Planning a vacation? Would you like to minimize your exposure to chemicals and/or mold while enjoying your hotel of choice?
New construction, plug-ins, dryer sheets, new carpeting, and cleaning products all require the use of harsh chemicals. If you want to “go the extra mile” and call ahead to see if the hotel is a fit for you, consider asking these 10 questions before placing your reservation. Most hotels will not be able to answer yes to all of these, but some may be willing to make changes to help you avoid some of those unwanted environmental challenges.
10 Green Travel Trips
- Is your property smoke-free?
- Is your property pet-free? Do you offer rooms that are guaranteed pet-free?
- Do you use natural cleaning products? Would your cleaning service be willing to clean with white vinegar only?
- Are there windows in the room that open easily for ventilation?
- Do you offer allergy-friendly rooms with hypoallergenic bedding?
- Are towels and linens unscented? Would your staff be willing to eliminate dryer sheets for bedding in our room?
- Are there plug-ins on the property? Are there fragrance-free rooms available?
- Is there a history of flooding or water damage?
- Has the property been sprayed for pesticides recently? How about individual rooms?
- Do you have any rooms with brand-new carpeting? How recently have the carpets been cleaned?
Two hotel chains that might be particularly favorable to this list are Hyatt and Fairmont, according to this New York Times article.
My chemically-sensitive daughter traveled to New Mexico recently and requested unscented bedding, and the hotel left out the dryer sheets. They also cleaned with white vinegar. With some ventilation and a diffuser, she did great! Keep in mind, you’re the customer—and you never know until you ask!
For more suggestions on low-toxic travel, see the website Green Vacation Hub.
Interested in practical packing tips? Check out the momsAWARE article, 10 Ways to Use a Plastic Shower Cap.
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Thanks for the article. What was in the diffuser?
I have heard of diffusers and was wondering if you could recommend something, please? Thank you.
I like any of them found at Diffuser World.
http://www.diffuserworld.com/
Thank you for these tips, Andrea. What oil did your daughter put in the diffuser?
I think it was a citrus blend – which is her favorite.
I learned while dealing with chemical sensitivities that some hotel chains spray each layer of the bed – matress and linens – with Fabreze as they make up the bed with new linens. I react terribly to this “unscented” product.
I am in NM and might have to stay in a hotel soon. What hotel did your daughter find that was willing to do these things?
It was some years ago. She doesn’t recall, Evangeline.
Well I might have to take issue on the recommendation for the Fairmont…..though we have not had trouble there before- we returned about a month ago from a stay at the Fairmont in Hawaii and I have not been free of sinus problems or a sore throat since I returned due to a mold issue in the room we stayed in for over a week. Very
disappointing! I actually tested for mold while there because when asking for a machine to ozonate the room to help with mold problem was assured that there was NO mold there. Well, the nose doesn’t lie and I cannot get symptom-free from this problem, nor can my husband. What can we do??