Earth Day is just around the corner – so what are the best ways to celebrate? If you decide to hit the road (in a carbon-neutral mode of transportation), we’ve got some ideas for you. Here’s where to stay for Earth Day if you seek one of the best eco-friendly green luxury hotels and resorts in the world right now. A stay at any one of these would be a lovely and restorative way to honor Earth Day this year.
what are the best eco-friendly hotels and resorts in the world?
Sustainable hospitality used to be more of a trend and now, luckily, it is becoming an essential requirement for the eco-conscious travel (a growing group.) Travelers are becoming more environmentally conscious—and not just the week before Earth Day which falls on April 22 this year—about how their carbon imprint expands when they travel and what that impact can do to the planet. According to a survey from Virtuoso, 70% of respondents agreed that responsible and sustainable travel enhances their overall experience.
What does it mean for a hotel to be sustainable?
These hotels or sites have established practices and initiatives to help reduce their environmental impact, such as using renewable energy sources, reducing water usage, and minimizing waste. They may also prioritize locally sourced and organic food, and promote sustainable transportation options like biking or public transit.
How do you know if a hotel or resort is actually eco-friendly?
This can make for an extremely satisfying and unique travel experience. It could include glamping in the desert to visiting local businesses. Some travelers even want their trips to have volunteer or philanthropic work included, like cleaning up a beach or working in a community garden.
Since searches for for ‘Eco-friendly’ hotels and transportation options are surging online, we thought we would put together a list of some of the most extraordinary accommodations for you to explore. Whether it is Earth Day or any day. Here’s where to stay for Earth Day if you seek one of the best eco-friendly green luxury hotels and resorts in the world right now.
best luxury eco-friendly hotels and resorts in the world right now
1. The hotels of Amelia Island, Florida
Known for its gorgeous beaches Amelia Island has also become a prime model for sustainability practices. The island is less than 15 miles long, but has preserved parklands making up nearly 10% of the entire island.
Check out the scenic trails at Amelia Island State Park, Egans Creek Greenway, and The Gateway to the Great Florida Birding Trail, where you could see more than 100 bird species. You can get up close with the egrets, sea turtles, and manatees in a kayak or canoe. You can then hop on a horse for an incredible beach ride (or you can always opt for an electric golf cart if you prefer.)
What are the best green eco-friendly luxury hotels and resorts?
There isn’t just one hotel that is making an effort in this space but rather five! Amelia Island’s hotels recently earned the Audubon International Green Lodging Program certification. Two more are completing the program this year.
Amelia Island CVB’s goal is to be the first destination to have all hotels Green Lodging certified. Hotels in this group include the Hampton Inn & Suites Amelia Island-Historic Harbor Front and the Omni Amelia Island Resort. You could also opt to rent a house, stay at a local bed & breakfast, or camp under the stars at historic Fort Clinch.
The best eco-friendly hotels offer volunteer opportunities like beach clean-ups.
And if you are one of those people who wants to volunteer on their vacation then this is your spot. There are many opportunities with Keep Nassau Beautiful and the Downtown to Dunes community cleanup event to help preserve this extraordinary piece of land. An island-wide “Leave No Trace” ordinance helps ensure the preservation of the beaches and the protection of local wildlife by removing any personal belongings left unattended after sunset.
2. Beach Plum Farm, Cape May, N.J.
New Jersey gets a bad rep but it has some of the most beautiful farms in the world and Beach Plum Farm is no exception. The regenerative 62-acre farm is considered one of the country’s top agricultural getaways.
Perfect for families, friends, groups as the farm’s activities include everything from beach clean-ups, scavenger hunts, farm yoga, horseback riding and even participating in integral farm operations like harvesting. You will get your fill of wild bird watching on hiking paths and a fridge stocked with farm products and fresh coffee.
Farm guests and visitors may tour the farm grounds and also enjoy shopping and dining at The Beach Plum Farm Kitchen & Market. There is an incredible farm-to-table dinner series throughout the year.
3. Paradisus by Meliá, Various locations
The luxury brand by Meliá Hotels International, has launched Destination Inclusive® at its newly launched Nikté in Punta Cana and The Reserve properties. This is an absolutely perfect trip for the sustainable traveler. And also a perfect assortment of hotel choices to honor Earth Day.
This program includes new experiences, designed to connect guests to the local culture, spanning design and amenities, food and beverage, entertainment, and guest activities, both on and off-property.
Each Destination Inclusive® experience is carefully curated by local experts connecting guests with nature and the beautiful surroundings of each resort. This will include a visit to a local Mexican cenote with a shaman, exploring a canyon in Los Cabos, and sailing on a catamaran to a private beach in Punta Cana.
And if you were hoping for a European vacation, Paradisus will also expand Destination-Inclusive® to the newly opened Paradisus Gran Canaria, the first Paradisus by Meliá hotel brand in Europe, on May 22.
4. Talamanca, Costa Rica
OK so this isn’t technically a hotel. But Selina Puerto Viejo is an unmissable glamping site that encourages travelers to relax and truly experience the Pura Vida lifestyle. It includes incredible surfing, spicy Caribbean food and reggae jam sessions.
You can take a surfing lesson right there on the beach or just grab some snorkels and paddleboards. You can spend all day out there. If the water isn’t your all-day thing there are book swaps, yoga classes, and nightly live music performances and calypso sessions. You will get to stay in tipis crafted by hand-made materials from neighboring indigenous communities. They are also available to book online at Pitchup.com for $63/night.
5. Hotel Húsafell, Iceland
We conclude our list of the best luxury hotels to stay when you’re committed to honoring Earth Day with a gorgeous property in Iceland. ‘Cause we know the Icelandic people have sustainability down pat. So why not check out their practices first hand?
Hotel Húsafell is the epitome of sustainable accommodations. It is the first hotel in the Nordic countries to make the National Geographic list of Unique Lodges of the world. To make this list all the lodges included are world-class properties that are committed to sustainability, authenticity, and excellence in service.
Here are some of the sustainability features at Hotel Húsafell. Sustainable design (local volcanic rock reused as construction materials and as decorative features). There are organic bath amenities made from Icelandic herbs. And a 9-hole GEO-certified sustainable golf course. The property is managed and staffed by locals, and the fine dining offerings focus on local ingredients.
best luxury eco-friendly hotels and resorts in the world right now
Those are our tips on where to stay for Earth Day if you seek one of the best eco-friendly green luxury hotels and resorts in the world right now. Of course, you can stay at one of these Earth-friendly properties any day of the year. Happy travels, dear reader.
