Transformative travel can’t be forced, but it can be planned.

Transformative travel, of course, is another new buzzword. It’s not just about having “travel experiences”, it’s about experiences that go beyond and go deeper. Experiences that change you in your everyday life.

The question is: what kind of change? When you climb the mountain to the top, how will you feel up there? What kind of change will it bring? Of course, you don’t know yet. So Transformative Travel is a little adventure in itself, requiring courage and openness.

After all, “formative experiences” can lurk around every corner – maybe even tonight when you go to the grocery store to pick up a few things. But you are more likely to have a life-changing experience when you leave your daily routine and spend a month traveling in the jungle.

Travel Tip: Rainforest

To experience the rainforest in a sustainable way, we recommend Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica in Peru. Here you can explore the Amazon with experienced guides and learn about the sustainable work of the Amazon Field Station by Inkaterra. Among other things, the station works to protect species and promote the medicinal use of rainforest plants.

How does transformative travel look?

We have already explained that for transformative travel and meaningful travel experiences, you have to or should leave your everyday life and especially your comfort zone. Most special experiences don’t happen when you’re lying on a beach for two weeks, but when you’re out and about getting to know a country and its people. Don’t get us wrong: total relaxation or discovering a secluded beach can be transformative, too. And often it is the many small moments on a journey that ultimately trigger the transformation.

To get you started, and to help you plan your transformative trip (after all, we can’t travel to Asia every three months), we’ve asked around our sustainable hotel network, and here we present a selection of accommodations and experiences. This will give you a starting point for your journey.

#1: Support a social project in Cambodia

The Farmhouse Smiling Gecko in Cambodia is located about 60 kilometers from the capital Phnom Penh and is the centerpiece of the Smiling Gecko Campus. The campus was founded over ten years ago by a Swiss NGO and now covers 150 hectares.

In addition to the resort, the Smiling Gecko Campus includes a school, kindergarten, agriculture, fish farming, and several vocational training centers, such as a carpentry and tailoring workshop. Many of the families employed here come from the slums of Phnom Penh and through Smiling Gecko have found fair work, a healthy environment, and a perspective in their lives.

Travel with a sense of purpose

By staying at the farmhouse with its 34 luxury bungalows and rooms, you will get to know the entire campus on guided tours and may even become a long-term supporter of the project!

Cambodia is a beautiful country with a tropical climate and world famous attractions such as Angkor Wat. As you travel around the country, you will see amazing flora and fauna. But you will also see the poverty that exists in many places. By staying at the Charity Hotel, you are already actively helping the local people. If you want to do more, take your time choosing an organization and avoid projects that offer visits to orphanages, for example. Responsible voluntourism takes effort, but it can be very formative and allow you to experience your destination country intensively.

#2: Experience the climate change in the wild: glaciers in Switzerland and endangered islands in the Maldives

Climate change is a serious threat and many people are actively involved in understanding and taking action, such as Fridays for Future. To see and understand the extent of climate change already taking place, a (sustainable!) trip to the main indicators is a good idea.

1.   Trip to the Gorner Glacier in the Monte Rosa Massif

Glaciers are the most important source of fresh water on the planet. The ongoing shrinking of glaciers caused by global warming is reducing this natural water reservoir and also causing sea levels to rise.

At our Swiss Green PearlsⓇ partner, the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt, you can experience the effects of glacier shrinkage first hand. From Zermatt, the Gornergrat Railway takes you up to the Gorner Glacier in 35 minutes. Here you can either admire the glacier from the viewing platform or cross it yourself with a mountain guide. After a glacier hike (which is offered in different levels of difficulty) you are sure to take home new insights and an unforgettable experience.

At over 12 kilometers long, the Gorner Glacier is the second largest glacier in the Alps. But it has been shrinking steadily since the 19th century. That’s how the hostess at the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt found the trunk of an 8,000-year-old larch tree (read the full story in our Glaciers blog post).

2.   Coral dives in the Maldives

As mentioned above, the melting of glaciers and icebergs is causing a rise in sea level. The ICPP report states that sea levels will rise between 43 and 84 centimeters by 2100 (less than 75 years from now!). However, it also says that a rise of up to 200 centimeters cannot be ruled out. This may not sound like much, but it will affect the entire planet. Countries like the Maldives will be the first to be affected.

The Maldives consists of over 1,000 coral islands and the highest elevation is only 2.40 meters. You can read more about this in our blog post on endangered islands.

At the Gili Lankanfushi Eco-Resort you can have a sustainable vacation in the Maldives. The resort offers diving and is committed to preserving the coral reefs with its Coral Line Project. See for yourself how global warming is affecting coral reefs and how the fascinating underwater world of the Indian Ocean is adapting.

#3 Mountaineering in the Alps

Hiking concierge Karin Steiner of the Naturhotel Outside has set herself the goal of climbing the Großglockner. (She told us about it in this interview.) At 3,798 meters, the Großglockner is the highest mountain in Austria, and the climb to the summit alone takes about seven hours (for experienced mountaineers)! And to answer the question from the beginning: Imagine how you will feel when you are up there!

Bergbaschdi, the hiking concierge at the sustainable hotel Das Rübezahl in Germany’s Allgäu region, also told us about his mountaineering in an interview. He has climbed 54 five-thousanders and traveled to Asia, Africa, and South America.

If you have no mountaineering experience, you must (and should!) start small and not try to climb the really big mountains right away. Sure, it can be impressive, but also very dangerous!

Karin Steiner’s job is to organize the right hike or climb for everyone. The Nature Hotel Outside is located directly in the Hohe Tauern National Park in the middle of the East Tyrolean mountains. Here you can not only face physical and mental challenges, but also have an intense experience of nature.

Tip: To learn more about mountain and hiking guides and their services, check out our article on sustainable hotel guides.

#4 Combine your vacation with a marathon

Have you ever run a marathon? I have run three myself and I can assure you that it is definitely a life changing experience! If you can currently run for 60 minutes at a time, you can do it!

In this article, we present several marathon dates for 2025 that you can combine with a vacation, for example in Italy. The Milan Marathon, for instance, will take place on April 6, 2025, and is one of the most famous marathons in the world.

Imagine training for a marathon for 12 to 16 weeks – and then, after all that training, traveling to Milan (we recommend staying at the zero-emissions Hotel Milano Scala, not far from the race course) and actually running 42.2 kilometers in this special environment! A goal to work towards and achieve – one of the best conditions for a transformative journey.

#5 A yoga retreat for a transformative journey

Sometimes the place you want to visit is just around the corner. What about traveling to yourself? A yoga retreat is another example of transformative travel. The eco-hotel Okelmanns in Warpe, Lower Saxony, Germany, for example, offers yoga retreats throughout the year, some led by Marion from the Okelmanns host family in person and some with external trainers.

Each retreat has a different focus. For example, you may want to learn to “trust the flow of life” or work on stress management techniques.

Yoga in the Himalayas

If you want to combine authentic yoga with breathtaking nature, Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm in Nepal is the place for you. Located on an organic farm, this eco-resort offers yoga retreats from three to nine days. You will be guided by a professional Nepalese yoga guru who will share theoretical knowledge in addition to the exercises.

In addition to the yoga retreats, the resort also offers a “Lifetime Experience” package that allows you to experience Nepal in all its facets. It includes a bird watching tour, a boat tour, a visit to the organic farm and the resort’s school and education project. The goal is to reconnect with nature.

“I’m doing Transformative Travel this year!”

But seriously, transformative travel is not about showing off with the latest buzzword and visiting potentially “transformative” destinations as far away as possible, but about connecting travel with a deeper purpose and being intentional about destinations and experiences. And this fits beautifully with the intention to travel more sustainably.

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Are you one of us?

You can find us at train stations (and sometimes airports), on hiking trails, at the market, far from it all or right in the middle: eco-travelers, sustainable travelers, eco-tourists. No matter what you call us, you can almost always recognize us by a few characteristics and behaviors.

#1: Travelling is our passion

In many countries, travel is one of the most popular hobbies in the world. The same goes for eco-travelers. They love to explore new places, experience different cultures, discover the world, get away from it all, relax, enjoy and be on the move. When they are not traveling, they are following travel bloggers, planning their next trip, or dreaming about it.

#2: We travel light and smart

You know the sight: people with huge suitcases, several plastic bags, a bundle of notes in their hands and beads of sweat on their foreheads. They are definitely NOT eco-travelers. Ecotravelers have light, practical luggage with a capsule wardrobe and use digital maps and tickets.

#3: We look good

What sets them apart from the stereotypical “eco” image is that eco-travelers don’t want to sacrifice style and modern haircuts. They wear high-quality, fashionable clothing made from sustainable materials such as Tencel®, pineapple leather or mulesing-free merino wool. Sustainable outdoor labels and elegant basics are especially popular. Add a smartphone, headphones and sunglasses and you are ready to go.

#4: We always read the labels

In principle, eco-travelers are zero-waste advocates, so we carry things like our own water bottle and a snack in our beeswax wrapper. When we do reach for the refrigerated shelf, the product is automatically flipped over to examine the ingredients, country of origin, and packaging materials. We jump at labels like “organic,” “vegan,” “recycled,” and “non-toxic,” but not without scrutiny.

#5: We care about people

As eco-travelers, we want to see an end to poverty and exploitation in this world, and we want to be socially sustainable while traveling. We are aware that we have many privileges as travelers and that we are among the wealthy. We would like to pass some of this on by spending a little more money on Fairtrade products or by choosing accommodation that is active as a charity hotel, such as the Farmhouse Smiling Gecko in Cambodia..

