The most recommended eco-friendly stays from around the world

 

Luxury and sustainability are not mutually exclusive. The key hot spots for eco-travelers according to Expedia.

These eco-hotels are among the highest-rated by Expedia travellers for the multitude of positive impacts they offer like extensive policies governing waste management, resource consumption and natural conservation. On the must-have list are opportunities for guests to engage in ecologically sustainable practices: eco-tours, cruelty-free animal interactions and beach meditation.

A true eco-friendly hotel must showcase a commitment to the community, reflected in celebrations of local indigenous culture, on-site markets that support local artisans, and local partnerships to improve area schools.

” With increasing frequency, people are looking to make the shift from “tourist” to “conscious traveler” by finding ways to maximize positive impacts on the locations they visit. Making thoughtful choices about how, when, and where you go on a vacation can make a significant difference,” commented Expedia. Ready to book your eco-friendly hotel?

Top 10 eco-friendly stays on Expedia according to travelers. Top 10 lists compiled from measuring sentiment and volume of reviews from travellers globally on Expedia that mention ‘sustainable’ or ‘eco-friendly’.

Sandos Caracol Eco Resort, Mexico.

Situated between dense jungle and the blue of the Mexican Caribbean coast, this Rainforest Alliance-certified destination is among the highest-rated by travellers for the multitude of positive impacts it offers.

 

Nomad Hotel Roissy CDG, Paris, France

Charles de Gaulle airport, the Nomad Hotel Roissy CDG boasts Scandinavian-inspired design, tech-enabled customisable room layouts and a mission to “to reduce the ecological impact of these buildings to a minimum, at every stage of life, from design to operation”—making it the perfect accommodation for digital nomads with green leanings.

 

Siloso Beach Resort, Sentosa, Singapore

Steps from the sandy beaches of the South China Sea, this award-winning eco-resort has taken special care to integrate the surrounding habitat into its design by prioritising open spaces and preserving established natural features like mature trees and flowing springs. The result? A uniquely organic take on a luxurious beach resort experience.

Habitat Suites, Austin, Texas

Habitat Suites, a sustainable gem in the heart of Texas’ most progressive city, boasts a 30-year track record of forward-thinking environmental stewardship. Habitat Suites has been a charter member of the Green Hotels Association since 1991—and won an Austin Green Business Leader Gold Award in 2018. The hotels is known for widespread use of alternative energy, including solar panels, solar thermal and electric vehicle charging. Habitat Suites Austin offers on-premises organic fruit and herb gardens; clean, local and organic food options. It uses plant-based, zero harsh chemical detergents for cleaning; bio-safe guest shampoos and detergents. The hypoallergenic suites include live potted plants and windows that open for access to fresh air.

Pakasai Resort, Krabi, Thailand

“Krabi’s Greenest Resort” was the first in the area to win an ASEAN Green Hotel Award (2014). The resource conservation efforts of the Pakasai Resort Krabi include rainwater capture and greywater recycling, energy efficient lighting, biogas production and reduction of plastic use. Careful attention is given to reducing carbon emissions through waste minimization program and collaboration with the local community and local organizations. The guests of this tropical Thai resort are encouraged to make their stay even greener by joining the #GreeningPakasai campaign, which incentivises visitors to make low-carbon choices around food, transportation, linen services, and local activities.

 

PARKROYAL on Pickering, Singapore

With 15,000 square metres of greenery and a cutting-edge design, the PARKROYAL is equally impressive in what it does and doesn’t do. This LEED-certified masterpiece saves 32.5 Olympic-sized swimming pools’ worth of water annually and could power an estimated 680 households with the energy saved by its conservation efforts.

The resource consumption is highly regulated through employment of light, motion, and rain sensors. The solar cells and rainwater collection mean zero-energy maintenance of the 15,000 m2 sky gardens. Thoughtful construction processes reduced concrete (and associated waste and energy expenditure) use by more than 80%.

 

The Green House, Bournemouth, UK

Every detail of this eco-hotel has been designed to help guests feel great while doing good. That ethos touches every facet of The Green House, from the building’s renewable energy production and Forest Stewardship certified, UK-crafted furnishings to the on-site restaurant’s adherence to local sourcing and high animal welfare standards—the company car even runs on bio-fuel from the kitchen’s old cooking oil.

 

Listel Hotel, Vancouver, Canada

The Listel Hotel dedicates itself to both environmental responsibility and the arts. The hotel provides a location to elevate local and international artists—including a gallery dedicated to First Nations artists from the Northwest Coast—while participating in the city of Vancouver’s “Corporate Climate Leader” program, setting an example for sustainable tourism efforts across the globe. The conservation efforts include 20 solar panels, a state-of-the-art heat capture program (reducing the hotel’s natural gas use by 30%) and water reduction, air quality programs, and adherence to a 100% Zero Waste policy since August 2011.

Hotel Verde, Cape Town, South Africa

The first hotel in Africa to offer 100% carbon-neutral accommodation and conferencing, the Cape Town Verde has earned an extensive list of international accolades (LEED Platinum certification and a 6-star rating from the Green Building Council of South Africa) for its extensive adherence to sustainable practices.

The restoration of the surrounding wetlands now supports indigenous water-wise vegetation and a healthy population of Cape honeybees—as well as an ecotrail, outdoor gym, and eco-pool for visitor use, plus on-site edible food gardens and aquaponics. Energy efficiencies include photovoltaic panels on the roof and north-facing facades, wind turbines, energy- generating gym equipment and geothermal heat.

Sherwood Queenstown, Queenstown, New Zealand.

The hotel’s orchards and kitchen garden supply its award-winning restaurant; most rooms offer sweeping mountain or lake views, and all are outfitted with South Island wool blankets and locally-sourced beverages. Mornings start with optional yoga sessions, followed by hiking, mountain biking, skiing or snowboarding.

The Sherwood is one of the largest private solar installs in New Zealand and currently generates enough electricity to return surplus to the grid. The selection of food, wine, beer, spirits, and other consumable products are local, natural, healthy, ethical, seasonal and sustainable in their production and use.

Top 10 sustainable countries around the world:

1. USA;
2. Mexico;
3. Canada;
4. Australia;
5. UK;
6. Costa Rica;
7. Thailand;
8. New Zealand;
9. France;
10. Italy.
    

    @PARKROYAL on Pickering Hotel, Singapore