Top Vegan Hotels for Sustainable Travel
Plant-based eating is proving to be more than just a transitory fad. As the number of people who identify as vegan continues to increase, the old tropes no longer work. Specialty vegan meals on flights or in restaurants just aren’t enough. Therefore, vegan travelers want to bed down in eco-friendly, cruelty-free hotels. The hospitality industry has responded with remarkable establishments that prioritize sustainability. Here are five vegan hotels for a sustainable escape.
Hilton London Bankside
In January 2019, the design-forward Hilton London Bankside opened its first 100 percent vegan suite. This innovative accommodation features eco-friendly, feather-free bedding, chic Piñatex furniture made from pineapple-leaf-derived leather, wool-free, eco-cotton carpeting, and plant-based toiletries that have not been tested on animals.
The minibar offers a variety of locally sourced vegan treats, and the in-room menu presents botanical options such as muesli, grilled portobello mushrooms, avocado and scrambled Quorn, cauliflower steak, and five-bean dhal. The suite proudly boasts the UK’s Vegan Society seal of approval.
Saorsa 1875
In keeping with their cruelty-free ethos, Jack McLaren-Stewart and his business partner, Sandra, unveiled their 11-room vegan hotel, Saorsa 1875, in a 19th-century stone mansion in Pitlochry, Scotland. This is the UK’s first 100 percent vegan hotel and has enjoyed remarkable success since its opening in June 2019.
Offering high-class experiences without animal products, Saorsa 1875 features everything from vegan wines to contemporary chic velvet-upholstered furniture, plant-based mattresses, and eco-friendly cleaning products. Heating comes from newly fitted radiators powered by renewable Ecotricity.
LA VIMEA, Südtirol, Italy
Opened in 2016, La VIMEA is Italy’s first vegan hotel located in Südtirol’s Venosta Valley. Its owners, Benjamin and Francesca Posch, ensured that all elements of the hotel embody sustainability: the floors are natural, the bed linens are made from Fairtrade organic cotton, and the cosmetics are all-natural and vegan.
The restaurant’s menu is 100 percent organic, health-conscious, and vegan, emphasizing locally and sustainably sourced ingredients. As both travelers and vegans become more conscientious about their choices, accommodations like La VIMEA emerge as essential options in the hospitality market.
Stanford Inn by the Sea, Mendocino, CA
This elegant yet rustic pet-friendly hotel on California’s Mendocino Coast is the USA’s only vegan resort. It overlooks organic gardens and the Pacific Ocean while being built according to ecological principles.
The hotel’s restaurant prepares organic, vegan dishes and serves a selection of local natural and vegan wines. Guests can participate in guided nature walks and activities such as yoga classes and redwood canoe tours, providing a unique blend of relaxation and sustainability.
PlantLife Hotel Sanctuary, Thailand
Billing itself as the world’s first vegan, solar-powered, zero-waste, sustainable luxury hotel, PlantLife Hotel Sanctuary is set to launch in 2021 on the Thai island of Koh Phangan. This unique destination will showcase natural and eco-friendly materials while also providing gourmet plant-based cuisine.
Owners Max and Joanna Hellier, inspired by their journey through various vegan-friendly hotels, recognized a gap for truly luxurious, sustainable accommodations tailored for the growing vegan community.
At PlantLife, guests will experience luxury alongside delicious gourmet plant-based Thai and international cuisine while engaging with the sanctuary’s rescued animals.
