Setting sail towards greater sustainability

Sailboats are considered to be significantly more sustainable than many other types of recreational boats, especially if they are powered primarily by wind and the outboard motor is rarely used. Wind power allows sailing to consume little to no fossil fuel, which significantly reduces CO₂ emissions.

Sustainable sailing powered by wind and sun

However, modern sailing boats have an additional engine, as well as a number of energy-consuming devices on board. Solar boats* can be an environmentally friendly alternative. You can find these boats on the global yacht charter platform, BoatAround. The link provided only shows boats powered by solar energy.

What are the advantages of a solar-powered boat?

Solar energy is an excellent option for sailboats because it doesn’t consume any fuel and doesn’t produce harmful emissions. Solar energy is a renewable resource, making it a sustainable way to power boats. Rising fuel prices and concerns about climate change are leading to an increase in the number of solar-powered boats. More and more sailors are considering this option and relying on solar power instead of traditional engines.

The advantages of solar-powered sailboats are clear:

• Reduced Emissions: Solar energy is clean and renewable. It does not produce greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change.
• Lower costs: Solar energy can also help reduce costs. Reducing fuel consumption lowers operating costs without sacrificing range.
• Improved air quality: Solar boats can improve air quality by reducing the emission of harmful pollutants produced by engines.
• Less need to dock: A major advantage of a solar boat is that it can produce electricity at sea (provided there is enough sunlight). This means you don’t have to dock as often, which gives you more flexibility and independence as a sailor.
• Stored energy: Many solar boats have photovoltaic panels and a storage system. This allows you to continue sailing with solar energy even when the sun isn’t shining. Fuel is then only needed in emergencies.

How to make your sailing vacation more sustainable

Although sailing is considered environmentally friendly, it still impacts sensitive marine ecosystems. For example, anchors can tear up seagrass beds, diesel engines release emissions into the air, and trash accumulates during a trip — often ending up in the ocean. However, making a few conscious decisions can make a big difference. Here are some ideas on how to make your sailing vacation more sustainable:

#1 Rent. Don’t buy.

Although owning your own boat sounds like freedom, it’s rarely sustainable. The construction, maintenance, and storage all cause high emissions, and it’s not worth it if the boat is only used a few times a year.

On the other hand, a charter boat is used for an average of 30 weeks per year — ten times more than a privately owned boat, which is only used for about three weeks. This means the environmental impact is spread over significantly more sailing days. Therefore, renting instead of buying saves money and CO₂.

#2 Look for solar technology when choosing a boat

As previously mentioned, the most sustainable option is a sailboat equipped with electric propulsion and solar technology.

#3 Use buoys instead of anchors

Anchoring can cause significant damage, especially in seagrass beds. These beds play a central role as CO₂ reservoirs and nurseries for many marine creatures. To protect these sensitive ecosystems, buoy fields are being established around the Italian islands, in Croatia, in the Baltic Sea, and off the coast of Mallorca, among other places.

Studies in the Stockholm archipelago show that bays with buoy fields have six to seven times more sensitive species than those without anchor bans. Therefore, by mooring here, you are actively protecting the marine life below the surface.

#4 Avoid plastic

Whether you’re shopping before your trip or picnicking on shore, actively avoiding plastic protects the ocean. Bring reusable containers, water bottles, and cloth bags with you and avoid single-use packaging, plastic bags, and disposable cups. Make a difference by picking up trash that you see on the beach or in the water and disposing of it safely on shore.

#5 Environmentally friendly travel

Traveling to and from your destination often accounts for the largest portion of your vacation’s carbon footprint. If possible, travel by train or carpool with public transportation. If flying is unavoidable, pack light to save CO₂ and consider offsetting your carbon emissions. Also consider taking one two-week sailing trip instead of two separate one-week trips.

#6 Sustainable accommodation – even on land

Not every trip lasts for weeks, nor does every night have to be spent on board. If you combine your sailing vacation with a stay on land, you can choose sustainable accommodations here.

These six Green Pearls® hotels are located right on the waterfront and are dedicated to responsible environmental and resource management.

• ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA – located on one of Sicily’s most beautiful coastlines, right next to a nature reserve. This luxurious, eco-friendly resort provides guests with organic cuisine and produce from its own gardens.
• Hotel Korinjak on the island of Iz in Croatia is a vegetarian, car-free, nature-loving retreat. By the way, dolphins can be seen off the coast!
• OCEANO Health Spa Hotel, Tenerife – Sustainable hotel with a holistic health concept and a wide range of yoga and fitness activities.
• Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives – focuses on recycling, local materials, and a no-plastic policy.
• Cerf Island Resort, Seychelles – puts energy efficiency and protecting coral reefs first. It is located on the edge of the Sainte-Anne Marine National Park.
• Lifestylehotel SAND, Baltic Sea – stylish, adults-only hotel with a relaxed atmosphere and sustainable design.

#7 Avoid sensitive areas

Water sports are not allowed in all places, and there is a valid reason for this. Breeding and refuge areas for animals, protected reefs, and shallow water zones should be avoided. The 8 rules for water sports enthusiasts in nature, which you can find here, provide some guidance in that matter.

#8 Don’t throw anything overboard, not even organic waste

Apple cores, banana peels, and other organic waste do not belong in the ocean. It may attract animals, pollute the water, and sometimes drift on the surface for days or weeks.

#9 Proper use and disposal of the waste tank

Throughout Europe, disposing of so-called “black water” in the sea is prohibited. Unfortunately, not everyone complies with this rule, as evidenced by reports of sewage problems off the coast of Croatia. Make sure to empty your holding tank in the harbor. This ensures proper disposal and prevents the contamination of coastal waters.

#10 Gentle cleaning on board

Only use biodegradable detergents and cleaning agents. It is best to scrub the deck and cockpit with only clear water.

#11 Less shower gel, more sea.

Make sure your shampoo, soap, and sunscreen are free of microplastics. Use an app like “CodeCheck” to easily scan ingredients.

#12 Don’t throw cigarette butts in the water

If there are smokers on your boat, make it clear from the beginning that they cannot throw their cigarette butts overboard. Cigarette filters are made of plastic, so they don’t decompose and can be deadly for seabirds. So, be sure to bring an ashtray with you and dispose of the butts in a trash can on land.

Are you sailing green yet?

Of course, this list is far from complete. Anyone who has ever gone sailing surely has their own ideas about how to be more environmentally friendly. What experiences have you had? Please share them with me in the comments!

*the link is an affiliate link. If you rent a solar boat through it, we will receive a commission.

This article is an update to the original article published on April 27, 2022. (Laura)

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Awareness of sustainable living continues to grow. And that has implications for weddings, honeymoons and honey getaways. Here are practical tips on how to minimize your carbon footprint on your romantic getaway. You will also learn about romantic and sustainable accommodations that will make your honeymoon unforgettable.

Fun fact: While people have been getting married for centuries and you can find different wedding traditions and customs around the world, the honeymoon is not so old. The post-wedding trip originated in England in the 19th century. Wealthy middle-class couples traveled after their wedding to visit various relatives. This is no longer the case. On the contrary, most newlyweds want to spend some time alone (away from their relatives) after the hustle and bustle of the wedding. How you do this is entirely up to you – there are no dos and don’ts! 🙂 .