The Farmhouse Smiling Gecko is a resort with attached educational facilities, workshops and agriculture for the Cambodian people.

#6: We experience authentic adventure

Instead of jetting off to the Rainbow Mountains in Peru for an Instagram shot, we prefer to visit Inkaterra’s field station in the Amazon jungle or spend a night in a tree house at Inkaterra’s Reserva Amazónica. When traveling long distances, we make sure to allow enough time for the trip to be worthwhile and to benefit the local community (see point 5).

#7: We do not stay in commercial hotel chains

You won’t find eco-travelers in cookie-cutter houses, and they don’t book package tours with just any accommodation. Instead, we stay in selected, individual accommodations with a transparent and sustainable philosophy – like (you already know) – Green PearlsⓇ. We are interested in sustainable and unique accommodations, such as an Albergo Diffuso in Italy. One such example is the Relais del Maro in Liguria, which has spread its hotel rooms over a number of former residential and commercial buildings in the village of Borgomaro.

#8: We enjoy sustainable and, even better, vegan fine dining

As eco-travelers, we know where avocados grow (and how much water they need!) and when strawberries are ripe. The hotel breakfast buffet is therefore critically examined. Vegan options are well received and can be served as a multi-course dinner on artistically created plates in the restaurant, such as at the Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel, which was completely converted to plant-based fine dining in 2024.

We will only eat meat, fish and poultry if we know exactly where the animal came from, how it lived, whether it is endangered, how it was killed, how far it was transported, who processed it and what happens to the leftovers.

#9: We are mindful – of ourselves and the planet.

Mindfulness has its origins in a story about the Buddha at a time when there were many spiritual masters. Once the disciples talked about what their respective masters could do. One could be in two places at once, another could walk through walls, and the Buddha (or one of his disciples) said, “When my master stands, he knows he is standing, when he sits, he knows he is sitting, and when he lies, he knows he is lying”. As eco-travelers, we know such stories and draw conclusions for our own lives. In places like the Selfness Center at SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA, we deepen our mindfulness practice while not (or only slightly) burdening the planet with our journey.

#10: We try things like forest bathing, singing bowl massage or thalassotherapy

Yoga and hiking are popular among eco-travelers. So it’s no wonder that many sustainable hotels specialize as yoga hotels or offer special yoga retreats (for beginners or pros). We also prefer hotels that are designated hiking hotels, such as the Naturhotel Outside in the Hohe Tauern National Park in East Tyrol.

But we are also open to new things, so we are happy to try forest bathing, singing bowl massage, silence retreats, detox programs, or thalasso therapies.

#11: We like animals

Some eco-travelers travel with dogs, others do not. But all of us always respect animals and avoid questionable attractions like swimming with dolphins, riding elephants, or posing with monkeys on the beach. Something like sustainable whale watching is only done after a thorough investigation.

#12: We also save on things that “don’t” cost anything.

We do not accept disposable hotel amenities (such as slippers) as we have our own. We also avoid wasting water, heat or cool moderately (and with the windows closed), and turn off the lights when we leave the room.

#13: We are interested and want to know more

The use of resources is an exciting topic for eco-travelers. During a vacation at the Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort, they talk to Lukas Obendorfer about how a 5-star hotel can operate its various pools and saunas in an environmentally friendly way and take a tour of the combined heat and power plant and wood gasifier.

#14: We go the distance

As eco-travelers, we put more effort into our research, walking instead of driving, etc. We don’t just take what’s available for the sake of convenience, and we prefer to do our research before we take a step or spend our money when we travel. And we don’t mind going the extra mile – if it makes us feel like we’re doing the right thing and standing up for “the good”.

#15: We love the planet

Eco-travelers see many beautiful things on their travels. We love the ocean, the mountains, the desert, the jungle, the flora and fauna, and all the wonders of this earth. But we also see that much of it is in danger. Climate change, melting glaciers, and species extinction are real – and we feel a responsibility to protect the planet and preserve it for future generations. So that the next generation of eco-travelers can continue their journeys.

Are you an eco-traveler?

Did you recognize yourself? How many of these points do you agree with? Hopefully not all of them, because then you wouldn’t be a real eco-traveler! An eco-traveler is not perfect and admits it. But perfection is not necessary. If we are all a little bit of an eco-traveler, then a lot has been done!

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The problem with disposables in hotels

When you stay at a hotel, you get everything you need: your luggage is taken care of, a refreshing drink is waiting for you in your room, a variety of toiletries are available in the bathroom, towels and slippers are provided… and while you are lying by the pool or sitting in the restaurant, your room is cleaned, the bed is made and all opened tubes and packages are replaced with new ones. Sound great? For sustainability-minded travelers like you, probably not. Because: All of this (among other things) creates a lot of waste. Hotels and vacation rentals definitely have a single-use problem, and it has to do with the following::

• Service standards and expectations (Many things “just have to be there”)
• Star qualification (in this article on the new 2025-2030 hotel star catalog, Green PearlsⓇ discusses whether certain star specifications undermine the efforts of sustainable hotels)
• Hygiene regulations
• Legal requirements

Expensive hotels produce less waste than cheap ones

According to the DEHOGA environmental brochure, 0 to 2-star hotels produce 9.1 liters of waste per guest per day, 4-star hotels 3.4 liters (5-star hotels produce slightly more at 3.7 liters). According to the German Hotel and Restaurant Association (DEHOGA), this is mainly due to disposable packaging in the lower star categories.

In the upscale hotel industry, less disposable packaging is used simply for style’s sake – e.g. cloth napkins instead of paper napkins, ceramic or stainless steel milk jugs instead of plastic condensed milk containers, etc.

But simply choosing a higher star rating is not enough to eliminate waste and single-use packaging. Especially since not everyone can or wants to. Above all, it takes hoteliers who really care and are committed to reducing waste in their properties. Zero waste or at least “less waste” is a central concern for Green Pearls® accommodations. Each accommodation has its own approach to waste reduction, which you can read about on the Green Pearls® pages and on their individual websites. As mentioned above, many of them are Zero Waste representatives, striving for a low environmental footprint and a circular economy in all areas. We believe that Green PearlsⓇ hotels are among the lowest waste producers in the industry.

“In terms of waste and plastic reduction, sustainably certified hotels are generally more advanced than non-certified hotels.” – WWF

WWF study on single-use and reusable products in the hospitality industry

In 2019 and 2024, WWF Germany investigated the issue of single-use plastics in the hotel industry.

For the 2019 study, WWF surveyed hotels and hotel guests in Italy, France, Greece and Spain. In 2024, the data was supplemented by expert interviews and a literature review.

It found that the majority of guests use significantly more reusable packaging at home than on vacation. Hoteliers are determined to act, but face many obstacles:

• High cost
• Insufficient supply
• Lack of suppliers
• Lack of knowledge about green alternatives
• Waste management in the resort area

For every 50 million disposables, only half a million reusables are sold

“In 2022, the share of reusable packaging (by number of items) in the hotel industry was only 1.2 percent. (600,000 items compared to 50.6 million disposable items) and consisted almost entirely of beverage containers.” – Untersuchung der Gesellschaft für Verpackungsmarktforschung mbH (GVM) für den WWF

All too often, “habit” is to blame for not using reusable products. By the way, the WWF believes that reusable products make much more sense than disposable products made from “eco-materials”. In other words, a refillable plastic bottle is better than a disposable bamboo cup. Washable cloth napkins are better than disposable napkins made from recycled cellulose.

This is how sustainable hotels avoid disposable packaging

Amenities upon request

Many sustainable hotels and resorts have started to remove amenities such as toothbrushes, razors, sewing kits, etc. from the rooms and store them at the front desk. That way, you still get them, but only if you really need and ask for them.

“By providing standard amenities only upon request, we avoid unnecessary use,” says Farmhouse Smiling Gecko in Cambodia. The resort also offers many homemade products from the resort’s own workshops, which Smiling Gecko uses to support the local community.

When it comes to the amenities that are still offered on request, sustainable accommodation also ensures that they are produced sustainably and fairly. This is what the Naturresort Gerbehof in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance reports.

Honesty bar with reusable glasses instead of a minibar

The minibar is another element that must be provided to meet hotel standards. In addition to energy consumption, drinks and snacks in disposable packaging also have a negative impact on the environment. Gut Guntrams near Vienna therefore installed a “central minibar” in the form of a Honesty Bar and left the individual minibars in the rooms empty. The Honesty Bar offers homemade sweet and savory treats in reusable glass jars.

Homemade welcome cookies

A small welcome gift for guests is a nice touch. But as Zero Waste advocate Béá Johnson says, promotional gifts and giveaways are often a source of waste. Not so at the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt in Switzerland. There, homemade cookies on a plate greet guests in the mountains near the Matterhorn.

A water bottle for the duration of your stay

Many hotels provide their guests with a refillable water bottle. At the OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel on Tenerife, the “OCÉANO Glass Bottle” is available and there are water dispensers throughout the hotel where you can refill the bottle with fresh, filtered water. This fits in with the wide range of sports and wellness activities on offer and also saves a lot of bottles and miles of transportation 🙂

Source of waste: breakfast buffet? Zero waste is also an option!

