Wednesday 21 March 2018

Should I travel by plane, train, bus or.....?



Following on from my previous post on the considerations involved in choosing the right travel accommodation, the next big ticket item for a trip would be the mode of transport to bring one to the travel destination. There are many options such as self-drive, taking the train, boarding an airplane, sailing on a cruise, taking a bus and even cycling or walking (if one is adventurous enough). With so many options to choose from, how do we decide which is the best mode for us?

For my husband and I, we usually rely on three main modes of transport - airplane, train and bus. Although self-drive is a popular choice of transportation, the lack of confidence in our driving skills as well as the lack of familiarity of the roads in a foreign land resulted in us not utilizing this mode. Based on our experiences, we would like to share with you the various thought processes that we go through to pick the mode of transport that is best suited for each trip.

Cost
As with all other aspects of a trip, cost is usually the first consideration that we look at. When it comes to cost, there are different prices tagged to the different modes of transport. With the exception of travel promotions, the cost of travelling on an international flight is usually the highest, followed by the cost of travelling on a budget flight or travelling by train. Travelling by bus is usually the least expensive option out of these three choices. In most cases, the cost is usually inversely proportional to the duration of the commute.

Some questions that we usually ask ourselves when deciding on the budget for our mode of transport to our destinations would include:
· How much can we afford to spend on transport to our destination? (after taking into consideration the rough estimates of accommodation cost and daily living expenses)
· What are some of the hidden cost of the transportation that has to be factored in?

Similar to accommodation cost, we tend to be also prudent with regards to the cost involved for our mode of transport. This is crucial so that we do not burst our budget and end up having to scrimp and save on food and visits to the touristic sites at our destination. To ensure that this cost stays within budget, we also have to look into some other hidden costs as well. For example, some budget airlines would impose hefty charges on checked luggage and it might be useful to consider the possibilities of travelling light in such cases. Bringing on board our own snacks and drinks would also help to minimize additional charges on some flights/trains for meals on board. In addition, sometimes, the airport or bus/train station is located far way from the city center and transportation to and fro would be necessary. Hence, in cases like this, such additional transportation cost would also need to be factored into the transport budget.


Comfort
As with travel accommodations, transportation should be comfortable enough to mark a good start to a trip! Imagine having to be stuck for what seems like an eternity on a bumpy ride in a cramped environment with super uncomfortable seats - I would surely need some time to recover from the journey before being able to start my trip proper!

When assessing the need for comfort for our transportation between countries, we usually ask ourselves the following questions:
· Will any discomfort on the journey be too long for us to bear?
· For overnight transports: Will we be able to get a good night rest on this mode of transport?
· Is there a great price difference between the different classes of transport?

Generally, the need for comfort during our commute from countries to countries depends on how long the journey is. A slight discomfort on a short journey is definitely something my husband and I can tolerate. However, for overnight transports, where it is crucial for us to get a good rest in order to be ready to explore places the next day, we would not hesitate to pay a bit more for a more comfortable ride!

Occasionally, my husband and I might also opt for a higher class of transport if there is no huge differences between the different classes of transport! Of course, this random indulgence have to stay within the transport budget that we have decided upon prior to the trip! If it is within the budget, why not? ;P


Convenience
Convenience of a particular mode of transport, is another crucial yet often neglected factor to consider. All modes of transport will eventually bring us to the country of our destination but we must also consider the proximity in which it will bring us to the actual sites that we will be visiting during the trip!

Some of the questions pertaining to convenience that we will ask ourselves include:
· What are the transportation options to get to our destination?
· Upon arrival, how far are we away from the city centre?
· Is there a need for additional travelling to get into the city centre? If so, is it easy and straightforward to do so?
· Do we have to be at the station/airport a few hours in advance for security and border clearance?
· Are there amenities (toilet, snack bars etc) available?

