With daily linen changes, endless bars of soap, and rumpled towels strewn across the bathroom floor – can you imagine all of the waste and eco-damage that occurs in just one hotel at full capacity? In 2006, there were around 62,000 establishments that provided overnight lodging to travelers, ranging from RV parks to luxury hotels to glamorous 5-star resorts. To think – early travelers were content with just a simple place to lay their head...and if lucky, a warm meal.

Accommodations of today have greatly changed from the past, as travelers can now extend their vacationing choices to the possibility of nonstop room service; adrenaline-pumping recreational activities; romantic wedding ceremonies; intense business retreats and late-night romps at a casino. In the end, the result is never-ending waste, which contributes to mounting ecological concerns.

However, there is a way to actively place a dent in draining the planet's resources while vacationing by embracing 'green travel.' Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice luxury, fun, or excitement. You'll simply be making a conscious effort to place the environment first when planning a vacation.

Nowadays, it is important to support businesses that place the environment first and still manage to provide an unforgettable experience. An increasing amount of worldwide hotels and other lodging choices are currently embracing the concept of eco-friendly accommodations. A couple of suggestions include:

· Binna Burra Mountain Lodge (Queensland, Australia): Sink into the allure of a subtropical rain forest, where the promise of adventurous hiking and colorful birds are found at every bend. Travelers have a choice between 'roughing it' in a safari-style canvas tent and hiding away in a well-appointed log cabin. You will find that the lodge has implemented low-flow water fixtures, composting, recycling, and energy-efficient lighting.

· Tiamo Resorts (South Andros Island, Bahamas): Slip into eco-friendly luxury when you settle into private bungalows situated on the beach. The resort is 100% powered by the sun – meaning there is no need for gas or electricity to heat water. Sustainable forests have provided the wood for constructing the resort, which uses composting toilets and water treatment systems to boost eco-friendly efforts.

· Orchard Garden Hotel (San Francisco, California): The U.S. Green Building Council gives this hotel a seal of approval for providing an eco-friendly design that happens to showcase amazing local art in the lobby. Interestingly, the energy-saving electric key card system actually ceases power to each room when a guest steps out and then turns it back on upon their return. Other features include energy-efficient light bulbs, low-flow toilets, and organic bath products.

· Old Chapel Forge Bed and Breakfast (Chichester, England): Explore the center of the Sussex countryside in England with a stay at a breathtakingly restored 17th-century house and chapel. Boasting a high rating from the Green Tourism Business Scheme – travelers are exposed to solar panel heating, locally grown organic meals, composting, and gray water recycling.

· Graycote Inn (Bay Harbor, Maine): Explore this traditional New England bed and breakfast, which offers energy-efficient lighting; high-efficiency furnaces and air conditioning units; organic coffee and wide-ranging composting. Water conservation fixtures have been placed on all toilets, showers, and sinks. This first recipient of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce Environmental Leader Award is also conveniently located close to Arcadia National Park.

From Greensboro, North Carolina to Siena, Italy – eco-friendly accommodations are on the rise – allowing travelers to make the most out of their vacations without harming the environment in the process. You should know that it also pays to ride the wave of energy conservation while traveling. For instance, driving a hybrid car not only saves money at the gas pumps, but also entitles you to free and discounted valet parking at select hotels, lodges, and resorts, such as the Hotel Rouge in Washington, DC.