Are night trains sustainable?

Since night trains are seen as an alternative to air travel, they can definitely be considered sustainable. Of course, railways also impact nature, but compared to cars and air travel, trains are the more environmentally friendly solution.

• For instance, according to the Swiss Federal Railways (SBB), traveling by train from Zurich to Hamburg saves about 170 kg of CO2 per person compared to flying.
• According to its own figures, the European Sleeper is 12.5 times more climate-friendly than flying and 8 times better than driving on the route from Amsterdam to Berlin.
• Austria’s ÖBB night train (Nightjet) runs on 100 percent green electricity.
• The high comfort of new night trains (such as the new ÖBB Nightjets) with more space (= fewer passengers) and private bathrooms with showers is not necessarily an ecological plus, but it helps to make night trains attractive.
• Unlike cars and buses, trains do not emit microplastics into the air through tire abrasion. (There is not enough research on how harmful microplastics actually are, but it is clear that tire abrasion is the largest source of microplastic emissions).
• Night trains do not play a role in discussions and measures regarding noise pollution and noise emissions, as they are very quiet compared to freight traffic.

Night trains are growing in popularity

According to Tagesschau, in 2020 there were only 90 night train connections in Europe. In 2023, more than 200 connections. ÖBB recently announced that a further 24 Nightjets will be added by mid-2026.

The ÖBB Nightjet’s new night trains

At the end of 2023, the new ÖBB Nightjet trains started operating, offering even more comfort than the old ones and, above all, additional capacity! For us as passengers, this means more routes, more flexibility and more attractiveness. Reason enough for us to take a look at the facts:    

• The passenger cars for the 24 new trains will be developed by Siemens Mobility and delivered by mid-2026. They will be built in Vienna.
• The new trains are not intended to replace old trains, but to complement and expand new routes.
• New standards for smoothness, accessibility and bike transport.
• Another new feature are sleeping pods in the couchette cars, offering more privacy.
• Instead of 6 beds, there are only 4 beds per compartment in the couchette car.
• Each compartment in the sleeping car has its own bathroom with toilet and shower, which reduces the capacity considerably. Only 20 beds fit in a sleeping car.
• The new Nightjet trains are certified for a speed of 230 km/h. (This is slightly less than the speed of ICE high-speed trains, which travel at up to 300 km/h).

Why are night trains rightly becoming popular?

According to a survey conducted in 2024 by the German automobile club ADAC, 42 percent of Germans can imagine starting their vacation on a night train. The main reason: “Travel more relaxed and arrive refreshed.”

I’m a fan of night trains myself, and luckily I can sleep well anywhere. Personally, a night train has a touch of adventure to it and yes, I’m a big fan of “Tintin” (Les aventures de Tintin) where trains are often an important part of the adventure 🙂.

Another reason, of course, is sustainability, currently cited as one of the main reasons for the newfound popularity. This means that many travelers (like you?) prefer an environmentally friendly alternative to air travel. However, it is important to note that this is also supported by politicians. According to the Handelsblatt, ÖBB is profitable in Austria, but this was only made possible by subsidies from the Austrian government. The business is not considered “easy”. Deutsche Bahn, for example, discontinued its sleeping cars in 2016, and the French Thello night train followed suit in 2021. ÖBB is now filling the gap.

On the other hand, subsidies are also a problem when it comes to flying: while domestic and short-haul flights remain dirt cheap (due to factors such as a lack of taxation, etc.), a night train journey for the same route can quickly become very expensive.

New option: European Sleeper

In addition to the Nightjet, there is also the new European Sleeper. The initiative is organized as a cooperative and was launched in 2021 to great acclaim: the initial start-up capital of €500,000 was raised in just 15 minutes. There are now over 4,000 investors who have collectively invested more than €5 million. The European Sleeper already connects cities such as Brussels, Amsterdam, Berlin, and Prague—and more routes are in the pipeline.

In the next section, we take a closer look at what it’s like to travel through Europe in a sleeper car – with exciting night train routes and suitable sustainable accommodation.

“Traveling on our night train not only reduces your carbon footprint, but also gives you the opportunity to travel more slowly, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and connect with other travelers.” – European Sleeper

Across Europe by sleeping car – Four night train journeys + sustainable accommodation.

#1 By night train to Vienna (8 connections)

Vienna, the city of coffeehouses, parks and museums-a wonderful place for culture and surrounded by the most beautiful nature as well. Vienna is doing a lot when it comes to sustainability. The city aims to be carbon neutral by 2040 and is committed to zero waste, green mobility and sustainable construction. Due to its many parks, Vienna is also considered one of the “greenest cities in the world”.

Night train connections to Vienna

… on the Austrian Nightjet:

• Amsterdam – Münster – Nuremberg – Vienna
• Berlin – Dresden – Vienna
• Brussels – Cologne – Passau – Vienna
• Hamburg – Würzburg – Vienna
• Paris – Strasbourg – Passau – Vienna
• La Spezia – Milan – Vienna

… with the Polish PKP:

• Munich – Vienna – Warsaw

… or with Hungarian Railways MAV:

• Stuttgart – Vienna – Budapest

Sustainable accommodation near Vienna: Gut Guntrams 

Gut Guntrams is not in Vienna, but 60 kilometers away on the edge of the Bucklige Welt. However, the unusual floating accommodation is well worth a visit. Gut Guntrams is its own organic retreat with a small nature museum, crystal garden, farm shop and a farm specializing in the preservation of old fruit varieties. If you’re looking to relax in nature after a day of culture in Vienna, this is the place to be

To find out how to reach Gut Guntrams from the Vienna train station (continue to Pitten station), click here.

#2 Awake in Munich (10 connections)

The Bavarian capital of Munich offers a combination of big city and nature. The Isar River flows right through the city and there is the famous English Garden. The historic old town, Marienplatz, Frauenkirche and Nymphenburg Palace are all must-sees. Unfortunately, Munich plans to wait until 2050 to become carbon neutral. But at least there are climate-friendly projects underway.

Night train connections to Munich with

… the Austrian Nightjet:

• Amsterdam – Munich – Innsbruck
• Brussels – Aachen – Munich
• Hamburg – Würzburg – Munich
• Milan – Padua – Salzburg – Munich
• Paris – Munich – Salzburg – Vienna
• Rome – Munich 
• Venice – Munich – Stuttgart

… the Hungarian Railway MAV:

• Budapest – Munich – Stuttgart

… the Croatian Railways HZ:

• Zagreb – Ljubljana – Salzburg – Munich – Stuttgart

… or the Polish PKP:

• Warsaw – Krakow – Vienna – Munich

Eco-friendly accommodation near Munich: Gut Sonnenhausen

Munich is home to the Ecological Education Center, but if you want to see the ideas put into practice, head to Gut Sonnenhausen (about 30 kilometers southeast of Munich). Here, eco-pioneer and art collector Georg Schweisfurth has transformed a 120-year-old stud farm into a unique hotel surrounded by nature. Gut Sonnenhausen runs its own organic farm according to permaculture principles and uses only organic produce in the kitchen. However, the estate is difficult to reach by public transportation, so you will probably need to rent a car in Munich. You can choose to drive an electric car, as there are two charging stations on the property’s parking lot.

#3 Sleeping car to Milan (2 connections)

From the two cities mentioned above – Vienna and Munich – you can sleep throught to Milan. Italy’s fashion capital also has many famous addresses for sustainable vintage lovers. There is the Bosco Vertikale (Vertical Forest) – a green skyscraper in the middle of the city that stands for modern urban greening and biodiversity.

Nightjet connections to Milan:

• Munich – Padua – Milan

European Sleeper connection to Milan:

• In planning

Sustainable accommodation in Milan: Hotel Milano Scala

The Hotel Milano Scala is located in the center of Milan (within walking distance of the famous La Scala Opera House and other attractions). It is the first zero-emissions hotel in Milan and powered by green energy from its own geothermal probes. The roof terrace is particularly beautiful, where you can enjoy a wonderful end to an eventful day.

By night train to Paris (2 connections)

The French capital has once again used the 2024 Summer Olympics as an opportunity to showcase its green initiatives – even cleaning up the water in the Seine, with new bathing-corners in 2025. You can now enjoy a relaxed (!) bike ride in Paris, with a 10-kilometer running route along the banks of the Seine. For an alternative Paris, Barbara Tascijevic-Porwoll, owner of Green Spirit Hotels, recommends a visit to the REcyclerie. A café, repair shop, gardening project and cultural center all in one.

The Berlin-Paris route is one of the brand new Nightjet routes launched in December 2023. Since then, you can wake up in France’s capital three times a week (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays). You board the train at 6:55 p.m. at Berlin Ostbahnhof or 7:08 p.m. at Berlin Hauptbahnhof and arrive at Paris Gare de l’Est at 9:38 a.m.

