FAIRMONT MAYKOBA - $$
I’m not the sweat lodge type, nor, to be honest, a full-on eco-lodge girl. The very idea of hiking through mangroves to a tree house buzzing with mosquitoes, a compost toilet and a communal shower doesn’t appeal to me on any level. A friend of mine, Natasha, recently came back from one of these eco-jaunts where they got up at 5.30 am to practice sun salutations - I like yoga as much as the next girl- but 5.30 without a nice shower to follow – hmmm! I definitely like a bit of comfort with my eco. I always dreamed of being one of those backpacking, strapping, adventurous types but alas, I’m wedded to my thread-count sheets and French Press. I do, however, care a great deal about how any hotel or resort impacts the environment, so I’m on a mission to find the best luxury and affordable resorts, that can offer the Gorgeously Green girl some guilt-free vacation extravagance.
The first group of resorts that piqued my interested was the Fairmont Group. I had head of their commitment to have every one of their resorts comply with some pretty solid environmental policies, so I decided to take my family on a strictly work-related trip to the Fairmont MayaKoba on the Mayan Riviera!
The moment we drove away from the tackiness of Cancun and headed north towards Playa Del Carmen, my spirits lifted. We drove through the elegant gateways into the reserve that is the grounds of this stunning resort. Instead of decimating the ecologically valuable mangroves, as most new resorts have done, The Fairmont has brilliantly preserved them by carefully cutting a series of canals into the limestone – the result is a resort that is sprawled in and around the lush greenery of the preserved mangroves and the stunning trees and plants that have been imported from nearby. This set-up not only offers the guests a unique experience of being in the middle of a bird-cawing, green paradise, but also protects the resort from hurricanes: recent harsh weather conditions wiped out many resorts along the coast, however the MayaKoba was untouched. I read complaints before we arrived at how annoyingly spread-out everything is – so much so that you have to get around on golf-carts to eat or go to the beach. I actually loved this aspect of the hotel as you never feel too crowded (even if the resort is full): you either wait for all of 3 minutes to jump on a little cart or grab a bicycle to take you to your next grilled red snapper or dip in the ocean – tough! You could also choose to walk along the beautiful paths, scented by yellow cups and guarded by inquisitive giant lizards.
All of the water for the hotel comes from natural water wells and the grey water is reused on the plants and grass, including the golf course. All their grass is Audabon certified, which in this era of horribly unsustainable golf courses, is heartening. I also love that the entire water system is filtered through reverse osmosis, so no worries with brushing your teeth. The plants and trees are indigenous, so require very little irrigation, especially in the rainy season, and the grassy areas including the golf course are seeded with a special variety of grass that requires very little pesticide.
Each casita is lavishly appointed with beautiful dark woods and cool limestone floors (the limestone that was excavated from the canals). The balcony of our casita overlooked a thick island of mangroves, which would make a bird-spotter lose his mind. The rooms are spacious and if you are traveling with kids, you would be very happy in a signature casita which is like a spacious suite with a large king bedroom and an even larger living room with a pull out couch (they’ll bring in an extra bed for additional kids). My daughter was so thrilled with the fact that “her” living room boasted it’s own enormous marble bathroom and balcony, which of course no one else was allowed to use! There is a decent sized fridge in the living room, which is great because you can go to the hotel’s little deli, stock up on drinks and snacks or if you want to save some Pesos, grab a cab to the local mega mart and stock up for the duration.
