#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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The problem with disposables in hotels

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

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

Expensive hotels produce less waste than cheap ones

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

This is how sustainable hotels avoid disposable packaging

Amenities upon request

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

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

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

Honesty bar with reusable glasses instead of a minibar

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

Homemade welcome cookies

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

A water bottle for the duration of your stay

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

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

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

Zero waste measures at the breakfast buffet:

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

Elimination of disposable hygiene products

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

Solid Soap and Shampoo

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

Dispenser

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

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

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

Natural cosmetics free of chemicals and microplastics

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

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

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

Food from their own harvest

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

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

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

Dishes and glasses

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

Tablecloths and napkins

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

Towel change upon request only

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

Forgoing daily room cleaning and turn-down service

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

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

No slippers

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

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

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

Backpack and shopping bag provided

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

Digital Guest Magazine

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

Offering waste separation for guests

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

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

Toilet paper made out of Tetra Pak

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

Wooden coffee pods eliminate single-use plastics

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

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

Zero-Waste Goodbye Gift

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

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

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

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5 ways to make your ski vacation more sustainable

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

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

Ski-in, ski-out hotels with guaranteed snow

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

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

Is artificial snow an environmental issue?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

#2 Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt | Switzerland

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

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

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

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

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

#3 CERVO Mountain Resort Zermatt | Switzerland 

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

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

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

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

#4 Biohotel Grafenast | Tirol | Österreich

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

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

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

#5 My Arbor | Südtirol | Italien

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

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

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

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

#6 Summit Lodges Pfunds | Tyrol | Austria

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

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

Artificial snowmaking will continue to spread

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

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

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

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

Do products make an accommodation sustainable?

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

Particularly critical to sustainability in the hotel industry are

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

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

18 environmental and resource friendly products

#1 Workwear

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

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

👉Read more on our blog about sustainable hotel workwear.

#2 Bathrobe

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

👉Here are the bathrobe trends for 2024/2025.

#3 Beds and bedding

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

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

#4 Bread

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

👉You can read the blog article about sustainable bread here

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

#5 Decoration

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

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

#6 Breakfast

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

👉Learn more about breakfast at sustainable hotels

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

#7 Honey

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

👉Learn more about the power of honey.

#8 Coffee

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

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

👉Discover sustainable coffee trends here

#9 Clothes Hanger

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

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

#10 Lamp Shades

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

👉Learn more about hayflower lampshades here.

#11 Marmalades and jams

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

👉Read about jams, jellies and marmalades here.

#12 Natural Cosmetics

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

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

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

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

#13 Olives

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

👉Read more about olives in Italy and Spain.

#14 Plant-based drink

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

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

#15 Carpets

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

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

👉Learn more about carpets made from fishing nets

#16 STUA Furniture

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

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

👉Learn more about STUA furniture.

#17 Tea

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

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

#18 Vases

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

👉Hier siehst du die Vasen aus Kaffeesatz

“I saw this in a Green PearlsⓇ hotel”

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

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

*CIN-Codes:

IT021072A1QCJQTLUQ (ADLER Lodge Ritten)

IT021011A1AE4737IT (My Arbor)

IT008010A1NIWKHTTF (Relais del Maro)

IT021072A1UOWUIDH4 (APIPURA hotel rinner)

IT021056A1J4HHYSU4 (LA VIMEA)

IT021019A16MFGOUCR (Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel)

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

Peace and relaxation through singing bowls

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

Singing bowl massage according to Peter HessⓇ

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

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

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

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

How does a singing bowl massage work?

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

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

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

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

Difference between singing bowl massage and a sound bath

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

👉For more information, visit HUBERTUS Ayurveda.

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

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

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

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

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

Sound bath as an included service

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

Meditation with singing bowls

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

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

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

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

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

Sound Healing Retreats

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

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

Sustainable wellness hotels with a Far Eastern touch

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

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

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

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

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

A 30-minute sound massage costs 47 euros.

Singing bowl massage in Nepal

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

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

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

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

Singing bowl massage in Cambodia

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

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

Sound bowl meditation and science

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

*CIN: IT021072A1QCJQTLUQ (ADLER Lodge Ritten)

*CIN: IT021011A1AE4737IT (My Arbor)

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Der Beitrag Singing bowl massage – On offer at these sustainable hotels erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

What is a place of power?

