By Abigail Cattell
We all like to do our bit to save the planet. But going green on holiday needn't
be a chore. Stay at one of our sustainable resorts in the US or the Caribbean
for a break that's also eco-friendly
The Almond
Casuarina Beach Resort is a lush oasis set in 10 acres of tropical grounds
alongside the spectacular white sands of Barbados'
Dover Beach. And while the hotel has everything you'd expect from a luxury all-inclusive
beachfront property, with an excellent kids' club (with a nursery catering for
newborns up to a teen club for 13s and over), diverse choice of restaurants,
spa and myriad water sports, Casuarina also has enviable green credentials,
which include prestigious Green Globe certification and a gold Travelife Award.
Minimising energy and water use, buying organic and sustainable products, reducing
lighting on the beach to encourage turtles to lay eggs undisturbed and recycling
waste are just some of its many eco initiatives
Best for… Eco Romance
Almond
Beach Club and Spa is next to the Sandy Lane Hotel on the exclusive West
Coast of Barbados
and combines a luxury, adults-only, all-inclusive experience with its green
credentials. Like its sister property, the Beach Club is making great strides
towards its sustainability. It gained its tough Green Globe certification nearly
10 years ago, and continues to work towards the eco goals set by this environmental
organisation. It has also been awarded the gold Travelife Award for its sustainability.
Initiatives such as helping local farmers by buying fresh local produce for
its a la carte restaurants and protecting marine life ensure you can enjoy a
relaxing five-star holiday with a completely clear conscience.
Best for… Eco Luxury
Florida's Sandpearl
resort sits beachfront on North Clearwater's breathtaking white sand beach
and as a newly built property it benefits from top-to-toe eco credentials. It's
constructed from low-emission materials making it a healthier place both for
the environment and for you! Sumptuous rooms are cooled by sophisticated chilled-water
air conditioning and the hotel employs clever water conservation systems to
keep usage to a minimum. lf you take a dip in its gorgeous lagoon-style pool
(heated geo-thermally, of course), you won't come out with that nasty chlorine
smell because it uses high-tech natural ozone purification to keep waters ultra-clean.
As well a traditional fitness centre and full-service spa, guests can enjoy
eco excursions like a trip to Three Rooker Island for bird nesting observation,
and becoming a marine biologist for a day at spectacular Caladesi Island.
Best for… Eco Chic
Jamaican resort Couples
Sans Souci has won a plethora of awards from travel magazines such as Conde
Nast Traveller and Travel + Leisure, but the award that's most relevant for
visitors interested in sustainability is undoubtedly its hard-won Green Globe
certification. This ensures that the couples-only resort, which nestles where
the Emerald Mountains meet the sea at Ocho
Rios, is leading the way in both social and environmental sustainability.
Discover its five international restaurants, stroll along winding stone pathways
through lush foliage, and experience the hotel's opulent spa, named after the
more than 100-year old Charlie the turtle, who must surely have reached such
a ripe old age from bathing in the natural mineral spring waters!
Best for… Eco-Seclusion
Laluna
is an Italian-owned boutique hideaway, perfect for star-crossed lovers looking
for a peaceful retreat. Its sumptuous thatched cottages perched along and above
a secluded bay are constructed from natural materials like palm and thatch;
their open-plan style giving it a Robinson Crusoe feel. The organic garden provides
delicious herbs and vegetables for its beachside restaurant, as well as heady
aromatherapy scents for the new Wellness Centre. The pace of life at Laluna
is enviably slow; you can practise yoga at the dedicated pavilion or try meditation
on your private deck, next to your personal plunge pool.
Fancy an eco-friendly holiday? Find out more about our responsible
tourism policy
Abigail Cattell is a freelance travel journalist who has written for Wanderlust, The Guardian, ASOS Magazine and TTG Luxury