Boston, MA

Boston is a great place to visit, full of history and year-round activities for singles, couples and families.

For the green traveler, it’s also a city that offers many choices of hotels. A terrific public transportation system, the “T”, makes it easy to get around, so you can stay in one part of Boston, or even the suburbs, and still avoid the legendary — or should I say infamous — Boston drivers!

Each of these hotels promotes their “Green Claim to Fame”, putting them on my Top 5 Green Hotels in Boston list:

Seaport Hotel
One Seaport Lane
Boston, MA 02210
Phone: 800.440.3318, Fax: 617.385.4001, Concierge: 617.385.4500, Reservations: 800.262.0680

Green Claim to Fame

The Seaport Boston is all about being green. They make every possible aspect of their organization sustainable and environmentally friendly. Their green practices include:

• Electrolyzed water system for cleaning – avoids the use of toxic chemicals
• Ozone laundry system – reduces the amount of detergent they use
• Recycling goals – the hotel has an annual recycling rate of 44%, and provides in-room recycling bins
• Space age composting – food and prep waste is managed using the BioX Decomposing System that converts organic waste to liquid
• Energy offsets – Seaport purchased enough renewable energy credits to offset all of the electricity used in the guest rooms, lobbies and elevators in 2008.

The Irving House at Harvard
24 Irving Street, Cambridge, MA 02138
phone: 617-547-4600, toll free: 877-547-4600, fax: 617-576-2814

Green Claim to Fame

• Just over the bridge in Cambridge, MA, the Irving House is close to activity-filled Harvard Square, and the Harvard “T” stop, which guests are encouraged to use for transportation.
• The hotel also provides discounted public transit passes to their employees, and has a spot for storing and locking bikes.
• The hotel has a strong “buy local” philosophy, so travelers are supporting the entire community when they stay at the Irving House.
• Their guest amenities, including eco-friendly brands of shampoo, soap and lotions, are in dispensers rather than wasteful individual packaging. They also buy everything possible in bulk to reduce waste.
• Recycling, composting and reusing items is standard operating procedures, and they have energy saving lightbulbs in all of the light fixtures that can accommodate them.
• Guests can opt to reuse sheets and towels, and the laundry detergent is phosphate-free.
• They received the EPA Energy Star label in 2006.

The Lenox Hotel
61 Exeter Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02116-2699
Phone: 617.536.5300, Fax: 617.267.1237, Reservations: 800.225.7676, Reservation Fax: 617.236.0351

Green Claim to Fame

The Saunders Hotel Group, which owns the Lenox Hotel, is known as an ecotourism pioneer. The Lenox Hotel is the flagship of their environmentally friendly efforts, and has bragging rights to several environmental firsts including endorsing the Ceres Principles of Sustainability and offering Climate Neutral Rooms.

Environmental programs include:

• Environmentally friendly, healthy cleaning products
• Hybrid car service for hotel guests
• Over 4,800 super efficient lights installed
• Vendor misers on all beverage machines
• ENERGY STAR office equipment
• Natural, essential oil air freshener
• No-VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) paints
• Double paned low E windows reduce energy, drafts and noise
• State of the art insulation installed for the 100th anniversary renovation
• Waterless urinals annually save 180,000 gallons of water
• Purchase of renewable, wind energy to offset 100% of the Global Warming impact of the hotel’s electricity use

element Lexington by Westin
727 Marrett Road – B · Lexington, Massachusetts 02421
Phone: (781) 761-1750

Green Claim to Fame

Even though Lexington is a suburb outside of Boston, this Starwood Resort is so green it deserves a spot on the list. The element Lexington also offers good rates and a convenient location for an extended stay in the area.

• Energy efficient – Every appliance is Energy Star rated, and the buildings are constructed to LEED standards
• Recycling practices – floors feature 100% recycled carpeting, art is mounted on a base made from recycled tires, and every room has recycling for paper, plastic and glass
• Low waste – they use silverware and glassware, and they use a dispenser system for bath amenities rather than sample size bottles.
• Environmentally friendly – water-efficient faucets and fixtures and low VOC paints, carpets, and furniture

The Onyx Hotel

155 Portland Street, Boston, MA 02114
Reservations: 866-660-6699, Hotel: 617-557-9955, Fax: 617-557-0005

Green Claim to Fame

Once again a hotel from the Kimpton Group, with their Earthcare Program, makes the list. The Onyx is a model for eco-friendly business practices in Boston. Some notable green programs include:

• “Green Warrior Package” discount for guests arriving in a hybrid vehicle
• Paperless guest check-in/out service and property-wide printing on recycled paper
• Efficient lighting and water fixtures throughout the hotel
• Linen and towel reuse program, which dramatically reduces water and energy use
• Guest and employee dry-cleaning service with Green Earth, which uses eco-friendly methods and products
• Rooms and linens cleaned with eco-certified cleaning supplies
• Donation of unused and partially used amenities to community programs
• Organic coffee and tea, and snacks and beverages in our in-room honor bars, plus ceramic mugs available to minimize use of paper cups, and Styrofoam cups eliminated altogether
• In-room recycling bins make guestroom recycling stylishly convenient and comprehensive recycling program for cups, clothes hangers, batteries, electronics

Even though Boston is filled with history, your hotel can be entirely 21st century, and environmentally friendly!

