Skip to search
List
7 nights

The best eco-friendly holidays

Get the lowdown on our planet-friendly practices.
At TUI we know that, as well as being great fun, holidays should be kind to the earth, too. But we also know that sometimes travel can have consequences, which is why trying to manage our impact on the environment, the economy and society when planning your holidays. From flying you in Europe’s most carbon-efficient aircraft to protecting biodiversity and enabling local people to benefit from tourism. With our sustainability agenda, People, Planet, Progress, we aim to have a positive impact every step of the way and achieve net-zero emissions before 2050. Here are just a few examples of destinations where we’re making a conscious effort to reduce our carbon footprint and make a positive difference to local people and their communities...

EL DORADO ROYALE, MEXICO

El Dorado Royale has won awards for the environmentally friendly choices it makes. One of its most prized initiatives is its marine turtle conservation programme. Their efforts go a long way to help the local species of marine turtle, which nest on their beaches between May and November each year. The hotel’s staff make sure this nesting period is as comfortable as possible for the turtles, by reducing noise and lighting on the beach at night so they can nest undisturbed. Special Turtle Conservation Camps have been built to protect the nests and the eggs. By doing this, they've protected over 800 nests and released more than 59,000 sea turtle hatchlings – an incredible achievement which has helped them win multiple awards for their sustainability.

That’s not all…

The hotel also has its own greenhouse – covering a whopping 76,000 square feet – where all of the fruit and veg is grown for the hotel’s use. You can even take part in one of their tours and get a taste of their fresh, sustainable veggies.

HOTEL ALION BEACH, CYPRUS

Sometimes it’s the little things that make the biggest difference. Hotel Alion Beach in Ayia Napa, Cyprus makes a conscious effort to make sure they recycle as much as possible. They send glass bottles straight back to the suppliers, instead of throwing them away, and have done away with single-use plastic. Plus, instead of using tiny jam and honey portions, they use larger jars to limit the number that need to be thrown away. Nothing goes to waste here, and even torn linen and towels are repurposed as cleaning tools.

That’s not all…
Native plants that don’t require much water, such as palm trees, are placed around the hotel to limit the need for regular watering. The hotel also aims to keep their social impact positive by hiring local staff and buying local produce wherever possible.

HOTEL FALESIA, PORTUGAL

Hotel Falesia knows that reducing waste goes a long way to helping the environment. Think reducing the amount of energy lost, by installing motion-censored units which automatically switch off air conditioning and heating when no one's in the room and installing a Biomass boiler to reduce any reliance on fossil fuels. By implementing a system to reuse the condensation from the air conditioning units to fill toilet cisterns, they’ve also reduced their water waste. Plus, there’s plenty of communication with hotel guests about the best ways to reduce their levels of energy and water waste, raising awareness for the need to manage their environmental impact.

That’s not all…

They’re also advocates of donating old, but reusable, clothes and furniture to local charities, so that people in the local community can give them a loving home rather than throwing them in the bin.

EXPERIENCES AND ACTIVITIES

What you do while on holiday is just as important as where you stay or how you get there. In addition to reducing carbon emissions, our main aim is to help local tourism thrive. It’s essential to give back to the destinations that welcome our customers year on year, and to thank the people who share their cultures with us. We aim to help local communities by providing employment opportunities, with an average of 58% of hotel staff being employed from the local area. We also buy local produce where possible, with around 45% of food served being from the same area and support local businesses and attractions on our experiences.

What's more, we also have over 1,000 TUI Collection experiences for you to pick from. These experiences are optional activities you can book, and cover everything from wine-tastings to guided tours. All our suppliers and partners are carefully vetted by us to ensure they are taking steps to help look after our planet. Plus, the experiences themselves meet global sustainability standards. 

COBA MAYA RUINS TOUR, MEXICO

The Coba Maya Ruins Tour was developed in collaboration with the Mayan community, and lets you discover the ancient Mayan city of Coba. You will journey deep into the mysterious Yucatan jungle, which is home to monkeys, parrots and jaguars. After exploring the ancient ruins, including the Great Pyramid, you’ll meet the local villagers and will be treated to a Mayan ceremony and a traditional lunch. Before returning to your hotel, you’ll also have the chance to swim in a sacred cenote – a pool found within the caves. This experience has been put together with the benefits to the local community front and centre, and your lunch alone will help support 130 families within the community.

KAYAKOY DISCOVERY TOUR, TURKEY

The Kayakoy Discovery Tour is all about exploring Kaya, one of the best-preserved ghost villages in Turkey. The village, originally populated by Greeks who fled the war in 1923, has been left to slowly crumble. After meandering through the empty streets and learning about the ruins of the historic village, you’ll visit a local farm. Here, guests have the chance to purchase products produced locally and at the farm. Plus, for each experience booked, a donation is made to farmers who are part of the Taste of Fethiye project. This is vital in helping the local community thrive.

WHALE AND DOLPHIN WATCHING, TENERIFE

Setting sail from Costa Adeje, you can view Blue Flag beaches as you begin the tour on an environmentally friendly catamaran. During your cruise you will sail to La Caleta to view the pods of dolphins and whales that call this area their home. The catamaran uses wind power whenever it can to minimise noise and potential pollution as it sails. As you sip on your onboard drinks, you’ll learn about the habits, migration and food of these wild animals. After a dip of your own into the cool water you’ll make your way back with an appreciation for these animals and an understanding of how to best support their welfare.

Want to learn more? Take a look at our sustainability page to find out what we’re doing to help look after the planet. And, if you’re ready to book your next getaway, check out all our holiday destinations.

 

Pssst. Head to the Discover homepage for our latest articles.

 

Author: Alice Baker

 

Last updated: 05.07.2023 

Holiday Type

Destination

Show more