Published on December 2, 2024 · Written by Zack Fenech
There are many options a traveller can pick from to get to and around their destination of choice. Each method depends on where you are, how you want to get around, and what the geographic location allows.
Many people begin their travels with flights, but once at their destination, they have numerous options – from renting a car to drive themselves around, to choosing a train, bus, or rideshare service where they pay a fee and let someone else handle the driving.
Some travellers enjoy the freedom of having their own rental car, but if the trip is for leisure, many prefer to hand that responsibility to someone else. Remember that some destinations only offer specific travel methods, so it’s always worth knowing your options in advance. For a broader look at the full planning process, see our guide on how to plan a trip.
Flights
Flights are the best option for international travel, particularly for getting from home to your selected destination. In today’s market, booking flights online is straightforward, with many airlines and comparison platforms to choose from. When you book, who you book through, and reward programmes can all affect the price you pay.
Best Flight Comparison Tools for Booking Cheap Plane Tickets
Many travel companies offer comparison tools to help you find the best pricing for your trip. The three sites below are among the best for comparing flights and booking your next journey.
Skyscanner
Skyscanner is particularly well-used in the UK and provides flight costs from a wide range of airlines, including many that travellers might not otherwise consider. It also allows you to bundle flights with hotels and car rentals. Founded in 2002, Skyscanner has over 20 years of experience in the field and offers price alerts so you can track fares for specific dates and book when pricing is at its lowest.
Hopper
Hopper is a globally used platform with a user-friendly app for booking travel, tracking prices, and staying informed about global issues that may affect your trip. Backed by major airlines and hotel chains, its price tracking and price freeze features give customers full control over when they commit to a booking. The Hopper Trees initiative – where the company plants two trees for free with every booking – is an excellent option for the environmentally conscious traveller.
Expedia
Expedia is one of the most widely known travel booking platforms in the world. Founded in 1996, it partners with every major airline, hotel chain, and short-term rental site including Vrbo and Airbnb. It offers tickets for all modes of travel including cruises, and includes an activity feature to help you discover things to do once you arrive at your destination.
Trains: Booking Train Tickets Online
Train travel is one of the most underrated options available. Your ticket often includes travel, food, and even accommodation on longer journeys. As a passenger, you can also enjoy the scenic routes that trains pass through – from the Rocky Mountaineer across North America, to the Glacier Express in Switzerland, to The Ghan in Australia. Train travel is also eco-friendly, as dedicated rail routes use less energy than road travel over the same distance.
Best Sites to Buy Train Tickets Online
Train travel is a specific mode of transport, and certain websites and apps have been built specifically around booking rail tickets.
12GoAsia
Focused predominantly on Asia but also covering parts of Africa, 12GoAsia is a must-use platform for rail travel in those regions. It offers easy online booking, a huge number of routes, and detailed travel guides outlining exactly what to expect at each destination. The platform also partners with travel agents through a dedicated portal to keep all options and prices as current as possible.
Rail Europe
Founded in 1932, Rail Europe has spent decades helping travellers navigate European destinations by train. Its app makes booking convenient for frequent travellers, and there is also an affiliate programme for those who want to earn from referrals. A dedicated travel agent portal ensures customers can also access professional assistance when booking.
Busbud
Busbud is a great platform for booking train and bus travel across Canada and many other countries, and is continually expanding. Created by a traveller during a backpacking trip through South America, the platform’s authenticity shows. It pairs with top railway and bus companies to offer comparable options for popular routes, and accounts allow up to five passengers to be saved for easy repeat bookings.
Buses
Bus travel is one of the most cost-effective transport options available. Luggage is stored in undercarriage compartments, leaving you with space to relax during the journey. Chartered bus routes are carefully planned with sensible stops along the way, and searching for local and chartered options in your destination region will surface a wide range of choices.
Top Bus Ticket Booking Sites
Below is a list of the best and most user-friendly sites for finding and booking bus trips.
