What is TCM, exactly?

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

Sustainable wellness hotels with a TCM approach

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

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

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

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

Personalized and sustainable

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

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

#2 SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA: Medical Qigong for Inner Balance

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

Qigong with Master Khim

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

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

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

#3 Biohotel Grafenast: Qigong in the Tyrolean Mountains

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

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

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

#4 ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA: Acupuncture in Sicily

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

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

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

Green PearlsⓇ Hotels with other traditional healing methods

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#7 STURM: Shiatsu and energetic massages

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

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

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

#8 Keemala, Phuket: Thai Rainforest Retreats

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

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

Why should you combine your vacation with TCM?

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

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

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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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Good reasons to plan your trips early

There are many good reasons to take some time at the beginning of the year to plan your travels. Depending on your latitude, it may still be gray and cold outside your window, so looking at a calendar with vacation days marked will immediately put you in a better mood.

• A 2014 Cornell University study found that planning and anticipating a vacation makes people happier – far more than planning to buy material things..
• An even earlier British study, conducted in 2002, found that travelers are happiest when the trip is planned.

Why is early travel planning sustainable?

Before you break out the big annual calendar and start sticking Post-its on it (a tip you can take seriously), here are a few talking points in case you need to convince your fellow travelers:

#1 Planning certainty and fairness

By booking early, you give tour operators, accommodation providers, transport companies and their suppliers, tour guides and everyone else involved more planning certainty. As a traveler, you may not even be aware of this. And you also make it easier for everyone else in your immediate environment (family, work, etc.) to plan when you “submit” your vacation early.

#2 More time for long-distance travel

If you are planning a long-distance trip this year, you can take more time to make your vacation more “eco-worthy”. Here you can learn more about sustainable travel destinations in Southeast Asia, the Andean region of Peru, or sustainable jungle vacations in the Amazon. If you are currently “on the other side of the world”, Switzerland may be an attractive long-haul destination for you.

#3 Time to get to know your destination

If you plan your trip well in advance, you can better engage with your destination and adapt to the culture, land and people. In this article, for example, you will learn about the dark side of Bali and how to overcome it as an eco-traveler. An Indonesian woman tells us what tourists often do wrong in Bali, and we introduce you to the eco-resort Puri Dajuma.

My personal tip: Get some books that are set in the country you are going to. Not travel guides or non-fiction, but novels and stories that get you in the mood for the country and its people!

And another book tip from the editors: the “How to…” series. (How to…) series is also highly recommended. Before and after your trip.

#4 Research green transportation options

Before you book a flight, you can also consider greener travel options. For example, did you know that you can travel to Sicily by train? Are you familiar with the new European overnight trains, or have you ever considered traveling by coach?

If the country itself can only be reached by air (in a time-efficient manner), you may be able to avoid domestic flights locally. For example, on a slow travel adventure through Thailand. Yes, you can even reach our Green PearlsⓇ Keemala on the island of Phuket from Bangkok by night train plus bus. Keemala is a truly dreamy, sustainable luxury resort that you can plan as one of the highlights of a trip to Thailand, like a weekend. 

#5 Off-season travel

Now that you have the whole year ahead of you, you can take advantage of the off-season to travel. As we wrote in our blog article about counter-cyclical travel, the off-season not only brings you financial benefits, but also helps to avoid overtourism and protect our planet.

How about visiting the popular Baltic Sea beach away from the tourist crowds, for exmaple? Marion Muller, host of the Lifestylehotel SAND, recommends spring and fall for a vacation. Then you can enjoy quiet beach walks or bike rides with the hotel’s sustainable MyBoo rental bikes.

#6 Plan regional events

With enough foresight, you can plan ahead for special events in the area and be sure not to miss out.

• In March and September 2025, three cosmic highlights await you: (March 15, 2025, partial lunar eclipse, March 29, 2025, partial solar eclipse, and September 7, total lunar eclipse). Nocturnal tourism has been declared a travel trend of the year. The Rhön Star Park, located near the sustainable STURM Hotel, is a good example. Here you will find not only a dark sky reserve, but also numerous guided tours and events around the starry sky.

• From the end of April to mid-May, the apple blossom is in full swing in the Lake Constance region. It is a dream season when the vast apple-growing area is transformed into a sea of blossoms. The Natureresort Gerbehof in Friedrichshafen even has its own apple orchards. And just an hour’s drive away is the flower island of Mainau, where over a million tulip blossoms open each spring!

• October is the time of the olive harvest in Italy and Spain. In Liguria, at the Albergo Diffuso Relais del Maro in the coastal town of Imperia, there is always a big olive harvest festival at this time of year.

