The eco-tourism movement is gaining momentum every year, so hotels and resorts can’t stay away either. One in five travelers is willing to pay more for a so-called “green vacation. Many tourists are not just interested in environmentally friendly resorts, but in those that make a significant contribution to the protection of the environment. In order to get the cherished ECO status they constantly work to reduce the negative impact on nature, implement measures to reduce carbon footprint, save water and electricity.
For those who dream about the elite “green” rest are eco-resorts and eco-hotels of the world, where you should visit at least once. You do not have to sacrifice convenience and comfort for the sake of life in harmony with nature. Meet the authentic culture, hiking in protected areas, open-air meditation, organic cuisine – this is not a complete list of what you can get, choosing eco-tourism.
Bardessono Eco Resort and Spa, California
The luxurious and beautiful Bardessono Eco Resort and Spa is located in Yountville, California, in the heart of Napa Valley. It is one of the few LEED Platinum-certified hotels in the United States. Wood and recycled steel were used to build it. The designers used recycled materials. For example, the stone used in the lobby was taken from the Bardessono family’s wine cellar and cut into panels. The ceilings in the common areas are finished with planks from old wine barrels.
Thermal wells are used to heat, cool and supply hot water to the hotel’s 62 rooms. To lower the temperature in the rooms in summer but allow the sun’s rays to warm them in winter, special ledges have been designed into the walls of the buildings. If the guests are absent, sensors raise or lower the temperature in the room by a few degrees.
Thanks to the large windows there is no need for artificial lighting during the day. Approximately half of the total power demand of the hotel is provided by the solar panels on the roof.
The restaurant uses locally sourced organic products for its meals. Bardessono Eco Resort and Spa has a certified organic garden.
Post Ranch Inn, California
In Big Sur, on the coast of central California, the Post Ranch Inn is a cliff-top luxury eco-resort. It offers rooms with ocean or mountain views, private villas, or a treehouse. To allow guests to fully relax, forget about the hustle and bustle and reconnect with nature, no televisions or alarm clocks are installed in the rooms. Breakfast, drinks from the minibar, Internet access, yoga classes, guided tours and more are included in the room rate. The complex includes two spas, a pool, and a fitness center. The Sierra Mar’s restaurant masterfully prepares dishes from local produce.
The hotel adheres to the principles of ecological farming – luxury here is combined with care for the environment. Only hybrid cars are allowed to drive on the territory. Natural materials were used in the construction of the buildings. The walls of houses are lined with planks from old wine barrels. Water, extracted from its own wells, is poured into reusable bottles. The resort has a modern program for recycling garbage and wastewater treatment. In 2009, solar panels were installed, generating 350,000 kW of electricity per year.
Terranea Resort, California
Terranea Resort, located on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, is one of the best vacation destinations on the Southern California coast. The suites in the main building as well as the terraces of the bungalows, cottages and villas offer stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. The resort includes several restaurants, four pools, a golf club and spa.
Terranea Resort offers guests a variety of recreational options. Activities include archery and falconry lessons, ocean kayaking, kayaking, paddle surfing, horseback riding, and guided hikes along the coast. The spa offers classic relaxing and therapeutic massage sessions, facial and body treatments. And in the fitness center there are classes of yoga, pilates, aqua-aerobics.
Hotel Terranea Resort is designed to protect the unique nature of Palos Verdes. The company adheres to the concept of reducing water and electricity consumption, as well as reducing waste by recycling. Surplus food and unused toiletries are sent to those in need. Restaurants offer seasonal menus, and all meals are prepared exclusively from local produce. Vegetables, fruits and herbs are sourced from Catalina View Gardens organic gardens.
Uniforms for hotel staff are made from natural materials – cotton, hemp, wool. Organic dry cleaning services are offered to the guests. There is a voluntary towel and linen recycling program for guests.
