor. This transition is designed to trigger a mental reset and prepare you for the silence to come. Time to unwind. And relax.

At Eco-Hotel Okelmann’s in the small town of Warpe in Lower Saxony, you can find peace and tranquillity in nature and through yoga and meditation. Maren Geisler-Okelmann, a member of the host family, is a qualified yoga teacher.

“We have a room of silence that is used for ‘just being’ and meditation.” – Hotel Okelmann’s

Room of Tranquillity on holidays

The SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb is another hotel that promotes mindfulness with its Selfness Centre. However, the ‘Room of Tranquillity’ is reserved specifically for Christian holidays: Easter, Christmas and New Year.

The room offers with yoga mats, atmospheric decor and a reading corner. “This way, our guests can escape the hustle and bustle of their holidays and find peace,” the hotel says.

Relax & Calm’ – Sustainable wellness hotels with multiple quiet rooms

The slightly larger properties of our sustainable Green PearlsⓇ partners are also ideal for a relaxing holiday in peaceful surroundings.

The Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten in Bernkastel-Kues on the Mosel River, for example, was designed entirely according to Feng Shui principles and includes numerous relaxation rooms.

👉 Learn more about the lifestyle resort’s “Relax & Calm” concept here.

At the Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort in the Upper Palatinate, you will also find a spacious hotel with a large outdoor area. The Spa & Genussresort is beautifully secluded on a hill in the Upper Palatinate Lake District. “We have many quiet rooms for perfect relaxation,” says the owner family.

At CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt, Switzerland, they also believe that special retreats are not necessarily required for moments of silence.

“Guests seeking peace and relaxation will find the mountains to be the perfect place to unwind in silence. Our yurts, relaxation room and ritual room (outside of yoga classes) are perfect for enjoying this tranquility.” – CERVO Mountain Resort

Nature-oriented hotels and vacation homes where you can find silence

According to the staff, the Silence Room at Keemala’s Mala Spa in Phuket, Thailand, is always very quiet because it is only open to guests who have booked a treatment at the spa. There are other quiet corners throughout the resort, which is tucked away in the backcountry in the middle of a small tropical forest. The hotel team recommends walking barefoot through the Enchanted Forest to heighten your awareness of nature.

The Gerbehof Nature Resort in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance in Germany also cites its “own forest” as the best place to enjoy silence. There is also a “room of silence” in the house itself. The resort also has a stone circle on the grounds.

“In our house, every room is silent”

That’s how Marco Spiss describes his Summit Lodges in the Tyrolean village of Pfunds. The two log cabins are located in the middle of quiet nature, and you (and your loved ones) will have a large wooden house of about 120 square meters to yourself – with a sauna and a fireplace. In the evening you can sit on the balcony and listen to the rabbit and the hedgehog saying good night to each other.

The My Arbor* Hotel in South Tyrol near Brixen is an adults-only hotel and a good address if you are looking for a relaxed and quiet atmosphere. “We don’t currently offer any special ‘quiet retreats’ or ‘quiet rooms’ (but) of course there are many quiet corners in the hotel where our guests can enjoy moments of silence and relaxation – be it in our spacious spa area, on a walk through the surrounding woods or in the peaceful atmosphere of our suites,” they say.

By the way, the construction noise stopped when I reached the end of the article. The good man with the hydraulic hammer seems to be done for the day. Thank you very much! It is possible to actively enjoy the silence at home during a moment like this. Why not try it right now?

CIN-Codes:

* CIN: IT021011A1AE4737IT (My Arbor)

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