Nightjet connections to Paris:

• Berlin – Frankfurt – Paris
• Vienna – Mannheim – Paris
• Paris – Munich – Salzburg – Vienna
• Paris – Strasbourg – Passau – Vienna

Eco accommodation in Paris: Green Spirit Hotels

There are two Green PearlsⓇ accommodations in the lively 7th arrondissement: Hotel Le Pavillon and Hotel Amélie. These small boutique hotels are not only centrally located (the Seine, Eiffel Tower, etc. are within walking distance), but they are also ecological and individual. You can nevertheless enjoy your breakfast in the quiet inner courtyard.

By the way, Belgian reporter Tintin and his companion Snowy were also in Paris! So you have a good chance of experiencing an adventure…

This is an update from July 26, 2024.

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Der Beitrag Wake up to a vacation: Tips for a sustainable night train trip erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

In this article, you will find 15 proven tips for sustainable travel, collected by our travel-savvy editorial team and supplemented with insights from long-standing partner hoteliers who practice sustainability daily. Expect tried-and-true strategies and inspiration from real-life travel experiences. Make your next trip truly green!

Ready? Then let’s begin our sustainable journey!

If you are interested in the topic of traveling sustainability in general, we recommend this blog article. In here, we took a closer look at what sustainable travel is and why it’s so important.

Traveling sustainably from planning to returning home

Creating a sustainable trip is a big undertaking.  At first glance, it appears that way. Therefore, we have divided our tips into three major categories. This way, you can jump straight to the part that matters to you right now.

Are you in the middle of preparing for your next trip?? Do you know that sustainable travel starts at home when planning your trip and want to know what to look out for? The first part is perfect for you.

Are you sitting on your suitcase or already in the travel vehicle of your choice, and you would like to get in the mood for your sustainable stay on site? Would you like to take a moment to remind yourself of the most important things? To answer your question, we can go to the second part of the guide, where we help you make your trip more sustainable.

Are you returning home with a heavy heart and wondering how you can support sustainable accommodations, the people at your vacation destination, or a beloved organization back home? Or did you just return from a trip and find yourself thinking about how you can do better next time and apply the experiences you had? If so, take a look at the third part. Sustainable travel doesn’t end when we get back home.

Just here to gather inspiration? Take your time to look around, and feel free to leave a comment about what you liked.

Our 15 tops for sustainable travel (and a bonus tip at the end)

Sustainable travel planning

1.) Be honest about the purpose of your trip.

By this, we mean, before you even start planning, be aware of why you want to travel. Are you interested in learning about a particular country or culture? Are you interested in experiencing nature and wildlife, admiring special buildings or formations? Or is it mainly to get away from home or just to relax?

If you tend towards the latter, then maybe it doesn’t have to be a plane trip to the Canary Islands or Egypt, right? In that case, a nice and sustainable wellness hotel or vacation home in your region or country might even be a better choice.

Tip from Mara from the editorial team: Forget the bucket list

It is often hyped, especially in the social media, if you have an eternally long bucket list. I’m not a fan of that at all, because it tempts you to visit places just because you want to make a checkmark. So when planning a trip, you should always ask yourself: Do I want to go there because I want to see it? Or because others told to me that I have to go there?

2.) Pay attention to environmental seals and certificates during your research.

However, you should not trust them blindly because in principle, each company, each hotel or each provider can design its own eco-label and put it on its website. So, have a look around the site, too: Are the initiatives and sustainable measures clearly named and documented? Is the seal awarded? How transparent are the criteria?

Seals that are generally recognized in the tourism sector include TourCert, Viabono, GSTC, Swissstainable, and the Blue Flag for beaches and bodies of water.

There are additional certifications for accommodations: GreenSign, for example, as well as the EU Eco Label and various organic certifications. At Green Pearls®, you will also find sustainable accommodations that have been certified and must meet an extensive list of criteria to be accepted onto our information platform. Learn more about our criteria and what we look for in our partners on this page.

3.) Utilize expert knowledge

This tip seamlessly builds on the previous one, and you’re already implementing it. Finding out how to travel sustainably before your trip is the first step.

This includes researching how to travel sustainably at your destination. For example, what is the quality of the drinking water? What about public transportation?

If you feel overwhelmed, you can also turn to experts. Many travel providers are focusing more on sustainable travel, and social media is a good place to connect with other travelers and learn from their experiences.

4.) Get to know the culture and the language before

If you know where to go, you should also begin to engage with the country and local customs. This way you avoid (unintentional) disrespectful behavior and know in advance what you can and should be prepared for.

Tip from Nina from the editorial team: Hello, Please, Thank you.

I think you should at least try to know and use “Hello / Please / Thank you” in the local language. This shows respect for the people and you are more likely to get into contact.

Preparation is everything: packing, documents, arrival

5.) Plan your journey and avoid flights whenever possible.

By now, we are all probably aware of how harmful flying is to the environment. That’s why avoiding flying is often recommended in tips for sustainable travel.

Top tip from Hotel Klosterbräu, Tyrol: Green travel pays off

Some sustainable hotels offer special rewards to guests who travel by public transportation. At Hotel Klosterbräu, for instance, guests who travel by train can use e-scooters and e-bikes free of charge for the duration of their stay. Additionally, you will be picked up from the station for free by an e-shuttle. Incidentally, Seefeld station is the highest ICE station in the world, only three minutes away.

Think outside the box and see if there are other ways to get there. For example, how about taking the night train or a long-distance bus?

Here’s a tip from Mara in the editorial department: Find European train connections easily

Rather than searching for connections with individual providers in each country, you can quickly and easily search for and book train connections throughout Europe via The Trainline.

If you can’t do it without a flight, follow a simple rule of thumb: the longer the flight, the longer you should stay on site. That way, you also support the local population and economy in a more sustainable way.

Keen to explore Europe by train? Then take a look here!

6.) Less is more: about packing lists and zero waste

Yes, indeed: It makes a difference how much your luggage weighs! The less weight, the less fuel you use, no matter if you travel by car or plane. And your nerves are spared, too.

Tip from Katharina from the editorial team: Capsule Wardrobe

I actually go with a “Capsule Wardrobe” when packing – few pieces, all can be combined well with each other in terms of color and style. Depending on the length of the trip, I intend to wash out certain pieces. Find one-piece suits so practical and space-saving when packing (jumpsuits or dresses). I also like to hang up worn clothes and air them out—that works amazingly well, and the things then sometimes smell almost “fresh” again

And speaking of saving on luggage: Gone are the days of binders and folders full of notes and tickets. In most cases, tickets only need to be available digitally, itineraries can be saved on a cell phone, and important documents can be photographed or scanned and are always available via a cloud.

Tip from Stefany from the editorial team: Zero Waste Travel

Always on hand: a plastic bottle, a reusable coffee mug, a basket, and a jute bag. For car trips, we prepare food so that we don’t have to resort to packaged sandwiches or similar items.

Sustainable Travel: Tips for on the road

7.) Book sustainable accommodation

Apart from the journey itself, one of the most important aspects of sustainable travel is choosing your accommodation. Opting for sustainable accommodations can have a significant environmental and social impact. This is because sustainable hotels pay attention to renewable energies and water-saving measures. They also support the region, employ local staff, and are committed to environmental and social projects.

Top tip from Naturresort Gerbehof: Do without room cleaning and do good

Sustainable hotels are increasingly foregoing daily room cleaning and frequent towel and bed linen changes. Find out why this is important here. At the Naturresort Gerbehof on Lake Constance, however, foregoing room cleaning has another effect. For each cleaning that guests choose to skip, the hotel donates four euros to the children’s project Kinderdorf der Liebe – Sternenland (Children’s Village of Love – Land of Stars). The Klosterhof — Alpine Hideaway & Spa in Berchtesgadener Land — also generates many donations this way. For every room cleaning not requested, five euros go to the regional mountain rescue service.

8.) Use public transportation, ride a bike or walk.

Not only does your journey to your destination play a role in your ecological footprint, but so does your mode of transportation there. Try to use public transportation whenever possible. You could also rent a bike and explore the region on two wheels. As an added benefit, you’ll experience your destination in a completely different and more immersive way than if you were driving through it. You’ll also get to talk to the locals and experience their everyday life instead of staying in your tourist bubble.

Tip from Nina from the editorial team: Explore cities by foot

I walk a lot in cities. Depending on how long I stay, I can even start to feel “at home” because I get to know the area around my accommodations.

When taking city tours, you can ensure that they are led by locals or that the proceeds benefit the local community.

 

9.) Support the local population

When it comes to the local population, sustainable travel isn’t just about minimizing environmental impact; it’s also about social sustainability and supporting the people who live there. They don’t benefit at all if you only go on guided tours with foreign guides, eat in hotels or chain restaurants, and buy imported souvenirs.

Our money supports our values.

That means that every cent you spend is a choice for sustainable travel or against it. For environmental protection and local culture or foreign corporations. You have to be aware of that.