• In South Tyrol, the “Törggelen” takes place in October and November. People hike to various huts and feast on the fresh produce of the harvest. At the APIPURA hotel rinner on the Ritten, chestnuts are traditionally harvested and roasted over the fire in a cozy get-together.

Of course, there are many other events related to sports, nature, and hobbies. Why not do some research in your area of interest?

#7 Choose sustainable accommodations

With enough time, you can see if the accommodation is committed to sustainability. Electricity, food, social justice – if you want to travel in a fair and eco-friendly way in 2025, it’s best to choose accommodation that implements and communicates this transparently.

#8 Book directly with your chosen accommodation.

If you have chosen a sustainable accommodation like our Green Pearls, you don’t have to book through a third party, you can book directly with the hotel (that’s why Green Pearls® takes you directly to the website). It is no secret that the booking platforms receive a commission for their listing. However, when you book directly, the money goes right to the hotel. Often, the accommodations also offer a Best Price Guarantee, which ensures that you book the hotel or vacation home at the lowest current price.

What is special about mindful travel planning?

Mindful travel planning, like slow travel, is about taking your time. Time to research, compare, and think carefully about what you really want from your vacation. Planning a trip only makes you happy if you enjoy it. And that doesn’t happen when you’re clicking through pages of deals as fast as you can. It’s about prioritizing, getting to know yourself and your travel style, and then planning ahead. Sustainable travelers are usually willing to go the extra mile – because it’s worth it! For ourselves, for the accommodations and destinations, and for the planet.

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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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Der Beitrag Say goodbye to single-use plastics: Green solutions from sustainable hotels erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

Peace and relaxation through singing bowls

“The massages bring about a state of absolute relaxation that is unique. Even highly stressed people find peace within a short time.” That is how Maren Geisler-Okelmann of the Yoga-Hotel Okelmann’s in Warpe describes the effect of the singing bowls. The hostess is a trained yoga teacher and conducts sound therapy according to Peter HessⓇ in her courses and retreats. The Peter HessⓇ Institute is only 7 km from Warpe!

Singing bowl massage according to Peter HessⓇ

The singing bowl massage, which is a wellness trend in many places today, was developed by Peter Hess about 30 years ago. The German engineer for physical technology came into contact with singing bowls during his travels in Nepal.

According to the institute’s website, he “succeeded in adapting ancient Far Eastern knowledge from the Himalayas about sound and rhythm and their healing effects on body, mind, and soul to the needs of people in Western societies.”

It is not entirely clear how singing bowls were originally used. Some researchers even suggest that they were simply used as cooking utensils and that the tradition was “invented” later on. Others suggest that singing bowls once played an important role in Buddhism – but that the tradition has been lost.

The Peter HessⓇ Institute (PHI) now has 16 academies in 14 countries and claims to have trained approximately 10,000 people in the Peter Hess Sound Massage Method (protected in Europe).

How does a singing bowl massage work?

During a Peter HessⓇ singing bowl massage, several singing bowls are placed on the (clothed) body and sounded. The bowls, which are cast in brass or bronze, produce a gong-like sound with fine vibrations. These vibrations are transmitted to the body and are said to “release blockages” and lead to relaxation. Both physical (muscle relaxation) and mental. A singing bowl massage usually lasts between 30 and 90 minutes.

“Circling thoughts come to rest,” reports Maren vom Okelmann’s. One enters a “pleasant state in which one can let go.” The vibrations emanating from the singing bowls spread through the skin, tissues, bones, organs, and fluids of the body, creating a “gentle, internal massage.”

“Experiencing sound is a wonderful and healing thing.” – Maren Geisler-Okelmann

👉Here you can book a sound massage at Okelmann’s.

Difference between singing bowl massage and a sound bath

In some wellness and yoga hotels, you can have a sound bath in addition to a singing bowl massage. The difference is:

For a singing bowl massage, the bowls are placed on the body, while for a sound bath, the bowls are placed in the room.

A sound bath is especially suitable for groups. The vibrations of the gong are transferred from the bowl to the body.

At the Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol, a sound bath in small groups is part of the weekly program, and you can also book a “singing bowl massage with Sabine” at any time. 60 minutes cost 85 Euro and 90 minutes 120 Euro.

At Biohotel Grafenast you can experience a great combination of a Tyrolean nature vacation with an Alpine panorama and Far Eastern relaxation methods. The family-run hotel and its surroundings have been designed according to Feng Shui as a place of power, and yoga and Qigong classes are also available.

