Tel. +44 (0)1273 600030 (UK)
Offering responsible accommodation is a philosophy, not just a few policies copied from someone else. At our Saalfelden B&B accommodation in Austria, we use a holistic approach to offer an eco-friendly, sustainable environment. For example offering only organic food, using hand printed organic cotton linen (sourced from Abbey Home Farm, Cirencester), organic towels from Greenfibres, Totnes, eco friendly body care items in the bathrooms and using eco-friendly cleaning products around the house. We also have invested heavily in carbon minimal energy sources. We don’t offer wasteful ‘gimmicks’ in the rooms such as complimentary single portion toiletries or newspapers. Our home is simply furnished and decorated to reflect the seasons, often using what we can find in the outside environment. Although we have a small garden, naturally this is managed along organic principles.
We chose to base ourselves in Austria as Austria doesn’t talk ‘environmental issues’ but actively implements them. Austria has one of the most advanced recycling facilities in Europe and offers an extensive range of advice and support on environmental issues. For example, we have had a 30,000 Euro subsidised loan from the local government for our environmental improvement works. There was also a grant for the solar. In 2009, Saalfelden installed a community network heating system, served by a bio-mass heating unit. This now supplies heating to the town centre, including the school, town hall and a number of shops and local businesses. Austria also has a wide range of natural resources for power generation and its second great natural resource – timber, is used extensively in region for construction and a variety of other uses.
The region offers a fantastic range of low- eco impact leisure facilities by making best use of the natural, mountainous environment. It is our wish to help preserve this environment, both now and for the long term. The facilities here enable the traveller to either engage with local customs and celebrations (there is still a close following of the seasonal and farming activities and seasonal changes), or the traveller can simply ‘do their own thing’.
Being a small family run establishment and living here, we have a much better idea of local activities and those special places to visit. We are also able to offer that personal level of service in terms of independent travel, which is especially important to those trying their first ‘non-package’ holiday. We love this region and want you to enjoy it to, either for a short break, or preferably a longer one which minimises your travel impact relative to your length of stay.
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!
