Planet Tran

Last week I traveled to Colorado Springs. It was my first time traveling alone and had an early flight. I wanted to make sure I would reach the airport on time and have everything under control. My past experiences with cabs haven't been the greatest. Once my cab arrived late and nearly made me lose my flight. On another occasion my cab showed up in an SUV and had another passenger inside. Since this was my first time traveling alone I didn't want to anything to go wrong, I wanted to go with a vehicle that was reliable and eco-friendly (if there was such a thing) and there was...it's called Planet Tran! Planet Tran uses Toyota Prius Gas Electric Hybrid vehicles as taxis. These cars rely on battery power when running at low speed or when the car is stopped for up to 15 minutes. Planet Tran's mission is to start a livery service based exclusively on the Hybrid electric gas Toyota Prius. With Oil prices on the rise these vehicles are the way to go. Planet Tran's vision is "an urban transportation infrastructure that utilizes the most efficient transportation technology available." If a cab drives on average 50.00 miles a year a driver could save $3.850 in gasoline costs per year by switing to a hybrid vehicle. These fuel efficient cars look slick and are eco-friendly. The driver (Matt) was punctual to the minute, he was standing outside the car, greeted me, carried my luggage to the trunk, opened the door for me and was very courteous the entire drive to the airport. Apparently Planet Tran is known for having drivers that are pleasant and knowledgeable. Best of all their rates are reasonable considering the cost of the car. A Ford Crown Victoria costs $7,000-$10,000 while a Prius ranges between $21,500-$26,000. A trip from Harvard Square to Logan Airport cost me $40, which is $5-$10 more than a regular cab that consumes more gas and carbon emissions. Think about this next time you need a ride to the airport. Sustainably Yours Nathalie Zegarra

Tags: cab, oil, Toyota, Travel / Leisure

Volunteer Vacations

I know there are a lot of people like me out there. I love Boston half the year, but whine and complain about the cold, dreary other half. It’s around this time that I start daydreaming about equatorial climates and checking flights on Expedia and Travelocity (which both offer carbon offsets!). Many people want to escape on a packaged tour or cruise, to avoid spending hours planning and booking when they work full time. Fortunately, several organizations offer packaged options that are also environmentally and socially responsible, for those who head south of the border for more than just beaches and bars. The Earthwatch Institute, Crooked Trails, and United Planet are three examples that offer "voluntourism" trips to exotic destinations, but with the opportunity to join projects tracking dolphins, protecting nesting sea turtles, building homes, surveying coral reefs, and with other conservation and philanthropic missions. If you're a student and some of these might be out of your league, lots of universities organize volunteer vacations during winter and spring break, which are fun and economical alternatives. I met one of my best friends on a trip to Assateague Island National Seashore, where we installed fence to protect endangered bird nesting areas. Check out this site on "VolunTourism."

Tags: Travel / Leisure, vacation, volunteer