Sustainable sleeping quarters

When on holiday, a hotel is never *just* a place to rest your head. It's a place to siesta in the midday heat or wind down with a nightcap in the downstairs bar. A slice of comfort (and perhaps a hint of luxury). The first place you wake up in a new city, and the last place you drift off, reflecting on the events of the day just passed.

But there's more to it than that. Hotels are an intrinsic part of the communities they inhabit, exerting a real impact on the surrounding environment – and there are some real good 'uns out there. From locally-owned guesthouses to vegan hotels, read on for our favourite sustainable picks, showing that being eco-conscious doesn't mean compromising on that cushy hotel feeling.

Sapphire House, Antwerp

Sustainability never tasted so good. At Sapphire House, cutting-edge plant-based dining meets 18th-century features and lavish furnishings (a nod to Antwerp's golden age of diamond heist). Don't miss the watermelon gazpacho or aubergine caviar *chef's kiss*.

Conscious Hotel, Amsterdam

With contemporary interiors inspired by the works of Willem de Kooning, the Conscious Hotel is a haven for culture vultures and the sustainably minded. An organic breakfast awaits before the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh or Stedelijk museums call, a short walk away. 

The Green House, Dorset

On a mission to 'prove that luxury and sustainability are friends', the Green House is the UK's greenest hotel, nestled between Dorset’s finest beaches and the New Forest. Expect sumptuous natural furnishings, locally sourced food, and no plastic in sight.

La Villa 30, Lille

Support a family-run enterprise in the heart of Downtown Lille. With only five rooms, small means personal service and expert insights from host, Caroline, but it also means supporting the local economy and helping spread tourism distribution. Win, win.

Gaia, Basel

Gaia (named after the Greek Goddess of Earth) works with local enterprises to eliminate food waste. Think growing mushrooms from coffee grounds and making hummus from biowaste. And leftover bread? The Elephants in the city zoo have dibs on that.