One of the biggest contributors to packaging and food waste in the hotel industry is the breakfast buffet. All Green Pearls® hotels have optimized this aspect. “There are no packaged products at our breakfast buffet,” reports the APIPURA hotel rinner on the ritten in South Tyrol. Instead, the child-friendly hotel offers organic products in small jars – one of the highlights are the various types of organic honey from the hotel’s own beekeeping.

Zero waste measures at the breakfast buffet:

1. Butter machine: This “spits out” small portions of butter and replaces the small, pre-packaged pieces of butter
2. Small mason jars for jams and spreads
3. Loose tea that can be poured into a pot instead of individually packaged tea bags
4. Milk and plant-based drinks in jugs, or cappuccino directly into the porcelain cup
5. Cloth napkins at the tables
6. Egg dishes made fresh to order
7. Smaller platters that are continuously replenished
8. At the end of the buffet, guests are actively asked what else they want, and only those items are replenished.

Elimination of disposable hygiene products

Disposable bathroom hygiene products are the second major area where mountains of plastic waste accumulate in conventional hotels. This refers to the small packages of shampoo, shower gel, soap, body lotion, shower cap, toothbrush, razor and so on. Sustainable hotels show that these products can be provided to guests in a stylish and hygienic way and do not have to be the norm.

Solid Soap and Shampoo

At the Klosterhof Alpine Hideaway & Spa in Berchtesgadener Land, Bavaria, the bathroom features soap and shampoo bars, as well as refillable shower gel dispensers as an alternative to traditional bottles. You can do the same at home, by the way!

Dispenser

Speaking of dispensers: Another option you might want to consider for the home are refillable, larger, and often more attractive dispensers for soap, shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, and the like. According to soap manufacturer MarcelsGreenSoap, a refill bag saves 85% of plastic packaging!

Almost all Green Pearls® accommodations now use dispensers – with natural ingredients. “Our shampoos and shower gels (in the dispensers) are from Tiroler Kräuterhof, so they are 100% natural and regional,” reports Summit Lodges Pfunds.

Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol even offers dispensers with arnica muscle gel for relaxation after long hikes around the Pillberg 😉

Natural cosmetics free of chemicals and microplastics

For our Green PearlsⓇ partners, the use of environmentally friendly cosmetic products is very important.

At Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm in Nepal, you can buy bamboo toothbrushes with hemp bristles and plastic-free toothpaste tabs made according to Ayurvedic principles, as are the other personal care products. Avoiding chemicals and microplastics is particularly important to them to protect the water quality of their organic farm..

The Green Spirit hotels in Paris (Hotel Malar, Hotel Amelie and Hotel Le Pavillon, all in the central 7th arrondissement within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower) use soaps, shampoos and shower gels from Austrian natural cosmetics company Pure Green. The luxurious Klosterbräu wellness hotel in Seefeld, Tyrol, spoils its guests with premium products from Augustinus Bader – some of which have been developed exclusively for the hotel. The Lifestylehotel SAND in Timmendorfer Strand on the Baltic Sea has embraced ‘Björk&Berries‘. Nordic, sustainable, refillable and stylish,” they say.

Food from their own harvest

In the hotel industry, buying food in bulk is one way to reduce unnecessary packaging. Where possible, regionally. “We work almost exclusively with local suppliers to avoid long transport routes and support the regional economy,” says My Arbor near Brixen in South Tyrol.

However, food packaging is avoided in particular through direct in-house production. “From cakes to chocolates to syrups, we make everything ourselves,” explains the adults-only wellness hotel.

“All our fresh fruit and vegetables come from our own farm in Albisano on Lake Garda. The owner, Mr Huber, personally takes care of the harvest and brings the produce directly to the hotel (without packaging waste) so that our guests can enjoy the freshest ingredients.” – My Arbor

Dishes and glasses

Disposable plastic cups at hotels? They do exist! Some hoteliers find them more convenient and less risky than glass or porcelain, especially for the lawn or pool. Unfortunately, they create a huge amount of waste. Sustainable hotels are careful to use only high-quality, plastic-free materials. The energy-independent aparthotel OLM Nature Escape in Sand in Taufers, South Tyrol, uses only glass, porcelain, ceramic, clay and enamel for food and drink.

Tablecloths and napkins

Just as glass and porcelain are more stylish than plastic tableware, cloth napkins are more sophisticated than paper napkins. You can find them, for example, at the Relais del Maro in Liguria. The Albergo Diffuso in the picturesque village of Borgomaro takes care to avoid waste in all areas. Consequently, linen tablecloths are washed rather than thrown away.

Towel change upon request only

Since laundry does not produce waste, but does use detergent, water and energy, daily hotel laundry is another factor that you, as a guest, can help with. Many guests notice that even towels that have been hung up are all replaced the next day. This calls for well-trained staff who, like at the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten on the Mosel, change towels only when requested. Even in the large wellness area with sauna and several pools, guests are asked to use sauna towels sparingly and sometimes several times.

Forgoing daily room cleaning and turn-down service

Similarly, as a guest, you can support a hotel’s sustainability efforts by choosing not to have your room cleaned daily. In most cases, you have to explicitly decline. For example, the sustainable Hotel Luise in Erlangen, Germany, tried to switch to opt-in (i.e., you get daily room cleaning only if you want it), but that would have meant being stripped of all their hotel stars by the Hotel Stars Union!

However, at the ADLER Lodge RITTEN in South Tyrol (a luxurious all-inclusive resort close to nature), the turndown service has become an opt-in offer. This means that rooms are only prepared in the evening if you, the guest, specifically request it.

No slippers

The slippers provided in a hotel’s spa area are disposable products that generate huge amounts of waste. According to the German magazine Focus, the Steigenberger Hotels alone (a total of 60 hotels and resorts) would order 180,000 pairs of slippers for their guests each year. One can only imagine the mountain of slipper waste in the entire industry!

The HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu has therefore removed the slippers from the rooms and will only provide them upon request. Instead, guests are asked to bring their own.

The romantic Hotel Das Rübezahl in Füssen, Germany, takes a similar approach to the slipper issue: guests are only provided with hotel slippers for the spa upon request, and the slippers are made of linen and cork, making them compostable.

Backpack and shopping bag provided

In many vacation destinations, plastic bags are still the norm. Even though a lot of plastic waste could be avoided! That is why CERVO Mountain Resort Zermatt in Switzerland provides guests with both a backpack for hiking and reusable bags for shopping.

Digital Guest Magazine

Digitization also reduces waste. Guests receive a digital reservation confirmation, there is a digital guest magazine and digital services. At the Eco-Hotel Okelmann’s, for example, you can download Komoot maps created by Senior Okelmann to your phone so you can start cycling right away. The Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Tyrol, has a guest channel on the hotel TV where you can find out about all the events and offers at the hotel.

Offering waste separation for guests

As mentioned at the beginning, many people use more disposable items on vacation than at home. Recycling is also often not as successful on vacation. However, this is not always the guests’ fault… You may have experienced the situation where there is only one disposable waste bin in the hotel room and you don’t even have the opportunity to separate your own waste. Some hotels may also think that their international guests don’t know how to it.

Not so at Keemala on the island of Phuket in Thailand. “We have clearly marked recycling and waste stations throughout the resort, making it easy for guests to dispose of their waste properly,” they wrote to us. Unlike many internationally managed hotels on the island of Phuket, Keemala is owned by a local family who are very conscious of their impact on the environment. The 5-star ADLER Lodge RITTEN is another example of how in-room waste separation can be done in style.

Toilet paper made out of Tetra Pak

According to Statista, global per capita consumption of toilet paper reach almost 14 kilograms per person in 2023. However, in Germany, the figure is much higher, at 30.6 kilograms per person. A lot of trees have to be cut down to produce all this fresh fiber. The SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb has switched to toilet paper made from recycled beverage cartons. This reflects the concept of recycling that the wellness and selfness hotel also applies to its room furnishings.

Wooden coffee pods eliminate single-use plastics

Coffee capsule machines are definitely not the most sustainable way to make coffee. However, they are a great solution for allowing guests in a hotel suite to make their own coffee.

The Birkenhof***** Spa and Genuss Resort uses Rezemo wooden coffee capsules. They contain coffee from sustainable sources. The other amenities of the 5-star wellness hotel are packaged in plastic-free cardboard as well.

Zero-Waste Goodbye Gift

When you leave, hotels often give you a small parting gift – and that too is a source of packaging waste. Of course, sustainable hotels have also thought about how to give you, the guest, a gift that is both beautiful and environmentally friendly. At the Naturhotel Outside in the Hohe Tauern National Park in East Tyrol, Austria, guests receive a jar of homemade jam in a reusable glass jar.

The Hotel Weihrerhof in South Tyrol, on the Italian side of the Alps, offers soaps from its own organic cosmetics line, BergSea, which uses water from the Wolfsgruben Lake, located directly in front of the hotel. “We want our guests to take the soaps home with them and continue to dream of the Weihrerhof,” says the host family.

As you can see, Green PearlsⓇ hotels have put a lot of thought into how they can eliminate single-use items, waste and plastic, which means you may use no more single-use items on your vacation than you would at home – in fact, you may use fewer items than at home!

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What are charity hotels?

The term “charity hotel” was coined by Trivago, a hotel search engine, to describe hotels that are actively involved in social causes and donate a portion of their resources or income to charitable causes. Charity hotels are either part of or have a partnership with a non-profit organization.

The benefit to you is that you can have a direct positive impact on the local community at your destination without spending extra money or volunteering.

Here are three hotels that have made a commitment to a good cause.

