On our recent trip to Boston, Elizabeth and I were able to get an excellent rate at a gorgeous historic hotel, the Fairmont Copley Plaza. I don’t stay in hotels often, but when I do, I pay close attention to what hotels are doing to go green.

Overall, I loved staying at the Copley Plaza. Here’s why, from an eco-friendly point of view.

Recycling bins in rooms

The only other hotels where I’ve seen abundant recycling options are Kimptons, so I was glad to see that the hotel recycling bin is catching on. The Copley Plaza’s recycling bin was right next to the trash can.

Elegant staircase makes you want to skip the elevator

Many hotels, especially modern ones, hide the closed-off staircase in a a dark, concrete stairwell. I’ve often stumbled upon dirty dishes and trash stashed in hotel stairwells by housekeeping staff for pick up later. Not so at the Copley Plaza. The grand, open staircase is made of beautiful stone and the bannister is ornate.

Staff don’t wash towels daily unless you request it

Almost all hotels these days have a “save the planet by reusing your towel” sign, but, as Elizabeth pointed out, many hotels don’t adhere to it. The Fairmont Copley Plaza did, which was much appreciated.

Historic building

There’s something that just feels right about staying in a building constructed in 1912 in one of the oldest cities in the country.

Efficient rooms

The rooms at the Fairmont Copley Plaza are by no means austere; in fact, they are quite opulent — ours had a chandelier. But because hotels built in the early 20th century weren’t typically sprawling, most of the rooms are more compact than modern hotel rooms. Smaller rooms require fewer resource, which is greener. But don’t worry. The tall ceilings and historic details make the rooms feel quite spacious.

Excellent location

Our hotel sat across the street from a Copley Square, a lovely green space that is home to Trinity Church. Right across the street is the famous Boston Public Library. Two blocks away is the Boston Common and the start of the Freedom Trail. We walked from the hotel to the Freedom Trail and toured the North End without ever hopping on the T. For further away destinations, there are two T stations less than two blocks from the Fairmont Copley Plaza; Copley Station on the Green Line and Back Bay Station on the Orange Line.

Nearby local restaurants

While Newbury Street and the surrounding area is best known for being a high-end shopping destination, there is no shortage of local eateries mixed in. We found excellent Vietnamese and Indian restaurants and an ice cream parlor. Venture to the North End and you’ll find an abundance of excellent Italian.

Have you stayed at the Copley Plaza? What was your experience?