As part of its in-house treatments, the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu offers both a sound bath and a sound massage. The cost for a 50-minute sound bath is 120 euros alone and 180 euros with another person.

The sustainable hotel in Balderschwang practices an “Ayurvedic lifestyle” – both in the wellness area and in the culinary arts. The sounds and vibrations of the singing bowls are considered to be energy that “can set every single cell in the body vibrating.” This is believed to have a healing effect.

👉For more information, visit HUBERTUS Ayurveda.

Sound baths in the Italian ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges weekly program

The sustainable and luxurious ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges in Italy also believe in the benefits of sound baths and have made them an integral part of their wellness programs.

“At ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA, we offer the ‘Gong Sound’ experience every Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday,” the team explains. “This treatment uses the slow, rhythmic beats of the gong, punctuated by brief moments of silence.”

At the ADLER Lodge Ritten* the Klangbad takes place every Wednesday and Saturday. The location on the Ritten plateau in South Tyrol is ideal for combining an active vacation in nature with wellness.

“You may find yourself taking a short but sweet nap during the sound treatments. The gentle sounds promote such a deep relaxation that a relaxed sleep is simply part of the experience, making it even more intense.” – ADLER Lodge RITTEN

Sound bath as an included service

The German hotel Das Rübezahl in the Allgäu region, like ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges, offers sound baths as an included weekly program. In addition to the sound massage sessions, yoga and Qigong are also offered.

Meditation with singing bowls

Some Green PearlsⓇ hotels combine singing bowls with meditation. For example, the spa at CERVO Mountain Resort Zermatt in Switzerland offers a “singing bowl meditation” as part of its weekly yoga and meditation program. The sound bath helps calm the mind and release tension in the body. Guests leave feeling “more balanced and serene.”

My Arbor* near Brixen in South Tyrol offers both singing bowl massage and singing bowl meditation.

“It is a special form of relaxation that many of our guests love. They report feeling a deep sense of calm and lightness during the singing bowl treatment.” – Hotel My Arbor

What is the difference between a singing bowl massage and a singing bowl meditation?

The Keemala Resort on the island of Phuket in Thailand has answered this question. According to the resort, singing bowl massage is more about relaxing the muscles and stimulating circulation, while singing bowl meditation focuses on the mind. The goal of meditation is to achieve “mental clarity” through sounds and vibrations.

Sound Healing Retreats

If you want to delve deeper into the world of singing bowl healing, there are also a few retreats available. The Hotel Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa hosted its first “Sound Healing Retreat” with Lisa Schuster, a physician and sound therapist from Munich. The three-night retreat included various sound baths, singing bowl massage, singing bowl meditation, toning exercises, yoga, and a cocoa ceremony.

At the Gut Sonnenhausen near Munich, Germany, singing bowls and cocoa ceremonies were also combined during the “Finding Peace Day Retreat” held in the fall of 2024. The retreat was led by Thails de la Paz, who works regularly with the Sonnenhausen Estate.

Sustainable wellness hotels with a Far Eastern touch

Yoga, mindfulness, TCM, Ayurveda, singing bowls – much of the modern Western lifestyle has its origins in East Asia. In addition to the Okelmann’s, Grafenast, and HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio hotels already mentioned, the Green PearlsⓇ hotels, which are sustainably and individually managed, include many others inspired by Far Eastern culture.

Stephan Bode, owner of the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb, Germany, draws his personal strength from the words of Buddha and has integrated a Selfness Center into the hotel. Here, guests are offered mindfulness training, resilience, forest bathing, and fasting cures. Singing bowl massages are an optional extra.

Heiner Buckermann designed the entire Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten in Bernkastel-Kues on the Mosel River according to Feng Shui (with the help of a Chinese master). He also integrated a TCM center into the hotel. He places great importance on the 5 elements and wants the life energy Qi to flow freely throughout the hotel.

Among the treatments available at the TCM Center is a singing bowl massage based on the 5 elements.

“Based on the five elements of traditional Chinese medicine, the goal is to achieve a healing balance of the organs, which stimulates the organism to regenerate itself. By placing and striking the body with singing bowls of different sizes, (…) qi, blood and emotions can flow freely again.” – Lifestyle Resort Zum Kurfürsten

A 30-minute sound massage costs 47 euros.

Singing bowl massage in Nepal

The Himalayan region of Nepal is where Peter Hess was introduced to singing bowls and where the trend that is sweeping the West began. At the Pavilions Himalayas – The Farm you can experience the original Nepalese version of the singing bowl treatment.