It is important to determine what transportation options are available to bring us to our destinations. We can only make comparisons when there are two or more options available! My husband and I generally prefer travelling by train or bus than by plane. However, travelling by bus or train is not without its cons. For example, when we travel by bus, we would have to do additional preparatory work to identify the bus-stop to alight at. During the bus journey, we would also have to be on the constant lookout for the particular bus-stop lest we missed it and end up having to walk quite a distance to our destination. For trains, although the stations are located nearer to the city centre, most of them tend to be at the fringe of the city and hence there might still be the need to navigate a short distance to the city centre.

Despite all these, we still feel that travelling by train or bus is more convenient than travelling by plane due to two main reasons: (1) the bus/train stations are usually located nearer to the city center as compared to the airports - hence requiring lesser time to travel to the city center; (2) there is definitely a need to be at the airport a few hours in advance for security and border clearance whereas for most bus/train stations, there is only the need to be there 15-30 minutes prior to departure - lesser time spent at the transportation stations means more time to spend exploring places!

For us, we would also think about the availability of certain amenities when considering convenience of a mode of transport. Amenities such as toilets or snack bars are readily available on trains and planes. However, not all the travel buses have such amenities. For these buses, such amenities are only available when the bus stops at certain kiosks along the way for commuters to have their toilet breaks or to purchase some snacks. To me, I usually have a stronger preferences for the modes of transport that has such amenities easily available so that instead of waiting till the arrival at the next kiosk, I can use the toilet as and when there is a need to and I can easily purchase food to satisfy my hunger at any point during the commute.

Having said that, convenience, is by itself a rather subjective factor and ultimately, it all depends on what one feels is essential for a smooth commute to the destination! :)


Time
Apart from the above mentioned three Cs, there is another consideration that we would give equal emphasis to when it comes to transportation, and that is Time. With that, I refer to the duration of commute to our destinations. Time is certainly an important consideration and we want to fully utilise it for our trip!

Some of the questions that we usually ask ourselves pertaining to transportation duration includes:
· How much time do we have for the trip?
· Will we face any problems if we arrive at our destination too early?
· Are there any additional benefits in opting for the longer duration transportation mode?

It is always important to assess how much time we have allocated for a trip. For example, when we only have a limited amount of time to spend on a trip, we would usually search for the mode of transport that would bring us to our destination in the shortest amount of time. This is crucial so that we can spend more time exploring places rather than spending it on transportation. However, on the other hand, when we are not as pressed for time, the modes of transport with a longer travel duration such as cruise or sleeper trains can be better options as we can enjoy the slow pace of the journey and enjoy the beautiful views along the way. Such overnight commutes are also good ways to save on accommodation!

Although arriving earlier at our destination means that we have more time to explore the place, it could also pose some problems that might dampen our moods. In a few of our travels, we arrived way too early at our destination and realised that most of the shops and restaurants remained closed and as it was still too early to check into our hotel, we were left wandering aimlessly on the quiet streets. Hence, when selecting the mode of transport, it would be beneficial to do some research to have a rough understanding of the opening hours of shops and restaurants and whether they are open on Sundays and public holidays (most of them remain closed during this period in Europe).

So, to sum up with regards to all the considerations that I have mentioned, I have come up with a table comparing the three main modes of transport that my husband and I usually use for our travels:

Time
Cost
Comfort level
Convenience
Bus
Long commute duration
Low cost
High (for short journey); Low (for long journey)
Average - Good (No need to be at station hours prior to departure, usually located within city center, amenities not readily available (tho some buses may have built in toilets))
Train
Can be short or long, depending on destination
Can be low or high, depending on destination
High
Good (amenities readily available, no need to be at stations hours before departure, usually located near the city center)
Airplane
Short commute duration
High cost
Average - High
Poor - Average (Amenities readily available, need to be at airport hours prior to departure for clearance, usually located far from city center and hence additional travelling cost to travel to and fro the airport)

How about you? What is your favorite mode of transport and what are your main considerations when it comes to such selections? Do feel free to share with us in the comment section below! :)



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Related Post:

What are your considerations when it comes to choosing accommodations for your travels?

