Transport will usually be your second largest expense while travelling, unless you’re moving around somewhere by train or plane every day, in which case it will be your number one. At the other end of the spectrum, if you hitchhike, walk or cycle, it won’t cost you a cent. For me, transport costs roughly tie in first place with food.
Travel Buses
In most countries, it has been cheaper for me to travel by bus than by train, although of course there are exceptions. I usually prefer the view and time saved by using trains, but if a bus is significantly cheaper than a train and only adds on a couple of extra travel hours, I will take it. Many long-distance bus services now have free WiFi, refreshments, even movies! Sleeper buses can also be especially comfortable for long overnight rides.
In developing countries, long-distance bus services are becoming more popular. They have always been there for the locals but may be difficult to book for the inexperienced traveler. Thankfully, many tourist-specific long-distance bus services have begun to pop up in South Asia and Central America that are super comfortable. A quick Google search or asking a friendly local at your guesthouse will serve you well in those countries.
For travelling within a city or for short distances between towns, local bus services are always an excellent travel choice. Not only are they the cheapest option but you get to experience a slice of everyday local life in the area. Ask your couch surfing host or hostel staff for tips on using local buses. In many developed areas, bus timetables are fully integrated with Google Maps so getting around by bus has never been easier.
Standout bus companies for me in terms of quality, network and price have been Megabus, Flixbus, Polski Bus and Student Agency to name a few. Note that these are all European networks. In South America, Africa and Asia, individual bus companies are less defined as many buses are privately owned and managed by travel agencies. Grabbing a long-distance bus is easy, thankfully, and tickets can usually be obtained from a variety of places including travel agencies, guesthouses, hotels and even cafes and restaurants.
Useful online search engines for buses are Check My Bus and Rome 2 Rio, which also displays other transport options for your specified route.
Travel Trains
I usually only use trains if I am in a certain country for an extended period of time (i.e. more than one month) because I can justify obtaining a rail pass, if available. Japanese rail passes, for example, are excellent value, but the buses are still cheaper.
Most train companies around the world will have a few rail pass options to choose from where you can save a percentage of the usual ticket price, and have access to special offers. For considerations on European passes such as Eurail and Interrail.
In developing countries, trains are usually a cheap option for getting around but can actually be slower than buses in some cases. I’ve spent many an hour on Indian trains chugging away at 25km/h, or not at all, often with delays of over 24 hours. Trains in Asia are a fantastic cultural experience, however, and I highly recommend taking them from time to time.
Anywhere in the world, train tickets can usually be purchased online or, of course, at the train stations themselves. Depending on the season, getting a last-minute ticket is sometimes viable, but in certain countries where the majority of the population travel by train (India is a good example once again), it is a better idea to book well in advance, or take the bus.
When travelling within a city or for short distances between outlying towns or villages, if there is metro (aka subway, underground, tube) service available I always like to give it a shot. In large cities the underground metro is always by far the fastest way to get around. In many cities you’ll be able to purchase a reloadable transport card that works either just with the metro, or with a combination of services, including trams, buses and/or ferries. If you’re staying in a place for a while it makes sense to buy a card, and in some cities it’s the only option you have.
Seat 61 is an extremely useful site that provides tips for train travel around the world.
Travel Ridesharing
Many countries have ridesharing schemes which are another way to save money and meet amazing local people while travelling. I have found ridesharing to be very cheap; even cheaper than buses for certain routes. Basically, you enter a route and a date into a ridesharing site and it will return a list of people who are driving on that route on that date, and at what time they will be at certain points. Just give the driver a call, ask to meet up and you’re on your way!
I have used Bla Bla Car extensively, which is expanding worldwide through acquiring smaller rideshare networks and is a fantastic service.
Travel Hitchhiking
Hitchhiking is one of my favorite modes of transport because it is free, it is a great way to meet locals and it is a lot of fun. Hitching between cities is always a viable option. Sometimes, especially in remote areas, there may not be any other mode of transport available to you. Of course, in some countries it is easier than in others. I always refer to Hitch Wiki before I embark on a hitching adventure to see if it is suitable in a certain country. No matter where you are you will always get a ride, but it is easier in some countries than in others.
Hitchhiking can be a double-edged sword though, especially if you don’t get a ride and have to camp, or if you get caught in rain or snow, or with no food. Always make sure you have surplus water on hand at least. As such, I usually only hitch when I am in remote, hard-to-reach areas, so that I can easily camp if need be.
Please be aware of local laws before you attempt to hitchhike, as in some countries it is most definitely illegal, and punishable by fines or worse. That said, in my experience most countries’ law enforcement tends to turn a blind eye to hitchhikers. They may just give you a simple warning, and may sometimes even give you a ride!
Travel Planes
Generally speaking, if I am travelling within a continent I prefer overland travel such as buses and trains because air travel is by far the least efficient when you consider emissions per passenger. Getting to and from airports can also be a hassle. If you really need to get around fast though, plane travel is almost essential. When you’re already travelling and you don’t have a specific itinerary, you may find yourself booking last-minute plane tickets. Fortunately, some airlines sell last-minute tickets nice and cheaply to fill or overbook their scheduled flights. Again, I usually use Momondo or Skyscanner for my flight searches. You can sign up to email alerts from their sites which will send you the best deals on a given route. Alternatively, signing up for email alerts from your favorite airline can be a good way to keep up with special offers, and will better enable you to use those hard-earned loyalty points.
Travel Boats
Travelling by boat isn’t usually a popular choice for the budget-conscious traveler, with most long-distance boat journeys being reserved for private boat owners or aficionados of boring package cruises. Of course, if you’re travelling in an island nation such as Indonesia or the Philippines, short ferry journeys are usually inevitable, and fun! These are always best booked locally and depending on the country, a more favorable price can often be haggled for. But what about longer boat trips between distant lands or across oceans? Thankfully, there are several resources available that can help you to set off on a nautical voyage in no time.