How you can sustainably support local people:

• Go to local restaurants and restaurants run by locals.
• Buy your food at markets, street stalls or directly from farmers.
• Sleep in family-run accommodations instead of big chain hotels.
• Move away from the popular tourist attractions. Not only will you experience new things there, you’ll also spread the benefits and positive effects further afield.
• Book tours with local guides. They know better and can tell you one or two insider tips 😉
• Tip.

Tip from Stefany from the editorial team: Do like the Romans

This means seeking out restaurants outside of tourist hotspots and enjoying local, fresh cuisine and traditional dishes. It’s also a great way to strike up conversations with locals.

10.) Conscious use of resources

The things that have become second nature to us at home (turning off the lights, turning off the water, etc.) are all too easily forgotten on vacation. But depending on the region or destination, it is particularly important to save water and energy. So: Turn off the light, shut off the tap, and switch on the air conditioning only when you really need it.

11.) Respectful treatment of people and nature

Part of sustainable travel is also respecting nature and the people whose home country you are visiting. This mean respecting the culture and following the rules of conduct. Here, for example, we’ve looked at how you can travel respectfully and appropriately in Thailand.

A tip from Hotel Luise in Erlangen: Zero Waste at the Hotel

Sustainable accommodations can help make your trip as environmentally friendly and respectful as possible. They may even inspire you to make improvements at home. The Hotel Luise in Erlangen, Bavaria, for example, has built rooms using completely renewable and recyclable materials. The hotel also offers “astronaut showers,” where the water is filtered and immediately reused. You can eat at tables made from recycled refrigerators, and the breakfast buffet is optimized for zero waste. Only a few grams of food waste per guest are produced.

Just like at home, you should also be mindful of nature and not leave any trash (no, not even banana peels!) behind when you go hiking. Even better, leave places cleaner than you found them!

Tip from Mara from the editorial team: Learn to say “no”

In some of the countries I’ve traveled to, it was nearly impossible to live a zero-waste lifestyle. Every purchase was wrapped in plastic bags. Sometimes, only one or two items were placed in a bag before the next one was pulled out. Learn to say “no” here. You’ll get the hang of it quickly. The same goes for straws, plastic cutlery, etc. If you’re friendly and do it with a smile, no one will hold it against you! If you’re too slow, just use the bag a second or third time!

12.) Get involved!

There are many ways to get involved during a sustainable trip, such as participating in beach clean-ups, visiting an animal sanctuary, or lending a hand with environmental projects. Ask your accommodations if they know of any initiatives or organizations you can participate in. Exercise caution when visiting animal sanctuaries. Our article on animal welfare while traveling covers what you should look out for.

However, you don’t need an organization to get involved. All you need is a trash bag and a little motivation. Simply pick up any trash you see while walking or hiking. If you don’t have a large trash bag, take the bag from your last shopping trip or at least one piece of trash with you and dispose of it. Small steps also lead to achieving your goal.

And then? What you can do from home

13.) Spread the Word!

A sustainable trip doesn’t stop when you leave your vacation spot. When you travel sustainably, the experiences are more intense, so you may need more time to process them.

You can use the awareness and energy you brought back from your trip right after you return. Often we have little time during the trip to truly recommend organizations and accommodations in detail. Now you can do that from home and reminisce all over again automatically.

Ways to endorse sustainable organizations,  vendors, and accommodations from home:

• Write Google and TripAdvisor reviews
• Tell family and friends about your trip
• Support the provider on Instagram, TikTok, and Co.
• Hotels usually have their review platforms: Take the time to leave a positive review there, too, if you were satisfied.
• Make recommendations among postings and blogs

14.) Compensate your emissions.

Your trip will not be completely emission-free. Sometimes, it is difficult or impossible to avoid CO2 emissions. However, you can offset these emissions through providers such as Atmosfair. This means you pay a certain amount, which these initiatives then pass on to sustainable projects that save or bind CO2. Pay close attention to how transparent the compensation company is. Caution is advised, especially with tree-planting offers. Other areas, such as renewable energy and switching to CO2-saving technologies, are often more effective contributions to climate protection.

However, “offset” does not mean that your emissions and resource consumption are actually reversed. Therefore, it is best to cause as few emissions as possible, or ideally, none at all. Only emissions that are truly unavoidable should be offset by you or the organization of your choice.

15.) Keep a lasting record of your travel experiences.

At the end of a trip, you too probably have tons of photos sitting on your memory card. What used to be photo albums are now professionally printed photo books for most people. Here, too, you can look for a sustainable production method, after all, keeping the memories is also part of a sustainable trip. The paper, for example, should be FSC-certified or even recycled. There are now also more environmentally friendly alternatives to the classic, mineral oil-based inks. By the way: If you already keep a travel journal during your sustainable trip, it will be easier for you to sort it later 😉

Tip from Katharina from the editorial team: Digital photo albums

I save my travel photos in a separate album and share them with my travel companions and family. This allows me to easily display my travel memories on my friends’ smart TVs or on my phone in a café.

Why you don’t have to be perfect—A final word

After hearing all these tips, you may feel like sustainable travel is an insurmountable challenge. Maybe you think that with everything you have to consider, traveling won’t be fun anymore. Maybe you’re thinking about all the mistakes you’ve made while traveling.

These thoughts have one thing in common: they slow us down. Instead of getting started, we do nothing. But small steps are enough. For example, you could refuse a plastic bag here or book a tour with a local company there. These actions add up to make your trip more sustainable and improve the world.

Our bonus tip for sustainable travel: You don’t have to be perfect.

Your next vacation doesn’t have to be the epitome of sustainable travel. Neither are ours! We want to inspire you to get started with our sustainable travel tips. Depending on where you are in your travel life right now, we want to help you either get started or keep going. If we all travel sustainably, even imperfectly, it’s better than if nothing changes.

So, what will you do first? Right now, choose one thing that you will do on your next trip. Don’t click away until you’ve decided! No cheating! If you’d like, share your choice with us in the comments or on Instagram!

FAQ: Nachhaltig reisen

“What does sustainable travel mean?”

Sustainable travel means minimizing your environmental impact by choosing eco-friendly transportation and accommodations, for example. In doing so, you demonstrate respect for nature, local cultures, and the people you encounter. The goal is for your trip to have a positive ecological, economic, and social impact on the region.

“Does sustainable travel mean giving up luxury?”

Contrary to popular belief, sustainable travel does not mean sacrificing comfort and luxury. Fine dining can include regional ingredients and vegan options. Spas can use green electricity, and luxurious suites can be made with eco-friendly materials. Natural cosmetics can replace conventional treatments without compromising effectiveness, and they often create an additional connection to the region when local products are used. Almost every travel experience has a sustainable alternative – without having to make any sacrifices.

“How can I reduce my carbon footprint while traveling?”

Choose the most climate-friendly means of transportation possible, such as trains instead of planes. Avoid domestic flights, and plan your itinerary carefully to save on travel. Stay in sustainably managed accommodations. Some Green PearlsⓇ accommodations generate all their own electricity using geothermal probes and solar panels, such as the Eco-Aparthotel OLM Nature Escape in South Tyrol and the Hotel Milano Scala in Milan. Other partners use 100% green electricity, which significantly reduces their carbon footprint even when saunas and luxury amenities are included. When eating out, look for restaurants with short supply chains. CO₂ offsetting can also be a useful final step.

“What modes of transportation are the most environmentally friendly?”

Excluding hiking and cycling, current calculations show that traveling by train or long-distance bus is the most climate-friendly option, as these modes of transportation have the lowest CO₂ emissions per person. Electric and conventional cars follow, but only if several people are traveling together. Air travel performs significantly worse, especially for short-haul flights. Cruise ships are the worst for the climate, causing the highest emissions per capita.

This article is an update to the original published on November 25, 2022.

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Der Beitrag 15 Tips for Sustainable Travel in 2024 – From travelers, sustainability professionals and tourism experts erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

„Our guests often comment on how little details demonstrate our deep commitment to sustainability – this sparks conversation and inspires them to make changes at home, too.“ – Hotel Korinjak, Croatia

1. Energy: Impactful rethinking

Energy is the largest source of CO₂ emissions, and coal-to-electricity conversion is the biggest contributor. Even small changes in our daily lives can have a significant impact here.

• Switch electricity providers: Choose genuine green electricity from 100% renewable sources. Make an informed decision to avoid electricity generated from fossil fuels and nuclear power. Although the latter produces less CO₂, it poses enormous environmental and human risks. (For Germany, Utopia offers a good comparison of green electricity providers.)
• Purchase energy-efficient appliances: Look for the best energy rating when buying anything from toasters to washing machines. As the Hotel Milano Scala explains, this is particularly noticeable in hotel kitchens. The hotel opts for energy-saving models when purchasing new ovens and hobs. The Milan city hotel obtains its electricity from geothermal probes and is known as a “zero-emission hotel”.
• Use a mains isolator : With a so-called bioelectric switch, you can disconnect the power supply to all devices, including Wi-Fi, at the touch of a button in the evening. No standby, no lights. According to guests at the Albergo Diffuso Relais del Maro in Liguria, this has noticeably improved their sleep quality.
• Turn off the lights, turn down the heating, and save water: Simple but effective. At the family-run Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt, with views of the Matterhorn, stylishly designed notices in the rooms remind guests to use energy and resources consciously, even on vacation.

