Guesthouses

Staying in a guesthouse is a good green option when travelling. They are often family-run, intimate, friendly and generally less expensive than most forms of accommodation.

Guesthouses are also frequently referred to as B&Bs and while they are similar in many ways there are some key differences. First of all – the clue is in the name – B&Bs do what they say on the tin, they offer a room and breakfast, no other meals are available. Guesthouses, along with a bed for the night, may or may not serve breakfast and often offer access to kitchen facilities and communal areas so guests can fend for themselves. Both guesthouses and B&Bs are generally within the owner’s own home.

The definition of a guesthouse can vary from country to country too. In some countries a guesthouse consists of the main house, where the family may or may not live, with the rooms being separate, in the form of huts, bungalows or a motel-style dwelling.

With regards to ecotourism, travellers are spoiled for choice when it comes to choosing an eco-friendly stop-over. Like B&Bs, because of their size and relative ease of implementation, many guesthouses boast eco-friendly criteria and green practices such as recycling, utilising renewable sources, buying local produce and employing local people.

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