Step inside the Radisson RED, a hip millennial haven with a fierce commitment to local talent, fashion, music, and art. 

Art. Fashion. Music. Apps. A Tesla Powerwall Battery. What more could a millennial want? Ahem, authenticity. The Radisson RED Brussels — affectionately known as “The RED” — delivers just that along with a healthy dose of eco-consciousness. This un-hotel lifestyle brand is a self-proclaimed revolution that aims to disrupt the conventional hotel industry. There’s no staff but a Cast of Creatives. Forget a front desk. And the concierge is 100 percent virtual. Expect the unexpected. You’ll never see even a hint of beige at the Radisson RED. Even their website professes we hate dull.

In a time when the hotel industry hopes to capture the attention of millennials – which all too often becomes a gimmicky marketing cliché of itself – the Radisson RED Brussels brilliantly pulls it off, brings the fun, inspires creativity, and delivers hospitality via an app.

Sans a front desk, the Creatives (staff) offered a warm welcome and within minutes, I was in my keyless room digging into the sweet His and Her amenities. After a quick refresh in the artfully tiled bathroom, I headed out for the day. But I didn’t get far. The RED’s lobby sucked me in. There was much to explore in this private gallery with monthly installations. It’s the “social hive” of the hotel, where local art, fashion, and music curated by Cristabel Cabanier collide. A lobby DJ set the beat while I braved the Tinder Couch and graciously received a green light. The board room table transformed into a ping-pong table for an impromptu game, and the artists were milling about engaging in fresh conversation about city art and inspiration.

Eventually, I did make it out the lobby doors to discover Brussels and found myself smack in the city center next to Place de Luxembourg and the Royal Quarter. Brussels’ well-heeled French air perfectly mixes with a funky alternative bohemian vibe. Some might call it culture clash. I see it more as a fusion of opposite flavors perfectly blended.  As fortune had it, that weekend was the multi-cultural Zinneke Parade. The streets were filled with parading troupes of costumed musicians, dancers, and entertainers of all ages grooving to a Bohemian beat. I explored the old market hall and crowded bars of St-Géry square where locals and tourists alike basked in the sun enjoying Belgian blonde beer. Then there’s Rue Antoine Dansaert where I discovered alternative fashion pop-up boutiques and marveled at the gilded 17th century Grand Place. Not to mention, the elegant Les Galeries Royale Saint-Hubert.

Back at the RED, I flopped on the comfy bed after a fun but quite long day out. With the RED app, I synced my iPhone to the 50″ flat screen TV and watched a slideshow of pictures from my day. I also dipped into the minibar for one last glass of champagne. Rooms are light, bright, and of course, red and artsy. The 149 studios are equipped with free-flowing high-speed Wi-Fi, and an app that manages check in, room service, restaurant reservations, and check out. Technology is definitely part of the experience. Yet I didn’t feel that I missed out on the personal touches that make a hotel stay my home-away-from-home.

A fierce advocate for global street art, the Radisson RED’s artist of the month is Alice Pasquini, whose art is seen both in galleries and on city walls. Both a street artist and classically trained painter, the Roman-born Pasquini says in her interview with Radisson RED that her creativity “is influenced by many things—the light and the colours of the surroundings (one of the reasons I paint during the day), the people who pass by and their reactions, the fragility of the surface, and spontaneity of my stroke (necessary due to the rapid action). I usually pick walls that are already beat up, often already built up with tags. The scars of the city make the best canvases.”

It’s not only art that Radisson RED Brussels is passionate about. Count in fresh and organic cuisine. Brussels’ burgeoning foodie scene is represented at the OUIBar + KTCHN and their Van Rouge Food Truck. I caught breakfast at KTCHN and it was excellent. Quite the opposite of a dreary hotel heating lamp buffets, breakfast was made to order and was European perfect. Crusty artisanal bread, poached eggs, and creamy cappuccinos that rivaled my favorite coffee bar in Rome. The freshness and quality of the ingredients shone through and set a high bar for hotel breakfasts.

Extra perks for Radisson RED Brussels guests are free parking (seriously, what hotel in a city center offers free parking? Talk about a hotel revolution!), and for a few extra euros, bring your pooch.

Whether you find the Radisson RED Brussels’ “ageless millennial” hotel concept gimmicky or it’s music to your ears, the truth is that the RED brand brings the fun and is worth a stay. With the American flagship newly opened in the art mecca of Minneapolis, more Radisson REDs are landing soon in Miami, Capetown, Glasgow, Portland, and Campinas.