How to plan a sustainable honeymoon

Depending on how you travel and how far you go, getting to your honeymoon can consume your entire annual carbon budget.

According to Atmosfair, everyone has a personal “climate budget” of 1,500 kilograms of CO2 per year – if the Paris climate goal of 1.5 degrees of global warming is to be achieved. A long-haul flight is already passing the budget.

However, some destinations are so far away that we can’t get there by train, and vacation time is limited. But there are still a few ways to make sure you travel sustainably on your honeymoon.

• Select more sustainable means of travel: Be intentional about choosing your mode of transportation, take your time and make the journey to your destination. Maybe you can even make a few stops along the way and experience more. 
• If air travel is the only option, you can offset the CO2 emissions either directly with the airline or a provider like Atmosfair.
• Support local businesses: sustainability is not only aimed at the environment, but also social togetherness. To avoid services in vacation regions from being taken over by corporate and external chains, you should ensure that you buy and consume from local businesses. By supporting the locals, you keep the money in the region and the culture alive.
• Respect for each other: even if your vacation is all about enjoying and relaxing, always be aware of your environment. For example, in some areas’ water is very scarce, which affects the local population. Therefore, be careful with the resources.
• Book sustainable accommodations: Pick accommodations that are sustainably oriented. For example, they use sustainable products, conserve resources and create fair working conditions. Below you will find some recommendations. 

The best places for an unforgettable (and eco-friendly) honeymoon

Our Green Pearls® partners have great offers for your honeymoon: For example, you can enjoy a romantic break in one of the chalets at ADLER Lodge RITTEN in South Tyrol. In the evening you can sit by the fireplace or use the private sauna. The chalets are located around a natural swimming lake on the edge of the forest and are built of local wood. The special service includes all-inclusive catering with ingredients grown directly on the lodge’s property according to the farm-to-table principle.

Honeymoon offers at ADLER Lodge RITTEN

The sustainable hotel has created two special honeymoon packages for honeymooners staying in a Chalet or Junior Suite:

Honeymoon Deluxe

• 1 bottle of AETOS Brut Rosé (from the Sanoner family winery) and fresh fruit in your room upon arrival
• Romantically decorated room
• 1 “Almglück for two” treatment for couples (90 minutes)
• 2 x 50-minute ADLER Harmony Spa treatments
• Lodge All-Inclusive Package: includes meals (breakfast, lunch and gourmet dinner) and exquisite beverages (juices, aperitifs, wines and cocktails)

per room € 355.00 (offer valid in 2024 in addition to the room rate)

Honeymoon

• 1 bottle of AETOS Brut Rosé – Sanoner Winery and fresh fruit in your room upon arrival
• Romantic bedroom decoration
• 1 “Feel Good Massage for Couples” (50 minutes)
• Lodge all-inclusive arrangement: all drinks and meals included during your stay

260.00 per room (offer valid for 2024 in addition to the accommodation rate)

Wedding Holidays in the Tyrolean Mountains

Another hideaway with a private sauna and fireplace can be found in Tyrol at Summit Lodges Pfunds. The lodges are built in the American log cabin style and are luxuriously furnished. There is a private kitchen and a large balcony with views of the mountains. The area is ideal for hiking and exploring nature. If you are looking for undisturbed togetherness (perhaps with your dog), you are in good hands in the Tyrolean mountains around Pfunds.

Honeymoon in the ‘Love’-Apartment on the croatian island

The Aparthotel The Dreamers Club is located on the island of Korçula in Lumbarda, Croatia. On the second floor you will find the apartment “Love”. From there, you have a fantastic view of the sea. This accommodation is often chosen by wedding couples.

The team creates a particularly evocative atmosphere. “ We serve breakfast in their room or on their private terrace and make sure that everything is very romantic. They almost leave our eco-apartment hotel more in love than when they arrived.” You will definitely have fond memories of your honeymoon here.

Romantic Honeymoon in Italy

For a particularly romantic and intimate honeymoon in Liguria, visit the picturesque village of Borgomaro. The Relais del Maro is an Albergo Diffuso and is spread over several former residential and commercial buildings in the village. This type of hotel has helped save small villages in Italy from decay, and the initiative has paid off in Borgomaro. You can experience authentic Italian village life surrounded by olive groves, lemon trees and waterfalls. The Mediterranean coast is also not far away.

If you let the hotel know in advance, the team will prepare a cinematic love nest for you. Candles, bouquets, a romantic dinner, flower petals – the works. The team will even give you a bottle of wine for the special occasion – and at the Relais del Maro they are always carefully selected.

Honeymoon in the royal Allgäu panorama

A real honeymoon pro is the Hotel Das Rübezahl with the nickname “Romantic Hideaway & Spa”. Located in Füssen, the hotel overlooks the fairytale castles of Neu Schwanstein and Hohenschwangau. The sustainable hotel has many surprises in store for your honeymoon – for example, you can have your room romantically decorated with a heart of rose petals on the bed while you dine in the restaurant. Make love locks with your names on them, take a carriage ride, or hike through the Allgäu mountains while the hotel’s good fairies prepare a private picnic for you. Or pamper yourselves at the spa and simply enjoy your time together.

Sustainable Honeymoon in Paris

What would a honeymoon guide be without the city of love? Walks along the Seine, selfies in front of the Eiffel Tower, and a portrait of you painted by the street artists on the Place du Tertre as a souvenir. If this is your idea of a honeymoon, there are many ways to make your trip eco-friendly. For starters, you can get to Paris by train from almost anywhere, and it’s also the best and easiest way to get around the city without a car. In addition, the Green Spirit Hotels offer eco-friendly accommodations. The three hotels are located in the 7th arrondissement, within walking distance of all the sights, and are individually decorated. And they are affordable for honeymooners on a budget!

Honeymoon in Thailand

If Thailand is a long distance trip for you, it is obviously less sustainable than a vacation in the region. However, we still believe in traveling to distant destinations for international exchange and to spread the wealth. (Read more about this in our article: Are we still allowed to fly?)

Keemala in Phuket, Thailand is not only a wonderful place for your honeymoon, you can even get married or celebrate your anniversary here. The various cottages and villas of this green wonderland in the middle of the tropical jungle offer you plenty of privacy and the perfect opportunity to enjoy your togetherness in a special ambience.

Make yourself comfortable or explore the surroundings

With a sumptuous menu in the villas, a private pool and spa facilities, there’s really no reason to leave the house. And if you like, you can take a walk in the enchanting forest or visit one of the nearby beaches. Keemala’s honeymoon package includes romantic nightly room service, as well as a bottle of sparkling wine and a couple’s spa treatment.

So many great options! We’re curious: what are you planning? Or, where did you spend your honeymoon and what tips do you have?