I don’t get my culinary hopes up when visiting Mexico – I have been disappointed too often, however the Fairmont Mayakoka has a yummy jewel in it’s crown - the resort boasts three restaurants: La Posada, a formal fish restaurant, the very fancy “Las Brisas” on the beach, and a more traditional Mexican affaire called La Laguna. The Latter, named because it sits over-looking the lagoon, is the gem. If you want to eat Mexican food at it’s very best, you can put yourself into the capable hands of chef Raul Castro, who will transform local fare into Mexican cuisine at it’s best. My favorite dish was delicately grilled Red Snapper on a creamy bed of Huitlacoche (a wild mushroom that grows inside the corn husk), and poblano creamy mushroom risotto. We also loved the sampler Mexican platter that comes with gourmet empanadas, tostadas, and tortillas etc, stuffed with wild mushrooms, zucchini flowers and local goat cheeses. What made our dining experience super pleasurable, was the fact that the waiters are knowledgeable, friendly and so very proud of their work – Demian Fuentes, greeted us every evening, excited to see what we might be “in the mood for”, before discussing at great length with Raul, what they might create for us – you don’t often find that kind of care; and the icing on the cake was the exquisite live music that accompanied our every meal.
The breakfast is beyond! I’m not a huge fan of buffets, because I always eat and waste more than I’m comfortable with. I can’t bear to see piles of barely touched food platters hauled back into the kitchen – this was only made better at The Fairmont, knowing they compost and recycle everything they can. Very little went to waste, however, at our table: delicious local honey, yogurt and crispy granola; breads and pastries made in the resort’s fantastic bakery slathered in soft butter and locally made fig jelly – dreamy! Each day of the week they prepare a different fresh fruit smoothie – papaya, guava and watermelon was to die for.
As I was itching to get my teeth into a new novel, I was ever so grateful for the kid’s Discovery Club, which runs everyday from nine to five with a different daily activity that is age-related. Lola made a chef’s hat and got to watch the chef’s at work, before making her own cookies. On another day, she took a boat through the resort’s canals looking at fish and animals and then made a Pinata from scratch. I also appreciate that the resort has so many meandering swimming pools, that if you want a bit of peace and quiet away from the screeching and splashing, you can relocate yourself to the adult-only infinity pool area while you leave your partner with the glorious task of watching your kids shoot down the water slide – which they never tire of. My poor husband will need a chiropractic visit for sure after doing double duty as a human jungle gym/water slide carrier.
For the adventurous types, who aren’t into sunning on the beach, there are plenty of tours to go on. The one down side is that you have to drive two or three hours to get to your tour of choice. The eco-tours support the local community and the one that I will go on when I next visit, is where they take you into the Sian Ka’an local, protected reserve for the day. You go far into the Mayan jungle, see a tiny ruin, snorkel in the caves and hike in the jungle. This, however, is a tour for the cooler winter months.
If you don’t mind the heat and humidity, you will find some great deals in the off-season months of July and August. All in all, I highly recommend this luxurious environmentally responsible resort. The Fairmont Group are leaders in the green hotel/resort space, with their award-winning Green Partnership program, an environmental stewardship plan hat focuses on guest education, and exploration, waste management, habitat protection and energy-use reduction - I hope many other resorts can and will learn from these inspiring initiatives and I can’t wait to visit some of the other Fairmont resorts. - www.fairmont.com
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KLEAN KANTEEN - $
So we now know that plastic water-bottles are not the earth’s best friend (landfills, probable carcinogens). And unfortunately, either are a lot of other reusable containers on the market. Don’t fret though. Recent studies have shown that a safe bet is stainless steel. So when you pack your bag (or back-pack), make room for a Klean Kanteen. - www.KleanKanteen.com
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WRAP-N-MAT - $
Did you know that over 20,000,000 plastic baggies are discarded into our landfills daily? A simple way to improve your waste contribution is Wrap-N-Mat—a reusable sandwich wrap and placemat in one. If you’re going on a hike or going to the beach, this is your eco-conscious alternative. Easy to clean and also pretty cute! - www.Wrap-N-Mat.com
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NIRVANA JOURNAL- $
I don’t know about you, but I like to record some of my thoughts when I’m lucky enough to see other parts of the country or world. Now you can do it a way that supports the planet and people that you’re experiencing. These journals are made of tree-free paper and their production stimulates jobs for rural craftsmen. - www.OriginalGood.com
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ecoSNEAKS - $$
Made out of organic cotton, recycled paper pulp, and old car tire, these sneakers will keep you moving through whatever delightful place you’re trekking around in. Find them at Simple Shoes. Good thing they’re simply adorable too! - www.SimpleShoes.com
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HOTELITO DISCONOCIDO - $$$
This is the most eco-luxurious hotel you can imagine. Just north of Puerto Vallarta, you will arrive at this wonderful hotel and be able to totally remove yourself from the outside world.