Go RED for a day. Be bold. No boundaries. Be sassy. Express your style. And see what happens. If you’re not already, you just may become a RED convert, even if, like me, you’re a non-millennial.

Find Donna on Twitter and Instagram

Related on EcoSalon.com 

5 Sailing Vacations Perfect for Beginners
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Images via The Radisson RED Brussels 

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For your next vacation, channel your inner child and stay at one of the many treehouse hotels catering to nature lovers

While you may think treehouse hotels are simply a figment of your inner-child imagination, they actually do exist. From more down to earth accommodations to tres chic options, the sky’s pretty much the limit (and the technical goal, here) when it comes to the choices. What better way to commune with nature than to do so amongst the treetops?

All you have to do is book your flight and arrange the time off from work.

Treehouse Hotels for Your Next Nature Getaway

1. Treehouse Point – Fall City, Washington

Located about 30 minutes from Seattle, this treehouse is situated in the forest along the Raging River. Choose from among nine different treehouses so you can tune out, escape from technology, de-stress, and enjoy the rejuvenating powers of the Pacific Northwest.

2. Post Ranch Inn – Big Sur, California

Are you independently wealthy with a love for trees and the beach? Then you simply must stay at one of the treehouses at the Post Ranch Inn. These treehouses are freestanding structures built on stilts amongst the forest trees and feature full hotel service including turndown and room service.

3. Treehouse Cottages – Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Looking for something closer to the other side of the country? Consider staying at one of the rustic treehouse cottages among the canopy of hardwood trees only minutes from historic downtown Eureka Springs. The Hidden Forest treehouse is 24-feet off the ground and features a heart-shaped jacuzzi with a view of the treetops.

4. Free Spirit Spheres – Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Nestled amongst the enchanted coastal rainforest on Vancouver Island, you will find these spherical treehouses. The Eryn sphere can be found hanging amongst a Douglas Fir and some red cedar trees and is perfectly cozy for two.

5. Primland Lodge Treehouses – Meadows of Dan, Virginia

Located about 90 minutes from Roanoke, the Primland Lodge encapsulates both the luxury of a fully accommodating hotel with the stunning natural beauty of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Choose between the Barn Owl, the Cooper’s Hawk and the Golden Eagle treehouses–each one if the perfect place from which to gaze at the stars.

Related on EcoSalon

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The Mandarin Oriental hotel is redefining luxury with a twist of sustainability in Las Vegas.

Prior to one’s first visit to Las Vegas, the recommendations are clear, and the expectations high. Go nuts. Go dancing. Gamble. Drink…a lot. The phrase most commonly attached to the city is practically a household name: “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.”

After staying at the Mandarin Oriental hotel, however, what happens in Vegas, should also make the return trip. It’s a brand known among travelers as one that sets a gold standard and, among those with the privilege of staying there, there is reluctance to refer to it merely as a “hotel.” No, the Mandarin Oriental is far more than a place to rest one’s head. It’s an experience: A place that one leaves feeling confident, fulfilled, and restored.

That’s correct: It is possible to leave Las Vegas with a sense of restoration.

The Mandarin Oriental, among its many global locations, carries a commitment to wellness: To guests, and to the planet. It’s one of the few hotels on the Strip that doesn’t contain a casino, features a tea lounge, and offers seasonal, organic cuisine throughout its restaurants and cafes. It’s luxury with a twist: Yes, some rooms have bathtubs large enough to sleep in, but behind the scenes, the individuals who bring the Mandarin Oriental to life are quietly recycling water, protecting endangered fish populations, and deliciously sneaking superfoods onto restaurant menus.

It’s easy to question how one operates sustainably, or sources food locally, in a city essentially located in the desert and known for its water crisis. In fact, there is so much that can be – and is being – done, that Chef David Werly, executive chef of the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, can speak for over an hour about all of the establishment’s ecological efforts. Even then, the sense is that, still, more is being done, but there is only so much time to discuss it.

At one time, Chef Werly says he was able to secure herbs, quail and prawns from local producers. Today, however, those producers are no longer in operation, as local supply “seems to shrink, a little bit.” Not all hope is lost, however. He still sources local honey for smoothies and juice at the pool cafe, and beyond that, many provisions are supplied from California: One of the closest seaside neighbors to not only Las Vegas, he says, but a state that serves as the “back yard of America.”

