Budget Travel - Getting Free Flights

One of the most popular strategies for budget traveling is to make what is traditionally one of the most expensive parts of travel the airfare free.

One great way to score free flights without tediously collecting frequent flier miles is to get yourself bumped off of the flight on which you are booked.

While getting bumped won't make your current flight free, it will traditionally score you a free ticket you can use at a later date of your choosing.

Getting bumped is such a popular money saving strategy that there is a definite art and science behind it. Remember that you may not be the only person on your flight hoping to get bumped. It is important to follow the guidelines listed below to increase your chances.

- Book your flight with the intention of getting bumped. For instance, you may want to choose one of the first flights of the day, knowing that you will be able to get on a later flight after you are bumped and still reach your destination.

- Always ask if the flight is overbooked. It may be a good idea to call your travel agent the night before the scheduled flight to inquire. Always ask the gate agent if the flight is overbooked as soon as you arrive and let him or her know you will volunteer to be bumped.

- Always back a flight schedule for your departure and destination airport. Be sure to get a schedule that includes all airlines, not just the one on which you are booked.

- Always arrive at the airport at least 90 minutes prior to scheduled departure. Try to be the first one in the check in line. Being the first in line will ensure that you are the first on the list of volunteers to be bumped.

- Before you agree to be bumped, be sure that the airline will offer a free ticket or other significant compensation. Individual airline policies vary, so be sure you know what is being offered.

- Some airlines offer vouchers in $100 increments, according to the time you must wait for another flight. For instance, a one hour wait entitles you to a $100 voucher, two hours means you get $200, etc.

- Before accepting your free ticket or travel voucher, let the gate agent know that you need to be sure of your arrangements for your current flight. Always make sure you are holding a confirmed reservation and boarding pass for a later flight before signing the agreement and accepting the free ticket.

- Tell the gate agent that you want a guaranteed, confirmed reservation on the next flight to your destination.

- If there are no guaranteed seats available on the next flight, inform the agent that you want a guaranteed seat on another airline.

- Use the flight schedule you packed to choose an alternative flight and airline.

- If the wait for the next flight exceeds two hours, ask the gate agent for meal vouchers. Most airlines make these vouchers available, but they do not always offer them without being asked.

- If you get bumped from your next flight, you could score another free ticket. It pays to be flexible any time you are flying on a budget.

- Remember there are no hard and fast rules everyone must follow. There are some regulations, but each airline sets its own policy with regard to bumping policy and compensation.

- The bumping rules are generally different for international flights, so be sure to ask the airline about their policies before volunteering.

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Travel Cheap By Staying Off The Beaten Path

Travel is meant to be enlightening and broadening to the mind, and there are few things that enlighten and broaden the mind as well as stepping off the beaten path and exploring those areas of the world where few tourists have ventured.

Another important benefit of this road less traveled approach is that these un-touristy areas tend to be less expensive, often considerably so, that the same old vacation.

When it comes to finding unique travel destinations, the world is literally at your disposal. There are so many places that see little tourist traffic, and they include some of the most beautiful, and most pristine, places on earth.

Not only can your off the beaten path travels help you save money, but they will allow you to meet some wonderful, fascinating and engaging people as well.

And after all, it is the people you meet while traveling, the friends you make and the things you learn that make travel such a rewarding experience.

Long after the last souvenirs are put away, you will still remember the children you encountered while hiking in the Himalayas, or the farmer you met while backpacking through Cambodia.

Travel should be much more than just a long list of theme parks and tourist destinations; it should be a way to learn about the world and your place in it.

You may be wondering what all this has to do with budget travel, but I assure you there is a connection. That is because these very places, the unspoiled parts of the world with the fascinating people and unique cultures, are often the most affordable.

The U.S. dollar is very strong against almost all of the local currencies you will encounter off the beaten path, and that means your vacation dollars can stretch further than you ever imagined.

For instance, in many parts of Central and South America, you may be able to stay at a lovely inn or a beautiful cottage for an entire week and spend less than you would spend for a single night's lodging at one of those mega resorts in Cancun.

In addition, you will see sights the vacationers in Cancun never dreamed of, from the cloud forests of Peru to the rain forests of Costa Rica to extinct volcanoes and breathtaking mountain ranges.

In addition to cheap lodging, traveling in non tourist areas also provides the opportunity to save lots of money on food while sampling some unique local dishes and different types of cuisines.

Local restaurants and eateries in these far off places can be sources of great fun, and some fascinating food. Of course it helps to bring along a sense of adventure any time you travel, but that is part of the fun.

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Environmentally Friendly Flights Offered

Many flight companies are offering to offset their CO2 emissions due to the emission worries caused by the airline industry. The companies implementing the system of carbon trading now offer this as an option when purchasing tickets. There are currently questions as to how many regular fliers know of this system and its purpose.

Carbon offsetting is a way to reduce the common greenhouse gas emissions stemming from the use of various fossil fuels. There are six greenhouse gases in total. Offsets are measured using a metric ton system. A single offset signifies the removal of an entire ton of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas. Several airlines offering this service allow consumers to view the estimated carbon pollution resulting from their travel.

Several airline companies are also enacting other measures to protect the environment. One popular procedure is to expand the general recycling procedures to encompass all materials, including paper, plastic, and aluminum. Several airlines have launched their own programs to contribute to environmental groups and their quest to clean up the world.

Other measures include programs to encourage fuel conservation and efficient resource management. The fleets themselves are being modernized and prepared for optimum fuel efficiency. Just by changing daily procedure to incorporate these environmentally friendly activities, one airline reports saving the equivalent of more than 200 million gallons of fuel in a single year.

Airports are also changing the standard fuel trucks to carts. These devices are stationed at the gates for the craft. There is a subsystem of hydrants connecting the carts throughout the airport. This eliminates further pollution that once came from the trucks.

There is some question to the validity of this attempt since the airline industry accounts for only around 2 percent of the greenhouse gases. The shipping industry accounts for 5 percent. Experts state much of the attention falls upon the airline industry due to the amount of travel a consumer does individually.

Europe has reported the system of offsetting as successful with hundreds of millions of tons eliminated. The European Union agrees upon where the credits are most needed before relinquishing. The first installment of 2007 covered thousands of companies and amounted to around half of all carbon and related emissions throughout Europe.

Experts agree that carbon prices will remain significant elements in the fight against pollution. The measures are believed to encourage more companies to adapt new technologies and replace outdated or less efficient materials. These procedures are not without problem or opponent.

The current costs of fuel have taken a toll on the program. Soaring prices have forced many plants to switch from natural gas to coal. The current estimates state that gas prices need to fall or carbon prices will go up to retain their effectiveness.

There are critics to the process of carbon offsetting as a means of protecting the environment. Many have pointed out that the current time frame extends only through the year 2012. The brevity of the outlook presents a difficult situation for realistic corporate long-term commitments.

The scheme of trading emissions was a practice designed by governments. It is believed that far more details should have been considered before implementing the actual strategies, as the current global fuel and economy issues have already hindered its success.

UK based company Tribune have travel guides for Europe, including Monaco, which hopes to go carbon neutral, details are via yourmonaco.com They include details of each May's Monaco Formula One and for the financial sector banking in Monaco For new visitors to Monaco they also have street maps of Monte Carlo Monaco

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