Best Green Hotels in USA: San Diego's Hotel Solamar

San Diego’s Hotel Solamar is the city’s first downtown hotel to become Green Seal™ certified, and one of just 20 in all of California to earn this top rating for social and environmental responsibility.

The Hotel Solamar is operated by Kimpton, which is one of the hotel industry’s top green leaders. Kimpton operates 50 boutique hotels in the USA, and half of them have passed the tough test to achieve Green Seal certification. Hotels are evaluated on behind-the-scenes things guests don’t see, but that we do care about, including recycling, waste water management, energy conservation, and using environmentally sensitive products, from paint and carpeting to green cleaning products.

There also are green hotel practices guests do see and appreciate include paperless guest check-in and check-out service, toiletries made from natural ingredients by earth-friendly manufacturers, and healthy organic snacks in the mini-bar.

Kimpton's Hotel Solamar in San Diego is Green Seal certified — Best green hotels in USA: Kimpton’s Hotel Solamar in San Diego is Green Seal certified

The Hotel Solamar serves complimentary fair-trade organic morning coffee and tea in the lobby living room, and features local ingredients in its restaurants. Kimpton launched its chain-wide EarthCare environmental program in 2005, before being a green hotel was truly popular.

The Hotel Solamar proves that green can be luxurious, too. Decor is fashionable, elegant and comfortable, as it is at the other Kimpton’s hotels where I’ve stayed, including the Hotel Monaco in downtown Denver and the Hotel Triton at the edge of San Francisco’s Chinatown.

The Hotel Solamar is pet-friendly, and there’s discounted parking for guests who drive hybrid cars. You gotta love a hotel that loves dogs and hybrids!