As a life-long and passionate traveler, I’m always on the look-out for ways to get where I want to go, enjoy myself when I get there, and still feel like I’m not taking a big toll on the planet. I recently came across some great e-tools that I couldn’t wait to share with you. They’ll help you plan a green eco-friendly vacation you’ll love! But even if you’re simply driving to the nearest beach or camping in the local state park, they’ll help save energy and water, keep wildlife safe, and minimize your environmental impact.

1) Green Hotels – Use this site to find a hotel that belongs to the Green Hotels Association. Green hotels are more likely to offer towel rack hangers and sheet changing cards, which ask guests to consider using their linens more than once to save energy and water. As a bonus, a lot of green hotels also offer in-room recycling bins, light with LEDs or CFLs, and compost food waste from their restaurants. Use their members directory to find certified green hotels in almost every state in America.

2) Spinlister, Bike Sharing – Biking is a great way to get around your destination – you’ll see the sights, get a great work-out, and have zero carbon footprint. Spinlister will connect you to someone who is willing to let you rent his/her bicycle for a set period of time. (NOTE – Depending on where you’re visiting, you can also rent someone’s surfboard here). This bike sharing site on Wikipedia lists all the bike sharing options available in a lot of cities and university towns. The site may not be totally up-to-date, so you can also search “bikesharing + your destination” to find opportunities.

3) Rent-a-Hybrid or Electric Vehicle – Sadly, there seems to be no one website that aggregates an easy way to find a highly fuel-efficient rental car. Fortunately, almost every car rental company seems to have some hybrids and even electric vehicles available. If you are flying to your destination and need to rent a car when you are there, search “rent hybrid vehicle + your destination” and review your options. You should be able to find a hybrid or EV, especially if you’re flying into a major airport.

4) Gear Trade – Keep the “reduce reuse recycle” mantra in mind if you’re preparing for an outdoors-focused vacation.  Gear Trade sells used camping equipment, bikes, clothing, tents and a lot of other gear. You can sell your old stuff there and buy used but still perfectly good items, too. You don’t need to sell something to buy something, and vice versa.

5) Green Traveler Guides: Traveler’s To Do’s – What’s on this helpful list of “to do’s”? – Tips for saving energy when you leave on vacation; helpful things to take along, like your own reusable bag and water bottle, so you don’t have to use disposables everywhere you go; and suggestions on how to buy a “carbon offset” to help account for the carbon dioxide you’ll be emitting when you fly or drive somewhere.

6) VegDining.com – Use this website to help you find vegetarian dining options when you travel. Start with the continent you’ll be visiting – they have offerings on every landmass but Antarctica! Then choose the state/province and city, and you’ll be eating in no time.

7) TrailLink – This service of the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy provides a comprehensive database on American’s thousands of rail-trails, plus many other canal towpaths, greenways and non-rail trails. You can get any one or more of seven regional guide books to help you plan a great trip.

8) Recreation.Gov – Recreation.gov is a one-stop shop for trip planning, information sharing and reservations brought to you by 12 federal Participating Partners. Seven of these partner agencies including the Army Corps of Engineers, Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service, and the National Archives, offer advance reservations at 2,500 federal areas for over 60,000 facilities and activities. Recreation.gov makes it easy to discover which parks, forests, lakes, museums, and areas managed by federal agencies offer recreation opportunities near you or your destination. You can also use their interactive maps to get information, plan your trip, or to initiate a reservation on-line.

9) Sierra Club Outings – Want to go hiking, camping or exploring with people who share your passion for the outdoors? Start with Sierra Club Outings. They organize great trips for people of all ages and abilities, including families.

By the way, our friendly bear here asked me to remind you to ‘take only pictures, leave only footprints,’ especially when it comes to wildlife. Don’t intrude on an animal’s habitat, and stay on trails to avoid trampling plants. Before you buy a keepsake, take a close look. You may not realize that the souvenir you’re buying that contains an animal’s hide, body part or piece of shell actually contributed to the loss of an endangered species. Most travel and tourism guides will provide information on what souvenirs to avoid. Pay attention to them. Trade in wildlife and wildlife products seriously harms individual species and contributes to habitat destruction on a global scale.

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Here’s another in our occasional series on traveling the eco-friendly way. If you have a destination you’d like us to explore, please let us know.