Seafood, for Chef Werly, is consistently front-and-center, with particular regard to the menus he develops for the property’s MOzen Bistro (The M and O for “Mandarin Oriental”), one of the “best kept secrets” for sushi in Las Vegas, he says. He maintains awareness of what he calls seafood “emergencies,” such as that of Chilean sea bass, which he restricts from menus, and works very closely with suppliers, deliberately visiting facilities like fish farms to see just how product is raised. The Marine Conservation Society is one of his primary resources in becoming informed, and he uses seafood that is eco-labeled. When he can’t source farm-raised fish, which the restaurant does as much as possible, “we try at least to respect the seasonality.”

“I’m not pretending to know everything about it,” Chef Werly says, with respect to sustainable seafood, “but I am trying to educate [myself] as much as possible.”

It’s not all about fish; Chef Werly is a true believer in biodynamic farming, and the careful use of water and the environment around what is grown. He addresses the Las Vegas water crisis, in the way the kitchen operates; the refrigerators, for example, are all water-cooled, allowing water to be recycled, and are being replaced with new units that will not only permit water recycling, but also, conserve energy. These new refrigerators, as well as the entire kitchen, will be outfitted with LED lighting.

Meanwhile, other products are sourced and utilized with a focus on “the control and reduction of food waste,” says Robert Jenny, the property’s Director of Food and Beverage.

When asked why he, or the hotel, isn’t bragging about these initiatives more, or making a slightly bigger deal about them, Chef Werly points to education. To him, information is more important, ensuring that the environmental benefits of his actions are genuine and accurate, prior to boasting them to the public.

It seems that, throughout the Mandarin Oriental, there is a philosophy of using nature, of letting it do as it was intended, “and wait,” says Chef Werly. “Stop taking sea bass out of the ocean. Nature can recover very quickly, actually, if we leave [it] alone.”

There’s also a tradition of paying tribute to the heritage of food; the offerings at MOzen, for example, are designed as a culinary tour of Asia, such as a bento box prepared by Chef de Cuisine Prabeen Prathapan featuring Tandoori roasted chicken, miso cod, and Tom Yum Goong, among other colorful provisions. It’s a combination of flavors so unusual and diverse, even a spoiled, jaded New Yorker considers it beyond unique.

It’s an ideology also present in the Mandarin Oriental Spa, particularly the Las Vegas location. Here, guests can experience Tian Quan (translated to “heavenly waters” in Chinese), a series of what are described as “thermal experiences” on the hotel’s website. The treatments used here are rooted in ancient eastern medicine, which were developed during a time when nature was exclusively used for beauty and health. The ice fountain, for example, contains rolled cloths in a bowl of ice, which guests apply to the hands, face and neck after undergoing a heated experience, such as a hot shower, steam, or soak in the spa’s vitality pool. Donald Graham, the spa supervisor, explains that this tradition helps to stabilize the body’s core temperature after such thermal experiences, creating physical comfort for and less of a shock to the system.

Perhaps the most natural treatment in the spa, however, is the quiet relaxation lounge. It’s a room of plush beds overlooking the Las Vegas strip, replete with infused water, dried fruit and nuts, and magazines. Most guests, however, use the relaxation lounge for what its namesake intends: Quiet, free of phones and any noise other than the silent observation of the Strip below.

It seems a logical fit for the property’s Spa Director to also serve as the Chairperson for sustainability efforts of the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas. “I am personally very passionate about finding ways to conserve our natural resources, recycle and work with skin care and product companies who also share similar sustainable practices,” says Jennifer Lynn. “The Spa has also introduced several water conservation techniques…including experience showers with 20 second cycles to prevent unattended running water. We also have low flow restrictors in several areas of the spa.”

And those divine thermal experiences? Localized water softeners are added to those features, Lynn explains, to help reduce the wear and tear on the equipment that runs them.

There’s only one drawback to a stay at the Mandarin Oriental. It’s certainly not the lack of casino or entertainment venue; those are a short walk up the Strip. It’s not even the expense, as the long-term value of such experiences nearly exceeds the price paid for them. It’s the standard that is set by the Mandarin Oriental, and the inability to view any hotel experience the same after witnessing this one. It’s not a complaint, and would be wrongfully labeled as a shortcoming. Instead, it leaves its visitors with an omnipresent sentiment of, “I’ll be back.” At the Mandarin Oriental, what happens in Vegas, would surely make the world a more sustainable, restorative place.

