Vegan Vacations - Full-Time Travel

Vegan Vacations

Vegan Vacations 2.0

Top New Vegan Hotels and Restaurants Around the World

Whether you’re an avowed vegan or simply curious about taking a plant-based vacation, the time is now. Across the globe, hotel chefs are moving vegan cuisine from culinary afterthought to starring act. And it’s an approach that’s expanding beyond the plate, into hotel design and beyond.

Inn Crowd

The furniture is upholstered in textiles made from pineapple leaves, its pillows stuffed with organic buckwheat and millet seeds, while the mini-bar stocks a strictly plant-based assortment of snacks: Welcome to what’s billed as the world’s first vegan hotel suite. Located within the Hilton London Bankside, the plant-based retreat is the brainchild of food design studio Bompas & Parr. Tasked with taking veganism from dinner plate to a three-dimensional destination, the team didn’t skimp on glamour. The spacious suite includes plush carpeting (made out of cotton instead of wool), bespoke mirrors, moody lighting, a spacious bathroom and, perhaps the design star of the space, a flower-embroidered headboard designed by artist Emily Potter. And not to worry, even its stationary, toiletries and cleaning supplies are 100 percent free of any animal products.

By the Numbers

Launch Pad

This remote island resort located off the coast of Cambodia doesn’t just offer amazing villas stilt-perched over clear waters teeming with turtles, spotted rays and seahorses. It also offers an amazing selection of vegan dishes from locally sourced ingredients including cashew nuts, coconuts and wildlife-friendly Ibis rice. While not strictly a plant-based resort, Song Saa will keep the entire spectrum of eaters happy, especially from its stunning restaurant, where shoes are optional, chairs are replaced by beanbags, and spectacular ocean views are seen from every angle.

Each, Drink, Repeat

Plant-based menus are going center stage at various Four Seasons properties. At Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, chef Matthew Kenney created a stand-alone vegan menu that includes watermelon poke and hearts of palm ceviche with California fruit, vegetables and edible flowers, while at Four Seasons Punta Mita, vegan chef Leslie Dursohas completely revamped the plant-based offerings at all four restaurants on property. “My goal is not just to provide vegan options, but to create plant-based programs,” says Durso. “I immerse myself with the regional cuisine of the property I am working with to create what I’ve coined ‘accidentally vegan’ options that can seamlessly integrate into menus so that you are not only providing options for your vegan guests but can lure the meatiest eater to try something new.” Hot on the list? Wild mushroom sopes, portobello zarandeado, avocado baja tacos and a vegan churro cart.

“My goal is not just to provide vegan options, but to create plant-based programs. There’s nothing worse than paying a luxury price tag for a hotel and having to eat oatmeal and fruit plates everyday for breakfast while you watch your travel partners soaking up gorgeous looking regional cuisine.”

- Vegan and Vegetarian Chef Leslie Durso

Cheat Sheet

Vegan food boring? Nah. Food journalist Kat Odell’s latest book, Unicorn Food: Beautiful Vibrant Plant-Based Recipes to Nurture Your Inner Magical Beast, is designed to import the rainbow to your plate, without any chemicals or dyes. Here’s where Odell gets her plant-based fix on the road:


CAFE GRATITUDE, LOS ANGELES
Unquestionably, my all-time favorite spot for clean eats is Cafe Gratitude, in Los Angeles. I used to live in Santa Monica and would frequent the Venice location for the kale and wakame salad (with an extra dose of probiotic kimchi) and the pad Thai kelp noodles. So good!

SAKARA, ONLINE
While Sakara doesn't have a storefront, when on the road and in need of a clean fix, I love to order the brand's superfood-spiked meals. I usually order a week at a time, all three meals. My favorites are the breakfasts, like the Thai oatmeal with coconut mylk.

BLOSSOM DU JOUR, NEW YORK CITY
There's only one dish I order from Blossom, and that's the Karmic Kale Wrap. It comes with lemon-rubbed kale, sweet potato and a tahini dressing - clean, healthy and super filling!

INN CROWD: @Hilton London Bankside

LAUNCH PAD: @Song Saa

SWEAT EQUITY: @Dalen Hotel

EAT, DRINK, REPEAT: @Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita@Four Seasons Los Angeles

CHEAT SHEET: @Kat Odell

"This sculpture is called "Transmission" by artist Daniel Popper. Its a reminder that we are all rooted in love, unity and the divine. She stands a towering 28 feet tall and is located on Mojave Moon Ranch in Joshua Tree. The land is private property, so you can see it from the viewing platform off of Sunfair Road. And take it from me, it's best viewed at sunset."

