The Five Best Eco-Friendly Hotels in the Alps
22 November, 2019
Climate
change has never been so prominent in our minds and on
our news feeds. When researching this year’s winter ski trips and
Alpine retreats, why not seek out
eco-friendly hotels where sustainable design, locally sourced
materials and seasonal restaurants help alleviate guilt (while
still being able to enjoy great food, spas and views over the
Alps).
Sustainable
ski resorts and Alpine retreats for the eco-conscious
hotel
Whitepod
Zermatt, Switzerland
Nestled high in the Swiss Alps, these pods are the perfect
eco-friendly base for an Alpine adventure. Self-proclaimed
“eco-luxury” pods, rooms are filled with reclaimed or recycled
furniture and heated by individual pellet stoves. Dine at the
panoramic restaurant for traditional Swiss dishes made with locally
sourced ingredients – think: cheese fondue, raclette and waffles
drizzled with chocolate. Head back to your pod to drift off to
views over the slopes.
hotel
Chalet Pelerin
Le Miroir, France
Set in the charming Le Miroir village in the French Alps, Chalet
Pelerin offers a cosy Alpine retreat. Wander through the village
streets before returning to the wood-laden resort to sweat in the
sauna or take a dip in the chlorine-free hydrotherapy pool – both
heated using geothermal energy. Come evening, dine on dishes made
with local ingredients, whipped up by your own personal chef.
hotel
Cervo Mountain Boutique Resort
Zermatt, Switzerland
In a converted 50s chalet, this boutique resort melts into its
Alpine surrounds. Timber-framed exteriors house restored wooden
interiors and subtle design, in which vintage curios sit prettily
among local materials of felt, loden, stone and Swiss pine. Head to
rooms where an eco-friendly underfloor heating system keeps you
toasty warm and balconies overlook jagged peaks.
This image is on holiday
hotel
rockresort
Laax, Switzerland
Stretching over 235km of snow-covered pistes, rocksresort is one
of the world’s most sustainable ski resorts. Located in
Switzerland’s Laax, the hotel is brimming with eco-friendly
technology – buildings are heated with renewable biomass energy,
lift stations are built from local wood and run via solar panels,
and hydroelectric power is used throughout the hotel. Return after
a day zipping down slopes to minimalist apartments and bathrooms
that double as steam rooms.
hotel
The Omnia
Zermatt, Switzerland
High in the Swiss Alps among icy cliffs and conifer trees
drooping with snow, this hotel brings together contemporary design
and eco-friendly practices. Designed by architect Ali Tayar,
interiors are logically minimal and features are made from locally
sourced, natural materials, while lighting and heating systems are
visible through perforated white-oak ceiling panels.