I'll be back next week with a feature on a luxe Mexican retreat with great summer rates and so much more. See you soon!
June 23, 2008
June 21, 2008
Splurge Saturdays: Round Island, a private escape in the Seychelles
Warning: This is a true splurge. I’ve been in a solitary, day-dreamy mood this week. So what better destination to feature today than private island leagues out of my price range?
Round Island is a private escape in the Seychelles, an archipelago in the Indian Ocean between Africa and India.The island’s philosophy is to provide “the minimum of luxury needed to feel at one with the elements.” Facilities were designed to limit environmental impact and were created with locally grown wood. The island boasts a thriving ecosystem with exotic wildlife (well, exotic to this Iowan), such as giant tortoises.
Sea view, two bedroom villas are $4,637 per night. But if we’re dreaming, then, by all means, let’s stay at the master villa. It has a private pool and a private garden, so you won’t have to talk to anybody if you don’t want to. $8,502 per night. If you’re a (rich) hermit, you can rent the entire island for $30,056. Per night. (The island can accommodate 20 people, but you can keep it all to yourself if you want. It’s your daydream.)
These rates include all meals, which you can request to have served anywhere on the island you choose. They also will cater to any and all dietary needs, whims, and wishes. So if you’re a (rich) vegan, you won’t have to worry about sneaky cheese showing up in your veggie dishes. Rates also include water activities, such as canoing, wind-surfing, and snorkeling. More intense activities (deep sea diving, big-game fishing, etc.) can be arrange. Spa treatments are, of course, available for after you return from conquering the sea.
Make sure you visit Round Island’s website. There’s plenty there to keep you daydreaming until next week.
Photo from http://blescapes.com.
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June 20, 2008
Eco-travel News: New survey show highs and lows of hotel green practices
The American Hotel & Lodging Association recently completed an assessment of the green hotel industry. I’m a bit of a survey geek, so indulge me. As you can probably guess, the most common hotel eco-activity is “offering a linen reuse program”; 88 percent of the destinations surveyed had one. Also popular were recycling paper and cardboard, using CFLs, towel-reuse programs, staff eco-training, retrofitting showers to conserve more water, and tracking energy and water use. There’s much to improve on, however. Only 16 percent use sensor on thermostats to tell when guests are actually in the room. Only 18.9 percent recycle food waste. Only 23.4 percent use low- or no-VOC paints.
What can you do? I’ll make a deal with you: You ask if I ask. Consider that “building guest loyalty” tied with “environmental benefits” for the top reason hotels make green changes. If you’re a frequent guest at any hotel chain, make your eco-requests known. You’ve got more power than you think. I often stay at Hyatt hotels during business trips, and once every few trips, the manager will call in the evening to ask how my stay is going. Usually, I say, “Great!” and hang up. Next time, I’m going to suggest a few environmental improvements. I’ll let you know what happens.
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June 19, 2008
Eco-Travel News: Dump the Pump Day means a free ride!
It’s the third annual Dump the Pump day at public transit authorities all across the country! Transit authorities are pulling out the PR campaigns and free pass contests. Some cities are going the distance and letting gas-burdened citizens board for zilch. Here’s a sampling of places you can get around town for nothing today:
Biloxi, Mississippi: Free rides on all fixed bus routes.
Charleston, South Carolina: All routes free.
Fort Worth, Texas: Free bus rides all day.
Orlando, Florida: All-day passes for the LYNX.
St. Louis, Missouri: Travel free on MetroRide and MetroLink all day.
San Francisco Bay Area, California: Free access all day to bus and light-rail lines. Free morning rides on selected trains and ferries.
New Bedford/Fall River, Massachusetts: Free bus rides all day long.
Orange County, California: Free one-day bus pass valid any day this week!
Surf to your local (or local-for-today) transit authority to see if they are giving away free transportation. If not, ask them to get on board for next year!
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June 18, 2008
Eco-Travel News: Good Earthkeeping award winners in Washington and Portland
The American Hotel and Lodging Association gave out their annual “Good Earthkeeping” awards last week along with kudos in categories such as community service and diversity.
For small properties, Sleeping Lady Mountain Retreat in Leavenworth, Washington, won. The retreat wowed the travel industry judges with decks built from a composite of recycled plastic bags and wood chips and electric vehicles for on-site transportation. Their cabins sleep two to eight in varying configurations. Happily, Sleeping Lady’s prices just duck under the Green Postcards limit: Summer rates (May 1 – October 31) start at $150 per person for lodging and three meals a day in the Kingfisher Dining Lodge. (Winter rates start at $100 per person for mid-week stays and include breakfast, dinner, and a lift ticket to local slopes.)
For large properties, Oregon’s Doubletree Hotel & Executive Meeting Center Portland—Lloyd Center ran away with the green-gold. (I’m betting they also stole the “longest name” prize.) The hotel attacked its energy, water and waste record this year, using new eco-friendly lighting and plumbing to reduce electricity/water/gas use by 30 percent. With a boost from a hotel-wide composting program, they’ve also managed to keep 70% of their waste from going to the landfill. Their newly renovated pool opens this month. Rates start around $189.95 for a queen room; you may be able to find a better deal depending on how far ahead you book and whether you're staying mid-week or on a weekend.