#1 Farmhouse Smiling Gecko – Luxury Resort and Work & Education Campus in Cambodia

The Farmhouse Smiling Gecko in Cambodia is part of the Smiling Gecko Association based in Switzerland. In 2014, the organization founded the “Smiling Gecko Campus” there. With an initial nine hectares, about 60 kilometers from the capital Phnom Penh. The campus has since grown to 150 hectares and is home to a school, kindergarten, handicraft businesses and training centers, as well as agriculture and livestock.

A central component is the Farmhouse Smiling Gecko Resort. There are a total of 34 rooms in luxurious houses and bungalows, a swimming pool with pool bar and sundeck. And the hotel restaurant, the gourmet restaurant UN, where chef Mariya Un Noun has made Cambodian fine dining famous far beyond the borders. (You can read more about the restaurant in our blog article about hotel restaurants).

Smiling Gecko is all about education and jobs. The jobs are fairly paid and the workshops – such as carpentry, sewing and butchery – are run according to modern Swiss standards. The furniture for the accommodation is made by the carpentry workshop. While the food in the restaurant comes from their own agriculture, cattle breeding and fish farming.

A way out of poverty

Many of the people who have found work here originally came from the slums of Phnom Penh. As described by the Taramana organization, Cambodia is one of the poorest countries in Southeast Asia. And life in the slums is characterized by overcrowding, unemployment, inadequate sanitation, poor educational opportunities, and poverty.

The Smiling Gecko Campus is able to accommodate many people with their whole family. While the parents work on the farm, the children go to kindergarten, school or start an apprenticeship in one of the workshops or at the resort. To ensure that there is enough work for everyone, tourists are encouraged to visit the resort.

Here you can enjoy a relaxing and sustainable vacation and use the Green PearlsⓇ Resort as your base to explore Cambodia. Top attractions include temple complexes such as the famous Angkor Wat, floating villages, river markets and pepper plantations. If you are interested in the campus, there are also tours that will give you a better understanding of the entire project. And when you return home, you may find yourself continuing to be a supporter and voice for the project.

#2 The Pavillons Himalaya – The Farm – Support for children and organic farming in Nepal

According to USAID, Nepal is one of the poorest countries in the world. Poverty particularly affects young girls and women. And tragically, illegal human trafficking is widespread, with many being trafficked to India and beyond.

The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm raises awareness and supports the organization Right4Children by donating 70 percent of its net profits to the empowerment of children.

Right4Children supports children and youth

Since 1995, Right4Children has operated day centers that provide free childcare and hot meals. There are programs for all ages up to adolescence. As The Pavilions Himalayas reports, funding the Right4Children center in Pokhara (on the same site as the resort) was a motivation from the beginning to build the sustainable tourist accommodation.

There are 15 spacious, luxurious Nepalese style villas with stunning views of the countryside and a swimming pool. Sightseeing tours and safaris are available, as well as in-house yoga and meditation. (Learn more about the yoga offerings in our article on sustainable yoga retreats for pros.)

Das zweite Standbein ist die ökologische Landwirtschaft, welche das Resort umgibt. Auch hier ist The Pavilions von Anfang an engagiert und baut selbst Bio-Produkte für die Küche an. Zudem motiviert die Nachfrage nach Bio-Produkten, die das Hotel generiert, den Umbau konventioneller Landwirtschaften zu Biobetrieben in der Region. Weitere nachhaltige Maßnahmen sind die Verwendung von Solarenergie, Grauwasser, Erzeugung von Biogas und die Herstellung biologisch abbaubarer Pflegeartikel aus natürlichen Zutaten der Region.

#3 Green City Hotel Vauban – Ecologically oriented integration company in Germany

Although not a charity hotel in the strict sense, the Green City Hotel Vauban was founded as a hotel with a focus on inclusion and social responsibility from the outset. Located in Freiburg, in the south of Germany, the shareholders of the hotel are the association Freiburger Sozialarbeit e.V. and the municipal housing company Freiburger Stadtbau GmbH.

50 percent of its trainees and employees are people with disabilities who have found a fair and sustainable place to work. The hotel also works with other integrative organizations among its suppliers. For example, its coffee is sourced from a roastery that operates as an integrative organization, and the hotel works with Hofgut Himmelreich for the education and training of its employees.

The modern city hotel is largely barrier-free and built in an environmentally friendly way. You will stay in rooms with a bright and friendly architecture and you will be directly connected to the light rail, which will take you to the city center in just 10 minutes. A free regional ticket is available for your stay.

👉 See what you can experience on a sustainable weekend in Freiburg, Germany, here.

A stay at Green PearlsⓇ charity hotels offers you not only relaxation and experiences. But also the opportunity to actively contribute to the well-being of others.

Der Beitrag Charity Hotels – Stay the night and do some good 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.

Why I love hotel restaurants

Some hotel restaurants have a separate entrance for external guests, while others require you to enter through the hotel lobby. You may also have to wait there for a while before being shown to your table in the restaurant. I love hotel lobbies: it’s a bit like an airport or train station, but much more intimate and cosy. You see lots of different faces, tourists from different countries, business travellers, lovers… yes, I admit it, ‘people watching’ is one of my private hobbies. 🙂

The holiday feeling

So order a drink in the lobby and soak up the atmosphere. As many of the guests are on holiday, a bit of holiday spirit and atmosphere will rub off on you! When my children were younger, we were always allowed to take the lift in the hotels 🙂 (After asking politely, of course). That way you can soak up a bit more of the hotel atmosphere.

Many hotel restaurants feature stunning decor, with large panoramic windows offering breathtaking views or intentionally traditional furnishings, creating the ambiance of a private cultural museum.

The hotelier’s family often runs the kitchen

Finally, in family-run hotels, the kitchen is often run by the owners themselves or one of their children. It’s a classic scenario: one child studies business and the other becomes a chef (or yoga teacher, ayurvedic trainer, spa manager, etc.). I like the fact that the owner or the son or daughter of the host family personally does the cooking.

Our picks for sustainable hotel restaurants around the world

#1 UN – The Farmhouse Smiling Gecko’s Restaurant and Chef Mariya Un Noun, Cambodia

Fine dining and a rediscovery of almost lost Khmer cuisine – all at UN Restaurant, about 60 kilometres from Phnom Penh. The restaurant is owned by our Green PearlsⓇ partner Farmhouse Smiling Gecko.

Mariya Un Noun runs the restaurant, and I highly recommend reading this Gault Millau article about her. Raised in the slums of Cambodia, sold into marriage, and later abandoned, she has transformed her life through Smiling Gecko. After training with top chefs in Europe, her restaurant is now praised by Gault Millau as ‘one of the best in Cambodia.’

What can you eat here? For example, fish with different kinds of lemongrass.

Link: UN Restaurant

#2 Mala Restaurant at Keemala Resort, Phuket, Thailand

“We welcome external guests. At the sustainable Mala Restaurant you can enjoy organically grown fresh produce, environmentally friendly (zero waste) practices and a unique atmosphere.” – Keemala

The Mala Restaurant at Keemala is beautifully situated in the middle of a tropical forest in Thailand and has been decorated with natural materials from the region. The resort is owned by a family from Phuket (not common in Thailand where there are many foreign investors).

What can you eat here? Thai and international dishes with an Indian twist (the chef is from India)

Link: Mala Restaurant

#3 Organic Fine Dining at The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm, Nepal

Another very special hotel restaurant to visit as an external guest is the farm-to-table restaurant at The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm. This luxurious resort, located at the foot of the Himalayas, sits on an organic farm, providing fresh, farm-to-table food directly from its own grounds.

“We only use regional and seasonal ingredients,” they tell us. They are also part of the Slow Food movement.

What can you eat here? A weekly changing menu with fresh produce from the farm

Link: Farm-To-Table Restaurant The Pavilions Himalayas

#4 Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt – Cosy dining in Switzerland

For a more down-to-earth atmosphere and a cosy, intimate setting, try the restaurant at Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt. This small boutique hotel offers you the choice of sitting on the terrace or in front of the panoramic window with views of the Matterhorn.

Info: To avoid excessive food waste, external guests can only dine here by prior arrangement.

What can you eat here? Cheese fondue, tarte flambée, Valaisan platter or homemade soups cooked by the host mother.

Link: Hausgemachtes in Home cooked cuisine in Zermatt

Hotel restaurants in Germany you should know

In Germany there are six of our sustainable Green Pearls hotel restaurants where you can dine as an external guest.

#1 New German cuisine’ at the 2-star Eisvogel restaurant at Birkenhof***** Spa & Gourmet Resort, Upper Palatinate

Obendorfer’s Eisvogel was founded by chef Hubert Obendorfer, who over time earned two Michelin stars. In 2022, his son Sebastian Obendorfer took over the kitchen – and immediately managed to maintain the two-star level.

If you would like to combine a gourmet weekend with a wellness weekend at the Birkenhof ***** Spa & Genussresort, we recommend our blog article about a 7-star gourmet weekend, in which we introduce you to the Birkenhof and its restaurant.

What can you eat here? “New German cuisine” at its best

Link: Obendorfers Eisvogel

#2 Otto|s organic restaurant at STURM in Mellrichstadt

Every day from 6pm to 9pm, Otto|s from the STURM offers a unique open kitchen concept that combines 100% organic ingredients with a seasonal focus. The open kitchen lets you watch the chefs prepare dishes and gives you the chance to chat with them as they work.

What can you eat here? Vegetarian, vegan, fish or meat, with variety and freshness.

