Are you looking for sustainable vacation accommodation for your next vacation or would you like to make an offered vacation home more environmentally friendly yourself? Then you are absolutely right here! Vacation accommodations are places of relaxation and retreat - but sustainability often still plays a subordinate role in the selection and design. That's why the vacation offers of really environmentally conscious landlords are unfortunately not yet a dime a dozen.
But at a time when awareness of environmental issues is growing steadily, fortunately the possibilities of the sustainable travel too. Accordingly, there are also more and more positive features that distinguish socially and environmentally responsible accommodation and make your search for the ideal accommodation easier.
In this article, I'll show you some concrete things you can do to recognize sustainable vacation rentals. You can also use them to make your own vacation home much more environmentally friendly with simple tips and tricks. Let's go!
Motives: Why a sustainable vacation home at all?
First of all, a short excursion that serves as motivation for practical implementation. With the climate change, the Plastic waste in the environment or the air pollution have we humans put ourselves in the situationthat a more sustainable lifestyle is indispensable.
This necessary change affects all areas of life - from nutrition and mobility to living and travel.
The reasons for preferring or offering ecological vacation rentals are as follows. basically very diverse and range from personal convictions to economic aspects.
The main advantages and reasons I have put together a clear overview for you here:
From the point of view of guests of vacation apartments:
- More environmentally friendly and healthier lifestyle even during the vacations
- Increase demand to generate more sustainable offerings
- Vacation in harmony with your own values
- Making unique experiences (away from the Mass tourism)
- Making wonderful encounters with local people
- …
From the point of view of the provider:inside of vacation apartments:
- Market advantage over the competition
- Cost savings through environmentally conscious management
- Longevity and value retention of the purchases and the vacation region
- Positive PR and image cultivation for long-term success
- Benefit from government funding and grants
- …
These and many other advantages illustrate why choosing a sustainable vacation home is a win-win situation for both vacationers and hosts.
Can you think of any other important benefits of sustainable vacation rentals? Then feel free to write me a comment under this article.
12 tips: How can you recognize a sustainable vacation rental or create one yourself?
What approaches make a vacation rental truly eco-friendly? Now that we have Sufficiently motivated are to specifically look for environmentally friendly vacation homes or consciously design them that way, you're ready to go!
In the following I present you now, as promised, briefly and succinctly practical tips and recognition features which not only protect the environment, but also enrich the vacation experience of guests and can bring economic benefits to landlords.
1. green electricity and energy efficiency
The basis of a truly sustainable vacation home is the use of green electricity from renewable energies - in combination with sensible, energy-efficient technology. (e.g. refrigerator, washing machine or lamps).
This then also automatically reduces the ecological footprint of the guests. The investment in a PV system and solar energy ultimately enables the operators of the vacation accommodation tot only environmentally friendly and independent, but also cost-reduced to work.
2. water saving facilities
As a guest you can of course consciously Save water. It is even better if already in the accommodation, for example with Thermostatic faucets and water-saving shower headsthe foundation is laid for this. In addition to the positive ecological effect, such water-saving measures also automatically result in cost savings.
Furthermore, rainwater harvesting contributes to sustainability. In this context, I like to remember a Accommodation in Hvide Sande on the Danish west coast, which I had once booked. The owner has the Rainwater collected on site and prepared in such a way that not only the Garden watered, but also still the Toilet flushed could be.
3. regional and seasonal cuisine
A shelter run by environmentally conscious people buys offered fruits and vegetables The company purchases its products from regional suppliers and also offers seasonal products whenever possible.
This makes the local economy promoted and the ecological Footprint of guests minimized by their meals.
4. ecological construction and furnishing
Especially Wood is a material that usually requires short transport distances. Furthermore there are sustainable Insulation materials, which both increase the energy efficiency of the vacation accommodation and are produced in an environmentally friendly way.
The use of such local and ecological building materials in this way also reduces the climate-related CO2 footprint of the operators and guests. Attentive landlords also pay attention to a general accessibility, so that really all people can visit the vacation home.
Also with the Furniture and the choice of other furnishings, for example, sustainable vacation homes contribute to the Resource conservation at.
