Best Transport Resources
Part of the travel experience is selecting reliable, affordable and creative methods for traveling the world. This section considers some of the best transport resources available.
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Flight Booking Resources
Skyscanner
Skyscanner is a flight comparison website which has been finding me great flight deals for years. The site has a few standout features, my favorite being the explore feature. This allows a traveler to look up random, cheap flight deals to places they didn’t even know they wanted to visit.
Kayak
Kayak is a robust flight comparison search engine that has a large segment of the travel market cornered. The weiste does a great job of flight comparison and often offers discount deals for car rentals,and hotels as part of a package.
Momondo
Momondo is another flight comparison website. They’re owned by Kayak, but Momondo has comparison and search features I like to check before flying.
Google Flights
If there’s a company that does it all, Google is top of the list. Google Flights has extremely robust comparison programs and usually does well when looking at major airlines and transportation.
Hopper
Hopper is a great flight search program. It works especially well when looking for budget flights to multiple destinations. Their layout is easy to use and their algorithm predicts the cheapest flight times for off-season travelers.
Scott’s Cheap Flights
Scott’s Cheap Flights isn’t a search engine for airlines, but an extremely handy newsletter. The regular subscription is $49 dollars, but that much can be saved within the first trip based on their travel advice, flight deals and recommendations.
Bus Resources
Peru Hop
Peru is one of my top five countries in the world, so Peru Hop offers an invaluable service whenever I visit. The company provides long distance bus services to some of the most wonderful scenery in the country. The Bus System is designed to allow travelers to see many things in Peru, rather than just one or two destinations on direct routes
Busbud
Busbud is a price comparison bus ticket booking website. They operate throughout the world, making bus tickets easy to find, purchase and use. I mostly use Busbud for getting around the States, Canada and some parts of Europe.
Flixbus
Flixbus is a budget bus company that operates in Europe. It’s, hands-down, the cheapest way to get around Europe. But the company has trouble with long delays, spotty WIFI and their buses aren’t in the best shape. This is very much a get-what-you-pay-for option. You have to book a little bit in advance to get decent ticket prices. There is no link up above for Flixbus, as I don’t personally use them.
Omio
Omio is bus ticket search platform that operates in Europe. Buses are somewhat nice and effective. It’s a nice middle grounds option for exploring Europe if rail isn’t an option.
Rome2rio
Rome2rio is a brilliant company based out of Australia with resources in countries across the world. This website is brilliant at finding public transportation routes along with cost estimates and transit schedules.
Train Resources
Japan Railpass
Visiting Japan is at the top of many bucket lists. When visiting Japan, getting a Japan Rail Pass is a huge asset. Depending on the level of pass, travelers get unfettered access to all cities and districts that rail line goes to. It’s a huge money saver after just a few rides.
Eurail
If you want to travel Europe in absolute luxery at an incredible price, getting a Eurail pass is a must. One rail pass temporarily provides access to over 40,000 destinations in 33 countries. The rail system is the smoothest international mode of transportation I’ve ever come across. The Eurail Pass also allows for very flexible planning and rescheduling.
Amtrak
Of course, the United States has fairly decent travel heading up and down the East Coast. This can be an easier option than flying around the US. However, Amtrak is required to give preference to freight trains on major rail lines. This can result in significant delays.
Scenic Flåm Railway
Just an hour long, the Flåm Railway ride through Norway is hailed as one of the greatest things to do in Norway. The trip cuts through spectacular land and is especially magical during the snowy months.
PeruRail & IncaRail
There are two equally fantastic ways to get from Cusco Peru to the legendary Incan stronghold in the clouds. The first involves heavy treks through some of the most rugged land in the world, the Andes Mountains. But a second option is to take the rail line from Ollantaytambo to Agua Calientes. There’s also the option of taking a rail line directly from Cusco.
Rideshare Resources
Blablacar
Blablacar is an excellent option for long-distance ride sharing. In some cases, it’s better than looking for buses. People with vehicles offer rides to various cities, provided someone else is willing to chip in for gas. It’s a great service for last minute deals or trips to slightly more obscure areas without regular transportation.
Uber
Uber is a rideshare service which operates throughout various countries in the west. Needing no introduction, rideshares like Uber are a great option for getting a safe, secure ride without having to worry about taxi scams.
Grab
Grab is a very popular rideshare service, primarily operating in Southeast Asia. For folks traveling through the Asian continent, Grab is a vital app to have. This is especially true with the frequency of taxi scams in countries like Vietnam. It also has food delivery services
Lyft
Lyft is another excellent rideshare option. There are some countries which allow Uber but not Lyft, and vice versa. When selecting Rideshares, research which ones operate in the country or city you’re visiting.
Didi
Didi is a rideshare service that operates in much of Asia, most notably China. The rideshare service is a great tool for getting around, especially in a country where someone doesn’t speak the langauge
Ola
Ola is an Indian company that serves as a great-quality rideshare app. There are additional branches of Ola throughout the world.
Driving and Rental Resources
Int. Driver’s Permit (AAA)
An International Driver’s License (or Permit) allows a person to operate vehicles in all countries which recognize it (174 countries). Applying for a permit costs $20 USD and the permit is valid for a full year from the activation date. While some countries accept a standard driver’s license, an Int. Driver’s Permit makes driving between countries much easier.