2. Save plastic: Conserve resources and avoid waste

Avoiding single-use plastic is an easy way to start living more consciously. If you would like to learn more, we recommend the article “Goodbye Single-Use Plastic.” In the meantime, here are a few examples to get you started:

• Avoid disposable items, such as straws, cups, and stirrers. The Hotel Korinjak on the island of Iz in Croatia has adopted this policy and has already saved a significant amount of waste.
• Wooden coffee capsules are a sustainable and biodegradable alternative to plastic. The Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort in the Upper Palatinate Lake District, for example, uses Rezemo’s wooden coffee capsules. “We focus on sustainable details that make a big difference,” reports the luxury resort in the Upper Palatinate Lake District..
• Reusable instead of Tetra Paks: The Eco-Hotel Okelmann’s in Lower Saxony reports: “We have switched to reusable bottles for our oat milk. It’s incredible how much waste we’ve saved. It’s a small change that makes a big difference.”
• Instead of buying water bottles, refill them. The APIPURA hotel rinner, located in South Tyrol, is a member of Refill and has noticed that significantly fewer water bottles are ending up in the trash. The Refill app makes it easy to find a refill station near you.

3. Rethinking water: conscious enjoyment

While we’re on the subject of water, a precious commodity, be aware that having clean water come straight out of your tap is a great treasure. Using it sensibly is a fair and environmentally friendly practice.

• Drink tap water instead of bottled water. This reduces the need for transportation and packaging, thereby conserving resources. According to Klaus Pichler, the host of the Hotel Weihrerhof, guests have positively received this change. The hotel is located at 1,200 meters above sea level on the Ritten plateau in South Tyrol and enjoys excellent water quality.
• Bottle spring water and donate the proceeds. For example, the wellness hotel My Arbor near Brixen does this with pure Plose spring water. “For every bottle sold, we donate one euro to regional organizations such as the White Cross or the volunteer fire department,” the hosts report. Idea for home: Switch from bottled water to tap water and calculate how much money you save. Donate that amount. In my opinion, a suitable organization is “WIR — Water Is Right,” which campaigns for clean drinking water worldwide..

4. Food and Cuisine: Regional, organic, and mindful

Our food choices directly impact the environment. Many hotels are embracing conscious cuisine, and so can you.

• Your own herb garden & homemade herbal tea: Growing your own herbs is possible even if you don’t have much space, and you can use them in the kitchen. The Hotel Korinjak in Croatia also uses its own herbs to make herbal tea blends. Guests can enjoy the tea free of charge throughout the day as a refreshing drink — it’s sustainable, tasty, and personalized! Maybe this is something you could do at home, too?
• Vegan Cuisine: Adopting a vegan lifestyle doesn’t require a total transformation. Try going without animal products for one meal or one day and enjoying plant-based foods instead. Studies and calculations consistently demonstrate that a vegan diet is the most climate-friendly. According to the German Federal Environment Agency and Statista, the average meat eater causes 1,730 kg of CO2 emissions, the average vegetarian causes 1,280 kg, and the average vegan causes 1,040 kg. The Hotel LA VIMEA in Naturns, was the first completely vegan hotel in Italy. This move has been beneficial in terms of saving resources and has led to other hotels and restaurants following suit.
• Use organic products : Organic options are generally more environmentally friendly, particularly since they don’t involve pesticides. This benefits soil health, groundwater protection, and biodiversity. The OLM Nature Escape in South Tyrol reports: “Using so many organic products (wines, beer, tea, bread, dairy products, etc.) was the right decision and fits perfectly with the house’s energy self-sufficiency.” However, make sure the organic products are regional and haven’t been flown in from elsewhere.
• Local produce: Some Green Pearls® accommodations, such as My Arbor in South Tyrol and Gut Sonnenhausen in Bavaria, have their own farms. This means the food is particularly fresh and sustainable, benefiting both the environment and customers. Perhaps you could grow your own vegetables or find a nearby farm stand.
• Enjoy organic, fair-trade coffee: There are products you regularly buy, such as coffee. Take a look at the label to see if the plantation workers are treated fairly and if the plantations are cultivated organically. Since switching brands, the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt now serves coffee that is more environmentally friendly and fairer. What’s more, host Fabienne Anthamatten enthuses that it “tastes delicious.”

5. Cleaning products: Less chemicals, more nature

Less is more, and this applies to cleaning products as well. Many hotels have long used eco-friendly alternatives that are gentle on the environment and our health. You can pick up a few tips for your home here.

• Switch to eco-friendly cleaning products: These products are not only biodegradable, but also free from harsh ingredients. At the Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol, a hiking hotel in the heart of Hohe Tauern National Park, these products are used with great success. This results in fewer chemicals in the air and wastewater, which is better for people and nature.
• Reconsider dosage: In most cases, a significantly smaller amount than what we would typically use or what is indicated on the packaging is sufficient. It is also worth taking a closer look at the recommended dosage for laundry detergent and dishwashing liquid, as it depends on the hardness of the water. Using them carefully conserves resources and saves money.
• Make your own alternative cleaning products: Vinegar, baking soda, and citric acid are surprisingly effective and easy to combine. Why not give them a try? (Here, you can find our recipe for an all-purpose DIY cleaner.)

6. Bathrooms: Small adjustments, big impact

You can also make a big difference in your bathroom without sacrificing comfort.

• Natural cosmetics from dispensers: Instead of small, single-use packages, many hotels are choosing refillable dispensers containing certified natural cosmetics. Read this article to find out which brands our partners use. Large and refill packs are also available for your own bathroom.
• Products without packaging waste: Liquid soap, shampoo, and shower gel can be purchased as solid products. There are also reusable cotton pads, wooden miswak toothbrushes, and many other sustainable alternatives.

7. Sustainability in everyday life: consciously choosing and caring for textiles

Textiles, such as bed linens, towels, and clothing, are always with us. Making conscious choices in this area can greatly benefit the environment and climate:

• Reuse towels: This is a classic hotel habit that also works at home—and one that you probably (hopefully!) already practice. You can wash other textiles, such as jeans, much less frequently if you hang them up to air out. This will help your clothes last longer.
• Sustainable Washing: Wash your clothes less often, at lower temperatures, and without fabric softener. This will extend the life of your clothes and protect the environment. This applies to both hotel laundries and home washing machines. Even choosing an eco-friendly detergent is a step in the right direction. Read this article to learn more about eco-friendly detergents and alternatives.

• Organic cotton and fair production: Look for labels such as GOTS or the Fair Wear Foundation when making your next purchase. These labels guarantee environmental standards and fair working conditions.

8. Mobility: Travel more gently

The way we travel has a significant impact on our carbon footprint. However, traveling sustainably can also be inspiring and adventurous.

• Take the train instead of a plane: For travel within Europe, the train is often a comfortable alternative. (See our article on new night train routes here.)
  Some Green Pearls® hotels, such as the Hotel Klosterbräu in South Tyrol, offer pickup services from the train station, allowing you to travel without a car. The Hotel Klosterbräu provides guests traveling by train with free e-bikes and e-scooters for their entire stay.
• Use e-bikes and public transportation: The APIPURA hotel rinner offers its guests a 50% discount on e-bike rentals. There is also the RittenCard, which allows you to use all local transportation, including the cable car, free of charge. This means you can enjoy your vacation without a car. What is your everyday situation? Could you get to work by e-bike? Not only would this be more environmentally friendly, it would also be much healthier!
• Discover nearby vacations: Does it always have to be a long flight? There are often beautiful, sustainable travel destinations right on your doorstep, which means fewer emissions and more time to enjoy yourself. Why don’t you take a look at Green PearlsⓇ to see if there’s a great place to stay in your area. 😉

9. Living and promoting regionality

Regionality, whether in the furnishings or at breakfast, creates a sense of closeness to the surrounding area and strengthens local cycles. For example, the Hotel Das Rübezahl, located near Neuschwanstein Castle in the Allgäu region, exhibits works by local artists that can be purchased on site. The hotel also produces its own honey. While this cannot be replicated exactly at home, you can check if similar products are available locally.

An example? Last week, I ordered a birthday present for my brother. He wanted a so-called “useless box.” Amazon sells these things, which are made in China and packaged in Styrofoam. Although I couldn’t find a truly sustainable producer on Etsy, I discovered a local craftsman with a simple, homemade website. I decided to support him instead. My brother thinks the workmanship is excellent. 🙂

10. Preserving and bringing nature to life

Sustainability doesn’t mean sacrifice; it creates new experiences and connections.