22 comments:

  1. As I live in an area where train service is not practical, I use air travel for any bigger trips. I'm always short on resources (time and money), so finding a quick flight at a reasonable price are my priorities. But having travelled quite extensively in Europe, I am envious of their amazingly efficient, safe, and reasonably priced train service and would recommend that for anyone travelling from one European country to another.

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    1. Hi Doreen, thanks for sharing your views on this topic :) Indeed, the train system in Europe is quite advanced and comfortable - which is also why I would usually go for trains if time permits :)

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  2. Thank you for this insightful post! Made for a lovely read. :)

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    1. Hi Priya, you are most welcome, glad that you enjoyed this post :)

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  3. I would say train definitely if you're not in a hurry!

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  4. I prefer to take a train if a can, its smooth and quick and more convenient then waiting at an airport/going through security but more expensive then taking a bus. Like you said, its all about weighing up what's more important to you. A bad travel day can really put a downer of your trip!

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    1. Hi Perri, thanks for sharing your views on this topic and yes, I totally agree with you in the need to weigh out what is important to one for that particular trip :)
      Cheers!

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  5. Very informative post. Helpful tips for those who are puzzled with this question.

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    1. Hi Pujarini, thanks for the encouraging comments. Hope this post has been helpful to you as well :)

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  6. A very nice comparison. We often come across this dilemma on our trips. For me, I am not much of a bus person. I am more comfortable in a train since there is so much more space to move around, stretch your legs and I find it more comfortable too. Coming to the plane -of course it is the fastest but then as you rightly said, one has to arrive hours before, which adds to the commute time.

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    1. Hi Neha, thanks for sharing your thoughts on this topic :) Well, each mode of transport has its own pros and cons and as long as we can find one that suits our needs, that's all that matters doesn't it ? :)

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  7. You did a great job consolidating all these little details and factors to take into consideration when choosing the mode of transport to utilise to get from one place to another. I normally will choose to take flights into other countries and thereafter utilise their public transport (or just walk) to get around.

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    1. Hi Nathan, thanks for sharing your experiences when it comes to choosing your mode of transport for your travels :) Utilizing the local public transport is definitely a good way to learn more about the way of life in that particular place you are traveling and it is a good spot to interact with the locals as well :)

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  8. Very nice and unconventional post! When it comes to long distance inter-state travel, we prefer airplane. I agree we need to reach airport a couple of hours before the departure time, however, for long distance, it saves multiple days of travel unlike train. We generally look for flight deals and book refundable rates in advance. For trips to the nearby destinations, we find self-drive or train a better option. Your post has, however, made me rethink about opting for buses as a mode of transport. Thanks for sharing these great ideas. :)

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    1. Hi! Thanks for sharing your experiences in selecting the mode of transport for your travels! :) You have made a good point about booking refundable plane tickets...we never know if something will crop up at the last minute yah? ;P Anyway, glad that my post has been helpful to you!
      Cheers!

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  9. I loved how you differentiated between the modes of transport. There are pros and cons for each type of transportation modes, and choosing between them plays an important role in our travel plans. We can select between train or bus as per our wishes, but sometimes airplane becomes mandatory as we cannot go by train to different continents.

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    1. Hi Yukti, thanks for dropping by and for sharing your views on this topic. Indeed, for some places, there are limitations in our choices of mode of transport, but well, that would just make our life easier when there is lesser need for comparisons eh? ;P

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  10. The mode of transport is indeed a very important component of travel. Again it depends on so many factors like cost and comfort. Time too is another important factor. One may want to better spend time at the destination itself rather than spend in traveling. So ultimately it is something based on the travelers profile and requirements.

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    1. Hi! Indeed, as with all other aspects for a particular trip, all that matters is selecting the one choice that best suits your traveling needs :)

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  11. I'm usually dependent on public transport as well when I travel. I fully agree with you on the factors you need to consider before choosing a mode of transport. The one chosen ultimately would depend on your own priorities with regard to the relative importance of these factors.

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    1. Hi Denny, thanks for sharing your experiences on transportation during your trips. Yes, though I have listed out the pros and cons of the various modes of transport, different individuals may hold different views to them as these pros and cons are still relative to their traveling needs :)

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