Link: Otto|s

#3 Slow Food at the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu

HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu lies in the beautiful mountains of Balderschwang. The cuisine not only follows the Slow Food concept, but also has a strong Ayurvedic influence, which you will notice in the spices used by chef Kristian Knölke. They warmly welcome external guests and serve them the same menu as house guests. The same applies to the breakfast and lunch buffets.

What can you eat here? Regional Allgäu cuisine with a touch of Ayurveda.

Link: Culinary Mountain Experience

#4 Enjoy a changing menu at the Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa, Bayerisch Gmain

As an external guest at Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa, you can enjoy an evening menu created by Head Chef Sascha Förster. There are three menus to choose from every day (‘Chefs Choice’, ‘Mountain Meadow’ and ‘Cabbage & Turnips’), which you can mix and match. The ‘Cabbage & Turnips’ menu is purely vegetarian and therefore suitable for vegans.

Info: External guests can only attend by prior arrangement

What to eat here: Creative alpine homestyle cuisine

Link: Klosterhof Restaurant

#5 Romantic dinner at the Hotel Rübezahl in Schwangau, near Füssen

Hotel Das Rübezahl recently revised its culinary concept, and the Restaurant Louis II now serves both cosmopolitan dishes and authentic regional cuisine. They source their meat and dairy products from grazing animals in the Allgäu region.

As a special highlight, you can book a candlelight dinner in the Zirbenstube every day. A 5-course menu awaits you (and your loved one) in a romantic atmosphere.

What can you eat here? Allgäu classics such as Kässpatzen or Wiener Schnitzel, as well as vegan dishes with sweet potato or couscous.

Link: Restaurant Louis II

#6 Planet healthy enjoyment at the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA, Bad Herrenalb

“At least 90% of the food and drink we serve is organic.” – SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA

The SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA takes its name from the magnificent panoramic views of the Black Forest from the restaurant and terrace. In the evening, both hotel guests and external guests can enjoy a three-course gourmet dinner or dine à la carte. What’s special about this restaurant is that it strives to keep the carbon footprint of its dishes as small as possible, in line with the ‘Planet Healthy‘ diet. The menu shows the CO2 emissions generated by each dish. They also clearly mark Vegan dishes.

What can you eat here? Planet Healthy meals made with fresh local organic produce. Fish, pasta, vegetable dishes, burgers.

Link: Restaurant La Vie

#7 FARMER’S CLUB Restaurant with live music at Gut Sonnenhausen

The FARMER’S CLUB restaurant at Gut Sonnenhausen near Munich is only open to outside guests once a month – on the first Wednesday of the month. But on these evenings you can expect more than just a good meal.

What can you eat here? Organic dishes from the fire kitchen (accompanied by live music)

Link: Wednesday music at the Farmer’s Club Restaurant

Fabulous (vegan) hotel restaurants in South Tyrol

Vegan restaurants are becoming increasingly popular, but vegan-only hotels are still a rarity. South Tyrol has two – the first in northern Italy!

#1 LA VIMEA Vegan Hotel – 5-course dinner, Naturns

LA VIMEA* in Naturns is an adults-only hotel. The vegan gourmet cuisine is known for its exciting colour and flavour combinations and delights with beautifully arranged plates, sometimes including fresh flowers. The restaurant also follows zero-waste principles and has a ‘no plastic policy’.

Info: The cost of a five-course dinner for external guests is €77 (excluding drinks). You must make reservations at least 24 hours in advance.

What can you eat here? Gourmet, organic, vegan (food intolerances catered for).

Link: LA VIMEA Vegan Restaurant

#2 Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel – Vegan pizza on the Seiser Alm

The Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel** is situated at an altitude of over 2,000 metres, right on the slopes of the Dolomiti Superski area. The restaurant can be reached on skis in winter and on mountain bikes or hiking boots in summer. There is a large outdoor terrace and a cosy indoor restaurant. All food and drinks are 100% vegan. The kitchen concept has recently been overhauled by Aggeliki Charami in 2024. The Greek vegan chef is a social media celebrity and a pioneer of modern vegan cuisine.

What can you eat here? The hotel tells us that the vegan pizzas on the terrace are a particular highlight. They are baked in a special pizza oven. There are also a variety of vegan dishes and delicious desserts.

Link: Paradiso Pure.Food Restaurant

#3 Dining at the elegant My Arbor tree hotel near Brixen

“We welcome external guests to book a table for dinner in our hotel restaurant. Our head chef, Matthias Hinteregger, offers an exclusive seven-course menu of your choice, freshly prepared every day.” – MY ARBOR

‌About a 15-minute drive from Brixen, My Arbor is a wellness hotel built on stilts in the treetops. The adults-only hotel is both sustainable and luxurious.

What can you eat here? The menu changes daily and is based on different themes. Example: ‘We love South Tyrol’ day or ‘Bella Italia’ day.

Link: Restaurant Plose

Hotel-Restaurants of our Green PearlsⓇ partners in Austria

Austria also has great sustainable hotels with excellent restaurants. Again, our partner hotels focus on regional and organic produce.

#1 Outside Nature Hotel – Award-winning natural cuisine in Matrei, East Tyrol

In 2024, the restaurant at Naturhotel Outside earned 3 Falstaff Forks (90 points) and welcomes external guests year-round. Situated in the heart of the Hohe Tauern National Park, this family-run hotel stays close to nature, a value clearly reflected in its restaurant.

What can you eat here? 6-course gourmet menu plus à la carte classics such as Wiener Schnitzel or East Tyrolean specialities such as Schlipfkrapfen (click here for the recipe).

Link: Outside Restaurant

#2 Lunch at Café Veranda at Gut Guntrams near Vienna

Café Veranda was also honoured by Falstaff in 2024, receiving 89 points in the Falstaff Café Guide. Gut Guntrams in Schwarzau/Steinfeld is surrounded by fruit trees. There is also a “Edelmacherei with farm shop’ and a crystal garden.

Info: The café is open to external guests on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays (opening hours 8.30-16.00).

What can you eat here? Game dishes and homemade cakes made from in-house produce.

Link: Cafe Restaurant Veranda

#3 Dinner at the Biohotel Grafenast with views of the valley, Tyrol

Biohotel Grafenast is located in Pill, overlooking the Tyrolean Inn Valley. It has a cosy, wood-panelled restaurant and an original parlour from the early days. The menu changes with the seasons and there is a daily dinner menu – all organic.

What can you eat here: Think game and dumplings with fresh mountain herbs.

Link: Grafenaster Organic-Restaurant

#4 Dining in the brewery cellar of the Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld

Hotel Klosterbräu has been owned by the Seyrling family for over 200 years, with nine members of the family looking after guests. Among its special features is the hotel’s own brewery. Outside, guests can enjoy culinary delights in the 500-year-old vaults of the former monastery. There is a brewery cellar, a wine cellar and a grill house where they grill meat, vegetarian and vegan dishes. For a romantic dinner for two, you can also book your own ‘flying dinner’ on the Romeo and Juliet balcony.

What can you eat here? Barbecue specialities, tapas, rustic dishes, Austrian country cuisine.

Link: Culinary delights at the Hotel Klosterbräu

Sustainable gastronomy against food waste

Food waste is a huge problem in the hospitality industry. Some hotels appallingly stack food on ‘all-you-can-eat’ buffets without considering how much will end up wasted. Once food has been on the guests’ tables or the buffet, it cannot be reused. As a matter of principle, I do not attend such buffets and “offers”.

On Green PearlsⓇ you can see what each accommodation is doing to prevent food waste in the ‘Green Initiatives’ section. In addition to good planning and inventory management, many use their kitchen ‘waste’ to make homemade stocks and syrups and maintain a compost heap.

Some use cooked food left over by guests to produce biogas. Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm follows the Slow Food concept, actively working to minimize food waste. Any leftover food is either fed to the farm animals or fed into its on-site biogas plant, which in turn powers the kitchen.

Sustainable hotels that do not run their own agriculture, such as the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb, Germany, provide cooked food waste to ‘ReFood’, which uses it to produce electricity, heat, fertiliser or biodiesel.

Local ingredients in the restaurants of Green PearlsⓇ hotels

Another major advantage of hotel restaurants in sustainable hotels is the regional nature of the products. The benefits are obvious:

• 0-km products cause almost no CO2 emissions from transport and storage
• Absolutely fresh (no need for modified atmosphere packaging (MAP), where the ripening process takes place in plastic)
• Strengthening regional agriculture
• Relying on strong partnerships and fair wages

There are also a growing number of star chefs (such as three-star chef Norbert Niederkofler from South Tyrol) who focus entirely on regional produce. But this also requires the courage to banish ‘exoticism’ from the kitchen. Unfortunately, many diners still expect exactly that.

Take the cheese platter in Germany. They think: ‘Oh, how nice, a fresh fig with it’. And they forget that this ‘premium fig’ has come out of a box in which each one is wrapped in thick plastic. Maybe it came by boat, or maybe it came by plane. Then it was transported by lorry. A piece of pear or cranberry could have created the same ‘wow’ effect – without travelling as far!

Sustainable cooks think about these things, and as a consumer you can support them by choosing a restaurant!

CIN:Codes

*CIN: IT021056A1J4HHYSU4 (LA VIMEA)

**CIN: IT021019A16MFGOUCR (Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel)

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Der Beitrag Sustainable hotel restaurants – Our Green PearlsⓇ favourites erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

#1 Tourism as an economic factor

The tourism industry is an important economic factor – in some countries it is the most important. Your vacation sets your money in motion, helping to redistribute wealth and pay workers. Hotels are often large businesses with many employees, subcontractors, suppliers, etc. who also benefit from a financially successful hotel.

