Plans for the uber eco-friendly 1 Hotel South Beach were first announced back in 2006 by Starwood Capital Group, but when the economic crisis hit in 2008, it was put on hiatus. Finally this past spring, after seven long years and a $270 million renovation, the hotel officially opened and by the looks of it, they absolutely nailed it.
The green giant makes its environmental message clear from the onset, with an 11,000-plant living wall donning a lit-up No. 1 to greet you at the entrance. Other standouts include reclaimed wood found throughout the entire hotel, closet hangers made from recycled paper, filtered water taps in lieu of bottled water, low-flow fixtures that conserve water, and a little chalkboard beside the phone instead of the old pen and pad standby. That, however, is only the tip of the iceberg—even the Do Not Disturb signs were made using recycled cardboard boxes. And oh yeah, the house car is also a Tesla.
Sitting on 600 feet of beachfront, it costs $700 a night to stay in one of its 426 guest rooms and once there, you can enjoy the four pools, dine at any of the five different food and drink options, get a massage at the spa and maybe even fit a workout in at the fitness center.
With so many eco-conscious details, this is one hotel you can definitely feel good about staying at.