Venice holidays bring to mind rich cultural history, beautiful scenery, and romantic attractions. But a holiday in this fabled city takes its toll. Over 50,000 people visit its squares and canals every day during the height of the tourist season, threatening both the built environment and the area’s famous lagoons. Why not plan an eco-vacation to Venice, Italy and lower your carbon footprint in this unique UNESCO World Heritage Site? Here’s how to get started.

Choose youth hostels and self-catering accommodations. These types of accommodations generally use much less energy than a typical hotel. Plus, they allow you to cook your own meals, so you can take advantage of food stands and farmers markets to buy delicious local food.

Locate near public transportation hubs. From trains to buses to water taxis, public transportation in Venice gives you plenty of ways to get around without driving your own car. Websites for most accommodations should indicate how close they are to public transportation; you should be able to find lodging within 15 minutes of a bus stop or water taxi stand.

Rent a bike. Though it is actually illegal to bicycle in historic Venice, you can enjoy the surrounding countryside on two wheels. Plenty of websites offer guided tours, or you can contact a local bicycle rental shop when you arrive. On one popular trip, you would take a water taxi from St. Mark’s Square to the island of Lido, rent a bike there, and ride along the Murazzi, a 5km stone breakwater that dates back to the 18^th century. To rent your bike, say Noleggio bici.

Recharge your phone and other electronics via solar energy. Rather than find an electrical outlet whenever you need a charge, use a compact solar charger to repower your mobile devices.

Bring your own reusable water bottle and shopping bag. It’s not unusual to see plastic bags and water bottles floating in the canals alongside the gondolas. All of this plastic will eventually end up in the Adriatic Sea, where it will add to the epidemic of microplastic that’s polluting the world’s oceans. Bring your own reusable water bottle, preferably one that comes with its own filter, and you’ll have good drinking water whenever you need it. Carry a reusable shopping bag, too, which you can use for groceries, souvenirs, or anything else you’d otherwise put in a throwaway bag. One that collapses into a little sac is ideal, since you can easily tuck it away in a pocket, purse, or backpack when you’re not using it.

Fly direct, and offset your energy use with carbon credits. In all likelihood, you will take a plane to Italy, which will burn a LOT of fuel. Offset the carbon emissions from your trip by buying carbon credits that will be used to support development of renewable energy like solar and wind. Flying non-stop rather than taking several planes is also more fuel efficient.

Other ideas? How do you minimize your environmental impact when you travel? Please share!

 This is a sponsored post.

The post How to Plan Your Eco-Vacation to Venice, Italy appeared first on Big Green Purse.

If you’re looking for an eco hotel when you travel to London, you won’t be disappointed. There are plenty to choose from, starting with high-end boutiques that save energy, reduce waste and serve sustainable cuisine, to more modest hostels that also use energy and resources wisely.  Here’s a quick guide to some of London’s top green hotels, plus some low-energy hostels that might interest you.

The Cavendish This elegant establishment is considered by many to be London’s top eco-friendly hotel. In fact, it was recently received the prestigious Green Hospitality Award by Green Tourism of London. In the “commitment to the environment” on its website, the Cavendish pledges to work with its suppliers to reduce their packaging and transportation impacts, purchase fair trade tea and coffee and ethically sourced produce, purchase recycled goods, reduce energy consumption, and use eco-friendly chemicals throughout the hotel. The hotel also encourages its guests to conserve energy by switching off lights and closing windows, walking rather than using a car or taxi cab, turning off the water when brushing teeth, recycling within the hotel, and supporting local UK green businesses. The Cavendish also provides links to several useful environmental resources on its website that guests can access for more information.

The Savoy This deluxe London hotel near the banks of the Thames River has received an impressive number of awards for its sustainable tourism achievements, including Hotel Catey’s 2013 “Green Hotel of the Year,” Fairmont’s Sustainability Hotel of the Year 2013, and 2013 “Green Hotel of the Year” from European Hospitality Awards. The Savoy has significantly cut its carbon emissions by reducing the hotel’s overall energy consumption. The Savoy also donates a large quantity of bedding, furniture and food to homeless shelters and recycles approximately ninety percent of its waste products.

The Rafayel This beautiful hotel boasts eco-friendly dry cleaning systems, along with a sophisticated energy-efficient air-conditioning and heating unit. The Rafayel also uses rainwater for irrigation purposes. Thanks to various efficiency design adaptations, the carbon footprint of the average London hotel guest who stays at the Rafayel reduces his/her carbon footprint by 20%.

