What does an eco-friendly stay really look like?
At Coolstays, eco-friendly stays aren’t about ticking boxes or chasing trends. They’re about places that tread lightly, think carefully and invite you to experience the world a little more slowly. From off-grid cabins and low-impact retreats to thoughtfully restored buildings powered by renewables, an eco stay with Coolstays is as much about how a place feels as how it functions.
This guide looks beyond the buzzword to explain what an eco-friendly stay really looks like, and why it works so beautifully for modern travellers.
Rethinking “eco”: more than just a label
That luxury might be silence instead of screens. Space instead of excess. Craftsmanship instead of mass production. The joy of knowing that where you’re staying has been created with care for the land, the building and the people around it.
Off-grid and low-impact living
Off-grid living doesn’t mean roughing it. It means being powered by renewable energy, sourcing water responsibly and designing systems that work in harmony with their surroundings. Think solar panels quietly soaking up daylight, wood-burners fuelled by local logs, and clever water systems that make every drop count.
Low-impact stays are often tucked gently into their landscapes, cabins nestled among trees, shepherds huts raised above the ground protecting the earth beneath, retreats designed to blend rather than dominate. You arrive, slow down, and start noticing things you might normally miss: the shift of light, the sound of wind in leaves, the rhythm of the day.
Thoughtful design and natural materials
Many eco-friendly properties on Coolstays are built or restored using natural, breathable materials like wood, stone, clay, lime and wool. These materials not only have a lower environmental footprint, but they also create spaces that feel calm, warm and grounded.
You’ll often find interiors shaped by the landscape around them: big windows framing fields or sea views, reclaimed timbers telling stories of past lives, muted colour palettes that let nature take the lead. Design here isn’t showy, it’s intentional, practical and deeply connected to place.
Renewable energy, water conservation and waste reduction
Renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and ground-source heat pumps quietly power lights, showers and heating. Water is treated as a precious resource, with rainwater harvesting, low-flow systems and careful wastewater management all playing a part.
Waste reduction is equally considered and many properties prioritise refillable toiletries, composting, recycling and minimal packaging. These are small changes that add up to a significantly lighter footprint. The result is a stay that feels effortless, but operates responsibly.
Supporting local communities and nature
Eco-friendly stays often have strong ties to their local area, sourcing materials from nearby suppliers, working with local craftspeople and recommending independent cafés, farm shops and producers. Your stay helps support rural economies and small businesses, keeping communities thriving.
Many hosts are also actively involved in conservation, whether that’s rewilding land, planting trees, restoring habitats or protecting local wildlife. As a guest, you’re not just passing through — you’re contributing to something positive.
Why eco-friendly stays work so well
Staying somewhere designed with care encourages you to live differently, even if only for a few days. You become more aware of energy, water, food and time. You wake with the light, step outside more often, and feel closer to the landscape around you.
Eco-friendly stays don’t preach or perform. They simply show that travel can be beautiful, comfortable and responsible all at once.
Eco-friendly stays with Coolstays
From off-grid cabins and sustainable glamping retreats to carefully restored barns and low-impact coastal hideaways, these are places that prove eco travel can be inspiring, restorative and genuinely enjoyable.
An eco-friendly stay reduces its environmental impact through thoughtful design, renewable energy, responsible water and waste systems, and a strong connection to its local environment and community.
Not at all. Many eco stays focus on quality over excess, offering warm, well-designed spaces that feel calm, cosy and considered — often with beautiful surroundings as the main luxury.
No. Some are fully off-grid, while others are connected but designed to minimise energy use and maximise efficiency. Both can be eco-friendly in different ways.
Coolstays looks for properties that genuinely prioritise sustainability, low-impact living and thoughtful design — not just those using “eco” as a marketing term.
Yes. Many eco stays are family-friendly and offer great opportunities for children to connect with nature and learn about sustainable living in a relaxed way.
Not necessarily. Prices vary widely, and many eco stays are excellent value, especially when you consider the quality, location and experience they offer.
Some eco stays encourage small mindful habits, like conserving water or energy, but these are usually simple and intuitive — and often add to the experience.
While many are rural or coastal, eco-friendly properties can be found everywhere, from countryside hideaways to sustainable city escapes.
Absolutely. Luxury here is about space, peace, craftsmanship and connection to place — not excess or waste.
Because it allows you to travel in a way that feels good — for you, for the people who host you, and for the places you love to explore.