Planning your well-deserved vacation? Book a night at sustainable hotels for eco-friendly luxury.
Travel is still a tentative concept, but there’s no reason not to start planning your next getaway. Look out, public holidays in 2022! It’s time to take a deep dive into the hottest new green hotels for sustainable vacationing. These forward-thinking resorts are doing more than simply banning plastic straws. Think accommodations powered by hydro turbines and solar energy set in airy treehouse canopies dishing up plant-based cuisine grown from on-site gardens. Check out these modernised eco-friendly holiday hotspots that satisfy the needs of planet earth without forsaking life’s little luxuries.
Incredible new and revamped sustainable hotels in 2021
1. Soneva Jani Chapter Two, Maldives
The ultimate in open water luxury has arrived at Soneva Jani Chapter Two with sustainability at its core. This award-winning resort introduces 27 gorgeous new overwater villas. Hotel initiatives include the use of sustainable materials, recycling waste, eliminating plastics, conserving water, and preserving and protecting the local ecosystem.
When you book a stay in any of the overwater or island villas, you experience Soneva Unlimited, an indulgent new offering that invites you to enjoy every facet of Soneva Jani – all included in the price of the villa. Think unlimited dining and drinks at all bars and restaurants, pop-up Michelin-starred chef dinners, and wines from a curated list. Indulge in diving experiences and spa treatments, your own dedicated Barefoot Butler service, return shared seaplane transfers from Malé and more.
2. Ulaman Eco Retreat, Bali
From the first moment you step inside Ulaman Eco Retreat, you know you’re leaving the smallest ecological footprint during your vacation in the tropical paradise. Surrounded by spellbinding bamboo architecture, the resort sits peacefully against a waterfall, jungle forest and rice fields. Every inch a boutique offering, it accommodates up to 22 guests in private one-bedroom villas (you may be familiar with the signature Insta-famous Cocoon deluxe suite!), making Ulaman an ideal setting for wedding parties, yoga retreats and conferences.
Its second phase is set to launch later this year with eight villas, a swimmable bio-filtered lake, an expansive spa, two jungle restaurants and an infinity pool complete with cascading waterfall. What a perfect day retreat! Also check out the 360 Holistic Retreat Experience with indoor and outdoor activities designed to elevate your physical, emotional and spiritual well-being in a natural setting. Think yoga and meditation shala, a treehouse for massage and spa treatments, and curated trekking, hiking and cycling tours.
Guests will experience eco-conscious practices from the farm to table concept along with local village collaborations on waste management, recycling, composting and natural cleaning regimens. Its soon-to-be-launched custom-hydro turbine system will ultimately allow the hotel to operate off-grid for ultimate sustainability!
3. Eden Health Retreat, Australia
Australia’s longest-running health retreat, set in 380 acres of enchanting tropical rainforest, has recently undergone an extensive makeover with sustainability at the forefront. Eden Health Retreat prides itself on not disrupting the flora and fauna. It encourages guests to respect their surroundings by introducing them to the wonders of nature through rainforest walks and nighttime firefly adventures.
Eden Health Retreat collects a large amount of solar power, harvests water from a natural underground spring, and has its own compost and recycling program for waste. Organic food is locally sourced and its gardens produce most of the ingredients used in the dishes. All single, twin or couple cabins are eco-sensitive and feature posturepedic beds and eco-friendly amenities. Oh, and unlike other retreats, this place is non-smoking, as well as alcohol- and caffeine-free. It beckons you to step into the healing powers of nature before returning to your life rejuvenated.
4. The Hotel Britomart, New Zealand
The country’s first 5 Green Star accommodation brings a vibrant combination of food, retail and beautiful stays to downtown waterfront Auckland. The Hotel Britomart’s commitment to sustainability extends to supporting local economies and showcasing the work of homegrown artisans, businesses, designers and regional producers.
Guests can choose from 99 rooms and five suites with interior timber accents and an exterior of handmade bricks. Expect to luxuriate in soft organic cotton sheets, built-in sofas, handcrafted vases and a mini library of New Zealand books. Want a view? Choose from a stunning panorama of the Waitematā Harbour, city skyline sights or vistas of Takutai Square in the heart of the neighbourhood. Tip: Kingi is the all-day restaurant in the laneway of the heritage Masonic House, serving up only the best in sustainable seafood.
