Getting around when you’re away from home involves many variables, including how far you need to travel from your hotel room, whether the city you’re visiting is walkable, and how good the roads are. Some cities have few sidewalks while others lack public transportation or have nightmarish traffic problems. Consider your destination city’s quirks as you pick from these four smart ways for getting around when you’re out of town.
Rent a Car
If you’re traveling alone or with only one or two others, renting a car may be the best idea. Luggage can make it difficult for more than three people to share a car, and a van or SUV can be difficult to drive if you’ve never driven one before. Renting a vehicle gives you complete flexibility and is an especially good choice if you’re traveling the countryside where other options are scarce.
Try a Bus Charter
If you’re planning for a larger group, consider a bus charter. You can charter a bus for a day or several days and benefit from the comfortable seats and professional driver. Many coaches even have restrooms, reducing delays from stops. When you choose a bus charter instead of driving yourself, you don’t have to worry about traffic or parking difficulties, plus your driver may have been to the destination before and have useful advice.
Look at Public Transit
In urban areas, public transit is usually affordable and reliable, and they tend to stop at most business destinations and tourist attractions. Ask about daily or weekly passes for additional savings. Keeping up with the schedule can be difficult if you visit an out-of-the-way destination, but most popular areas have frequent city bus or train service. You may even find free downtown trolleys or shuttles in some cities.
Call for a Car
Even if you don’t plan to use a car service, it makes sense to keep a taxi company phone number handy or to sign up for Uber and Lyft accounts, if these services operate in your destination city. You could miss a public transportation connection or get caught in a rainstorm while walking and be unable to get back to your hotel. Having options is a bit of insurance against being stranded.
Renting a car or chartering a bus means you’re in control of your transportation, but relying on public transportation and car services puts others in charge. Which option is right for you depends on the level of control you need. If you have limited time in your destination city, you don’t want to spend it waiting for someone to pick you up. Keep these things in mind when you choose your mode of transportation for your next big trip.