• Flower seed cards as gifts: These are available to guests at the Hotel Klosterbräu and the Schwarzwald Panorama, for example. Guests can plant the seeds at home to promote biodiversity in their gardens.
• A potted Christmas trees – reusable instead of cut down — as practiced by the Hotel Bella Vista in Zermatt and the Hotel Luise in Erlangen, for example. Read more about guilt-free Christmas trees here.
• Composting instead of throwing things away – can also be done in your own garden. At the STURM in Mellrichstadt, organic waste is composted and the resulting soil is used for the hotel’s snack garden. Portions are adapted to individual guests during “live cooking” to avoid food waste.

Conclusion: Even small changes in our daily lives can have a significant impact on sustainability.

Even a thousand-step journey starts with one step. And if each of us takes one step, it all adds up. Each time you make a conscious decision, such as drinking tap water, buying organic coffee, or taking your bike instead of your car, you’re making the world a little more sustainable.

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How do you start planning a trip?

Maybe it’s based on a feeling, a recommendation from friends, a photo, a video, or a report. Ultimately, we often don’t know where the idea for a destination, sightseeing opportunity, or way of traveling came from. We are bombarded with so many impressions daily that it’s difficult to identify what triggered a travel decision. However, you can influence this and commit to sustainability from the beginning.

Find inspiration in places where sustainability is a priority

Surround yourself with information and impressions from social media, travel reports, and blogs that reflect your values and desire for sustainable travel. With so many creators, blogs, and sources of information, it’s easy to find a sustainability-conscious travel community.

If you’re still looking for inspiration, be sure to browse our blog 😀 Rest assured that all of the featured partners and accommodations are genuinely committed to sustainability.

Who’s coming with?

The first step in travel planning is asking: Who will be traveling with you? Is it a solo trip just for you? Or will it be a family vacation with children? Would you like to bring your dog, or is it supposed to be a romantic getaway with your partner?

• Out of the box:You might not always want to travel the traditional way with your family or partner. So, how about taking a trip with your siblings or going on a multigenerational vacation with your grandparents?

Which trip is right for me? Take the test.

City break, culture, wellness… Are you longing for relaxation or adventure? Not quite sure yet? Or do you have so many ideas and destinations that you can’t decide on just one? If so, take our self-test to find out which vacation suits you best (at the moment).

What is the best way to plan a sustainable trip?

We’ve answered the basic questions. Where would you like to go? Who is coming with you? What kind of trip do you have in mind? We will use this information in the next step of the planning process.

#1: Choose an environmentally friendly means of transportation

To make your trip more sustainable, first be aware that the journey usually accounts for the largest part of a trip’s ecological footprint. Therefore, choosing a destination that you can reach without flying, taking a cruise ship, or driving is a significant step. This doesn’t mean we condemn air travel in general. However, if you can reach your destination by night train or long-distance bus, it’s definitely better.

Hotels with a stop

Some of our Green PearlsⓇ accommodations are located right next to a train station. This primarily applies to city hotels, such as the Green City Hotel Vauban in Freiburg, Germany; the zero-emission Milano Scala hotel in Milan, Italy; and the unique Le Pavillon hotel in Paris, France. However, rural accommodations such as the Apipura hotel rinner in South Tyrol’s Ritten region are also easily accessible by public transportation. The historic Ritten Railway takes you directly to the “Rinner” station at the Apipura hotel rinner, and the ride is free with the “RittenCard.”

What are the most environmentally friendly modes of transportation?

1. Hiking/cycling
2. E-bike
3. Train/long-distance bus
4. Electric car
5. Car
6. Air
7. Cruise

(If you’re interested, you can read more about the comparisons between airplanes and cruise ships, and between electric cars and trains, here.)

#2: To avoid overtourism, choose the off-season and discover lesser-known cities.

Would you like to visit Las Palmas on Gran Canaria? Instead of staying at a beach resort, consider a charming boutique hotel in the island’s interior, such as the Casa León Royal Retreat. Are you keen to see Machu Picchu? Then consider visiting during the rainy season (November to March), when the fog can make the ancient Inca city appear even more magical, and when there are far fewer tourists. This allows the World Heritage Site time to recover from the crowds of tourists. Incidentally, the Green Pearls^(TM) Hotel Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo plays a role in ensuring the continued existence of this formerly endangered World Heritage Site. The hotel is committed to waste disposal, water conservation, and sustainable tourism in the local area.

#3: Book sustainable accommodations

Once you arrive at your destination, your choice of accommodations is key to whether your trip can be considered environmentally friendly. Who better to recommend accommodations than Green PearlsⓇ? On each accommodation’s page under “Green Initiatives,” you will find a transparent list of the areas in which they are committed to sustainability. After all, sustainability has many facets. Some Green Pearls® partners are more socially engaged, some are involved in renewable energies, and some promote a vegan lifestyle.

How to make a sustainable booking

Figures from 2023 show that less than 30% of accommodations are booked directly, while over 70% are booked through third-party providers. It’s no secret that booking platforms (OTAs) take a commission. This commission ranges from 15% to 30% of the room price.

It’s fairer and more sustainable to book directly with the accommodation provider. This way, they receive 100% of the room price, and you can support their environmental protection and social engagement efforts. At Green Pearls®, which features small, independently owned accommodations presented by dedicated hosts, you will be redirected directly (and commission-free) to the accommodation’s website when you make a booking.

Is your travel planning complete? Now it’s time to look forward to your trip and prepare for your journey!

Studies show that the positive effects of increased subjective well-being and higher life satisfaction occur even before the vacation begins. In other words, looking forward to a planned trip can make you happy! So enjoy and nurture that feeling. 😉

Here’s how you can build up your anticipation:

• Read books set in your vacation destination. This doesn’t have to be travel guides; it can be novels, crime stories, urban fantasy, and so on. Browse your local library for inspiration!
• Find more inspiration online on sites like Pinterest or YouTube.
• Learn about your destination’s culture, history, and cuisine. Travel guides are useful for this. Consider whether you need a paper copy or if a digital version will suffice. Be honest: How often have you actually picked up a travel guide from a previous trip?
• Learn a few words and phrases in the local language.
• Before your vacation, free yourself from things that are weighing you down. These could be unresolved arguments with relatives, unpaid debts, or a messy apartment. They could also be a messy apartment or glass bottles that should have been taken to the recycling center a long time ago. Take care of these things now so you can start your vacation feeling relaxed!

Preparation: Pack your suitcase sustainably

Sustainable packing means:

• Packing light
• Conserving resources
• Avoiding harmful substances and plastic.

The lighter your luggage, the less effort it takes to transport it, and the less fuel, electricity, and energy you use. For this reason, many travelers create a capsule wardrobe. This means you have only a few items of clothing that can all be combined with each other.

The best way to conserve resources is to avoid buying everything new. For example, would you like to try stand-up paddleboarding, surfing, or snowshoeing on your vacation? You can easily rent all of these items locally. Many hotels also rent equipment such as hiking backpacks and yoga mats. Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol, for example, is a certified hiking hotel that offers free equipment rentals for hiking tours in the nearby Hohe Tauern National Park.

Consider packing your own water bottle, lunch box, and jute shopping bag to reduce waste while traveling. Other zero-waste items include solid shampoo bars, miswak toothbrushes, and reusable cotton pads. Also, buy sunscreen from a certified natural cosmetics manufacturer and make sure it is coral-safe (some countries require this!).

• Here are some more tips for ultralight travel.

And off it goes: leaving the apartment

Before leaving for vacation, make sure you use or give away any perishable food so that it doesn’t go to waste. The refrigerator can be turned off or set a few degrees warmer. Some modern refrigerators have a vacation mode that reduces cooling since the door is not constantly being opened, thus consuming less energy. Unplug all other electrical appliances, and ensure that nothing is left on standby. Water your plants, turn off the water where necessary, and don’t forget about the heating.

• Out of the Box:Could you do someone a favor and let them stay in your apartment for a while? Does anyone you know need a place to sleep, or a quiet place to study or work? Do you live somewhere that others would like to vacation? If you’re going to be away for a while, having someone stay in your apartment will also give you someone to take care of your plants and pets. However, this requires an extra step in your planning. 😉

The best way to start a sustainable vacation is with sustainable travel planning. The best part? This article is your first step! What tips do you have for planning a sustainable vacation? Share them in the comments!

Der Beitrag Sustainable travel planning: From Idea to Implementation erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

1.5 degree climate goal – what was that again?

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

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

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

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

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

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

1.5 degrees vs. 2 degrees

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

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

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

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

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

Climate indicators while traveling

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

#1 Glaciers

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

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

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

#2 Sea Level

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

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

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

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

#3 Biodiversity

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

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

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

#4 Justice

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

Climate change is driving people into poverty

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

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

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

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

How does my travel affect climate change?

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

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

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

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

Sustainable accommodation are committed to fighting global warming

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

• Arrival and Departure
• Local transportation
• Accommodation

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

Zero Emissions Hotel

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

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

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

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

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

Climate friendly hotels in Germany

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

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

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

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

“Climate Neutral” – A Greenwashed PR Lie?

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

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

Planting trees is not enough!