(Source: Green Lodging News)
Photo from www.sleepinglady.com
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June 17, 2008
Eco-Travel News: Electric car updates for your road-trip dreams
Instead of ruing the high gas prices or covering the glut of “free fuel!” offers many hotels are offering these days, let’s focus on the positive alternatives to gas-chugging road trips looming on the horizon. Close your eyes and imagine it: You pull your purring electric car out of your garage, its battery fully charged from your home solar array. You drive a hour to that little bed-and-breakfast you’ve been meaning to check out. The kindly inn keepers let you juice up your vehicle using their wind turbine power so you’ll be ready for the drive back the next morning. Now that’s eco-travel.
Toyota displayed their plug-in Prius yesterday for a congressional hearing on electric drive vehicles. The hybrid leader reports the car will be able to go up to 60 miles an hour on battery power alone. Toyota has been teasing us with the prototypes by giving several over for testing on two University of California campuses and using the vehicles to transport important execs during this year’s North American International Auto Show. The car is expected to go public in 2009.
(Source: PR Newsire)
Treehugger (and a whole bunch of green car blogs) reports a former VW design exec has teamed up with a Swiss tycoon to create Six50, a lightweight (and may I say pretty dang sweet looking) hybrid. It runs on a lithium ion battery with a gas motor and roof solar panels as back-up. It’s supposed to be able to go around 62 miles on one battery charge. Don’t get too excited yet, though. Although the car is burning up the blogs, it’s still in development. Prices are rumored to be around 50,000. Euros.
And for an in-depth feature on the Chevy Volt, coming in 2010 if engineers can stay on schedule, pick up the current issue of The Atlantic, or just click here.
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June 16, 2008
Eco-Travel News: Audubon Insectarium opens in New Orleans
The Audubon Insectarium opened in New Orleans this past Friday. The new museum is 23,000 square feet of bugs, ironically funded in part by a $2 million donation from Terminix, a “pest control” company. The museum's tagline is “infested with fun.” I’m not making this stuff up, people. There’s a butterfly garden; an exhibit that stars local French Quarter creepy crawlies; and “Bug Appetit,” a café where you can watch videos of local chefs cooking up some buggy dishes. Unfortunately (or otherwise?), insects aren’t actually served in the restaurant. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for kids, and $12 for seniors. (Audubon members get a $2 discount.)
If all this insect-talk is making you a little itchy, check out a few natural and/or DEET-free repellents to stay bite- and chemical-free on your next outdoor adventure.
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June 15, 2008
Splurge Sundays: Cavallo Point has Golden Gate views, eco-cred, and fab programs
Cavallo Point – The Lodge at the Golden Gate is the newest luxury eco-lodge from the creators of the famous Big Sur eco-getaway, Post Ranch Inn. Cavallo Point opened this weekend and is inside the Golden Gate National Parks, close to Sausalito.
The hotel is awaiting LEED and Green Seal certification, and their “green initiatives” page on their website is still under construction. But we do know a few things: Some of their rooms were created out from the Fort Baker Officers Residences, built in the 1900s – a great example of re-using existing structures to cut back on new construction. Guest rooms feature organic linens and towels. The resort’s main restaurant, Murray Circle , creates its menu with food available from local producers. Cavallo Point's Institute at the Golden Gate will use the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy's expertise to host sustainability events and programs. It's also rumored that groups who hold their own environmental summits at Cavallo Point may get discounts. Room charges include a 5 percent “Environmental Programming and Sustainability Fee” and a $4 donation to the Good Night Foundation, which helps fund local and global community-development projects.
One of the things I’m most excited about is Cavallo Point’s intriguing list of adventures and programs. These expert-led, multi-day programs let you immerse yourself in everything from yoga to “radical knitting” to wine-country cooking. The one I had to stop myself from signing up immediately for: The Ultimate Running Experience with Ultramarathon Man
If you’re thinking about putting down the cash for one of these kick-butt adventures, do it soon: If you sign up for one of their multi-day programs by July 1, you get an extra night free. If you’d like to bask in the Cavallo Point eco-glow freestyle, and explore Pacific beaches and San Francisco on your own, rooms currently start at $250 for a Bayside Queen room (in the historic Fort Baker buildings) and go up to $750 for a Golden Gate King Suite.
Photos from www.cavallopoint.com
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June 14, 2008
June 13, 2008
Eco-travel tool: Lightload Towels are biodegradable, small and cheap!
I recently saw a press release for a product a had to share with you. Lightload Towels are a super-absorbent 36" by 60" beach towels packed into a small metal tin the size of a lib balm container. They were created by an ultra-hiker nicknamed Wideload who apparently knows the value of keeping your travel weight down. I sure could have used these towels during my last camping trip, which was a debacle of over-packing.
Online, the towels are $6.50 individually or down to $1 a piece when bought in bulk. You can also find them at outdoor sports stores, like REI. I'll have to pick some up and give them a test run on our text hiking adventure.
Do you have a favorite eco-travel tool? Comment here!
Photo from www.ultralighttowels.com
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