How To Choose Sustainable Accommodations

Written April 4, 2024 by:

Julie Navitka

Since the advent of social media, international adventure travel has been on the rise. Photos of unbelievable waterfalls, majestic mountaintops, and other-worldly beaches have been enticing people to travel more than ever before. Mix this with a changing climate due to global emissions, delicate cultural and political systems, and enter the need for sustainable tourism. One aspect of this practice of low-impact traveling is supporting and staying in sustainable accommodations. Choosing eco-friendly lodging options that are mindful of their environmental and cultural impact is the first step in responsible and green travel.

Whether you’re taking a gap year or getting away for a week or two, making responsible accommodation choices can be easy. Regardless if you’re looking for green luxury or an affordable, sustainable dormitory to save money, we’ve got some tips to help you find environmentally friendly accommodation!

Sustainable Travel & Ecotourism

Before we delve into the one small aspect of sustainable travel accommodations, we should first discuss the meaning of sustainable travel. We all know that almost all modes of international transportation contribute to our carbon footprint, but our impacts when we travel go far beyond that. We must consider not only the environment when we travel but also the effects we may have on the culture and economy of our destination. From supporting local businesses to learning about the history and language of the place, there are many ways we can ensure our impact is positive. Choosing socially responsible and eco-conscious stays is just the beginning.

You may have also heard the phrase “eco-tourism” gaining traction recently as well. Not to be confused with sustainable travel or tourism, eco-tourism is indeed its own entity that goes beyond simply being mindful of our impacts on the environment, culture, and economy. To learn more about how to travel sustainably and the difference between sustainable travel and ecotourism, you can read our articles “Ultimate Guide: Sustainable Travel” and “Ecotourism: Another Way to See the World.”

What are environmentally friendly accommodations?

Environmentally friendly hotels and other kinds of accommodations, such as eco-lodges, hostels, and eco-friendly bed and breakfasts, all have one thing in common – they care about people and the planet. From sustainable accommodation design to waste management and energy use, eco-friendly hotels make employing sustainable practices a priority. An environmentally friendly accommodation will value dedication to preserving the natural environment and benefiting the local community over profits. They will constantly be actively working towards improving their green practice.

Benefits of sustainable hotels

Sustainable and ethical lodging alternatives may positively impact the environment, local economy, and culture in the following ways:

Economic Benefits of Low-Impact Accommodations:

• Supplying gainful and fair employment for locals;
• Supporting local businesses by purchasing products and supplies; and
• Giving back to the community through involvement in events, charities, and other humanitarian causes.

Cultural Benefits of Responsible Accommodations:

• Educating guests and supplying resources for learning about local culture;
• Offering cultural experiences with locals and
• Supplying a market for local artisans or performers.

Environmental benefits of nature-friendly accommodations:

• Proper waste management protects the natural environment and waterways; and
• Energy efficiency and use of renewable resources help mitigate the effects of climate change.

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identifying sustainable accommodations

Making your sustainable hotel selection will require a little bit of research, but it will be worth the effort in the end! Regardless if you’re looking for eco-luxury, a sustainable retreat, or a local homestay, sustainable travel accommodations will have some identifying characteristics.

Certifications and eco-labels for Green accommodations

One way to identify your low-impact accommodation options is to look for green-certified lodging. Here are some of the most globally recognized certifications and eco-labels for environmentally friendly hotels, resorts, and eco-lodges:

• Global Sustainable Tourism Council Certification

• Green Key

• Green Globe Certification

• EarthCheck Certification

Other smaller or more local sustainability certifications exist for nature-friendly accommodations. Do a bit of digging online for your specific destination country to see what others you might find!

Sustainable Practices to look for at an eco-Conscious Stay

Not all sustainable hotels and other accommodation types will be certified with one of the eco-labels above. This may be due to the expense, lack of resources, or simply because the place you wish to stay is more of a small, family-run homestay or guest house. In this case, check out their website, phone, or email and inquire about their sustainable practices. Use the environmentally-friendly accommodation list below to help formulate questions to answer about the accommodation.

Conservation of Natural Resources:

• The most eco-friendly hotels will use renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power if possible. This will help them become a carbon-neutral lodging choice.

• Sustainable hotels will focus on energy efficiency by integrating features such as sensored LED lighting in shared common spaces, energy-efficient appliances, and smart thermostats.

• Sustainable retreats will make water conservation a priority by installing low-flow appliances, collecting rainwater for landscaping uses, and encouraging guests to reuse towels and sheets.

• The building design of an eco-lodge or other sustainable accommodation should consider access and inclusion while optimizing ventilation and use of space.

• Likewise, the materials used to build or make additions to eco-friendly hotels should be renewable and sustainable, such as FSC-certified wood.

Waste Reduction and Management:

• A sustainable hotel will employ practices to reduce food waste. This includes taking regular inventory, creating innovative dishes with excess ingredients, and creating a composting system for biodegradable waste on site.

• Eco-friendly accommodation will not offer single-use items, such as mini-toiletries and soaps, cotton swabs, or disposable cutlery. Instead, you’ll find refillable personal care products and real, reusable dishes for room service meals.

• Strict wastewater management will be a priority, and some eco-conscious lodgings may even go as far as installing a greywater system to maximize water conservation.

