I’m quite adventurous. Chef and I are generally willing to rent a car and drive anywhere. But this one city made me park the ride and finish the adventure on foot. True story. More on that later. Over the years, I’ve picked up local transportation tips that have saved me money, time, and more than a little stress. And I’m sharing all of them here.
People are always amazed at my ability to get around once I land in a country. I come from a small rural town with no real public transportation and sometimes unpaved roads. So “How I get around once I land” in these strange cities is a fair question because how you move through a destination changes everything about your trip. Get it right and you save money, see more, and avoid the headaches that eat into your vacation. Get it wrong and you’re overpaying, missing connections, or standing on a curb completely confused about what’s in front of you. I haven’t forgotten the time the taxi driver refused to take us because there were 4 of us. It was drama filled and we ended up walking more blocks than any of us had planned.
After 62 countries, I’ve learned there’s no universal answer to “what’s the best way to get around.” The right choice depends entirely on where you are and who are you with. The bad news, most travel content doesn’t break it down in a way that actually helps you decide before you land. Let’s solve that right now. This is your region-by-region guide to local transportation: when to walk, when to take the train, when to grab a shared ride, and when none of those apply.
Europe: Train First, Car for the Countryside
I’ve spent a lot of time in Europe over the years. The infrastructure in Europe makes the decision on how you get around fairly simple. Now you should know, there is a difference between how you get to a city and how you get around in a city. Don’t make my Seville mistake. Let’s talk about cars and the road system first.
Renting a Car
The easy answer. Rent a car when you’re exploring a region rather than hopping between capitals. Tuscany, the French countryside, the Cotswolds, the Alps. A car becomes essential once you’re outside the cities.
Cars can take you to places where train coverage thins out. To be honest the real charm of Europe is in small towns where a train simply won’t reach. It’s also the better choice if you’re traveling with three or more people, since the cost splits down significantly, or if you’re bad at packing light and need the extra room.
There are a few things to consider if you ar cup for the adventure. I wrote a blog called driving abroad made easy that provides some good insight. Just remember most countries are right side drive like the US. Road signs are pretty universal but streets can be narrow and parking will be challenging.
Taking the Train
Take the train when you’re moving between major cities. If you are not interested in the towns in between major destinations, this is the play for you.
Trains in Europe are fast, comfortable, and walk you straight into the heart of a city center. Remember airports add time to your trip and many of them are a nice haul outside of the city. If the train ride is less than 4 hours, do it. It will take you that long to get through airport security and grab transit into the city anyway. And with the train, there is no security line.
Switzerland, Austria, the Netherlands, and the Scandinavian countries have the strongest networks. France, Italy, and Spain have excellent high-speed connections between major cities specifically. For trip planning, seat61.com is the most reliable resource for routes, passes, and country-specific information. If your route is long, look into overnight trains with a sleeper cabin that costs about the same as a hotel room and saves you an entire day of your itinerary.
Walking Or City Transit
Walk or use city transit once you’ve arrived in a city center. Never plan to drive within a major European city. When we arrived in Seville, we were terrified. The streets were super narrow and the signs impossible to decipher.
A friendly local on a bike saw we were in distress and carefully navigated us through what can only be described as alleys to our hotel. When we arrived he said “Seville was built before cars. You should walk”. And we did for the rest of our time there.
Outside of that, you should know parking is expensive, many city centers have restricted driving zones, and most are genuinely walkable or covered by excellent trams, metros, and buses. Save the rental car for the day you leave the city behind.
Southeast Asia: Local Transport Is Part of the Experience
This is the region where the “right” transportation choice changes block by block, and where embracing it rather than avoiding it tends to make for a better trip overall. Taxis, buses, tuktuks and trains are all a part of the experience. You just have to decide how brave you want to be.
Ride Hailing Apps
Use ride-hailing apps for ease and price certainty. Grab is the dominant app across most of Southeast Asia and functions essentially like Uber. The main difference is it often gives you more options, including booking a motorbike if you’re traveling solo and want to skip traffic entirely. It also removes the need to negotiate a fare, which matters because in this region, haggling over taxi prices is the norm rather than the exception.
TuksTuks & Songthaews
If you’ve never heard of them you are not alone. They are pretty specific to this part of the world (although Tuktuks are quite common in other places now).
Use tuk tuks and songthaews for short, local trips but agree on the price first. Neither typically runs on a meter. A quick ride around a city center should cost only a dollar or two; if you’re quoted significantly more, it’s worth asking a local what the going rate actually is before agreeing. I typically ask hotel staff or restaurant staff to help me order the right one.
In some cities the songthaew runs a genuinely fixed local fare, so it helps to ask rather than negotiate from scratch every time. Just be prepared to climb into what feels like the bed of a pickup truck. The only difference is it’s covered. My country girl genes kicked right in when I saw these in Thailand.
Taking a Scooter / Motorbike
In most cases, this option is terrifying. The idea of jumping on the back of a motorbike and weaving through traffic is Asia has never been high on my list.
Use motorbike taxis for getting through traffic, not for long trips. They’re fast, cheap, and built for navigating the gridlock that plagues many Southeast Asian cities — but anything over thirty minutes starts to get uncomfortable. Save them for short hops, not cross-town journeys.
