How to get to your destination is usually a matter of practicality and choices may be limited. If you have booked a specific tour your transportation may be set for you in advance. However, if you have the option of finding your own transportation, there are many options available.
Air: I usually start with Expedia or a similar site to find out what airlines fly to the destination and if any fly out of an airport that is close to where I will begin my journey. After checking who flies where, I go to the individual airlines website and check pricing. Sometime the price is competitive and sometimes it is way out of line. My preference is to book directly with the airline so that I can get air miles and also so that you have more recourse if something happens with the flight, which unfortunately happens frequently.
The US government just passed legislation entitling you to immediate credits if your flights are delayed a specific number of hours, so perhaps at least part of the hassle will be removed if something happens with your flight.
If you are booking through a travel website, be very careful that you read the fine print. Oftentimes the least expensive fares restrict carry on and checked bags and have steep costs to add them later or high/non-existent change fees. I experienced a $75 charge for a bag at the airport that I assumed was included as it was for an international flight. I also got bumped from a flight once whereby the airline had not entered the correct flight code.
For airline issues, a few rules of engagement: If you booked third-party, the first thing the airline will do is to blame any issue on the third-party booking site say it isn’t their issue. Of course this is a dead end. Keep all of your paperwork and write down dates that you talked to any airline rep for your records. Take photos of your tickets and bag receipts. If you are getting nowhere with the travel company, go to https://www.elliott.org, This is Chris Elliott, the Travel Troubleshooter. They list who to contact at each travel company to get to the right person and help when you are out of options. I’ve worked with them before, and they were able to help me resolve an issue that had been going on for months promptly. The Important part is to keep good records of your interactions.
Boat: Ahh….a slow, wonderful cruise to sights unknown. A lovely way to travel. We’ve been on ocean cruises and river cruises as well as day trips and short boat trips to a destination. While major cruises are an entire website on their own, a few tips here:
Ocean Ships: Read the fine print. Read the fine print. Read the fine print. What type of cruise are you interested in? We usually choose smaller cruise lines for ocean cruises. Smaller cruises seem more sustainable to the ports we visit. I’ve been in major cities when multiple 3000+ person cruise ships dump tourists all at once, clogging up the streets and the sights. It’s no fun and takes away from the enjoyment of our trip. So, I make an effort to not be part of it by choosing smaller ships.
For any cruise ship, amenities are key and nickel-and- dime charges can really add up. Our personal preference is to choose adults-only ships where most all amenities are included as part of the package (except liquor), and wine/beer are included at meals. Also, excursions off the ship can tend to add up, so carefully review them before you book. We always get a room with a balcony, but the idea of sitting on your balcony watching the ocean go by isn’t necessarily how it works on ocean cruises. A lot of time it’s too windy and wet to sit outside. It is also nice to have a room with seating and a view if possible. Sitting in the main areas can be crowded and noisy.
We prefer adults-only cruises, but you may prefer the activity selection on large ships that serve all ages. Another way to avoid the hubbub of children is to book at a time when school is in.
A final word on tipping…confirm what the tipping requirements are on your ship before you book. Some are required and are included, and some are voluntary. This can add a great deal of expense to your trip if you don’t know about it in advance.
River Cruises: We love river cruises. We go on adults-only cruises and always stay in a room with a balcony. For river cruises, you can sit out on the balcony and enjoy the view as you slowly travel the great rivers of the world.
Again, read the fine print and make sure you understand the room type, meal service, alcohol rules and included vs. extra payment excursions that will be included. What is included and not included differs a great deal between vendors, so be aware.Also, be aware that you may still need to sign up in advance for the excursions even if they are included and free.
Finally, we usually ask which side of the ship will have visual access to the best sights while we are booking, so we can see the best sights from our comfortable room.
Train: What an enjoyable way to travel! Seeing the countryside slide by from your comfortable seat. Train travel is a practical and economical way to travel. There are train trips that are destinations onto themselves like the Rocky Mountaineer, plus high-speed trains to get you from Point A to B quickly. Some trains will give you lunch or dinner, some will sell you snacks. Be aware that many will require you to handle your own luggage. If you don’t want to pay for snacks, you may want to stock up before you get onboard.
Trains allow you the luxury of watching the world go by while relaxing between stops, letting someone else do the driving for you while you appreciate the scenery.
Train travel can be a bit confusing with train schedules being unfamiliar to us, but there are many websites you can go to to book ahead as well as booking ahead at a physical location. Some will have unmanned kiosks only, so you may want to ask your hotel concierge or do a little research on your own before you chart your course, so you are not holding up the line trying to figure out which button to press.
Bus: Buses are an economical way to travel. City buses will take you overland where you need to go. Bus schedules may be a bit difficult to understand if you are not familiar with them, but ask your concierge or tour guide for help or buy your tickets at the main depot where help is available for longer trips. Also, you may need to pay the driver directly or buy your tickets from unmanned kiosks, so be prepared.
Tour buses are usually a pretty comfortable ride, some even have restrooms. We took a regular bus through most of New Zealand. They made plenty of restroom stops and a few photo stops and the rides along the coast were a highlight of our trip. You may want to ask before heading out on a sightseeing tour, which side is the best to sit on to see the sights.
Automobile: I usually don’t like to drive when I travel because I don’t need the stress of me driving and Mom trying to navigate. If you want to drive, do some research on where you are going, the cost of gasoline plus the cost of a rental car. Also take a minute to research road signs and general driving conditions where you are going before you make a final decision.
Iceland for instance, is set up for people to self-drive as is New Zealand, however China and some other countries are not well suited for self-driving.
Take photos of your car before you start and make sure your insurance will cover you or else buy it there.