12GoAsia
In addition to train tickets, 12GoAsia also handles bus bookings across Asia, with searches sometimes returning up to 40 route options. Booking confirmations include details on stops, travel time, and food availability. Seat selection is available for extra legroom or wheelchair access, and travel insurance can be bundled into the booking for added peace of mind.
Busbud
Also excellent for bus travel, Busbud partners with popular bus companies to offer a wide range of options for major routes across Canada and beyond. Real customer reviews of each company are included so you can read firsthand experiences before confirming, and foreseeable schedules give travellers plenty of flexibility when planning.
Omio
Omio is widely used for booking European buses, where many exciting cities are only a few hours apart – and some tickets cost as little as $6. Despite low prices on certain routes, Omio still offers semi-refundable options and seat reservations to ensure both financial flexibility and a comfortable journey.
Car Rentals
Car rentals give travellers the freedom to move around on their own schedule, without being tied to fixed departure times. Many rental locations stock vehicles suited to the local environment – sturdier options in mountainous regions, and smaller cars for the narrow streets of cities like those in Italy. Car-share and peer-to-peer rental options are also available for shorter periods if you only need a vehicle for part of your trip.
Best Car Rental Companies
Below is a list of the most reliable car rental platforms worldwide.
Kayak
Kayak lets users select any vehicle type – car, truck, or van – and compares prices across local rental companies to surface the most affordable options. An AI assistant helps users clarify questions about the rental process or find the best vehicle type for their specific trip, whether that’s a family holiday, a business trip, or a solo adventure.
Expedia
While commonly associated with flights, Expedia also offers car rental bookings that can be paired with a flight for bundled discount rates. Member pricing is available to signed-up users, and the platform allows you to filter by specific rental companies to maximise loyalty rewards or credit card cardholder benefits.
AutoSlash
Endorsed by CNN, AutoSlash focuses on finding the best budget-friendly car rental rates. It asks users about their credit cards and memberships – such as Sam’s Club or PC Points – to surface the most relevant discounts. A price watchlist alerts users when rates drop, and its reviews link directly to Facebook, offering some of the most transparent feedback available.
Rideshare Apps
Rideshare apps have become enormously popular thanks to their convenience. Adding your payment details once gives you on-demand access to rides wherever drivers are available. Taxis remain common near airports and bus stations and are more likely to offer flat rates for longer trips, while rideshare apps calculate fares through the app itself.
Top Rideshare Apps
Uber
Uber is arguably the most popular rideshare app in the world, available across dozens of countries and covering everything from short five-minute trips to hour-long commutes. The app is free and available on all major smartphone platforms. Uber offers multiple service tiers, from Uber Pool (carpooling-style) to Uber Black (luxury vehicles with enhanced privacy). The company has also announced a goal to be 100% emission-free by 2040.
Lyft
Lyft offers flexible pricing based on timing – priority pickups cost a little more, while selecting a later pickup can reduce the fare. The platform is designed to accommodate all riders, including those with physical disabilities, so customers using wheelchairs are not charged additional fees. Lyft also integrates with airlines and Airbnb, and offers a free business profile for corporate travellers managing bookings for themselves and their teams.
Grab
Grab is Southeast Asia’s leading rideshare app and is growing rapidly. It offers multiple privacy levels within the app and airport guides for scheduling rides that align with your flight arrival. GrabChat automatically translates messages into the local dialect – a significant benefit for travellers unfamiliar with the local language. Large groups can also pre-book rides up to a week in advance for up to 40 people.
Bolt
Bolt is predominantly used in Europe but has expanded to additional countries worldwide. It charges drivers a smaller commission, which can result in lower fares for passengers. In addition to ridesharing, Bolt also offers car rentals through the app and provides airport guides for the most popular airports around the globe.
Ferries and Boats
Ferries are a common way to reach island destinations, whether for a short crossing to a nearby airport or a longer journey to island nations like Malta. Some travellers choose ferries even when flights are available, preferring the scenic route and the chance to experience aquatic wildlife along the way.
Top Ferry Ticket Sites
DirectFerries
DirectFerries covers boat travel to and within a large number of countries, with an easy-to-use website that also offers accommodation booking so you can arrange your ferry and hotel in one place. The site’s special offers page lists all available coupon codes, saving you the time of searching elsewhere for discounts.