Unfortunately, not all hotels are sustainable and socially responsible, and often your money does not benefit your vacation destination at all. You may travel to a hotel in Thailand and your money ends up with an investor in the US or Japan. Some hotels employ seasonal workers who live in shabby accommodations (I was told this for a German island, for example).

By consciously choosing a hotel that operates in a sustainable and usually fair manner, you ensure that your money really benefits the region and creates fair jobs.

Support fair labor practices in hotels

One example is the Green City Hotel Vauban in Freiburg, Germany. This sustainable city hotel is an integration project, and half of all employees are people with physical and/or mental disabilities. The hotel has deep roots in Freiburg. Its shareholders are the Vereinigung Freiburger Sozialarbeit e.V. and the Freiburger Stadtbau GmbH.

Even abroad, you have many opportunities to use your purchasing power to help other people (instead of supporting their exploitation). At our Green PearlsⓇ partner Farmhouse Smiling Gecko in Cambodia, the luxury resort ensures the financing of the Smiling Gecko NGO’s training centers, school and organic farm, and also serves as a training center and employer itself.

#2 preserving resources

You probably already know this: Planet B does not exist. The idea that we could someday completely deplete our planet of all its resources, destroy all animal and plant species (and perhaps even entire populations), and live on Mars from then on is NOT realistic!

Fossil resources such as oil, coal and natural gas are finite. This means that they are taken from the Earth and then they are gone. Theoretically, these resources will eventually reform, but in the case of oil, for example, it takes at least 10,000 years for new oil to form from dead plant matter and plankton. We should all be aware that what we consume today will not be available to our children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and future generations.

Renewable energy in the hospitality industry

In our opinion, one of the requirements for a sustainable hotel is to run on renewable energy. The least you can do is get 100% green electricity (something you can easily do at home by simply switching your electricity provider). But many hotels go further.

For example, our partner Hotel Milano Scala was the first Zero Emission Hotel in Italy. It is powered by geothermal energy, a renewable energy source that “significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions,” according to the Ministry of the Environment, Climate and Energy. Other hotels and residences rely on their own combined heat and power plants, heat pump technologies, photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, and heat recovery measures to reduce their own consumption of fossil resources while minimizing CO2 emissions.

Upcycling and organic

Conserving resources is not only about energy, but also about buildings and furnishings. The HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu recently renovated its hotel rooms using a sustainable upcycling concept. Instead of buying new furniture, the existing solid wood furniture in the rooms was simply dismantled, the (outdated) decorations removed and the furniture reworked. The new composition created modern furniture without cutting down any trees! (You can learn more about this in this YouTube video by owner Marc Traubel and interior designer Sarah Stapelfeld)

Throughout Biohotel Grafenast you will find sustainable and natural materials such as solid wood and local stone. The eco-friendly hotel is also committed to organic farming and uses only organic food – whenever possible, directly from the region and from the hotel’s own “Sehnsuchtsgarten” (garden of longing). Short delivery distances mean fewer greenhouse gases, and the absence of pesticides helps preserve biodiversity.

#3 Promote nature and species conservation

Which brings us to the next argument: sustainable travel supports conservation. Take, for example, the Casa León Royal Retreat in Gran Canaria. This small boutique hotel in the interior of the island has created a garden of native plants on its 10,000-square-meter property and uses only natural pest control. Here you can see a variety of small animals, such as the Canary Island bullfinch – the original form of the domesticated canary!

The hotel uses a rainwater cistern system for irrigation. In another sustainable initiative, the family that owns Casa León Royal Retreat has leased a 40,000-square-foot piece of forest in the Balkans that is maintained but still largely untouched. This has created another protected area for animals and plants in this world, which also helps the climate.

#4 Experience the country and its people in an authentic way

Sustainable travel means going off the beaten track and visiting places away from the usual mass tourism destinations. This gives you a real opportunity to experience the country you are visiting and get to know the locals.

Albergi Diffusi is saving villages in Italy

In Italy, the Albergo Diffuso movement has helped save Italian villages from decay. An Albergo Diffuso is a hotel spread over several buildings in a village. You live among the locals.

Our Green PearlsⓇ partner Relais del Maro is a prime example. Owner Elena Scalambrin converted several of her family’s commercial and residential buildings into a 4-star hotel. Guests arrive at the main house with a reception for dinner (and the pool), but otherwise stay in lovingly decorated rooms in the middle of the village community. The hotel has helped keep the village bakery and other local businesses alive. Here you will be able to experience the real Liguria and see the positive effects of sustainable tourism at first hand.

#5 Learning to love nature

“In the end, we will conserve only what we love” – Baba Dioum, Senegalese forestry engineer and conservationist

It is easy to understand Baba Dioum’s famous quote, delivered at a biodiversity conference in India in 1968. As we showed in our blog post on insect extinction, many animals and plants simply do not have a strong “lobby”. We think of some bugs and algae as expendable. It is only when we understand the important role they play that we learn to love them and work to conserve them.

Guided hikes in the Allgäu

At Hotel Das Rübezahl in Füssen, you have the opportunity to discover nature with the hotel’s own hiking guide. “Bergbaschdi” will take you into the mountains and show you the flora and fauna. You are sure to discover things you would otherwise have missed. (Read more in our interview with the hiking concierge)

Experience glaciers live in Switzerland

Glaciers are also very interesting. These “eternal” masses of ice are the largest reservoirs of fresh water on our planet, and they are in danger of disappearing! Fabienne Anthamatten of the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt can tell you all about it. Her hotel has an 8,000-year-old larch tree that she found on a former glacier field. This means that the trunk was preserved in the ice for several thousand years and has now been uncovered.

On a trip to the glaciers, you can admire the fascinating masses of ice (there are still many kilometers left) and better understand the connections to global warming.

#6 Have a vision – and think about the future

Just being in the present moment is a beautiful mindfulness exercise. But you should also have a vision in your life. A vision is a motivating, positive idea about the future. And that’s what sustainable travel is all about.

According to the UN, sustainable tourism is:

“Tourism that takes full account of its current and future economic, social and environmental impacts.”

So it’s thinking about the NOW as well as the FUTURE and taking responsibility for it. If you can do that, you’re doing pretty well. And what better way to learn how to do that and develop your own vision of the future than to travel the world sustainably and be inspired by other visionaries? If that’s not a good argument for sustainable travel, I don’t know what is?

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Traveling is a luxury

Old luxury, new luxury

“an expensive, lavish, excessive, and self-indulgent expenditure of money or time on things considered pleasurable or enjoyable”.

Intangible values are part of the new luxury

New luxury is linked to the post-materialist perspective. It suggests that in modern societies, the material needs are so well met that immaterial needs become more important. One indication of this is that political parties increasingly represent “interests” and “values.

The myth that sustainability and luxury cannot go hand in hand is a persistent one, based on the idea that sustainability equals sacrifice,” explains Green Pearls® founder Stefany Seipp in an interview with Marrybylen, a sustainable wedding and event planning company. Fine dining can be local, a spa treatment can be relaxing with natural cosmetics, and amazing hotel suites can be built with eco-friendly materials.

Sustainable luxury vacations at Green PearlsⓇ accommodations

Time is seen as a modern, intangible luxury and is perceived by many hoteliers from their guests. The whole slow movement with slow travel and slow food  is part of the “time trend”. Travelers are looking for a balance to their otherwise stressful lives.

Culinary indulgence is also part of the luxury world. Gourmet travel is all the rage – although the classic “caviar and champagne” luxury is outdated. Instead, the buzzwords are creative, sustainable and local, and there is a growing demand for vegan alternatives.

When it comes to a vacation of pure indulgence, the Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort in Germany’s Upper Palatinate Lake District is a top address. The hotel has five stars and a restaurant with two Michelin stars. While luxury and spoiling are the name of the game, the hotel is also committed to sustainability, generating its own green energy through a combined heat and power plant and solar panels.

Another hotel known for its culinary delights is the Waldhotel Fletschhorn in Saas Fee, Switzerland. This small boutique hotel has been known for decades for its exquisite – and regional – cuisine, and is popular with non-hotel guests as well. The large wine cellar is also renowned. Guests receive wine recommendations with each course of their meal.

If you are ever in the beautiful German city of Freiburg im Breisgau, we recommend the Green City Hotel Vauban as a place to stay. This ecologically and brightly decorated hotel with a green facade employs people with physical and mental disabilities as an integration company. Thanks to its central location, you can reach all sights quickly and environmentally friendly by public transport.

Swim, sauna, steam, then relax in the quiet room. Maybe even a massage or a facial? For many, it means treating themselves to something special. Wellness is clearly a luxury, especially as clean, fresh water becomes an increasingly scarce and valuable resource worldwide. Sustainable hotels are careful not to waste excessive amounts of water in their spa areas and bathrooms.

The Hotel Luise in the Bavarian city of Erlangen takes a particularly sustainable approach. The “regenerative” rooms have “astronaut showers” that filter the water you use and pump it directly out of the shower head as new shower water. This way, you can take a shower without a guilty conscience.

For a truly expansive spa experience, look no further than the Lifestyle Hotel Zum Kurfürsten in Germany’s Mosel wine region. There are three pools and a natural swimming pond (no chemicals). The spa area covers a total of 4,000 square feet and includes several saunas, a forest infrared sauna, and steam rooms. There are also treatment rooms where you can be treated by TCM therapists.