The Lancaster London The Lancaster made headlines when it launched its innovative “bees on the roof” initiative in order to be able to source sustainable honey and provide a home for nature on its rooftop. Lighting fixtures have been changed to LEDs to meet the hotel’s goal of reducing energy consumption by 3%/year. The hotel has achieved zero landfill by recycling all glass, paper, plastic, cardboard, cooking oil and food.On the interior, only water-based paints are used. The Lancaster has also created a voluntary agreement with its hospitality and food service providers to reduce food and packaging waste. Food is sourced locally as much as possible.

One Aldwych – Talk about green award winners! One Aldwych has been awarded a Green Business Award from the European Regional Development Fund for the biggest total carbon saving in 2012, gold grading from the Green Tourism for London 2010, London Development Agency and the Luxury Eco Certification Standard (LECS) from Sustainable Travel International (STI) in association with The Leading Hotels of the World. One Aldwych is also one of only six hotels to gain this independently assessed accreditation worldwide, the first in the United Kingdom. Many hotels recycle and use LEDs, but One Aldwych has gone further with its no-bleach policy, replacing chlorine in its swimming pool with minerals, water-saving toilets, and biodegradable packaging for in-room amenities.

Hostels

For an even more energy-efficient and resource wise stay, consider one of London’s many hostels. You’ll find single, double and dormitory-style rooms that reduce overall energy use; facilities so you can prepare your own meals and do your own laundry; easy access to public transportation; and usually free wifi. Remember that many hostels can be noisy and cater to a twenty-something crowd that likes to party. However, in the off-season, hostels offer very affordable and low impact lodging.

For example, Palmers Lodge Swiss Cottage  consistently tops the charts for “best customer service” and “best accommodation.” Its location at the Swiss Cottage tube station (metro/subway) makes it a breeze to use mass transit to get wherever you want to go.  Like some other hostels, it includes both private rooms and dormitory options.

Check into other options on Hostelworld.com.

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Reduce Your Environmental Impact When You Fly

* Fly Direct

There’s no getting around it. Flying has a greater environmental impact than pretty much any form of travel other than rocket ship! For starters, airplanes burn enormous amounts of fuel, especially during take off and landing. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends flying direct whenever possible to cut down on the amount of carbon emitted when a flight begins and ends. Fewer stopovers = less impact on climate change. Of course, if you have the option to travel by train or bus, or can bicycle or walk, you’ll reduce your carbon footprint significantly. But when you have to fly, minimize the stop-overs.

* Offset The Amount of Energy Your Flight Uses

Many airlines help “offset” their energy impact by contributing to projects that advance the use of solar energy and wind power. These “carbon offsets” aren’t particularly expensive, but over time, they can provide substantial support to a renewable energy initiative. Sometimes I’ve flown on airlines that offset their own flights; other times, the airline has given me the option of buying my own carbon offsets to compensate for the fuel burned during my flight. Before you book your tickets, check with the airline about the kinds of carbon offsets they offer. If it’s up to you to buy an offset for your trip, it shouldn’t add much to the cost of the ticket, and may be tax deductible if the offset program is being managed by a non-profit organization.

* Pack Lightly – The less you and other passengers take, the lighter the plane will be and the less fuel it will use. Bonus: lighter bags are easier to load into overhead bins or to lug up stairs in the event you end up at accommodations without elevators.

* Use E Tickets – Rather than print out a ticket, save paper and download your ticket to your smart phone or tablet and show that to the ticket taker at the gate.

* Don’t Forget Your Reusable Bottle or Coffee Mug – It’s easy to skip throwaway bottles and cups on a flight. I fill up my own water bottle before I board, and use my own mug for coffee or tea or drinks served on the plane.

Book a Green Hotel

* Choose a hotel that has been certified to be environmentally responsible by an organization like Green Seal, ENERGY STAR or Green Leaf. Many hotels will also describe the steps they’ve taken to reduce their environmental impact on their websites. Look for those that have installed energy efficient lighting, offer in-room recycling programs, reduce water and energy use by giving guests the option to opt out of daily linens and towel replacements, and recycle room toiletries.

* Stay close – Ideally, you can choose a hotel that’s located relatively near to the place you’ll be visiting so you can walk, bicycle, or more easily take mass transit.

* Self cater – As much as possible choose a hotel or inn that offers a self-catering kitchenette in the room so you can make simple meals there, rather than have to dine out every night.

* Save energy – Turn off the lights when you leave your room, and adjust heating and cooling when you leave for more energy savings. If your destination is a warm climate, close the drapes during the hottest part of the day. Or, if you have Venetian blinds, angle them up to bounce the sunlight off the ceiling and keep the room cooler. Conversely, let the sun warm up your room during the day if you are in a cooler climate.

