How Should I Travel?

This is a breakdown of all the varied means of transportation from home to destination. Specifically, we’re going to look at five of the common ways of traveling and the pros and cons of each! Let’s get started!

Car/Driving Your Own Vehicle

The most common means of travel is driving your own vehicle (or renting a vehicle). This is personally my favorite way to travel as I love the feeling of control it gives me. I like to decide when I want to leave, stop, diverge, change routes, or change destinations all together. It can be pretty taxing physically on you, especially if you are driving for more than a few hours and you don’t have a driving partner. So, let’s look at the pros first.

• Control (when/where/how long)
• Pack or take whatever you want
• No TSA lines
• Can make last minute changes to your destination or add additional stops easily
• No baggage fees
• Bring your pets

Now, let’s take a look at some of the cons.

• Takes longer
• Takes a physical toll on the body
• Wear and tear on vehicle
• Possible breakdowns or wrecks
• Traffic
• Parking fees and fluctuating gas prices

Even though it seems like the cons outweigh the pros, it is still the #1 way to travel.

Airplane

Flying to your destination is the second most common way of traveling. Why? Because you can get to your destination in half the time or faster and its typically fairly cheap. Billions of people around the world fly annually so theres no lack of available flights to just about any destination you can think of. Let’s breakdown the pros of flying.

• Faster
• Typically cheap
• More possible destinations (across the country, different countries, etc.)
• Can relax/sleep during travel time
• No stopping travel time in order to use the bathroom or get a drink/snacks
• Beautiful birds eye view

Those are really good pros but let’s look at the cons.

• Limited on baggage and what can be in them
• Possible extra fees
• Flights not available on days or times you would like
• Delays or cancellations
• Confined to a smaller space
• Possible lost baggage
• Will need additional ground transportation upon arrival at destination

Even though it might seem like I’m against flying, I’ve actually had only good experiences flying thus far. I fear that I’ve had too many good experiences that one day I’m going to have a really bad one! But let’s hope not!

Bus (Coach/Greyhound)

Now, this is a means of transportation I haven’t really taken, other than when I was in show choir during my middle school days but I didn’t really have a choice. I don’t think it’s a bad choice but I don’t think as many people take advantage of that type of transportation as maybe they should. Let’s look at why taking a Greyhound bus to your destination is a good idea.

• You can rest/relax during travel time
• Packages available that come with accommodations and/or meals
• Rates are cheaper if more people in your party
• Plenty of space for baggage underneath the bus
• Roomy and fairly comfortable seating

And let’s see why it might not be such a good idea.

• Limited amount of time at specific destinations
• Possibility of being left behind
• Stuck sitting by someone who makes the journey difficult
• Might not have routes to the destination you want

I really like the thought of doing a trip through a tour bus agency because they typically have really neat trips. If you don’t have any friends or family to go with you, you can still go and not feel alone or feel like you’re putting yourself in danger being alone and you might make a few new friends along the way! This is something I plan on trying out!

Train/Amtrak

Now THIS, I get to try out this coming October and I am so stoked! I never even thought about taking a train as a means of travel to a destination but happen to stumble across it when looking for flights. We have a trip planned in October to take the Amtrak to Boston and I am so excited! So I might update this after the fact based on our experience, but from what I’ve researched he’s what I’ve found as the good and the bad. Let’s go with the good first of course.

• Very cheap
• Faster than driving
• Options for a seat (Coach, Business, First Class) or a Private Room for sleeping
• More dining options (meals or snacks)
• More baggage than planes (2 personal items, 2 carry on items, AND 2 checked bags FREE – 2 addt’l checked bags can be added at $20 each if needed)
• Pets allowed (weight limit and up to a 7 hour travel time between stations)

And let’s look at the cons.

• Slower than flying
• Trains aren’t available at all destinations
• Specific departure times aren’t available
• Will need additional ground transportation once arriving at destination

I’m already a fan of train travel and I haven’t even experienced it yet. We’ll see how it goes!

And lastly…

Boat/Cruise

This is another means of travel I have yet to experience but I hope to in the future. Upon my own research as well as interviewing friends or family members who have been on cruises, it seems like a solid and fun way to travel! Let’s take a look at the good.

• All inclusive
• Fairly cheap for all that’s included
• Travel time seems none existent as you are vacationing while traveling
• Lots of food options
• Lots of activity options
• Can have several destinations at one cost
• Emergency services available

And now, the cons.

• Will need additional transportation to get to port of call
• Not all destinations are available
• Might not have sufficient time at each port of call
• Possibility of being left behind

Not sure when I will go on a cruise, but it’s sounding pretty good to me!

I hope after reading this, you consider trying different means of travel. You never know what you will learn or who you will meet or even what new view you will have!