FerryHopper
Covering 26 countries and searching listings from 117 companies, FerryHopper has a vast pool of options to find the cheapest ferry tickets. It offers a 1+1 deal for specific ferries, making it a great option for couples. Founded in 2017, FerryHopper has already sold over 10 million tickets – impressive growth for a relatively young platform. Its social media presence, marked by a human and approachable tone, gives the company a genuine and trustworthy feel.
12GoAsia
12GoAsia is also one of the best platforms for booking ferry trips across Asia. Some tickets booked through the platform cost as little as $22 per person. Travel guides help outline the best times to book and show exact ferry routes, and some bookings even include a van transfer to and from the ferry terminal – making the entire journey seamlessly arranged from your hotel door onwards.
Scooter and Bicycle Rentals
Scooter and bicycle rentals are becoming increasingly popular, with more cities expanding their cycling infrastructure and the cost of rentals being much lower than car hire or bus tickets. They are also a great eco-friendly option. Depending on where you are in the world, local cycling transit options will vary – the platforms below cover a wide range of destinations.
Grab
Grab can also be used to schedule motorcycle pickups and rent bicycles, with flat-rate costs available for a set number of hours. Safety is a priority – the app advises on safe riding practices, often provides helmets, and helps you locate the nearest available bikes for easy pickup, with the option to schedule a booking up to 30 minutes in advance.
Lime
With over seven years of operation, Lime has become very popular in North America. It offers electric bikes and scooters that provide extra speed and range while remaining eco-friendly – even Lime’s warehouses are run with sustainability in mind. The app shows your nearest vehicle and its current battery level, and also offers discounted helmets to ensure rider safety.
Bird
Bird operates a large and growing fleet of scooters and bicycles. New riders can select a beginner mode within the app, which uses gentle acceleration and gradually builds to full speed – a helpful feature for those unfamiliar with electric scooters. The app also includes a feature to discourage riding under the influence of alcohol, and vehicles are cleaned regularly to minimise germ transfer between riders.
Final Thoughts: Choosing the Best Transportation Option
No matter the trip, transportation is always worth thinking carefully about when planning your travels. Comparing bus and train ticket prices, weighing car rental against ridesharing, and researching the local transport options at your destination can collectively save you hundreds – and significantly enhance your overall experience. Most major platforms and apps are built with safety in mind, making it straightforward to find a reliable, comfortable option no matter where you’re headed. Don’t forget to also arrange an eSIM so you can stay connected and navigate with ease once you arrive.
FAQs about Transportation
What are the best times to book transportation for the lowest prices?
Many booking platforms offer price tracking tools to help you identify when costs are at their lowest. Based on general trends, fares are often cheapest in the first three to five days of a month. Even without a tracking tool, manually logging prices over time can help you spot the best moment to book.
Is it better to book transportation online or at my destination?
Online booking tends to be better for flights, especially when credit card reward programmes offer points or upgrades. Browser plugins like PayPal Honey can also surface coupon codes automatically. In-person booking works well for taxis, private drivers, and local transport – particularly when paying with cash, which can sometimes result in a better rate.
Are there specific apps for finding eco-friendly transportation options?
Yes. A growing number of apps and websites focus on low-impact travel options and offer tips for minimizing your environmental footprint. Companies across the industry have responded to traveller demand by offering greener alternatives and carbon offset programmes.
What are the safest transportation options for solo travellers?
Options that offer privacy and control – such as renting your own car – tend to be the safest for solo travellers. Rideshare apps with built-in safety tracking, such as Uber, are also a reliable choice. Researching the general safety reputation of your destination before you go is equally important.
How can I find transportation options in areas with limited internet access?
Local help centres, tourist information offices, and libraries can all provide guidance on transport options and may be able to make bookings on your behalf. Seeking out locations with public Wi-Fi Рsuch as caf̩s or hotel lobbies Рcan also help you review plans or make adjustments when needed.
