OrganicBunny.com Travel

Rental Cars
by Laura

Even if you drive a super-earth-friendly hybrid while in your hometown, when you travel away from home, you can't take it with you. So, what's an eco-concerned citizen to do? Good news: you have several options.

First off, two "green" car rental companies of note: if you're traveling in the West, these companies could provide you with peace of mind along with a sweet ride.

EV Rental www.evrental.com - locations in California (including LAX airport), Phoenix, Arizona, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The company both sells and rents hybrid electric vehicles, such as the Toyota Prius. A cool idea if you've ever considered buying a hybrid but for some reason weren't sure about it - you can try one out for a while and see how you like driving these eco-cars. Unfortunately their website is "under construction" at this time so you can't rent online like can with other car companies; you need to call or send them an email.

Bio-beetle www.bio-beetle.com - locations in Los Angeles, California and Maui, Hawaii. The company rents bio-diesel vehicles, such as the Volkswagen Beetle and CRD Diesel Jeep, all powered by 100% vegetable oil. There is an online order form, but it requires an email response (is not instant like other major companies). Also of note: the cars sport a large banner ad along the sides/doors, which might deter some potential renters who prefer to be inconspicuous.

But what if you're not traveling in the West? "Eco-friendly" rental companies are still limited at this point in time. So, if you can't find one in the city where you're going, at least you can opt for a greenER car when you do rent from a traditional company. For example, ask if the company rents hybrid cars (Fox Car Rentals www.foxrentacar.com does). Or, at the very least, go for one of the "green" cars as rated by American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) - and avoid the "mean" ones.

The ratings are based on several factors, from emissions to fuel consumption. More info at: http://www.greenercars.com/bestof.html

Or, if you're traveling to a big city with a good mass transit system, consider using it, as well as good old-fashioned walking power, for your traveling needs. For example, if you get a hotel in the city limits, you may be able to walk to many of the sights you wish to visit, and catch some scenery along the way, which would have otherwise been missed. Of course, use common sense and don't go walking around unsavory areas at night - get the scoop on safety from a local before you go wandering.

*Bunny Bonus!

When you get to your destination and you're at the car rental counter, ask your rep for recommendations for what to do/see, and where to eat around town. Not only will they have the insider info, because they're locals; they also often have coupons behind the counter that they'll give to you when asked.