Consideration for the environment has never been so important, and is becoming an increasingly important selling point for the hospitality industry. As travel gradually opens up, we present eco-friendly hotels from Spain to Switzerland to consider as you plan your next holiday.

LA DONAIRA, SPAIN

Encircled by oak-clad mountains and local farmhouses, La Donaira is an eco-retreat located on the top of Serrania de Ronda in Andalusia, southern Spain. The resort consists of nine rustically stylish rooms. Guests can avail themselves of organic food grown on the property’s garden. They can also take a farm tour to get to know the resort’s farm and organic gardens, as well as have a hand at being a farmer for a day, meditate on a bee bed (one of the few in the world), go trekking, paragliding and cycling.

THE STERN, AUSTRIA

This family-friendly resort is located in the heart of Imst, in the Tyrol’s Upper Inn Valley. The Stern goes back to nature without compromising on luxury. Guests can enjoy being surrounded by picture-perfect snowcapped mountains in winter and lush greenery in the warmer seasons, allowing for a variety of outdoor pursuits. Hiking, horse riding, snowmobile tours, and mountain biking are just some of the activities on offer for guests to reconnect with nature. There are also year-round nature-centric activities for children aged three to 12, such as pony rides, an arts-and-crafts centre, outdoor adventure playground, and even a petting zoo.

VILA VITA PARC, PORTUGAL

The luxurious, Moorish-style Vila Vita Parc is set within a spectacular location on a rocky coastline boasting 22 hectares of colourful sub-tropical gardens. The resort’s lush grounds are watered with desalinised seawater from the nearby ocean. Fresh fruit jams and olive oil are locally sourced from the hotel’s own farm, and all the meat served are free-range. When it comes to leisure activities, adults have the option of chartering Vila Vita’s private yacht or immersing themselves in the luxurious spa, while children will be kept entertained at the kids’ club.

WHITEPOD, SWITZERLAND

Open only in the winter, Whitepod is an eco-lodge situated in the canton of Valais, in the village of Les Cerniers. Perched at an altitude of 1,450m above sea level, it consists of 15 geodesic dome-shaped canvas tents or pods placed on wooden platforms clustered around an old farmhouse. Each pod is heated with a wood-burning stove. Its on-site restaurant focuses on mountain specialities and regional ingredients. Although the resort is less than half an hour from the Les Portes du Soleil ski area, it boasts its own private ski runs. Guests can also go snowshoeing and dogsledding from the property.

FORTE VILLAGE, ITALY

Set within beautiful gardens next to a white sand beach on the south coast of Sardinia, Forte Village Resort exudes eco-luxury. The resort cultivates its own fruits and vegetables, nourished with carefully collected rainwater. Seventy percent of the resort’s waste is recycled. The resort has a variety of engaging activities for children, while adults can relax at the world-class Acquaforte Thalasso Spa or indulge in retail therapy at its designer boutiques.