Say hey to Amanda on Twitter or Instagram

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Photo: kennejima

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Lodging that’s both stylish and socially responsible.

Here in the United States, the hotel industry has an enormous environmental footprint, equalling 5 billion square feet of space, 5 million hotel rooms, and $4 billion in annual energy use, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. That’s a whole lot of impact, particularly when you consider that the vast majority of properties operate with little to no regard for the environment.

But little by little, the tide is changing, and hotels are coming to realize that operating sustainably doesn’t just affect the environment – it also affects their bottom line. On average, hotels that incorporate green principles use an average of 26 percent less energy and 30 percent less indoor water, and they generate 33 percent less energy and 50-75 percent less solid waste.

The gold standard of the sustainable hospitality industry is the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification program, which encompasses stages from certified to Platinum. The application process is rigorous, and as of October 2011, only 122 hotels worldwide had made the cut. Here are some of our favorites.

(above) Bardessono, Yountville, California, USA

ITC Gardenia, Bengaluru, India

The Ritz-Carlton, Charlotte, North Carolina, USA

Kandalama Hotel, Dambulla, Sri Lanka

The Hotel Wilshire, Los Angeles, California, USA

JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa, San Antonio, Texas, USA

Posada de Mike Rapu, Easter Island, Chile

Sandpearl Resort, Clearwater Beach, Florida, USA

Portola Hotel & Spa, Monterey, California, USA

The Park Hotel, Hyderabad, India

Proximity Hotel, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA

The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, California, USA

The Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas, Nevada, USA

The W, San Francisco, California, USA

Tambo del Inka, Urubamba, Peru

Sheraton Incheon, Incheon, South Korea

Hostal Empúries, l’Escala, Spain

The Element Times Square, New York, New York, USA

Ulagalla Resort, Anuradhapura, Sri Lanka

Kimpton Hotel Palomar, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

The Davenport Hotel, Spokane, Washington, USA

Crosby Street Hotel, New York, New York, USA

Bintan Lagoon Resort, Bintan, Indonesia

The Allison Inn and Spa, Newberg, Oregon, USA

Parkview Green, Beijing, China

SEE ALSO:

30 Photos of the World’s Most Uniquely Designed Buildings

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View more photo collections here. 

The post 25 Photos of Stylish LEED-Certified Hotels appeared first on EcoSalon.

No laptops allowed.

We live in an over-connected world of smartphones, social networking, and 24-hour news cycles. Sometimes, you just need to get away from it all. Whether you dream of a wood cabin in the forest, a cabana on an empty beach, or a treehouse outfitted in sustainable materials, there’s a zen retreat that’s sure to fit the bill. Let this collection of images inspire your next escape.

(above) Minimalist Retreat, Leiria, Portugal

Alila Villas Uluwatu, Bali, Indonesia

Hudson Passive Project, Hudson Valley, New York, USA

Desert Nomad House, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Minimalist Country Retreat, Corcovado River, Portugal

Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos

Asilomar Retreat Complex, Pacific Grove, California, USA

Stealth Barn, Norfolk, England

Summerhouse, Sweden

Temple, Kyoto, Japan

Palm Island, The Grenadines

Mesa Cabin, Utah, USA

Desert Nomad House, Tucson, Arizona, USA

The King of the Frogs Tree House, Münster, Germany

Bay of Fires, Northeast Tasmania, Australia

Latitude 10 Resort, Santa Teresa, Costa Rica

Tierra Patagonia, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

Little Cabin, Yakutat, Alaska, USA

Romantic and Stylish Upstate Cabin, Elizaville, New York, USA

The Naka Island, Phuket, Thailand

Off-grid itHouse, Pioneertown, California, USA

Japanese Garden, Pasadena, California, USA

Canvas Hotel, Telemark County, Norway

lostrivermodern, Lost City, West Virginia, USA

Paperbark Camp, Jervis Bay, Australia

SEE ALSO:

40 Gorgeous Photos of Europe

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20 Photos of Female Activists Throughout History

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30 Gorgeous Photos of Traditional Textiles

The post 25 Photos of Zen Retreats appeared first on EcoSalon.

I never knew how much I would regret not camping on a weekend jaunt to Yosemite. I’m reminded of it every second of the day as I feel the burning and itching sensation up and down my arms and other parts where the sun don’t shine.

