Being eco-friendly is all the rage these days, but what, exactly, does that mean if you travel? Certainly there are many ways to minimize your eco-footprint in all stages of the travel process, but choosing earth-friendly accommodations is one of the biggest choices you’ll need to make if you want to enjoy an environmentally conscious holiday.

Keep in mind that hotels that are eco-friendly aren’t always easy to spot from the outside. This is because many environmental concerns are managed behind-the-scenes so that guests can have care-free stays, regardless of the carbon footprint. Nonetheless, there are a few telltale signs for how green your hotel is simply by a few design features and service policies that have been put into place.

Many hotels claim to be eco-friendly to get your business because they know that environmental consciousness is an increasing concern with today’s consumers, but this façade (known as greenwashing) often only confuses people. As an eco-conscious consumer, the most important thing you can do is choosing a property that has made a commitment to go green, supporting that property by paying the (possibly) higher price that may be affiliated with it and sharing your findings with others. Only then will all hotels feel the need to take steps to help preserve the environment.

So what should you be looking for in a true eco-friendly hotel? Here are a few signs that your accommodations really are going green:

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