The sustainably managed resort is known for its yoga classes with Yogi Shyam Gurung, who we featured in our Yoga for pros blog post. His retreats are not only about physical exercises but also about a theoretical, traditional understanding of yoga.

Sound bowls are used here in conjunction with meditation, Reiki, self-healing, and Ayurvedic treatments.

“We offer yoga, meditation, and sound bowl sessions either as individual sessions or in small groups that know each other well,” the resort says.

Singing bowl massage in Cambodia

In Cambodia, you can receive a singing bowl massage at the Farmhouse Smiling Gecko. Buddhism is the state religion and singing bowls have a long tradition in Buddhism. It is said that singing bowls existed at the time of the historical Buddha. However, little is known about their exact origin and original meaning.

At the luxurious Farmhouse Smiling Gecko Resort, you can experience the country authentically while supporting the Smiling Gecko Project. It supports the local population through training centers, a school, organic farming, and fair employment.

Sound bowl meditation and science

Finally, it is important to note that the effectiveness of a singing bowl massage is not scientifically proven and falls within the realm of alternative medicine. However, you may find that sometimes a beautiful sound is more pleasant than a long speech 🙂

*CIN: IT021072A1QCJQTLUQ (ADLER Lodge Ritten)

*CIN: IT021011A1AE4737IT (My Arbor)

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

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

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

Don’ts for a sustainable vacation at a hotel

#1 Use your own shampoo

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

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

#2 Balloons at hotel parties

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

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

#3 Bringing snacks and food to the resort

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

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

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

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

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

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

#5 Smoking in Paris

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#7 Wasting energy

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

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

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

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

#8 Trash

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

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

There are signs of improvement

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tipp #1: Vacation without your phone

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

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

Tipp #2: Board and card games

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tipp #3: Introduce children to nature

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

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

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

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

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

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

Tipp #5: Adventure travel by train

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

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

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

Tipp #6: Learn interesting things

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

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion

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

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

What is a place of power?

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

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

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

Places of power and tourism

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Biohotel Grafenast – A place of power, confirmed by geomancers

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

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

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

You can create your own places of power

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

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

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

Crystal Garden at Gut Guntrams

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

Places of power around sustainable hotels

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

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

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

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

Temples and the “holy forest” to experience in Thailand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bad Herrenalb – a place of power

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

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

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

Recharge your batteries in Warper Wood

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

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

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

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

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

Hexenbödele on the Ritten in South Tyrol

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

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

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

Stone circle in Seefeld

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

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

Places of natural power with our Green PearlsⓇ partners

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

The sea as an inexhaustible source of energy in Tenerife

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

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

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

Subjective places of power in East Tyrol

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

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

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

Place of Power Matterhorn

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

Recharge your batteries with a forest bath in South Tyrol

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

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

The Riva Waterfalls in Sand in Taufers

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

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

Do places of power work?

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

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

*CIN CODES Italien

IT021072A1L46PNBHX (Hotel Weihrerhof)

IT021072A1UOWUIDH4 (APIPURA hotel rinner)

IT021011A1AE4737IT (My Arbor)

IT021017B4CPKU6WK9 (OLM Nature Escape)

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Sustainable hotels offering silent retreats

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

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

Well? Got you?

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

Personal retreat at Gut Guntrams in Austria

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

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

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

👉 Find out more about the retreat here.

Fasting weeks with quiet moments at Biohotel Grafenast

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

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

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

That’s why silence is good for you

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

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

Ocean Balancing – Silence in the water

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

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

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

Room of tranquillity as a counterpart to the relaxation room

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

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

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

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

Room of Tranquillity on holidays

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“In our house, every room is silent”

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

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

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

CIN-Codes:

* CIN: IT021011A1AE4737IT (My Arbor)

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#1 Tip: candles, candles, candles

One hotel that truly deserves to be called “magical” is the Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Tyrol. Built on the site of a 500-year-old monastery, the sixth generation of the Seyrling family to run the hotel has preserved many of the old walls and vaults.

Candlelight creates the perfect atmosphere. Hotel Klosterbräu is famous for its daily candle-lighting, with around 500 candles. However, a number of these have now been replaced by LED lights – fire safety and sustainability here go hand in hand. Piano music and a fireplace in the hotel bar, as well as the morning mist over the “Garden of Eden,” also add to the special atmosphere.

The Lifestylehotel SAND on Germany’s Baltic coast also uses candles to create a magical atmosphere.

“At SAND, we love real candlelight, and lots of it. It creates a very special, relaxed and warm atmosphere in all areas. Through the large glass windows you can especially enjoy the “blue hour” in November.” – Lifestylehotel SAND

Side note: How environmentally friendly are candles?