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What is the best part for you when you are on vacation? For us, one of the most important things is definitely the food! Over the past years, self-cooking popularity has increased significantly. A survey by a German market research institute found that 41 percent of the respondents have been swinging their spoon since Corona more often. The three most significant nutritional aspects from the consumers’ perspective, this survey says, are: freshness of products (92%), healthy eating (81%) flavor and natural ingredients (81%). But one issue remains: Self-cooked food typically doesn’t come close to eating the real treats on vacation. 

To make sure you too can take a piece of your vacation home with you, several of our Green Pearls® partners host sustainable cooking classes. You can learn everything about regional cooking traditions. 

Genießerhotel Die Forelle: Slow Food and no imported goods 

The Genießerhotel Die Forelle on the Carinthian shores of Lake Weissensee in Austria has a special approach: Slow Food. The Müller family has already been looking after the well-being of its guests for three generations, together they have made the Forelle one of the most sustainable hotels in the region. Hannes Müller is at the head of the multiple award-winning restaurant. Everything here is also holistically sustainable. Thus, the Forelle has renounced the import of goods for about 15 years. Only what is regionally available depending on the season is used instead. 

Cooking course dates Genießerhotel Die Forelle 2024:

3.3. – 8.3.2024 | Cook.Work.Shop.Days (5 nights): Monday: sauces, foams, infusions / Tuesday: fish “nose to tail” / Wednesday: 3-course winter menu / Thursday: soups

6.6. / 25.7. / 8.8. / 12.9.2024 | Slow fish at Lake Weissensee: From 1 pm to 3 pm, Hannes Müller will take you fishing for wild fish. The fish is then prepared “nose to tail” in the hotel kitchen. (In the unlikely event that you don’t catch anything, a naturally farmed fish will be used).

10.6.2024 | Early summer vegetables & fish: During this one-day cooking course from 1 to 5 p.m., you and the chef will cook whatever (fish and vegetables) is available at the time.

23.9.2024 | Autumn vegetables & fish: The same offer at a different time of year

6.10. – 11.10.2024 | Cook.Work.Shop.Days (5 nights): Monday: Espumas in all variations / Tuesday: Tartare from vegetables to fish / Wednesday: 3-course fall menu / Thursday: Cooking vegetables “sous – vide”

Click here to register

Fish curry and more – Gili Lankanfushi, Maldives

The Maldives are pure luxury—that is not only noticeable in hotels like the Gili Lankanfushi, it is also reflected in the tasty cuisine. To bring that luxury into your kitchen, consider taking a cooking class at Gili Lankanfushi. You will learn how to prepare traditional Maldivian fish curry or tempura and sushi. 

The kitchen team will do all the preparations beforehand. So, you can fully concentrate and follow the tips and tricks of the professionals and stir, mix and cook together with them. Cooking at Gili means a colorful experience of exotic fruits and herbs, thrilling fragrances and amazing handicrafts. What 5* Resort would let you have such a close look behind the kitchen scenes!

• Dates 2024: The cooking courses are an integral part of the resort’s activities program and are organized throughout the year depending on demand and occupancy.

Western Ayuervedic at the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio 

The HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu in Balderschwang also has a special focus. Here you will learn everything about Ayurvedic cuisine. The hotel invites all cooking fans to weekly cooking classes with food coach and Ayurveda chef Gabriel Simon-Pinero. Gabriel traveled the world even as a child. Latin America, North Africa, Spain, Italy, and the South of France. He brought culinary knowledge and experience from each region. 

This knowledge is now available to you: with much joy and pleasure he teaches Ayurvedic cuisine, and the power of spices and herbs in his cooking classes. He always has a different theme, such as spice lore, sauces of the world or coffee production.

Thai Cuisine at Keemala – a “Villa Wonderland”-Resort

Keemala is located on the island of Phuket, with its beautiful villas nestled among the canopy of a tropical forest. Here you will begin a cooking class in the hotel’s fruit, vegetable and herb garden, where you will learn about the ingredients for Thai food. Afterward, you will cook together in the outdoor kitchen – for example, a Thai curry with homemade coconut milk.

• Dates 2024: You can book a cooking class at any time with a minimum of 24 hours notice. The course lasts 2 hours and has a maximum of 2 participants.

Thai cooking at Zeavola Diving Resort

Another Green Pearls® partner is the luxurious eco-resort Zeavola on the island of Koh Phi Phi (reachable by speedboat from Phuket). In addition to the diving school and snorkeling courses that will guide you through the corals and fantastic underwater world, you can also discover Thai cuisine. In groups of 2 to 6 people, you will first learn about typical Thai ingredients, spices and cooking methods while enjoying a cocktail or mocktail in a relaxed atmosphere. Then you prepare the dishes yourself under supervision. Dishes include Yum Nua Yang (spicy grilled beef salad), Tom Yum Kung (spicy shrimp soup with lemongrass and galangal) and Gang Kiew Wan Kai (green curry chicken with eggplant and basil).

• Dates 2024: Cooking classes are held daily from 2pm to 4pm. You can register online or at the front desk.

“Earth to Table” at Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba in Peru

“Earth to Table” (also known as “Farm to Table”) means that the ingredients are harvested, processed, and served directly on your plate. You can experience this at Inkaterra’s Hacienda Urubamba in Peru. You can help with the harvest at Inkaterra’s “ecological farm” in the Sacred Valley of the Incas. Traditional tools and oxen are still used, and you will learn about Peruvian plants and the seasons.

The vegetables you harvest together will be part of the cooking class, where you will prepare a Peruvian dish according to a recipe. (You will be able to take the recipe home with you, including the apron). In addition to the dish, you will also learn how to choose the right wine.

• Dates 2024: Harvest excursions and cooking classes can be booked on a regular basis with a maximum of 6 participants, depending on the date.

Learn Italian cooking from the locals

Cooking together at A’ Cràpa Mangia in Italy

Prepare handmade pasta in an Italian farmhouse right on the Mediterranean Sea – you can do this at the  A’ Cràpa Mangia vacation apartments. “Our ‘Cooking together’ offer involves first preparing handmade pasta, then cooking it and then eating it together,” say the German-speaking owners. You can book the pasta course exactly as you like, and in addition to vegetarian and vegan options, you can even prepare gluten-free pasta!

• Dates 2024: Bookable at any time on request and adapted to your needs.

Sicilian culture on your plate at the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA

The best way to get to know a country and its culture is through its food. The team at the ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA believes the same and not only focuses on authentic Sicilian cuisine at the resort, but also invites its guests to regular cooking classes. To add even more flair and Sicilian lifestyle, these classes take place in a rustic farmhouse in the Valle dei Templi. Not only will you learn about the island’s culinary traditions, but you will also experience its history firsthand.

• Dates 2024: Cooking classes in Valle dei Templi are an integral part of the activities program and take place regularly.

Have you ever taken a cooking class? Tell us about it!

You might also be interested in this: Slow Food: good-fair-conscious

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One of the easiest ways to make your life more sustainable often starts in the bathroom. There are now so many great alternatives for shampoo, shower gel, make-up and the like that you’ll hardly notice the change!