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

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

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

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

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

Conclusion – Traveling in times of climate change

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

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

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#1 Flying is the greatest climate sin, or: Those who fly cannot be sustainable

Aviation is not the primary source of emissions. According to an IEA 2023 report, the main source of carbon emissions is the energy sector, particularly the burning of coal. The report also shows that the use of renewable energy has already brought measurable improvements.

Even in a global comparison of transportation modes, air travel does not come out on top. As Statista calculated on the basis of the IEA report, air traffic is responsible for just under 3 percent of global CO2 emissions, while road traffic is responsible for around 16 percent. The reason is obvious: few people, about 10 or 11 percent of the world’s population, fly at all. According to one study, just 1 percent of this elite group of frequent flyers is responsible for more than 50 percent of aviation emissions.

But these facts do not change the fact that air travel is by far the most polluting mode of transportation. So flying may not be the biggest, but it is still a climate sin. Especially if you fly a lot or fly short distances.

Consideration of social sustainability

But it is wrong to say that air travel is inherently unsustainable. Imagine if people in the richest countries in the world only vacationed in their own backyards – the money would just stay in those countries. Tourism is a major contributor to the distribution of wealth. (In countries like the Maldives, tourism accounts for a significant portion of gross domestic product, according to GIZ figures).

Sustainability not only includes environmental protection, but also the social sustainability pillar. Of course, it is important to be mindful of where and what we spend money on when we are on vacation. After all, if we eat at international franchise restaurants, we can do the same at home. The effect is the same..

#2 The train is always late and useless as a means of transportation

We’ve all had the experience of the train being late – and because we were so upset, it may have overshadowed the times the train arrived on time.

In fact, in 2023, 64% of long-distance trains in Germany arrived “on time” (i.e. with a maximum delay of 6 minutes). Delays of more than 60 minutes or cancellations occurred in 2.4 percent of cases. Of course, there is room for improvement, but we cannot talk about “always”

Train punctuality in Europe – Germany ranks 12th

According to surveys conducted in 2022, Germany ranks 12th in Europe, while Switzerland is the European leader. 96.3% of its trains are on time. In Denmark the figure is 91 percent and in the Netherlands 90.5 percent.

The train is fast and comfortable

Many calculations show that you can travel faster by train than by plane – for example, from downtown Cologne to downtown Paris – the trip to and from the airport, including the entire check-in process, takes significantly more time. In terms of comfort, you can travel more comfortably in a modern train than in a row on an airplane (compare 2nd class and economy tickets).

Tip: Sustainable hotels often assist with train travel and, like the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt, offer complimentary shuttle service, a first-class upgrade, or other amenities. Learn more in this article. Find the best night train routes here.

#3 Long-distance buses and carpools are only for young people

The Federal Environment Agency’s emissions comparison (2022) shows that long-distance coach travel is at least as environmentally friendly as train travel. As we have shown in our blog article on long-distance coach travel, coach travel is also very affordable and particularly suitable for city trips, such as to the zero-emissions Hotel Milano Scala in Milan (a great hotel with a roof terrace right in the city center) or to the Green Spirit Hotels in Paris (Hotel Malar, Hotel Le Pavillon, Hotel Amelié – all individual, sustainable boutique hotels in the central 7th arrondissement).

Carpooling also makes a significant contribution to reducing per capita emissions. And it is simply not true that if you are over 40, you can no longer travel by bus or carpool. In Germany, Flixbus has made long-distance bus travel attractive to the masses, and in other countries (I know this from Brazil, for example), long-distance bus travel is a perfectly normal way to travel for all age groups.

#4 Sustainable hotels are not stylish

This is not hard to prove. Just look at the Green Pearls® page! Many Green PearlsⓇ accommodations have won design awards. Recent examples include:

• The CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt received the German Design Award 2023. The Swiss hotel on the Matterhorn combines a cosmopolitan, natural style with a recurring nomadic element.
• The OLM Nature Escape in Sand in Taufers in South Tyrol is the winner of the IONIC Architecture Award 2024. The circular architecture of the eco-apartment hotel blends perfectly into the landscape and is also completely energy self-sufficient.
• The garden view rooms at STURM in Mellrichstadt have been awarded the Best Architects Award 24. They were designed by German architect Professor Matthias Loebermann, with whom the hotel has already collaborated on the design of the main building façade and some of the interiors. The hotel in Mellrichstadt features a natural swimming pond, a large snack garden, and you can enjoy a vacation close to nature near the Rhön Biosphere Reserve.

#5 Sustainable travel is expensive

Not true. Some aspects may be more expensive – organic meat, for example, costs significantly more than commercially produced meat. But the difference in quality is also clearly noticeable here, reports Manfred Rinner, junior chef and chef de cuisine at the APIPURA hotel rinner.

The APIPIRA hotel rinner on the Ritten is BIO FAIR South Tyrol certified, and although only organic food is used, an overnight stay in this sustainable hotel costs less than 100 Euros! This is made possible by the fact that the hotel works and calculates in a very optimized way and is run by the Rinner family as a personal heart project.

For more tips on how to travel sustainably on a budget, check out this article on low-budget travel.

#6 Sustainable hotels do not offer comfort and luxury

A spa area with a heated outdoor pool and sauna landscape naturally requires a lot of energy. But at a sustainable wellness hotel like Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Tyrol, that energy is 100% green electricity and heat.

The family-run wellness hotel uses an ultra-modern wood-chip heating system on the old monastery walls (currently provided by the town of Seefeld, but the hotel is planning its own system using wood from its own forest). In addition, the 5-star hotel receives energy from several photovoltaic systems and from green electricity suppliers that do not use fossil fuels.

At Hotel Klosterbräu, you will find a 3,500-square-foot spa area with a heated outdoor pool, a panoramic rooftop pool, seven saunas, nine dining areas, and all the luxurious bells and whistles, while always ensuring that materials, ingredients, and energy are renewable, sustainable, and environmentally friendly.

And, of course, this is just one of many examples.

#7 Sustainable gastronomy doesn’t use exquisite ingredients

We relegate another such statement to the realm of myth. According to the Oxford Dictionary, “exquisite” comes from Latin and means “selected. When it comes to ingredients and dishes, the word indicates that something is “excellent” and “of exquisite quality. It does not mean that something has been imported from 14,000 kilometers away.

Sebastian Obendorfer of Restaurant Eisvogel at Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort has two Michelin stars. Known for his reinterpretation of German cuisine, he and his family run the Bavarian 5-star hotel and 2-star restaurant with a focus on sustainability.

Or how about trying vegan fine dining? The Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel on the Seiser Alm in the Dolomites in South Tyrol recently opened OMNIA, a modern restaurant serving high-quality vegetarian cuisine. It is run by renowned chef Aggeliki Charami.

#8 There is no air conditioning in eco-hotels.

It would be nice. After all, as Our World In Data reports, air conditioning consumes 7 percent of the world’s electricity and causes 2.7 percent of global CO2 emissions. That makes it just as bad as flying!

As we reported in our blog article on hotels that cool without air conditioning, sustainable hotels and resorts such as the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA primarily use modern construction and insulation techniques to ensure that the rooms have natural heat and cold regulation. Modern does not necessarily mean technical hybrid fibers. The ADLER Spa Resort Sicily, for example, has many rooms with clay walls, using a local building material to regulate temperature and humidity in a natural way. However, all rooms are equipped with air conditioning. The OCEANO Health Spa Hotel in Tenerife, on the other hand, does not use air conditioning at all and “cools” itself with the Atlantic Ocean right outside the door.

#9 Truly sustainable accommodations are hard to find

Well, we are happy to refer you once again to the Green PearlsⓇ website. Here you will find only sustainable accommodations and each hotel, cottage, chalet or aparthotel has a transparent list of green initiatives. Why not take a look? Transparent certifications are also very helpful.

#10 Sustainability is just a fad

The world’s population is exploding, global warming is scientifically proven, habitats are disappearing and animals and plants are dying out. Mountains of garbage are growing, resources are scarce… These are just some of the current problems facing our planet. The prognosis: the problems are increasing, not decreasing.

Therefore, it is impossible to stop thinking about our future and the future of our planet. We must take this into account in all areas of our lives, including travel.

The word “sustainability” may go out of fashion and be replaced by something else. But the issue will remain and become even more important.

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

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

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

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

Travel Tip: Rainforest

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

How does transformative travel look?

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

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

#1: Support a social project in Cambodia

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

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

Travel with a sense of purpose

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

2.   Coral dives in the Maldives

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

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

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

#3 Mountaineering in the Alps

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

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

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

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

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

#4 Combine your vacation with a marathon

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

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

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

#5 A yoga retreat for a transformative journey

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

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

Yoga in the Himalayas

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

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

“I’m doing Transformative Travel this year!”

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

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This is the fourteenth and final part of our series on “tips for a sustainable weekend getaway.”

Eco-friendly travel to Milan

Milan train station is easy to reach from anywhere in Europe. However, as the journey from the DACH region takes a couple of hours, we recommend taking the night train. There are direct Nightjet connections from Munich and Vienna.

