When economic times are tough, luxuries are the first to fall by the wayside. Gone are things like weekend getaways and environmentally conscious choices like eating organic and living green. So whatʼs a girl to do when she wants to combine a night away from home, while still making sure the paper gets recycled? In Milwaukee, thereʼs no better place for an eco-friendly "staycation" than Hotel Metro, 411 E. Mason St.

Hotel Metro was certified as an eco-friendly hote lby Travel Green Wisconsin in 2007. Travel Green Wisconsin requires that any business earn at least 30 points on the Travel Green Wisconsin checklist in order to receive the certification. Hotel Metro scored more than double that -- 67 points -- in order to be considered a green hotel.

I travel a lot, so Iʼm very picky about my hotels. I like to lay my head down on a comfy bed and an array of pillows. I like fluffy towels, nice bath products and a flat screen HDTV. (Hey, if Iʼm gone for a month I shouldnʼt have to give up HD. too!)

But I also like staying in a hotel that isnʼt wasteful and does its part in helping the environment. I religiously leave the card on the pillow to remind the maids there is no need to wash every piece of linen in the hotel EVERY DAY. I also, somewhat annoyingly, shut off every light before leaving the room like Iʼm the one paying the electric bill.

Which is why I was so impressed with Hotel Metro. Not only do we have an art-deco gem right in the heart of our city, itʼs a hotel that is fashionably eco-conscious. Hotel Metro has a recycling program in place for not only staff, but also every guest who stays at the hotel. In addition, every paper product and advertising piece contains at least 30 percent post-consumer recycled content.

The Metro also uses energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs in their rooms. And they donʼt use unnecessary energy. Unlike so many hotels Iʼve stayed in, you donʼt walk into a room at Hotel Metro that is buzzing with bright lamps and the white noise of the TV and/or radio. Itʼs a simple step, but a noticeable one.

It was a little to chilly during my stay in late March, but if you want to cut down even more on your carbon footprint -- you can use one of the his / her bikes offered at Hotel Metro to bum around the city.

Or you can stay inside and watch HDTV. Just remember to turn it off.

But our stay (the big night out was part of a birthday gift for my boyfriend) at Hotel Metro wasn't a great getaway because of the recycled paper products or energy saving light bulbs; the hotel lends itself to feeling like youʼve escaped town to somewhere slightly cooler.

The best part, you donʼt have to leave the hotel to enjoy a relaxing night away from home, yet you donʼt exactly feel like youʼre in a hotel.

All the rooms at Hotel Metro are considered suites, which means you get plenty of space and somewhere to relax besides the bed. (Not that a lot of time in bed is a bad thing on an overnight stay ... sorry Mom and Dad.) All rooms at Hotel Metro have a separate sitting area with a flat screen, HDTV and a killer mini-bar.

And although we didnʼt put it to use, rooms also feature large whirlpool tubs.

The best part of staying at Hotel Metro -- a night "away" in Milwaukee wonʼt break the bank. A standard deluxe king suite at the hotel usually runs about $229 a night. But while checking sites like TripAdvisor, I found many travelers who called the hotel directly and found even better deals.

From the great happy hour in the bar (who doesnʼt love a martini that isnʼt overpriced?) to the attentive staff who quickly responds to nearly any request (you canʼt drink champagne out of wine glasses!), Metro does a fantastic job of ensuring your stay is stress free and environmentally friendly.