I was attacked by bed bugs at the sprawling Yosemite Lodge, tiny hitchhiking demons the hotel saw the day I checked out. Combine them with the hordes of mosquitoes on the upper Yosemite Falls hiking trail, and you’ve got scads of unsightly scabby blotches that put Chicken Pox to shame. It’s so embarrassing, I should be exiled to a bed bug colony.

“We did locate a couple of the bugs in the headboard of your bed,” explained Anna, the sweet desk clerk who aided me when I begged her to fetch me Benadryl from the nearby clinic, explaining I was crazy allergic. I had come to the mountains to hike and roast marshmallows with my daughter’s school. I did not come to be food.

I never thought good old Yosemite would shelter pests imported by guests from New York or Europe. Recently, the bugs have been detected not just in hotel beds but also at department stores, and it has been suggested a decreased use of pesticides is causing the return. It’s a huge price to pay for trying to go poison free. Although there are some viable eco-friendly solutions if you find them in your own home.

The lodge, which is no Ahwahnee, seemed unaware of the bed bug problem when I called after noticing the bites. We are told infestation is not related to fleabags, but upon checking in, I did notice my room had a filmy layer of residue, the bedding was cheap and greasy (old spreads are magnets for germs) and I asked that they remove a stained chair which had a wet ring on the cushion. A hotel handyman with an uncanny resemblance to a dark haired billy goat plunged his face into the stained chair seat to sniff it, much to our amazement. “Nope, this doesn’t smell like urine,” he assured us.

As far as what was eating me, I had a few clues. The Bay Area isn’t listed on the top 15 US cities infested with bed bugs, but I know the critters hitch rides from one destination to the other, basically fiendish hobos that cling to luggage and clothing. For that reason, hotel guests have been warned by the experts not to unpack clothing or put anything out on the beds and to vacuum our bags and wash our stuff in hot water the moment we arrive home.

“Has anyone complained about bed bugs?” I asked the lodge, informed by the parade of recent articles on the resurfacing of the age old pests in hotels – including four star lodgings. I had heard you should never put your suitcase down on a bed, which I didn’t, and perhaps tote your own bed linens, which I didn’t. They said they didn’t know of a problem but a security person could drive me to their clinic for treatment. That is when it sunk in: I should be in the tent. Safe. Protected. Earthy.

Camping has always proven a good way to go at Yosemite, since it is cheaper than hotels ($60 for a few nights versus $200 a night at the Lodge) and you get to use your own sleeping bag, pillows, towels and air mattresses. Your canvas is sealed at night so no unidentified flying objects can invade. The biggest challenge is ensuring all of your food is out of your car and tent and has been bear proofed in a lock box.

Why didn’t I join my husband in the tent? Like many other national park visitors, I opted for the comforts of my own bathroom and shower and the convenience of a dining hall across the road. I opted for driving for six hours in traffic rather than taking a bus, opted for the droning sound of the idiot box to lull me to sleep rather than the subtle calls of the wild under the stars. I owe apologies to John Muir who would have recommended the camping route, and to Roderick Nash, my wilderness instructor at UCSB, who would be appalled by this story.

My dermatologist, Dr. Megin Scully, shot me in the tush with a steroid and dabbed nuclear strength cortisone ointment on my sores, saying it should be better by the next day. I went home and sucked down more Benadryl, soaked some more, and reapplied the ointment. This is my new routine. Have coffee, pack lunches for the kids, take meds, rub on ointment, and so on.

“You should try rubbing Vicks VapoRub on the bumps, that is what we Asians do,” I was told by a Filipino pest control guy back home in San Francisco, when I called to arrange a visit to make sure my home was bed bug free. He said Vicks clears up the problem right away. “We don’t call the doctor like you do, in America,” he said, laughing. Did I hear a smirk?

I asked my husband to run down to Walgreens and pick me up some of that Vicks. It did soothe the itching and perhaps will clear the swelling and redness in a few days. I have my bumpy fingers crossed.

Meantime, I reek of Vicks and am feeling awfully sorry for myself. And like any victim of a health crisis, I keep asking, why me? Why me, with the broken middle finger from boogie boarding that now also features a big red bite that I cut open while driving? If there is a god, why did he make bed bugs and mosquitoes, and why do they choose me? Sound familiar?

The answer lies somewhere in the deep unknown, a mystery as difficult to solve as reaching the top of precarious Half Dome. I now realize that opting for a hotel visited by the masses is a slippery slope that should be avoided by those not fully armed with their own bedding, insect repellent, a mosquito net, and a canister of Terminix.