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

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

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

Places of power and tourism

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Biohotel Grafenast – A place of power, confirmed by geomancers

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

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

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

You can create your own places of power

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

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

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

Crystal Garden at Gut Guntrams

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

Places of power around sustainable hotels

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

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

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

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

Temples and the “holy forest” to experience in Thailand

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bad Herrenalb – a place of power

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

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

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

Recharge your batteries in Warper Wood

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

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

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

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

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

Hexenbödele on the Ritten in South Tyrol

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

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

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

Stone circle in Seefeld

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

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

Places of natural power with our Green PearlsⓇ partners

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

The sea as an inexhaustible source of energy in Tenerife

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

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

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

Subjective places of power in East Tyrol

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

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

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

Place of Power Matterhorn

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

Recharge your batteries with a forest bath in South Tyrol

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

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

The Riva Waterfalls in Sand in Taufers

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

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

Do places of power work?

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

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

*CIN CODES Italien

IT021072A1L46PNBHX (Hotel Weihrerhof)

IT021072A1UOWUIDH4 (APIPURA hotel rinner)

IT021011A1AE4737IT (My Arbor)

IT021017B4CPKU6WK9 (OLM Nature Escape)

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Sustainable hotels offering silent retreats

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

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

Well? Got you?

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

Personal retreat at Gut Guntrams in Austria

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

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

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

👉 Find out more about the retreat here.

Fasting weeks with quiet moments at Biohotel Grafenast

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

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

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

That’s why silence is good for you

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

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

Ocean Balancing – Silence in the water

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

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

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

Room of tranquillity as a counterpart to the relaxation room

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

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

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

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

Room of Tranquillity on holidays

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“In our house, every room is silent”

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

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

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

CIN-Codes:

* CIN: IT021011A1AE4737IT (My Arbor)

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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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Tips for a successful spa day at home

Before you begin your spa day, there are a few things you should be aware of and prepare for in order to get the most out of your spa experience:

• Do all your chores (laundry, dishes, etc.) in advance so that nothing distracts you from your rest. If you can’t: close the kitchen door, put the laundry basket in a room you rarely enter, and give yourself permission to ignore these “chores. The laundry won’t get worse if you leave it until tomorrow.
• Plan ahead and make sure you won’t be disturbed. Take a day off when the children are in school or daycare, tell your partner and/or roommates that you do not want to be disturbed.
• Create a pleasant atmosphere with passive lighting and candles, and perhaps set the room temperature a little higher to make it more relaxing.
• Make a cozy corner with pillows and blankets
• Relax further with herbal tea and a good book

DIY instructions and recipes for face masks, body scrubs, and herbal stamps

Have you noticed that all eyes are on South Korea right now when it comes to skin care? The trend is called “K-beauty” and is extremely popular on social media and in stores. Korean skin care often includes rice as an ingredient.

K-Beauty Rice-Mask DIY

Here’s how to make a very simple DIY Korean rice mask that’s currently going viral on TikTok:

Ingredients:

• 1 small cup of rice (e.g. jasmine rice)
• 3 small cups of water

Preparation and use:

• Wash the rice 3 times
• Boil with the water (without salt)
• Puree the cooked rice in a blender (add more water depending on the desired consistency)
• Allow to cool and apply to face.
• Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes
• Rinse off

The DIY rice mask will last about one to two weeks in the refrigerator.

However, the K-beauty trend threatens to get out of hand. For example, there is the “10-Step Korean Skincare Routine,” which requires you to buy ten different products, each costing over 50 Euros (depending on the brand, of course). We’d rather use the DIY mask J

DIY beauty from Thailand – Recipes from the Mala Spa in Phuket

Keemala is one of the most unique resorts in Thailand. Located on the island of Phuket, it consists of several villas (all with private pools) surrounded by a natural tropical forest. They also offer a variety of massages and spa treatments (if you are interested, you can find the Mala Spa’s 16-page spa menu here).