Read more about the sustainability of night trains in our blog post on the best night train routes in Europe.

A cheaper option (sometimes for less than 50 euros) is to take the long-distance coach. Click here for Flixbus connections to Milan.

From the station you can easily get to the Hotel Milano Scala and at weekends you can also get around the city by tram.

“We are located in the heart of Milan. This means that you can connect to all three main light rail lines (red line M1, yellow line M3 and green line M2).” – Hotel Milano Scala

Tip: Get the Milan Pass Light for 24, 48 or 72 hours. This pass gives you free travel on all public transport, an audio guide for your mobile phone and a 10% discount on entry to many attractions.

Sustainable accommodation at Hotel Milano Scala

Centrally located, the Hotel Milano Scala was the first zero-emissions hotel in the city. In fact, it was named one of the “World’s Most Eco-Friendly Hotels” by National Geographic Traveler. The hotel generates its own green electricity using geothermal probes. On the inside, you’ll find a green exterior, eco-chic interiors, classical music at breakfast, and regional cuisine made with organic ingredients. But our highlight is definitely the rooftop terrace with a bar, seating, and a rooftop garden that supplies the restaurant and bar with fresh herbs, vegetables, and berries.

To get a taste of what it’s like, we recommend this short (1.5 minute) promotional video on YouTube.

A sustainable weekend in Milan – here’s what it could look like

Friday is for culture

If you take the night train, you can get to Milan from Vienna and Munich in about 12 hours – it will be around 8 o’clock in the morning.

Even if it is too early to check in (2 p.m.), we recommend that you go straight to the hotel. Here you can store your luggage and have breakfast (until 10:30 a.m.). Afterwards, you will be ready to explore the city.

Historic Brera, Milan Cathedral and Museums

The Hotel Milano Scala is located in the historic Brera district. The main attractions, including the Cathedral, are just a few minutes walk away.

Milan Cathedral is open to visitors on Fridays from 8 am to 7 pm (please note the dress code).

If you are satisfied with a view of the Cathedral from the outside, the Hotel Milano Scala recommends a visit to the Milan Castle as an alternative. The Castello Sforzesco is open on Fridays from 10 am to 5:30 pm (last tour at 4:30 pm) and often hosts exhibitions and events.

Another alternative is the Pinacoteca di Brera. One of the most important art museums in Italy and within walking distance of the hotel. The art on display focuses on Italian Renaissance painting and the Baroque period.

Eco-friendly midday snack at Soulgreen

Soulgreen is the perfect place to take a break and snack after your cultural experience. Here you will find organic food such as bowls and freshly squeezed juices in an appealing environment. In addition, the café supports a project that provides free meals and clean water to children around the world through its “Proud to Give Back” program (Open Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.).

After 2 p.m. you can check into your hotel room and relax at the hotel or visit one of the many other museums in the city if you haven’t had enough. In the evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel’s restaurant, La Traviata. The restaurant uses regional (organic) ingredients and offers a classic and elegant atmosphere.

Milan’s La Scala

One of the most famous opera houses in Europe, if not the world, is only a five-minute stroll from the hotel. Evening performances usually begin at 8 p.m. Check the Teatro alla Scala schedule here.

Price: The best seats at La Scala will set you back around 500 euros, but cheaper seats can be had for as little as 20 euros.

Eco-Shopping, art and architecture on Saturdays

What is a weekend in Milan without shopping? After all, Milan is considered one of the most famous fashion and design cities in the world. But how do you shop in a sustainable way? For starters, you could do some window shopping – just stroll past Milan’s chic stores and admire the window displays.

Window shopping in Via Montenapolene

“Via Montenapoleone – the heart of the “Quadrilatero della moda” – is within walking distance and our guests like to take a look at the street.” – Hotel Milano Scala

Via Montenapolone is considered the second most expensive street in the world after New York’s Fifth Avenue. You’ll find the biggest names in fashion right here. There are jewelers, famous Italian shoemakers, etc. Of course, in most cases this has nothing to do with sustainability – but a peek never hurt nobody 😀 

Vintage scene in Milan

Milan’s vintage scene is more sustainable. Second-hand clothes make ecological sense. But again, we have to warn you: it’s not cheap! In the Navigli district, along the Navigli canal, there are many vintage shops where you can discover used designer clothes, accessories and more. It’s definitely more expensive than fast fashion, but of higher quality.

In the old town of Milan you will find the vintage fashion store Cavalli e Nastri. It is located (along with other vintage stores) in Via Gian Giacomo Mora.

Eco-fashion in Milan

Milan also has some lovely boutiques specializing in sustainable clothing. Here are a few of our recommendations:

#1 Panpepato: A small, friendly boutique where fashion designers Martina and Eva sell their handmade collections for women and children. You can also find handmade jewelry and accessories.

#2 Progetto Quid: This fashion project sells surplus stock and fabrics donated by Italian fashion brands. They employ women who would otherwise have no chance of finding work.

#3 ASAP LAB: ASAP stands for “As Sustainable As Possible” and here you will find cashmere products made from recycled wool, for example, as well as small accessories such as elegant leather pencil cases. (Please note that the shop has somewhat unusual opening hours, including a lunch break. It’s best to check if the store is open before your visit).

Vegan Cherry Bomb Burger for Lunch

Have you ever seen Flower Burger on Instagram? Those are the beautiful selfies with colorful vegan burgers. The eye-catching and meat-free burgers were invented by two artists from Milan who opened their first two Flower Burger restaurants there. The concept is now spreading as a franchise. It is open from 12:30.

If you eat here, don’t forget to take a selfie 🙂

Bosco Verticale – Green urban architecture

For a little relaxation in the afternoon, take a trip to the Bosco Verticale – the vertical forest. These are two green skyscrapers that have a positive effect on the city’s microclimate. (Read more in our blog article on green urban development).

The Bosco Verticale is located in the Isola district. Here you will find parks, cafes, bars and lots of young people. This is the place to be if you want to be part of Milan’s young nightlife.

Departure and Sunday highlights

If you decide to take the night train and have to be back at work on Monday, it is advisable to leave on Saturday evening and spend Sunday relaxing at home.

If you are still in Milan on Sunday, here are two highlights for that day.

#1 Antique market in the Navigli district: Every last Sunday of the month there is an antique market in the trendy Navigli district (where the vintage shops are located, along with many cafes and art galleries). You can find the current dates here.

#2 Sunday brunch at Capra e Cavoli: At the hotel you can still enjoy a wonderful breakfast on Sunday morning and check out is at noon. We recommend that you have breakfast a little earlier so that you can attend the Sunday brunch at Capra e Cavoli (between 12 and 15:30). This is an eco-restaurant with a cozy and eclectic interior with many upcycled objects. It has an open kitchen and a garden. It feels just like being at a friend’s house.

And with that pleasant feeling, you’ll be reluctant to leave Milan – but I’m sure it was a great weekend, full of experiences and a small ecological footprint to boot.

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Extra tip: Book directly with the hotel and get help with your arrival

First, a general tip for green and fair travel: Book your accommodations directly through the hotel’s website. It’s no secret that travel sites like Booking.com take a commission from hotels when you book through them. So while you pay the same room rate, the hotels get less of it.

The sustainable accommodations featured in this article are all personally and individually managed and you can contact them directly – you will find links to their websites on the Green PearlsⓇ microsites that we link to here.

Our tip for traveling by train: Contact the hotel or vacation rental before you book (by email or phone). Tell them you are booking directly with them, that you are coming by train, and ask if there is anything they can do to help you travel green. Often there are special offers, such as a day of free e-bike use, or you can “beat” a free shuttle ☺️ Especially if you are staying longer, a sustainable accommodation will often meet you halfway.

How sustainable accommodations reward and support you when you travel by train

Upgrade to first class for the train ride to Zermatt

Car-free Zermatt in Switzerland is the perfect destination for a vacation close to nature by train. The Visp-Zermatt line is considered to be a particularly picturesque route through the Swiss picture-book countryside ( like a route of these routes that you can watch on YouTube to relax).

• For stays of three nights or more, the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt will pay for your upgrade from 2nd to 1st class on the Visp – Zermatt route.

The boutique hotel, with a small spa and views of the Matterhorn, is run by the Anthamatten family and is committed to sustainability in all areas (e.g. zero waste principles and regional organic products).

Free public transportation pass or guest card

Another great offer from eco-friendly hotels are free local transportation passes – so you can get around in a climate-friendly way during your stay.

Eco-friendly accommodation and transportation in Freiburg

The Green City Hotel Vauban in the beautiful German city of Freiburg im Breisgau is an example of this. The modern city hotel with its green facade is easily accessible by train. Take the train to Freiburg’s main station and from there the number 3 tram to Paula-Modersohn-Platz – the stop is right in front of the hotel.

