I enjoy watching the world pass by from a train window. I like drinking a beer in the train’s dining car pretending I’m a sophisticated traveler. I have useful information on train travel, however, for the train analysis I defer to The Man in Seat 61 (www.seat61.com), the greatest in-country travel expert I have stumbled across. His website’s layout can be a little funky at times, but the useful information and links are all present. Seat 61 is the best resource for train, bus, and ferry travel available and anyone, including me, who tries to portray themselves as someone similar is a fraud. All I have are anecdotes and random thoughts.
Trains: Train rides have several price points from upper to lower class—consider experimenting with all options during your travels. India has around seven classes of train travel (because of course India does) and given that the price points don’t vary significantly, I selected the upper-class tickets for long-haul train rides. I met a traveler who claimed he laid out in an overhead luggage rack of the unreserved general class in India; I wouldn’t go that cheap but it’s an interesting story. Upgrading train travel was something I continuously treated myself to during my travels.
If you have no physical limitations reaching the top bunk, opt for the top bunk. Bottom bunks are where people sit and eat. You don’t want to be sleeping down there. Also your bags will be more isolated if you are in the top bunk.
You should purchase train, bus, and ferry tickets in advance. There’s a billion people in India. A billion people in China. And more and more of these billions have the funds to travel by train. If you can’t purchase tickets online in advance of your arrival, purchase the outgoing ride once you arrive, you’re already at the station, instead of a day of departure purchase.
Train stations make for excellent people watching. Certain train stations have tight airport-style security. You’ll want to arrive a little early to watch the buzz and have your bags checked. I could write a book and fill it with colorful and vivid photos, on the experiences and sights in Indian train stations. There’re cows. There’re people sleeping on every available inch of the floor. There’re people rushing to a platform once the train arrives.
Historically Japan Rail passes needed to be purchased outside of Japan, however, as of March 2019, Japan has been experimenting with letting tourists purchase the passes in-country. Eurail passes still need to be purchased outside of Europe. Which site appears first when Googling “Can I purchase a Eurail pass in Europe?” —www.seat61.com. Every answer. Every time.
Buses: Don’t dismiss buses over trains for in-country travel. For around the world travel, where rushing through a country isn’t necessary, taking buses are a major cost saver. While bullet trains are convenient, and in places like Japan a part of the travel experience, they are pricier than taking a bus. Since you are traveling long term it is cheaper to take buses short distances going three hours at a time, one town a day, for a couple of days, than riding a bullet train from major city to major city. You are also guaranteed to reach off the beaten path and uncharted locations.
One of the more unique bus rides I took was a sleeper bus in Laos. It was a bus with bunk beds. I have no idea how bumpy or twisty Laos roads were because I was asleep for the entire ride.
Ferries: Ferries seem like a novel approach to reach your next destination; an approach that other travelers may not consider—wrong. It’s a major mistake to assume that no one takes the ferry, to assume that you found a creative transportation method that the guidebook doesn’t mention. Usually ferries are the cheapest option which means the billions of locals are aware of the ferry route that you think is sneaky. The ferries traversing popular routes will consistently sellout well in advance at all times of the year. If you need a return trip on the ferry, purchase that ticket the same time as you purchase the departing ticket.
Car Rental: There’s no better way to see a country and find local areas than renting a car and driving around until you are deep into the countryside. Unfortunately, with around the world travel, the rental car cost can be a bit prohibitive—unless you plan on sleeping in a car to save on accommodation. There was a time when I could spend weeks sleeping in a car, but it seems that at each birthday I lose a night that I am able to sleep in a car. Now, I can sleep in a car for a night or two, max.
Research and pick your spots for a rental car. I think car rental makes more sense in Europe, where there are better roads, saner drivers, and you can reach small towns easier. In Asia it’s easier to reach similar small towns with a motorbike. If you were ever considering adding a travel companion, renting a car would be a good situation since it will help to lower your costs. At a minimum you should be able to have someone cover your gas expenses. There’s always someone in the hostel that will be interested in joining you on a driving adventure.
Growing up, I thought that manual transmissions went out of style in the 1980s. That may be true in America but it’s not the case in the rest of the world. If you are renting a car and need an automatic transmission you may need to visit an airport car rental location which will have a larger fleet and hopefully an automatic. Always opt for the necessary evil that is the car insurance and damage waiver coverages. You’ve dropped your car insurance, so you have nothing, no safety net, when you rent a car during your international travels.
Motorbikes: At some point you’ll be tempted to rent a motorbike. You can’t travel around the world and not rent a motorbike, especially in Asia. Be careful as Asian roads aren’t smooth, if they are paved at all. The countries with a high percentage of motorbike transportation also seem to have the worst roads. A bolder idea: instead of renting a motorbike, buy a motorbike. If you are circuiting through Southeast Asia, from Hanoi to Singapore (or vice versa), there’s plenty of people selling motorbikes at these terminuses. You’ll know you’re a good negotiator if you can sell the motorbike at the end of the trip for more than you paid at the beginning.
OTHER FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION
Then there’s way, way outside the box thinking on local travel. The best form of transportation I ever heard, was people purchasing auto-rickshaws in India and Sri Lanka, then driving through those countries at their own pace. It’s a unique way to travel although I was not jealous of them. I do not like riding in an auto-rickshaw for more than fifteen minutes let alone as my primary form of transportation. But that is one heck of an adventure. A very, very long and slow adventure.