• Earth-friendly lodging choices will work with the land on which they occupy. They will allow for the natural landscape to persist and by incorporating native plants into their aesthetic.

• Recycling and composting bins will be accessible and readily available for guests at a sustainable accommodation.

Support for Local Communities:

• Ethical lodging alternatives will employ locals, ensuring fair pay and safe and healthy working conditions.

• Many eco-lodges and resorts offer educational opportunities to guests. They will employ locals to teach the native language or about topics such as the history or flora and fauna of the area.

• Sustainable retreats also often offer cultural experiences led by knowledgeable locals, supplying an audience for artisans and performers.

Protecting the Environment:

• Green lodging will ensure they are a chemical-free business, utilizing non-toxic, natural, and biodegradable cleaning agents and detergents in their housekeeping.

• Bedding, towels, furniture, mattresses, and other decor will be made with sustainable materials, such as organic cotton, FSC-certified wood, or bamboo.

• The most eco-friendly ecotourism resorts support local organic farming and offer healthy, sustainable meal options for guests at their restaurant or through room service.

• Earth-friendly lodgings will support wildlife and biodiversity conservation programs in their community in consideration of their ecological footprint.

• Eco hotels often supply eco-friendly transportation options to guests, like bikes, scooters, or shared daily shuttles.

Read reviews on third party sites

Using an online search engine to look up “reviews of NAME OF ECO-LODGE” should garner some results. Many platforms like Reddit or Quora will even let you create a specific question to ask other users about an accommodation, and then you wait for responses. Other platforms like TripAdvisor allow you to search reviews for keywords like “sustainability” or “eco-friendly.”

beware of Greenwashing 

If you’re interested in sustainability and living an eco-friendly lifestyle, you’ve likely heard the term greenwashing. Typically, we picture a product with the words “green,” “all-natural,” or “earth-friendly” written on the label. These terms are meant to convince you that the materials of which it is made or what’s inside is good for you and the planet. Surprisingly, businesses and accommodations are known for this, too. Because there isn’t any regulation on the use of these phrases, hotels can claim to be “eco” or “green” when they don’t employ sustainable practices at all.

A genuinely sustainable travel accommodation will be proud to show off exactly how they protect the planet and people, so look for specifics on their website. The sustainability certificates for the hospitality and travel industry mentioned earlier are excellent indicators that there’s no greenwashing occurring, too. Feel free to contact the accommodation directly to ask questions. If they can’t give you specific and clear answers about their sustainability initiatives, give them a pass and move on.

sustainable accommodation Booking platforms

Still need help finding an eco-lodge, sustainable hotel, or eco-friendly bed and breakfast? Try one of these booking platforms! Filter for your price range to stay on budget, type of stay, or other necessary amenities you require.

International eco lodges & Hotels

• Booking.com – with the “sustainability” filter applied, can sort for sustainable accommodation options in your destination.

• Ecohotels.com – will provide you with some green hospitality options.

• Regenerative Travel – has a database of sustainable green luxury if you’re looking for a sustainable retreat.

• EcoBnB – lists options that offer at least five out of ten supported sustainable accommodation regulations.

• SocialBnB – focused on social sustainability, every overnight stay supports a social or ecological project. 

• Wayaj – not a booking platform (yet!), but you can search to see if the eco-hotel you’re interested in is listed and ranked there.

Green hospitality options in Asia

• Agoda – has a “sustainable property” filter to help you find eco-friendly vacation rentals.

Sustainable Accommodations in Europe

• Oliver’s Travels – with the “sustainable villa collection” filter applied, can help you find earth-friendly lodging choices in Europe.

• FairBnB – mostly Europe-based, gives half its booking fees to social and environmental causes in the destination of travel.

You can read more information and how most of these work in this article by Tilted Map. Keep in mind that these platforms aren’t perfect. Even when using the sustainability filters, most won’t give many specific details about the sustainable hotel selection. Doing a little more research on your own should help you make the most eco-conscious lodging choice.

Doing your part at your eco-friendly accommodation

Now that you’ve found some sustainable accommodations in your destination and made your booking, the most challenging part is done! Even though you’ve made a responsible accommodation choice, there are ways you can ensure your stay is even more sustainable. Here are some practices to keep in mind while you relax and adventure at your eco-friendly hotel:

• Mind your water footprint at your green accommodation by taking shorter showers, running the faucet only when in use, and thinking about “letting the yellow mellow” instead of flushing every go. You should also reuse your towels to avoid extra laundry and bring your reusable water bottle with you!

• Help your lodging become carbon-neutral and reduce your energy consumption by limiting your use of heat or air conditioning. You can also adjust the thermostat for when you’re not in your room.

• Support local businesses and practice ethical animal tourism when booking tours involving wildlife.

• Get involved in the community somehow! Ask the hosts of your sustainable accommodation for recommendations.

If you would like some more ideas about how to make your travels more sustainable, check out our Ultimate Guide: Sustainable Travel.

Final thoughts about choosing sustainable accommodations

Finding sustainable travel accommodations for your destination is now easier than ever! Many eco-friendly hotels and resorts have become certified to help identify them as low-impact accommodation options. There are now several booking platforms to assist you in your search for green lodging options, and doing a little research online should bring many results.

Keep in mind that every little action counts, and by booking a sustainable accommodation you’ve already made the most significant step you can toward sustainable travel. Happy vacation!