For a spa day at home, Keemala sent us the following recipes:

#1 Soothing and hydrating mask

Ingredients:

• 3 to 4 tablespoons plain yogurt
• ½ teaspoon honey
• squeeze of lemon juice

Preparation and use:

• Mix all the ingredients together.
• Apply to face and leave on for 15 minutes
• Rinse with warm water

#2 Keemala DIY body scrub for clear skin

Ingredients:

• Sea salt (alternative: sugar)
• Coconut oil
• A few drops of essential oil (lavender or eucalyptus)

Preparation and use:

• Gently massage onto wet skin in the shower.
• Rinse off

#3 Magnesium sulfate foot bath (Espom Salt)

Ingredients:

• Foot bath tub of warm water
• ½ cup magnesium sulfate-also known as Epsom or Espuma salt (available at pharmacies or well-stocked drugstores)
• A few drops of essential oil (your favorite scent)

Preparation and use:

• Add Espuma salt and oil to the warm water
• Soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes

“ The foot bath helps you relax and softens the skin of your fee” – Keemala

The footbath is also a great base for other foot treatments in your day spa, such as callus removal and pedicures. Afterwards, apply a thick layer of cream to your feet (see below for skin care brand tips).

DIY: Herb stamps for a wellness day at home

Maslina Resort is located directly on the coast of the Croatian island of Hvar in the Adriatic Sea. The hotel stands for “Mindful Luxury” and focuses on comfort in harmony with nature. Naturally, the spa facilities are designed with sustainability and mindfulness in mind. The Garden to Skin service applies oils and herbs from the hotel garden directly to the skin.

For your spa day at home, the spa team recommends relaxing herbal pouches.

Ingredients:

• Fresh medicinal herbs from your own garden or purchased. Rosemary, thyme, lavender and ginger are the perfect blend for relaxation and boosting the immune system.

Preparation:

• Cut a soft cloth (such as an old shirt) into squares about 6 inches square.
• Wash the herbs, remove the twigs, and place the leaves in the center of the cloth square.
• Then form a bundle and tie with string to make small herb stamps.
• Bring water to a boil and place the herbal pouches in a steamer basket over the hot water. The pouches themselves should remain dry.

Alternative: You can also lightly moisten the stamps and microwave them for about 2 minutes until they are very warm.

How to use:

• Have a friend or partner place the herbal pouches along your spine, applying gentle pressure, and relax.

Sustainable products to buy for your home spa

Consider using skin care products for your at-home day spa. Many of our sustainable Green PearlsⓇ hotel partners produce their own natural cosmetics, which you can purchase at the properties or online.

#1 BergSea cosmetics from the Hotel Weihrerhof in South Tyrol

The Hotel Weihrerhof is located at 1,200 meters above sea level on the Ritten in South Tyrol, directly on the Wolfgruben Lake. The lake is considered one of the cleanest in Italy, and the water from the mountain lake is the basis for the cosmetic line. Other natural ingredients from the region, such as hay and Swiss stone pine, are used as well. The range includes products such as natural soap, body milk, shower gel and foot cream at fair prices.

👉 Here you can find the BergSea online store

#2 Italian natural cosmetics from ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges

The ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges consist of several sustainably managed properties from northern Italy (ADLER Lodge RITTEN) to the south of the country (ADLER Spa Resort SICILIA). The owner’s family ensures that each property reflects its location, for example by building with local materials and using local foods in the kitchen.

The different regions of Italy are also reflected in the luxury natural cosmetics line: grapes from Tuscany, mountain flowers from South Tyrol and citrus fruits from Sicily. Whether you are looking for care, detoxification or regeneration, there is something for every skin type!

“ Our cosmetics line is our contribution to a holistic, nature-loving life.” – ADLER Spa Resorts & Lodges

👉 Here you will find the ADLER Online Shop.

#3 Vegan cosmetics from CERVO Mountain Resort

CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt, Switzerland, has a special style and fragrance. It combines Swiss mountain culture with a modern nomadic lifestyle at the highest level, for which the resort has already received several architectural awards.

The Mountain Ashram Spa is also very special, combining a variety of cultures in its treatments.

“ Guests can purchase our wellness products and try some of the spa treatments at home” – CERVO Mountain Resort

One such example is the Mountain Ashram Detox Body Scrub with pine needles and sage. It refines the skin and increases circulation (through massage).

