Be Like Kermit...It's Easy Being Green

Happy Earth Day Fellow Earthlings!

You’re in a class all your own as is evidenced by the fact that every time you choose to stay at a local short-term-rental, you participate in the evolution of the we-sharing economy. This usually means that your want a more authentic experience, which in Colorado means you want to enjoy nature.

This is why in the three years since we first purchased Remington Flats we have slowly but surely gone as green as we can and still accommodate the needs of the guests who stay at Boutique Hotels and Vacation Rentals.

If you never visited the products page of Remington Flats you may not know that we have been very thoughtful about the choices we’ve made from everything from the Who Gives a Crap paper products we use to the recently added refillable Keurig coffee filters.

In honor of Mother Earth, here are the Five Eco-Friendly things you can do to reduce your impact when travelling:

1. Avoid the Use of Plastics. About a year ago we ditched giving two bottles of water in the rooms and replaced them with filtered water pitchers. We also started using Dropps all natural detergents and while we have super luxurious Beekman 1802 toiletries, we buy them in 5 gallon containers to eliminate the plastic produced by those tiny little hotels bottles of shampoos and lotions. (Just to name a few)

2. Immerse in the Local Culture. This is easy when you stay at a small local vacation rental, hostel or boutique hotel. We truly give our guests an authentic local experience. The minute you walk into any of our Studio Suites you’ll feel like you’re at home. Truly.

3. Research the Property Where You Stay. One of the things our guests appreciate is that we make a genuine effort to listen to your feedback. So when our guests overwhelmingly asked about recycling bins in the rooms, we added them. When they gave feedback on the disposable K-Cups, we replaced them (mostly). Make a conscience choice to stay with people who live in the community as those folks (like Doug and I) really do care about the impact our business is having on our community and planet.

4. Use Alternative Transportation. Say for example you found this really special Boutique Studio Suite Hotel and just say they were perfectly located near everything special and fantastic to see and do in a city within walking distance…that’d be AWESOME right? (wink wink) The only thing that could improve that scenario would be if this place also had ultra cool bikes for you to use to get around everywhere at no charge! You almost certainly would make it your number one choice.

5. Take Only Photos and Leave Only Footprints. When visiting FoCo, enjoy the beautiful surroundings of Horsetooth Trail and Reservoir , Poudre River, Rocky Mountain National Forest but please don’t mess with the animals or natural habitat. When shopping in nearby boutiques and dining at local restaurants, ask if the products are grown locally or if the products are made by local artisans.

Let us know what you do to reduce your impact when traveling or share your feedback, thoughts, or ideas with us.

We love to hear from you!

In Life and in Travel, It’s the Little Things…Take Pillows for Example

We have the opportunity to meet and talk with people from all walks of life, of all ages, and from all over the world. We recently hosted guests Tricia and Dermot who retired young and sold their home; now they travel all over the world staying in their selected city from one week to up to six-months at a time. We asked them… “What tips do you have to experience the local culture and make every place feel like home?” Here’s what they told us:

1.       Take a Free Walking Tour

Walking tours can be found in most every city and provide a quick way to acquaint yourself with a new city. We found a great local resource from our partners at Visit Fort Collins. If you’re traveling abroad Rick Steves offers free downloads of excellent walking tours.  Finally, because #RemingtonFlats is located in a quiet residential neighborhood but only a block away from the heart of the city, just walk out the front door of your studio and head north to experience FoCo like a local.

2.       Find Affordable Entertainment

Apps like Culture Trip and Field Trip will immediately connect you to what’s going on in our city. If in FoCo, check out Visit Fort Collins for a calendar of local events.

3.       Take your Pillow

Try as we might, we just can’t please everyone with our pillow selection but nothing says “home” as much as one’s own pillow. So if you have room in your suitcase (and you should make room) bring your own pillow when you travel.

4.       Save Money and Eat In

Full disclosure, we think this is a terrible idea unless you’re staying someplace for a week or more but Tricia and Dermot say it’s one way to save money when traveling. They also said (we’re just the messengers) that finding local restaurants is one of the best ways to meet the locals.  So, I guess take this bullet-point under advisement.  Anywayyyyy… lucky for you each studio at #RemingtonFlats  has a fully equipped eat-in kitchen. Did you also know we offer pre-arrival shopping services? (Hmmmm….me thinkith we just came up with our next “BLOG” topic!)

5.       Ask for Help in Planning

You’re going to have to get used to us repeating this mantra… “Not all lodging is created equal.” Where you stay does matter…a lot. We send several emails prior to arrival to assist you in planning. We offer concierge check-in for those wanting to meet us and get assistance with getting a lay-of-the land. If you follow our “BLOG” or any of our Social Pages you’ll find a nice mix of fun and helpful information.  So follow us!  

*As always, if you love #RemingtonFlats, and we know you do..please share this post with your friends. You’ll be their hero and ours too.