Archive for 'Accommodations'

Yearning to get away from the bustle of the city? Soak up the lush natural beauty of Costa Rica’s rainforest at the adults-only, 5-star Gaia Hotel & Reserve, where guest density is 1 human for every 620 square yards. Whether your ideal getaway includes adventure or not, options abound. Onsite, you’ll find sailing, kayaking, fishing, [...]

Meaning “Mother Earth” in Greek, the new Gaia Napa Valley Hotel & Spa in California has just been announced as the world’s first and only Gold LEED certified hotel. This eco-friendly property exudes the charm of a B&B with modern, stylish amenities and a temptingly close proximity to Wine Country. Couple that with a non-smoking [...]

In town for a night of Diego Dogs and baseball with the San Diego Padres, I holed up at the chic Hotel Solamar, a Kimpton Hotel smack in the center of this laid-back South California city. Catering to the hip and young-at-heart, the hotel featured luxe, modern rooms; but what truly blew me away were [...]

Certified by the state of Maine as an environmental leader, the Pilgrim’s Inn B&B and restaurant in Deer Isle is a quaint country getaway keen on recycling. “To-go” containers are made of biodegradable sugar cane, used cooking oil fuels local bio-diesel cars, and natural kitchen waste is composted. Of course organic island-grown veggies are served [...]

If you’re headed to America’s Great Frontier—Alaska—this summer, you’ll want to carve a stop at Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge into your itinerary. Located in the beautiful Kachemak Bay State Park (near Homer), this top eco-resort will be planting a three-to four-foot tree in honor of each guest. Plant your own or allow the staff to [...]

Ready to really get away? Pack light, book a plane ticket and head to Mexico — Hotelito Desconocido, tucked away in Puerto Vallarta. Here, you’ll find refreshingly natural surroundings, crystal clear lagoons and long stretches of sandy beaches in a world free of “modern trappings” like electricity, telephones and thumping night clubs. Instead, you can [...]

This secluded beach resort on Andros Island, large on luxury and low on eco impact, is the perfect Caribbean getaway for those travelers who’d rather not leave a footprint behind. Powered completely by solar energy (yes, even to heat the water), Tiamo’s bungalows were built around preexisting surroundings for the ultimate in minimum site impact. [...]

Searching for a natural, chem-free B&B at which to lay your head? Look no further than Wellfleet, Massachusetts’s Chez Sven Bed and Breakfast, an allergy-free retreat that takes travelers back to basics. Rent out the Seagull Cottage or a simple suite and spend some lazy days kicking back.
The property, operated by Sven and Sandy, uses [...]

Need a break from it all? Get away to Idyllwild, in southern California, and book a night or two at the eco-chic Strawberry Creek Inn B&B. Set within a tranquility-inducing wooded area, certified by the National Wildlife Federation as an official backyard wildlife habitat, the inn offers nine rooms plus a cottage for guests seeking [...]

Thanks to John Muir’s philosophy — once you experience nature, you’ll want to preserve it — The Sierra Club Outings have been going strong since 1902. With SC guides and awesome itineraries, you can basically grab your clothes, sleeping bag, tent — and head for an incredible adventure, with peace of mind. Travel [...]

As a ski bunny searching for an eco-friendly ski resort, I thought I’d pass along some info to anyone else who may desire a green vaca on the slopes.
WhitePod (pic, left) Igloo-like camp… Luxury meets Back Woods…sky high in the Swiss Alps. The Green Resort Guide provides eco track-records for resorts all around [...]

Pictured here (copyright Nihiwatu Resort, Indonesia) and courtesy of their website, is Nihiwatu; a resort with just 7 huts, on the remote island of Sumba, Indonesia…the most desirable of the list of Conde Nast Traveler magazine’s annual Top Dozen Eco-friendly destinations, hotels and outfitters for 2006. For more details, visit nihiwatu.com; doubles, $390.
CNT also [...]