Buses & Trains
Train service across Southeast Asia is limited and inconsistent in most countries, so an extensive, well-established bus network has become the default for longer overland trips. If you are staying within the city, you will find the bus / subway system convenient, clean and easy to use. Because they are the preferred method of transit by locals, you will also find the packed during typical rush hours and in busier parts of the city.
Use buses for getting between cities and countries. They are significantly cheaper than flying for most routes, with budget options widely available through booking platforms like 12go.asia.
When Walking is Ideal
I’m always up for a nice walk. But I found Southeast Asia was not particularly walkable. Sidewalks are often narrow, uneven, and shared with parked scooters, so it requires more attention than walking at home. In major cities, you will find typical neighborhoods where walking is ideal.
Let’s not forget the heat/humidity. As soon as you hit the streets the sweat starts to flow. So you end up fighting with the sidewalks and fighting against the heat. My take walk when you’re in a genuinely walkable area. Think shopping streets that are pedestrian friendly.
The Caribbean: Charter for Privacy, Ferry for Island Hopping
Caribbean transportation operates on two different systems depending on whether you’re moving around a single island or jumping between several. Most travelers only learn the difference after a confusing first attempt.
Within an island, use a charter when you want privacy or are short on time. In countries like Jamaica, hailing a standard taxi often means sharing the ride with other passengers heading the same general direction. If you need a direct, private ride, you have to specifically request and pay for a charter.
Between islands, weigh ferry versus flight based on distance and budget. Ferries are typically more affordable than flights, include luggage with no hidden fees, and offer more reliable schedules with fewer weather-related cancellations than short-haul flights. They’re also a genuinely scenic way to travel and it’s not unusual to spot marine wildlife along the way.
I opted for the ferry between St Marteen and St Barths and it was rough. If you get seasick easily, I would not choose this option. That said, one windy day and the short flights cancel altogether. Trust me I know.
Choose a flight instead when the ferry route doesn’t exist or the distance is simply too far. Some island pairs have no ferry option at all, and flights remain faster for longer hops despite the added cost and airport logistics.
Rent a car for single-island exploration, but know what you’re getting into. Driving customs, road conditions, and traffic patterns vary significantly by island, and in many places you’ll be driving on the opposite side of the road from what you’re used to. This is a great option for seeing more of an island at your own pace. Just make sure you build in extra time and patience.
South America: Buses Cover More Ground Than You’d Expect
South America is enormous. It’s nearly double the size of Europe. The single biggest planning mistake travelers make is underestimating how long it actually takes to get from one place to another. I opted to drive during my times in South America but even that was painful going between cities.
Use long-distance buses as the backbone of overland travel. Bus networks are the most widely available surface option across the continent, and in countries like Argentina, Chile, and Brazil, the top-tier classes can rival business-class flights. You can find buses with wide reclining seats, onboard bathrooms, meals and it comes at a fraction of the cost of flying. Iconic routes like Buenos Aires to Mendoza or Lima to Cusco are well-traveled and comfortable.
Use domestic flights when the distance is simply too great or the terrain too difficult. Budget airlines fill the gaps where overland travel would eat days rather than hours. I went between Santiago Chile and Mendoza Argentina wine tasting. While a car was a practical option for exploring wine country, it was not an option to move from Chile to Argentina. With the Andes mountains right in the middle, it would have taken forever. Instead use local flights. Mountain roads, border crossings, and rural conditions can turn a “short” distance on a map into a full day of travel, so flying is often worth the cost when your itinerary is tight.
Use metro and city transit once you’ve landed in a major capital. São Paulo, Buenos Aires, Bogotá, Santiago, and Lima all have functional rapid transit systems alongside local buses and ride-hailing apps like Uber and Cabify. In Santiago specifically, a single transit card works across the metro, bus network, and commuter rail. You can pick one up at any metro station before you start exploring.
My Perspective
There’s no single “right” way to get around a destination. There’s only the right way to get around that specific destination. The biggest mistake I see travelers make isn’t choosing the wrong transportation. It’s assuming the system that works at home will translate everywhere else. I was denied boarding once because I didn’t have the exact change. Trying to decipher what the driver was saying in a language I didn’t speak was tricky. But I understood the word “no”.
Research how a country actually moves before you land, not after you’re standing on a curb confused. A few minutes of searching how locals get around will save you money, time, and the kind of stress that has no business being part of your vacation.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best way to get around Europe? Train for travel between major cities, a rental car for exploring rural regions and countryside, and walking or public transit once you’re within a city center.
Is it better to take a ferry or fly between Caribbean islands? Ferries are generally more affordable, include luggage, and have more reliable schedules than short-haul flights, making them ideal for nearby islands. Flights are the better option for longer distances or routes with no ferry service.
Is Grab the best way to get around Southeast Asia? Grab is generally the most convenient option for ride-hailing across Southeast Asia, offering car and motorbike options without the need to negotiate a fare.
Should I take a bus or fly within South America? Buses are typically cheaper, comfortable on major routes, and double as overnight accommodation. Flights make more sense for long distances, difficult terrain, or when your itinerary doesn’t allow for a full day of overland travel.
Should I rent a car when I travel internationally? It depends on the region and your itinerary. A car is most useful for exploring rural areas or regions with limited public transportation. In major cities, it’s typically more efficient to rely on walking, public transit, or ride-hailing apps..
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