Backpackers Travel Guide 101: Flights & Transportation
So now that you’re excited about going on your backpacking adventure, you have to click back to reality and start booking flights. Us Americans are convinced that airfare is supposed to be expensive and you have to save your lunch money for months before flying out of the country. This is only partially true. The more flexible you are with dates, location and season, the better the deals you’ll get. Once you’re on foreign ground, flights and other transportation get way cheaper. Sometimes its wise to book ahead; sometimes its better to purchase in your destination country. Need help figuring it all out? No worries, we’re here for you;
FLIGHTS
(and how to get a cheap one):
When booking your tickets, think about using sites other than your favorites or ones you’re currently familiar with (like Travelocity.com or orbitz.com). Although these sites claim to offer the best rates, they are not geared to backpackers, rather traveling business people and people going on vacations domestically or internationally. Check out some of these sites instead:
Ryainair (Flights within Europe)
Pretty much if you get lucky and book early you can get a flight for 0.99Euro (depending on the exchange rate, that’s under $2.00) plus taxes. Compare that to flights from the U.S. to anywhere and you’re bound to crap your pants. As far as there being a catch:
Ryainair may sometimes fly to out-of-the-way airports within Western/Eastern Europe and some other limited locations. So you will need to consider ground transportation once you land.
Baggage space is quite limited and they will charge you up the wazoo for items exceeding their limits. Check the regulations before you leave and our packing section to minimize your load and costs.
The planes themselves are small but have hot stewards/stewardesses so it all balances out.
Fares are never refundable. Make sure you get to the check-in window with at least an hour to spare.
If your desired list of destinations doesn’t include London, similarly cheap airlines exist in other parts of the world (and come with similar compromises). Check out this site for your cheap flying needs: http://www.attitudetravel.com/ .
Circular Approach
If this is your first time traveling, you may be hesitant to leave any gaps in your airplane travel itinerary. Buying a roundtrip ticket seems like the natural thing to do. You picked your destinations and now you will link them together in a logical way. Depending on where you choose to go, this may be a cost effective idea as one-way tickets from here to London are more than half of a roundtrip ticket. Similarly, booking all of your destination flights in advance is a good way to organize your trip and maybe save some money by booking in advance. Essentially, what you’re buying here is comfort and peace of mind. You will always know where you need to be and know where you’ll be going next with home being the final destination. But, know that there is another approach that can save you even more money and allow for the inevitable flexibility that will be required along the route…
One-Way Approach
Buy a one-way ticket. Its sounds risky, scary and like you’re fleeing the country but there are some benefits to a one-way ticket that complement backpacking that will be worth it if you choose to take the risk. The level of planning you chose to do from home once you purchase a one-way ticket should be limited. This approach will test your thinking-on-your-feet skills but is well worth it. This is why:
Your travel plans can be more flexible and you can take full advantage of unplanned adventures as the opportunities arise (for instance: you’re in Dubai and are having the time of your life with a group of backpackers, they leave in the morning for Tangiers and you have to get a flight (that you booked at home) to Croatia which becomes a buzz kill. If your plans aren’t definite, you can check for cheap flights online and continue the party with your new friends.
Open-Jaw Flights
Open jaw flights are multi-destination tickets where you from point A to point B to point C back to point A.
An In-Between Compromise:
If you want the security of knowing you will be back home at some point, go ahead and book a return flight from your initial destination but leave the in-between flying up to your gut instincts; it will save you lots of frantic running to the airport with your backpack.
Airpasses
Airpasses are promotional packages offered by allied airlines around the world that allow you to visit a determined list of cities offered in the particular pass you choose to purchase. Residents of the localities included in the package are not qualified to purchase these passes, which leaves a lot of the buying to us Americans. The prices are reasonable if you consider all the places available for visit. Check out packaged deals here: http://www.airtimetable.com/airpass.htm. Again, remember your flexibility is sacrificed the more you pre-determine your trip but hey, if it’s a good deal, go for it and do some extra traveling before or afterward.
Around the World Tickets
Lots of different options but its like buying in bulk, by getting airfare to various places, you save on each ticket. Around the world tickets can cost anywhere from $1,200 – $8,000. But, they are indeed a good value and fairly flexible if you plan on doing a lot of traveling all at once. Go to:
Also, check our article: How to Fly Around the World for Free, Seriously!
On Ground:
Many parts of the world have great underground metro systems. Transport package deals with backpackers in mind:
There are two types of transport packages around Europe you can purchase ahead of time (Eurorail:train, Busabout:bus). They work in a similar way: you purchase a certain looped (or limited) route pass that allows you to various destinations. You can choose to stay for as long as you like (within the time period of your pass) or move on to the next location on the next train/bus.
