5 Eco-Friendly Holiday Rentals

With the ever-increasing pressure to improve the planet, it is no surprise that interest in ecotourism and sustainable travel is on the increase.

What is the difference between these two environmentally ways to travel? Well, ecotourism is more focused on ecological conservation and educating travellers on local environments and natural surroundings. Sustainable tourism focuses on travel that has minimal impact on the environment and local communities.

Holidu, the search engine for holiday rentals, has noticed this change first hand.

“Everyone can do something to leave a smaller carbon footprint when travelling: the form of arrival and departure, the choice of accommodation, the activities at the holiday destination – all of this can be decided responsibly. We see that more and more homeowners do a lot of effort to contribute to sustainability: some equip the rental property with solar panels, use recycled materials for building and renovating or offer natural instead of chlorinated pools.”

Holidu Co-founder and CEO, Johannes Siebers.

Of course, not everything can be made perfect at once, but there are a number of beautiful villas, cottages and apartments that are already doing their bit to shift towards being more environmentally conscious

Eco-friendly cabin – Ouddorp, Zeeland, Netherlands

This super stylish cabin is located in a holiday park in the Dutch province of Zeeland, near the North Sea. This cabin is the perfect example of an environmentally conscious choice as it is made of recycled cardboard!

It may sound crazy, but it still offers all of the comfort you will need for the perfect getaway. You won’t find a TV here, and that’s a deliberate decision, so make sure to pack a good book or simply go out and explore nature.

The holiday park is CO2 neutral due to its own set of solar panels that provides electricity. The village of Ouddorp can be reached by taking a metro and bus from Spijkenisse or Rotterdam.

Getting to the Netherlands from the UK is also easy, take one of the ferry options that operate across the country or hop on a direct coach service from London. You can stay here with four people and renting this eco-cabin will cost from £84 per night. More information: www.holidu.co.uk/d/36365581

Villa Can Jaume – Mallorca, Spain

With the look and feel of a luxurious holiday rental, this hidden gem has all the facilities you may need on your holiday, whilst also being an eco-friendly choice.

The first step for this villa towards being a more sustainable stay are the solar panels that provide the house with electricity. The house is furnished with little fuss, feels open and light. The icing on the cake for this property is the location and its surroundings.

This relaxing rental is located just outside of Manacor and has breathtaking panoramic views of the mountains. In the garden there are sun loungers where you can spend the day enjoying the tranquillity.

Would you like to make your trip here even more sustainable? Then take the train to Barcelona, from here you can take a ferry to Mallorca. You can stay here with four people from £163 per night. More information: www.holidu.co.uk/d/38497982

Eco-lodge – Corsica, France

On the top of a mountain with a sweeping view of the bay of Ajaccio, you can find this unique and fascinating eco-lodge.

The electricity here is provided by photovoltaics and the water is heated by solar panels. The pool is divided into three parts and has a natural style, which makes it blend into the rocks. The pump also runs on solar energy and cooking is possible in the well-equipped outdoor kitchen.

If you choose to visit as a couple, you can make it an unforgettable romantic holiday in the middle of nature. To make your eco-friendly holiday whole and avoid flying, travel to Marseille via train or coach and catch an overnight ferry to the island. You can rent this lodge from £131 per night, more information: www.holidu.co.uk/d/13516787

Birch Cottage Eco Retreat – Gloucestershire, England

A trip to this idyllic cottage will leave you totally surrounded by beautiful nature. Throughout the house you can see the emphasis on a cosy and ecological style, with the renovation having been done with natural, locally sourced and recycled materials.

In addition, the heating system is based on renewable energy which is powered by two large thermal solar panels on the roof and a wood-burning stove.

The cottage is located exactly on the famous Offa’s Dyke Path. If you get the itch to go walking you can of course explore this fabulous trail. You can sleep here with six people from £157 per night, more information: www.holidu.co.uk/d/13341018.

La Tana del Ghettaccio – Viterbo, Italy

This last charming apartment contributes in its own way. It is part of the rural Palazzo di Bagnaia and is located 4km from Viterbo where you can explore the amazing historic monuments.

The owner of this apartment has completely renovated the accommodation using recycled materials on their own, giving the property way more character. In the kitchen you will find the basic essentials needed to prepare meals, so take a look round the regional markets nearby to get local food to cook a delicious dinner.

Once you reach Italy, you can easily travel by train since there are good connections and the ticket prices are a bit cheaper than other European countries. You can stay here with four people from £40 per night, more information: www.holidu.co.uk/d/15738597.

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