Photo Credit: B Tal on flickr

Indianapolis Museum of Art

I heard on the radio yesterday that this time of year is the most popular time for men to propose marriage to their sweeties…the holidays are definitely in full swing, and arm-locked, bundled up couples are everywhere to be seen. A good friend who lives in Indianapolis, Indiana mentioned that she mentioned that she and her honey are planning to go to Sybaris Pool Suites for a little romantic getaway – and I said “hey! I wrote about that in one of my blogs!” I had forgotten that Sybaris has a location there as well. I’ll have to report back on how they like it! I’m a little worried about how they will react to there being no Internet connection, but hopefully they’ll have a great time. If it were me, I’d definitely splurge on a room with a slide that goes down to the pool…how fun is that?

I personally like the look of the Canterbury Hotel. This beautiful hotel has a nice assortment of couples packages and chocolate truffles are left on your pillow at night! (During turndown service, not while you’re sleeping, of course.) The Sweetheart Package includes champagne and strawberries with cream…yum. It’s right in downtown Indianapolis too, which is great for couples who want a night out on the town.

My verdict is still out on The Villa Inn. I’ve never been, so I can’t actually comment on how good or bad this place is, and the wide range of comments is realyl interesting. Some people loved it, and some people…well, let’s just say they’re not going back. It looks like a castle though! And it has a spa. Most of the poorer reviews comment on the service…I’d probably still go check this place out though, just for how it looks.

Indianapolis

Photo Credits: hibino, jglazer75

The weather is getting cold here in Atlanta, and it’s almost that time of year when I start missing my former home – beachy San Diego. I wouldn’t call myself a snowbird quite yet, as it doesn’t snow that much in downtown Atlanta, but I’m definitely thinking about warm, sunny beaches. Sigh.

Coral Gables Biltmore

The upside of all this is that Florida beaches are only about a six hour drive away – Coral Gables is a little farther, about ten hours, but this town has some really pretty beaches as well. If you’re looking to swank it up on your next trip to Coral Gables, Florida, you might like the posh Coral Gables Biltmore Hotel. This classy hotel has everything you might look for in a 5-star resort, like an amazing spa, outstanding restaurants, a championship golf course and large, impeccably appointed rooms, suites and cabanas. All this and you’re only a few minutes away from South Beach and Miami!

For something more reasonably priced (which is tough to find in Coral Gables!), check out the Holiday Inn Coral Gables University of Miami. This hotel is located directly across from the University of Miami, and you can’t beat rates that start at around $150 per night. This hotel is perfect for both business and leisure travelers, and it’s very close to area attractions like The Shops at Sunset Place as well as Bayside Market Place. Families will love the location of the Holiday Inn Coral Gables, too – it’s a very short distance away from Parrot Jungle and the Metro Zoo!

South Beach Miami

Photo Credits: Allie Caulfield, Tabitum

The Gazebo Suite at the Ballastone Inn

In 2005, Frommer’s listed the Ballastone Inn as the best place to stay in Savannah, Georgia. It’s a four-story antebellum mansion, dating back to 1838, so obviously it has some historical charm, but that’s not the only reason people make the trek to Savannah to stay here.

The dining experience is part of the draw here — private tables are available either within the mansion or outside in the courtyard for an intimate breakfast, and every day they offer Traditional Afternoon Tea and an elegant cocktail hour, complete with hors d’oeuvres.

Obviously it has more than just a bit of Southern charm and some tasty treats going for it — we’re talking about a AAA Four Diamond hotel, after all. Each room is beautifully appointed, with authentic antiques (or at least high-quality reproductions), complete with Egyptian cotton linens and plush down pillows.

While the Ballastone Inn itself doesn’t have a spa or gym available, there are two nearby spas which will happily come to your guest room, and passes to the local gym are complimentary.

It’s a historically significant building in Savannah, having been awarded two commemorative plaques — from the Historic Savannah Foundation and the National Trust. Originally settled in 1733, the Ballastone Inn has been a private townhouse, a boarding house, a well-known bordello, and an apartment building for immigrant workers. Later, it was purchased by the Girl Scouts of America, who used the lower level as administrative ofices, and in 1980 it was converted into the bed and breakfast we see today.

You can check out this historic, romantic venue for yourself — rooms start at $235 and range up to close to $400, according to the website, but you can choose your room and see it from nearly every angle before you book by looking here.

Photo credit: ballastone.com