Top 10 Earth Friendly Ways to Travel

As concerns about emissions and global warming increase, people are scrambling to make all of their regular activities more environmentally friendly. Travel has been singled out by many as one of the biggest contributors to the climate change problem. Fortunately, there are many ways to make travel greener. By keeping these Earth friendly means of travel in mind, you can take a trip and help the environment at the same time.

1. Walk
Perhaps the most environmentally friendly means of travel is walking. While walking between cities or across oceans is obviously impossible, any trip can be made greener by increasing the amount of time walking. Not only is walking good for the environment, it is a great way to get some fresh air and exercise. It will also put you in close contact with the place you are visiting, potentially increasing your enjoyment of the trip.

2. Ride a Bike
The only downside of walking is that it can be slow. Riding a bike is a faster, zero emission, alternative. Like walking, riding a bike is a great way to get some exercise and fresh air. Bikes can be purchased new or used and sometimes even found for free. If you are visiting a new city, it is worth finding a bike shop that has rentals available. A rented bike is the perfect vehicle for a tour of a new place.

3. Mass Transit
In some places the weather, terrain, or traffic congestion makes walking and riding a bike challenging. If walking or riding a bike is impractical, look for public transport. The city bus or subway is a great way to get around and the overall environmental impact is significantly less than that of driving or taking taxi cabs.

4. Take the Train
If you are traveling greater distances, see if a train is available. Trains are fast and comfortable and give off dramatically fewer emissions than airplanes or even buses. Many people argue that, since the train will be making the trip with or without you, the individual emissions responsibility is zero. Whether you agree with this or not, the train is a one of the most earth friendly means of travel around.

5. Take a Bus
If the train is not available, or is too expensive for your budget, taking the bus is a good alternative. While not as comfortable as flying or taking a train, the bus is reliable and more environmentally friendly than flying. With stations in most towns and the center of many cities, the bus is also often the most convenient option among all public transport.

6. Rent a Hybrid
If you need to drive, try renting a hybrid. Though slightly more expensive than standard car rentals, hybrids offer considerable fuel savings and decreased emissions. Once difficult to find, hybrids are now carried by most major rental agencies and are available from offices across the country.

7. Share a Ride
If you are going to be driving a large distance, consider sharing the ride with someone else. Ask friends and family when you are planning your trip if they know anyone with a similar itinerary. If this fails, visit your local church, library, or community center and see if they have a ride board. Similar services are also set up online. By sharing the trip with someone else, you effectively cut the potential emissions in half.

8. Offset Your Emissions
Whether you drive or fly, consider reducing your emissions by participating in an offset program. When you pay into one of these programs, your money is given to projects that work to reduce carbon emissions, global warming, and climate change. By giving an amount of money proportional to your expected travel emissions, you can make your trip "carbon neutral."

9. Stay Still
Of course, not traveling at all is the only way to totally eliminate emissions, but many of us are not willing or are not able to give up or travel plans. Still, we can embrace this philosophy on our trips to reduce our overall impact. Instead of traveling to a place and then moving constantly to neighboring areas, try slowing down if possible. Go to one place and stay there. It may mean that you do not see the same number of different places, but each one you visit will be experienced to the fullest.

10. Stay Local
By not traveling as far from your home you can also make the trip more environmentally friendly. While it may not seem as exotic or exciting at first, there are likely neighboring areas that you have not visited, at least not as a tourist. This can be a fun and exciting way to see the area in which you live. Even if you travel far away, consider keeping things local once you get to your destination. Try to eat food that comes from nearby and buy sovereigns and products from that region.

Travel can have a huge impact on the climate and environment, but it does not have to. By keeping some of these tips in mind when making your travel plans you can make your trip much more earth friendly.

Author Resource:-> Rent a Hybrid Car (http://www.hybrid-rental-car.com) offers information on how to rent a hybrid and other tips to make traveling more environmentally friendly.

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Discount Rental Cars: 8 Ways to Save

Renting a car when you're on vacation or while you're waiting to get your car repaired can cost a lot of money if you are not careful.

If you need to rent a car, follow these tips to make sure you're getting a great deal:

1. Pick the right size of car.

If you only have a family of three, you don't need to rent a full sized SUV. Larger cars are more expensive to rent. Rent the smallest sized car that you can get away with.