• Upon arrival, the hotel will provide you with a free regional ticket for the entire RVF area for the duration of your stay. (This includes buses, trams and all Deutsche Bahn 2nd class trains)

Green PearlsⓇ hotels on the Ritten in South Tyrol offer you the RittenCard

The Ritten Plateau in South Tyrol is a popular destination for an active vacation in the Italian Alps. You won’t need a car here, as the entire region is exemplary in its commitment to environmentally friendly transportation. The RittenCard gives you free use of all local transport, including the historic mountain railway and the cable car to Bolzano, as well as free entry to some 90 museums, exhibitions and attractions.

• The family-friendly Hotel Weihrerhof* at Wolfsgrubensee on the Ritten will send you the RittenCard in digital form prior to your arrival. They will also provide free luggage transport from your home to the hotel and back.

“Thanks to our Green Mobility service, the car is a distant memory,” reports the ADLER Lodge RITTEN*. Here you also receive a RittenCard, as well as the possibility to rent e-bikes and hire experienced guides to accompany you on hikes or e-bike tours.

Arrival: From the Bolzano train station it is a 5 minute walk to the Renon cable car. The cable car leaves every 4 minutes and takes you to Soprabolzano in 12 minutes. Once there, a shuttle from ADLER Lodge RITTEN will be waiting for you.

• Learn more about ADLER Lodge RITTEN’s Green Mobility concept.
  

The RittenCard is also included in the room price at the APIPURA hotel rinner and will be sent to you before you arrive. You can also reach the hotel from Bolzano with the Ritten cable car and from Oberbozen with the Ritten train – the “Rinner” stop is right in front of the hotel! If you are a bee lover, you will love the APIPURA hotel rinner: the hotel has its own organic apiary, there is a bee nature trail and organic honey is served daily at the breakfast buffet.

• Special: If you arrive by train, you will receive a 50% discount on the in-house e-bike rental at the APIPURA hotel rinner.

Eco-friendly hiking vacation in the Hohe Tauern National Park with a guest card

East Tyrol also has a guest card that allows you to use public transportation and offers free or a discount at many attractions. You receive one as a guest at the family-run Naturhotel Outside in Matrei. The hotel is an official hiking hotel with a hiking concierge and also offers a free shuttle from Lienz train station (there and back). A shuttle from Kitzbühel train station is available for a fee.

Complimentary e-Shuttle service powered by green electricity

If you travel by train, you are already traveling in a pretty environmentally friendly way. Now imagine being picked up at the station by an e-shuttle powered by the hotel’s green electricity – pretty green and convenient, isn’t it?

This is possible at the Hotel Das Rübezahl in Füssen (the train station is also located here). And once you are there, the best way to explore the picturesque Allgäu region with its panoramic view of Neuschwanstein Castle is on foot. Hiking concierge Bergbaschdi will be happy to assist you.

The Birkenhof***** Spa & Genussresort Hotel in the Upper Palatinate Lake District will pick you up at Schwandorf train station with its own electric shuttle. The hotel includes a large spa area with several saunas and pools, as well as the 2-star restaurant Obendorfers Eisvogel – you’ll find it hard to find a reason to leave the premises 🙂

At the Hotel Klosterbräu in Tyrol, you can order the hotel’s “Green Shuttle” (an electric Viano bus) for free throughout the Seefeld area. The Seefeld ICE train station is only 200 meters from the hotel, so you can easily walk there. However, the shuttle is worthwhile if you have heavy or bulky luggage, such as ski equipment or the like. The sustainable hotel complex within the old monastery walls offers a wide range of services, including wellness, its own brewery, yoga classes, a petting zoo and child care.

“The electric vehicle is a highlight for our guests,” reports the CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt. As mentioned above, the village of Zermatt is car-free, and apart from the electric vehicles, only horse-drawn carriages are allowed. The CERVO consists of several wooden chalets and has an award-winning design style.

Rail and Hotel: More eco-friendly hotels with shuttle services in Europe

To stay within the scope of this article, we will give you a brief overview of even more sustainable European hotels with shuttle services:

Germany

• The STURM in Mellrichstadt is a 5-minute drive from Mellrichstadt train station and offers a free shuttle service. The hotel has a natural swimming pond, a snack garden and a sauna area.
• The HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio in Balderschwang offers guests a shuttle service from the Fischen train station or the Hittisau bus station (for Swiss guests arriving by train from Bregenz).
• The Lifestylehotel Zum Kurfürsten – a wellness hotel with Feng Shui and TMC therapy – offers a shuttle from Wittlich train station. There is a fee for this service.
• Bayerisch Gmain train station is only 2 kilometers from the Klosterhof – Alpine Hideaway & Spa and will gladly arrange a taxi for you to the hotel. The hotel also has an E-Smart car rental service to help you get around.
• Gut Sonnenhausen is also surrounded by nature. The closest train station is Grafing, which can be reached by S-Bahn or regional train from Munich. The rest of the way is by taxi (at your own expense).

Austria

• The Biohotel Grafenast, high above the Tyrolean Inn Valley, will order a taxi for you from the nearest train stations in Jenbach and Schwaz. For stays of 3 nights or more, the Biohotel will also pay half of the taxi costs.

Italy

• “Traveling by train is becoming increasingly popular,” reports My Arbor*. The extraordinary tree hotel is located about 15 to 20 minutes by car from Brixen train station. Brixen can be reached by direct train from cities such as Milan, Verona, Innsbruck, or Munich. There is a pick-up service for guests from the station. (free for stays of 7 nights or more, otherwise a taxi will be arranged at a cost of 30 euros).
• The Relais del Maro* in Liguria is located in the small town of Borgomaro. Tucked away in the hinterland, there is, unfortunately, no good public transportation network here. But the hotel will help you reach the family-run Albergo Diffuso from Imperia train station with a partner taxi company. Once at the Relais del Maro, you can rent an e-bike for further exploration.

Eco-hotels in Paris and Milan

Of course, city hotels in European metropolises are ideal for combining train and eco-hotel. “Paris has 6 train stations, and depending on which direction guests are coming from, they arrive at the appropriate station. From Germany, it is Gare de L’Est and Gare du Nord,” says Barbara Tascijevic-Porwoll of the Green Spirit Hotels. The Amelie, Malar and Le Pavilion hotels are all in the 7th arrondissement, within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower.

By the way, Paris has done a lot to become more bike-friendly and has created many new bike paths! Of course, there is also the famous metro, which is an environmentally friendly way to get from A to B.

The marbled Milan Central Station is also accessible from all over Europe with direct lines. Here, in the heart of the city, lies the Hotel Milano Scala, Italy’s first zero-emissions hotel. All electricity is generated by geothermal probes.

From the train station to the hotel by bus, bike, or on foot

For our more rural partners, traveling by train is not quite as easy – but no less appealing for it.

“We recommend that you take your bike with you when you arrive by train. And then cycle the rest of the way from Eystrup or Nienburg station to us,” explain the host sisters at Hotel Okelmann’s in Warpe. The train stations are about 20 kilometers away and can be reached from Bremen or Hannover. There is also a lot to discover in the area by bike. The Okelmanns’ father is an enthusiastic cyclist himself and has entered several routes in komoot.

The Gut Guntrams in Austria can be reached from Vienna’s Pitten train station. From there, it is a 25-minute walk along a forest nature trail to Guntramsburg. The hotel’s website offers a beautifully designed map of the trail, complete with photos and arrows.

First by train, then by bus

The Pfunds in Tirol bus stop is just one minute from the Summit Lodges Pfunds, so you can catch the bus right outside your vacation home. The spacious log cabin has its own sauna and fireplace! During the winter there is also a ski bus to the ski area. The nearest train station is Landeck-Zams.

To get to the Naturresort Gerbehof by train, you must first get to the train station in Friedrichshafen on Lake Constance. The station is 5 kilometers from the resort and there are buses to Ailingen every 15 minutes. The walk from Ailingen bus station to Gerbehof is 1.2 kilometers.

A little exercise in nature never hurts anyone, as they say! Alternatively, you can always take a taxi from the station to your accommodation. Either way, you are traveling in a climate-friendly way and keeping your carbon footprint small. Both by traveling and by choosing your accommodation. You may even find that you enjoy traveling by public transportation or bicycle and use them more at home.

*CIN-Codes: IT021011A1AE4737IT (My Arbor), IT008010A1NIWKHTTF (Relais del Maro), IT021072A1L46PNBHX (Hotel Weihrerhof), IT021072A1UOWUIDH4 (APIPURA hotel rinner), IT021072A1QCJQTLUQ (ADLER Lodge RITTEN)

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#1 Tourism as an economic factor

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

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

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

Support fair labor practices in hotels

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

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

#2 preserving resources

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

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

Renewable energy in the hospitality industry

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

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

Upcycling and organic

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

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

#3 Promote nature and species conservation

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

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

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

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

Albergi Diffusi is saving villages in Italy

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

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

#5 Learning to love nature

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

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

Guided hikes in the Allgäu

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

Experience glaciers live in Switzerland

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

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

#6 Have a vision – and think about the future

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

According to the UN, sustainable tourism is:

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

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

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