5. Silky Oaks Lodge, Australia
Set to relaunch in December this year, Silky Oaks Lodge offers a stylish eco-conscious escape in the cool calm of the Unesco World Heritage-listed Daintree Rainforest. Situated peacefully above the Mossman River and among the leafy canopy, the sustainable hotel invites you to immerse in nature and enjoy the sights and sounds of nature. Treehouses are set high among the rainforest canopy, with deep verandas and wide doors for cool breezes.
Opening out to amazing views, Treehouse Restaurant welcomes guests for relaxed fine dining with food supplied by its edible garden. Renewable energy and energy savings plans are set in place to minimise impact along with waste, water management and recycling plans. Easy adventures and relaxing pastimes include guided rainforest walks, morning yoga, snorkelling or swimming in the crystal-clear river.
6. The Pavilions Anana Krabi, Thailand
A serene green vacation awaits at The Pavilions Anana Krabi, a spectacular 59-key property peacefully tucked away in Thailand’s famous Phang Nga Bay. Krabi’s limestone cliffs and tranquil forested valleys provide the perfect backdrop for this new wellness offering. It’s the ultimate experience in soulful restoration! Visitors will leave rested after enjoying the Himalayan salt room and spa treatments, natural volcanic water pools, and farm to table culinary experiences.
Let’s not forget about the hotel’s unique sustainable experiences such as a vegan cooking school and a solar-powered long tail boat that brings you on a journey to discover local mangrove rivers. To cap it all off, treat yourself to a restorative swim in the pool with water sourced from the neighbouring volcanic mountains.
7. Starry Nights Luxury Camping, Australia
Want to experience eco-luxury camping with a zero-emission footprint? Try the recently-launched Starry Nights Luxury Camping. Choose from two luxe 75 sqm safari tents set serenely in the Sunshine Coast’s hinterland foothills, created from all-natural building materials. You’ll enjoy a breakfast hamper delivered each morning with fruit from the gardens paired with exquisite local produce. For a chill hang, head to the communal recreation lounge for dining facilities, a sauna and a pool table.
Rest easy knowing the sustainable approach includes more than 4,000 plants on the property and the use of solar electricity, rainwater and biodegradable cleaning products. Meanwhile, composting takes care of 100% of the resort’s organic waste. There’s also on-site wastewater treatment and conservation, and the progressive restoration of the rainforest that extends over the property.
8. Nelson Tasman, New Zealand
Okay, so this one’s not exactly a hotel. But if dipping your toe into bespoke conscious travel is on your agenda, check out Nelson Tasman’s four-day zero-carbon itinerary. The extraordinary experience features incredible cuisine, scenery and accommodation in one stunning place at the top of New Zealand’s South Island. By connecting to nature’s playground, you can reconnect and recharge on your own light footprint holiday. Each vacay is tailored to your requirements – just choose from a list of certified zero-carbon and climate-positive businesses to ensure a holiday adventure that’s green.
Why not experience Tasman’s Great Taste Trail, a 174km scenic and urban coastal ride, on e-bikes or a hybrid rental car? Or perhaps camp at the zero-carbon Marahau Beach Campsite, located at the departure point for sea kayaking and water taxi trips into Abel Tasman National Park. Your holiday will also give back to the environment through the Uruwhenua Project in Mohua Golden Bay, a restorative indigenous forest project.
9. Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne Southbank, Australia
Promising peace of mind for eco-savvy travellers seeking a city escape, Adina Apartment Hotel Melbourne Southbank is located near Melbourne’s bustling Southbank. The ultra-modern apartment hotel is just a short walk from the city’s drinking and dining dens. A fifth of the weight of concrete, the structure is believed to be the world’s tallest engineered timber extension, cleverly built on top of an existing office building. Fun fact: 5,300 tons of cross-laminated timber was used to build the 10-story extension tower to act as a carbon sink to offset about 4,200 tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Choose from 220 light-filled modern rooms and apartments, each providing comfortable accommodation for those visiting Australia’s capital of culture. Ideal to entertain eco-conscious travellers, families or frequent flyers for business, the hotel features a gym, indoor lap pool and meeting space, plus fully equipped kitchens, lounge and dining areas for all the comforts of home.
Once borders reopen, which sustainable hotel will you check in to first?
