Special Feature: Top 5 Reasons to Stay in an Eco-Friendly Lodging

Nature's Village Resort in Talisay City, Negros Occidental

It is practically summer, and this season ushers in plans of going somewhere to unwind. We all love to travel and stay in a beautiful and restful location, away from the hustle and bustle of city life. For frequent travelers, spending time in posh and luxurious hotels seems to be a must. But with the advent of increasing awareness travelers are having on sustainable travel, lodging in environment-friendly accommodations is fast becoming the trend. People want to travel responsibly now and part of it is making sure that our stay in a particular establishment will bring more advantages to the environment than disadvantages. So here are the Top 5 Reasons why eco-friendly hotels are the perfect choice to dwell in when you and family or friends are away for a much-needed holiday.

Staying in an eco-friendly lodging ...

The Mudhouse at Nature's Village Resort

Gives you a unique and memorable experience

Spending the night in a room with fashionable recycled items is worth the experience. This is so true in eco-friendly hotels like Nature’s Village Resort (NVR) found in Negros Occidental, Western Visayas, Philippines. Awarded as one of the ASEAN Green Hotels in 2010, Nature’s Village Resort takes pride in its Mud House, an outdoor hotel lodging really made of authentic mud mixed with lime! Being made of mud, it is cool to sleep there in the evening, that’s why it doesn’t need an air conditioner! Plus, the mud house’s walls are embellished with old china ware and colorful bottles, with light fixtures that are adorned with vines made of wrought-iron. The bed’s headboard and bed side table are from railroad ties found in the province’s central sugarcane plantations. To read more about this eco-friendly hotel, please visit www.naturesvillageresort.net.

Mudhouse interiors

Makes you aware of interesting and simple eco-practices like segregating trash and recycling items

We have all grown familiar with biodegradables and non-biodegradables, those that are organic like fruit or vegetable peelings, versus inorganic wastes like plastics, styrofoams and the like. Eco-friendly lodgings strive to make their hotel guests aware that, in their own simple way, they can make a difference by following their trouble-free regulations in the hotel’s premises, that of segregating their room trash --- those that can be recycled and can decompose (biodegradables) and those that don’t decay (non-biodegradables) are placed in their respective color-coded or properly-labeled bins. When it comes to recycling, you will be encouraged to reuse paper as scratchies, and re-use plastic bags as well.

  

Teaches you how to save water and save energy, enjoying your stay while saving money

In many eco-friendly establishments, there are easy reminders placed beside sinks or outside shower stalls on how you can help best save water and energy. Some of these practices include using a tumbler while brushing your teeth and avoiding the use of running water. In taking a bath, people are assured of conserving water as all eco-friendly hotels make it a point to use low-flow, high performance, water saving shower heads. If you want to help save water further, try to take shorter showers. In saving energy, turn off the television, switch off or unplug electrical appliances since they still use electricity when not in use. Even while on standby, they consume 10% more electricity. And make sure you switch the lights off when you leave the hotel room.

Provides you with healthy and organic food

Nature's Village Resort's Kitchen

Part of the eco-friendly practices in hotels is their promise to include organic and vegetarian food in their restaurant menu. By not totally doing away with meat, expect that there will be more campaign and upselling to be done by the hotel’s food and beverage staff. In some hotels actually, they grow their own organic vegetables that are served fresh in salads and other dishes. Plus, you will be introduced to a variety of healthy organic herbs like parsley, mint, dill, coriander, basil, etc. mixed in some drinks. These herbs can be grown yourselves in your own backyard. But if you wish to buy from the market, you may want to look for and try the products of Fresh Start Organics, an organic food company in Negros Occidental known for their healthy and flavorful organic fruits and vegetables, plus various organic personal care products.    

Makes you a true-blue patron of sustainable living

Travelers who prefer to live in eco-friendly lodgings while away on vacation are true supporters of a sustainable and responsible lifestyle. As green living is made more and more familiar to consumers by the media and educational and private business institutions, those who patronize businesses with the green label somehow take their pledge in seconding the challenge to live sustainably. Helping green businesses by staying in their establishments is a testimony of support to the workers and volunteers who are employed and who collaborate in furthering the green lifestyle among us.

So what are you waiting for? Discover what it means to live sustainably and lose the fear of embarking on this exciting adventure of green and responsible living by deciding to experience an authentic sustainable lifestyle in an eco-friendly establishment the next time you go on vacation!  

NOTE: The pictures in this post were all taken from http://www.naturesvillageresort.net