Pitch A Tent In Your Hotel Room? Green Your Home Or Hotel Room By Being A "Survivor"

The show "Survivor" forces contestants to make it in the wilderness with less than bare minimum essentials. It's just about the greenest way to live—no water, no electricity, no waste, no stuff. Well a luxury hotel in San Diego is challenging its guests to survive on less than the bare minimum at a seriously slashed rate that does more than save green, but is showing guests how easy it is to go green even at your hotel. While other guests are paying upwards of $200 to sleep in luxury, some are paying just $19 a night to stay... in a tent... in their room. Correct—no bed.

"Survive" Amidst Luxury

So here's the deal: The super luxury Rancho Bernardo Inn in San Diego, CA launched the unconventional "Survivor" package, challenging guests to choose how low they want their rate to go based on the amenities (and necessities) they are willing to sacrifice. From August 16- September 17, the $219 per night room, which typically includes deluxe accommodations plus breakfast for two, is being discounted piece by piece according to the guest's preferences. John Gates, the hotel's General Manager, admits that the idea wasn't based on green ambitions, but saving money and going green are often naturally related. "Although the Rancho Bernardo Inn is proud of its efforts regarding conservation, in all honesty that was simply a positive by-product. Just goes to show how much more our industry can do."

Here's the breakdown:
$219 deluxe accommodations plus breakfast for two
$199 without breakfast
$179 without honor bar
$159 without A/C or heat
$139 without pillows
$109 without sheets
$89 without lights
$59 without linens
$39 without toiletries
$19 without bed

Translation:
Save Resources—like electricity (no AC, no lights) and water (no linens to wash) = Save Money.

Proof that going green can definitely be cost-effective, and apparently allow you to take a luxurious-ish vacation while you're at it! What's really nice to see is a responsible resort that is trying to show guests how easy it is to be both fiscally and environmentally responsible.

Sure, lots of hotels are promoting the idea of reducing resource-overuse through their little note cards program—you know those cards in the bathroom and beside the bed encouraging guests to not waste water. But this one is actually rewarding guests for their green choices.

How to "Survive" at Home

If uber-luxury resorts can do it, so can you. We challenge you to "survive" at home for one week by:
—Keeping the AC off
—Turning off the lights
—Not washing your sheets or towels
—Using only minimal amount of toiletries
—Minimizing food waste

If you really want to get into the spirit, pitch a tent in the middle of your bedroom and just imagine that you're on vacation somewhere fabulous like Rancho Bernardo. Somehow knowing that those staying at a luxury resort can do it makes this whole no electricity, no linen washing thing seem more plausible. If they can "survive" and still consider it a vacation, so can you! Then try adding survivor-like qualities to your everyday life, use what you need, not more.

More on Greening your Life
Carry a Towel... Everywhere
Stay at Green Hotels When You're On the Go
Are you a Green Cleaner?
7 Energy Efficient Summer Cooling Tips from the EPA