Eco-conscious holidays

Minimising the impact on the natural world is a big part of an eco-conscious holiday. And some hotels have really taken this to heart.

In Costa Rica, for instance, Pacuare Lodge was built around the forest – no trees were cut down to accommodate the main lodge or bungalows. Plus, the hotel bought 480 acres of neighbouring rainforest, to protect this vital ecosystem and its wildlife. The bungalows use green energy, too, with solar-heated water and turbine-generated electricity.

Knight Inlet Lodge in West Canada is another shining example of eco-minded accommodation. Owned by an Indigenous partnership of five First Nations, the lodge is actively involved with the Great Bear Rainforest’s bear conservation and sustainable salmon-fishing. And they successfully helped end bear trophy hunting in British Columbia in 2017.

If you’re planning a beach break, it’s likely you’ll spend some time swimming or snorkelling in the sea. But what if you could actually take care of these underwater worlds during your holiday? Well, a number of eco-conscious hotels in the Indian Ocean give you the chance to do just that.

Several Maldives hotels – including Baros Maldives, Coco Bodu Hithi, and Meeru Island Resort – have their own resident marine biologist. You can listen to their conservation tips and learn about local corals and fish. Help them with their vital work by taking part in a coral-planting programme, or by documenting tropical fish on a snorkelling trip. And LUX* South Ari Atoll has gone one step further, by setting up its own marine biology centre to monitor and protect the Maldives’ whale sharks. Find out more about our eco-friendly Maldives holidays.

In Mauritius, meanwhile, Attitude Hotels have been certified Travelife Gold in recognition of their eco-efforts. They have opened an interactive Marine Discovery Centre where you can learn about Mauritius’ lagoons, and see how they’re being protected and restored. To top it off, all Attitude Hotels are entirely without single-use plastics.  

For many travellers, trying the local cuisine is a key part of any holiday. But some hotels are taking ‘local’ to a whole new level, by sourcing their ingredients in the most sustainable way.

In Costa Rica’s Pacuare Lodge, for example, all food is either sourced directly from the lodge’s vegetable garden, or from organic farms nearby. And in Mauritius, SALT of Palmar is leading the way in eco-friendly dining. The hotel grows a lot of its own herbs and vegetables, while the rest is sourced from chemical-free farms. Buying local also supports the island’s communities, as Mauritian suppliers provide the hotel’s cheeses and pasta, while the freshest oysters, lobsters and sea urchins are caught just off-shore.

There are more eco-friendly efforts being made in Australia. The award-winning Ovolo Hotels only serve plant-based foods, in an effort to reduce their carbon footprint. And the Crystalbrook Collection – who aim to provide ‘responsible luxury’ – source their ingredients from within a three-hour radius, preferably from Indigenous producers. They only use sustainably-farmed meat and fish, too.

Sustainable travel isn’t just about the environment. Another key part is making sure that hotels support the communities they’re in, so that local people see the benefits of tourism.

Take the Governors Camp Collection in East Africa, for instance. This small hotel group has been involved with community projects for 50 years. They support the volunteer-run Moyo Foundation in Kenya, which provides healthcare for remote areas and helps struggling families pay their children’s school fees. And, in Rwanda, Governors Camp raises funds for the Single Mothers Sewing Project – an initiative which trains vulnerable young women to become seamstresses, and make their own living.

In the Caribbean, meanwhile, the Jamaica Inn founded The Jamaica Inn Foundation. This non-profit organisation provides education and wellbeing services for the island’s youth. The Foundation has also set up the Teddy Tucker Scholarship Fund, which helps provide the necessary skills and education for any Jamaican children who wish to pursue a career in tourism or hospitality.