How to use:

• Massage the body scrub into wet skin in the shower.
• Start at the feet and massage in circular motions towards the heart.
• Massage for about 5 minutes.
• Rinse with warm water

👉 Click here to visit the CERVO Online Store

#4 Energy products and cosmetics according to Viktor Philippi at Gerbehof Natural Resort

The family of the Gerbehof Nature Resort practices the bioenergetic method of Philippi. This includes “bioenergetic motivation” and “stress reduction motivation”. For the latter, for example, you can book stress-relieving massages at the resort using special massage stamps and stones (onyx stones, black basalt, white jade stones).

“ We sell energy products (CDs and crystals) by V. Philippi and provide instructions on how to use them at home as a biomotivation to further strengthen your own health.” – Naturresort Gerbehof

Recommended amenity brands from sustainable hotels

Hotels that do not manufacture natural cosmetics purchase those they believe in for their spa or as room amenities.

Note: I am providing links to cosmetic brands and their stores as a service to you – neither we nor the hotels receive commissions or other benefits.

#5 The Lifestylehotel SAND on the Baltic Sea coast opts for “Björk & Berries”

When you stay at the Lifestylehotel SAND in Timmendorfer Strand on the Baltic Sea, you will find sustainable amenities in your room in the form of products from the Swedish company “Björk & Berries”.

“ Nordic, sustainable, refillable and stylish,” says host Marion Muller.

👉 Find Björk & Berries here

#6 Ayurvedic treatments and natural cosmetics at Biohotel Grafenast

The Biohotel Grafenast in Tyrol is a wonderful place for a relaxing vacation in nature and hiking and pampers its guests (after their outdoor adventures) with spa and wellness treatments. Ayurveda plays an important role here.

To extend your spa experience, you can purchase the various cosmetic products used by Biohotel Adler at the on-site shop. These include the Argan d’or brand.

👉 Click here for Argan d’or natural cosmetics

#7 TEAM DR. JOSEPH natural cosmetic products at our Green PearlsⓇ partners

Many of our sustainable Green PearlsⓇ hotels and vacation homes rely on certified natural cosmetics from Team Dr. Joseph. The South Tyrolean brand is

• vegan
• cruelty-free
• and uses (almost) plastic-free and sustainable product packaging.

The production takes place in South Tyrol and all ingredients come from the region. No wonder our local partners like OLM Nature Escape and My Arbor swear by it. In Germany, you can find the products at the romantic hotel Das Rübezahl in the Allgäu and at STURM in the Rhön.

“ The Dr. Joseph and all other brands we use are available in our shop. Guests can also contact Markus, our certified massage therapist, for personalized advice.” – OLM Nature Escape

Tip for proper use

Among other things, Team Dr. Joseph lists their “Balancing Toner” as a “bestseller”.

Application:

• As you can see in this video, the toner is not applied with a cotton pad, but with your hands. Gently tap your décolleté, neck, and face. According to the manufacturer, tapping increases the effect.

After a day at the Green DIY Spa, it’s best to unwind in a relaxing way. Watch a movie to carry the relaxation into the evening.

Do you have any other tips? Please share them in the comments!

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Der Beitrag Green DIY – A spa day to treat yourself also works at home erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.

Vegan delights on the Seiser Alm, right on the slopes

A pioneer among vegan ski hotels is Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel. What started as a vegetarian/vegan hotel has now evolved its cuisine to be completely free of animal products, making it the first vegan hotel in the Dolomites. Celebrity Greek chef Aggeliki Charami, who is also very active on Instagram promoting vegan cuisine, was co-responsible for revising the culinary concept.

The sustainable hotel, at 2,020 meters above sea level, is ideally located for a ski vacation – a run in the Dolomiti Superski area ends right outside the door. The ski lift is also right next to the hotel. From here you are directly connected to 32 slopes of the Alpe di Siusi ski area. With the same ski pass you can also explore the even larger Dolomiti Superski. The Alpe di Siusi is only one of twelve ski areas with about 1,200 kilometers of slopes.

Cross-country skiing on the Alpe di Siusi

If you prefer cross-country skiing, the Seiser Alm’s 80 km of trails start just a few hundred meters from the hotel.

100% vegan restaurant on the slopes

Since Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel is the only completely vegan hospitality business in the area, we suggest you take your meals here. You can ski right up to the terrace (as in the lodges), leave your equipment in the designated area and enjoy vegan food! On the terrace or in the winter garden of the restaurant you can enjoy the view of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Dolomites.

