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Travel Consciously at California’s Most Sustainably-Driven Hotels

From the coastline to the vineyards, California’s sustainable hotels are rewriting the rulebook on luxury.

Travel and sustainability don’t always go hand in hand. From excessive energy use to food and water waste, there’s no denying that the traditional hotel experience, especially in the luxury sector, hasn’t exactly prioritized conscious consumption. 

Even today, many properties engage in greenwashing tactics without making meaningful change—because let’s be real, cutting back on plastic by eliminating mini toiletries isn’t enough. Committing to bigger, more impactful changes that actually make a difference often requires a significant investment of time and money, but it’s a shift that is very much needed in the industry. 

But with eco-tourism finally on the rise, upscale hotels all across California are adopting more mindful and environmentally-friendly practices. And now, we’re putting a spotlight on the hotels going above and beyond to keep the Golden State shining.

Up in NorCal, LEED-certified properties like Bardessono Hotel and Spa and Cavallo Point Lodge offer upscale stays centered around sustainability, while Central Coast properties like Post Ranch Inn boast property-wide recycling programs and massive solar panel installations. Down the coast, 1 Hotel West Hollywood is an eco-friendly oasis in the middle of the city, and The Surfrider Malibu anchors its identity around ocean conservation. Whether you’re looking to explore the Big Sur coastline consciously or enjoy an ocean-safe stay in Laguna Beach, we’ve rounded up the most sustainably driven hotels in California for Earth Day and beyond.

California's Most Sustainable Hotels

The Ranch at Laguna Beach

Bardessono Hotel and Spa

1 Hotel West Hollywood

The Sanctuary Beach Resort

The Ranch at Laguna Beach

31106 Coast Hwy, Laguna Beach, CA 92651

Most of Laguna Beach’s best hotels are oceanfront properties situated along the coast, but The Ranch LB offers a more unique stay within a........

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