Health

“Health is the new wealth,” they say. Healthiness and longevity are clearly among the immaterial trends also present in the travel industry. We owe the existence of “grand hotels” to the “spa hotels” that bourgeois families treated themselves to as a luxury in the 19th century. Today, however, it is no longer just the classic health spa guests who are doing something for their health, but a general trend.

One such sustainable health hotel is the OCÈANO Health Spa Hotel on the Spanish volcanic island of Tenerife. With fitness, thalassotherapy and healthy eating programs, you can enjoy a vacation while boosting your health.

Finally, we return to our starting point: Travel is a luxury in itself. Imagine, for example, a trip to Nepal. At our Green PearlsⓇ partner, The Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm, you will find yourself amidst the fantastic panorama of the famous Himalayas and can explore temples with local guides or go on a wildlife safari where you might even encounter a wild tiger!

This lodge is unique in that it was created to introduce local farmers to organic farming. The hotel is committed to the local community as well as the environment and groundwater protection, as organic farming does not use pesticides.

So here is another symbiosis of travel, luxury, and sustainability.

What is your personal definition of luxury? We would love to hear in the comments!

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Rediscover the joy of eating well

Eating a healthy, vitamin-rich diet is good for our health. But with the stress of work and family life, we don’t always have time to cook balanced, fresh meals. And if you don’t have the time, you don’t have the desire or the idea to get back into the kitchen after a long day at work or after a day of caring for the family and conjuring up something delicious and healthy. Believe us, it’s not just you!

Sometimes a little outside perspective and a little push can help get those ideas flowing again. That’s why some of our Green Pearls® hotels are working with nutritionists to give you tips and inspiration for at home. Not just about cooking, but also about how to incorporate healthy eating into your everyday life. Of course, even hotels without nutritionists can give you new ideas. Other ingredients and preparation methods will also help to rekindle your desire for healthy food.

Sustainable hotels with nutritional advice

The special thing about our Green PearlsⓇ hotels with nutritional advice is that they not only offer healthy food, but also sustainable food. If you are thinking about your weight, your health and your diet (that’s probably why you are reading the blog 🙂 ), you should perhaps also think about the health of the planet. Specific suggestions:

• Less meat
• Less dairy products
• Protein through pulses
• Fewer ready meals
• Fresh food from your region and in season
• Lots of vegetables
• Organic products

All the hotels we present to you in this article source their food regionally and, where possible, always in organic quality. Organic cultivation guarantees that no pesticides are used. This not only supports your health (because you don’t have to worry about possible residues), but also biodiversity and groundwater.

Focus on health – OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel

The OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel in Tenerife is a health hotel with many therapists and experts. During a 10-day vacation with one of the diet programs, you will receive comprehensive care and regain a good body feeling through a combination of advice, Health Spa Diet half board and exercise.

Immediately upon arrival, you will have a medical consultation and bioimpedance analysis. During a nutrition consultation, your personal situation will be discussed in detail and together you will develop a plan not only to lose weight while on vacation, but also to maintain or further reduce your weight at home.

The exercise program includes yoga, aqua aerobics and fitness with a personal trainer.

👉 Click here for the program: Slim on the Atlantic

Fasting Programs at Hotel Klosterhof in Bavaria

Hotel Klosterhof Alpine Hideaway & Spa is also home to the Artemacur Health Center, run by hotel owner Dr. med. Andreas Färber. He and his team specialize in nutritional concepts that are not just about being slim and thin, but helping you find your healthy weight that makes you feel good. Available are

• Liver fasting according to Dr. Worm (a scientifically based program for fatty liver and high cholesterol)
• Healthy Weight Loss – Bodymed
• Intermittent fasting
• Weight Loss Diets

In addition to the nutritional program, you can relax in the 1,500 square meter Atemacur Spa and use the fitness room.

👉 You can find more information here: Cures and fasting at Hotel Klosterhof

Healthy eating according to TCM at the Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten

“You don’t need exotic foods or expensive equipment to eat healthy. – Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten

Traditional Chinese medicine plays a key role at the Lifestyle Hotel Zum Kurfürsten on the Moselle River. Nutritional counseling also focuses on the fact that almost all diseases and ailments can be cured with TCM.

You can have a body analysis with a printout or book a personal nutrition consultation, where your current state of health is first clarified. The TCM therapists will then advise you which foods, drinks and spices are particularly suitable for you and which you should avoid. You will be given a written list of these foods so that you can follow it after your vacation.

👉 Here you can find the hotel’s TCM offers

Healing climate fasting cure in the Black Forest

The spa town of Bad Herrenalb is famous for its healing climate, healing waters and thermal baths, one of which is located directly in the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA hotel. The hotel offers a

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

You should plan one to three weeks for a cure. In addition to personal nutrition and health advice, you will be accompanied throughout the entire cure with daily fasting talks and can also put together your own personal leisure and wellbeing program. In addition to the beautiful Black Forest surroundings, which are perfect for hiking or forest bathing, the wellness hotel also offers yoga and qigong.

👉 Here you can find the dates for fasting cures in the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA

Hotels with special cuisine

In addition to a hotel with special fasting cures or nutritional advice, our sustainable green pearls also include hotels that offer special cuisine.

Organic cuisine at the APIPURA hotel rinner in South Tyrol

If you are looking for a healthy diet with organic food on vacation, the APIPURA hotel rinner on the Ritten in South Tyrol has just implemented a new culinary concept with its partner Bioland Südtirol. The family-run hotel has been in existence for 50 years and has had its own apiary with organic honey since the beginning. What is new, however, is that all other food is now also sourced from organic farms in the immediate vicinity (maximum 200 km). The range is only supplemented by a few Fairtrade products such as organic coffee, which has to be imported from further afield.

👉 Here you can find out more about the in-house organic beekeeping, which you can of course also visit.

Vegan hotel in South Tyrol

The vegan lifestyle has been shown to be more climate-friendly. Opinions differ on whether it is also healthier and helps you lose weight. (For example, eating chips from morning to night would also be vegan, but very one-sided and high in fat). In general, however, vegans eat very consciously, and this alone (and the fact that many convenience products are eliminated) means that you are usually already healthier.

The 100% vegan hotel LA VIMEA is located in Naturns in South Tyrol. Here you can enjoy 100% organic and vegan food. Breakfast and dinner are included in your stay. And of course there are some tasty snacks for in-between, such as a vegan (and plastic-free) lunch box for e-bike excursions or hikes.

Farm-to-table in Cambodia

Part of eating well is knowing where your food comes from. At Farmhouse Smiling Gecko in Cambodia, you are right among the plantations, fields, and greenhouses where the ingredients for the dishes are growing. The cuisine is entirely “farm to table” and features a mix of local specialties and European cuisine.

By vacationing at Farmhouse Smiling Gecko, you will be supporting the Smiling Gecko Project, which includes an educational concept for a variety of professions. The employees of the resort havebeen training here and can support their families and pay for their children’s education through steady work.

👉 Read more about the Farmhouse Restaurant

Gourmet dining at a 2-star restaurant

Finally, we have a completely different suggestion for making your diet healthier: Instead of eating “anything”, how about eating only what is truly delicious? The Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort in the Upper Palatinate Lake District is home to the 2-star Eisvogel restaurant and offers various gourmet travel specials with 7-course menus.

👉Click here for the Eisvogel Restaurant

5 tips for sustainable and healthy travel

1. A water bottle and lunch box or beeswax paper are the basic equipment of every zero-waste traveler. They should always be in your carry-on luggage. They can accompany you on your excursions throughout your vacation. (Packaged food on airplanes is neither healthy nor very tasty.)
2. Book sustainable accommodations that serve local, organic food.
3. Watch out for the buffet: The hotel breakfast buffet is a temptation. Eggs, fruit, bread, cakes, specialties… you can’t possibly eat everything. Instead, focus on what you like best and keep things in moderation.
4. Plan your lunch. With half board, some people are tempted to skip lunch – and end up standing in front of a chip shop on the way home, or starving at dinner. It is better to plan ahead where you can eat lunch (local and sustainable bistro). Or you pack a zero-waste lunch box.
5. Drink plenty of water: Take care of your hydration, especially if you are vacationing in warm countries. Eliminating sugary drinks from your diet will save you unhealthy calories every day. If the tap water in your vacation destination is drinkable, this is both sustainable and healthy.

Read more: Food is Life – Enjoying without regret at the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio in Balderschwang

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Huge hotel complexes might have some amenities, like a few restaurants or shops on-site. But if you’re looking for a more private and intimate atmosphere, boutique hotels with just a few rooms are a better choice. In fact, at our smallest Green Hotel partner, La Casona in Peru, with just 11 rooms, you’ll feel like you’re staying with friends in Cusco. But what does “boutique” and “small” really mean? And are small hotels always more sustainable than large ones?

Sustainable Hotels – Large vs. small

Good, small, rural hotels and bad, big, urban hotels – sounds logical, doesn’t it? But it’s not that simple. We see this very clearly in the Green PearlsⓇ network: every type of hotel – large or small, in the city or in the country – can make its own contribution to sustainability.

Are smaller hotels more sustainable than their larger counterparts?