* Use your phone or table for maps and directions – Otherwise, grab only the maps and brochures you’ll use while you’re visiting. If possible, return them to the concierge when your vacation is over.

Unplug Before You Leave Home

* Remember to unplug all appliances that don’t need to be left on. Those include TVs, VCRs, stereos, toasters, microwaves, computer printers and fax machines, and other electronics. Set your thermostat and water heater at low settings so that energy isn’t wasted while you are away.

* Cancel the paper – If you still have a newspaper delivered to your home, cancel it before you leave. You might like the idea of catching up on the news when you return, but I know from experience that I just end up recycling old newspaper because I don’t have the time to read them all. Plus, the news is OLD by the time I get home. I’d rather be up on what’s new.

Other Ideas? Do you pack you own in-flight meal in reusable containers? Rent a bike to get around when you arrive? Camp out rather than stay in a hotel? Please share your best recommendations for eco-friendly travel, especially by air.

The post EcoTourism Even if You’re Planning a Greece Beach Vacation appeared first on Big Green Purse.

At the Beach, Skip the Plastics, Stow the Trash

No one intends to litter at a beach! But because it’s usually somewhat windy, and because a lot of trash is so light, plastic, paper, water bottles, drink cans, and other rubbish can easily get blown or washed into the sea. I managed to avoid a lot of this by taking a trash bag with me and putting the trash in it rather than let it pile up or try to stuff it in trash cans that were already overloaded. I also had a water bottle with a water filter on it, so I could avoid buying throwaway plastic water bottles. I brought food in reusable cloth bags to avoid using flimsy plastic bags or mesh produce bags that could get blown into the sea. It was no hassle and made me feel like I was doing my part to make a difference.

Respect Wildlife

When it comes to wildlife, I kept two important points in mind. One, when buying souvenirs, I avoided those made from marine life such as coral, shark, and turtles. If these animals are dead on a store shelf or in a street kiosk, it means they were killed just so they could be sold to tourists! Isn’t it better to enjoy them in their natural habitat, and in souvenir books? Two, when in the water, I avoided interfering with marine wildlife of any size. No rocks, coral, or shells still occupied by the animals that made them ended up in my suitcase when I headed home. As the saying goes, take only pictures, leave only footprints.

Getting Around

I generally tried to choose a hotel as close as possible to the sites I visited so that getting to them was easy to do on foot. This way, I avoided having to hire cars, taxis, or other vehicles to move around, which saved me some money as well as reduced my carbon footprint.

This year, millions of us will be traveling. Maybe we’ll go as far afield as Turkey, or maybe we’ll enjoy a “staycation” closer to home. Wherever we go, we can make a difference by being responsible about how we travel and what we do when we get there.

NOTE: Collaborations and sponsorships enable us to bring you expert content at no cost to you. Our editorial opinions remain our own. Thanks!

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 The fun part is simple to define. I’m the “active adventurer with a cultural twist” type, so for me, a trip is really fun if it gives me a chance to hike, snorkel, scuba, mountain bike or otherwise get my adrenaline pumping, preferably in a place with gorgeous scenery that connects me to Mother Nature. But I also love exploring new cultures, enjoying the local art and restaurant scene, and meeting people who actually live where I’m just visiting.

WHAT MAKES A TRIP FUN FOR YOU?

Expense is always a factor, especially in this economy. Fortunately, there are more affordable options available than ever before. From couch surfing to camping to hostels and the budget hotels you can find through companies like Accor, our sponsors for this post, it should be possible to locate accommodations within your price range almost anywhere you want to go.

WHAT CONSTITUTES ECOTOURISM?

As for making a difference, the International Ecotourism Society has identified a set of principles to guide travelers in making decisions about their destinations. Those principles include:

* Minimize impact (look for accommodations and activities that minimize energy and water consumption, recycle waste, reuse products, and serve locally grown organic food when possible)

* Build environmental and cultural awareness and respect between visitors and hosts

* Provide direct financial benefits for local conservation and the benefit of local people  (for example, does a portion of a fee you pay get returned to the local community for education or to support a local tree planting project or water purification plant or organic farm?)

* Raise sensitivity about the host country’s political, environmental and social issues

The picture above was taken during my trip rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. We also visited Native American communities, and archeological sites where we learned about the ancient history of Arizona. We used reusable food containers and water bottles, purified water right out of the river to avoid plastic water bottles, and camped in tents or slept under the stars. When the trip was over, we stopped at stores owned by local entrepreneurs to buy snacks, drinks and souvenirs, helping support their local economy.