The environment, however, does notice – and so does your body! According to statistics, the average person uses 10 different cosmetic products every day. And thus, has the potential to ingest up to 130 toxins! These include silicones, parabens, microplastics and fragrances, to name just a few. None of these substances are acutely life-threatening, but in the long term, both the environment and humans can suffer. Natural cosmetics do not contain any of these problematic ingredients.

Natural cosmetics can help to improve your skin and hair, many people can have reactions or irritations to some of the ingredients in conventional cosmetic products. Fragrances in particular can cause redness, blemishes and swelling. Many of these issues can be solved by switching to natural cosmetics.

How to recognize good natural cosmetics

Although animal testing for cosmetics is banned in the EU, this does not apply to chemical ingredients. These are not only used in cosmetics, but also in other products such as cleaning agents or medicines. With certified natural cosmetics, consumers can usually be sure that no animals had to suffer for the product. The various certifications have cut-off dates for this: for the BDIH seal, for example, no raw materials are allowed that were tested on animals after 1 January 1998. The well-known bunny logo with the protective hand even applies to the period from 1979.

You can also use barcode scanner apps such as Toxfox and Codecheck to find out how much nature is really in your natural cosmetics. Or, you can simply use one the cosmetics lines from one of our Green Pearls® partners.

Natural cosmetics from and in sustainable hotels and where to get them

Traditional natural cosmetics

Bali has its own beauty secrets to share with the world. However, one of the most important pieces of advice from the Indonesian island is: moisture keeps you young! Both internally, by drinking plenty of water, and externally, by making use of nourishing creams. The Puri Dajuma team reveals that in Bali, this includes recipes that have been passed down through generations.

Puri Dajuma’s skincare collection is based on essential oils and 100% natural ingredients such as coconut oil, jungle honey, lemon, cucumber and banana. You can try these out directly at the Dajuma, specifically at the Lola Spa. There you can enjoy head massages, a cream face massage or a hair mask.

Holistic care according to Ayurvedic teachings

In the Mountain Ashram Spa of the CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt guests can enjoy a specially developed natural, vegan, animal-free cosmetics line. The products are inspired by Ayurvedic medicine and have a calming, energising or detoxifying effect. The cosmetics and oils are an ideal match for the holistic treatment approach of the Mountain Ashram Spa.

With the ‘Alpine Woman Apricot Sensation’ for women and the ‘Pioneer Man Alpine Herbs’ for men, CERVO has launched its own collection of cosmetic lines. In addition, there are other series such as the moisturizing ‘Aloe Vera ‘, or the ‘Flow and Ayurveda Massage Oils’. Other products are also currently being developed.

One of the new signature products is the “Mountain Ashram Detox Body Scrub“, made with natural ingredients from the Swiss mountains: hazelnut oil, pine needles and sage. Allow 5 minutes for application, massaging the body scrub in circular motions from the feet to the heart. This should not only refine your skin texture, but also promote blood circulation.

Regional ingredients for natural cosmetics in the hotel

In South Tyrol, you can also experience a special natural cosmetics line – that of the ADLER Resorts & Lodges. For the ‘ADLER SPA Aktiv’ line, they use the best ingredients from three different regions of Italy, where the ADLER Resorts & Lodges are located: Plants and flowers from South Tyrol for skin cell protection and regeneration, grapes and thermal water from Tuscany for prevention and nourishing the skin, and algae extracts, citrus fruits and seawater from Sicily for cleansing and detoxification.

Only raw materials from organically controlled cultivation which are free of preservatives and colorants are used for the ADLER cosmetics line. The innovative technology ensures that the raw materials are gently broken down, and the active ingredients can be optimally absorbed into the skin. You can buy the products not only on the spot, but also in the ADLER online store.

South Tyrolean BergSea cosmetic line

In South Tyrol, on the Ritten, the Hotel Weihrerhof has also developed its own cosmetic line using ingredients from the region. The BergSea cosmetics line is certified organic and packaged in recycled PET. The basis of the skin care line is the water of the Wolfsgruben Lake. Located at 1,200 meters above sea level, Lake Wolfsgruben is one of the cleanest bathing lakes in Italy. There are also other ingredients from the Ritten, such as Swiss stone pine and hay. The products can be purchased from the hotel’s online shop for as little as 19 euros.

What natural cosmetics do sustainable hotels use?

Of course, not all of our Green PearlsⓇ partners have developed their own line of cosmetics. That’s why we also asked them what natural cosmetics they use – both for spa treatments and for you as a guest in your hotel room. Here are some of the brands our partners recommend:

TEAM DR. JOSEPH

Several of our partners rely on certified natural cosmetics from Team Dr. Joseph. The brand has been around since 1986 and is produced in Italy (South Tyrol). Team Dr. Joseph is vegan, cruelty-free and produced and packaged climate- and plastic-free. The natural cosmetics are also designed for holistic treatment. In addition to consumer products, the brand also has a partner program for hotels and spas.

Team Dr. Joseph natural cosmetics can be found at the sustainable Hotel My Arbor, also in South Tyrol (on the Plose near Brixen), and in Germany at the romantic Hotel Das Rübezahl in the Allgäu and at STURM in the foothills of the Rhön.

“Team Dr. Joseph is characterized by outstanding quality and delivers excellent results. The active ingredients include local trees, which suits us very well” – My Arbor (The hotel is built on stilts in the middle of the forest).

Phamos Nature

Hotel My Arbor also uses certified natural cosmetics Phamos Natur in the spa. The founder of the German company, Margot Esser, was involved in a car accident in the USA in the 1980s and suffered severe burns to her face and upper body. She was taken to a shamanic natural healing clinic where she was treated with Aloe Vera. The beneficial treatment and convincing effect led her to develop her own Aloe Vera products – and she has been doing so very successfully for over 35 years.

The Aloe Vera plants are grown in a sustainable mixed culture in Ecuador. Following the wisdom of the Mayan farmers, Phamos Natur ensures that “all plants want to grow together in families”.

Walde Organic Soap

At Hotel Klosterbräu in Seefeld, Austria, you will find Walde’s organic lavender liquid soap in every room. Walde is the oldest soap factory in Austria, with almost 250 years of history. Although the soap is not certified as a natural cosmetic, there is an organic line where all ingredients are organically grown.

Doctor Eckstein

The Birkenhof ***** Spa & Genussresort in the Upper Palatinate Lake District uses the indie brand Doctor Eckstein. The entire product line is based on nature and is produced in Germany. However, they are not certified natural cosmetics.

Is natural always better?

You may have guessed from our last two examples that we are cautious about this. As with food, it may be that smaller companies or start-ups cannot (yet) afford certification. For us, this simply means: read the ingredients (yes, we know how difficult it is with cosmetics!), look at the company website and if you have any doubts, ask critically. If the company is truly and honestly committed to sustainability, they will be happy to answer your questions!

What do you look for when choosing your cosmetics? And do you have any tips for sustainable beauty lines?

What do you look for in your cosmetics? Would you try a hotel’s collection? Let us know!

Continue Reading: How beauty care and environment are related

Continue Reading: Organic, plastic-free and zero-waste: What makes cosmetics sustainable?

