What are the benefits of an ‘eco’ holiday?

At Lanzarote Retreats, ‘Finca de Arrieta’ we pride ourselves on our green credentials, being totally ‘off-grid’ relying on the wind and sun, recycling our water, providing organic produce and numerous other initiatives to ensure we have no negative impact on our environment. When our guests want to leave our retreat, comprising luxurious Mongolian yurts and traditional stone villas, to explore this beautifully unspoilt region of Lanzarote, we even provide them with the latest hybrid electric cars.

However holidays are a very precious time, they are the one time in a year that families can spoil themselves, therefore if ever there was justified time to be self-indulgent and worry less about environment then you could argue this is it. For this reason we see ‘going eco’ as just one aspect of escaping the ‘rat-race’ and the pressures of life. Nurturing and getting closer to the natural environment is good for the mind, but then so is relaxing in lavish surroundings and luxury accommodation.

As providers of ‘eco’ holidays and properties we cannot force our green credentials on people and expect them to choose our locations on that basis alone. We must be more creative and focus on initiatives that add to the guests experience, helping them to truly unwind, sit back and feel totally invigorated by the experience of our natural surroundings. By achieving this we are doing for more to empower people to care about this planet than merely preaching about the importance of sustainability!

 

Michelle Braddock

Lanzarote Retreats Co-Founder