HOW TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

When it comes to making a difference, many eco-tourism trips today are specifically designed to help maintain trails, replant forests, or conduct research into the status of endangered species.

The EarthWatch Institute organizes expeditions ranging from archeological digs to protecting chimpanzees to exploring the Amazon. Their motto? “Travel the world while saving the planet.”

The venerable Sierra Club offers “Adventures with a Cause.” You can help restore critical bird habitat on Mauna Kea in Hawaii, improve hiking trails along California’s spectacular Big Sur Coast, control invasive plant species on Maine’s beautiful and remote Monhegan Island, or develop small organic food gardens at the Genesis Farm in New Jersey (yes, New Jersey!) There are many more options to choose from, all of which are reasonably priced, fun, and high impact.

Maple Leaf Adventures offers sailing cruises along the coast of British Columbia and up through Alaska’s Inside Passage, as well as around the Galapagos Islands. In addition to providing tourists a first-hand opportunity to explore and observe Nature, the company supports research organizations working to protect the coastlines they sail along. They also volunteer the time of their own staff to promote conservation, education and sound ecotourism in British Columbia.

You’ll find many more opportunities for eco-tourism by searching “ecotourism adventures” on the Internet. Before you choose an outfitter, compare what they offer to the principles identified above. Do their expeditions really make a difference? Ask for specific examples, both about how the outfitter gives back and about the contribution you’ll make by being part of the trip.

Note: The support of companies like Accor help us bring you expertise and insights at no cost to you. Our editorial opinions are our own. Thanks.

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Renting a bike has always been an inexpensive and “green” way to get around when you travel. This is especially true in cities in Europe, where  “bike hire” schemes have become one of the most popular ways for vacationers and holiday makers to explore a city.

Because hiring or renting a bike is so flexible, travelers can design their own personal tour and see a city at their own pace. Because biking uses pedal power rather than fossil fuels, it’s also a great way to see the sites without contributing to air pollution or climate change. Plus, using a bike saves money on buses, taxes and rental cars.

Travel comparison site momondo, the sponsors of this post, have created this helpful round-up of five European cities that make it easy to rent or hire a bike, along with their top tips on how to make the most of their bike hire schemes.   If you’ve rented a bike before while on vacation, or you regularly commute to work by bike, please share your experiences with us.

NOTE: Sponsorships allow us to bring you excellent content and expertise at no cost to you. Our editorial opinions remain our own. Thanks.

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 For example, I could swap a stay in my home, which is just outside Washington, D.C., with someone who lives in London (or with this gorgeous house in Bali, pictured above). I would stay in their house, and they would stay in mine.  Usually, the stays last about the same amount of time, but they don’t have to occur simultaneously. I have friends who regularly swap houses with people all over the world. If their guests want to visit at a time when they’re not traveling, they decamp to their kids’ house or to a neighbor’s or friend’s. It has worked so well for them, they have managed it in Maryland, San Francisco, Seattle, Paris, the Dordogne region in France, Italy, Belgium…you get the picture.

Though you may pay a small fee to list your house on a swapping site, generally, if you swap with another homeowner, neither of you pays the other any rental fee. So first and foremost, house (or apartment) swapping is a terrific way to save hundreds of dollars (or pounds).

But beyond the economic value of house swapping, what appeals to me about it is the opportunity to lower my “environmental footprint” by staying in a house or flat that matches my lifestyle, rather than in a hotel that takes a bigger environmental toll. That means no sheets and towels being changed every day (which saves lots of energy and water), non-toxic soaps and personal care products I can supply myself (rather than rely on the conventional products most hotels use), fewer electricity demands (you won’t find elevators in most houses!), and the opportunity to recycle on the premises (most hotels don’t offer guests in-room recycling). Plus, I love having access to a kitchen when I travel so that I don’t need to rely on restaurants and fast food joints for meals. I can skip the carry-out trash in favor of buying locally grown food I can prepare with minimum impact myself.

Most home swap sites actually offer a few different options. For example, at Love Home Swap, homeowners can either swap with each other, rent a home they see on the site, or earn points they can apply to different houses (for example, I could “swap” my house to a couple from Scotland, but instead of going to their home, I could use swap points to go to Australia).

