But despite all of these decisions, the end-all always circles back to money. And when you\u2019re spending a lot on a trip, it\u2019s important to make budget cuts wherever you can. Enter transportation<\/strong>: the single biggest budget-buster on any trip. Regardless of whether you stay in a fancy resort or an Airbnb, your flight will likely be your biggest travel expense. But what happens when you need to get around the country? Surely, additional travel will drive you bankrupt? Not exactly.<\/p>\n With so many different modes of transportation available — some pricey and quick, others cheap and long-haul — it’s hard to decide which is best for you. However, there are distinct and important pros and cons to each. Learning about these can help you decide when it’s time to splurge, and when it’s time to hold your wallet a little bit closer.<\/p>\n Traveling by plane is the quickest and most comfortable way to get across a country, often turning a 12+ hour bus ride into a 1-hour trip. They\u2019re all set for you, have easily trackable and distinct schedules, and are generally very reliable. They\u2019re the no-fuss choice for a busy backpacker who doesn\u2019t have time to muck about with long highway trips.<\/p>\n Because\u00a0it’s\u00a0the fastest and most comfortable option, air travel<\/a> will almost always be the most expensive option available to you. In places like the U.S. or Canada, a one-way trip<\/a> can get as expensive as $400, so it won\u2019t be the most budget-friendly choice.<\/p>\n When to Opt for a Plane<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n We recommend that you use a plane for domestic travel when you have a very short vacation period and need to get somewhere quickly. When you have the luxury of a long vacation, time is a less valuable resource because you simply have more of it, but short trips make your time the most valuable resource. If you\u2019re going somewhere for a week or less, splurge and just get to where you need to go.<\/p>\n Probably the second-fastest mode of transport other than a plane, trains will get you where you need to go as quickly as possible on land. There\u2019s no traffic, and they\u2019re generally running on a timely schedule with minimum stops along the way. You know exactly where you\u2019re getting on and exactly where you\u2019ll be getting off. Also, they usually have bathrooms included, which can be a huge <\/em><\/strong>plus on a long-haul ride.<\/p>\n Because trains are usually the fastest mode of land travel, they\u2019re also usually the most expensive. There are obviously all types of price options depending on your expected level of comfort and seat selection, but they are generally more expensive than buses. Also, because they don\u2019t stop in many places, when you get on a train you\u2019re on it for the long haul. In addition, trains are large and therefore have lots of people. This means that you should have your most precious belongings (passport, phone, wallet) on your person at all times to avoid the possibility of being pickpocketed.<\/p>\n When to Opt for a Train<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Trains are a lovely middle ground between booking a pricey flight and riding a cheap bus. They\u2019re a somewhat conservative budgetary option that doesn\u2019t have to compromise comfort and speed for the money. If you have a week or two on your trip and a moderate budget, we suggest picking a train and saving a bit of time.<\/p>\n Related: Do You Know About the Different Ways to Get to and from the Airport?<\/a><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n Buses are easily the cheapest option for travel that you\u2019ll find in any country. Whether you splurge on a $30 tourist bus or a $3 local bus, there\u2019s no denying that this mode of transport will save you the most money. Some are air-conditioned and have a bathroom, some are sleeper buses that have reclining seats and allow you to sleep. And some even have free WiFi. Be sure to check the bus company\u2019s online reviews to see which amenities will be available to you.<\/p>\n As with any other budget-conscious option, buses come with a laundry list of downsides. They usually are the longest and most tedious transport option, often stopping to pick up locals along the way. They can be wildly uncomfortable and jam-packed with people, leaving you susceptible to pickpockets. Keep in mind that even long-haul bus rides may not have bathrooms and will only make occasional stops. Also, booking VIP Buses <\/em>often don\u2019t mean you’ll experience anything extravagant or luxurious.