Wiebe Wakker
August 8, 2015
During the journey I will focus on staying at sustainable locations. I’ve been searching the internet and made a list of 10 locations worth staying at. Locations who are up front on sustainability, deserted places with a new purpose, hotels build from recycled materials and many more cool places on this list.
1. DasParkHotel, Germany & Austria
The Daspark Hotel offers rooms in old sewer pipes. If you wouldn’t have seen the picture you might have some nasty thoughts about this location but from the looks its more cosy then an average hotel room. Each room has room for 2 persons and offers light and electricity. The toilets are shared in a building next to the rooms. All other amenities can be found in the public space.
The hotel has 2 locations; one in Germany and the other one in Austria. Visitors can pay whatever they find its worth, called the “pay-as-you-wish” system. To book a room you can visit their website, select the date of arrival and you will receive a personal code to unlock the door. The code changes everytime so you don’t need to worry about leaving your stuff in the room.
The Daspark Hotel is a great example of using used materials and public space. Because of the materials used it doesn’t need much maintenance.
2. Hotel Costa Verde, Costa Rica
This location is plane crazy! In Costa Rica they managed to make an hotel from an retired Boeing 727. Previously taken passengers from Avancia Airlines all over the world, now it can be enjoyed by 4 people in 2 luxurious suites. At the height of 15 meters it has jaw-dropping views that make you feel like flying. The planes interior is local Costa Rican teak panelling from tail to nose. For more information visit the Hotel Costa Verde website.
3. Tree Tents, Germany
Probably the most romantic location on this list. German organizer Hochselgarten Hoelschlucht offers nightstay in a 2 persons tent hanging on a thick branch from a free standing tree, overlooking the local mountains. Ascending and descending is only possible with the help of a rope.
4. No Man’s Fort, UK
Another great example of upcycling non-used property to a new purpose. The No Man’s Land fort is located 2.2 kilometers off the coast of the Island of Wright and was builded in 1880. Previously used to protect Portsmouth from pirates, now high-paying guests can enjoy an indoor swimming pool, a private nightclub and challenge each other in a laser-battle. Guests arrive in style on one of the two helipads. Bookings can be made through the Amazing Venues website.
5. The Bird’s Nest, Sweden
The Bird’s Nest in Sweden is built on the contrasts between the outside and inside. The treeroom’s exterior is nothing but a gigantic bird’s nest. It gives a camouflage so you quickly disappear and become part of the surroundings.
The nest is owned by Treehotel which has more unique architectural locations like the UFO.
6. URBN Hotel, Shanghai
URBN Hotel Shanghai was the first carbon neutral hotel in China and has received many awards because of their eco-friendly character. The boutique hotel is a renovated warehouse and completely made of recycled and local materials. By renovating an existing structure, focusing on using recycled and locally sourced materials such as reclaimed hardwoods and old Shanghai bricks, implementing eco-friendly solutions like passive solar shades and a water-based air conditioning system, URBN Hotel Shanghai is one of the first examples of how to create a more ecological hotel establishment.
7. Hilton Stockholm Slussen, Sweden
A more traditional kind of hotel in this list, the Hilton Hotel Slussen in Sweden. The employees receive a training about sustainability and every year their knowledge gets updated. Since 1996 they are recycling and disposing their waste and from 2010 their landfill waste dropped with 90%.
Fun fact: because of 60.000 bees on the roof of the hotel, they can produce their own honey which guests can enjoy at the breakfast!
8. Whitepod, Switzerland
The Whitepod eco resort located in the village of Les Cerniers in the Swiss Alps offers a private ski resort, mountain chalets and 15 geodesic-dome pods that offer low impact accommodations. By minimizing the daily water and electricity usage, reducing the waste of products and stimulating renewable reserves, the white pods have almost no impact on nature. Guests tour the resort by skis, snowboards, dog sleds or snowshoes in the winter and relax in the luxurious and efficient Whitepod domes. The Swiss adventure resort won the World Prize for Sustainable Tourism in 2005.
9. Campi ya Kanzi, Kenya
Get up close and personal with Africa’s “big five” mammals (Cape buffalo, elephant, leopard, lion and rhinoceros) and support the native Maasai community at Campi ya Kanzia, luxurious safari camp in southern Kenya. The camp and its 400 square miles are owned by the Maasai people, who work with the camp’s Italian hosts to preserve the local wildlife and provide a personalized and sustainable experience for visitors.
The camp’s six thatched-roof tented cottages were constructed of local materials without cutting down any trees. Electricity and hot water are generated by solar power, and waste is composted or recycled. The menu includes organic eggs, milk and vegetables, and all meals are cooked with eco-friendly charcoal.
10. Binna Burra Mountain Lodge and Campsite, Australia
Last but not least, a unique location on my final destination: Australia. Deep within the subtropical rain forest of Queensland’s Lamington National Park is the Binna Burra Mountain Lodge and Campsite, an ecolodge where guests can enjoy hiking, bird watching, abseiling and numerous environmental education programs. Accommodation options include safari-style canvas tents or a more luxurious room in the main lodge. Binna Burra was founded in 1933 on land that had been cleared and farmed; since then, the lodge has restored the land to its original rain forest state and encouraged the growth of native plant species. Recycling, composting, low-flow water fixtures and the use of energy-efficient lighting are just a few of the lodge’s environmental initiatives. Binna Burra makes regular contributions to research projects within the national park as well as to other environmental organizations.
11. Faralda Crane Hotel, Netherlands
I was supposed to make a list of 10 hotels but a friend tipped me on the Faralda Crane Hotel and this had to be in the list. This crane has been build in the 50’s and went out of use in 1984. The crane has been standing there for 25 years before they decided to demolish it because of possible danger of collapsing. A local entrepreneur heard about this and decided to buy and renovate it into a hotel.
The hotel has 3 luxurious suites at 50 meters above the ground. At the top of the crane is a jacuzzi overlooking Amsterdam and there is even a possibility to bungeejump off the crane!