The menu is specially adapted for the ski season. The vegan pizza is an affordable and delicious highlight!

👉 Read more about a vegan ski vacation at Paradiso Pure.Living Vegan Hotel.

EXCURSION: Is skiing sustainable?

IIn some ways, skiing is at odds with leaving nature in its pristine beauty. However, there have already been a number of sustainable improvements in the problem areas of snow cannons, ski lifts, energy, water consumption, pollution and mass tourism. Dolomiti Superski, for example, is one of the resorts that has been committed to sustainability for several years. Read more in our articles:

👉 Sustainable winter vacation 

👉 Tips for a sustainable skiing holiday 

Individual ski vacation on the Plose in South Tyrol

The Green PearlsⓇ Hotel My Arbor near Brixen is located just a few meters from the valley station of the Plose cable car. Ski-in/ski-out is not a foreign concept here. You can safely store your equipment in the hotel’s own ski room. The Plose ski area has 7 ski lifts and 19 slopes of varying difficulty, with a total of 42 kilometers of slopes and fantastic views of the Dolomites. If you are not an avid skier, you can also enjoy 12 km of toboggan runs and 12 km of winter hiking trails.

Vegan on request

The concept of the hotel includes the idea of “mine”. This means that individual service is very important and “special requests” are not only allowed, but explicitly part of the hotel’s philosophy. The kitchen creates a different vegan menu every day on request, and there are many vegan options for breakfast.

“Vegan options are currently rather limited in the ski lodges in the nearest ski area. We can help you plan to meet your needs. We are also happy to pack a vegan lunch for you. – My Arbor

👉 Not a skier yet? My Arbor is a partner of the Plose Ski School.

Vegan skiing vacation in Switzerland

Unfortunately, we cannot recommend a 100% vegan hotel in Switzerland like we did for South Tyrol. However, there are two sustainable Green PearlsⓇ hotels where you will feel comfortable as a vegan.

CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt with vegan/vegetarian restaurant

The CERVO Mountain Resort in Zermatt is connected to the Matterhorn Ski Paradise with about 360 kilometers of prepared slopes. The resort has a ski room with lockers for your equipment and is spread over several buildings. There is a spa area, a climbing wall, a gym and three restaurants. One of them is the vegetarian BAZAAR, which serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. Vegan dishes are marked on the menu so you can enjoy a vegan ski vacation and be surrounded by like-minded people.

👉 Check here to find the best places to ski around CERVO Mountain Resort.

Intimate boutique hotel Bella Vista Zermatt – for skiing and yoga

If you are looking for a small, cozy ski hotel with an individual flair and personal service, then look no further than the Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt. It has only 21 rooms and offers a fantastic view of the Matterhorn. There is also a small spa area and a yoga room with regular yoga classes. Of course, there is also a ski room and the ski slope ends right at the hotel. If you want, you can even take a trip to Italy on your skis!

Vegan alternatives are an integral part of the sustainable program. There is cappuccino with oatmeal, vegan pastries from the hotel’s own bakery, and vegan meals. The Anthamatten family, who owns the hotel, is very familiar with vegan requirements and will take professional care of you according to your wishes.

„We kindly ask guests to inform us before arrival if they are vegan so that we can prepare vegan dishes for the breakfast buffet (preparation is on request to avoid food waste).“ – Fabienne Anthamatten

Learn more about winter vacations at Hotel Bella Vista Zermatt.

Vegan offer for skiers in Tyrol and East Tyrol

If you want to spend a vegan ski vacation with the whole family, the Kellerjoch ski area near the Biohotel Grafenast is ideal. The hotel also has a mountain hut (Cafè Rodel Toni) right next to the children’s ski school – so you can enjoy coffee with oatdrink while keeping an eye on your kids. The Unterlechner family’s family hotel also has special hotel rooms with separate children’s rooms.

“We offer a wide variety of great vegan meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Some huts, such as the Kellerjochhütte, also offer vegan food. – Peter Unterlechner, Biohotel Grafenast

At the Naturhotel Outside in East Tyrol, you can spend your vegan winter vacation surrounded by nature in the Hohe Tauern National Park. The national park includes several 3,000-meter peaks, and the Grossglockner Kals-Matrei ski area has 16 lifts and about 47 kilometers of slopes.

