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This is the final part of a three-part series that looks at green hotels — what that means , how it works and what consumers can do. In real life, you probably don’t launder your sheets every day, recklessly tear through individually wrapped snacks and toiletries, single-handedly consume a 12-pack of bottled water or let the shower run for 30 minutes. But forgoing real life in favor of indulgence and escapism is often considered acceptable — or even expected — on vacation. This goes far beyond not replacing your towels and linens every day, which has become largely ubiquitous. “At home, we don’t all wash our sheets every day,” Ave Bradley, Kimpton Hotel and Restaurant Group’s creative director and global senior vice president of design, said by phone. “So when you think about it, if people are staying with us for 2 1/2 nights on average, obviously there’s no reason to change the linens.” Today’s hotels are finding creative new ways to softly coax guests into becoming greener by be...

Celebrate Earth Day by Planting a Tree" width="300" height="200" />Every April 22, millions of people in nearly 200 countries celebrate Earth Day , and I’m one of them. Originating in 1970, Earth Day is an opportunity for all of us to reflect on how we can make our Earth a better place. It’s a time to be mindful of your impact on the Earth and challenge yourself to adopt new, environmentally friendly habits that conserve resources, save money, and encourage healthy living all-around. In fact, with wonderful benefits like those, doesn’t it make sense to live every day like it’s Earth Day? Well, you can. Over the years, my family and I have used Earth Day as a starting point to implement new and creative changes in our lives. Here are 30 ways we celebrate Earth Day that you and your family can try, too. Some of them may seem small, but small changes add up and if you sustain that change for the rest of your life, it will profoundly lighten your environmen...

Before you go out and buy a “shower caddy” don’t. Why? Because you’ll likely end up with one of those monstrosities that hangs over your shower’s neck and does little to help you solve your quandary. You see, what you really want is this Suction Cup Shelf which sells for just $35 on Amazon. Not only does it install in seconds – yes seconds – but those suctions cups are industrial strength, which lock into place and have yet to move, shift or slip in the 3 weeks I’ve been testing it. So no drilling, no hanging, no balancing act. Just a clean shelf that fits anywhere you can mount its suction cups. And it even includes a soap dish. Plus it won’t rust because it’s plastic, unlike every other shower caddy I’ve ever tested. I know the word “plastic” has a negative connotation, but in this case its for the better. Bar none, this is the best shower caddy for the money and for most people Who Should Get This Shower Caddy Anyone with a penchant for cleanliness and simplicity. Seriously, though....

Remember that juice and milk cannot be brought through security (and may not be available on board). Buy them once you have passed through the Transportation Security Administration ’s checkpoint and pour contents into sippy cups and bottles before boarding the flight. Make sure to account for flight delays with sustenance. Photo A flip-top snack cup from Skip Hop. Germ Warfare Studies by the Federal Aviation Administration have shown that viruses can lurk on airline surfaces for up to seven days. How can you keep your family healthy? You can try by stuffing your carry-on with germ-avoidance products. Portable anti-bacterial wipes are mandatory. Use them to disinfect tray tables , armrests and seatbelts. Avoid direct contact with the bathroom sink, the toilet flush and door handles by using either a paper towel or tissue paper. Table toppers, disposable adhesive place mats , can be slicked over the grimy tray table (where travelers have been known to change diapers) for a clean play...

Houston we have a problem: while 7 out of 10 Americans say they always or almost always recycle, only 1 in 5 consistently recycles bathroom items . How do you close this gap? Johnson & Johnson, the company that came up with this data, believes it has the answer. Two weeks ago the company launched a new campaign, “Care to recycle,” on Tumblr. This is “a gentle reminder to recycle empty containers from the bathroom,” explained Paulette Frank , VP of Sustainability for the J&J Family of Consumer Companies. “We hope it leads to a change in the behavior of throwing recyclable bathroom items in the trash and a greater awareness that we can all contribute to a healthy planet,” she added. The initiative, explains J&J, “includes a video that site visitors are encouraged to share to help spread the word and show their commitment to recycling in the bathroom, along with a number of highly shareable posts that include helpful information and tips.“ Sounds great, right? After all, ...

Beauty brands not native to America have invaded the market over the past few years — occupying prime shelf space everywhere from Sephora to Target. But instead of erecting walls to keep outsiders at bay, U.S. consumers have wholeheartedly embraced the hair, makeup, and skincare crazes from foreign lands as if they were their own. (Perhaps beauty products are even better than an olive branch?) Korean beauty, for example, is such a big hit that several stores (like Nordstroms) have devoted precious square footage to the country’s cosmetic exports, while K-themed pop-up shops (like Glow Recipe’s Glow Studio in New York City) and subscription services deliver goods straight to your door (there’s Soko Glam’s Klog Box and Mishibox to name two popular options ) abound from coast to coast. But Korean companies aren ’t the only ones interested in expanding their territory and capturing the hearts (and complexions) of an adoring American public : Argentina, Brazil, Britain, Canada, France, an...