How and where we travel has changed radically. So, as we begin planning our vacations for the year ahead, it makes sense to look for trips that safeguard our own health and safety, and the well-being of our planet. Here, the online magazine luxurydefined from Christie’s International Real Estate, rounds up four ways — from a new sustainable travel guide to the top eco-conscious destinations to visit — to help you make great green travel choices and elevate your journey along the way.
Brisate Lodge in Rwanda
Set in the heart of an amphitheater formed by eroded volcano cones, Bisate Lodge’s six exclusive forest villas draw on traditional Rwandan design, combining sustainable construction with sumptuous interiors.
Bisate Lodge, situated near Volcanoes National Park in the northwest of Rwanda, promises both a luxurious and sustainable stay. Here, you’ll not only see gorillas in their natural habitat but, as Bisate believes that each of their guests “becomes a conservationist,” you’ll also be provided with a tree to plant on the property. It’s a wonderful way to make a positive impact during your trip, and contributes towards Rwanda’s goal of reforesting 30 percent of its land to make way for more wildlife corridors and habitats.
Find out more on Wilderness Safaris online.
Green Travel Guide
Fogo Island Inn in Newfoundland, Canada, is described as “creating the maximum positive impact on the natural and cultural environment,” and is one of the many ground-breaking examples highlighted by The Green Edit: Travel.
If you care about the environment, and are equally passionate about exploring it, The Green Edit: Travelmay be just the book for you. Written by eco-travel expert Juliet Kinsman, this guide is packed with useful advice for the “eco-friendly traveler,” including which airlines are “greener,” which cities have the best eco-credentials, and what to pack for your trip (plus, what to leave behind).
As Kinsman points out, green travel isn’t about eschewing luxury. Instead, she says, it’s all about making sustainable choices in order to “experience the world in a more enriching and authentic way.”
Read more about this book at Penguin.
Farm-to-Table Inspired Fine Dining
The sustainable menu at Hotel Château de Grand-Lucé—designed daily based on what’s growing in its gardens and in the local area—was declared by Vanity Fair to be “farm to fork meets haute cuisine.”
With just 17 rooms, Hotel Château du Grand-Lucé is the perfect base from which to explore France’s Loire valley, as well as savor its local produce and unrivaled wines. Here, “green” is embraced in the classic French style, with 80 acres (32 ha) of grounds — inspired by the gardens at Versailles — featuring topiary, an orangery, and an inviting swimming pool, as well as orchards and greenhouses that supply fruit and vegetables for farm-to-table-inspired restaurant Le Lucé. The interiors, which date from 1764, have recently been restored and updated by U.S.-based Paul Allen Design, and blend 18th-century opulence with modern-day comfort.
Read more about this exquisite house at Château Grand-Lucé online.
Rewilding Manhattan
The private garden of The Crosby Street Hotel’s Meadow Suite brims with plants reminiscent of the High Line, such as sumac and aster. It also features a rooftop vegetable patch and chicken coop, which supply the kitchen.
For your very own green oasis in the heart of Manhattan, book into the newly revamped Meadow Suite at the Crosby Street Hotel. The rooms at the hotel with high ceilings and full-length windows and doors leading out to the private terrace and its secret garden. This space offers more than a welcome escape from a busy day: much like the nearby High Line, it also aids in efforts to rewild the city’s green spaces and bring bees and other fauna back to metropolitan areas.
More about this exceptional City Lodge you can find under Crosby Street Hotel.