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Are you the type of person who likes to enjoy as much privacy as possible on vacation, wandering through food markets and preferring to cook your own meals? The sustainable vacation rentals and apartments of our Green Pearls® partners are ideal for an independent and individual vacation with lots of privacy and your own kitchen.

Many of our partners also offer a combination of apartment and hotel. In a so-called Aparthotel you have a fully equipped apartment at your disposal. At the same time, you can take advantage of the services and comforts of a hotel, such as breakfast, dinner and cleaning.

What makes a sustainable vacation home?

Although we often write about hotels here on the Green Travel Blog, there are of course vacation homes that have a sustainable overall concept. The features of sustainable vacation homes are very similar to those of sustainable hotels:

• Sustainable construction (e.g. conversion of old existing buildings, use of regional and environmentally friendly building materials).
• Use of renewable energy (at least through green electricity, even better through own solar systems, etc.)
• Avoiding plastic and disposable products (zero waste)
• Equipment and furnishings with environmentally friendly products (e.g. environmentally friendly wall paint, sustainable furniture and organic textiles)
• Supporting car-free mobility (shuttle service to the train station, e-bike rental, etc.)

You can learn more in our 7-Point Check for Sustainable Accommodation.

Vacation rentals in Austria

For a true nature vacation, the Austrian mountains are a wonderful destination. In the alpine region you will find meadows, forests, mountain rivers and a unique flora and fauna (e.g. the famous golden eagle).

In a self-catering holiday home you can enjoy your vacation at your own pace and explore the mountains by hiking, biking or winter sports.

LENI MOUNTAIN – Apartments & Chalet in Sölden

Sölden in the Ötztal Alps is very popular with MTB athletes. There are many well marked mountain bike trails for every level of difficulty. The LENI MOUNTAIN apartments are located just above Sölden, some with a view of the 3,500-meter high Zuckerhütl. The apartments (2 to 12 people) are built in the Tyrolean architectural style with local materials such as stone and local wood (spruce, larch, stone pine) and all have a balcony or terrace.

Special features:

• Wellness area with sauna and steam bath
• Breakfast service

A highlight is the LENI MOUNTAIN Chalet. The 200-square-meter hideaway stands alone on the mountain and features a private natural swimming pond, four bedrooms, an open fireplace and a private sauna.

The Peak Sölden – Vacation Homes

Also in Sölden are the seven apartments and two chalets of the Kneisl family. The Kneisls are passionate mountaineers and they will be happy to recommend you the right hiking routes for your desired level of difficulty.

Special Features:

• Amenities include a morning bread service.
• Only 1.5 kilometers from the center of Sölden

Summit Lodges in the Tyrolean Overland

Do you prefer it a bit more secluded? The Summit Lodges Pfunds in the Tyrolean Overland consist of log cabins and are a mixture of alpine hut feeling and modern luxury. Architecturally, the two vacation homes are inspired by the traditional log cabin construction of the Northwest of the USA and Canada and therefore bear the names “Yellowstone” and “Yosemite”.

Special Features:

• A big plus of the cottages: each cottage has its own Finnish sauna! Have fun sweating 🙂.

Vacation rentals in Italy

If you’d rather spend this winter in the warmth, southern Italy might be of interest to you. Stephanie Seipp, the founder of Green PearlsⓇ, was there herself this year and reports on the vacation apartments on the historic estate A’ Cràpa Mangia in this blog post:

Sustainable Travel in Italy – Winter in Campania

The Campania estate has been converted by the owners into nine vacation apartments. Each apartment has a terrace and direct sea view.

Aparthotels – the mix between apartment & hotel

At the beginning of the blog, we already mentioned that in addition to vacation apartments or houses, there is also a hybrid of vacation apartment and hotel: Aparthotels are becoming increasingly popular, they combine the best of both worlds, so to speak: Privacy and service, individuality and all-round carefree package.

OLM Nature Escape – Energy Self-Sufficient Eco-Aparthotel in South Tyrol

In December 2023, a new eco-apartment hotel will open in South Tyrol: the OLM Nature Escape in Sand in Taufers. The main construction material for the round building with 33 separate suites is regional larch wood. Another sustainable feature is that the entire facility produces its own electricity.

Each apartment has a kitchen and a spacious refrigerator. Breakfast is available, however, as are various other catering options and optional cleaning services.

Special Features:

• Some of the apartment suites have a private sauna.
• The complex has an indoor pool, an outdoor pool and a natural swimming pond.

ECO-APARTHOTEL THE DREAMERS’ CLUB in Croatia

The ECO-APARTHOTEL THE DREAMER’S CLUB is an aparthotel that has belonged to Green PearlsⓇ for a long time. It is located directly on the Adriatic Sea on the island of Korčula and was created from the reconstruction of a 100-year-old stone ruin. There are six apartments for 2 to 5 people, and in the morning breakfast (with mostly local organic ingredients) is served right on the terrace.

Hygna Chalets: A Tyrolean Chalet Village in the Kitzbühel Alps

Hygna Chalets does not call itself an aparthotel, but the concept is an interesting hybrid between a vacation home and a hotel. There are eleven luxurious wooden chalets, some with private jacuzzi, all with private sauna and open fireplace. Each chalet has its own kitchen for self-catering. Breakfast is included, however, and is delivered to your door each morning in the form of a lovingly filled breakfast basket. Other amenities include an infinity pool for all guests.

Sustainable vacation homes with hotel connections

Now that we’ve introduced you to some sustainable vacation homes and aparthotels, there’s another special form of “vacation home plus”. Some hotels also offer a vacation home or tiny house on their property. In this case, you enjoy all the freedom of your own vacation home and can also use the hotel’s spa or restaurant.

Tiny House in Tyrol

The Biohotel Grafenast, for example, has a tiny house. The wooden house stands at 1,330 meters above sea level in the middle of the Eastern Alps and is self-sufficient with water, wood stove and organic toilet. For extra luxury, you can use the hotel’s forest sauna and spa, or dine in the organic restaurant.

Apartments in the SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA

Hotel SCHWARZWALD PANORAMA also has apartments (two-room and three-room) with their own kitchen. In addition to the possibility of self-catering here, you can use the organic breakfast buffet and receive a cooking set with spices on request. The large spa area with thermal pool and sauna is available to you free of charge.

Küchenhaus Holiday Home in Mellrichstadt

Finally, there is the Küchenhaus on the grounds of the Hotel STURM. Here you live with up to six people in a fully equipped vacation home with open fireplace and terrace. In addition, you can use the hotel’s wellness area (saunas and natural swimming pond) and, if you wish, have breakfast or dinner in the bio-certified hotel.

Vacation homes and the mixed forms presented by us are the perfect retreat if you want to enjoy a lot of privacy and an individual time-out in a unique ambience. We hope we could give you some ideas how and where you can organize your vacation not only independently but also environmentally friendly.

The family vacation needs to be planned, but you don’t know where to go yet? Take a look at this: SUSTAINABLE FAMILY VACATION – BUT WHERE?

