Staying green for the occasion
I usually have 2 places that I stay whenever I visit SF that is both economical and light on the footprint: a friend’s place or the HI (Hosteling International) off Mason Street Downtown.
I am a huge advocate of the hostel, not only for foreign travel but domestic as well. Traveling is becoming so expensive lately…I would so much rather spend money on a great show, meal or local artist than a place where I brush my teeth and close my eyes. Think about it.
The great thing about staying in hostels is that you can also meet so many people. Folks usually keep to themselves in a conventional hotel and you miss out on tips, recommendations and other people to do things with.
One of my great experiences at the Mason St. hostel was running into my dear friend Charlie Krafft after several years, just sitting in the lobby drinking coffee.
The only problem with the friend’s house and hostel route is that you have to plan in advance…and we didn’t and we could not find a room for more than one day at a single location. So instead of becoming nomads for the weekend, we opted for a Certified Green Hotel in the Nob Hill area called the Hotel Carlton.
Granted this was a little bit more than my traditional sleeping options, The Carlton gave me an understanding of the amount of waste that conventional hotels can generate. Some of the things I noticed:
• All CFL lighting, and some with motion detectors and timers
• Showers & toilets are all low-flow and there are dispensers for shampoo, etc instead of the little plastic containers.
• All recycled paper products
• Vegan/veggie options in the hotel restaurant
• Recycling bins throughout the room and hotel
• The will not give you new linens unless you request it.
• No air conditioning, only large windows and a ceiling fan (which was completely fine)
• Superb staff and multicultural décor…very unique!
If you are not comfortable with the hostel, I would definitely suggest this hotel.
