Spending holidays with your loved ones and family can be a great bonding experience. This is where you can break your work routine and focus on making memories in the best locations you can find.
However, many travelers today focus on how they can minimize their carbon footprint in every possible way. Booking the right accommodations can make a difference.
Choosing eco-friendly accommodations is one way to ensure that you do your bit to save the planet in every small way possible.
If you have plans to visit the Ionian Islands in Greece you need to look for the right villas and accommodations that would make your experience memorable without impacting the environment.Â
Here are 8 things to consider while booking eco-friendly villas in the Ionian Islands.
Nature-Inspired Design
When you are searching for villas in the Ionian Islands you need to look for properties that are built around their natural greenery and landscape. This is essential because this is essential to the biodiversity of the region.
Many architects focus on how they can design their villas around the existing landscape. This allows them to utilize the existing trees and plants and use them as a part of the property instead of cutting them off.
Hence, you need to look for properties that have some of the creepers, herbs, plants, and trees that are nicely integrated into the overall landscape of the villa.
Having nice lush greenery around your villa will allow you to enjoy some quiet time in the Ionian Islands and also act as a natural barrier to offer you enough privacy.Â
Use of Natural Materials
One of the important things that you should not miss when choosing eco-friendly villas is the use of natural materials. While the villas must look luxurious and provide you with enough space and comfort it should also have a sense of bringing out the outdoors inside.
This means the property must have natural materials like stone floors, wooden cabinets, and furniture. The villa must also have a wooden or stone balcony providing you with breathtaking views of the Ionian Sea.
Various eco-friendly villas also come with certification for green building programs which further can ensure that you are choosing eco-friendly accommodations.
Energy Management
While there are many ways to enjoy sustainable travel in Greece you can also focus on choosing villas in the Ionian Islands that have efficient and smart energy management. Hence, you need to be clear about the villas you choose and how they can affect your holidays and the environment at the same time.
Greece enjoys a Mediterranean climate which means you can have plenty of sunlight. Various eco-friendly villas make use of the sunlight to ensure that you do not need artificial lighting during the day hours.
Also, the design of the villa provides natural ventilation offering you a cool and relaxed environment. Many villas make use of solar energy mainly because of the sunny weather which is another good way to stay sustainably.
You can look for properties that offer hot water baths via solar power and even run various appliances and devices without having to depend on conventional electricity.
Additionally, you will also find many villas where electricity is controlled by occupancy sensors. This ensures that there is no power wastage when no one is around on the property.
Water Management
One of the main factors that you need to look into when choosing sustainable villas in the Ionian Islands is water management. This is essential because you want to focus on how you can optimize the use of water.
For this, you need to look for villas that have low-flow appliances and also make use of water management systems like rainwater harvesting and greywater systems. This would ensure that you are not consuming excessive amounts of water.
Also, you need to look for villas that have low-water laundry machines which allow you to wash your clothes. On the other hand, you can always carry your towels and clothes and should not wash them until absolutely required.Â
Plastic Management
Plastic can harm the environment in ways unimaginable. When you are planning to stay in a sustainable villa you need to focus on plastic management as well.
This involves the availability of smaller soaps and shampoo bottles which are generally use-and-throw. Choose villas that do not offer these soaps and shampoos because these bottles eventually end up in the garbage leading to more plastic wastage.
Also, focus on properties that make use of natural materials like wood, bamboo, stone, and straw. This would allow you to reduce plastic wastage and help you support the planet.Â
Strategic Location
One of the key things that you need to look into when you are choosing eco-friendly villas for your holidays on the Ionian Islands is its location. Having a property close to the beach or popular restaurants or cafes can make a huge difference.
This is because you can just walk down the road and reach your destination. This eliminates the need for any vehicle and you can enjoy the lovely scenery and clear weather of the Ionian Islands.
These islands have some popular Michelin-star dining venues where you can enjoy meals. You can also look for properties closer to supermarkets and tavernas.
If you are interested in water sports having a property close to the beach can ensure that you can enjoy water sports activities as and when you prefer.
Modes of Transport
While many luxurious villas provide you with rental cars to help you drive around the island you should look for eco-friendly villas that offer you bicycles that you can use to move around the island.
This is a great environment-friendly way to move around the island and explore the best beaches in Greece. If you are planning to explore the island’s quaint villages and narrow lanes you can make use of rental bicycles that ensure faster movement without hampering the planet’s health.
Offer Local Food
When you are choosing eco-friendly accommodations in the Ionian Islands you also have to focus on the ones that offer local food. This is a great way to try something new as you explore these Greek islands.
Greek cuisine is quite popular and choosing locally produced farm fresh produce would be a great way to eat healthy but also support the local farmers and the community. You can always look for luxurious villas that employ local people to take care of the property and cook you the best meals.
This way you can ensure that you choose a property that gives back to the local community. You can also look out for villas that can provide you with various wine-tasting sessions at various local wineries.
