Published on October 22nd, 2007 | by Stephanie Evans

What Are Green Vacations and How Do You Take One?

Green living has firmly taken root among the affluent population, and hotel and resort owners are standing up and taking notice. There are many resorts who are working hard to look green when they really aren’t, a marketing ploy known as "greenwashing". But there are truly green establishments who are attracting an environmentally conscious clientele and being quite innovative in their approach to eco tourism. Booking a green vacation is as simple as picking up the phone and calling them!

One such resort is the Papoose Creek Lodge in Montana. Located near Yellowstone National Park, Papoose Creek is primarily a fly-fishing resort but it also offers other activities for its guests such as nature walks, hiking, bird watching, and horseback riding. A 4-night stay in a lodge room per person, double occupancy runs about $1,350, but includes all meals. The owners are firmly committed to programs that replace the natural, wild trout population—and they plant ten new trees for every guest that visits their lodge. Papoose Creek was listed by USA Today as one of the top 10 places in the world to go for eco friendly fun.

Another great green vacation spot is located on South Andros Island in the Bahamas—the Tiamo Resort . Tiamo uses baking soda and vinegar for its cleaning rather than harsh chemicals, composts all food scraps, and runs on 100 percent solar energy. The resort has partnered with the Ministry of Tourism to conduct two local beach cleanups with local youth. It offers 11 private beachside bungalows with 125 acres of natural paradise to explore. The maximum guest count at any one time is 22.