Another advantage of home swapping is that it allows you to share your green lifestyle with others who may be new to eco living.  By giving visitors the opportunity to see what you have done to save energy and water and minimize waste, you’re providing your guests with a first-hand opportunity to see how rewarding it is to live green.

It only takes a few minutes to join a home swapping site. Many of them offer a free trial period to test it out and see how you like it. Whether you’re planning an extended vacation or a short-holiday, home swapping can be a terrific way to enjoy your destination while minimizing your environmental impact. What do you have to lose?

Have you tried home swapping before? How did it work for you? Let us know!

DISCLAIMER: Sponsors like LoveHomeSwap.com pay a small fee for a guest post like this one. Those fees helps us bring you expert content, but at no cost to you. All sponsors meet our strict criteria for environmental accuracy and in no way affect our editorial judgement. Thanks!

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I recently was offered the chance to spend three nights at the Element Times Square West in New York City in exchange for providing my unvarnished feedback on the hotel’s environmental attributes. Many hotels “talk the talk” when it comes to being green; did Element actually “walk the walk?” Here’s what I found out.

LOCATION

The Element chain is relatively new; though it’s part of the Starwood Hotels & Resorts family, there are only 10 Elements in the U.S. and a few abroad (though more are on the drawing board). The upside is that you can earn Starwood points if you stay there. The downside is that you won’t yet be able to find an Element everywhere you travel.

Fortunately, one place where you can find it is in Manhattan – Times Square, to be exact. In an effort to make my trip as “eco” as possible, I traveled there by bus rather than plane from Washington, D.C. where I live, to 7th Avenue and 34th Street, right across from Macy’s original department store. I was then able to walk about 10 minutes to get to the Element (on 8th Ave. and 39th). The train into New York’s Penn Station would have also put me within walking distance. And if I’d driven? It would have taken me around four hours, the same amount of time as the bus. But if I’d driven an electric car, I could have charged it at the charging station right across the street from the Element’s entrance.

From the Element, I could get anywhere – either on foot, via the subway or by pedaling one of the bicycles the hotel makes available for free to patrons. I actually walked just about everywhere I went, covering almost 10 miles total during my three-day visit. On one afternoon, I headed uptown, through Times Square, all the way to Central Park. On another day, I walked over to the High Line, a magnificent elevated walk way that runs from the edge of Times Square to the art district in Chelsea. When I wanted to go to a club down in Greenwich Village, it was easy to hop on the nearby subway. From an environmental point of view, transportation couldn’t have been more accessible or efficient.

WHAT MAKES THE HOTEL “GREEN?”

The hotel itself was mostly a treat. The check-in staff couldn’t have been more friendly, and the lobby (pictured above) was bright and airy, with urns of filtered water and baskets of apples set out for people to grab coming or going. Monday through Thursday, guests are invited to a complimentary wine tasting. A knowledgeable concierge is on hand to help book theater tickets or provide maps.

Russell Porter, the hotel’s Director of Sales, gave me a tour to help point out the Element’s various green features. All the walls, he said, are painted with Benjamin Moore Natura Zero VOC paint throughout. That means no nasty fumes contributing to indoor air pollution. The building is in the process of becoming LEED certified, a designation awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council for “leadership in energy and environmental design.” Compact fluorescent and LED bulbs provide lighting throughout. Furniture is made from soy-based fabric. Needless to say, there’s no smoking anywhere in the building. In fact, smokers are supposed to smoke 25 feet away from the building when they go outside. All the wall signs are green, a subtle reminder of the goal to minimize the building’s impact on nature.

 One thing I got a kick out of was the fitness center. In addition to various free weights, treadmills, and weight machines, it includes a stationary bicycle that will re-charge a cell phone battery as the pedals revolve. I’d love to see bikes like that at my fitness center!

One thing that gave me a headache – literally – was the “natural fragrance” being dispersed in the hotel lobby. I am somewhat chemically sensitive, and much prefer to be in a space that is fragrance-free. I believe the fragrance in the Element was intended to smell like green tea; whatever it was, I contracted a splitting headache within minutes of entering the lobby. Fortunately, my room did not emit that smell. I imagine it would be much more difficult for someone who is highly chemically sensitive.

MY ROOM

I had an incredible view from my room, which was on the 37th floor of the hotel. Looking out windows that opened for fresh air, I could see the Empire State Building in one direction and the Hudson River in another. I’m used to staring at dark, narrow alleys when I stay in New York, so that fabulous vista was a real pleasure.