Eurorail
Depending on where in Europe you go, train tickets can get costly (depending on distance and advance purchase, $10-$200 per trip). Eurorail’s package deals give you the most for your buck if you figure out your destinations ahead of time. There are hundreds of options and routes to choose from which makes it easier to tailor to your specific needs. Passes are first broken down by regions of interest. You can get a global pass (which includes 21 participating countries, but for a higher price tag), select pass (3-5 countries) , regional (between 2 countries) or a single country pass (where train travel is permitted only within your country of choice). Once you pick the countries you wish to visit, passes are further broken down by either length of time traveled (unlimited rail access for 3 months) or by discreet use days. Check out Eurorail: find the best pass as a useful tool to pick your pass.
We suggest…As far as pricing goes, they offer a youth (25 and under), adult (26 and over) and group (2 or more) rates. If you are traveling with a partner, and both of you are 25 and under, there is no reason to go for the group rate as it is more expensive per person. Get your own passes. If one of you (or both) are 26 and over, then the group rates become a better deal.
Busabout
Basically, you get a pass here and jump on a bus (in Europe). Similar to Eurorail, you get a pass based on your destinations and preferred length of use. The difference is these buses are specifically developed for backpackers and you will meet mostly backpackers on them (whereas the trains are used by Europeans, tourists and backpackers alike). The bus is a little more limited in that the loops associated with the passes are more pre-determined destination-wise. To remedy this, Busabout created “flexi trip” where you can pay about $500 bucks and design your own trip around the stops they have in their network (up to 6 stops). Pick (or make) your perfect pass here (http://www.busabout.com/Explorer ).
Bikes
Bikes have been popular forms of transport around the world way before Americans caught on to the Green Revolution. Bikes go where no train, bus, car or elephant can. They are faster than your feet and are a great work out for your ass and thighs. Check out our article, If Trains, Planes, Buses and Ferries Aren’t Enough: How to Ride a Bicycle Through Europe.
Ferrys
Some places around the world are only accessible by boats (think islands). If these destinations are in your itinerary, you will need to factor in ferries. Youra.com provides you with a handy list of all world ferries.
Hitchhiking
Is a form of travel for the ballsy. Surprisingly, hitchhiking is more common (and less dangerous) abroad. This is the method of travel where you make a puppy face and stick out your thumb. If you’ve got what it takes, check out http://www.autostop.lt/links.php. This site links you to everything you will ever need to know about hitchhiking (its like a world of its own out there). Testimonials, hitchhiking atmospheres in various countries and the hitchhiking conference (they’ve now had 4 annual conferences about hitchhiking, who knew?)
Elephant/Camel rides
Animals make great transportation…Ancient trains, buses and cars were horses, elephants and camels.
Check out Indian Elephant Safari which cost as little as $75 to $100 per day and Camal Caravans where they claim camels are the “ships of the desert” (which can cost as little as $6.00 if you bargain with Egyptian tour guides).
Cars
Car rental places will cater to tourists at any international airport. Here is a list of international car rental companies: Avis, Budget, Europcar (for EU), Hertz, Thrifty.
Make sure your driver’s license is valid internationally by getting an IDP (International Driving Permit)…you’ll have to pick one up at your local DMV (oh fun). Different countries have different road signs (This one is a beauty), so be prepared to be confused and very careful.
Your feet
They’re your feet, what can we say. Get good shoes, a few pairs of socks and start moving. If your feet take you to local bars, let them. If they land you in some scenic ruins, thank them. Should they start smelling, wash them. You get the picture.
- All transport tickets (especially plane tickets) have seasons just like locations and vary from place to place. Low season (like when it rains in beachy places) is always way cheaper than high season (like Christmas or Octoberfest), so book accordingly.
- Work in the travel industry (travel writers, steward/stewardesses, seasonal jobs) for transportation discounts.
- A great way to get a discounted flight is to volunteer. Check out: flyforgood.com offers discounted airfare if you provide proof that you are involved in a volunteer program in your destination city.
- Bargaining works in all situations. Call up your airline of choice and tell them you want a cheaper fare. Sound firm and unrelenting.
- Friends with benefits: makes friends with people who’s parents are in the transportation industry. They can work out a discount for you as a “family” member.
Whatever your approach may be in getting around places you want to visit, keep in mind that your options are limitless, it can be cheap if you’re smart about it and should test your ability to think on your feet. Don’t worry too much about how you will get from place to place; know that you have the tools to figure it out.
1 Comment
I work for Dohop.com and was very happy to see you link to us. I would also like to say that Iceland (Dohop.com is based in Iceland) is an excellent destination for backpackers, especially ones that are young, adventurous, horny and broke. Iceland is full of pretty people, and our currency problems means that it is dirt cheap as well.
And of course… Dohop.com is the best way to get here.
Thanks again.