Go on holiday: Go green Green living is finally turning into more than just a trend – and rightly so. There is much to do in order to save our planet, so it’s only logical that we all try to do our bit. With plenty of fabulous eco-friendly hotels and resorts across the Germanspeaking region, there’s the right type of accommodation for anyone who is ready to go on holiday with a clean (or shall we say green) conscience. Sustainability has never been more enjoyable. TEXT: MARILENA STRACKE I PHOTOS: PIXABAY
You don’t need to miss out on a luxurious holiday in order to help save the environment: far from it. Many hotels are switching to sustainable concepts and are not only great places to unwind and relax in, but also to get deeply inspired by. Slow food is on the menu, but the concepts usually go far beyond the culinary side. Generally, showing what slow living can look like is often just as much a part of these concepts as healing Ayurveda treatments, aromatherapy and reflexology. All in all, it’s about sustainable wellness with 42 | Issue 77 | August 2019
old and new methods that make ecological sense. Being mindful of our impact doesn’t spoil the fun – often it actually enhances our experiences, be it at home or on holiday. The eco-friendly hotels in the Germanspeaking region are called ‘Bio-Hotels’ and are a cooperation of mostly ownermanaged hotels in Switzerland, Germany and Austria who follow strict guidelines in order to qualify. Environmentally friendly energy and waste con-
cepts are crucial factors, as well as the use of 100 per cent certified natural cosmetics and regionally sourced produce. In Bavaria’s Alps, the green hotel moor & mehr is a little gem not to be missed. The traditional family-run hotel, led by its fifth generation, convinces guests with its passion for the healing powers of the moor, based on the Hildegard-philosophy. Mud treatments are a perfect, natural way to detox the body and relax the soul. Sipping herbal tea made from ingredients from the hotel’s own garden, whilst watching the goats and horses graze in tranquillity, complements the experience. The Nature Resort Gerberhof in Friedrichshafen-Ailingen, on the other hand, offers massages and facial treatments using natural cosmetics made from pure organic Aloe Vera juice instead