The room itself seemed to be the standard size for a New York hotel room – there was just enough space for the king-sized bed, a narrow desk and chair, and a flat screen tv. Evidently, the Element caters to people who might stay long enough to want to cook or keep a lot of food available, as each room is also equipped with a refrigerator/freezer, cooktop, dishwasher and kitchen sink, along with a coffee pot. The appliances are all energy-efficient, ENERGY STAR models, and the sink faucet conserves water. Several bins make it easy to recycle paper and trash.

The liquid soap was a Seventh Generation, non-toxic product. But the dishwasher was using a pod of powder that seemed decidedly less eco-friendly to me. It would be easy to switch to the Seventh Gen dishwasher cleanser.

The hotel provided a basket of coffee pouches and tea bags, too. They could easily be organic, but they weren’t.

THE BATHROOM

 The eco-friendliness continued into the bathroom. The toilet was a dual-flush, water-saving model, and the low-flow sink faucet and shower head conserve H2O as well. I appreciated the fact that liquid soap and shampoo in the shower were dispensed by bulk containers rather than those annoying individual plastic bottles so many hotels ply to their guests. The Element does provide small bars of soap for the bathroom sink, but collects them, sanitizes them and donates them to charity rather than toss them after a guest leaves. Element encourages guests to reuse their towels rather than get fresh towels every day, an energy- and water-saving measure that many hotels worldwide have adopted.

One issue I had with the bathroom was that the mirror was a bit hard to reach when I was trying to put on make-up – and there were no other mirrors that were both easily accessible and well-enough lit to do the job. I would have appreciated having access to a bright make-up mirror somewhere in the room or the bathroom.

FOOD

Though there is no restaurant per se in the Element, the hotel provides a hearty, free continental breakfast each morning, including juice, coffee, tea, locally sourced fruit, yogurt, granola, bagels, bread for toast or peanut butter sandwiches, pastries, muffins, and breakfast burritos consisting of eggs and cheese with or without turkey sausage. Though the plates and bowls are disposable, the Element composts them, along with its food waste. It’s a bit of a mob scene, with people pouring in in their PJ’s or work-out clothes as well as their suits and heels to grab a bite before heading out for the day. On the other hand, everyone was pretty friendly, and I enjoyed the chance to say hello to the visitors from England, France, Italy, Germany and many other countries the Element attracts.

FINAL ANALYSIS?

Overall, I’d definitely stay in the Element again. I’ve come to expect that most hotels are using energy-efficient light bulbs and encouraging guests to re-use their towels, but Element’s focus on non-toxic building materials, easy in-room recycling, use of recycled fabrics for furniture and emphasis on locally sourced food for its breakfast bar put it a step above its competitors.

That said, I hope they tone down the use of that fragrance in the lobby – it’s overpowering and really not necessary. I’d love to see organic teas and coffees in the room and at the breakfast bar, another mirror in the bathroom, and more chairs in the dining area to accommodate more people at breakfast.

It also occurs to me that, in keeping with their environmental theme, the hotel could prepare a “green attractions” guide to make available to guests to help people get out and see some of the eco-sites in New York City: the High Line, the Zoo at Central Park, the Botanic Gardens, etc.

Those quibbles aside, the Element is setting a terrific example for other hotels aiming to be “green.”

Get more suggestions for a “green” vacation here.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I was not paid to review the Element hotel in New York, but I did receive free accommodations for the three nights I was there.  As I hope you can tell, that benefit did not influence my review of the hotel.

The post In My Element at Element Hotel in NYC appeared first on Big Green Purse.

When I returned this past September, I felt like I’d landed in the middle of the most modern metropolis on earth. The dank terminal I remembered had been replaced by a gleaming mini-city, complete with automated teller machines (ATMs) and fancy shops and restaurants. I sped to the phalanx of taxis waiting outside the arrival doors via bright and shiny high-velocity trains, with destinations announced in English as well as Chinese.

What People Eat, How They Dress

Once in Beijing, I had my choice, not just of rice and dumplings, but of McDonald’s hamburgers, Kentucky Fried Chicken strips, and sandwiches from the Subway just around the corner from my hotel. I was curious about food quality, given the news reports that have swirled around everything from contaminated dog food from China to tainted milk. My unease increased on my second day in Beijing, when the newspapers reported the use of gutter oil by some restaurants. “Gutter” oil is so named because it is reclaimed by dredging the drains behind restaurants. It is supposed to be recycled into other uses, but some cooks reuse it in their own kitchens, regardless of what it contains. Reading that report made me shudder! Fortunately, there were many excellent restaurants in Beijing and especially Xi’an, where I enjoyed a feast of delicious traditional dishes, including a variety of stir-fried meats and vegetables.

