How to Utilise Transport Abroad

When you are abroad whether it being on a holiday or a short business trip away, it is important to be able to commute to where you need to be.  If you are anything like me and don’t particularly like hiring a car and driving around a place that you aren’t used to, you will have to look at the other options that are available to you.  Below I have included some key tips and some of the ways that you can travel around an area that is foreign and unknown to you.

Weighing your Options

The first thing you need to do is to find out and decipher what options of travel are available to you.  Like many things, the best place to start is the internet.  With multiple web maps and journey plans available, it is a no brainer to rely on your smartphone initially when weighing your options.  This is all good and well and you will find a lot of your answers and gain a lot of directions from the web but it does not know the ins and outs of the place.  The best place to find out about the best transport options is usually down to the locals; I don’t mean approaching people on the street but why not ask the desk in your hotel or hostel?  They will have all of the information for the best way for you to travel around, which will not only quicken your traveling process but could also save you financially too.

Planning

Once you have all of the information you need, it is essential that you plan out your journey to the best of your ability.  Without doing this you can have all the information in the world but if you don’t know what to do with it, it is pretty pointless.  One of the main things that I tend to do is creating a backup plan.  It is always a good idea to have a backup plan to prevent a situation of being stranded when your original travel plan falls apart.  With good planning this is not something that will happen often but it is always a possibility.  A back up plan consists of alternative routes or times whilst also keeping in mind the additional cost it can have, especially if your plan A is already paid for.

Public Transport

As easy as it is to order taxis consistently during your stay, dependent on where you are it isn’t always the best option.  It is a very direct option of commuting but it can be a bit harsh on your wallet, I know I would rather have that little bit extra cash for you everyday holiday activities.  So without taxis what are you options?  Public transport is ideal; with planning it is easily done and can save you a lot of money if you are moving around a lot.  Across the world public transport is constantly improving and is getting easier and easier all of the time.  I have been speaking to Umberto de Pretto about the worldwide improvements of public transport recently.  De Pretto is the Secretary General of the IRU (International Road Transport Union) and knows a lot about the public transport services.  He sees over the day to day operations which uphold the interest of public transport to ensure economic growth.  He really knows what he is talking about and uses his knowledge to always improve.

Enjoy the Experience

When travelling abroad I always find it enjoyable and important to take in the culture around you.  Look around, you will be amazed at the gift that is the world and using public transport will open your eyes to a lot of different cultures.  So even if you get stressed or nervous about travelling around unfamiliar territory, just try to take it all in and enjoy it!