“With us you can enjoy a vegan menu every day and the huts also serve vegan food.” – Naturehotel Outside

Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing for vegans in Germany

If you prefer gentler winter sports, the Allgäu is the perfect place for you – even if you are vegan.

Hotel Das Rübezahl with two mountain huts and vegan options

IFüssen has a huge network of cross-country ski trails, with a total of 300 kilometers of connected trails. Of course, the romantic backdrop of Neuschwanstein Castle and other royal castles is a highlight. You also have a number of options for downhill skiing, such as Tegelberg.

The Rohrkopfhütte, part of the Green PearlsⓇ Hotel Das Rübezahl, is also located on the Tegelberg. As of 2024, the Edelsberg Lodge is also part of the Rübezahl family and can be reached in winter by snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or winter hiking.

In the romantic hotel a vegan menu is served daily, and in the two huts (Rohrkopfhütte and Edelsberghütte) a selection of vegan dishes is available. “Of course, a vegan packed lunch or picnic is no problem if ordered accordingly,” adds the Thurm family, who own the hotel.

Gentle winter sports at the HUBERTUS Mountain Refuge Allgäu

Also in the Allgäu, in Balderschwang at 1,044 meters and near the Austrian border, the HUBERTUS Mountain Refugio Allgäu is located in the middle of nature. In winter, snowshoeing is a must. You can rent snowshoes at the hotel and be accompanied by guides (sometimes by the host Mark Traubel himself). In addition, the Balderschwang cross-country skiing area offers over 100 kilometers of trails.

The vegetarian and vegan options at the HUBERTUS have increased in recent years and there is a vegetarian menu every day. 100% vegan meals are available on request. You can pack a “Jausensackerl” for the mountain. The snack bags are ready for you at the breakfast or lunch buffet.

Vegan self-catering ski vacation

Do you prefer to cook for yourself on vacation? Maybe vegan is not enough for you, or you have very specific dietary requirements that only you can or want to prepare? Then you should spend your winter vacation in a chalet, aparthotel or vacation home with its own kitchen. The Hygna Chalets in Austria’s Alpbachtal, for example, offer a luxurious and sustainable option. Some of the chalets have their own outdoor hot tub. Because it is heated, you can take in the snowy landscape while relaxing in the warm water.

👉 Information about the 100 kilometers of cross-country ski trails in the Alpbachtal.

In the Austrian town of Pfunds, in the Tyrolean Oberland, you’ll find the Summit Lodges, vacation homes made of polar spruce with their own sauna powered by green electricity. The 120-square-meter log cabins also have their own fireplaces for cozy evenings. Don’t worry: firewood is provided 😉

„Most huts and restaurants now offer vegan meals.“ – Summit Lodges Pfunds

👉 Summit Lodges Pfunds is surrounded by approximately 135 kilometers of cross-country ski trails, and a ski bus stops nearby to take you to six ski areas.

👉 Find out more here: Winter vacation at the Summit Lodges

Skiing and vegan self-catering in Sand in Taufers, South Tyrol

In South Tyrol, the OLM Nature Escape will open in December 2023. The circular aparthotel is energy self-sufficient and a pioneer in sustainable alpine tourism. Part of the aparthotel’s culinary concept is that you can book all meals according to a modular system.

“Vegan options are no problem at all – our two qualified dietary chefs are very competent” – OLM Nature Escape

You can also use your own kitchen in the fully equipped apartments. Here you can prepare your (vegan) meals exactly as you like.

Just behind Sand in Taufers, where the OLM Nature Escape is located, lies the Skiworld Ahrntal ski area, which consists of the Speikboden and Klausberg ski areas. It is a smaller ski area with 87 kilometers of slopes, which is especially popular with families. Cross-country skiing is also available.

Finally, if you are vegan, we recommend checking in advance which huts offer vegan options (e.g. Bergwelten or Vegan-News). The HappyCow app is also very helpful when you’re on the go.

Save this article for your next winter holidays!

Der Beitrag Tips for your vegan ski vacation and our favorite vegan ski hotels and lodges erschien zuerst auf GREEN TRAVEL BLOG.