Sustainability is a buzzword you may be growing tired of hearing, and you’re not alone. A recent study by Booking.com shows that travelers have grown weary of seeking out sustainable travel opportunities, mostly because it takes effort to do the research. Still, 83% of travelers confirm that sustainable travel is at least somewhat important to them, and with an increasing number of resorts and cruise ships heeding the call for responsible tourism, it’s actually easier than ever to make that choice.
What does sustainable travel look like? In the simplest terms, it means travel partners working to reduce their carbon footprints while respecting and preserving the environment. Travelers who want to contribute to these efforts can choose accommodations that have undertaken this goal, and while on vacation, make choices that reduce waste or harm to their surroundings. This is the basis of eco-tourism and sustainable travel, and it can bring great satisfaction to know that you’ve been a responsible traveler.
Whether you’re looking for a stay or a sail, these worldwide hotels and cruises provide an eco-luxe experience that encourages you to explore the world with a mind toward leaving it the way you found it. Start here, and you’ll see just how easy it can be.
Stay at Sandals Resorts International
Sandals Foundation, a philanthropic arm of Sandals Resorts International, is working to provide solar energy to schools across the Caribbean Islands.
Sandals Foundation
The largest private employer in the Caribbean, Sandals Resorts has plans to grow beyond its 20 wildly successful properties on 10 islands. Sandals is known and respected for being one of the first to introduce all-inclusive vacations, making it a sought-after mainstay in the resort market. But what it has been doing behind the scenes is just as important. The company is celebrating 15 years of philanthropy through Sandals Foundation, which has driven initiatives in education, community, and environment. Efforts include offering hospitality education training, mentoring youth, protecting the marine environment, and ensuring safe and healthy food practices.
This year, Sandals Foundation has undertaken the mission of providing solar energy to homes and schools so kids from Jamaica to St. Lucia have equal access to computers and labs. Travelers can help by donating to the cause, known as The Power of 15, with the assurance that 100% of your donation goes directly to this solar initiative. Other ways you can get involved? When you stay at Sandals or Beaches resorts, you can contribute to Pack for a Purpose, an opportunity to donate school supplies. And if you want to be more hands-on, ask to participate in a Reading Road Trip, where you’ll visit a local school and work with a teacher to present a lesson to the students.
Relax at Eliamos Villas Hotel & Spa
Eliamos Villas Hotel & Spa was built with sustainability foremost in mind. The buildings and landscaping are an extension of the natural environment, bringing nature indoors.
Eliamos
When this gorgeous resort on the Greek island of Kefalonia opened its doors in 2023, it named sustainability as its cornerstone. Eliamos, a five-star Relais & Châteaux member, is also a member of the UNESCO Global Geoparks Network, a nonprofit that focuses on sustainable economic development and preservation of heritage sites. The resort embodies that commitment: solar panels provide power, water waste is reused to irrigate gardens, and guests are provided refillable water bottles to avoid the use of plastic.
The restaurant’s gourmet meals are designed around locally grown and harvested food, and surplus food is sold or donated. The resort has committed to fair wages and benefits for their staff, who are trained in sustainability measures and the history of the area, giving them a sense of ownership of the land. And eco-friendly efforts are obvious during your stay, from energy-efficient heating and cooling to the avoidance of single-use anything, including straws and toiletry bottles.
Sail on Havila Voyages
A Havila Voyages ship navigates fjords in Norway with zero emissions over a four-hour period, protecting the environment as you explore.
Havila Voyages Ronny M. Olsen
As Norway enjoys a surge of new visitors, the Norwegian coastal cruise ship company Havila Voyages takes vacationers of the sailing type on a coastal route along the fjords. While you take in the extraordinary vistas, you sail for four straight hours with zero emissions, protecting the environment around you. That’s because Havila has the largest battery packs in the cruise ship industry. Why does that matter to you? The packs allow these ships to enter fjords you might not otherwise experience because the ships travel with such a small footprint. The cruise line employs an energy-efficient design, harnesses excess heat for reuse in passenger showers, and partners with tour operators who further practice sustainability, such as operating battery-powered buses. All of these measures make this line one of the most sustainable in operation.
Food waste – a huge concern within the cruising industry – is minimized through seated dining policies versus buffets, but don’t worry – you’ll still have multiple food choices in reasonable portions. Food is locally sourced, adding to your Norwegian cultural experience. And Havila encourages its guests to get involved with the environment during your journey because they know that once you do, you’ll want to protect it.
MORE FROM FORBES
This post was originally published on here