The television in my room offered a variety of channels in English; 28 years ago, there were few hotel room tvs, and no offerings in anything other than Mandarin. The dress code had changed, too. Whereas most people – men and women alike – were still wearing “Mao” suits in the early eighties, today, women stylishly head off to work in short skirts and stilettos, while men wear Dockers, jeans, Oxford shirts or full Western-style suits and ties.

Playtime!

Meanwhile, the parks brimmed with people not only doing traditional tai chi, but jitterbugging in groups and salsa line dancing, too – something I would never have witnessed in the much stricter political climate that reigned 28 years ago. Before and after work, people exercised in public without the least bit of self-consciousness. It was quite common to see men, women and kids using outdoor stationary bicycles and other gear made from steel to withstand the elements. Elsewhere, groups of friends were challenging each other to games of mah jong, cards, badminton, and hackey-sack, the latter played with a large sturdy shuttle cock rather than the balls more common in the U.S.

What About the Environment?

Environmentally, some things have changed for the better, but most have changed for the worst. A new subway system, built to accommodate the hordes of tourists that descended on Beijing for the 2008 summer Olympics, now whisks hundreds of thousands of people around the city with ease. But almost as many commuters have the means to drive their own cars to work, and air pollution in the region suffers as a result. In fact, during the entire week I was in Beijing and Xi’an, the other city I visited, I never saw blue sky or the sun, thanks to the smog that obscured the heavens.

Water quality has not improved in the city, either: you couldn’t drink H2O from the tap three decades ago, and you can’t drink it from the tap today. According to scientific reports, as much as 70% of China’s rivers have been polluted from industrial discharges as the country’s factories work non-stop to meet global consumer demands that were negligible when I originally visited.

It doesn’t seem like using plastic is given a second thought. All drinking water is factory-processed and bought or served in plastic bottles. I never saw anyone using their own reusable water bottle – what would be the point? You’d still have to fill it up from a plastic jug!! That said, many people were drinking their own tea and coffee from reusable mugs. In fact, the airport and some public spaces offered safe water dispensers where you could fill up for free.

A plastic bag ban went into effect on June 1, 2008. Initially, it was targeted at supermarkets and shopping malls; this year, the ban was extended to book stores, restaurants, and drugstores. The Beijing News reported that the number of plastic bags produced and used in China has dropped by more than 24 billion a year since the ban occurred, saving 600,000 tons of plastic or 3.6 million tons of petroleum. Yet it didn’t seem to me that the ban was being enforced. All of the purchases I made, whether in drugstores, supermarkets, large stores, or from roadside vendors, would have been packaged up in throwaway plastic bags if I hadn’t brought my own reusable one.

In 1983, I remember many more vendors selling fresh fruits and vegetables, and cooks boiling pots of fresh noodles on the street to serve on glass plates. People would sit down at benches to eat, then return the plates for washing to the cook. Today, as in the U.S., food shoppes and supermarkets are filled with plastic-wrapped food. I was amazed to see everything from a single roasted chicken leg to a clump of cooked noodles shrink wrapped in plastic to extend their shelf-life. Organic food doesn’t seem to have made many inroads in China yet. I only saw one grocery store offering organic fruits and vegetables, and it was on the outskirts of Beijing.

 Friendly People!

No matter where I went, people seemed warm, friendly and eager to practice English with me. In Tian’an Men Square, a beaming couple approached me with a camera. I thought they wanted me to take their picture. But no – they each wanted their picture taken with me! I traveled throughout Beijing on my own, and never felt nervous or threatened. Of course, I was never, ever alone, either. Every subway car was packed, every street corner crowded, every restaurant filled. If I were a permanent resident, I might eventually feel like I had no room to myself. As a traveler, it was somewhat reassuring to have a lot of company, even if it was the company of strangers.

Here are a few more photos from the trip, all taken with my trusty Nokia smart phone.

Here I am in the old part of Beijing, outside a small shop that sold beautiful tea pots and many varieties of tea.

This is my favorite building in Beijing, the ancient Temple of Heaven.  It’s where the emperors used to pray for abundant harvests.

I found the Buddhist temples particularly inspiring. Despite the presence of tourists like me, many people were there to pray and light incense and candles.

Have you been to China? Please share your stories!

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The post China Then and Now: Field Notes from My Recent Trip appeared first on Big Green Purse.