I think you will agree, it all makes pitching and taking down a tent seem effortless and putting up with dirty hair an acceptable flaw when doing the nature thing for a few days. Maybe the bed bugs are trying to tell me something. “You’ve got to get yourself back to the garden,” they’re singing, sounding a lot like Joni Mitchell. Hey, shut up, stop bugging me. The Vicks girl gets the picture.

Images: Paul Lowry; National Park Reservations;Luanne Bradley

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From the Hill…

I just couldn’t let this one go by. And it pains me to bring it up. But let’s talk about a few inconvenient truths.

Who’d have thought that President Bill Clinton was the eco-friendly “bad boy” of the Clinton-Gore administration? He made intimate phone calls to his special friend from inside the White House during his scandal; Vice President Al Gore took a private jet during his. How could our anointed Captain Planet turn his back on (in addition to one other key figure) Mother Earth?

Masseuse Molly Hagerty has been dishing about the Nobel Peace prize-winning climate change guru’s ‘crazed sex poodle’ behavior. I won’t go into the gossipy details of the alleged massage because it has no relevance here.

But, some facts have arisen about the other, more globally pressing issues about the Harvard-educated family man becoming entangled in this controversy. He was staying in Portland, Oregon, and asked staff at the luxury Hotel Lucia to find him a masseuse. Two things. One, the Hotel Lucia is lovely, lively, hip and chic. But just because it’s located in the Emerald City, doesn’t make it a green hotel. Maybe Gore forgot to do a simple search for one of these environmentally friendly lodgings. Also worth noting: Staying at the Doubletree is not any greener simply because the word tree is part of its name.

Plain and simple, Gore hasn’t been practicing what he’s been preaching all these years. Witness the purchase of his bachelor pad in San Francisco in 2006.

Gore paid $3.9 million for the apartment atop the grand St. Regis Hotel in San Francisco in 2006. There is a swimming pool, a health spa, a roof deck and even a butler available to bring refreshments along with his order of double standards. He enjoys an opulent personal lifestyle while lecturing the public on green morality.

It’s a complicated situation being a public personality. The spotlight can illuminate, yes, but it can also seduce and reveal the bad in someone as well as the good.

Tabloid fodder aside, it’s the double talk with regard to core message that’s difficult to stomach, let alone abide. San Francisco is one of the greenest cities in the country. So what kept Gore from finding, or erecting, a sustainable living space? Building a green house doesn’t take much more than money. Heck, even Glenn Beck built and lives in one.

University of Manchester Professor Geoff Beattie published a study about environmentalism and attitudes versus actions. In it he differentiated between how people felt about being “green” and what they actually believed and did about it. Sean Coughlan at the BBC reports:

Researchers, at the university’s Sustainable Consumption Institute, made video recordings of people talking about issues such as global warming – looking at how their words matched their body language, such as hand gestures and expressions.

The study found that while people could control their speech to express green opinions, their unconscious gestures suggested their “true thoughts and feelings” lay elsewhere.

Explicitly, people may want to save the planet and appear green, but implicitly they may care a good deal less.

Given it is these implicit attitudes that direct and control much of our behaviour in supermarkets and elsewhere, these are the attitudes that we have to pursue and understand and change.

It’s common knowledge that people (politicians, especially) will say one thing and do another, often the opposite. It’s just difficult to observe, in hindsight, when some of those people take a very public stance, muscle their way to icon status – and make less good on their word. The lesson here: If you’re going to fall from grace, make sure you have a cushy seat on a private jet to make your descent a comfortable one.

Editor’s Note: This is the latest installment in Christopher Correa’s weekly column, Hill/Street Greens, examining the environmental deeds (and misdeeds) of Washington, D.C. and Wall Street.

Image: socketsite

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Since their introduction in the 1930s, Airstreams have become an iconic emblem of travel. Sleek, hip and, most importantly, functional, Airstreams are the name of the game for those looking to travel in style. But they’ve also allowed people to adventure in smarter, slower and more conscious ways, all integral parts to green travel. Let’s face it, long term travel is good for the soul, and Airstreams certainly facilitate that process, allowing travelers to establish a deeper connection to and appreciation for the places that they find themselves in.

A good friend of mine is about to take off on her own Airstream adventure, so suffice it to say, I’ve got the iconic travel mode on the brain. But committing to buying and up-keeping an Airstream isn’t for everyone. Fortunately thanks to plenty of travel options, that doesn’t mean that you have to skimp on Airstream ambiance. Here are some of our favorites.