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With this wisdom in mind, we kick off today’s blog post. On Tuesday, we already presented you some hiking trails around South Tyrol, in the Allgäu and on Tenerife. As hiking is a fantastic activity, today we are going to take a look at a few recommended hiking routes in the DACH region around our Green Pearls® partners.

We start with an Austrian high valley called Pfunds. This mountain destination is located in the top section of the Tyrolean Inn Valley, at the border triangle where Switzerland and Italy meet—a perfect starting point for hikes of all degrees of difficulty. The Summit Lodges are also situated there. The two vacation homes in Canadian-inspired log cabin style are perfect for you if you want a little more privacy or feel like a vacation with the whole family.

Picturesque round trails through the Upper Inn Valley

If you spend your vacation here, you have to plan for a hike through the Pfundser Tschey. The scenic loop trail leads first over the Pfundser Frudiger – a gorgeous lookout high above the Pfundser Tschey and the Upper Inn Valley.

Views into the Ötztal Alps, to the Samnaun Group and north to the Lechtal Alps area are impressive and definitely worth the climb! Then the highlight is the hike back through the natural jewel Pfundser Tschey, with its wooden chalets and the beautiful little church “Maria Schnee”.

Alpine landscapes can also be enjoyed in Sölden. The famous vacation destination in Austria offers you numerous opportunities. However, an insider tip of LENI MOUNTAIN is the trail to Peerler Lake. The trail can start directly from the chalet. From there, the high-altitude hike leads you across alpine mountain meadows and rocky gorges to the lake, which is located at 2,467 meters.

Views of the Wildspitze, the Brunnenkogelhaus, the Hochstubai Hütte are special moments, making this hike a panoramic tour of a special kind.

Lake tour near Kitzbühl

Similar to the intensively researched Schwarzsee near Kitzbühl in Austria, sediments at the bottom of the lake allow conclusions to be drawn about the climate of the past 10,000 years. A high-alpine, colorful landscape with a magnificent mountain lake—what are you waiting for?

After your tour you can either relax in the wellness area of the LENI MOUNTAIN apartments or enjoy the private spa of the LENI MOUNTAIN Chalet outside Sölden. Also located in Sölden are the apartments and chalets of The Peak.

The host family Kneisl are passionate mountaineers and particularly appreciate the trails of the Ötztaler Wasserläufer. The six circular trails lead you from gentle streams and calm lakes to thunderous cascades and the perpetual ice of the glaciers. This way, you will discover the element water in all its richness.

The highest waterfall in Tyrol

For many, the Stuibenfall—the highest waterfall in Tyrol—is of particular interest. This round trip to the waterfall is short and crisp. On nine kilometers you cover 607 meters of altitude and need good surefootedness.

In the center of the trail is an exposed 80-meter long suspension bridge. About 700 steps will lead you up to the highest observation platform. Cross the fixed suspension bridge at the top of the waterfall and enjoy the natural spectacle it offers. You will be able to catch a fantastic view of the depths as you continue to approach the highest platform. This dizzying height experience completes the experience of Stuibenfall in all its uniqueness.

Take advantage of the bread service of The Peak, then you don’t have to leave the house even before breakfast, and you start the hiking day well strengthened. What could be better than lunch at the top of the waterfall, when you can enjoy the magnificent view and the roar of the water?

Hiking in the German Harz Mountains

Many hiking tours in the Harz Mountains are steeped in legend. Like the trail that takes you from Blankenburg along the Teufelsmauer (Devil’s Wall) to the spectacular natural monument Hamburger Wappen. Three steeply towering rock needles of the sandstone formation remind of the coat of arms of the Hanseatic city of Hamburg, with its three towers. You should also take a look at the Kuhstall Cave—this mysterious sandstone cave is located in the immediate vicinity of the Hamburg Coat of Arms.

You can relax at the historic Schlosshotel Blankenburg. The present Schlosshotel is located in barracks formerly belonging to the “Herzoglich Braunschweigische Leibbataillon “of Duke Wilhelm. Between 1857 and 1860 the barracks were built. At Easter 1860 the Leibbataillon was accommodated here. Until the First World War, the Schlosskaserne was used as an educational facility for recruits of various military units.

Nowadays, the historical ambience is combined with modern luxury. The wellness area in the castle’s vaults is particularly worth a visit after a strenuous hike in the Harz Mountains.

On castle tour in the southern Harz

If you prefer the Southern Harz, you should pay a visit to the Naturresort Schindelbruch. There are several routes in the middle of the nature park Südharz that will make your hiker’s heart beat faster.

Some even pass through the forest behind the nature resort, so the hotel couldn’t be more suitably located. One nice loop that you can do from here is the route from Schlossblick on the lower Bandweg up to Josephshöhe. On your way back, cross the Obere Zechental and catch a great view of Stolberg and its castle before heading back to the hotel.

Moreover, our newest green pearl in Switzerland has some hiking trails ready for you. The region around Saas Fee with 18 four-thousand-meter peaks is a very popular outdoor sports and hiking paradise. The network of trails extends to over 350 kilometers. The Waldhotel Fletschhorn, is located in the middle of this spectacular scenery.

Traveling in the Swiss Alps

A recommended route begins at the Felskinn mountain terminal and leads you over the Fee and Chessjen glaciers to the Egginerjoch. At Egginerjoch, the path turns right and takes you along the rock face to the end of the plateau. But beware: the path leads across many screes and stone slabs! And is ending on Plattjen just below the Mittaghorn.

From Plattjen, the trail “On the tracks of the Saas-Fee Ski World Cup” zigzags down to Saas-Fee. A secret tip along the tour is the Swiss cairn at the Brandgrabe below the Mittaghorn. From this vantage point, you have a unique view of the entire Saas Valley, including Lake Mattmark and the Bietschhorn.

Then you can enjoy a meal and relax in the restaurant of the Waldhotel Fletschhorn. The Restaurant Fletschhorn is famous far beyond the borders of Saas Fee for its delicious creations. The cuisine is seasonal and regional (including an impressive selection of Swiss cheeses). In the wine cellar with 13,000 bottles you are sure to find the right drop for you. 

Where do you want to go hiking, do you have a dream route?

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Exercising in the fresh air is not only a sustainable form of recreation, it is also good for you. Walking is particularly good for your heart: the risk of cardiovascular disease is reduced by regular walking, as is your blood pressure. It also improves your mood, as hiking produces endorphins that help fight mood swings, depression and anxiety.

We’ve hand-picked a few walking tours near our Green Pearls® partners to inspire your next getaway.

High up to the South Tyrolean Rittner

How about an excursion to South Tyrol, for example? On the Rittner high plateau there are a variety of hiking tours and two Green Pearls® partners to welcome you: the ADLER Lodge RITTEN and the APIPURA Hotel Rinner.

Small villages and hamlets and picturesque farms await you in the heart of the beautiful alpine landscape. You can look forward to a variety of attractions. For example, the fascinating earth pyramids, the pilgrimage church of Maria-Saal or the bee museum.

And if your feet are still sore from a hike the day before: a ride on the Rittnerbahndl (Rittner Railway), inaugurated in 1907, from Klobenstein to Oberbozen is an experience not to be missed – and at the same time a little journey back in time. Always accompanied by the dreamlike scenery of the Dolomites, you can also set off for more distant tours – or enjoy a relaxed return trip.

