Travel by train
Long distance train travel can be very
scenic and fun. Or terrifyingly bumpy, but still, an experience. Check out this video of one woman’s ride on the Tazara train from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to
Kapiri Mposhi, Zambia, below. Watch 1:15 to 1:30 for the bumpy part.
www.Seat61.com is definitely the best
website when it comes to train travel. It covers train info in every part of the
world, with schedules, prices, route maps, and reviews by travelers who have done
the trips. Does anyone want to do all of East Africa by train with me? Please?
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| For anyone with a crazy sense of adventure and an unlimited amount of time... |
Tip: When booking trains in France, always
check prices on the SNCF website in French – they’re usually much cheaper than
the prices on the English version of the website.
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| An old Serbian train at the Belgrade station |
Travel by water
Boat hitchhike. Couchsurfing.org has a
group called Boat Hitchhiking where people post long-distance boat rides wanted
or available. Unfortunately most of the posts are for rides wanted. An
alternative is to hang around major ports (such as in the South of France) for
a few days or weeks asking around if you can join a trip.
If you have any sailing experience, there
are tons of sites where skippers post trips they are going to make with
advertisements for crew members needed. Expect to pay a bit for your share of food/supplies.
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| A Disney Cruise ship parked in the deep bay of Villefranche-sur-Mer, France |
Take a cruise! Transatlantic cruises (i.e.
Europe to the US) can be as cheap as $300 one-way, especially when they’re
trying to fill up seats at the last minute. Ten days of entertainment, food,
swimming pool, bar…why not? Also, you'll get to spend the day in some cool cities along the way. Again, Seat61 is a great site for looking up
cruises.
Travel by Bus
Bus travel is almost always a cheap option
throughout the world. In Europe, Eurolines is the main company and fares can be
very low, especially for under-26 youths. I paid 12 Euros for a 5 hour ride
from Bratislava to Prague, which included comfortable reclining seats, bottled water,
and an on-board toilet.
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| My 15-hour bus from Barcelona to Paris... woke up to some scary fog! |
Long-distance bus travel in South America is also quite
comfortable. In Brazil, buses often have one level for seats and the other for
beds. Bus travel in Africa should be done with caution due to the high rates of
road accidents.
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| A double-decker in Brazil |
Travel by Car - carpooling
If you prefer to travel in a car but don't feel like renting one or driving one yourself, carpooling is an economically and environmentally friendly way to travel. Either make friends with people who are traveling by car, or sign up for a carpooling website, such as one of the following:
Blablacar.com
Carpooling.co.uk
Blablacar.com
Carpooling.co.uk