True, smaller hotels are often more sustainable or have an easier time becoming more sustainable. Many small hotels represent the personal visions of the owners, and many green pioneers have created their own hotels. For most of them, money is not everything. They are putting their heart and soul into their project, their life’s work. It is also easier to make changes in a small hotel with fewer rooms, fewer guests, and less logistical effort.

Small hotels’ environmental advantages

• The personal spirit of the owners:  Decisions can be implemented more quickly and owners are often in close contact with guests and responsive to their needs.
• Local manufacturing: While large hotel chains tend to have international supply chains, small hotels often work with other local businesses.
• Local food: The same is true for the food. Some of the boutique hotels even have their own garden or small farm where they grow the food for the kitchen.
• Your money remains in the destination:  With international hotel chains, your money may not actually arrive at your destination (e.g. you are on vacation in Bali  and the money is collected in the USA)

Big hotel – big impact

On the other hand, when large hotels, or even an entire chain, embraces sustainable practices, it has a greater overall impact than a single small boutique hotel going green.

An example?

• When the Berlin hotel chain A&O told guests in its (then) 39 hotels in 2019 that they could voluntarily refrain from daily cleaning, it saved 75,000 liters of water, 20,000 garbage bags and 708 kWh of electricity in just two months.
• According to research by Focus Online, the Accor hotel group alone orders 100,000 plastic-wrapped disposable slippers each year for its 330 hotels in Germany. A huge amount of waste that could be significantly reduced if guests would bring their own slippers.

On the other hand, large hotels may take a long time to implement environmentally friendly measures (from soap dispensers to photovoltaic systems) due to the hierarchical structure of the company and the sheer number of rooms.

10 sustainable boutique hotels (11 to 38 rooms) – our recommendations

Definition: Boutique hotels are characterized by the fact that they are personally and individually managed and are often found in the luxury segment. The maximum number of rooms is not precisely defined, but we use >40 rooms as a benchmark.

#1 Casa León Royal Retreat, Gran Canaria, Spain (27 rooms)

If you are looking for an authentic and sustainable way to experience the popular vacation island of Gran Canaria, Casa León Royal Retreat is the place to be. The small boutique hotel with pool is surrounded by a large garden with native plants. Almost all of the 27 rooms have panoramic windows with fantastic views.

The hotel takes great pride in maintaining a neat and quiet atmosphere and offers a shuttle service several times a day to the beach, the city, or to one of the nearby golf courses.

Sustainability:

The German-speaking owner family is committed to the environment and has, for instance, leased a forest to offset the hotel’s CO2 emissions. There is also an advanced rainwater collection system, local food, and many other green initiatives.

#2 Biohotel Grafenast, Tirol, Austria (23 rooms)

It’s quaint and cozy at Biohotel Grafenast, which sits 1,300 meters above the Tyrolean Inn Valley. Some of the 23 rooms are specially designed for families, with separate children’s rooms, private terraces, and even private saunas. You can even rent a tiny house on the property.

A vacation here is perfect for experiencing nature in the Tyrolean mountains (with winter sports during the season). The Bio Boutique Hotel also offers courses in yoga and fasting, as well as activities for children. A nature spa with forest sauna and hammam offers relaxation.

Sustainability:

The Unterlechner family’s small organic hotel looks back on over 100 years of family history. The hotel has been organic since the early 1980s. For Peter and Waltraud Unterlechner, organic and sustainability are part of their lifestyle, and protecting the environment is very important to them.

#3 La Casona, Cusco, Peru (11 rooms)

La Casona is a luxurious 5-star boutique hotel located in the ancient Inca city of Cusco and an excellent base for visiting Machu Picchu and other ancient Inca sites. In 2023, the hotel was awarded the Editor’s Choice Award in the “Remarkable Returns” category by the prestigious Hideaway Report. “In this 11-room retreat, guests feel as if they are in their own private villa in Cusco,” wrote the critics. Art lovers will appreciate the restored original frescoes in the rooms of the 500-year-old building.

Sustainability:

La Casona belongs to our Green PearlsⓇ partner Inkaterra, a pioneer of sustainability in Peru. The owner family has already implemented numerous environmental initiatives, such as water conservation and biodiversity (butterflies, orchids), and is involved in social projects.

#4 Relais del Maro, Liguria, Italy (14 rooms)

The Relais del Maro is located in the picturesque village of Borgomaro, in the heart of Liguria, and is warmly run by owner Elena Scalambrin. She and her parents set up the boutique hotel as an Albergo Diffuso. Meaning that you’ll find the 14 rooms in several historic buildings (former family homes and business premises).

Sustainability:

By building the Albergo Diffuso, Elena has made a significant contribution to the preservation of the Italian village. Not only has she found new uses for vacant buildings, but she has also revitalized the last remaining businesses such as the bakery, restaurant, and hairdresser. In addition, the family and local craftsmen lovingly restored the rooms, in some cases using historic techniques.

#5 Keemala, Phuket, Thailand (38 rooms)

The 38 luxurious pool villas are nestled in the treetops of a tropical Phuket forest overlooking the ocean. Within the forest, which has been preserved as much as possible, is the resort’s own fruit, vegetable, and herb garden. A cooking class will teach you about the local plants and how to harvest and prepare fresh fruits and vegetables.

Sustainability:

The Somnam family built the resort without any major impact on the environment and it follows an exemplary zero-waste concept. The siblings Samornpun and Tanapong (known as Tarn and Note) Somnam are very close to nature and thus invite you to explore the “magical forest” barefoot during their yoga retreats.

#6 Hotel Bella Vista, Zermatt, Switzerland (21 rooms)

In car-free Zermatt, Switzerland, the Hotel Bella Vista is located just above the town center with a fantastic view of the Matterhorn. In winter it is right next to a ski slope, and in summer the hiking trails start right outside the front door. The Anthamatten family is running the hotel and offers a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Dogs are also welcome.

Sustainability:
Furnishings are made from local wood and natural materials. You will also get to taste local organic food. The host family is very close to nature and tries to find the most sustainable solution for all decisions.

#7 Waldhotel Fletschhorn, Saas-Fee, Switzerland (13 rooms)

Established in 1906, the Waldhotel Fletschhorn is an oasis of peace amidst the snow-capped peaks of the surrounding four-thousanders. You can have breakfast at your convenience with fresh organic ingredients (without the famous “battle at the buffet”). A fresh coffee or tea, prepared with water from the hotel’s own mountain spring, rounds your breakfast off.

All 13 rooms have a balcony or terrace. The boutique hotel is famous for its à la carte dinners, and each course comes with a wine pairing.

Sustainability:

In addition to fresh spring water and green electricity, the Waldhotel engages in projects regarding animal welfare, the environment, and social commitment. The culinary concept includes the use of regional organic products.

#8 Hôtel Le Pavillon, Paris, France (15 rooms)

Located in the central 7th district of Paris, the small Hôtel Le Pavillon is in the heart of the French capital. The most famous sights such as the Eiffel Tower or the Louvre are within walking distance.

The German speaking owners have decorated their small hotel in an artistic and individual way and also offer rooms shielded from electro smog. The hotel also has revitalized water and special room air filters.

PS: Hôtel Le Pavillon is a member of the Green Spirit Hotels Paris network, along with Hôtel Malar and Hôtel Amélie.

Sustainability:

The hotel was built from an existing building (a former convent) and focuses on organic products for breakfast and reducing waste. The owners and staff will be happy to give you insider tips on alternative places (e.g. vintage shops, weekly markets or a repair café) where you can experience the metropolis in a sustainable way.

#9 Strandhaus Boutique Resort & Spa, Spreewald, Germany (20 rooms)

The Strandhaus Boutique Resort & Spa has an inviting location, surrounded by the arms of the Spree River. Boat rides start right outside the door.

The hotel with only 20 rooms has a wellness area, a beach café, a restaurant (with authentic Spreewald cuisine), a library, and a beautiful garden with a green beach directly at the river.

Sustainability:

The hotel supports youth welfare, a kindergarten, and the local shooting club in Lübben. It also employs local staff. In general, the Strandhaus is a place where regionalism and the preservation of traditions are very important. Food comes from local farmers and some is growing in the hotel’s own garden.

#10 Farmhouse Smiling Gecko, Kampong Chhnang Province, Cambodia (34 Rooms)

At the Farmhouse Smiling Gecko you can stay in bungalows on stilts (with terraces and rain showers) or in one of the rooms in the Khmer House. There are a total of 34 rooms in 17 houses – the pool with sundeck or the restaurant serve as common meeting points.

The unique feature: The Farmhouse is not just a luxury resort – it is a non-profit project! The Smiling Gecko Project supports the rural people of Cambodia to help themselves. People learn various trades in training centers, and 40 Cambodians are permanently working at the Farmhouse at an above-average salary.

Sustainability:

In addition to social sustainability, you can also experience the farm-to-table concept here. Meaning that the food comes directly from their own organic gardens and the surrounding agriculture.

Hotel categorization by number of rooms

The average hotel has about 150 rooms. As our analysis of available statistics shows, there are slightly fewer in Germany and Italy, and slightly more in Dubai.

If you search the Internet to find out how many rooms a small, large, or medium-sized hotel has, you will find a wide variety of values. So here is our own definition:

According to Green PearlsⓇ, you can divide hotels into the following categories:

< 30 rooms: small hotel

< 40 rooms: boutique hotel

40 to 100 rooms: midsize hotel

100 to 150 rooms: larger hotel

>150 rooms: large hotel

Finally, we would like to know your opinion – do you prefer to stay in large or small hotels? What size room do you think is ideal? Tell us in the comments!

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