What is An Eco Stay?

There was a turning point in our travels when we realised that we were part of the contributions towards climate change. There are many impacts of travel that are not beneficial to the environment, whether it’s fossil fuels, litter or thoughtlessly disposing of towels that have been used once or twice and putting them in the wash. We’ve all been there, enjoying the ultimate freedom you feel whilst being away, not having to care too much about what’s happening around you and the impact it’s having, but now times are changing and the awareness to be environmentally friendly and our contribution towards it is rapidly developing.

Many travellers aim to travel in a sustainable way but it’s not always an easy solution. This is where Eco hotels and lodges come in. These are all built with environmental sustainability in mind and often use energy efficient systems, stressing the importance of conserving water and have a good recycling system in place. They are usually in remote locations in the jungle, mountains or beaches and help people connect with the local environment. Mainstream booking agents don’t make finding Eco stays easy yet, so we have compiled our top 10 tips to look out for when looking for an Eco hotel, for all you Eco-conscious travellers out there!

1. Does the hotel make good use of the surrounding environment?

The hotel design complimenting it’s surroundings. We’ve all seen these plush hotels being built right in front of a beautiful beach and interrupting the landscape. An Eco hotel will blend perfectly and won’t ruin any scenery and look like it belongs there.

It may be difficult to find out just from their website, but you could check whether there is the option for guests to adjust the heating or cooling system in the room in order to adapt to the local climate. This in turn also affects the type of material that has been used to build it, and how long it can withstand the weather conditions.

Eco stays are usually creatively built with locally sourced materials or materials made available from natural disasters, such as wood from trees that have been damaged by hurricanes. The protection of fauna and flora should also be a priority during construction and the maintenance of it should be treated with natural fertilisers rather than pesticides.

2. How can the hotel support the local community?

Is the food locally sourced? Encouraging a ‘farm to table’ dining concept where most products are organic

Are the staff locals? This makes a difference to local residents as it provides jobs and support for them.

Does the hotel embrace local culture?

If the hotel offers tours, are the tour guides local? This is the best way for authentic travel as a local will have the best knowledge of their area.

3. What kind of recycling systems and waste disposals are they using?

Are there recycling bins for the staff and guests to use?

Have they gone completely single-use plastic free and using other solutions such as biodegradable plastic, bamboo or stainless steel?

Do they provide filtered water dispensers and don’t use plastic bottles? Some hotels also have reusable bottles available for guests so they can use these during their trip

Do they provide any incentives for skipping laundry or housekeeping? We staying in Rusutsu ski resort in Japan and they honoured guests with coupons with money back if you skipped the housekeeping during your stay. This was an excellent incentive because even though it’s not much, it’s always nice to know you’re getting some money back and your actions are appreciated!

4. Do they provide eco transport solutions?

Some hotels provide free bikes or services to rent bikes to allow you to get around quicker but not using any fuel. We are seeing more and more electric scooters pop up in larger cities swell, which have come in handy! Most of them require you to sign up with the app so you can scan the scooter before using it and they can keep track of your time on it. Check out our post of top 10 things to do when you arrive for tips on buying a sim card. They should also provide walking maps to encourage guests to explore the area on foot.