The buzz on global warming has been louder louder for the past years. With different environmental issues connected to it, people now are more concerned to go green. Air pollution is one of the major factors for global warming. The emission of carbon monoxide in the atmosphere is a serious threat to our health and Mother Nature’s. So what could we do to help lessen the pollution?

We should go green! Fellow home exchangers, why not try riding a bike while on vacation in the city or countryside you are about to have an exchange instead of renting a car? Wouldn’t that be a good idea? This way, you could save on car rentals and petrol. We all know that there’s a financial crunch going on, so cutting on the rental expenses would be a big help. Biking is also good for your health, you could burn as much as 550 calories for an hour of riding a bike. (That’s equivalent to an hour of freestyle swimming laps!)  Not only that, taking a bike ride around the city is a fun and cheap way of enjoying your stay on a new place. Cities such as Berlin, Vienna, Amsterdam and Paris are very friendly places to go on bike riding.

Now there are available bike rentals for taking tours around the city. Yes, it does cost some damage to your wallets… so how can you have it for free? It’s pretty simple. Ask your home exchange  partner if you could borrow their bike (if they have one) for the time being. Asking permission to borrow wouldn’t hurt. You might want to ask your home exchange partner in advance if they have a bike you could use so that you don’t have to bring your own bike or even rent. Just remember to take good care of your home exchange partner’s stuff to continue good relationships with them. You might want to leave a little surprise, like a bike accessory, to your home exchange partner to thank him/her for letting you use their bike. Enjoy your ride!

If you are that on-the go person who loves to go around places, here’s one tip that will be a big help for you: have a sling bag with you wherever you go.

Having a sling bag helps you keep your must-haves and valuables handy all the time. This way you could avoid losing things. Who would want to look for his/her passport in the middle of a big city? No one. Get your things organized in a single bag and you won’t have any problems with your stuff. Also, this will be your “survival pack” in case you get lost in the middle of nowhere or whatever circumstance you come across with. Hey, you never know what might happen, so better be prepared at least. So what are those things that you have to have in that bag? Good question. Here’s a list of what to put in there:

•    Money- Keep at least an extra on your bag in case you need to take a cab or train to somewhere. Remember that some stores might not accept credit cards too.
•    Passport/ IDs- Have them with you all the time. In case you need identity verification, it’s easy to pull out your passport for confirmation.
•    Notepad and Pen- You might need to write down something, whether it’s an address or a phone number of a friend.
•    Medicine- This one’s important especially if you have an ailment or under medication. Bringing your medicine with you all the time helps keep you from those undesirable circumstances.
•    Map/ Travel Guide- Bringing a map especially if you are not familiar with the place you are about to go will be a big help.
•    Phrase-book- This will help if you are not familiar with the native language.
•    Toiletries- Neat-freaks agree. Bring at least a pack of tissue and floss with you.
•    A bottle of water- In case there isn’t a store to buy water nearby.
•    Keys- Of course you have to go home. Make sure you don’t lose the keys to your home exchange partner’s place.

These are just suggestions; it depends on what you need to have with you on a trip. Remember to keep an eye on your belongings all the time. It’s hard to lose important things in a foreign place.

Are you an artistic individual looking for inspiration? Or are you an art historian wanting to rediscover the works of Leonardo da Vinci, Michaelangelo and Raphael? Or maybe a trendy chic looking for what’s hot and what’s not in the fashion industry? Then having a home exchange in one of Italy’s best cities, Milan, is a brilliant idea.

Milan is Italy’s capital, located in the Northern part of Italy. With almost 1.5 million inhabitants, Milan is known as Italy’s center for business, design, art, fashion, music, history and culture. Thanks to the Da Vinci Code, Milan has been more famous because this city is home to Leonardo da Vinci’s the Last Supper. The painting is found on the Santa Maria della Grazie monastery. As for history buffs, Castello Sforzesco is a great place to see. Originally a castle that was built in the 15th century, it now houses a variety of museums the showcases the life and culture of people from the middle ages onwards. It is recommended to make a whole day visit here. Now, if shopping is your cup of tea, then make sure you visit Galleria Vittorio Emanuele. This is the place to go if you are looking for those precious finds, whether be it souvenirs to bring back home or luxurious clothing from Italy’s most famous designers. This place houses shops such as Gucci and Prada to name a few. Shops are even open in the Sundays so you can shop here any day you want! You don’t have to worry about transportation in Milan since places are accessible via the subway system.

Getting a home exchange saves you the expenses of hotel accommodation here, plus the convenience of having a place to stay once setting foot in Milan saves you from all the hassle. Having a home exchange saves you a lot of money if you decide to make your stay a little long, and instead for paying for hotel services, you cold buy yourself a new Louis Vuitton bag to bring home instead!