2. Pick the right type of car.

Although many people look at renting a car as an opportunity to get a luxury vehicle, the budget savvy traveler will choose more carefully. Just like when it comes to purchasing a car, renting a luxury car is more expensive than renting an economy car. And you'll pay through the nose if you decide to rent a sports car! Stick with a basic car and save money.

3. Consider renting for an entire week.

By doing a cost comparison of rental rates, you may find that renting a car for an entire week is a better option that renting for just four to five days. Compare the daily rental rate to the weekly rate. Often times the weekly rate is a better deal. Double check the company's policy for turning in the car early, just in case you need to do so.

4. Comparison shop.

If you have a choice of car rental companies, make sure to shop around. Get similar quotes from each car insurance company and find the best deal on the type of car that you need. You can also search prices online through travel sites. Sometimes, you will find the cheapest prices directly at the rental company's website. Look for online coupons at secondary sites that will save you even more.

5. Look for package deals.

If you are renting a car for your vacation, you may save money if you book your flight, hotel and car rental all at the same time. But don't assume that a package deal will equal a better rate. Do the math to make sure that you'll be saving.

6. Talk with your car insurance company.

Your regular car insurance company may offer discounts on car rentals. In addition, they may also insure you while you are driving a rental car. Read your policy carefully or call your car insurance provider to make sure that you'll be covered while you have a rental car. If you are, this means that you won't have to buy the daily insurance from the car rental company, which can save you a lot of money.

7. Look at your credit card benefits.

Most people don't realize that a lot of credit cards come with car rental benefits. You can receive discounts on car rentals or rental car insurance through your credit card. Call your credit card company to find out your benefits regarding renting a car.

8. Try to find discounts through other memberships.

Several other membership groups offer discounts on car rentals. If you are a member in any type of large group or club, check to see if you have any rental car benefits.

Author Resource:-> Jamie Jefferson writes for Susies-Travel-Coupons.com. Visit today to find car rental coupons and easy car rental promotions.

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Eco Friendly & Money Saving Tips for Good Car Maintenance

Car fuel prices are fluctuating and escalating through the roof. Research shows the average age of vehicles to be 9 years. So is keeping your old car and stretching your work horse even further being environmentally friendly? How can we do that without having to spend more on maintenance?

It is a natural course with your car engine wear and tear affecting performance and car fuel consumption gets rises. You have a choice to either change to a new vehicle and save you the maintenance hassle. This is what a lot of people would do every 3 years before the car sounds the alarm for repair needs. Alternatively, if you are not privileged with such financial luxury, keep good car habits and you might still save a hefty sum from your car maintenance.

Check out the following good practice car maintenance to enhance the longevity of your vehicle:

Cars are like humans, you need to keep them in tuned with the seasons. Remember to change to winter tires and add anti-freeze. Plug in your electric cord to warm up the engine half an hour before you start your journey.

And in summer, check your fluids too. The sun heats up and dries the fluids more quickly. Check your oil level, coolant fluids etc. Keep your car in a covered garage.

Sign Up For A Comprehensive Regular Tune-Up Package. The mechanics will do your oil change, change your air filters, check your spark plugs, radiator and fuel injector, test your brake pads, tire pressure, rotate your tires (if required) as well as tune your wheel alignment. Have the computerized system checked by your specialist mechanics. Life saving devices such as the air bags, antilock breaks etc must be checked for safety too.

Change Your Oil Every 3 Months Or 3,000 Miles. Here is a simple example to help you visualize. Imagine re-using the same pot of oil for deep-frying your French fries everyday for 3 weeks... the oil has become a thick crude of glob and your fries tastes weird doesn’t it? Same theory goes for your car. Revitalize your car engine with a fixed scheduled oil change routine.

Listen & Feel the Strange Warning Signs. Be conscious of squeaky noise, gasoline smell, and oil leaks on your garage floor. Check where the noise comes from. Early detection of car faults could save you a ton of money.

Befriend A Good Mechanic. Not only will you save money, you save yourself some anguish from unscrupulous mechanics some of whom change your good parts for bad or recommend unnecessary jobs.

And now, get ready to enjoy the ride!