Rooftop Trailer Park

In South Africa, the Grand Daddy Hotel offers the ultimate in trailer park class. The boutique hotel installed a rooftop trailer park with seven different Airstreams, each of them boasting a customized design by local artists.

Vintage Vacation

On the Isle of Wight in the English Channel, you can get a little taste of Americana thanks to Vintage Vacations. They’ve got seven of them turning the campground into a funky and fresh destination.

Trailer Park a la Europa

For those looking to go super retro, the Euro Trailer Park might be your best bet. In fact it’s the only retro trailer park in Europe, located in the foothills of the Pyrenees. What better way to enjoy this beautiful area of France than a funky consortium of silver bullets? There are nine Airstreams for hire, and we’re sure you’ll meet plenty of colorful characters too.

Park It Where You Want

It comes as no shock that hip and trendy Portland, Oregon would offer up an Airstream vacation, but the best part about Silver Dreams is that they’ll park the upscale hotel suite on wheels anywhere in the Portland area that you want to stay.

Enjoying the Arts

Art and travel come together at El Cosmico in Marfa, Texas. A community that aims provide a creative and sustainable space that’s welcoming to both locals and visitors.

Airstream Spa Style

Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe, New Mexico has combined spa services with Airstream class in their Silver Moon. The lodging has just the basics, but pair it with the destination’s spa services, including deep stone massages and Japanese organic facials, and you’ve got one luxurious but off-the-beaten-path travel destination.

Images: johnrobertsheperd, Grand Daddy Hotel, Airstream Europe, El Cosmico

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From using organic cotton sheets to serving up fresh, local fare, many hotels have adopted green initiatives. Still, others use a different sustainable strategy: re-purposing old buildings and turning them into hotels. On top of the environmental benefits of recycling a building that might otherwise get torn down, there’s something charmingly chic about staying in a former train station, a church, or even a jail.

We’ve uncovered eight re-purposed hotels from around the world.

1. The Liberty Hotel in Boston, MA (pictured above)

Formerly a jail that housed criminals like Sacco and Vanzetti, the Liberty Hotel now attracts celebs and Bostonians in the know. Its beautifully updated atrium incorporates the jail’s original catwalk and metalwork. Aptly named bars, CLINK and Alibi, play off the hotel’s theme.

2. Town Hall Hotel in London, England

This luxury hotel opened earlier this month in a former town hall in East London, featuring polished marble, wood panels, and artwork by young local artists. Many of the original architectural elements, like spiral staircases and Art Deco details remain intact.

3. Hotel St. Nicholas in Cripple Creek, CO

Once the site of a gold rush in the 1890’s, Cripple Creek, CO includes a former hospital turned into a 15-room hotel. The hospital was originally built by the Catholic Sisters of Mercy to care for sick and injured miners. Rumor has it that the (friendly) ghost of a miner still roams the building.

4. Four Seasons Budapest in Budapest, Hungary

Budapest’s Gresham Palace has gone through several iterations. Built in 1906 to house offices and rich aristocrats, it housed Soviet soldiers during World War II and became an apartment building during the communist reign of Hungary. Now its sweeping staircases, ironwork, and Art Noveau mosaics have been restored, and the building serves as a hotel.

5. Union Station Hotel in Nashville, TN

Originally opened as a train station in 1900, Union Station now serves as a 125-room boutique hotel with plasma TVs and wireless internet. It underwent an $11 million renovation in 2006 and 2007. Silver mirrors, limestone fireplaces, and 128 original stained glass panels evoke the grandeur of the Victorian era.

6. Malmaison Hotel in Glasgow, Scotland

With a temple façade, vaulted ceilings, and neo-classical details, Glasgow’s Malmaison Hotel embraces its history as a former Episcopal Church. A stylish bar and brasserie inhabits the space that was once the crypt.

7. The Whitney in New Orleans, LA

Located in New Orleans’ business district near the French Quarter, The Whitney was once a bank which featured an enormous vault that was converted into a private events and dining room called the Bank vault. Guest rooms feature high-speed internet, WebTV, and elegant furnishings.

8. Hotel Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy

The building that houses Hotel Trevi Fountain dates back to the XIII century, when it served as a convent. Though it was converted into a hotel during the late eighteenth century, it retains much of the original opulence and architectural splendor.

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