Travel Tips
Plan Your Transport Smartly
Official railway sites, the airport taxi trap, the hidden fees of low-cost airlines and practical notes for night journeys.
The country’s own railway site first
Comparison sites are good for finding a route; for tickets they are often a middleman that adds commission. Once you know the route, check the country’s official railway site or app: sales usually open there, and so do promotions and cheap quotas.
- Find out the date sales open; cheap tickets sell out early, especially on night trains.
- Save the ticket PDF and QR code so they open without internet.
- Check whether the seat reservation is sold separately; in some countries the ticket and the reservation are separate.
Don’t take the first taxi that comes at the airport exit
Drivers who approach you at the door and taxis parked outside the queue are the most expensive option. First check the train, bus or minibus into the city. If you need a taxi, take one from the official taxi rank or from a fixed-price coupon counter; don’t get in before the price is agreed.
- Before landing, check the airport-to-city distance and the public transport option on the map.
- If you land late at night, ask the hotel for a transfer price; it can come out cheaper than a taxi.
- If the meter isn’t on, fix the price before you get in.
On a low-cost airline, the fees are born at the airport
Baggage size, online check-in and card fees decide the real cost of a cheap ticket. Checking in at the airport, or bringing baggage that exceeds the size limit at the gate, turns into a high extra charge. On a connection with separate tickets, if the first flight is delayed nobody is responsible for the second; leave at least three hours between them.
- Keep your bag within the size that will be measured at the gate; check the size limit when you book.
- Check in online and keep your boarding pass as a screenshot.
- With separate tickets you have to collect your bag and check it in again; plan the time accordingly.
A night journey also covers a night of accommodation
A night bus or sleeper train is both the road and a night’s stay. But know the arrival time and the baggage rules in advance: if you will arrive at five in the morning, ask the hotel about early check-in and luggage storage. Keep your valuables on your lap and your phone and charger within reach.
- Take a light cardigan or blanket; the air conditioning can be cold at night.
- If there is a border crossing, keep your passport somewhere easy to reach.
- At a rest stop, ask the driver the departure time and take a photo of the bus.
Quick checklist
- After finding the route, buy the ticket from the official site.
- At the airport, choose public transport or a fixed price instead of a taxi.
- With separate tickets, keep at least three hours between connections.
- Sort out the baggage size and the online check-in rule in advance.
- Keep screenshots of your tickets and reservations.