Different countries have unique local travel experiences. The Philippines has jeepneys. Havana has coco cars. Dhaka has bicycles. The only transportation experience to avoid is the human rickshaws. Any thoughts you have that it may be a distinct experience disappears the first time you see a fourteen-year-old kid pulling two bulky Westerners.
Keep the transportation interesting. It is as much a part of your travels as the attractions, locations, and dining. Do a little planning so the transportation is enjoyable, not painful. That’s a ton of anecdotes and random thoughts—you should have saved time and visited The Man in Seat 61.
If you have no physical limitations reaching the top bunk, opt for the top bunk. Bottom bunks are where people sit and eat. You don’t want to be sleeping down there. Also your bags will be more isolated if you are in the top bunk.
You should purchase train, bus, and ferry tickets in advance. There’s a billion people in India. A billion people in China. And more and more of these billions have the funds to travel by train. If you can’t purchase tickets online in advance of your arrival, purchase the outgoing ride once you arrive, you’re already at the station, instead of a day of departure purchase.
Train stations make for excellent people watching. Certain train stations have tight airport-style security. You’ll want to arrive a little early to watch the buzz and have your bags checked. I could write a book and fill it with colorful and vivid photos, on the experiences and sights in Indian train stations. There’re cows. There’re people sleeping on every available inch of the floor. There’re people rushing to a platform once the train arrives.
Historically Japan Rail passes needed to be purchased outside of Japan, however, as of March 2019, Japan has been experimenting with letting tourists purchase the passes in-country. Eurail passes still need to be purchased outside of Europe. Which site appears first when Googling “Can I purchase a Eurail pass in Europe?” —www.seat61.com. Every answer. Every time.
Buses: Don’t dismiss buses over trains for in-country travel. For around the world travel, where rushing through a country isn’t necessary, taking buses are a major cost saver. While bullet trains are convenient, and in places like Japan a part of the travel experience, they are pricier than taking a bus. Since you are traveling long term it is cheaper to take buses short distances going three hours at a time, one town a day, for a couple of days, than riding a bullet train from major city to major city. You are also guaranteed to reach off the beaten path and uncharted locations.
One of the more unique bus rides I took was a sleeper bus in Laos. It was a bus with bunk beds. I have no idea how bumpy or twisty Laos roads were because I was asleep for the entire ride.
Ferries: Ferries seem like a novel approach to reach your next destination; an approach that other travelers may not consider—wrong. It’s a major mistake to assume that no one takes the ferry, to assume that you found a creative transportation method that the guidebook doesn’t mention. Usually ferries are the cheapest option which means the billions of locals are aware of the ferry route that you think is sneaky. The ferries traversing popular routes will consistently sellout well in advance at all times of the year. If you need a return trip on the ferry, purchase that ticket the same time as you purchase the departing ticket.
Car Rental: There’s no better way to see a country and find local areas than renting a car and driving around until you are deep into the countryside. Unfortunately, with around the world travel, the rental car cost can be a bit prohibitive—unless you plan on sleeping in a car to save on accommodation. There was a time when I could spend weeks sleeping in a car, but it seems that at each birthday I lose a night that I am able to sleep in a car. Now, I can sleep in a car for a night or two, max.
Research and pick your spots for a rental car. I think car rental makes more sense in Europe, where there are better roads, saner drivers, and you can reach small towns easier. In Asia it’s easier to reach similar small towns with a motorbike. If you were ever considering adding a travel companion, renting a car would be a good situation since it will help to lower your costs. At a minimum you should be able to have someone cover your gas expenses. There’s always someone in the hostel that will be interested in joining you on a driving adventure.
Growing up, I thought that manual transmissions went out of style in the 1980s. That may be true in America but it’s not the case in the rest of the world. If you are renting a car and need an automatic transmission you may need to visit an airport car rental location which will have a larger fleet and hopefully an automatic. Always opt for the necessary evil that is the car insurance and damage waiver coverages. You’ve dropped your car insurance, so you have nothing, no safety net, when you rent a car during your international travels.
Motorbikes: At some point you’ll be tempted to rent a motorbike. You can’t travel around the world and not rent a motorbike, especially in Asia. Be careful as Asian roads aren’t smooth, if they are paved at all. The countries with a high percentage of motorbike transportation also seem to have the worst roads. A bolder idea: instead of renting a motorbike, buy a motorbike. If you are circuiting through Southeast Asia, from Hanoi to Singapore (or vice versa), there’s plenty of people selling motorbikes at these terminuses. You’ll know you’re a good negotiator if you can sell the motorbike at the end of the trip for more than you paid at the beginning.
OTHER FORMS OF TRANSPORTATION
Then there’s way, way outside the box thinking on local travel. The best form of transportation I ever heard, was people purchasing auto-rickshaws in India and Sri Lanka, then driving through those countries at their own pace. It’s a unique way to travel although I was not jealous of them. I do not like riding in an auto-rickshaw for more than fifteen minutes let alone as my primary form of transportation. But that is one heck of an adventure. A very, very long and slow adventure.
Different countries have unique local travel experiences. The Philippines has jeepneys. Havana has coco cars. Dhaka has bicycles. The only transportation experience to avoid is the human rickshaws. Any thoughts you have that it may be a distinct experience disappears the first time you see a fourteen-year-old kid pulling two bulky Westerners.
Keep the transportation interesting. It is as much a part of your travels as the attractions, locations, and dining. Do a little planning so the transportation is enjoyable, not painful. That’s a ton of anecdotes and random thoughts—you should have saved time and visited The Man in Seat 61.