That depends on what kind of candles you use. Most candles on the market contain paraffin, a byproduct of petroleum refining, and many also contain palm oil. Both are environmentally questionable ingredients, as we explain in our look at sustainable candles. Soy candles are sustainable and vegan. Unfortunately, they are not very affordable.

Tip: Buy eco-friendly candles and use them selectively. For an hour in the afternoon or evening and not as a permanent light source (which would also take away the “magic” effect). It is also better for the air quality.

#2 Tip: Decorate with natural materials

At the Naturresort Gerbehof in Friedrichshafen near Lake Constance and at the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA in Bad Herrenalb, natural decorations create a charming atmosphere during the winter season. Twigs and pine cones are especially popular during the Christmas season.

Floral decoration at Keemala in Phuket

The Keemala in Phuket, Thailand is part of the “zero waste” movement and tries to avoid plastic throughout the resort. This includes decorations, of course. For weddings and other celebrations, Keemala uses only natural flower garlands and floral decorations that are completely biodegradable.

Keemala owes its “enchanted” atmosphere to the unique architectural style of its villas, which blend seamlessly into the Thai rainforest – it would be difficult for you to recreate such a setting at home 🙂

Side note: How sustainable is decorating with natural materials?

The more natural, the better! Once they’ve served their decorative purpose, colorful leaves, chestnuts, pine cones and fallen branches can go straight to the compost, where they will decompose into soil.

It is less sustainable to paint or spray the leaves, especially with glitter. Glitter is made of plastic and essentially “microplastics in a can”. The small glitter particles spread quickly and can easily enter the water system.

Tip: Avoid glitter and varnish when making decorations, and use natural twine to hold your natural decorations together-it can also be composted. And if you must use glitter, opt for organic glitter..

#3 Tip: Fireplace

The two German Green PearlsⓇ hotels Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort in the Upper Palatinate and STURM in the Rhön Biosphere Reserve both recommend an open fire for a magical atmosphere.

Of course, this is not easily done at home, and major renovations are not feasible. Especially if you live in a rented property. The only option then is to enjoy candles. But if you want to spend this winter in a cozy hideaway with a fireplace, you can find our recommendations here.

Side note: How sustainable is a fireplace?

According to the German Environmental Agency, you should avoid using a fireplace as a heat source because wood (trees) is a major CO2 sink. If you do occasionally use a fireplace, such as in a vacation home, make sure you use seasoned, untreated wood and do not use paper to light it.

#4 Tip: Firebowl

While you can not easily build a fireplace into your home, a fire bowl is affordable and provides a safe surface for a cozy fire in the backyard or on the patio.

It is also a popular way for our sustainable partners to create a magical winter atmosphere for their guests.

Hotel Das Rübezahl

Naturhotel Outside

Hotel Weihrerhof*

Side note: How environmentally friendly is an open fire in a fire bowl?

According to the German Federal Environmental Agency, there are many dangers to be aware of when using an open fire, and pollutants can also be released into the air – especially when burning green waste or shrubs.

Tip: Use only untreated and well-seasoned wood in the fire bowl, and be aware of other things such as wind, flying sparks, and proper behavior around the fireplace (especially when children are present).

#5 Tip: Garden lighting

Garden lighting can also help create a magical atmosphere. For example, Gut Guntrams near Vienna illuminates its Crystal Garden (which is already magical) and its water lily pond features underwater lighting.

Side note: How sustainable is garden lighting?

At night, darkness is best. In particular, insects and other nocturnal animals can be disturbed by lighting. For this reason, some regions have designated light-protected areas.

Tip: You don’t have to leave your lights on all night. When planning your garden lighting, make sure you can turn it off. Some solar garden plugs, for example, are not designed to be turned off. Then you can use the lighting on a limited basis (when you’re expecting guests, like a hotel) and turn it off when it’s no longer needed.

Tip: Colorful foods to beat the winter blues

We recently received a rather unusual tip from the LA VIMEA Vegan Hotel** in Naturns, South Tyrol:

“We create a magical atmosphere during the dreary fall months with the fantastic colors of our all-vegan menu!”

Colorful food and bright colors in general lift the spirits and create a special magic! We hope these tips help you look forward to the magical season of fall with positivity and anticipation, and whet your appetite for coziness! Do you have a tip for creating a magical atmosphere in your home? Let us know in the comments below!

CIN-Codes:

* CIN: IT021072A1L46PNBHX (Hotel Weihrerhof)

** CIN: IT021056A1J4HHYSU4 (LA VIMEA Vegan Hotel)

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