Plenty of hotels claim to be eco-friendly, but far fewer make an effort to cater to allergy sufferers and those who are sensitive to cleaning chemicals, carpet and paint fumes, detergent residues, and other potentially toxic substances. For skiers who love to travel but want to minimize their chemical exposure, check out these allergy-sensitive ski lodgings:
1. Hotel Terra in Jackson Hole, WY
This hip eco-hotel boasts of creating a chemical-free, healthy environment for its patrons, with a strong emphasis on interior air quality—great for allergy sufferers. A circulation system brings fresh air from outside inside, while controlling its temperature and moisture content. Not just the paint on the walls but also the hotels’ carpets and pads are made with low-VOC (volatile organic compound) materials. At night, guests sleep on a 100-percent natural “Terra Bed” made from a combination of recycled steel springs, natural latex, and organic cotton, which is coated in a flame retardant made from saltwater. Sheets, towels, bathrobes, and bath mats are made of 100-percent organic cotton. Bath and spa products are also organic. Take a soak in the hotel’s hot tub filled with saltwater, then head to the rooftop spa for a massage or a facial. It’s a short walk to the gondola and lifts at Jackson Hole Resort.
2. 968 Park Hotel in South Lake Tahoe, CA
Shun the smoke-filled casinos on the Nevada side of the lake and head to this newly renovated hotel on the California side, where the pillows are hypo-allergenic, the linens are free of dye and bleach, the cleaning products are non-toxic, and the walls are painted with not merely low, but zero-VOC paints. Organic towels and blankets are made by Peacock Alley, a company known for its fine linens. Not only is smoking prohibited anywhere in the building, smokers have to stand at least 25 feet away from any entrance in order to light up. Guests can rest easy knowing there is a CO2 monitoring system in place and the spa uses a saline treatment system—no toxic chlorine or bromine. All this and you’re only a short walk from the gondola at Heavenly Ski Resort.
3. The Queen Anne Bed-and-Breakfast in Denver, CO
With its downtown Denver location, this B&B works equally well for a ski vacation or a business trip. Every room features a comfortable Keetsa eco-mattress made of recycled metal coils and green tea insulation. It’s covered with 100 percent organic cotton bedding, which is not dyed or bleached. Ditto for the towels. When the cleaning crew shows up, they use biodegradable, vegetable-oil based cleaning agents that are either scent-free or have a natural scent. Your grandmother’s favorite, baking soda, is used to clean the sinks, tubs, and toilets. Those who are especially sensitive should reserve the Skyline Room, which has a queen bed and two-person whirlpool tub/shower, and was recently renovated with low-VOC paints. No matter what room you choose, you can count on a hearty breakfast each morning of all organic foods. Echo Mountain is 35 miles away; Loveland and Arapahoe Basin are 25-30 miles farther.
4. Briar Rose Bed-and-Breakfast in Boulder, CO
Plenty of Colorado lodgings strive to be green and eco-friendly. But when it comes to healthy, allergy-free living, the Briar Rose has got your back. The B&B uses low-VOC paints on nearly all interior surfaces. Since 2004, they’ve been using only earth-friendly (and human-friendly) cleaning products from Seventh Generation and similar companies. Their 10 rooms feature organic cotton sheets from Coyuchi. When the sheets are laundered, they aren’t subjected to nasty fabric softener sheets. Bath products and soaps are 100-percent organic, as are the lavish morning breakfasts, which consist of homemade granola and egg specialties like their southwestern frittata with olive and sun-dried tomato tapenade. The low-key Eldora Mountain Ski Resort is only 20 miles away.
5. Westin Whistler
Finally, if you are headed to the Olympics this February, at least one Whistler lodging is prepared to accommodate those who care about their hotel room’s indoor air quality. The Westin Resort and Spa in Whistler completed a major renovation in 2009, which included painting its rooms with VOC-free paints. Additionally, the wellness-minded will like that this hotel has a better-than-average workout room, complete with cardio equipment, yoga mats, stability balls, resistance tubes, and dumbbells. The hotel is only a few steps away from the gondolas for Whistler and Blackcomb.
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