Check in to almost any hotel today and chances are you’ll notice the usual lineup: a bamboo toothbrush on the sink, a note asking you to reuse your towels, and refillable bulk-sized shampoo dispensers in the shower. On the surface, this might seem like the hotel is doing its part for the planet. But how do you know if those gestures indicate meaningful action, and not just that the property is using buzzwords and eco-friendly props?
For travelers who care about the environment, sometimes it feels like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. Travel itself already carries an outsized environmental impact, so picking an accommodation that’s only pretending to be sustainable means you’ll be doing even more harm than you realize. Figuring out which properties are actually working to reduce their footprint, and which are just putting on appearances can be a challenge, so here are a few tips to help you spot the difference.
Credibility Is Everything
Plenty of hotels throw around words like “eco-friendly” or “sustainable,” but oftentimes those are just catchy marketing terms that don’t actually hold any weight. Fortunately, third-party organizations such as LEED, EarthCheck, Green Key, or the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) require properties to meet strict standards in terms of energy, water, waste, and community impact. Because these certifications involve audits from an outside organization, they’re a much stronger signal of actual sustainability than anything a generic website headline might say.
Now, of course that doesn’t mean every uncertified hotel is automatically greenwashing, but it can help travelers to separate hollow claims from real impact. Most programs provide public databases where you can quickly check if a hotel is listed — a few seconds of your time will be well worth it when it comes to where you decide to spend your week-long vacation.
Scope Out the Water Situation
A tell-tale sign of whether a hotel takes sustainability seriously or not is how it handles drinking water. Properties that hand out endless single-use plastic bottles are an obvious clue that convenience is winning out over sustainability. Even glass bottles don’t solve the problem if they’re treated as disposable. It’s always better to look for a system that prioritizes reusable containers and refill stations.
If you’re traveling somewhere further from home where the tap water isn’t safe to drink, chances are even higher that you’ll come across bottled water. In these locations, it’s especially important to see how the hotel handles things. While you never want to risk unsafe drinking water, you also don’t have to accept that plastic bottles are the only option. The best hotels find ways to keep guests safe and hydrated without generating mountains of plastic waste.
Notice the Behind-The-Scenes Details
You don’t need to go snooping through a staff-only entrance to get a sense of how a hotel really operates. Sometimes the clues are in plain sight — while walking through the parking garage, take a quick glance at the dumpsters — are they overflowing with plastic bags and single-use containers, or is there evidence of recycling? In the lobby bathrooms, are the paper towels piled high in the trash, or is there a high-efficiency hand dryer?
The small details can reveal a lot about whether sustainability is truly part of a hotel’s operations, or just used in their branding. Properties that invest in recycling systems, refill stations, or make more intentional supply choices are putting real money behind their claims which likely cut into the bottom line — a strong signal that the hotel isn’t just doing it for show.
How to Vet a Hotel Before You Book
You don’t have to wait until check-in to look for red flags. A little online digging can tell you a lot about whether a hotel’s eco-claims hold up, and whether or not you should make a reservation. Instead of relying on the hotel’s own sustainability page, check how they’re covered elsewhere on the web: guest reviews, Reddit, YouTube videos and sustainability blogs are all great places to look.
If you’re still unsure, reach out to the hotel directly. Hotels that take sustainability seriously usually do so with pride and will be able to answer simple questions about things like drinking water, recycling, or food sourcing. If their response feels cookie-cutter, evasive, or even worse — the person on the other end of the phone can’t provide a straight answer at all — that alone might be a signal to book elsewhere.
Remember Your Role as a Guest
Even if you check into a hotel that ticks every sustainability box, that doesn’t mean your job of helping the environment is done. Travel itself creates a massive footprint — especially long-haul flights and cruises, or activities like water sports or a day spent at a desert golf resort. Guests should do their part too by making choices like limiting daily linen and towel changes, avoiding single-use plastics even if they are offered, and conserving water whenever possible. Choosing a truly sustainable hotel over one that just looks so on paper is a great start — but sustainable travel also depends on the action of each traveler while they are there.