More distant tours start by train

One such hiking route is the South Tyrolean Heaven Tour – albeit with a different cable car. There is, in fact, a third cable car on the Rittner – the Bergbahn Rittnerhorn. The mountain station of the Rittnerhorn cable car at the Schwarzseespitze is the starting and ending point for a great hiking route. On the 16.5-kilometre-long trail you will cover 980 metres in altitude and be on your way for about five to six hours. The magnificent views really make this loop a heavenly experience. First you have a view of the Sarntal Alps and then, once you have climbed the Rittner Horn, a magnificent panorama of the Dolomite peaks opens up.

In addition, a few sights await you on the way, such as the so-called Round Table, the alpine rock garden at Unterhorn and the mountain pine oil distillery at the Barbianer Alm.

Wellness after long hiking tours

In the evening, you can indulge in seasonal and regional specialities in the restaurant of the ADLER Lodge RITTEN. As of this year, there is even a new hotel garden where the ADLER grows many of the foods they use in the kitchen themselves – it doesn’t get more regional than that!

Or you can relax your muscles in the hotel’s own spa area. Here you will have the feeling of being completely surrounded by nature. The sun reflects in the panorama pool. The fire crackles in the relaxation oases. The scent of herbs wafts out of the sauna. The ADLER Lodge RITTEN has four such lovingly designed treatment oases where you can enjoy treatments close to nature.

Or you can treat yourself to a soothing Api Wellness treatment at Hotel Rinner, where you will be able to enjoy inhaling rich beehive air. Bees bring other valuable ingredients into the hive in addition to nectar, such as essential oils, flavonides from honey, pollen, wax and propolis. These are released into the hive air by the heat and by the ventilation that the bees generate with their wings. And it is precisely this precious hive air that you can breathe in during a unique Api Wellness treatment!

Past the waterfall to the summit

The Allgäu is also known for its breathtaking (in the truest sense of the word 😉​) hiking trails. Balderschwang offers fantastic tours, whether you are a beginner or a hiking expert.

Balderschwang is a tranquil village in the Oberallgäu and is located directly on the Austrian border. It is also the starting point for the Scheuenrunde – a beautiful circular hike through the landscape of the Nagelfluh Alps with many highlights. On this loop, you hike past the impressive, roughly 20-metre-high Scheuen waterfall and then come over a steep pass into the alpine high moors. Still feeling good? Then you can make a detour to the summit of the Piesenkopf. The tour is also suitable for beginners and families. You need to be in good shape, but technically the trail is not too difficult.

However, you should plan this special tour a little later in the year, otherwise you may have to cross one or two snowfields in June. The start and finish for the approximately six-hour hike is the “Am Anger” car park on Riedbergstraße.

The Mountain Spring Spa of the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu offers you the relaxation you need after this treck. With four saunas and various wellness treatments, any tension will be massaged out before it can even take hold. On the roof, you can end the day in the alpine Zen garden with a Japanese Onsen.

Conquer the highest mountain in Spain

You prefer it a little warmer? Then how about a hike up Spain’s highest mountain? It’s on Tenerife, and rises impressively from the horizon as you look south from the OCÉANO Health Spa Hotel. Tenerife’s most famous nature reserve is undoubtedly the Parque National del Teide, which surrounds the volcano. In the gigantic crater landscape around the 3718-metre-high island volcano, you will feel as if you have been transported to another planet. The Teide National Park was even declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2007.

The structure of the caldera, i.e. the basin in which the Teide is located, and its structure are unique in the world. The Teide itself was not formed in one step. The Teide-Pico Viejo complex is a stratified volcano formed by several successive eruptions.

Save the climb? Also no problem!

However, the park is also particularly worth seeing because of its hundreds of volcanic cones, solidified lava flows and caves. This also accounts for its great scientific and scenic importance. Added to this are its rich fauna and flora, with a great variety of Canary Island endemics species that you will find exclusively in this park.

If you don’t want to take the high road, there is also a cable car to the volcano, which will take you up the 3,555 metres in less than 10 minutes 😉

You can also combine your hikes in the north of Tenerife with one of the OCÉANO’s individually tailored health programmes. 

If you are looking for more hiking tips, check out our newsletter on this topic – or wait until Friday, when we’ll take another look at the Austrian and Swiss Alps.

We are curious: Where do you like to go hiking? Tell us or send us a snapshot on Instagram!

You might also be interested in this: SUSTAINABLE VACATION BY ENCHANTING LAKES

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Chao Na Bowl

Healthy Thai bowl: rice topped with vegetables, crispy anchovies, and oyster sauce dressing.

(Chao Na is a Thai word – and it means rice farmers). This recipe is adaptable to any amount of servings. As a rule, calculate 100 to 120 grams of dry rice per person if the rice is your main dish and 60 grams of dry rice per person if its the side dish.

Course Main Course

Cuisine Thai

Keyword Bowl, Rice

Ingredients

• Riceberry Rice
• Cucumber
• Long beans
• Capsicum (red, yellow, and green)
• Kidney beans
• Oyster mushroom
• Salted crispy anchovies
• Torch ginger flower (or other edible flowers)
• White sesame
• Young pepper
• Garlic
• Coconut milk
• Sesame oil
• Fish sauce

Instructions

• Heat vegetable oil in a wok, sauté garlic and add riceberry rice, fish sauce and coconut milk. Transfer to serving bowl.
• In the wok, sauté garlic and add oyster mushroom, oyster sauce and sesame oil. Use the mushroom to serve over rice, and the sauce as dressing.
• Dice capsicum, cucumber, and long beans.
• Top to sautéed rice with diced vegetables, kidney beans, crispy anchovies, torch ginger flowers, young pepper and sautéed mushroom.
• Add mushroom oyster sauce dressing and sprinkle with white sesame to serve.

You might also be interested in this: Sustainable Cooking classes in Green Pearls® Hotels

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Hay fever is one of the best-known types. But some people are suffering from their allergies all year round. In simple terms, allergies are a malfunction of the body’s immune system. It reacts hypersensitive to actually harmless substances such as pollen, as though they posed a serious threat to the body.

Allergy sufferers can usually cope well with their illness with medication and in familiar surroundings. Statistics nevertheless reveal that 40 percent of all allergy sufferers will develop asthma during their lives. Cross allergies are also often a big issue for those affected, in which case an intolerance to various foods is added to the annoying hay fever. By the way, this figure is also increasing: every fifth German now suffers from a food intolerance or allergy.

Of course, caterers, and hoteliers are also adapting to this fact. For example, in many hotels the bed linen is already allergy-friendly to protect people with dust mite allergies. Our Green Pearls® partners are also perfectly prepared to deal with food intolerances such as lactose and gluten intolerances! How they deal with allergies and what alternatives they offer you, you can find out here:

A complaint-free vacation in Erlangen

The Creativhotel Luise in Erlangen features several rooms specially equipped for people with allergies. The rooms have, for instance, specially hypoallergenic bedding and mattress covers, as well special flooring. Allergies against dust, mildew and animal hair are counteracted here in particular.

