I travel at least once a month. If I’m staying only one to three nights, I don’t ask to change sheets or ask for more towels. I hang the towels on the towel bar to dry….unless I had to wipe up a mess or it’s totally wet. That’s how I am at home so, why would I ask for more frequent sheet change and new towels everyday? It makes no sense to me. If I need more towels or toiletries, I can always ask the front desk.
The other habit I have is to bring my own soap and shampoo. I’m sure you have your favorite and I have mine too. But if I’m going for just one night, I’ll use the hotel’s brand and suffer for one day. When I leave, I bring home unused portions of shampoos and soaps since they will be thrown out. I use a soap saver at home, like the one in my shop, to use up all the little unused soaps.
Having said, I do my part in saving the environment when I stay in hotels, I wondered which hotels or resorts are environmentally friendly….beyond suggesting the guests to save water by not changing the sheets or asking for new towels daily.
I’m sure there are many more than what’s on this list but I’ve compiled this short list that I can drive to from my home…instead of flying. If you want to check out other green hotels, check the websites at the end of the post.
Ocean Edge Resort Brewster, MA
Guests who opt to not change their sheets daily, you can save planet Earth and save 20-45% off peak summer rates. In addition, if you take advantage of this program, and you are staying four nights or more, you’ll receive $50 resort credit to use towards dining, fitness classes, spa treatments, or golf.
Inn by the Sea Cape Elizabeth, ME
The first hotel in Maine to heat with biofuel, and the first to be carbon neutral, the renovation includes many new eco- friendly features including: solar heating pool panels with a salt/chlorine system, air to air heat exchangers, recycled rubber flooring in the cardio room, and dual flush toilets. The Inn is working with a LEEDS consultant for the spa addition with low VOC wall coverings and sealants, and recycled studs and sheetrock.
Chezsven Wellfleet, MA
Towels and sheets are eco-friendly, air-dried in summer. Green cleaning products, natural amenities in the rooms, energy efficient lights and VOC-free paint. Remodeled with recycled materials.
Lenox Hotel and Jury’s Boston Hotel Boston, MA
Has won The President’s Environmental and Conservation Challenge God Medal, Travel Industry Association of America Excellence in Environmental Tourism, Conde Nest Taveler’s Special Recognition Eco-Tourism Award, and a host of other wards since embracing the environmental movement 20 years ago. It practices water and energy conservation, recycling bins in every room, and increasing sustainable foods in its restaurants.
Red Lion Inn Stockbridge, MA
Energy efficient heating and cooling systems, on-premises storm-water filtration system, insulated windows to retrofitted 19th century frames, organic non-toxic cleaning products, sustainable and local foods for its restaurant, used cooking oil powers local farmer’s trucks, duvet covers creafted from Inn’s recycled sheets, and best of all, guests arriving in a hybrid vehicle or by public transportation receive $20 gift card.
Mohonk Mountain House New Paltz, NY
It has geothermal heating and cooling in the spa, “green roof” garden terrace, 600 tons of Shawangunk rock used to construct spa sing, energy-efficient light bulbs, composting kitchen program used as fertilizer in gardens and golf-courses, recycling, eco-fridnly waster water treatment, 2,200 acres of protected land. The guests staying at the Mohonk Mountain House will not need CO2 generating mode of transportation as hiking trail around the property can be as eco-friendly as you can get when you use it to relax and unwind, rent a row boat on the lake or go for a nice horseback ride.
Check these sites for more green resorts or hotels near you.
http://www.istaygreen.org/
http://www.environmentallyfriendlyhotels.com/
http://www.greenhotels.com/
*Source – Westchester Mgazine
{ 4 comments }
Great post! I work at a bar called The Red Lyon Tavern. Would like to stay there someday
Looks like a bunch of great places! I am all for traveling green. I usually just tell them not to clean my room.
One thing I didn’t mention in the post is… I bring antibacterial wipes and wipe the essential parts like the toilet seat, faucets, door knobs, TV remote, telephone, and the clock. Call me paranoid but who knows when the room was cleaned and how well it was cleaned. And I also bring a microfiber cloth and “dust” near the bed – an area where we’ll be in proximity to dust areas and breathe in the dust while sleeping. My family is allergic to dust and dust mites. At least, this way, I know they are somewhat clean.
In all the years I’ve been doing this, I’ve found out that not all rooms are as clean as I’d like. And, since I’ve pretty much cleaned the room, I don’t ask for housekeeping service, all the while, saving the environment.
I am so paranoid about hotel rooms (even wrote about it a while back but too lazy to go find the link haha). These hotels however are going right at the top of the list of must stay locals! I am in the Boston area as well so these are wonderful gems. Thanks so much! I have now linked to you on my eco blog Green Leaf Reviewer. have a great day!