<\/p>\n When to Opt for a Bus<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n Although they come with some cons, buses are definitely the most cost-effective way to travel for the gap-year backpacker who doesn\u2019t have a lot of money to spend. If you find yourself with two weeks or more and need to count your change, bite the bullet and take the bus. Ultimately, it will be worth it. We recommend checking company reviews online to see what you\u2019re getting into, and that doesn\u2019t mean going to the bus company\u2019s self-promoted website. Do your research and go in with few expectations.<\/p>\n Boat prices can vary depending on how luxurious you\u2019d like your journey to be, but there are many options that can be even cheaper than a bus ride. They can take you across rivers and bodies of water way faster than a bus can get around them. And, they can even save you accommodation money if you opt for overnight ferry rides.<\/p>\n There\u2019s no way around it: seasickness is a real factor here. Boats can also be overcrowded and occasionally sub-par on the cleanliness front. Overall, with ferries, you get what you pay for. If you pay for a budget ferry, don’t expect any fancy accommodations. There are even ferries that only have hammocks as beds.<\/p>\n When to Opt for a Boat<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n For starters, if you’re prone to getting seasick, boats are never a good option. But, if you can manage it, go ahead and choose to sail one when the water option is faster than any land transportation. Also, there may be some destinations that can only be reached by boat (some islands off the coasts of Colombia or Thailand, for example), so it’s worth the perceived discomfort if it gets you where you want to go.<\/p>\nPlanes<\/h2>\n
![\"Family](\"https:\/\/otwp-admin.fareportal.com\/going-places\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Family-by-airplane.jpg\")
Easily the quickest and most effective, planes are the obvious go-to when it comes to travel. Our minds are programmed to associate travel with finding cheap flights<\/a>, mostly because we usually need a plane to get to our destinations. When we travel to and from a country, it\u2019s almost inevitable that we\u2019ll need to book a flight, but travel within the country can be a bit more variable. Some countries offer domestic flights<\/a> as cheap as $20 (depending on where you are), while others can cost you up to $400. Opting for buses and trains over planes for domestic travel will minimize transport costs as much as possible. But, it always comes at the expense of time and comfort.<\/p>\nPlane Pros<\/h4>\n
Plane Cons<\/h4>\n
Trains<\/h2>\n
![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/otwp-admin.fareportal.com\/going-places\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Woman-waiting-for-train.jpg\")
Trains come in all different shapes and sizes, and that’s even more\u00a0prominent\u00a0when you\u2019re abroad. A train ride in Sweden, for example, will be very, very different from a train ride in India. Nevertheless, trains are always a reliable means of transport when you\u2019re looking to get somewhere in a moderate amount of time with a moderate amount of comfort. Because they run on their own tracks, they bypass traffic and are therefore probably the fastest method of ground transport that you can find.<\/p>\nTrain Pros<\/h4>\n
Train Cons<\/h4>\n
Buses<\/h2>\n
![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/otwp-admin.fareportal.com\/going-places\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Woman-riding-the-bus.jpg\")
Ahh, buses… cheap, fun, and brimming with people. Buses are easily the most thrifty option for the frugal traveler who wants to save their precious pennies for food or sightseeing. But, depending on what you book, buses can be pretty grim. If you’re not used to long, bumpy bus rides (we’re talking 12+ hours,) avoid sleeper buses and try and find tourist buses. They may be slightly more expensive but they come with amenities such as air conditioning and reclinable seats. All in all, buses are a solid choice for anyone who has a bit more time and a bit less money.<\/p>\nBus Pros<\/h4>\n
Bus Cons<\/h4>\n
Boats<\/h2>\n
![\"Couple](\"https:\/\/otwp-admin.fareportal.com\/going-places\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Couple-riding-a-boat.jpg\")
Along the same line as buses, boats can vary in size and experience. We can think of horror stories of ferry rides that were overpopulated and dirty, but also amazing experiences abroad fancy and comfortable luxury boats. Boats are limited in scope, as they can really only take you across the water. But they can also be invaluable assets for cheap travel when your destination is just an ocean, lake, or river away.<\/p>\nBoat Pros<\/h4>\n
Boat Cons<\/h4>\n
Car\u00a0Services<\/h2>\n
![\"Car](\"https:\/\/otwp-admin.fareportal.com\/going-places\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/Car-service.jpg\")