Helpful tips to help you make an informed decision when booking an eco hotel
With pollution and climate change as ever-growing concerns, it is evident that every social sector needs to play a more active role in mitigating the negative impact of their actions and strive for sustainability. The tourism industry is stepping up to the plate in this struggle for sustainability and setting environmentally sound goals and standards.
In this context, the ecohotel is gaining rapid popularity. Consumers are becoming more aware of their impact on the environment, and are opting for green accommodations that tend to minimize their environmental footprint when traveling. But what are green accommodations? How can travelers know when they’re choosing eco hotels and not conventional hotels that simply advertise an eco friendly image? It’s necessary to provide a concrete definition of what an eco hotel actually is, so that travelers can make more informed decisions when booking accommodations and hotel owners can better understand how to provide for consumer demands. Generally speaking, Ecotrotters defines ecohotels as those which:
- Make important environmental improvements to their structure and practices in order to minimize their impact on the environment
- Place an emphasis on sustainability and environmental conservation
- Consider the needs of local communities and promote fair trade
- Promote knowledge and understanding of sustainability and ecological practices
When booking your accommodations, try to look for hotels that minimize their impact by employing simple practices such as using natural cooling as opposed to air conditioning, replacing incandescent lights with compact fluorescent lamps, installing low-flow shower heads and toilets, and offering a sheet and towel reuse program whereby guests have their linens exchanged every few days instead of daily. All these simple actions provide great benefits to the environment by reducing the amount of energy needed. Recycling is another sound practice, which can include composting kitchen materials and recycling waste water. Something else you can check for when making a decision as to whether your accommodations are eco friendly or not is the hotel’s use of its grounds. Hotels are moving a step closer to sustainability, and are thus greener, when they grow their own produce or buy ingredients produced locally to prepare the food offered to their guests.
Social responsibility is another key factor when determining how green a hotel is. Eco hotels must have a deep respect for local culture and traditions and provide jobs for the local and/or indigenous populations. They should also offer environmental training programs for staff and environmental courses and seminars for hotel guests, as well as participate in ecological projects off hotel property. Check if your choice accommodations follow any of these practices.
Ecotrotters.com - Eco Articles - Is your ecohotel really green? How to tell
ago surrounded by rich rain forested hills and panoramic views of the Great Astrolabe Reef. The architecture and construction of the buildings is traditional, but there are also many contemporary
touches like solar power, glass louver windows, polished timber floors and four poster beds. You'll share this paradise on Kadavu with no more than 21 other guests. 
adavu (Fiji's fourth largest island) lies a 3/4 hour flight south of Nadi,
and has truly maintained it's identity and cultural values
and resisted development. The majority of the population there resides in coastal villages and live 
subsistence lifestyles, sharing their jungle paradise with 27 species of birds and one species of reptile found nowhere else but Fiji (and 3 of those bird species are found only on Kadavu, and all 3 can be seen on Matava's grounds!). Cascading waterfalls flow into streams that wend down into mangrove forests fringing rocky shores. All this overlooks the stunning Great Astrolabe Reef, home to a myriad of marine life for divers and snorkelers.
fter being met at the airport you will be transported to the resort by boat inside the barrier reef. Upon arrival at Matava, you can hear the powerful waves breaking on the distant reef that will soothe you to sleep later that night. There are several 
with shared facilities. The Honeymoon and Ocean View bures boast panoramic views from their lofty positions on the hillside, looking out over Waya Island and the Great Astrolabe. Wake in the morning to a symphony of wild birds and breakers on the distant reef.
and admitted dive addict. He was originally drawn to Kadavu back in 2002 by it's pristine and remote location, and the untouched diving of the Astrolabe Reef. He is a PADI Instructor who has also achieved the Project Aware Go Eco Status for Matava. Of course the resort is very eco friendly, with their own organic gardens and a sustainable environmental and business practices.
here is no shortage of adventures available at Matava. For sportsmen, light tackle (Pacific Sailfish, Wahoo, King Mackerel, Yellowfin Tuna, Mahi Mahi and 
Giant Trevally), or heavy tackle (Marlin, Mahi Mahi or Yellowfin Tuna) game fishing is expertly guided by Adrian aboard "Bite Me". There are also guided treks through the rain forest and along the sea to a nearby village and Kadavu Koro's tri-level waterfall, village stays, cultural events, superlative surfing, and kayaking. The 2-day Sea