You will be invited to switch off more than your Blackberry as you ease into a world of absolute peace.
There are 24 little bungalows on stilts over the water and each bungalow has itís own row- boat to get around. At night, the paths are lit by candlelight and the bungalows are all solar powered - can you imagine anything more romantic. The beauty of the Hotelito is that you get to be absolutely green, while at the same time being able to enjoy some serious luxury - yoga and massage aplenty and simply delicious food! A trip here is a gift for anyone you love. www.Hotelito.com
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MANDARINA DUCK - $$
The well-known luggage company has just raised its game. It now has an eco-friendly suitcase line called “Joy.” Made from a renewably sourced polymer called Sorona (which is better for the environment then nylon), the bags are soft, attractive and a better choice for you and for the environment. www.Shop.MandarinaDuck.com
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ECO LIMO - $$
Need to get from here to there without ruining your carbon footprint? Ecolimo to the rescue. Using only fuel-efficient or alternative fuel-vehicles, Ecolimo has a commitment both to the environment and to your comfort as a traveler. www.eco-limo.com
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ECO TRAVEL CHARGER - $$
The must-have travel gadget is the Solio Solar charger www.solio.com.
This is a “hybrid” charger, which is powerful enough to charge any of your handheld electronics at home or while you’re on the road. Only one hour of sun will power you ipod and it conveniently stores extra power, once your device has been fully charged.
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KONA VILLAGE RESORT - $$$
If you want to take the weight off your shoulders and reduce your impact on the environment, head to Hawaii’s Big Island and book yourself in to the Kona Village Resort.
Built on the site of an ancient Fishing Village, the Resort spans 83 private acres set around a magnificent bay of salt and pepper sand. The water is pristine - only two feet in and you will see a myriad of brightly colored fish, manta rays and sea turtles. Needless to say, the snorkeling and diving is fantastic. Much of the property is built of a massive promentory of black larva which flowed down from the volcano two hundred years ago, splitting the village in two. The resort is comprised of 125 thatched hales (pronounced ha-lay). Coconut fronds are recycled to thatch the roofs and coconuts shells are used for the “do not disturb” signs in the rooms. Each hale is deluxe, with oversized beds, comfy reading chairs, huge wooden decks (some with hot tubs), and a lovely bathroom. There are no telephones, television or computers in the rooms so you really get to kick back and let go. This resort is the old Hawaii and it invites you to reconnect with nature in the most beautiful way; you will be lulled to sleep by the ocean waves and woken up by the cawing of minor birds; you can enjoy an oceanside massage and watch the giant turtles sunbathing on the beach every afternoon.
Ideal for a family vacation, the room rates are all-inclusive of food, numerous activities, kid’s programs and water sports. Here are two fresh-water swimming pools and two oceanfront restaurants. You can use the tennis courts, with daily lessons offered, a gym, a spa and a nearby golf course.
The food is delicious - breakfast and lunch is a gargantuan buffet feast offering everything your heart could desire. The chef sources much of his food locally, which makes for an eco- dining experience. There is a weekly paniola (cowboy picnic) with music and food and the resort boasts a permanent lu’au ground where they host a weekly Hawaiian dancing extravaganza (children invited to participate).
The loving details of the village are the icing on the cake: a tiny flash light to find your way around at night, a little stuffed donkey for children on arrival (there is a donkey sanctuary on the property), and an Orchid lei on your pillow every night.
I love that the Gorgeously Green girl can have her cake and eat it too at the Kona Village Resort: She can delight in all the fabulousness of this paradise, safe in the knowledge that her footprint is light. - www.KonaVillage.com
