The glamorous little country, Monaco, has long been exposed as a destination for an indulgent getaway. It is time we look through its extravagant culture and discover ways of conscious travelling in Monaco. By Rashima Nagpal
“Where there is a will, there is a way”. If we, as travellers, remember this mantra, we can minimise our carbon footprint in ways more than one. Making use of local transport, carrying your own toothbrush, avoiding the use of multiple plastic bottles, and keeping a metal straw handy are just some of the many ways towards being a ‘conscious’ traveller.
In glitzy Monaco, beyond the hullabaloo and the vroom, you’ll find little ways in which the destination is trying to build a culture of responsible luxury.
Conscious Eating
Bringing local produce to the forefront, quite a few restaurants in Monaco have adapted sustainable methods. Relish fresh farm-to-table seasonal delights by Chef Paolo Sari at Elsa, The Bio Star at Monte Carlo Beach Hotel, which is also the first 100 percent organic Michelin-starred restaurant. According to Chef Sari, “Everything must be naturally authentic… from pepper to champagne!” Another proud front-runner is The Blue Bay, Monte Carlo Bay Hotel, which grows much of its produce at its on-site kitchen garden, and where Chef Marcel Ravin serves with flair a fusion of Caribbean and Mediterranean flavours. You’ll find more such ‘urban’ vegetable gardens on many a rooftop in Monaco, thanks to the organic farming start-up Terre de Monaco and its agriculturists. You can also head to L’Orangerie for its premium orange liqueur produced using hand-picked rinds of used oranges from local restaurants and hotels, Stars’N’Bars for a “meatless Monday”, or discover a hidden gem!
Conscious Staying
Metropole Monte-Carlo is an eco-friendly hotel, which has begun selective sorting, recycling water and energy, banned plastic straws and has started preserving the biodiversity. The four-star Hotel Fairmont Monte-Carlo works to conserve resources, optimise energy management, minimise water consumption, and boost recycling with its four heating pumps that generate energy. And, the Novotel Monte-Carlo has recently installed beehives at the premises.
Conscious Movement
Travel around the Principality with ease in an E-Mobee, an electric two-person car. It is also a great way to enjoy an eco-friendly bike ride. Other than that, you can take a tour of the city by electric bicycle, with Monaco Bike Tours. Also, one must sign up for the Heritage Tree Trail, which is an interesting walking tour of the “heritage trees” found through the Principality, and is integral to the idea of conscious travelling in Monaco.
Related: Here’s How You Can Be A Conscious Traveller In Ladakh
