Sustainable Travel: Eco-Friendly Escapes from Ras Al Khaimah to Jamaica

In the realm of sustainable travel, today’s top resorts and destinations are leading the charge as champions of environmental responsibility. These luxurious retreats around the globe are embracing eco-friendly practices to minimize waste, reduce carbon footprints, and promote sustainable tourism.

Explore innovative initiatives such as harnessing solar power, implementing comprehensive recycling programs, and supporting local conservation efforts. Each establishment not only offers a luxurious guest experience but also contributes to a greener future for our planet.

Discover how these forward-thinking destinations are setting new standards in hospitality, inviting travelers to indulge in luxury while making a positive impact on the environment. Every stay becomes an opportunity to support sustainability and responsible tourism practices.

This version maintains a sophisticated tone and focuses on the concept of sustainable travel, inviting readers to explore how resorts and destinations worldwide are embracing eco-friendly initiatives.

Sustainable Travel Tips for Exploring Ras Al Khaimah 

As the first destination in the Middle East to be awarded the prestigious Silver Certification by EarthCheck last year, Ras Al Khaimah in the UAE continues to lead the way in sustainable tourism. Recognised for its commitment to environmental protection and community engagement, the nature-rich emirate encourages travellers to partake in activities with minimal impact on the local environment. This includes hiking scenic trails catering to various skill levels and visiting Suwaidi Pearls, the region's only remaining cultured pearl farm that provides locally sourced pearls to jewellers across the world. 

In response to global travellers' desire to explore more sustainably, Ras Al Khaimah also boasts a variety of world-class accommodations equipped with eco-friendly practices. These range from comprehensive waste management systems at Rixos Bab Al Bahr to water-saving aerators at Mövenpick Resort Al Marjan Island, as well as cabins made from recycled materials at Bear Grylls Explorer Camp.  

Visitors can further reduce their carbon footprint by opting for direct flights and longer stays that allow them to explore local attractions more thoroughly, taking advantage of the emirate’s new cross-border tourism campaign to also travel to the neighboring Musandam region of Oman, only a 90-minute drive away and accessible by affordable bus service, with one-way bus tickets starting at just £10/person. 

​Eco-tourism in Jamaica

​The environment is a growing focus in Jamaica, with efforts to preserve the island's natural beauty, protect its diverse ecosystems, and promote responsible tourism.  

Visitors can explore protected areas such as the stunning Blue and John Crow Mountains National Park, where you can find Jamaica’s high-quality Jamaica Blue Mountain Coffee. Alternatively, Cockpit Country in Trelawny and St James is a hilly and dense forest where you’ll find the highest diversity or plants and animals on the island. It’s paradise for birdwatchers and plant lovers.  

Experience farm-to-table dining at eco-friendly spots like Stush in the Bush, which showcase the flavours of Jamaican cuisine through innovative vegetarian and vegan dishes. 

Meanwhile, hotels like Jamaica Inn demonstrate their commitment to sustainability through initiatives like coral reef restoration and foraging-based spa experiences. 

By embracing these practices, Jamaica aims to safeguard its unique biodiversity and cultural heritage for the future. 

All-inclusive with a Holistic Sustainability Approach ​

Island resort Fodele Beach continues to walk the talk of embracing sustainable practices throughout the premise. Steadfast in their sustainability commitments, the resort continues to uphold the esteemed Green Key Certification and has been re-awarded the ISO 14001, granted to accommodations that meet stringent environmental criteria. Taking steps to minimise environmental impacts, Fodele implements a range of innovative practices to minimise its ecological footprint, including the installation of motion sensors and LED lighting throughout the resort, and introducing waste-reduction programs, smart irrigation, and responsible water management systems on the premise to ensure greater resource efficiency. 

The resort’s newest collection of Sea Front rooms and VIP Suites, unveilled in the past year, are also equipped with ceiling fans, energy-efficient windows and thermal insulation on their facades. These design elements allow for room insulation and temperature control, making the use of air conditioning less necessary.  