At breakfast, there is also a wide selection of products to ensure that you also get your money’s worth despite food intolerances and allergies. Lactose- and gluten-free products are a matter of course here and all service staff can give you detailed information on allergens in the products.

Organic certified and open kitchen

In the Rhön, too, you can enjoy a carefree meal at the Biohotel Sturm! All dishes are homemade and processed according to the Slow Food movement. Thus, preservatives, convenience and other items do not find their way onto the menu. The advantage of this is that the flexibility gained means that any intolerances can be catered for—all you have to do is let the team know before you arrive. The modern cuisine concept at the Biohotel Sturm with the open kitchen in the evenings also allows you to get in touch directly with the chefs and watch them at work. Thus, individual ingredients can be inquired and insecurities can be clarified directly.

Even in the guest rooms, allergens are considered. The Biohotel Sturm therefore relies on long-lasting cold foam mattresses with an integrated WMS sleep system. This not only does something good for your back, the mattresses are also durable, and the cover is washable. In addition, they are breathable and do not absorb moisture such as sweat. So, they are particularly allergy-friendly, since no mites can settle in.

Restful sleep despite allergies

Of course, sustainability, hygiene, and comfort for all guests also apply to the pillows and blankets. At Biohotel Sturm, both are made of high-quality down, which is sourced 100% from sustainable and fair production. Certificates prove that the strictest attention is paid to animal welfare. So, the feathers come from geese from a species-appropriate animal husbandry in the family, and there is no live plucking of the down. The cushions are sewn in an allergy cover and are therefore suitable for sensitive people. Whatever allergy you have—the team of the Biohotel Sturm is perfectly equipped to deal with it!

The HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu is also optimally well prepared for people with allergies. The bed linen and pillows used in the rooms of the alpine hotel are made of goose down and are unbleached, making them medically recommended even for allergies and asthma. The feathers used for the filling come from animals that have been kept in a species-appropriate manner.

Customized wellness treatments

The hotels can also cater to your special needs in the spa area. The CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt, for instance, has a wide range of massage balms and oils on offer. In addition, there is also the hotel’s own cosmetics line, which is used in the treatments. The products for this are natural and vegan. In addition, there are also allergy-friendly rooms here.

Which experiences did you have on vacation as an allergy sufferer? Tell us about it!

You might also be interested in this: How Green Pearls® Partners support Mental Health

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The vegan diet is one of the most sustainable diets available. In fact, it is so environmentally friendly that a global shift to a plant-based diet could reduce greenhouse gases caused as a result of food production by 70% by 2050. A report from the United Nations Environment Program says that “animal products – both meat and dairy – generally require more resources and produce higher emissions than plant-based alternatives.” The World Health Organization also advocates for plant-based diets, saying, “Reducing livestock would also reduce methane emissions, the second-largest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide.”

While awareness of vegan diets is increasing, so is the availability of plant-based-choices in restaurants and supermarkets lately. However, there are still few restaurants and hotels that specialize in vegan food. The LA VIMEA is such a hotel. In the green pearl in South Tyrol, you will be treated by chef Luca Sordi. And he revealed one of his recipes to us: his “Sea & Mountains” dumplings. It doesn’t matter if you are committed and cook all the components or if you choose your favorite elements: You’ll definitely find delicious inspiration for your next vegan masterpiece here.

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Dumplings “Sea & Mountain”

South Tirol mushrooms, seaweed salad and Mediterranean aromas (inspired by the Earth day and plated like the sea).

Course Main Course

Cuisine Mediterranean

Keyword Dumplings, Mushrooms, Vegan

Prep Time 0 minutes minutes

Cook Time 0 minutes minutes

0 minutes minutes

Servings 2 people

Ingredients

The pasta dough

• 300 g Durum wheat semola flour (pasta flour)
• 150 g Water (warm)
• 1 tbsp Olive Oil extra virgin
• 2 g Black charcoal
• 1 pinch Salt

The filling

• 100 g Vegan ricotta (or other vegan mild cheese)
• 300 g Mix of raw mushrooms (Chef Sorte used Oyster and Shitake)
• 2 cloves Garlic
• Aromatic herbs (rosemary, savory, sage, thyme)
• Salt & Pepper

The blue cauliflower cream

• 250 g Cauliflower
• 150 ml Cooking water
• 50 g Seeds oil
• 2 g Blue pea flower powder
• Nutmeg, Salt & Pepper

The seeweed salad

• Seaweed (Chef Sordi used Dulse and Wakame)
• Olive oil extra virgin
• Fresh chili, Lemon zest, Garlic, Parsley

The caviar

• 50 g Tapioca pearls
• olive oil extra virgin
• smoked paprika, salt

The foam

• 150 g Almond Milk
• 8 Juniper berries
• 1 pinch salt

Instructions

The Dumplings

• Mix the flour, salt and charcoal.Pour the warm water and oil on top of the dry part and mix energetically (by hand of with help of kitchen aid).

  You need to get a dark gray dough, with plastic texture, not too dry.

  Give to it a rectangular shape, cover with kitchen film and keep it in the fridge for at least one hours.
• Cut the mushroom for the filling and cook them in a super hot pan with olive oil, garlic and herbs. Add salt and pepper just at the end, when well cooked.
• Blend them with the ricotta, getting a homogeneous mix

  Season with fresh thyme or savory and in case more salt and pepper.
• With the help of a rolling pin make a 2 mm pasta sheet.

  Cut the pasta with a round pasta cutter or other circular tools – Chef Sordi made 9 cm but it is up to the final size you want to get. Up to you!
• Put the filling in the center of circular pasta, make the pasta around a bit wet and close it with the technique you prefer. Chef Sordi use a “culurgines” shape (sardinian pasta) – you could find plenty of videos on

  youtube also for similar shapes (gyoza, momo, chineese dumpligs).

  Boil for 4 minutes in salted water.

The blue cauliflower cream

• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Chop the cauliflower in small florets. Put the cauliflower in and cook for 8-9 minutes.

  Blend them, still hot, with some cooking water, the oil, salt pepper nutmeg and blue pea flower color.

The seeweed salad

• Cook the seeweeds according to the pack instructions and cool them down.

  Mix in a little bowl some oil with finely chopped aromas: garlic, chili, lemon zest, parsley.

The caviar

• Cook the tapioca pearl for about 20 minutes or until the pearls are completely transparent.

  Strain them an wash them several time under fresh water.

  Season with oil, salt and smoked paprika.

The foam

• Bring the water to a boil. Turn off and infuse the (previously broken) berries for 15 minutes,

  Remove the berries, add the salt and cool down to about 40°C (just warm).

  Make the foam with the help of a stick blender.
• Warm the cauliflower cream and put couple of spoon on the plate.

  Procede to put the pasta, seasoned with just some oil and fresh herbs.

  Put now the seaweed salad, at room temperature.

  Finish with the smoked caviar, the foam and some cress.

You’re interested in healthy food? Then you might like this article: Slow Food – eat smarter

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