|
Booking Local Flights, Trains, Buses, Boats, and Cars There will be many times when you will want or need to book local transportation, such as flights, trains, buses, boats, and cars. If you have not yet booked transport for your “Level 2” destinations which fall within the scope of one of your RTW ticket stops (and I would recommend that you haven’t), you will need to make such arrangements during your free time between touring monuments and other sites, enjoying local food, and making new friends among other travelers.
If you plan to depart on one of your side trips in, say, three days, then by all means check availability, and, if there is plenty, you can wait to book your ticket. I would recommend waiting because between the time you look into the booking and the time you are actually ready to leave, you may meet other travelers with similar itineraries, which you may want to coordinate with your own, and, of course, your plans may change at the last minute as you enjoy your daily explorations. In some cases you will become aware of local festivals, or you may make some new friends, which may cause you to want to change your planned travel times or dates. The more flexible you are in your plans, the more you will be able to take advantage of on your RTW journey. One exception to this rule is bookings for first class or overnight train tickets - such seats tend to sell out quickly, so you will want to have your bookings made early.
Some things to keep in mind about booking local transport: - Always, ALWAYS buy local tickets for flights, trains, buses, boats, and caravans locally. For example, I once paid $65 in cash for an internal flight in India that was listed by an online travel service for $225. - You may of course make all local transportation bookings on your own, but this can be very confusing if the country you are in has numerous restrictions on how to book travel (for example, India), and it can be very time consuming if you have to wait on numerous lines or queues for tickets at bus and train stations. Talk to other travelers about their experiences making local bookings, and talk to some of the local tour operators and travel agents to find out how their prices compare to those you could get on your own. Those bits of information will help you determine whether you want to pursue bookings yourself of whether it is worthwhile to let an agent handle it for you. - Paying cash for local transport, even air transport, will save you a bundle compared to any pricing you will find online. To pay cash, book directly at the office of the operator concerned or pay a local travel agent. - Most local tickets are refundable or changeable, even for flights. So, if you make a booking and then decide to change it, you very likely will be able to. The only “cost” will be your time and perhaps some aggravation to get the booking changed. All of that said, be sure to confirm that your tickets are refundable and changeable, because travel policies around the world do change constantly. - If you use an agent for your bookings, especially if it is the operator of a hotel at which you are staying, do not allow them to hold your tickets until just before the scheduled departure time. They may be charging you for a first– or second– class ticket but were unable to get you a corresponding seat, and at times they will play games until right before departure. You will then be faced with moving on, having paid for a first class seat but actually having been booked in “standing room only”, or canceling your plans at the very last second. Such avoidable events also tend to put even the best-humored RTW traveler in a somewhat sour mood. - Cars and drivers can be very inexpensive in some countries. If drivers are aplenty where you currently are, then consider hiring one for a day. It may run $30US or so, which is a lot more than the cost of a bus, but you will have the flexibility to make side trips at your discretion, and the drivers will usually know some “hidden” places along your route which could make it all worthwhile. The few times I splurged and got a driver led to some of my most fond memories of my RTW travels. - If you are interested in hiring a driver, talk to other travelers, You will usually find one or two who are interested in your itinerary and willing to share the cost you. What’s more, you are bound to make some new friends during your adventures together. - For the truly adventurous who feel safe and somewhat sure of their local surroundings, consider hopping on a random, local bus, paying the fare, and getting off miles out of town. You can then wander about working your way back, and you are sure to experience some of the true local flavor. |
|
A Cheery “Hello!” from Jaisalmer, India
© Stephen Braun |
|
All editorial comments, images, design, and layout of this site ©2009 GoRoundTheWorld.com. All rights reserved. Specific copyright information is available by following the link shown above. |