Planting Seeds of Change in Island Communities 

Wildlife & wellness-focused resort, Nova Maldives, is proud to announce its participation in World Environment Day with holistic initiatives to support this year’s theme, #GenerationRestoration. Recognising that 'land is life' and that healthy ecosystems are essential to sustaining island communities and inhabitants, the island resort will donate 75 coconut trees to the local island Dhangethi, with an informative presentation delivered to school pupils and parents on the island by their marine biologist to complement the reforestation efforts. 

These initiatives come in addition to a number of others undertaken by Nova to contribute to the concept of sustainable tourism, including Nova’s well-loved coral nursery scheme that encourages travellers to sponsor the plantation of new coral frames in Nova’s house reefs, as well as partnerships with the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme to educate guests about wildlife conservation. 

Ocean and Beach Guardian  

​Community-conscious resort, Kandima Maldives is hosting a series of engaging sustainability-related activities to celebrate World Environment Day and World Ocean's Day, including an island cleaning activity, where guests and local students can collaborate and clean up the beaches together, while learning more about each other. The resort is also running a creative eco-friendly art workshop, using environmentally friendly materials to create artwork on a canvas under the guidance of the residence artist. 

Kandima has been an active supporter of eco-focused awareness days and initiatives, including participating in the widely observed Earth Hour and taking the lead to encourage visitors to join beach and reef cleaning with the staff to help keep the island clean. This is a resort where fun and responsibility coincide, where children can feel inspired to protect nature through activities from a young age, while joining fascinating Turtle Quest and dolphin cruises to observe marine creatures upclose. 

REVITALISING body and mind at Cretan cliffside wellness haven 

ACRO Suites is a 5-star wellness haven situated within the staggering Cretan cliffside overlooking the Aegean Sea in Greece. The property pays homage to its surrounding nature through the considered use of materials and textures. To ensure their vision was brought to life, the hotel’s owners sought out the best local Greek designers and craftsmen to collaborate with across the property for an authentic Cretan feel.  

The elegant design sensibility is proof that design is fundamental to well-being and that the right luxury resorts can help to transform the location that they’re in for the better. Sustainability plays a large role in the hotel’s ethos, with natural materials sourced from Crete such as stones and wood. Sheets and fabrics are all made from organic materials. Food is sourced locally from small farms on the island, all from an organic kitchen with plentiful vegan and vegetarian menu options available. Every suite and villa in the hotel are accompanied by private saltwater pools with breathtaking Cretan Sea views allowing guests to enjoy ultimate privacy in blissful surroundings.  

 A firm favourite for many guests is the Cave Suite featuring custom-made wooden furniture, stone, and natural elements throughout, raw silk bed covers, spectacular sea views, and a private pool. The Cave Suites have been built with sustainability in mind so that they maintain a stable and pleasant temperature year-round, with no air conditioning or heating needed. 

This summer, the Cretan retreat will be hosting certified sound therapy sessions for guests seeking to reconnect with their mind, body, and soul. Experience the transformative power of sound healing as healing vibrations release tension, restore balance, and awaken the senses, fostering inner peace and well-being. Sound healing evenings are scheduled on the following dates: 25th July, 22nd August, 26th September, and 8th October. The sessions will take place in the hotel’s Asana Yoga Shala, one of the hotel’s signature spaces dedicated to wellness built entirely out of bamboo. 

 Another key asset to the cliffside property is the Bath House, a dedicated spa for total relaxation and a space to lift your spirit. Inspired by the notion of hammams and purifying the soul, the Bath House has been created to pamper you as much as possible in the most natural and organic way, featuring an authentic Byzantine Hammam, a dry sauna, an outdoor pool, and several treatment rooms.  Marrying curved smooth stone with soft natural elements, the layout of the in-house spa, the Bath House, is based on the shape of a traditional hammam. The oval space plays with light and the element of water with large byzantine marble baths for the ultimate soothing effect.