Beyond Clean Sheets

If you've ever searched for a sustainable getaway and landed on a yurt with a composting toilet and mystery stains—this one's for you.

Across the globe, a handful of hotels are proving that sustainability can be just as luxurious as (if not more so than) the traditional model. These aren't greenwashed “towel reuse” campaigns—they’re full-on climate strategies with canopy beds and sommelier service.

Let’s start stateside (particularly on the East coast).

Hotel Marcel in New Haven, Connecticut is the country’s first fossil fuel-free hotel. It runs on solar power that’s generated on site, cooks with induction (not gas) stoves, and shuttles guests around in electric vehicles.

Over in the Hudson Valley, Wildflower Farms spans 140 acres of regenerative farmland, where you can forage for mushrooms, eat organic everything, and still be back in time for a spa treatment.

Flying further afield?

NIHI Sumba in Indonesia blends true sustainability with the kind of beauty that makes you forget your screen time. Think: chocolate factories, reef-safe adventures, and a resort deeply embedded in its local community.

Or head to The Hideout in Thailand, where the treehouses are made of salvaged wood, there’s no electricity, and meals are sourced straight from the island.

Then there’s Adrère Amellal in Egypt—a literal oasis that runs on candlelight and salt-brick architecture. No WiFi, no electricity, and somehow more luxurious than most five-star hotels. Want to cool off? Their spring-fed pool is shaded by a date palm grove.

Meanwhile, Saffire Freycinet in Tasmania is planting thousands of native plants, serving only locally sourced goods, and using smart airflow systems in lieu of energy-hogging HVAC.

And yes, The Brando in French Polynesia (Marlon Brando’s former island…no biggie) is powered by coconut biofuel and deep-sea water cooling. You can snorkel, do yoga, and talk to climate scientists in the same afternoon.

These hotels aren’t perfect (none are), but they’re redefining what travel can look like in a climate-conscious world. Spoiler alert: It doesn’t have to be a sacrifice. In fact, it might just be the upgrade we didn’t know we needed.

Finally, The Six Senses has been on my bucket list ever since my friend Laura stayed at their location in the Douro Valley in Portugal almost a decade ago. They’ve achieved Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) certification across its properties, which underscores their dedication to reducing environmental impacts and benefiting local communities.

Each property has an Earth Lab – a space dedicated to showcasing sustainability initiatives and engaging guests in environmental education. They’ve reduced single-use plastics from their operations and are incredibly transparent about their impact in their detailed sustainability reports. Does anyone know Mike White? I feel like the next White Lotus should be filmed here…

…Or Take The Path Less Traveled

Before we even leave the runway, it’s good to remember that travel doesn’t start the same way for everyone. Some folks can hop on a plane and land in a new country with little fuss, while others deal with visa applications, fees, and long wait times—just based on the passport they hold. No matter how your journey begins, there are always small ways to travel more thoughtfully once you’re on the ground.

Accommodations

Homestays over hotels:If cozying up inside a local home and connecting over some food and conversation sounds like your kinda vibe, consider staying at a homestay rather than a hotel for your next adventure. Homestays can help lower your ecological footprint by utilizing existing homes and shared resources, and it channels tourism income directly into local families and communities. I bet you’ll also pick up a few incredible stories!

Tours & Excursions

Some good news for any vacation-goers who love to seize the day with tours and sightseeing - the GSTC certification also applies to tour operators. Activities and excursions with GSTC certification means that it complies with the highest social and environmental standards on the market. Ah, some sustainability peace of mind on vacation - we’re relaxing just thinking about it.

Whether you're a laid-back beachgoer or a yogi seeking some active relaxation, try to choose locally owned spots or activities that are open to the public. This helps ensure that the benefits of tourism don't come at the expense of local access and that community members can enjoy the same spaces as visitors.

Shopping Local

Going out for an incredible meal or hitting up cute shops is the stuff travel memories are made of. One easy way to make those moments more sustainable - and minimize “tourism leakage” - is to spend with businesses that keep money flowing back into the local community.

QUICK CLICKS

What Else is Happening?

Sweet update incoming (literally and figuratively): in a press release, Nestlé announced the success and expansion of its income accelerator program for cocoa-farming families in Côte d’Ivoire, with the aim of reaching 50,000 households by 2026.

A group of researchers in Canada recently found that people would recycle more if the act of recycling entered them into a lottery. It’s how Norway manages to have 97% of all plastic beverage bottles returned, and – let’s face it – does sound a bit more exciting than the traditional bottle deposit programs in certain U.S. states that reward you with just a few cents per bottle.

Good news for smartphone users in the EU: a new rule will require smartphone manufacturers to label devices with ratings (from A-G) that provide details on battery life, energy use, repairability, and more. It’s part of an effort to make your electronics last longer and reduce e-waste.

As the risk of flooding rises in many places around the world, experts are on the hunt for innovative adaptation solutions. Charles Wee is one of them: his startup, LifeArk, uses 30% post-consumer recycled (PCR) material to build houses made of PCR plastic that can actually float during a flood. The startup is facing some regulatory barriers, but it has projects already underway and meets the requirements of California’s strict building code – which is a win in and of itself.