5. targeted waste avoidance
Less waste means less environmental pollution and waste of resources. Accordingly, you can recognize a sustainable vacation home also by the fact that its operator(s) have a consistent waste avoidance concept completely in the sense of the Zero Waste Lifestyle track
For example, guests are deliberately shopped for in such a way that no food wasted will be. In addition, packaging-free Bar soap instead of shower gel and shampoo from plastic bottles. However, you can recognize the concept above all in the fact that generally conventional disposable products replaced by reusable alternatives be
Tip: Even more Zero Waste tips for everyday life you can find in the linked article. Of course, you are welcome to use them as a source of inspiration for the design of your vacation accommodation.
6. recycling and upcycling
A sustainable use of resources also includes the recycling of waste. For example, biological food waste can be turned into nutrient rich soil be generated for the garden of the accommodation.
Also the creative upcycling of old or no longer used objects in new function, enhances the sustainable character of the environmentally friendly vacation home. For example, a species-rich insect hotel can be built from old Euro pallets and roof tiles.
Tip: To Many myths and prejudices surround sustainable travel.. For example, that it is much too expensive and that you are usually much faster at the destination by plane. In the linked blog post I have logically refuted this misconception and many others. Take a look if you are interested.
7. natural design and greening of the outdoor area
If a vacation home has a garden, then it should also have been created species-rich and close to nature. In this way it offers not only a relaxing retreat for guestsbut also supports the local Biodiversity.
For example, a green, lively outdoor area has a Dead wood and stone piles, by Insect hotel, a Pond, a Wildflower corner and a woodshed with Green roof.
8. CO2 neutrality and voluntary CO2 compensation
The CO2 saving works of course also on vacation - but you usually have little influence on the emissions of the accommodation itself. Ideally, the providers of a vacation home compensate for their own emissions with a voluntary carbon offset. CO2 compensation by supporting climate protection projects.
Such measures underline the commitment and automatically also offer guests the opportunity to reduce their personal carbon footprint.
9. promotion of soft mobility
Environmentally friendly landlords:inside of sustainable vacation homes and apartments make it easy for their guests, even away from the arrival and departure, to use the bicycle or the public transport on site to use. For example, by providing detailed information and clear timetables.
In addition, for example Rental bicycles or an electric shuttle service to the nearest train station - just in the spirit of the idea of so-called soft tourism.
10. biological cleaning agents and care products
Whether Detergent or dishwashing liquid, window cleaner or kitchen spray: In an environmentally friendly vacation home eco-cleaning products are offered and used. The absence of chemical products protects the environment and the health of all involved. In addition, it supports a most natural indoor climate.
Tip: Like you for example Make dishwashing liquid from ivy leaves yourself I'll be happy to explain how you can do this in the linked blog post.
11. informing guests about environmentally friendly behavior in the cottage.
A little guide that gives tips on how to multiple use of towels, the Water conservation or the Using the Eco mode The "WE" feeling, which encourages guests to join in, is created by the fact that a guest is suggested to use the dishwasher. At environmentally conscious vacation accommodations, guests are usually made aware of this at check-in.
12. tips for environmentally friendly activities in the region.
Environmentally conscious hosts promote sustainable travel by offering their guests tips for environmentally friendly activities. in the surroundings of the cottage with the hand. Because sustainability can not only be lived out in the vacation home, but also in its surroundings.
For example, they give vacationers Recommendations for exciting hiking and biking routes or unique buildings and landscapes in the region - and tell you directly where you can sustainable souvenirs gets and where it is better not to buy anything.
Tip: I also have my best in a separate article, sustainable ideas for hotels compiled. Look also there with pleasure times purely, in order to let you still further inspire.
Quickly identify sustainable vacation rental or design it yourself!
The choice of a sustainable vacation home is a real statement for a responsible future and a harmonious coexistence of man and nature.
By making simple choices in the furnishings and operation of a vacation rental, hosts:inside can make the choice much easier for their environmentally conscious guests. As a guest one appreciates the commitment and is happy to carry the positive message.
Thus we perform all together - and ultimately more and more people - also make a decisive contribution to environmental and climate protection on vacation.
"Take only memories, leave only footprints."
Chief Seattle (more at Travel Quotes)
Do you have questions, ideas or would you like to share your own experiences around the topic of sustainable vacation apartments or houses? Then I look forward to your comment.
Stay sustainable and travel,
PS: In the next article I gave you my Favorite books about sustainable travel put together. I even wrote one of them myself. It is called Sustainable travel for beginners - and I'm sure it will help you. If you are interested in it, get it here*.
