The Best Luxury Eco-Hotels on the Planet by Jill Starley-Grainger
Featured Hotel in Siwa
Adrere Amellal Ecolodge
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Luxury hotels with an eco-conscience come in all shapes and sizes. Some, like Egypt's Adrère Amellal, are in complete isolation and offer a break from modern living, with a pared-down luxury that can be hard to find. Then there's their urban counterparts, a whole family of contemporary city hotels that are switching on their green lights and leading the way for others.
Here's a list of luxury eco-hotels that really stand out for their eco-credentials and style-savviness:
Hotelito Desconocido, Mexico
Leave your iPad behind when you come to Hotelito Desconocido on Mexico’s Pacific Coast. With no electricity, phone or Wi-fi in your room, you’ll well and truly be Out of the Office. Your thatched-roof stilted hut hovers over the lagoon, canals or beach, and is decorated in Kelly Hoppen-meets-Mexico chic.
Barefoot beauties will feel right at home here, padding around the nature reserve, nibbling fresh fruit in the 100 per cent organic food restaurant or going for a splash in the Unesco-listed lagoon. Solar panels provide power and hot water, so you’ll still have all the essentials in your glam-green getaway.
Find out more about Hotel Desconocido
Six Senses Soneva Kiri, Thailand
Hidden in lush jungle foliage, in the grounds of the stunning new Six Senses Soneva Kiri, is a groundbreaking green project - the Eco Villa. On the little developed island of Koh Kood, the villa is cutting-edge eco-techno luxe. With solar, wind and geothermal energy, rainwater and greywater harvesting, fern-filled green roof and one-metre-thick walls, built by hand from local sandstone, the list of green credentials just goes on and on.
But lounging on the Eco Pod over the rainwater swimming pool (loved by local wildlife), having a candlelit dinner with wine from the villa’s private terracotta cellar, or retiring to your four-poster bed, you won’t be feeling eco – just pure, unadulterated indulgence.
Find out more about Six Senses Soneva Kiri
Adrère Amellal Ecolodge, Egypt
A mud-and-stone haven rising out of the desert, Adrère Amellal is striking not just for its pared-down luxe, but for its unique eco-cred in a region not known for its greenness. Totally off the grid, the hotel uses alternative, self-generated energy. To keep even that to a minimum, nights are romantically lit by candles and oil lamps in the organic, local-food restaurant and bedrooms.
Waste could be a problem for this 40-room lodge, 250km from Cairo, but nearly everything is recycled, including the water. And the natural underground spring and situation next to Lake Siwa mean you can still go for a splash in the pool – and without any eco-guilt.
Find out more about Adrère Amellal Ecolodge
Chateau Mcely, Czech Republic
This dreamy castle, 55km from Prague, is one of the Czech Republic’s most gorgeous boutique hotels. Expect old-world style and pampering at the five-star Chateau Mcely, but behind the scenes, there’s also some new-world greening going on, so much so that it’s been given the EU eco-label and been awarded World’s Best Green Hotel at the World Travel Awards.
Along with the usual energy-efficient light bulbs, Energy A-rated appliances, and recycling, the hotel also uses green electricity from renewable sources, such as waste wood chips, wind turbines and hydro power. You’ll not find a greener, cleaner luxury eco-hotel in Eastern Europe.
Find out more about Chateau Mcely
Hotel Palomar, San Francisco
This city-centre boutique hotel in Union Square is just a few metres walk from Yerba Buena Gardens and Center for the Arts, so it’s no surprise Hotel Palomar has designed itself as a home-away-from-home for the cultured classes, with artworks scattered throughout and minimalist mid-century décor.
But it’s also taken the green theme to heart, with a range of eco-initiatives, from using soy-based inks on recycled paper throughout, to providing in-room (designer) recycling bins and low-filter water systems. Amazingly, San Francisco doesn’t have many luxury eco-hotels, so responsible luxury lovers should plump for this one.
Find out more about Hotel Palomar
Angsana Resort and Spa, Maldives
The Maldives isn’t known for its eco credentials, but some hotels are starting to make headway. Angsana Resort and Spa Ihuru, just 20 minutes from Malé Airport, has focussed its environmental efforts on marine conservation, trying to protect and preserve the endangered reefs surrounding the island.
So when you’re not relaxing in your urban-chic-meets-beach-retreat villa, you can help with the resort’s environmental projects, such as counting baby turtles. Sweet!