Footprint-Free Travel

“I like to travel healthy and sustainably, but I found it frustrating to try to find vacation accommodations in line with my everyday values,” says Lisa Gray, founder of Green Vacation Hub (www.greenvacationhub.com), a Web directory of environmentally friendly vacation destinations. “I couldn’t find a resource that gave me the detailed information I wanted about each property; they just advertised, ‘This property has environmentally friendly practices,’ but what does that actually mean?”

Gray created a resource that has it all: a detailed green profile, photos, rates, descriptions, and even a map of exciting vacation destinations. Gray now has more than 250 eco-friendly destination members around the globe. Each responds to Gray’s 30-point questionnaire and is rated in six areas: energy, water, recycling, air quality, fragrance free, and food.

“We have an increasing number of inquiries from people who want to travel healthy and sustainably. When an accommodation offers organic foods or vegetarian options, it’s thinking about the health needs of its clientele. People don’t use harsh chemicals at home, and they don’t want to be exposed to them when they travel. They may be chemically sensitive or have a child with asthma, and they want to know that their vacation accommodations will be healthy and breathable,” Gray explains.

Gray is excited about the number of corporate listings her Green Vacation Hub Web site is gathering, saying, “Even the large chains are beginning to care about being environmentally friendly. The Hilton is making a distinct effort toward green building and conservation, as well as being careful to use healthier cleaners.”

Gray’s other picks include the following:

• Serendipity Bed & Breakfast and Organic Farm in Browntown, Wisconsin: “It answered ‘yes’ to all 30 green questions! This place is completely powered by the wind and sun. It offers all organic food, tours of its operations and renewable energy systems, and even a little electric car to tool around town.”

• El Retoño Eco-Lodge in Coatepec, Veracruz, Mexico: “This remote establishment includes eco-tours and many eco-friendly practices, such as recycled garden water, a nonpolluting septic system, and all organic cotton bedding. It’s great for bird watching and hiking but is close to a university town with a thriving art scene.”

• The Kimpton Boutique Hotels have been leaders in the green hotel movement from the beginning. They have a fantastic EarthCare program for all 40 hotels, and you can see all of them listed on Green Vacation Hub.