Reel: @johnofah
...

There's more to Greece than the white and blue buildings and the surrounding Mediterranean Sea. If you're planning a visit, check out these places below!

📍Kokkinopilos. Preveza
📍Verliga Dragon lake, Thessaly
📍Ithaca island, lonian Sea
📍Aoos springs lake, Epirus
📍Lake Prespes, Macedonia
📍Balda di Stringa waterfalls, Epirus
📍Meteora, Thessaly
📍Pelion, Thessaly
📍Lake Zorika, Epirus
📍Mt Lakmos
📍Crete island, Aegean Sea
📍Gistova Dragon lake, Macedonia

Reel: @farawayfarers
...

Swim or kayak through the limestone cliffs of the Twin Lagoon, a must-visit destination for those traveling to Coron, Palawan, Philippines. It is called "twin" lagoon because it consists of two lagoons separated by a limestone cliff, with one lagoon on top of the other. The water in the inner lagoon is warm and clear, with a stunning turquoise color that makes it popular for swimming and snorkeling.

Reel: @travelifejournal
...

Take a dip in a series of seven saltwater lagoons located in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The Lagoons of Baltinache are known for their beautiful turquoise waters and unique geological formations. The high concentration of minerals in the water gives it a unique buoyancy that makes swimming in the lagoons a unique experience.

Reel: @everchanginghorizon
...

Watching the sun rise above the clouds at Haleakalā National Park is one of the most memorable experiences you could have. Haleakalā is a Hawaiian name that means “House of the Sun” and is an awesome place to watch the clear night sky and stars fade away as the sun lights up the sky and the earth.

Reel: @girlchill_sunset
...

Just 1 hour from Shanghai by train, Cherry Blossom Valley is a popular tourist destination, particularly in the spring when the cherry blossoms are in full bloom. The valley is named after the thousands of cherry blossom trees that cover the area and create a stunning display of pink and white flowers. The trees were originally planted in the 1980s by a group of Japanese experts who were invited to China to help with reforestation efforts. The best time to visit is typically in late March or early April. Get there early to beat the crowds!

Reel: @cyncynti
...

New Zealand is unbelievable. See it for yourself:

1. Fiordland National Park
2. A classic backcountry hut trip
3. Blue Pools walk
4. Hooker Lake
5. Milford Sound
6. Lake Pukaki

Reel: @kylekotajarvi
...

Surrounded by lush greenery, towering karst mountains, and the river flowing through, the Detian Waterfall is a popular tourist attraction and a symbol of the close relationship between China and Vietnam. It is the largest waterfall in Asia and the fourth largest cross-border waterfall in the world.

Reel: @sophoebelous
...

Escape to a serene and peaceful oasis away from the bustling city of Marrakech at Le Jardin Secret—a beautiful and historic garden where visitors can escape the noise and chaos and enjoy the beauty of nature. The garden was originally built in the 16th century and is home to many different species of plants, including exotic flowers, citrus trees, and palm trees.

Reel: @hypermiggzz
...

For a magical moment and bucket list travel experience, visit the end point of the annual monarch butterfly migration. Starting in August, the monarchs travel 2,800 miles south from Canada, making a temporary home amid the towering trees of the Monarch Butterfly Biosphere Reserve in Mexico, where the two most popular sanctuaries to view them are el Rosario in the state of Michoacan and Piedra Herrada in Estado de México. Standing in silence while thousands of delicate wings beat in unison is something you'll never forget.

Reel: @juliiathompson
...

There's just something beautiful about snow covered landscapes like this popular attraction in southwestern Utah. Known for its unique geology, @brycecanyonnps_gov consists of a series of natural amphitheaters, called "hoodoos," formed by erosion of the rock layers.

Photo: @nathanleeallen
...

As we experience a couple more weeks of winter, we can't help but dream of tropical destinations like Hawaii. The warm water, sunny skies, and consistent waves make it an ideal destination for surfers. Hawaii has a vibrant surf culture and community and is also a beautiful place to explore outside of the water, with lush green mountains, stunning beaches, and unique cultural experiences.

Reel: @christopherballadarez
...

5 PLACES IN THE U.S. THAT FEEL LIKE ANOTHER PLANET:
1. @sequoiakingsnps, California
2. @canyonlandsnps, Utah
3. @olympic_nps, Washington
4. @whitesandsnps, New Mexico
5. Vermillion Cliffs National Monument, Arizona
6. Knik Glacier, Alaska

Reel: @nathanleeallen
...