Author Resource:->

Joey Lee has 17 years of business & marketing experience in the Insurance & Banking Industry, holds an Executive MBA, and a Platinum Ezine Author. Get the latest eco friendly green cars info at Environmentally Friendly Cars and much more at CngCar.org

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Used Car Extended Warranty - 3 Advantages of Purchasing A Used Car Extended Warranty

If you have a used car and the warranty is no longer valid because of the age of the car or the mileage a great way to protect yourself from unexpected expenses related to car repairs is to purchase a used car extended warranty. The older you car gets the more likely you will have high repair bills and if you are not expecting them than it can take a chunk out of your budget. Most people who own used cars do not know that they are eligible for a used car extended warranty but they are. In this article we will take a look at some of the advantages of getting a used car extended warranty.

Used Car Extended Warranty-Advantage #1

It is inevitable that the older a car gets the more likely that it will start to have mechanical problems. If you are not prepared to pay for the repairs for a used car than you may be short of the cash that is needed to make the repairs. A used car extended warranty will take care of the repairs.

Used Car Extended Warranty-Advantage #2

Almost all of the extended warranties come with road side assistance and towing. If you are traveling and your car breaks down you will know that you make a phone call and somebody will be there to repair the car. If a repair cannot be made on the side of the road you can get it towed to an approved mechanic in the area and the warranty company will foot the bill.

Used Car Extended Warranty-Advantage #3

If you decide that getting a warranty for your used car if for you than nothing is greater than the piece of mind that comes with it. If you have an extended warranty than you already know that if something happens to your car that it is already paid for. It really can be stressful when your car breaks down and you do not know where the money will come from to pay for the repairs but with a warranty you do not have to worry about it.

A used car extended warranty is like a security blanket for people. You can also get many quotes online so you know you are getting the best price. If you want the piece of mind in knowing that all of your car repairs will be paid for than you may want to consider a used car extended warranty.

A used car extended warranty is designed to save the car owner money from car repairs. To get a quote which can save you as much as 50% on your warranty go to www.realautowarranty.info for a free quote.

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How To Spot Auto Repair Fraud

Have you ever seen a person get suckered into paying more than they should have for an imaginary auto repair? Well, it happened to me. I won't use the name of the place here. All I'm going to say is that I was taking my vehicle in for a standard oil change and left this particular place about $1,000 later. I had been led to believe that there was more wrong with my car than there really was. Truth be told, my car was brand new and there was nothing wrong with it. Shame on me, I guess- but shame on those people for trying (and successfully) fooling another customer.

It is not unusual for car owners to end up paying a lot of money to have repairs made on their vehicles. Cars require a lot of maintenance and if this maintenance is overlooked the resulting repairs can be an extreme drain on finances. While many expensive car charges are perfectly legitimate and expected there are a few auto mechanics that will attempt to take advantage of the fact that many consumers expect to spend a lot of money on car repairs. Each year car owners are over charged thousands of dollars for vehicle repairs. In order to avoid being taken advantage of there are a few tricks that consumers must be aware of.

Be wary of "specials" on oil changes, tune-ups, and other regular maintenance services. Many unscrupulous auto repair shops will use these advertised prices to attract new customers looking for a deal. Once the customer shows up to the shop the mechanic will try to separate the car owner from their vehicle and then later tell the car owner that there are many things wrong with the vehicle in order to charge more for repairs. Usually, when a scam is under way the auto repair shop will attempt to frighten the car owner into having the repairs done immediately by claiming that they will face dire consequences if they attempt to leave before having the repairs made. Don't fall for this trap, however. If you are inexperienced when it comes to your knowledge of vehicles, don't allow someone else to take advantage. Bring someone with you who knows a thing or two about cars, this way they catch the employee in a lie and/or give you advice. If you can't bring someone, have your phone handy and simply tell the employee that you don't feel comfortable with making a decision until you speak to someone more knowledgeable about car repairs.

Another way to spot repair fraud in the making is auto repair shops being unwilling to put estimates in writing. Most legitimate auto mechanics have no problem with providing written estimates prior to beginning the work. On the other hand, repair shops that are hoping to use fraud to get more money out of customer than necessary will only provide a verbal quote. This will allow the auto mechanic to complete any work they wish (or charge for parts and work not completed) without the customers consent. When this happens most customers have no choice but to pay for the repairs they did not want.

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