At the risk of revealing this wonderful secret, the Venice Beach Eco Cottages are the real deal. My husband and I had the pleasure of staying three days in Aunt Zoe's cottage, complete with hot tub. Offering every amenity you could possibly need for a night or a month, the cottage felt like it was our home away from home within the first 30 minutes. We were given the quick tour of all the ways in which the renovations of the cottages would leave the smallest of carbon footprints (even the hot tub is made of recycled plastic milk jugs!), which made us feel good in a socially conscious way. Surprisingly, we noticed the biggest difference of living green in not having to sniff or cough because of allergies the entire time, most likely due to the fact that everything, right to the mattress, is organic, chemical free. We could sleep with the windows open, to allow the fresh ocean air in. Amazing! It's been a long time since we've slept in a hotel where the windows even open!

The... more