Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla
Photo Courtesy of Melia Hotels International
Sustainability is in style, and hotels and resorts that take care of guests while simultaneously taking care of the environment are in demand. Ready for a place to enjoy unparalleled luxury and nature-friendly endeavors? Here are three eco-chic hotels that embrace green living.
Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla
Paradisus Playa del Carmen La Perla, part of the Meliá family of hotels, takes great pains to ensure that the hotel itself maintains sustainable practices — providing individual eco-controls in each room and employing recycled materials in the design are two standout aspects — while also supporting the local community. The property buys some personal hygiene amenities through local suppliers and uses locally grown plants when it can in landscaping, thus giving back to area biodiversity programs whenever possible.
You can also view the spectacular natural surroundings of Riviera Maya and the Yucatan Peninsula during your stay; the resort plans daily trips to the Mayan ruins of Tulum, Chichén Itzá and Cobá, as well as the preserved mangroves along the coast.
Saybrook Point Inn’s Fresh Salt Restaurant, Photo Courtesy of Saybrook Point Inn, Marina & Spa
Saybrook Point Inn, Marina & Spa
Connecticut’s first Energy Star-rated hotel, Saybrook Point Inn, located just outside of Mystic, offers a number of environmentally focused amenities for you. Inside of the guest rooms, for example, EcoSmart thermostats guarantee maximum energy efficiency. The hotel also employs a system that monitors and reduces electricity usage in unoccupied rooms. Additionally, any excess energy generated in Saybrook Point Inn is put to use to heat the saltwater pools.
Arrive in style and park your electric car at one of the hotel’s charging stations. The inn’s Fresh Salt restaurant also features as much local fare as possible, thanks to a Farm to Chef program where many ingredients are sourced from nearby pastures. Unused food items are recycled into compost for the property’s gardens while excess cooking grease is converted into biofuel.
The Inn at Hastings Park’s Artistry on the Green, Photo Courtesy of The Inn at Hastings Park
The Inn at Hastings Park
Just minutes outside of Boston, this stylishly historic inn is perfect for a gourmet-focused weekend getaway. Chef Trisha Perez Kennealy, who trained at London’s famous Le Cordon Bleu, helms the in-house restaurant Artistry on the Green, which was designed with a commitment to using sustainable, locally harvested fare.
Along with executive chef Anthony Mazzotta, whose résumé includes names like Forbes Travel Guide Five-Stars Per Se and The French Laundry, Perez Kennealy works with local farms to craft a menu full of New England inspiration. Check out multicourse farm-to-table dinners, a regularly scheduled occurrence that focuses on specific area growers (the September 21 event will center around nearby Wilson Farm).