Travel Private boats
Many private boat owners who are looking to set off on a long voyage, usually through Southeast Asia, the Caribbean or across the Atlantic, require extra staff on their vessels. Often the positions are voluntary and advertised online, and sometimes they can be filled by even the least experienced travelers. Find a Crew is one such site. It works kind of like Help Exchange or even Couchsurfing, with boat owners usually providing free food and, of course, accommodation, in exchange for your working in a specific capacity on their boat. Not all positions require experience but many do, and most boat owners require you to complete a basic nautical safety course. Check each individual boat owner’s listing on Find a Crew for more details on what is required. I’ve met folks who have sailed all over the world as deckhands after finding hosts on Find a Crew, experiencing the thrill and beauty of the open ocean, while picking up valuable skills along the way.
I’ve also heard many stories of travelers who have simply hung around port areas for long enough to get on a private boat after asking around and getting to know boat owners in the area. This is definitely an intrepid and exciting method for securing sea transport!
Travel Cargo Ships
Some freight companies who transport cargo around the world on large ships offer accommodation options for travelers. One such company is Hamburg Sud, whose website contains information about pedestrian travel options on their freight liners. While cheaper than cruise ships, travelling aboard a cargo ship can still be relatively expensive compared to the alternate boat travel options listed here. See the Appendix for the link to accommodation options on cargo ships.
Travel Cruise Ships
Traveling on cruise ships has traditionally been the domain of retirees, ageing holidaymakers or young families who enjoy the prospect of having every convenience within arm’s reach. Not exactly the ideal environment for a meaningful backpacking experience. If you are looking for a passage across the seas and some spare cash to boot, however, a job on a cruise ship is a great option. Working on a ship is great fun and you’ll have the opportunity to develop meaningful relationships with your fellow crew members and the guests you’ll be looking after. If this sounds like your kind of thing, Cruise Job Finder is a great repository for finding jobs in the industry, and many individual sites for cruise ship companies offer job vacancies too.
Travel Ferries
Some of the more popular short passages across the seas are catered for by large ferries, particularly in Europe. Obvious examples that come to mind are Dublin to Holyhead and Dover to Calais. Luckily for the budget traveler, many of these large ferries can be hitchhiked on to. Several ferry companies charge their passengers with cars or trucks by the vehicle, not by the person, so simply by standing next to the queue of cars heading towards the ferry and asking for a ride, you may score a free ferry trip. Just ensure that you research the route beforehand to see if they charge passengers per vehicle.
Travel Vehicle Hire
Hiring a motorcycle, car, van or camper is a great option in certain countries where long-distance overland transport isn’t as accessible, or cheap (e.g. USA and Australia). Most countries have many car and van hire companies and it’s best to shop around to find a good deal.
Sometimes, hire companies and dealerships will need someone to transport a vehicle from one depot to another, and often if you are lucky, they will hire you the vehicle for free. I’ve never done this myself, but I have met many people who have, especially in Australia, New Zealand and the USA. There are a few sites that manage this service, such as Transfer Car, which operates in all three countries. Another option is to email hire companies or camper dealerships directly to see if they have any transfers coming up.
Another benefit to hiring a vehicle is that you can sleep in it too. Vans and campers are best for this, of course, but if you have a tent you can also hire a smaller vehicle and sleep in campsites. Once I was travelling in Iceland with my partner and we only had a little Hyundai i30 to sleep in during bad weather conditions. Luckily, we are pretty small people!
One caveat to vehicle hire is finding parking, so I only ever hire vehicles if I’m primarily travelling in rural areas. Big cities are annoying to drive through and expensive to park in. Make sure that if you stay somewhere other than a campsite, you check if they have parking available. Also, be warned that in some countries it is illegal to sleep in your car or camper in a public place (i.e. not in a campsite), so if you intend snoozing out on the city streets, do some research to see if this is acceptable first.
Moped, scooter or motorcycle hire is a fantastic option in countries where many locals ride them too. Fuel is cheap, it’s a great way to see the countryside, most accommodation options will have bike parking, and you get to do as the locals do. Just ensure that your insurance covers accidents on motorcycles – most insurance companies require you to select this as an additional option. Note also that in many countries there are very relaxed laws about wearing helmets, but police may still fine you for not wearing one. In my experience the best and safest way to avoid this is to always wear a helmet.
Travel Walking Or Cycling
By far the cheapest way to travel about is to walk, and in my humble opinion, it is the most rewarding. I absolutely love long-distance walking as it is free, you really get to experience and to know a place, and you get lots of fresh air and exercise to boot. Walking for transport also forces you to pack nice and light, as there’s nothing much worse than lugging an unnecessarily massive backpack over long distances.
If you want a bit of extra speed, take a bicycle. A proper touring bike with racks and panniers is best, but if you have the will, you can see the world on any type of bike. Like walking, bike touring is a great way to experience any part of the world. Zipping along in the open air, wild camping off the road at night and experiencing all the sights and sounds of nature while keeping super fit is a winning combination. Ensure that you do have some basic mechanical knowledge though. At the very least, make sure you know how to repair flats and replace tubes and chains before setting off on a bicycling adventure.
If you really want to enjoy a walking or cycling experience it pays to have the right equipment. Whether you’re on a marked hiking or cycling trail such as the Annapurna Circuit, the Inca Trail, the PCT, the EuroVelo or the Camino, or just rambling from village to village, great gear will make all the difference to the success of your adventure. Remember – there’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable gear. Waterproofs are a must, and on the flip-side, sun protection and plenty of hydration is essential.
